US08047742B2
A vibrating plate serving as a tamping device comprises an upper mass equipped with a drive and comprises at least two lower masses, which are coupled to the upper mass while being able to oscillate relative to the upper mass. Each of the lower masses comprises a soil contacting plate and at least one oscillator assigned to this soil contacting plate. The oscillators can be controlled differently so that, in addition to an advancing and compacting action, a turning moment can be executed about a vertical axis (Z).
US08047738B2
An exemplary mechanical joint system (100) includes a joint (10), an arm (20), a plurality of teeth (211), and an engaging member (3). The arm is rotatable relative to the joint. A pivot hole (210) is defined in the arm. The teeth are formed on an inner surface adjacent to an end of the pivot hole. The engaging member is fixed to the joint. The engaging member includes a prong (323) for engaging with the teeth.
US08047736B2
A floor scrubber that includes a housing having a plurality of brush assemblies mounted therein. Each brush assembly is connected to a liquid supply by a tube. A disperser is mounted on each brush assembly and cleaning liquid flows from the liquid supply onto the disperser. As the brush assembly is rotated, the disperser rotates in unison with the assembly and the cleaning liquid is dispersed onto the bristles and onto the floor surface to be cleaned. The disperser includes a plurality of fins that aid in propelling the cleaning fluid onto the bristles.
US08047728B2
A method of assembling an optical fiber connector includes the steps of providing a ferrule with an internal through passage, and using a gas for treating a surface of the internal through passage to enhance a bonding capability of the surface. Adhesive is introduced into at least a portion of the internal through passage and at least one optical fiber is secured to the surface of the internal through passage by the adhesive. Another method includes the steps of providing the ferrule with an internal through passage including a shoulder, a window that extends through a side surface, and a cap having at least a portion inserted into the window. Adhesive is introduced into at least a portion of the internal through passage and is in engagement with the shoulder for providing an axial stop for securing at least one optical fiber with respect to the internal through passage.
US08047727B1
A strain-relief assembly for a field-installable fiber optic connector is disclosed, wherein the assembly includes a ferrule holder, an intermediate sleeve, and a crimp sleeve. The ferrule holder back section holds a buffered section of a fiber optic cable, while the ferrule holder front end holds a ferrule and a splice assembly. A stub fiber is held within the ferrule and the splice assembly so as to interface with a section of field optical fiber protruding from the buffered section. The intermediate sleeve engages and generally surrounds a portion of the ferrule holder back section and thus surrounds a portion of the buffered layer. An intermediate sleeve handler may be used to handle the intermediate sleeve and attached the intermediate sleeve to the ferrule holder back section. Stress-relief strands from the fiber optic cable are flared around the outer surface of the intermediate sleeve. A crimp sleeve is placed over the intermediate sleeve to hold the ends of the stress-relief strands in place. The crimp sleeve is then crimped, which fixes the strand ends in place and also fixes the intermediate sleeve in place on the ferrule back section.
US08047724B2
A wheel bearing apparatus includes a roller bearing, an inner shaft having an outer circumferential surface to which an inner ring of the roller bearing is installed, a coupler ring attached to an end portion of the inner shaft, and a caulked portion provided in an end portion of the inner shaft so as to fix the coupler ring and the roller bearing to the inner shaft so as to be immovable in an axial direction of the inner shaft. An outer diameter of the coupler ring is set smaller than a diameter of a shoulder portion of the inner ring. Alternatively, a protruding portion is provided in any one of opposing end surfaces of the coupler ring and the inner ring, whereby the coupler ring is arranged away from a seal member. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid an interference of the coupler ring with the seal member.
US08047714B2
Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication.
US08047713B2
Provided is a plasmon resonance detector that can detect temperature change in optical devices, in which the metal structure having plasmon resonance absorption is used for the optical devices. A diode formed of a conductive substrate, an n-type semiconductor layer, an i-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, an n electrode (negative electrode), a p electrode (positive electrode), an insulating film, or the like is used as a semiconductor device whose resistance value changes in accordance with temperature change. A nanochain formed by connecting a plurality of metal nanoparticles is disposed on this diode. When the nanochain is irradiated with light, the nanochain generates heat. The heat generated in the nanochain is conducted to the diode. The resistance value of the diode changes in accordance with temperature change, and thus this change is read, a temperature or an amount of heat generation of the nanochain is measured, and existence and strength of the plasmon resonance are detected.
US08047709B1
A method and system for detecting the location of an air/sea interface on an Instrumented Tow Cable (ITC) when distributed temperature measurements are provided. The air/sea interface is determined by estimating the variance of observed temperature in the proximity of each measurement cell. The method and system described herein uses a sliding variance across the entire cable length. The variance of the cell or cells in the area of the interface has been found to be large compared to other cells. Accordingly, the location of the air/sea interface is determined based on the location of the peak variance. The location of the air/sea interface is used in determining the catenary of the ITC.
US08047708B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for the measurement of heat flow from at least one sample. The device 1 is adapted to receive a multi well vessel assembly (2) with samples in one or several vessels (21, 22, . . . 2n). The device (1) comprises an opening (11) for insertion of the vessel assembly (2) into the device (1), a measurement chamber (12) with a heat sink (13), a channel (14) extending from the opening (11) to the measurement chamber (12). The present invention specifically teaches that the opening (11) and channel (14) leads horizontally into the device (1), and that the height of the opening (11), channel (14) and measurement chamber (12) is only high enough to receive the vessel assembly (2).
US08047704B2
Novel dispenser means are provided for mixing and dispensing two-part curable compositions wherein the mixer elements are isolated from the curable components.
US08047699B2
An illuminating device includes a light source module for emitting light and an optical lens configured for adjusting the light emitted from the light source module. The optical lens includes an array of lens units. Each lens unit includes a main body, a light diverging portion and a light converging portion. The main body includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light diverging portion is configured for expanding a light field along a first direction, and the light converging portion is configured for compressing a light field along a second direction. The light diverging portion and the light converging portion are formed on at least one of the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The light diverging portion includes parallel protrusions distributed along the first direction.
US08047696B2
A luminaire arrangement for providing a luminous flux in a target direction (z) comprising a light guide (101), multiple light sources (103) arranged at said light guide for emitting light into said light guide, out coupling means (106) arranged at said light guide and adapted to direct light out from said light guide; and a cover layer (102) arranged in front of said light guide at the side where light it to be directed out, said cover layer being provided with at least one optically transparent area (104) such that light directed out from said light guide is allowed to pass said cover layer. The cover layer allows for use of the same or similar light guide, light sources and out coupling means in a number of different luminaire applications, where each application may have different requirements on e.g. appearance, and/or collimation and/or directivity of the luminous flux.
US08047694B2
An adaptive front lighting system (AFLS) having a high heat-dissipation efficiency increases heat-dissipation efficiency of a light emitting diode (LED) to improve durability in headlamps which use LEDs as a light source and have a variable illumination angle according to conditions. The AFLS includes a lamp housing, a reflector installed in the lamp housing and rotatable around a rotational axle formed at the lamp housing, a light source installed in the reflector to emit light, an external heat sink installed at an external surface of the lamp housing so as to dissipate heat towards outside of the lamp housing, and/or a heat conduction member connecting the light source and the external heat sink so as to transfer the heat of the light source to the external heat sink. The heat conduction member is flexibly transformed in response to a movement of the reflector and the light source.
US08047685B2
An adjustable lighting device having a main body, a light generation device inserted into a receptacle, a movable lens, a base electrically connected to the light generation device, and an adjustor cover rotatably mounted to and covering the outside of the main body so that rotation of the adjustor cover causes the lens to extend/retract within the receptacle so that the extension/retraction of the lens can be controlled by the rotation of the adjustor cover for realizing focus adjustment.
US08047681B2
A flexible light emitting array includes a flexible substrate, pluralities of first wires, second wires and light emitting components. The flexible substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first wires and the second wires penetrates across the first surface and the second surface to form pluralities of first conductive wire segments and second conductive wire segments on the first surface side and the second surface side. The light emitting components are arranged on the first surface side and electrically connected to the first conductive wire segments and the second conductive wire segments. The flexible light emitting array not only increases the reliability of bonding between the light emitting component and the flexible substrate but also drives the light emitting components with programmable control to achieve the dynamic effects.
US08047680B2
An LED lamp includes a heat sink and a plurality of LED modules. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of supporters extending from a top face of the base. Each supporter has an inclined supporting face facing an adjacent one of two opposite lateral sides of the base. Each LED module is mounted on an inclined supporting face of a corresponding supporter. The supporters have extending heights gradually increasing along a horizontal direction from the two opposite lateral sides toward a center of the base. Angles between the base and the supporting faces of the supporters are acute angles and gradually decrease along the horizontal direction from the two opposite lateral sides toward the center of the base.
US08047679B2
A LED lamp with 360-degree illumination includes a base, a first substrate, a stepped structure, a plurality of LEDs, and a cover. The first substrate is fixed on the base. The stepped structure is mounted on the first substrate. The stepped structure has a first annular frame connected to the first substrate, a second substrate connected to the first annular frame, and a second annular frame connected to the second substrate. The peripheral length of the second annular frame is smaller than that of the first annular frame. The plurality of LEDs is fixed to the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds the first annular frame and the second annular frame respectively. With this arrangement, the LEDs can be arranged in a multi-storey stepped structure to generate an effect of 360-degree illumination. Also, the illumination range of the lamp can be increased.
US08047666B2
An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.
US08047665B2
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing defining an interior and including a mirror opening oriented rearward when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is secured to the motor vehicle. A backing plate is operatively connected to the housing in the interior. The backing plate is selectively moveable within the housing. A primary mirror is fixedly secured to a first portion of the backing plate. A secondary mirror is fixedly secured to a second portion of the backing plate. The secondary mirror is spaced apart from the primary mirror. An adhesive member extends between the backing plate and the primary and secondary mirrors such that the single adhesive member secures all of the primary and secondary mirrors to the backing plate. A demarcation divider separates the primary and secondary mirrors. The demarcation divider is secured to the backing plate.
US08047664B2
A protective automatic darkening filter (ADF) and an associated tool, such as a welding torch, are controlled by a corresponding communication unit. The invention helps to ensure that the tool is not activated before the ADF has reached its dark state. A communication channel between the communication unit and the ADF may be established using a wired or wireless medium.
US08047660B2
A method and apparatus for a projection display system includes a spatial light modulator and a volume illumination hologram. The spatial light modulator comprises a digital micromirror device, and the projection system includes a laser light source to produce a sequence of collimated, colored, light beams for the illumination hologram. Waste light produced by the spatial light modulator is transmitted to the illumination hologram, and the illumination hologram emits waste light from at least one of its edges. Waste light emitted from an edge of the illumination hologram is absorbed by a light sensor to control the intensity of the light beams. A projection focusing element is mounted proximate a side of the illumination hologram to focus the image beam from the spatial light modulator for viewing. A projection hologram is interposed between the side of the illumination hologram and the projection focusing element to manage waste light.
US08047659B2
A light source device includes plural light-emitting elements that emit lights, a wavelength selection element that has plural light selection areas in which wavelength selection is performed for the lights emitted from the plural light-emitting elements, respectively, and selectively reflects a part of the lights emitted from the plural light-emitting elements, a state detecting unit that detects states of the plural light selection areas of the wavelength selection element, and a state changing unit that changes, according to the states of the plural light selection areas detected by the state detecting unit, the states of the light selection areas of the wavelength selection element to make wavelengths of the lights selected in the plural light selection areas different from one another.
US08047658B2
Methods and systems for multiple primary color display are provided. Methods and systems of the present invention improve the spectrum efficiency of a color display system, and provide enhanced brightness and color gamut. In an embodiment, methods and systems of the present invention improve the brightness of a color display system employing a high pressure lamp by efficiently incorporating lights components of the lamp output that are outside the red, green, and blue spectrum in creating the color image.
US08047657B2
Screens are positioned at front areas of respective placing tables which form placing spaces for placing an article. Each of the screens is a transmission-type screen capable of transmitting projection image light projected on a back side of the screen. A first optical system and a second optical system are arranged inside the display shelf. The first optical system leads first partial image light, which is included in projection image light projected from a projector in the display shelf, to the back sides of the screens. And the second optical system leads second partial image light, which is included in the projection image light, to at least one of the placing spaces.
US08047655B2
A projection display apparatus is provided that is capable of reducing speckle noise, with no image of a flaw or dust noticeable in or on a screen even if it exists in or on an optical component. The projection display apparatus includes a glass rod that makes uniform an optical beam emitted from a laser beam source; a lens that focuses an optical beam passing through the glass rod; a diffusion layer that provides an optical path difference distribution to the optical beam focused using the focusing element, the diffusion layer being optically conjugated with an incident end of the glass rod by the focusing element; a display device that spatially modulates the optical beam provided with the optical path difference distribution by the diffusion layer; and a magnification projection lens that projects on a screen an optical beam modulated by the modulator.
US08047653B2
An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.
US08047640B2
An inkjet printer system includes a print head, a sub tank, a pressure controller, and a check valve. The print head is configured to eject ink. The sub tank is connected to the print head and has a pressure control hole. The pressure controller is connected to the pressure control hole to control an inner pressure of the sub tank. The check valve is provided at the pressure control hole to prevent ink in the sub tank from flowing into the pressure control hole from the sub tank.
US08047638B2
In a liquid ejecting apparatus using the electrostatic attraction method or electric field assist method, a liquid ejecting apparatus where discharging of a nozzle plate is securely performed and appropriate liquid ejecting is possible is provide. The liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with an electrode; a liquid ejecting head, having, a nozzle plate including a nozzle opposed to the counter electrode to eject liquid, a pressure generating device to rise a meniscus of liquid at a ejecting port of the nozzle, and a charging electrode opposed to the counter electrode via the nozzle plate, an electrostatic voltage applying device to apply electrostatic voltage onto the liquid in the nozzle; a discharging device to discharge the charged nozzle plate; and a control device to control the electrostatic voltage applying device and the discharging device; wherein the discharging device provides a conductive discharging member detachable to an whole area of the nozzle plate opposed to the counter electrode.
US08047632B2
An ink jet recording head includes an ejection outlet for ejecting ink; an energy generating element, provided on a silicon substrate, for generating energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet; an ink flow passage, provided correspondingly to the energy generating element, communicating with the ejection outlet; a through hole passing through the silicon substrate; and an ink supply port for supplying the ink supplied into the through hole to the ink flow passage. The ink supply port is formed with an extended member which contacts a bottom of a flow passage wall constituting the ink flow passage and extends into an opening of the through hole.
US08047611B2
A headrest bushing into which a headrest stay are inserted for supporting a head rest includes a lock mechanism for preventing disengagement of the headrest stay from the headrest bush; and an unlock mechanism having a button for unlocking the lock mechanism and a housing for accommodating which has an opening for manipulating the button, and wherein a surface of the button is placed inwardly from the opening of the housing. The surface of the button is placed correspondently to the opening of the housing or inwardly in a pressing direction from the opening of the housing. The headrest stay has a notch consisting of a horizontal surface and an inclined surface to increase its diameter of slowly downward from the deepest part of the horizontal surface, and wherein the horizontal surface of the notch engages with the lock mechanism.
US08047605B2
One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicle seat, a seat frame having a cushion frame, the cushion frame with a first and second side frame, a bead extending from an outer side of one of the first and second side frame, the bead including a first and second inclined surface connected at a ridge portion, and a notch portion defined in a lower portion of the at least one of the first and second side frame, wherein the notch portion is positioned proximate the bead.
US08047604B2
A bicycle is provided with a saddle. The saddle includes a frame and a padding device. The frame includes a front tray and a rear tray. The padding device includes a front pad and two rear pads. The front pad is installed on the front tray. The rear pads are installed on the rear tray. A space is defined between the front pad and the rear pads. A space is defined between the rear trays.
US08047595B2
A powered actuator includes a rotating output member that may be operatively connected to one or more cables or mechanical links for release/actuation of a lock, latch, or the like, of a vehicle seat or other component. The powered actuator may be configured to provide a required force on the release cable and/or a required distance of travel. The actuator may also be configured to provide for proper timing of the movement of the release cables if required for a particular application.
US08047574B2
In a passenger automobile having a pressure tank which extends along the longitudinal vehicle axis, the tank comprises between its front and rear ends at least one conical section.
US08047566B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.
US08047558B2
An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle, in which the vehicle has a frame that includes a pair of hangers. The axle/suspension system is attached to the hangers, and includes an axle and a pair of suspension assemblies. Each of the suspension assemblies includes an air spring and at least one spring member. The spring member includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion is generally rigidly connected to the hanger via a clamped connection, and the second attachment portion is operatively connected to the axle. The spring member, connected in this manner, reduces or eliminates dock walk when a cargo transfer vehicle enters the heavy-duty vehicle, and also reduces or eliminates rebound when the cargo transfer vehicle exits the vehicle. The spring member is also capable of being tuned to a predetermined stiffness that is sufficient to control heavy-duty vehicle roll forces.
US08047556B2
Disclosed herein is a board capable of voluntary forward movement. The board comprises: a pair of front and rear boards, each of which is integrated with a connecting step formed on its lower surface and has a connecting hole formed within the connecting step; a connecting assembly including a connecting pipe inserted into the connecting holes, fixing blocks rotatably coupled to both ends of the connecting pipe to integrally connect the front board and the rear board, each of the fixing blocks having a track groove, and coupling pins inserted into the track grooves through the connecting pipe to be in association with the connecting pipe so that the front and rear boards are rotated within limited angle ranges corresponding to predetermined widths of the track grooves; and voluntary advancement assemblies.
US08047544B2
A printing apparatus includes a holding section connected to a downstream end of a main transfer path for consecutively transferring paper sheets and formed of a curved transfer path, which consecutively transfers the paper sheets led out from the main transfer path in a curved state and holds them in an overlaid state.
US08047540B2
A recording medium conveying device including a body portion capable of being mounted to and removed from a body of an apparatus, the body portion being provided with a conveying roller; a knob member disposed at a side at which the body portion is removed, the knob member allowing manual rotation of the conveying roller; and a handle member for mounting the body portion to and removing the body portion from the body of the apparatus. The handle member is rotatably supported so as to move between a first position and a second position, The knob member is connected to a rotating shaft of the conveying roller so as to move along a direction in which the body portion is removed. The handle member moves between the first position and the second position in response to an accommodation operation and a draw-out operation of the knob member.
US08047538B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet transport apparatus is provided with a registration roller, a sheet transport path, a first optical sensor, a second sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at an upstream side of the first optical sensor in a sheet transportation direction Xd, and a sheet transportation control unit that stops the driving of the registration roller after an elapse of a transportation time after the detection of sheet absence following sheet presence by the first optical sensor, wherein the sheet transportation control unit does not perform control with sheet detection by the first optical sensor within a detection restricted time after predetermined sheet detection by the second sensor when the sheet is of a specific type.
US08047537B2
An apparatus for registering a sheet. The apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing a position and/or timing of the sheet. The apparatus also including a controller communicating a first signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a first sheet characteristic to a target characteristic. The first signal generated to impart the target characteristic to the sheet by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary datum. The preliminary datum disposed along the transport path between the sheet registration nip assembly and a delivery datum that is disposed downstream of the sheet registration nip assembly. The controller communicating a second signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a second sheet characteristic to the target characteristic. The second signal communicated when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary datum and the delivery datum.
US08047535B2
An apparatus and a method for successively conveying a series of sheets are disclosed. The apparatus has a first conveyer for conveying a sheet in a sheet conveying direction at a first speed and a second conveyer disposed spaced vertically away from the first conveyer for conveying the sheet in the same direction at a second speed. The second conveyer has a region overlapping with the first conveyer at least for a distance corresponding to a dimension of the sheet, e.g. the width of veneer sheet, as measured in the sheet conveying direction. A suction mechanism is disposed in said overlapping region for transferring by suction the sheet in the entirety of its dimension from the first conveyer to the second conveyer and holding by suction the sheet against the second conveyer. The sheet is further moved by the second conveyer, e.g. to a sheet stacking station.
US08047531B1
A sheet pressing apparatus assembled to a file processing equipment which has an input tray for stacking sheets and a pickup roller for feeding sheets. The sheet pressing apparatus includes a sheet pressing assembly movably mounted to the file processing equipment, a driving device including a connecting member and a stepping motor, a sensor unit and a control system. The sheet pressing assembly is driven by the stepping motor to be descending through the connecting member. When the sheet pressing assembly descends, the sensor unit touches the sheets and sends a signal to the control system, the control system figures out the thickness of the sheets by calculating steps the stepping motor having passed, then the control system makes the stepping motor further move with certain steps to drive the sheet pressing assembly further descend to apply a suitable pressure on the sheets.
US08047527B2
The sheet containing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body; a drawer that is capable of being pulled out from the apparatus main body; a sheet container that is movable relative to the drawer and that contains a sheet; a feeder that feeds a sheet contained in the sheet container; and a moving unit that moves the sheet container in a direction intersecting with a feed direction in which the feeder feeds a sheet.
US08047526B2
A mail justifier system including at least one bucket for holding a flat article and a plurality of ramps configured to contact the flat article through an opening defined on the bucket to raise the flat article to a desired level. A plurality of parallel rollers is configured to enter into the opening and contact the flat article. The parallel rollers rotate causing the flat article to move within the bucket from a first position to a second position.
US08047525B2
A conveying unit has a nipping hook to nip a sheet bundle and conveys the sheet bundle while nipping the sheet bundle with the nipping hook. A discharge roller sequentially discharges the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit. A stack unit stacks the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit. A shutter is provided between the discharge roller and the stack unit. A push-out lever is fixed to the discharge roller. An opening is provided on one side of the shutter, and a push-out part which causes the push-out lever to protrude to the stack unit from the opening of the shutter with a rotation of the nipping pawl is provided on the nipping hook. The push-out lever caused to protrude to the stack unit by the push-out part pushes out the sheet bundle to the stack unit in accordance with the rotation of the nipping hook.
US08047523B2
A sheet loading apparatus has an ejecting member to eject a sheet; a loading member to load the sheet ejected by the ejecting member; and a movable member capable of moving in a state keeping contact with ejecting member side ends of the sheets loaded on the loading member. The movable member moves a distance equal to a moving distance of the loading member in the moving direction of the loading member. The sheet loading apparatus has a screen which is located between the loading member and the ejecting member and moves up and down, while waits at a position capable of avoiding interruption to the ejection of the sheet; and a first rotating member mounted to the screen in a location above the loading member and suspending the movable member.
US08047520B2
The coupling apparatus for bringing a pallet 3 (a movable article) near to a base side support 2 from above, positioning it in the horizontal X, Y directions and in the vertical Z direction, and clamping it in a releasable manner comprises a pair of first engaging protrusions 12 and a pair of second engaging protrusions 13 formed on the top surface of the support 2 for positing in the X direction and in the Y direction, respectively; a pair of first movable article side engaging protrusions 32 each abutting the pair of first engaging protrusions 12 on one side and a pair of second movable article side engaging protrusions 33 each abutting the pair of second engaging protrusions 12 on one side; a Z direction positioning mechanism 8 for positioning the pallet 3 relative to the support 2 in the Z direction; and a clamping mechanism 7 for clamping the pallet 3 on the support 2.
US08047512B2
A vibration damping apparatus actively damping vibration of a vibration source by adding vibration to the vibration source includes a vibrational state detecting means and a vibrator including a magnetic pole, a coil, and a controlling means, and the vibrator adds vibration to the vibration source by controlling a current-supplied state of the coil to vibrate the coil and the magnetic pole relatively, wherein the controlling means selectively switches a vibration generating mode and a regenerative mode based on the vibrational state of the vibration source, the vibration is added to the vibration source to damp the vibration of the vibration source in the vibration generating mode, and regenerative current is caused by an electro motive force generated at the coil by the vibration of the vibration source to flow into a regenerative resistor in the regenerative mode.
US08047507B2
A modular lift assembly includes a frame, at least one head block connected to the frame, a drum rotatably connected to the frame about an axis of rotation and having at least one winding section, and a drive mechanism operatively connected to the drum for rotating the drum. In various examples, the lift assembly includes at least one loft block internal or external relative to the frame. The loft block is configured to guide a cable from the at least one head block to a load. The lift assembly can further include a load brake positioned along the axis of drum rotation to reduce risks associated with a drive or motor failure.
US08047504B2
A valve actuator has a set of sensors (2) for detection of the internal parameters of the actuator, a controller (3) for recording and storing the parameters and the operations performed by the actuator, a wireless module (5) to temporarily and omnidirectionally connect the actuator with a PDA (Personal Data Assistant) or a PC (pocket PC) (6) which controls the actuation thereof. The wireless module (5) further allows to download the collected data for analysis and to achieve an early diagnosis of any failure and/or inefficiency of the actuator. The wireless module (5) includes a transceiver operating at the frequency of 2.4 GHz.
US08047500B2
The baking tin comprises a hollow part (1a) made of a flexible material having a side wall (3) whose upper end defines an opening (5), and a rigid reinforcement (7). Another annular or disk-shaped reinforcement (11′) is linked to the bottom (2), close to the join with the side wall (3).
US08047491B2
A strapping base including a central portion having a generally flat surface, the central portion having a central hole pattern defined therein, an angled portion coupling the central portion to the lateral portion, and at least one lateral portion having a generally flat surface and having a plurality of lateral holes defined therein, wherein the lateral portion is offset from the central portion.
US08047487B2
A display apparatus including a display main body displaying a picture, and a base supporting the display main body about an installation surface. The display apparatus further includes a tilting unit provided between the display main body and the base and allowing the display main body to be tilted about the base; a pivoting unit provided between the display main body and the tilting unit and allowing the display main body to be pivoted about the base; a lifting unit provided between the tilting unit and the base and allowing the display main body to move up and down about the base; and a swiveling unit coupled to the base and allowing the display main body to be swiveled about the installation surface. With this configuration, the present invention provides a display apparatus of which a display main body not only rotates about a base in various directions, but also moves up and down about the base.
US08047483B2
A self-adjusting base member preferably of a mounting bracket assembly is utilized in conjunction with exterior siding that covers sheathing of an exterior wall. The base member of the assembly has a mounting flange secured to the sheathing and a wall arrangement that projects outward with respect to the sheathing and from the mounting flange. Preferably, the wall arrangement supports a raised central panel used for mounting of fixtures. Spaced radially outward from the wall arrangement is at least one flexible drip ledge of the base member. The drip ledge is generally self-adjusting with respect to the thickness of the adjacent siding.
US08047481B2
A continuously angle-adjustable multifunction tripod is provided. The continuously angle-adjustable multifunction tripod includes a connecting base, at least three legs, an adjusting cap, and a supporter. The adjusting cap and the supporter are disposed on and under the connecting base, respectively. Each of the legs is peripherally distributed around the supporter. Upper ends of the legs are movably connected to the connecting base. Distances between the adjusting cap, the connecting base and the supporter are adjustable along a vertical direction, and can be relatively fixed at anywhere therebetween. Meanwhile, a bottom of the adjusting cap and the supporter clamp and fix the legs, so that an angle of each of the legs relative to the horizontal plane can be arbitrarily adjusted in a range from 0° to 90° in accordance with variations of relative positions of the adjusting cap, the connecting base, and the supporter. The present invention has a simple and compact structure, small volume, light weight, low cost, and convenient to operate. Spans of the legs may be arbitrarily adjusted in a range from 0° to 180°, so that the tripod may be mounted quick and steadily in all kinds of complex environments. The present invention may be widely applied in areas of observation, photography, and illuminating, etc.
US08047480B2
An exemplary flat panel display (200) includes a display body (21) and a height adjusting member (23). The height adjusting member includes a supporting member (25) and a base (26). The supporting member includes a slider (30) and a sidewall (272). The slider is attached to the display body, and the slider abuts against but is slidable up and down along the sidewall. The slider is configured to be adjustable to vary an amount of friction between the slider and the sidewall such that a height of the display body is adjustable by applying external force to the display body and moving the display body to a new height.
US08047473B2
A connecting node comprises a polyhedral structure comprising a plurality of panels joined together at its side edges to form a spherical approximation, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels comprises a faceted surface being constructed with a passage for integrating with one of a plurality of elements comprising a docking port, a hatch, and a window that is attached to the connecting node. A method for manufacturing a connecting node comprises the steps of providing a plurality of panels, connecting the plurality of panels to form a spherical approximation, wherein each edge of each panel of the plurality is joined to another edge of another panel, and constructing at least one of the plurality of panels to include a passage for integrating at least one of a plurality of elements that may be attached to the connecting node.
US08047453B2
Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in, and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.
US08047445B2
A wireless IC device includes a plurality of insulating sheets that are stacked on top of one another. Coil electrodes are arranged so as to sandwich the insulating sheets therebetween and define an antenna coil by being connected to one another. The coil electrodes are superposed with one another and thereby define a single ring when viewed in plan from a z-axis direction.
US08047444B2
The described embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and systems for managing access to a memory card, such as a smart card, by a plurality of accessing devices. Certain embodiments relate to a smart card reader (SCR) for managing access to a smart card by a plurality of accessing devices. The SCR comprises: a processor; a channel manager responsive to the processor for interfacing with the smart card; and a communication interface responsive to the channel manager for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices.
US08047442B2
A semiconductor device in which damages to an element such as a transistor are reduced even when external force such as bending is applied and stress is generated in the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first island-like reinforcement film over a substrate having flexibility; a semiconductor film including a channel formation region and an impurity region over the first island-like reinforcement film; a first conductive film over the channel formation region with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween; a second island-like reinforcement film covering the first conductive film and the gate insulating film.
US08047440B2
Described is a method and system for obtaining a digitized representation of a bar code, estimating a set of parameters from the digitized representation and acquiring a waveform representation of the bar code based on at least one parameter in the set of parameters.
US08047432B2
Method and system for tracking packages including readable indicia in a movable cargo container includes mounting at least one scanner to an interior surface of the container capable of reading the indicia on, in or associated with the packages, operatively reading the indicia from the packages, converting the read indicia into an identification of the packages, and transmitting the package identifications to a remote facility. Each scanner may be controlled to read the indicia at predetermined times, upon command from the remote facility or upon detection of an event which could result in a change in the contents of the container. A positioning system may be arranged on the container to determine its location and the location of the container transmitted with the package identifications. This provides an entity managing the delivery or transport of the packages with an efficient way to track its package in real-time.
US08047431B2
Provided is a portable terminal (100) which can perform pseudo push distribution and display of a message obtained in response to a request from a reader/writer from a noncontact IC card by noncontact communication which is difficult to be always connected with. A noncontact IC card, a reader/writer and information distribution method are also provided. The noncontact IC card for receiving a message transmitted from the reader/writer by noncontact communication is mounted on the portable terminal (100). The message transmitted from the reader/writer is provided with an event header wherein setting conditions for specifying a message to be displayed by the portable terminal (100) are indicated. The portable terminal is provided with a message acquiring section (103) for acquiring only a message that satisfies the setting conditions indicated on the event header, from the noncontact IC card which has received messages, and a display section (106) which displays the message acquired from the message acquiring section (103).
US08047429B1
An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash is dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check.
US08047423B1
A swing away or pivotable mailbox support includes a lower post anchored in the ground and pivotally connected to an upper post having a horizontally projecting mailbox support arm. The upper post is pivotally movable in response to horizontal loads applied to the support arm. Adjacent connecting ends of the posts have aligned centrally located mounting bores for receipt of a mounting shaft. A bearing and detent assembly is mounted to the connecting ends of the posts to provide support and relative rotational movement between detent-engaged stable rotational positions. A kit including a bearing and detent assembly and a shaft is also provided for converting a stationary mailbox support to a swing away or pivotable support in accordance with the invention.
US08047419B2
A welding facility includes a main welding line for manufacturing an assembly of frame members, and a sub-welding line for manufacturing an assembly of panel members, the sub-welding line merging with the main welding line. The main welding line is comprised of a plurality of welding stages provided with a welding robot, the sub-welding line is provided at the end with a transfer mechanism for transferring the panel member assembly to the desired welding stage, and the merging parts are changeable according to the type of product to be welded. The facility permits a plurality of vehicle bodies having different vehicle types to be manufactured using the same manufacturing line.
US08047417B2
A friction stir weld apparatus having a linear drive actuator and a separate friction stir weld device. The linear actuator and the friction stir weld device are driven by concentric motors. In the preferred embodiment, the thrust member of the actuator is connected to the friction stir weld device within or adjacent to the friction stir weld device motor to advance and retract the friction stir weld device along a linear axis concentric with the actuator and friction stir weld device motors.
US08047416B2
Fasteners, such as rivets (60), are fed to a fastener insertion tool (1) via a buffer magazine (5) adjacent to the tool. The buffer is movable with the tool and C-frame (6) between an operative position where fasteners can be inserted into a workpiece and a re-filling position where it is docked at a docking station (13) to reload. Fasteners are delivered to the docking station from a source (14) and held there ready for when the tool docks. Once docked a transfer gate (25, 28) is opened at an interface between the buffer magazine and the docking station and fasteners from the docking station are transferred into the buffer magazine. The quantity of fasteners in the buffer magazine is detected and the last fastener is retained so as to support preceding fasteners loaded into the buffer magazine. Any subsequently loaded fasteners back to the docking station either under gravity, under the influence of a pressurized gas or both. The gate is then closed and the insertion apparatus separates from the docking station.
US08047414B2
A fastener outlet assembly for a fastener driving tool includes: an outlet passage arranged to expel fasteners from the assembly to a workpiece during use, the outlet passage having one or more walls; and a detector arranged to detect whether a fastener is present in the outlet passage. The detector comprises at least part of a cover that provides at least part of a wall of the outlet passage, the cover being movable with respect to the remainder of the outlet passage to open the outlet passage and gain access thereto.
US08047413B2
The present invention relates to soft, multifunctional carriers which transport equipment, such as hunting equipment, hunting bows, compound bows, hunting gear, camping gear, hiking gear and animal antlers for camping, fishing and/or hunting. The equipment can be placed on or hung from a tree or the like and act as a backrest or cushion and provide access to the equipment transported for hunting, camping or fishing purposes. The carrier can be utilized in conjunction with an elevated tree stand or as a storage area on or near ground level.
US08047406B2
A metered dispenser includes a housing including a reciprocable piston drive stem including an inlet opening at a first end thereof, a floating piston at a second end, and a passage between the first and second ends. An inlet valve is provided adjacent the first end for permitting entry of liquid product into the passage. A biased cocking mechanism is reciprocally disposed substantially within the housing. A biased loading mechanism is movable in a second generally opposite direction by the cocking mechanism, and is engageable with the piston drive stem to move the drive stem in the second direction. When the cocking mechanism is moved from an initial rest position toward the second direction, a series of operations allow the loading mechanism to project the drive stem in the first direction to dispense a metered dose of liquid product through a discharge orifice provided adjacent the second end.
US08047399B1
A dispenser places transdermal devices and packaged transdermal devices in an electrically charged state. The dispenser is particularly suitable for transdermal devices that include electrically actuatable components, such as transdermal, drug-delivery patches that include microporator circuitry. A controller can be operatively coupled to a power circuit of the dispenser to control the times that transdermal devices can be charged, thereby providing a measure of control over use and misuse of the transdermal devices to be dispensed.
US08047398B2
An overcap for a container, which container is of the type having a rim adjacent to an opening in which the rim has an exterior facing top surface, an exterior facing side surface and an exterior facing bottom surface. The overcap includes a center portion having a top surface and a skirt extending downward relative to the top surface. A wall is spaced radially inward from the skirt, defining a channel in one form of the overcap. The wall has an end portion extending downwardly from the center portion. When the overcap is disposed on the container, the end portion engages with the exterior facing top surface of the rim of the container. In one further advantageous form, the overcap skirt has a bead extending radially inward, which engages with the exterior facing side surface of the container when the overcap is disposed on the container.
US08047397B2
A holder for to hold storage container(s) therein is disclosed. Each storage container has a lid with locking tabs or locking extension that hook underneath a protrusion around and near the top edge of the container to lock the lid to the container. The holder has a top with two downwardly extending sides with L-shaped extensions furthest from the top that create a ledge. The holder is attached to a surface. One or more containers with a lid locked thereto using the locking tabs or locking extensions are inserted into the holder and the underside of the locking tabs or locking extensions sit on the L-shaped extensions to support the container within the holder. There may be an interference fit between the container(s) with locked lid and the two downwardly extending sides that helps retain the container(s) within the holder and guarantees that two of the locking tabs are held in their locked position. A holder may have a rear overhang which only permits container(s) to be inserted into and removed from one end of the holder, otherwise they can be inserted into and removed from both ends. In alternative embodiments of the container(s) and holder there is a locking means that will not permit container(s) to be inserted into or removed from the holder until the locking means is deactivated; and a holder may hold one, two or more storage containers.
US08047388B2
A plastic container of the type that may be formed from a material such as PET using the stretch blow molding process includes a main body portion and a base portion that is characterized by a relatively tall and narrow profile above the standing ring and that has a deep inset recess defined therein. The deep inset recess is defined in part by an upstanding inner sidewall portion adjacent to the standing ring that has a height that may be greater than about 0.35 inch. The upstanding inner sidewall portion may have a substantially straight portion that is substantially parallel to a substantially straight portion of an outer sidewall of the base.
US08047387B2
Apparatus and associated methods for carrying and manipulation of bottles are presented herein. The apparatus may include a closure that may be sealably secured to a bottle. The apparatus may further include a movable handle attached to the closure with portions of the movable handle received in a recess defined by the bottle. The movable handle may be locatable between at least a first position and a second position. The methods may include providing a closure and a movable handle, attaching the movable handle to the closure, and locating the movable handle in at least the first position and the second position.
US08047386B2
A tool rack comprises a main body; a tool holding section including a plurality of longitudinal tool holding elements defining a plurality of tool holding supports for retaining tools; and a flexible member adapted for slide along an upper side of the tool holding section and across the tools for firmly retaining the tools on the main body.
US08047384B2
A mobile sign rack which can be easily and quickly mounted or disconnected from the tailgate of a truck for the purpose of storing and/or transporting signs, sign stands, traffic cones and stop and slow paddles to secure worksites on the roadway.
US08047380B2
The invention concerns screen panels of the kind used in vibratory screening operations. According to the invention, the screen panels (10) include recycled polyurethane, typically that recovered from worn screen panels. In one particular embodiment in which the panel has an upper, perforated screening section (16.1) for performing a screening action and an operatively lower section (16.2) beneath the screening section, the upper section is of molded, virgin polyurethane and the lower section comprises a reinforcing frame (12) and recycled polyurethane molded about the reinforcing frame. The invention envisages the use of blends of virgin and recycled polyurethane as well as method of manufacturing screen panels and methods of handling worn screen panels.
US08047379B2
A wafer container includes a container body, formed by a pair of side walls, a top surface, and a bottom surface, on one sidewall of which is formed with an opening and on the other sidewall opposite to the opening is formed with a back wall, a supporting module being disposed on each of said sidewall for supporting a plurality of wafers; and a door joining with opening of the container body with its inner surface for protecting the plurality of wafers within the container body, the characteristic in that: a purgeable supporting module is respectively disposed between each side wall of the container body and the back wall, a long slot is further disposed on the side of purgeable supporting module facing the opening, and an air inlet is further disposed on one end of the purgeable supporting module for being connected to an gas valve, wherein the purgeable supporting module is formed by a plurality of supporting ribs vertically arranged at intervals.
US08047377B2
A packaging material of the present invention, which comprises a plate member, packages an object to be packaged by sandwiching the object, and the plate member is provided with an installation portion for the object to be packaged as well as a reinforcing portion.
US08047375B1
A diaper changing kit is disclosed for assisting an individual in cleaning a soiled child. The diaper changing kit comprises a container defining an interior chamber and a container aperture for accessing the interior chamber. A tool cleans the soiled child and provides both a functional and a humorous characteristic. A first body item positions on the individual and provides both a functional and a humorous characteristic. A second body item positions on the soiled child and provides both a functional and a humorous characteristic. The tool, the first body item and the second body item are positioned within the container for transporting.
US08047374B1
A back support has front, rear, bottom, top and side edges. A box has a rear face formed coextensive with the back support, a front face, a bottom face, and side faces. A rectilinear chamber is formed by the front, rear, bottom and side faces of the box and has an open top for receiving and supporting medication containers on the bottom face of the box for easy access and removal. The chamber is formed with vertically oriented recesses on the front and rear faces of the box. A plurality of rectangular divider panels with edges removably received within the recesses divide the chamber into sections adapted to separate the containers received and supported in the chamber. The panels are repositionable as a function of the size and number of the containers within the chamber.
US08047370B2
A packing cushion includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base. The plurality of sidewalls interconnect with each other and cooperate with the base to form an accommodating space. A first and second cushion portions protrude from an inner surface of the base in the accommodating space. The first cushion portion has a first inclined surface, the second cushion portion has a second inclined surface. The second inclined surface is parallel to the first inclined surface. A contour defined by the first inclined surface matches with at least a part of an object packed in the packing cushion. When the object is packed in the accommodating space, the first inclined surface contacts with at least a part of the object to provided a first cushioning, and when the object is subjected to impact forces to deform the first cushion portion, the second inclined contacts with the object to provided a second cushion.
US08047365B1
A foldable case for storing a multimedia device including a first protective sheet, a second protective sheet and a connecting unit is disclosed. The second protective sheet is used for securing the multimedia device. The connecting unit disposed between the first protective sheet and the second protective sheet may serve as a hinge with respect to which the first protective sheet is foldable over the second protective sheet. The connecting unit has an earphone receiving cavity, and a magnetic element is located in the earphone receiving cavity for magnetically attracting a wireless earphone. Moreover, as the wireless earphone is in the proximity of the earphone receiving cavity, the magnetic element magnetically attracts the wireless earphone so that the wireless earphone may be accommodated within the earphone receiving cavity.
US08047363B2
The subject matter described herein includes a memory card holder and organizer for holding and organizing a plurality of portable memory cards. The memory card holder and organizer includes a card body having first and second memory card covering members defining first and second opposite-facing surfaces and first and second opposite-facing lateral edges. The card body defines a plurality of memory card insertion and holding slots for insertion and holding of a plurality of portable memory cards in an interior region defined by the card body. The memory card insertion and holding slots are laterally accessible through apertures in the first and second lateral edges. The first surface defines a plurality of notches adjacent to the first lateral edge for allowing removal of portable memory cards inserted in the memory card insertion and holding slots accessible via the first lateral edge. The second surface defines a plurality of notches adjacent to the second lateral edge for allowing removal of portable memory cards inserted in the memory card insertion and holding slots accessible via the second lateral edge.
US08047351B2
An adjustment mechanism for rotating an adjusting ring on a clutch is disclosed. The adjustment mechanism includes a support bracket having an opening therein and a a rotation assembly rotatable about an axis relative to the support bracket. The rotation assembly includes a detent mechanism that is configured to cause both rotational and axial movement of the rotation assembly relative to the support bracket when only a rotational force is applied to the rotation assembly.
US08047347B2
An outer retainer includes a pair of annular portions facing each other in an axial direction and a plurality of column members connecting the annular portions. A plurality of window portions is formed by the annular portions and the column members, and an outward flange is provided at one side end thereof. The column member between window portions in predetermined positions is cut and the cut portion on the outward flange side is bent radially outward to be an elastic member. Paired cut-away portions are formed in predetermined portions of the outward flange with the elastic member disposed between the paired cut-away portions. In the thus-configured outer retainer, at least three window portions are disposed between the elastic member and the cut-away portion adjacent to the elastic member in the peripheral direction. Column members between paired cut-away portions are bent outward in the radial direction to be enlarged in diameter.
US08047341B2
A hydraulic shock absorber enables its piston rod to be locked near its minimum length position and allows the locked condition to be visually confirmed easily. A cap member is secured to a distal end portion of a piston rod extending from a cylinder part, and a dust cover is secured to the cap member. A lock member is secured to an end of the cylinder part from which the piston rod extends to the outside. The lock member is cut and bent upward to form engaging portions. The cap member is cut and bent downward to form engaging pieces and windows. With the piston rod contracted to near its minimum length position, the cap member is rotated to engage the engaging portions and the engaging pieces with each other, thereby locking the piston rod. The engaged condition of the engaging portions and the engaging pieces can be visually confirmed through the windows.
US08047339B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an EPB serving as an electrical parking brake in which a gear wheel and an external ring gear are arranged parallel to a driving gear rotating through a motor serving as the power source on a side surface, and fixed and output sun gears generating output torque are arranged to penetrate the external ring gear in a shaft direction via an internal ring gear and a planetary gear being in inner contact with the external ring gear, an overall length of a single body type housing with the motor is determined only by diameters of the driving gear, the gear wheel, and the external ring gear. Therefore, a power assembly converting the power of the motor driven by an ECU into the output torque is downsized so that a caliper mounted on a wheel presses a wheel disk.
US08047338B2
The invention relates to a self-boosting disk brake. In case of failure, in order to enable releasing the disk brake or putting it out of operation, the invention proposes embodying a self-boosting device so that it is movable in the direction of rotation of a brake disk and is fixable with a releasable fixation device.
US08047333B2
A method for allocation of a user to a elevator installation, which is provided with a plurality of elevator cars and with a destination call control unit, wherein the user lodges a destination call at the destination control unit using a communications unit. The destination call control unit determines a group of elevator cars for serving the destination call and makes the group known to the user by the communications unit. The user selects an elevator car from the group by the communications unit. In addition, information for guiding the user to the selected elevator car is communicated to the user by the communications unit.
US08047331B2
An attachment (10) for operably mounting and supporting a ladder (12) comprises an angular frame (18, 20) adapted for receipt by a vehicular hitch (14). The frame (18, 20) includes crosspieces (26) adapted for receiving rungs of the ladder (12), which are releaseably connected together with fasteners (28). In the second embodiment, the fasteners (28′) are captured on the frame (18′, 20′).
US08047320B2
A powered cycle vehicle having an adjustable mounting system for a power unit is described. A power unit is attached to a wheel mounting bracket which is affixed to the vehicle frame and carries the cycle wheel. The wheel mounting bracket may be a unitary structure that defines a wheel mount location and a power unit mount location. Adjustment of the power unit can be made independently of adjustment of the cycle wheel.
US08047319B2
A method for operating a cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a fan request for a variable speed fan disposed in the cooling system; employing a noise-comfort function to select a fan comfort request; and adjusting a speed of the variable speed fan in response to the fan request; wherein a noise emission by the variable speed fan is militated against. A cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle that employs the noise-comfort function is also provided.
US08047311B2
A track driven vehicle comprises a structural member underneath the vehicle. The structural member includes a plurality of structural member apertures for receiving fasteners inserted therethrough. The vehicle also includes a first track carrier and a first mounting strut attached to the first track carrier. The first mounting strut, which attaches the first track carrier to the structural member, includes a plurality of mounting strut apertures which, when aligned with the structural member apertures, receive the fasteners inserted therethrough. One of the first mounting strut and the structural member includes a fixedly attached dowel pin, and the other of the first mounting strut and the structural member includes a pin receiving aperture. When attaching the first track carrier to the structural member using the first mounting strut, the dowel pin extends into the pin receiving aperture to prevent cross-shearing between the structural member and the first mounting strut. This reduces camber between the structural member and the track carrier and allows fewer fasteners to be used to attach the first track carrier to the structural member.
US08047308B2
A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.
US08047293B2
Disclosed herein is a flow-actuated actuator. The actuator includes, a tubular movable relative to a structure within which the tubular is positionable, and a plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements disposed at the tubular, the plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements having a greater resistance to fluid flow therethrough than any one of the plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements has alone.
US08047287B2
An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.
US08047269B2
A thermal spreader comprises: a casing having a first side contacted with a heat source and a second side secured with a heat sink, and having a vapor chamber defined in an interior in the casing; and a crosslinking capillary lattice retained in the casing and occupying the vapor chamber in the casing, whereby upon evacuation to form vacuum in the vapor chamber and filling of a vaporizable working fluid in the vapor chamber, the working fluid will be repeatedly vaporized and condensed through the crosslinking capillary lattice to absorb and remove heat from the first side of the casing and to dissipate heat outwardly from the second side of the casing.
US08047268B1
A heat transfer system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop includes a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line in fluid communication with the vapor inlet of the condenser, a liquid line in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the condenser, and primary evaporators fluidly coupled in series with the liquid line and in parallel with the vapor line. The second loop includes a reservoir, a secondary evaporator having a vapor outlet coupled to the vapor line and a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, and a sweepage line in fluid communication with the reservoir and the primary evaporators.
US08047267B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for cooling communication equipment using a heat pipe, which releases heat from a heat-emitting unit by a simple, reliable and safe scheme. The present invention provides an apparatus for releasing heat, which comprises: a heat pipe for transferring heat generated in a heat-emitting unit of the communication equipment and being mounted on a predetermined location of the heat-emitting unit; a vaporizing unit for vaporizing liquid with the heat transferred via the heat pipe and draining the vaporized liquid through a vaporization line, wherein a lower part of the vaporizing unit contacts a predetermined location of the heat pipe; a condensing unit for performing heat-exchange by condensing the vaporized liquid from the vaporizing unit and returning the condensed liquid to the vaporizing unit through a condensation line; and a small capacity fan for releasing air to the outside when the condensing unit performs the heat-exchange.
US08047265B2
The present invention provides a previously unattainable compact and high thrust electromagnetic stirrer coil, that is, an electromagnetic stirrer coil for stirring molten steel in a mold by electromagnetic force, in which electromagnetic stirrer coil a space factor of the yoke sectional area (−) with respect to an inside area in a vertical cross-section of said electromagnetic stirrer coil is 0.5 to 0.9 and a yoke width B is 100 mm to 300 mm. Preferably, a magnetomotive force F of said electromagnetic stirrer coil divided by the yoke width B, that is, a value of F/B, is 800 kAT/m or more.
US08047262B2
A cooling system for a low-pressure casting mold is provided, in which a sprue is located at a side surface of a cylinder head to ensure a sufficient distance between a combustion chamber and the sprue so that a combustion chamber cooling system combined with water cooling and air cooling is provided in a lower mold, thus reducing cycle time. Moreover, the cooling system for a low-pressure casting mold improves mechanical properties of a material used by reducing dendrite arm spacing (DAS) and porosity.
US08047258B1
A die casting method for use with semi-solid metal billets allows the removal of air from portions of the billet as it is compressed and deformed to flow into a cavity of a die. The die is formed in a manner that captures other potential defects and impurities in portions of the finished die cast product that can easily be removed subsequent to the completion of the die casting operation. The air is removed through passages formed in a generally cylindrical rod that extends through a second surface of the die to allow the air to flow from pockets formed by a concavity of the billet and through the air conduit to the atmosphere.
US08047253B2
A container or array of containers that is are sealed with a peelable seal is transported via a conveyor along a processing path toward a desealing station at which an adhesive surface having a width substantially the same as or greater than the width of the seal is pressed against the upper surface of the peelable seal. A collection rod applies a downward pressure on the adhesive surface, pressing it against the seal and keeping the container or container array in position on the conveyor as the plate moves with the conveyor. As the leading edge of the seal passes the collection rod, the adhesive surface is rolled upward, away from the plane of the seal, pulling up on the leading edge of the seal to separate it from the container or container array while the container or container array is held down by the roller. The removed seal is then discarded.
US08047251B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for selective inhibition of sintering in 3D fabrication. The disclosure provides methods and systems that use selective heating arrangements to selectively sinter areas during fabrication thereby reducing waste improving efficiency.
US08047248B2
A tire, tire lining or inner tube, containing a polymer composite, made of at least one rubber and/or at least one elastomer and a modified graphite oxide material, which is a thermally exfoliated graphite oxide with a surface area of from about 300 m2/g to 2600 m2/g.
US08047247B2
The invention relates to a tire valve (10) comprising a valve body (11) which penetrates a bore (21) of a rim (20), particularly a vehicle rim, embodies a bottom valve body section (13) that is disposed on one side (23) of the rim (20), particularly in the interior of the rim, in the mounted state as well as a top valve body section (15) that protrudes from the rim bore (21), and is configured so as to cooperate with a cap nut (17) in the area of the top valve body section (15). The bottom valve body section (13) forms a stop collar (19) which is used as an abutment for a flat peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) and widens the bottom valve body section (13) relative to the top valve body section (15) beyond an internal width of the rim bore (21). The peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) can be braced against said stop collar (19) by tightening the cap nut (17).
US08047238B2
A liner for repairing damaged pipes, such as underground sewer or gas pipes is disclosed. The liner comprises a TPU coating on a fibrous mat of non-woven fabric. The TPU coating is a high heat resistance polyester TPU which allows an epoxy resin/amine to be saturated in the non-woven fabric and the cure initiated by the use of steam or hot water. The cured epoxy resin converts the liner from a flexible state to a rigid state as the liner is cured in place inside the pipe. The TPU containing liner may also be used with thermoset resins other than epoxy resins, such as polyester resins and vinyl ester resins.
US08047237B2
Thermosetting or thermoplastic arrangement for the manufacturing of pipes (1), made up of a pile of plies (3) in composite materials, characterized in that it comprises at least one structural ply (5) and at least one rigidity ply (7). More specifically, the said at least one rigidity ply (7) takes the form of a perforated or meshed ply and is placed on at least part of the length of the said pipe (1). Further, the said at least one rigidity ply (7) is placed last while forming the pile. Alternatively, the arrangement according to the invention comprises reinforcement means (2) and/or sealing means (6).
US08047233B2
An apparatus for generating vortexes in fluid flow generally adjacent to a surface includes: (a) at least one vortex generating element; and (b) a piezoelectric motor element coupled with the at least one vortex generating element. The piezoelectric motor element responds to a varying voltage signal to move the at least one vortex generating element between a first position extending into the fluid flow an operating distance from the surface and a second position generally flush with the surface.
US08047216B2
There is provided a standing aid comprising a leg engaging means and a handle and wherein the standing aid is adapted such that, in use, a user can brace the leg engaging means against a leg and pull on the handle so that the user is aided to move from a seated position to a standing position. Also provided is a method of using the aid.
US08047211B2
A hair clip which includes opposing first (12) and second (14) combs, each of which has a body (18) with an upper side (19) and an underside (20), a plurality of spaced apart teeth (21) which extend from the body (18) and a plurality of attachment brackets (22a, 22b, 22c) on the body (18), each of which has an individual recess formation on the underside (20) and at least two spaced apart apertures which extend in the recess formation and between the underside and the upper side, and a biasing member which is attached to the first and second combs (14) and which is engaged with the plurality of attachment brackets (22a, 22b, 22c).
US08047208B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming two filters in a two-up configuration. The apparatus includes a feed wheel 18, an assembly wheel 20, a take-off wheel 22, and a flipping wheel 24. According to the method of the invention, tubes 10 are loaded from the feed wheel 18 to the assembly wheel 20 where one hollow end of the tubes is filled. The half-filled tubes 10′ are then transferred to take-off wheel 22 and then to a flipping wheel 24 where the tubes are flipped. The half-filled and flipped tubes 10″ are returned to vacant positions on the feed wheel and transferred back to the assembly wheel so that the remaining hollow ends can be filled. The filled tube 10′″ is transferred to a take-off wheel 22, where it is then removed from the take off wheel 22 using a stripper and/or additional wheels for further processing.
US08047205B2
A gas-mixing device for respirators can be used both in stationary operation and in mobile operation. The gas-mixing device has a storage tank (5), into which compressed air and oxygen can be introduced by dispensing valves (3, 8). In addition, a blower (10), which draws in gas from the environment (11), is connected to the storage tank (5). To dispense gas from the pressurized gas sources (4, 6) by means of the dispensing valves (3, 8), a first operating pressure level is set in the storage tank (5). When changing over to the blower operation, the operating pressure level is lowered to a pressure level adapted to the maximum respiration pressure.
US08047204B2
Dosage forms containing pharmaceutical compositions for use in devices to produce a spray or mist delivery of the compositions include dosage blister compartments and a dispensing blister compartment, wherein crushing of the compartments delivers the compositions in a desired spray pattern. Certain dosage forms include a plurality of dosage chambers each containing a component or a portion of a pharmaceutical composition, the contents of which are mixed or combined just prior to or during administration.
US08047199B2
An oven rack assembly including full extension slides. Full extension slides are mounted to an oven rack and oven rack frames or wire racks providing full extension of an oven rack from an oven enclosure. The rack frame is mounted to oven walls or the slides are coupled to wire racks along oven slide walls.
US08047198B2
A device with a door, in particular a door of a cooking appliance, supported for pivoting movement in a pivoting direction, for closing a useable space and with a guide system for at least partially lowering the door into a storage space in a guided manner, the device comprising at least one guide assembly operatively associated with the guide system and coupled to the door in a static manner in the pivoting direction and coupled to the door in a movable manner in at least one surface extension of the door.
US08047196B1
A flexible metallic sheet has a lower edge, parallel side edges and an upper edge. The sheet has spaced long notches. A plurality of rods is provided. Each rod has an interior end with a tab. Each tab is formed with an aperture. Each rod has an exterior end. A primary cap has a circular bottom, a cylindrical side wall and a recess. A ring is provided within the recess. The ring pivotally supports the apertures.
US08047193B2
A non-core drill bit is provided with a metallic seat 2 attached to the tip of a shank of a boring tool, a cylindrical first diamond grindstone body 3 fixed to the metallic seat 2 and having a recessed cutout portion 10 to be opened to one side, and a second diamond grindstone body 4 installed inside the recessed cutout portion 10. The tip of the second diamond grindstone body 4 is positioned on the metallic seat 2 side from the tip of the first diamond grindstone body 3. The inner side of the tip face of the first diamond grindstone body 3 is preferably formed in an approximately reverse-conical recessed shape.
US08047188B2
A method for engine starting is provided. The method may include performing idle-stop operation, and during a subsequent re-start, applying multi-strike ignition operation for a first combustion cycle. In this way, improved engine starting may be achieved with reduced emissions.
US08047181B2
A device is disclosed for sensing the speed of an EMD 567/645/710 two-cycle diesel engine having a crankcase, electronic fuel injectors and an electronic control system for controlling the electronic fuel injectors. The device includes a spline shaft sized for insertion into the crankcase of the engine so that the spline shaft rotates with the engine, a gear operably secured to the spline shaft to rotate with the spline shaft and sized to rotate with the engine in a 1:1 ratio, and at least one electronic sensor located adjacent the gear to sense rotation of the gear. The at least one electronic sensor is connectable to the electronic control system to provide electronic signals to the electronic control system for determining when to inject fuel with the electronic fuel injectors. Also disclosed is a method for retrofitting the engine and a kit for retrofitting the engine.
US08047178B2
A force transfer mechanism is provided for an internal-combustion engine. In the most preferred configuration, the force transfer mechanism comprises two inter-connected first class levers that are driven by four pistons. Each of the pistons is driven through its non-powered strokes by the action of the piston in its powered stroke on the first class levers. The force transfer mechanism also drives the crankshaft through a single connecting rod. The force transfer mechanism provides for less frictional loss, and greater efficiency, than a typical internal combustion engine.
US08047177B2
A cylinder head having a plurality of integrally formed port-exhaust manifold assemblies therein, wherein the port-exhaust manifold assembly is integrally formed in the cylinder head by extending a plurality of exhaust port of an engine to function as an exhaust manifold and the plurality of the port-exhaust manifold assemblies is arranged in a triangle when each center portion of outlet portions thereof are connected.
US08047175B2
A two-plane type crankshaft is provided. The weight of crank webs for the respective cylinders is divided between left and right half webs and balance ratios kL and kR of the half webs for the respective cylinders are set so as to be (kL−0.25)·(0.25−kR)≅DR/DL to form a track of a vector of a primary inertial couple into a substantial circle. A primary balancer offsets the primary inertia couple.
US08047173B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a stop and automatic restart device for a thermal engine of a vehicle, comprising electric energy storage means and a reversible alternator connected to the thermal engine. The method comprises: comparing (16, 18) the temperature of the alternator (10) with a first predetermined temperature detecting (16, 18) the occurrence of at least one of the two following conditions concerning the electric energy storage means: a temperature (12) lower than a second predetermined temperature and a charge level (14) lower than a predetermined threshold; and if the alternator temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature and if at least one of said two conditions occurs, inhibiting (26) the automatic restart of the engine.
US08047171B2
A device for setting the relative rotational position of a camshaft (2, 3) of an internal combustion engine (11) relative to a crankshaft (1) driving the camshaft (2, 3), having a traction mechanism drive (4) wrapping around the crankshaft (1) and the camshaft (2, 3), which includes a loaded traction-mechanism section (8, 9) and a non-loaded traction-mechanism section (7), and a tensioning device (5, 6, 10) for changing the length of the loaded traction-mechanism section (8, 9). The tensioning device (5, 6, 10) is supported on the internal combustion engine (11) and has an adjustment device (20) that can be fixed.
US08047170B2
A device (10) for variably adjusting control times of gas exchange valves (9a, 9b) of an internal combustion engine (1), including an external rotor (22) and an internal rotor (23) that is arranged such that it can rotate in relation to the external rotor. One of the components is drivingly connected to the crankshaft (2) and the other component is drivingly connected to the camshaft (6, 7). At least one pressure chamber (33) is provided and each of the pressure chambers (33) is divided into two counter-working pressure chambers (35, 36). One of the working chambers (35, 36) of each pressure chamber (33) acts as an advance chamber and the other pressure chamber (35, 36) as a retarding chamber. At least two rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) are provided, with each of the rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) being able to assume an unlocked state and locked state. The locked state can be adjusted by supplying or withdrawing a pressure medium to and from the respective rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43).
US08047169B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of: controlling, when the phase of an intake valve is a phase advanced relative to a threshold value CA (FF) (NO in S106), an electric motor operating an intake VVT mechanism by feedback control (S202); and controlling, when the phase of the intake valve is a phase retarded relative to the threshold value CA (FF) (YES in S106), the electric motor by feed-forward control (S200). Under the feed-forward control, a duty command value is output that is smaller than an upper limit of a duty command value under the feedback control.
US08047162B2
A system and method for quickly cooling and de-pressurizing a boiler arrangement in the event of a plant power loss, a.k.a. a black plant condition. A steam discharge system injects steam from the steam/water circuit into the furnace, thereby both cooling components of the boiler arrangement and reducing pressure in the steam/water circuit. This reduces or eliminates the additional cost associated with providing extra capacity in a steam drum and/or an independently powered boiler water pump. The system and method is particularly useful for quickly cooling the U-beams of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler during a black plant condition. In application to boiler arrangements with a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system employing steam as a carrier for a NOx reducing agent, the steam discharge system advantageously uses the discharge nozzles of the SNCR system to inject the steam into the furnace.
US08047157B2
A coating can be applied to an endolumenal wall of a medical device by positioning an optical fiber within the lumen, providing a photo-activated chemical to contact the endolumenal wall, supplying the optical fiber with radiation capable of activating the chemical within the lumen, and withdrawing the optical fiber from the lumen at a controlled rate while the radiation is being emitted from the optical fiber to activate the chemical in close proximity to the endolumenal wall.
US08047143B2
The present invention relates to apparatus for incinerating dangerous waste, and in particular, apparatus for incinerating dangerous waste in various forms. It comprises a continuous feeding device, an incineration furnace, a flue gas quenching device, a flue gas treating device, and an online monitoring system. The continuous feeding device includes device for feeding paste, powder, and solid device. The quenching device is connected to a steam boiler and a thermal oil tank, thus achieving comprehensive utilization of the thermal energy generated during incineration of the waste. Apparatus for incinerating dangerous waste according to the present invention enables sufficient combustion of the waste, recycling of the metal oxides or noble metals from the combustion flue gas and/or sinters and/or furnace ashes, effective elimination of the concurrent degradation and re-forming of dioxins. In addition, users can purchase one set of the apparatus for incinerating dangerous waste of the present invention for treating various forms of waste, thus substantially reducing the related capital cost.
US08047132B2
A hand-held device and a method for affixing a seal impression on a paper document are provided. The hand-held device includes a processor, a memory unit, an input unit, and a seal impression generation unit for generating a seal impression. The processor generates a file code in response to a file code generation request and generates a control signal. The seal impression generation unit generates a seal impression according to the control signal of the processor. After the seal impression is affixed on a paper document, the processor generates a log file in response to a log file generation request.
US08047128B2
A vacuum cooking apparatus for household use, comprising, on a supporting structure which has a column-like extension, at least one unit for packaging in pouches in vacuum food products to be cooked, at least one unit for cooking the food products arranged in pouches and at least one unit for quick refrigeration of the food products arranged in pouches and cooked, the at least one unit for packaging food products in pouches in vacuum comprising a vacuum packaging machine which is mounted on a drawer-like element which is supported so that it can slide by the supporting structure in order to pass from a retracted position, in which the vacuum packaging machine is arranged within the outer peripheral contour of the supporting structure, to an extracted position, in which the vacuum packaging machine is positioned at least partially outside the supporting structure, and vice versa.
US08047118B1
An integrated laser range finder and sighting assembly includes a range finder for determining a distance to a target and an onboard ballistics computer for calculating a trajectory and automatically rotating a pointing laser to the proper angle for aligning with the target for lobbing of a grenade.
US08047113B2
An apparatus and method for a solution that permits a carpenter to make exact, on-the-spot time-efficient cross-cuts of their boards while holding the board in one-hand and the circular saw in the other hand. A cross-out apparatus includes a guide system including a housing and a range of motion control for defining a processing path for a guide element as it moves from a first position to a second position relative to the housing; a workpiece coupler, coupled to the guide element, for defining a desired processing orientation with respect to a workpiece for maintaining the desired processing orientation as the guide element moves from the first position to the second position; and an attachment system, coupled to the housing, for cooperating with a hand-held power processing tool to position a processing implement at a reference location relative to the workpiece and at the desired processing orientation, the attachment system coupled to the housing so the guide element maintains the desired processing orientation along the processing path from the reference location during use of the hand-held power processing tool to process the workpiece.
US08047107B2
A paper cutting system includes a cutting assembly, a transport moving a web through the cutting assembly, a vacuum plenum utilizing a vacuum source to control the web moving through the cutting assembly, an air source providing purge air to the cutting assembly for removal of debris, and a heat exchanger normalizing a temperature of the purge air with respect to a temperature of ambient air prior to the purge air reaching the cutting assembly. The heat exchanger may be operated using the vacuum source.
US08047104B2
In a vibration cutting unit, a root portion of a holding member for supporting a vibration body is fixed on a fixed portion of a node portion which is common to axial vibration and bending vibration, on a jointless basis. Therefore, the node portion, namely, a vibration body main part is firmly fixed, thereby, the vibration body main part is supported stably, and vibrations of the vibration body main part is stabilized. In other words, vibrations under the mode where the vibration body main part cannot be controlled can be restrained, and works representing objects to be processed can be processed accurately.
US08047098B2
A steering wheel includes a rim that is rotatable around a steering shaft. The rim includes an armature; a first rim portion surrounding the armature; and a second rim portion, covering part of the surface of the first rim portion. A method of manufacturing a steering wheel includes providing an armature; injection molding a first rim portion such that the it surrounds the armature; injection molding a second rim portion; and attaching the first and second rim portions such that the second rim portion covers part of the surface of the first rim portion.
US08047095B2
Provided is an XY table actuator that, while building-in a drive means for freely moving an object placed on a table within an XY-plane and positioning the object, can be significantly reduced in size and that helps to suppress an increase in table height. The actuator has: a stationary plate (2) having a receiving groove extending in an X-direction; a moving plate (5) having a receiving groove extending in a Y-direction; an intermediate plate (4) whose lower body is assembled to the receiving groove (20) of the stationary plate (2) through intermediation of rolling bodies (3), whose upper body is assembled to the receiving groove of the moving plate (5) through intermediation of rolling bodies (3), and which is movable in the X-direction with respect to the stationary plate, with the moving plate being movable in the Y-direction with respect to the intermediate plate; an X-drive means (6) for propelling the intermediate plate in the X-direction with respect to the stationary plate; and a Y-drive means (7) for propelling the moving plate in the Y-direction with respect to the intermediate plate, in which the intermediate plate is provided with receiving chambers (40, 41) for the X-drive means and the Y-drive means, respectively.
US08047093B2
A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section; and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a rotational motion with respect to the movable section. The wrist-section drive mechanism includes a hollow outer holder connected to the base section rotatably about a first rotation axis; a hollow intermediate holder provided in the outer holder rotatably about a second rotation axis orthogonal to the first axis; a hollow inner holder provided inside the intermediate holder rotatably about a third rotation axis orthogonal to the second axis; a prime mover driving the outer holder to rotate about the first axis; and a transmission member received in the inner holder and linearly movable in a rotationally restrained state along a linear-motion axis orthogonal to the third axis, and connected at one end spaced from the inner holder to the wrist section through a universal joint. The transmission member operates to transmit a rotation of the outer holder about the first axis to the wrist section, and to allow the wrist section to perform a rotational motion about a fourth rotation axis orthogonal to the third axis.
US08047086B2
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner, a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents comprising suspensions of solid support material and for presenting the containers for machine access thereto, and a device for holding containers of reagents in a temperature controlled environment and presenting the containers for machine access thereto. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by automatically moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the separated analyte after the analyte separation step and before a final incubation step.
US08047085B2
Methods and apparatus (7) for monitoring the tension (17) and pinch force (19) associated with the contact of angled stub rollers (91) with a glass ribbon (23) are provided. The apparatus (7) includes a support member (39) which supports the shaft (13) of the stub roller (91). The support member (39) undergoes linear displacement (45) in response to tension (17) in the glass ribbon (23) and rotation (59) in response to a pinch force (19). The linear displacement (45) and rotation (59) are detected and converted to force values by a calibration procedure. By monitoring these forces, glass attributes such as residual stress can be improved which is of importance in glass sheets used in such applications as the manufacture of liquid crystal displays.
US08047077B2
A surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) sensor includes; a first signal generator which generates a first signal having a predetermined frequency bandwidth using a pseudo random sequence, a second signal generator which generates a second signal with a predetermined frequency, a signal blender which blends the first signal with the second signal to generate a blended signal having the predetermined frequency bandwidth with the predetermined frequency as a center frequency, a wave generator which generates a surface acoustic wave using the blended signal, which converts the surface acoustic wave into a third signal after the surface acoustic wave travels a predetermined distance, and which outputs the third signal, and a signal detector which detects a change in the third signal from the wave generator to sense a substance bound to the wave generator.
US08047074B2
Provided are a humidity sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The humidity sensor has high sensitivity, quick response time, improved temperature characteristics, low hysteresis and excellent durability. Moreover, for the humidity sensor, a humidity sensitive layer may be formed of various materials. The humidity sensor may be manufactured in a small size on a large scale.The humidity sensor includes a substrate, an open cavity with an open upper portion formed to have a depth and a width in the substrate, a plurality of electrode pads formed on the substrate, a heater connected to one pad of the electrode pads at one end, and connected to another pad of the electrode pads at the other end to be suspended over the open cavity, a plurality of sensing electrodes formed on the same plane as the heater, and suspended over the open cavity to output a sensed signal to the electrode pads, a humidity sensitive layer formed on the heater and the sensing electrodes, suspended over the open cavity, and changed in characteristic according to the humidity, and an ambient temperature measurement part configured to measure the temperature around the humidity sensor, wherein the temperature is used as a reference temperature to control a heating temperature of the heater.
US08047061B2
A system and method for determining whether a particular wheel on a vehicle is un-balanced during operation of the vehicle. The method includes providing wheel angle signals from the wheels of the vehicle and providing a vibration measurement signal from a response point on the vehicle, such as from an accelerometer on a steering column of the vehicle. The method also includes generating a regression vector using the wheel angle signals. The method also includes generating an estimated parameter vector using a recursive least squares algorithm, the regression vector and the vibration measurement signal. The method then calculates an imbalanced magnitude value of each wheel of the vehicle using the estimated parameter vector. The method uses a persistency of excitation test to determine whether the parameter vector has converged to a true value to determine whether the calculated imbalanced magnitude values are accurate.
US08047051B2
A gas sensor with a high temperature electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector incorporates a ceramic connector body having a pair of opposing ceramic body portions which each house a plurality of conductive terminals. The body portions are in pivoting engagement and fixed in a connector body retainer which also enables their pivoting, hinged movement. The pivoting engagement permits the ceramic body portions and terminals to hinge open to receive a gas sensor with a low insertion force and a hinge closed to provide the desired contact force.
US08047047B2
An apparatus for providing information pertaining to the orientation of a vehicle to which the apparatus is coupled includes a chassis having a first interior surface and an inertial-sensor assembly disposed within the chassis and having a first exterior surface. A first sensor element is mounted on the first interior surface, and a second sensor element is mounted on the first exterior surface. At least one of the first and second sensor elements is configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a distance of displacement of the second sensor element with respect to the first sensor element.
US08047043B2
An exemplary punch die (30) includes a lower die (40) and an upper die (50). The lower die includes a die core (45), a blank holder (417), and a cylinder (413) disposed in the lower die. The blank holder is disposed on a periphery of the die core. The cylinder is connected to the blank holder and provides a constant force to the blank holder. The upper die includes a punch core corresponding to the die core. A punch machine using the present punch die is also provided.
US08047042B2
The present invention is a press forging method by which porosities in a raw material are removed and mechanical properties such as ductility and toughness of a steel product are at a required level in a case that a steel ingot is treated as a raw material in press forging. A cylindrical steel ingot (a so-called “round billet”) is set onto a die as a raw material, and, a forging process is applied to the steel ingot so that buckling of the steel is not generated during the forging process and that a reduction ratio and a forging ratio are more than predetermined values, respectively.
US08047038B2
A flashing bender system for bending flashing at a selectable range of angles. The flashing bender system includes a first bending tool and a second bending tool. The first bending tool is arranged to bend flashing to an angle of about 90° and the second bending tool is arranged to bend flashing at a selectable range of pitches. The flashing bender system may include either or both of the first bending tool and the second bending tool. The flashing bender system allows a user to bend flashing of a range of sizes at a range of angles over an unlimited length. Each of the bending tools includes a plurality of starter slots and angling channels.
US08047032B1
A combination lock includes an outer case with an inner case received therein and the outer case has a chamber which communicates with a passage in which a latch is received. A spring is mounted to the latch and provides a force to move the latch in a direction away from the chamber. A front unit having two disks is located in the first chamber and a rear unit having two disks is located in the second chamber. The two disks of the front unit drive each other and the two disks of the rear unit drive each other. A first dial plate drives one of the disks of the front unit and a second dial plate drives one of the disks of the rear unit. When the notches are in alignment with each other, the end piece of the latch can pass through the notches and the lock is unlocked.
US08047031B2
An electronic lock includes a rotatable core movable within an outer body. The rotatable core includes a piezo-electric actuator configured to move a tumbler blocking member into or out of interfering engagement with one or more tumblers. Tamper circuitry coupled with the piezo-electric actuator is configured to resist an externally induced acceleration of the electronic lock by shunting electrical power produced by an externally induced motion of the piezo-electric actuator back to the piezo-electric actuator.
US08047027B2
A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.
US08047025B2
A tub (1) for a clothes washing-machine, in particular of the domestic type which houses a rotating drum (2) within which the washing load is placed, said washing tub (1) consisting of a peripheral cylindrical housing formed by a tub front section (3) and a tub rear section (4) which are joined at their respective plastic material edges (31, 41), enclosing the drum (2) in their interior, by the fusion welding of the plastic materials of said edges (31, 41), forming a weld bead (5a, 5b) between the tub front section (3) and the tub rear section (4) where the edges (31, 41) are joined by at least two joining lines (51, 52, 53, 54), forming at least one chamber (6, 61) between the edges (31, 41) along at least part of the weld bead (5a, 5b).
US08047016B2
Disclosed is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, in which discharge units respectively provided on upper and lower portions of the indoor unit have an improved discharge structure such that the discharge units are interchangeable, to increase cooling efficiency regardless of installation position of the indoor unit. The indoor unit includes a cabinet; a first discharge unit being detachably provided on the cabinet and configured to discharge air in a forward direction; and a second discharge unit separated from the first discharge unit, being detachably provided on the cabinet and configured to discharge air in the oblique direction, the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit being interchangeable according to a height of a position at which the cabinet is installed. The indoor unit of the air conditioner sets the optimum direction of discharged air, thus increasing the cooling efficiency of an indoor space.
US08047015B2
The present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigerator. The present invention provides an ice maker for a refrigerator, which is provided at one side of the refrigerator to make ice. The ice maker comprises an ice maker body provided with an ice-making tray for making ice; an ejector rotatably mounted at one side of the ice maker body so as to eject ice made in the ice-making tray to the outside; a water supply hopper provided at one side of the ice maker body and having at least an open portion so that the water supply hopper is supplied with water from a water supply source through a water supply tube and then transfers the water to the ice-making tray; and a hopper cover coupled to the water supply hopper so as to selectively open and close the open portion of the water supply hopper. According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which water supplied from an outer water supply source to the water supply hopper splashes to the outside.
US08047011B2
In concurrent operation of performing a refrigeration cycle in which an outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as a condenser, and at least one of a plurality of indoor heat exchangers (31, 41, 51) functions as a condenser, pressure difference ΔP1 between a high pressure refrigerant an a refrigerant in a liquid pipe (15) is detected, and the degree of opening of an outdoor expansion valve (23) is adjusted so that the pressure difference ΔP1 becomes larger than a predetermined target value.
US08047010B2
A portable apparatus and method for providing a cooled liquid for vascular administration are disclosed. The portable apparatus includes a source of liquid for vascular administration, a cooling reservoir for receiving liquid from the source, and a sorption-based heat exchanger for cooling liquid in the cooling reservoir by a sorption-based process. The heat exchanger may include an evaporative area for receiving and vaporizing a refrigerant, a sorptive material for sorping vaporized refrigerant, and a heat exchange member for conducting thermal energy from liquid in the cooling reservoir into the evaporative area. Additional componentry may be provided for fluidly interconnecting and controlling the flow of liquid from the source to the cooling reservoir and from the cooling reservoir to a vascular interface device. Such componentry may be conveniently packaged in a sterilized manner together with at least the cooling reservoir.
US08047005B2
A water injection system positioned about a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The water injection system may include a water manifold and a pressure relief system in communication with the water manifold. The pressure relief system may include a relief vent positioned on a pressure relief line.
US08047004B2
An engine exhaust nozzle comprises a plurality of CMC staves attached to one or more support rings arranged axially. The support rings provide a circumferential load path between the staves and for attaching the exhaust nozzle to the metallic engine components. The staves are fixed to the support rings with a spacing intended to accommodate for relative movement due to the difference in CTE for the CMC and metallic components and due to thermal gradients through the wall thickness. The resulting apparatus is lightweight, relieves the nozzle of thermal stresses, and is easier to manufacture and repair.
US08047002B2
The present invention relates to an annular combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising a casing with at least one air tapping outlet situated at the chamber inlet, a fuel supply device with a plurality of fuel injectors in the chamber distributed annularly of which at least one is situated close to said tapping outlet.The chamber is characterized in that the fuel supply device comprises a means for reducing the fuel flow rate in said injector situated close to the tapping outlet relative to the other fuel injectors.Thanks to the invention, the hot spots downstream of the combustion chamber caused by the tappings are reduced.
US08046987B2
An air cooled core mounted ignition system for gas turbine engine applications is provided. The ignition system includes an ignition exciter component directly mechanically and electrically connected to an igniter component. The housing member of the exciter component includes an air plenum configured to receive bleed air from the engine fan or compressor sections of the turbine engine, or other source. The bleed air provides a relatively low temperature air source for the purpose of cooling the exciter. As such, the exciter component can be directly secured to the igniter, thereby eliminating the need for an ignition lead.
US08046980B1
The weed whacker attachment includes a weed whacker that extends via an arm from a mounting means that attaches upon the deck of a lawnmower. A pivoting motor rests atop the mounting means and rotates the arm around the deck of the lawn mower, which moves the weed whacker around to different sides of the lawnmower. An optional switch enables an end user to control both the weed whacker and the pivoting motor from behind the push bar of the lawnmower.
US08046974B2
A closure system for a container reduces the needed torque for assembly by minimizing frictional resistance to rotation of the closure into its desired alignment with the container before the closure is driven home onto the container neck. The reduction in the torque resistance during the application of the closure allows the rotary filling machinery to work within its torque limits and minimizes damage to the parts during the filling and sealing operation in a bottle filling line.
US08046971B2
This invention provides a new wall arrangement in panels composed of glass wool and fire resistant thermal and acoustical insulating material, adequate for any kind of land and weather condition, to create a habitable environment that may be utilized in many applications such as houses, attendance stations, schools, first aid stations, motels and others. The objective of this invention is to present the conception of a modular wall which comprises a structure composed of a sheet of glass wool, with a wooden frame core and the upper part designed to support cabinets, exhaust fans, and other utensils, offering good mechanical resistance, and receiving in the interior of the hollow areas of the wooden frame, a layer of expanded polystyrene, with grooves to receive the ribs of rock wool. To complete its composition, the structure also has rock wool internal panels, wooden frame with the upper area, a new layer of expanded polystyrene, and completing the assembly a plate of glass wool is added.
US08046955B2
A water deviation unit for external wall features comprises a frame shaped plate adaptable to be attached to a sheathing of a composite external wall and a box like subassembly projecting outwardly from and connecting to the frame shaped plate and provided centrally with a relatively large aperture. The box like subassembly includes: 1) a pair of spaced apart walls extending outwardly and perpendicularly in vertical planes from adjacent sides of said relatively large aperture and continuing above the latter; 2) upper and lower means for inclining used to deflect outwardly the water and connected laterally respectively at a top and a bottom of the pair of spaced apart walls; and 3) means for controlling an entrance and a withdrawal from an interior of the composite external, disposed between and joining the spaced apart walls.
US08046954B2
A window assembly including a frame having an interior portion with an inner surface, and a sash having an interior portion and an exterior portion. The window assembly includes an operational mode and a wash mode. In the operational mode, the sash is movable from a closed position to a position in which the sash is generally perpendicular with the frame. In the wash mode, the sash is movable to a position where the exterior of the sash faces toward the interior frame.
US08046950B2
A mount for mounting a device to a firearm that includes a side plate, a support plate and a mounting rail. The side plate has a first end and a second end. The support plate extends from the first end of the side plate at approximately a right angle. Moreover, the support plate is adapted to support a device resting thereon. The mounting rail is coupled to the second end of the side plate. In addition, the mounting rail extends out from the side plate in a direction that is approximately opposite the direction the support plate extends from the side plate.
US08046949B1
Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for installing a hand guard on a firearm. In embodiments, a method of installing a hand guard on a firearm can be provided. The firearm includes a barrel, a barrel nut, and a delta ring. The delta ring is retracted away from the barrel nut. A number of hand guard members are positioned about the barrel. An annular groove associated with each hand guard member is mated with a portion of a flange of the barrel nut. The flange is secured within the annular groove of at least one hand guard member. The delta ring is advanced over a portion of some or all the hand guard members.
US08046947B2
An apparatus and method for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus clears the barrel and/or prevents water from entering the barrel based on pressure variations.
US08046946B2
A device for counting shots fired by a firearm including a permanent magnet mounted to moving portion of the firearm and electrically coupled to a coil mounted on a relatively stationary portion of the firearm. Movement of the magnet relative to the coil induces an electromotive force within the coil. The induced electromotive force can be used increment a shot-count indictor and thereby record the number of shots fired by the firearm. The electromotive force can also be measured by a verification circuit to determine the strength of a shot and thereby verify whether a round was actually discharged by the firearm. In some embodiments, information regarding the number of shots discharged and the strength of the shots can be transmitted to an external device.
US08046944B2
An automobile interior exhibit is configured with a relief formed to replicate an automobile interior member and an interior cover covering the surface of the relief. In the automobile interior exhibit, the relief is provided with a simulative three-dimensional form in perspective so that the relief provides a view from a predetermined viewpoint even when the relief is viewed from the front.
US08046939B2
A mounting apparatus for a bucket of a front end loader vehicle. The mounting system allows the bucket to pivot up and over fixed objects when the leading edge of the bucket strikes an immovable object for the purpose of protecting the loader assembly, vehicle, and operator.
US08046937B2
An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
US08046935B2
An apparatus including a flexible first member for removable attachment to a footwear device and a second member attached to the first member for interacting with the footwear device and being configured to sweep foreign objects away from and prevent entry of the foreign objects into an interior of the footwear device.
US08046927B1
A distance indicating mechanism can be used in combination with a bow sight to quickly determine distances to targets from an elevated position. The distance indicating mechanism has a generally circular, fluid-filled tubular device with one or more adjustable indicators located thereon. The indicators are positionable to correspond with the fluid level in the tubular device to indicate the orientation of the mechanism when aiming at a known distance. Each indicator generally corresponds to a sight pin of a bow site that indicates a corresponding linear distance for which an arrow will be at a desired vertical position when shot by a bow operator.
US08046926B2
A saw blade clamping arrangement for a power tool including a housing, a drive shaft mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the housing and having a longitudinal drive axis, and a saw blade releasably interconnected with the drive shaft. The saw blade clamping arrangement includes a blade support mechanism with first and second slots crosswise intersecting slots configured to selectively receive the saw blade in first and second orientations. The clamping arrangement also includes a tubular actuator rotatable about the longitudinal drive axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the actuator including a locking cam surface, and a locking member operatively associated with the actuator, and movable between a locked position that selectively locks the blade in one of the first and second orientations and an unlocked position that releases the blade, the locking member including a follower surface driven by the locking cam surface.
US08046925B2
A pruning hook includes an extension shank, a blade unit including a fixed blade mounted on the extension shank and a movable blade pivotally connected with the fixed blade, a driving cord to drive the movable blade, a slide movably mounted in the extension shank to drive the driving cord, a pull cord mounted in the extension shank to drive the slide, and a pulling member movable relative to the extension shank to drive the pull cord. Thus, the pulling member is pulled by a user's arm to drive the blade unit so that the blade unit is driven by a greater force applied by the user's arm and has a larger shearing force to perform a cutting action in an easier manner so as to cut a larger object easily and conveniently.
US08046913B2
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of circle type terminal for driving motor of hybrid vehicle, comprising: assembling a terminal assembly having a plurality of bus-rings; accommodating the terminal assembly into an insert jig; coupling the insert jig with an injection mold; and supplying insert resin into the insert jig through the injection mold to integrally form an insulator with the terminal assembly thus performing manufacturing a circle type terminal, thereby providing a simple process to manufacture the circle type terminal and a method of forming an insulating material that can lower a manufacturing cost.
US08046906B2
The jig includes an upper jig part, a lower jig part, a support plate, a guide jig part, and a spring. The upper jig part has a pressure protrusion for press-fitting a rotating shaft, and applies pressing force to the rotating shaft. The lower jig part supports a rotor casing in a direction which is opposite the acting direction of the pressing force. The support plate is mounted to the lower jig part, and supports the rotor casing in a direction which is opposite that of the force for press-fitting the rotating shaft. The guide jig part supports the rotor casing in a direction which is opposite that of reaction force generated in the rotor casing by the support plate. The spring elastically biases the guide jig part towards the rotor casing.
US08046903B2
Cutting assemblies are disclosed that include an entrance portion and a receiving portion, with the receiving portion defining a receiving opening configured to be axially aligned with an entrance opening of the entrance portion when mounted to the surface of a cutting apparatus. Cutting assemblies are also provided that include a material carriage configured to be borne by a cutting apparatus. Cutting assemblies that include a material receiving portion configured to be slidably mounted to a surface of a cutting apparatus are also disclosed. Cutting methods are also disclosed that can include rotating a piece of material around the materials longitudinal axis and delivering the material to a cutting tool while the longitudinal axis of the material is aligned substantially opposite the direction of rotation of the cutting tool.
US08046902B2
A method for the production of an annular connection flange includes producing the annular connection flange from an element in the form of a circular ring. The element in the form of a circular ring has a substantially triangular profile.
US08046899B2
A connector for releasably securing a shaft and a head having a hosel with a bore of standard size. The connector includes a shaft adapter, a hosel adapter, and a compression nut. The shaft adapter has a shaft bore sized to receive the shaft, a first threaded coupling member, and a axial shaft. The hosel adapter has a hosel bore and a main body portion. The hosel bore is sized to receive the axial shaft. The compression nut has a second coupling member. The shaft is secured within the shaft bore and the main body portion is secured within the bore of the hosel using an adhesive and the axial shaft is inserted within the hosel bore. Thereafter, the compression nut is rotated to couple the first and second coupling members together thereby securing the shaft and head together without the shaft being received within the bore of the hosel.
US08046897B2
A balloon is inflated from a collapsed configuration, then deflated. A polymeric stent is then disposed over the deflated balloon and the stent crimped to the balloon.
US08046882B2
A casket and memorialization accessory combination comprises a casket comprising a casket shell having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls and a casket lid closable on the casket shell, a decorative ornament comprising a digital image display device, and a keepsake box adapted to receive keepsake items therein. The casket shell and ornament are configured such that the ornament is removably attachable to the casket shell. The keepsake box and ornament are configured such that the ornament is attachable to the keepsake box. The ornament can be removed from the casket in which a deceased was displayed for viewing and attached to the keepsake box so that the keepsake box and ornament can be presented to a loved one of the deceased as a memorial to the deceased.
US08046877B2
A seed cotton dryer comprises an array of electromagnetic wave energy generators in a cotton gin and a cotton picker/stripper. An appropriate amount of energy is used to evaporate a considerable amount of moisture in the seed cotton without producing enough energy to pop the cotton seeds. Seed cotton dried by wave energy is much easier to separate the cotton seeds and lint from leaves, stems and other plant parts. The seed cotton is preferably transported through the dryer in a conduit having flat sides which reflects the wave energy more efficiently than through a round conduit. Provisions are made to prevent arcing in the transport conduit when extraneous metal pieces are inadvertently mixed with the seed cotton. In some embodiments, heated air from a diesel engine is used to dry crops as they are being harvested.
US08046872B2
A carriage for fitting a suspendable door on a rail is described. The carriage includes a housing and at least one running roller disposed on the housing. The running roller is positioned to engage the rail. An installation plate is included that is adapted to be connected to the suspendable door. A suspension bolt is connected between the housing and the installation plate. A portion of the suspension bolt engages a bearing disposed at one end of either the housing or the installation plate. The bearing permits at least angular displacement if the suspension bolt with respect to either the housing or the installation plate.
US08046871B2
A caster of an endless structure is provided which is almost jam-proof even in the case of a bigger gap. The caster includes a first wheel supported on a mounting leg, a second wheel supported by an axle on one end of a suspension arm of which the other end is supported by an axle which also supports the first wheel, and a wrap-around member which is wrapped around the first and second wheels. The wraparound member is formed an endless belt form by connecting independent pieces to each other. The outer peripheral section of each piece is provided with a wider section and when the wraparound member is depressed and warps, the wider section is adapted to touch a wider section of the adjacent piece, thereby preventing further depression.
US08046865B2
A flexible cleaning tool (22) is disclosed. The cleaning tool (22) includes a handle (24) connected to an elongated flexible support member (26) that includes a plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments (40). A cleaning pad (28) encloses the support rod (26).
US08046863B2
In an embodiment, a mop includes a mop head and a shaft attached to the mop head. A handle is attached to the shaft by a pivot. An actuator member is coupled to the handle between a grip end and the pivot. Translation of the handle causes the actuator member to translate. In an embodiment, the pivot is offset from the shaft and arranged so that the shaft is located between the position where the handle is attached to the actuator member and the position where the handle is attached to the pivot. A stop may be provided to limit the translation of the handle. The actuator member is coupled a mop fiber base that supports mop fibers. The surface of the mop fibers may have a plurality of raised portions.
US08046848B2
A self-cleansing portable urine collection device and method of collecting urine in a self-cleansing portable urine collection device is provided. The collection device includes a housing which houses a urine collection receptacle configured to collect urine from a user. A cleansing container which retains a cleansing solution is configured to supply the cleansing solution to the receptacle. The device further includes a reservoir coupled to the receptacle and configured to receive the urine and the cleansing solution collected by the receptacle. A pump coupled to the receptacle and the reservoir is configured to transport the urine and the cleansing solution from the receptacle to the reservoir.
US08051491B1
Techniques are described for managing access to computing-related resources that, for example, may enable multiple distinct parties to independently control access to the resources (e.g., such that a request to access a resource succeeds only if all of multiple associated parties approve that access). For example, an executing software application may, on behalf of an end user, make use of computing-related resources of one or more types that are provided by one or more remote third-party network services (e.g., data storage services provided by an online storage service)—in such a situation, both the developer user who created the software application and the end user may be allowed to independently specify access rights for one or more particular such computing-related resources (e.g., stored data files), such that neither the end user nor the software application developer user may later access those resources without the approval of the other party.
US08051488B2
Subscription based content is decrypted for one or more trial periods without shortening the subscription period for the device. The subscription period for the content does not start until the expiration of the last trial period. The subscription logic included with the device monitors a packet value received in a broadcast to determine when the device is receiving a packet within a trial period. The packet value is time-based such that the subscription logic can determine when the device has exceeded the number of allowed trial periods as well as to determine when the subscription ends.
US08051486B2
A web application receives a user input with a SQL injection attack string that references a function. The application generates a corresponding statement based on the user input string, which the application sends to a database server. Upon receiving the statement, the database server executes the statement that invokes the referenced function. When invoked, the referenced function stores a value. The presence of the stored value indicates that the database server invoked the function. Storing the value indicative of the function invocation identifies a vulnerability of the web application to SQL injection attacks, since the function reference is introduced solely through user input and function invocation is not intended by the application. This provides proof of SQL injection vulnerability of the application.
US08051484B2
A method for detecting and blocking web attacks, the method comprising identifying read-only parameters by parsing responses received from uniform resource locators. The combinations of binding correlation values (BCVs) of the read-only parameters are compared to their respective previously observed values.
US08051478B1
A secure browsing manager intercepts load calls, and determines whether intercepted load calls are attempting to load code into the browser. When the secure browsing manager detects that a load call is attempting to load code into the browser, it determines whether that code is trusted. The secure browsing manager processes the attempt to load the code into the browser according to whether or not the code is trusted. If the secure browsing manager determines that the code is trusted, it allows the code to be loaded into the browser, thereby securely allowing the benefits of loaded code. If the secure browsing manager determines that the code is not trusted, it blocks the attempt to load the code into the browser, or alternatively takes other actions, such as allowing the code to be loaded into the browser, but blocking certain user initiated activity.
US08051475B2
Method for exchanging information between heterogeneous secured networks. Method supports synchronous communications across security domains including text chat, instant messaging, audio applications, video applications, and whiteboard collaboration. The invention intercepts incoming information traffic on either side and employs a guard for filtering information traffic between security domains according to a policy engine.
US08051473B2
A method for operating networks of devices (d) wherein said networks are formed by a plurality of domains (D), wherein each of said domains (D) is formed by one or by a plurality of sub-networks (n) of devices (d), wherein each device (d) is assigned to at least one authorized domain (AD) of said domains (D) by assigning and/or carrying/storing in each case at least one type of authorized domain identifier (ADI) to/by said respective device (d), wherein each type of authorized domain identifier (ADI) is descriptive and/or characteristic for said authorized domain (AD) and its type as well as for a membership of said respective device (d) to said respective domain (D), and wherein an access to, the provision of, and/or a transmission of data with respect to audio/video content by each device (d) is in each case ruled on the basis of the respective assigned and/or carried/storied authorized domain identifiers (ADI).
US08051472B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for personalization and identity management. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from an access provider, a message for a service provider, the message associated with a first identifier of a user of the access provider. A second identifier is obtained, the first identifier is disassociated from the message, and the second identifier is associated with the message. The message associated with the second identifier is then sent to the service provider.
US08051462B2
The present invention is directed to a system, method and program product for providing secure communications in a virtual universe. A system is disclosed that includes a system for allowing a first avatar to request a secure communication mode and for allowing a second avatar to accept the secure communication mode. Once accepted, a secure session is initiated within the virtual universe between the first avatar and the second avatar and at least one feature of the virtual universe is altered to effectuate the secure communication mode.
US08051445B2
Advertisement insertion techniques are described. In an implementation, a network operator decrypts a stream of content received from a content provider at a first server. The decrypted stream of content is communicated to an advertisement splicer, which locates one or more advertisement insertion points in the decrypted stream of content. One or more advertisements are then inserted in the located one or more advertisement insertion points. The decrypted stream of content having the inserted one or more advertisements to a second server, which encrypts the decrypted stream of content having the inserted one or more advertisements. The encrypted stream of content having the inserted one or more advertisements is emitted to be communicated to one or more clients for output.
US08051429B2
The present invention comprises a method for allowing a data controlling object to interface with any number of user interface objects without requiring separate interface code for each user interface object and without restricting the user interface to certain predetermined designs. The present method provides objects called association objects that are interposed between a data controlling object and each user interface object. Each kind of user interface object has a corresponding association object. The association object for a particular kind of user interface object contains code that allows the association object to interact with the specific kind of user interface object with which it is associated. Each association object also presents a standard interface to a data controlling object, regardless of the kind of user interface object with which the association object is associated. The association object takes care of any conversion or translation that must be performed to convert a data value sent by the data controlling object into an appropriate value that can be displayed by the user interface object. Accordingly, instead of requiring different interface code for each kind of user interface object used, a data controlling object requires only a single block of interface code for communicating with all association objects, which in turn provide the user interface specific code needed for each kind of user interface object.
US08051427B2
There is provided a method of establishing a logical state of an instance of a program. The method includes executing a first session. The program includes multiple sequences. Each sequence includes alternating deterministic operations and requests for non-deterministic operation results. A non-deterministic operation result is derived from a non-deterministic operation. The execution of the first session includes yielding a request for a non-deterministic operation result for one of the sequences. The request is generated by a first deterministic operation. The method includes terminating the first session at a first logical state prior to executing a second deterministic operation. The method includes executing upon the request. The method includes executing a second session using a log to establish a logical state of the instance. The method includes storing the non-deterministic operation result to the log. The method includes executing a continuation of the given sequence using the non-deterministic operation result.
US08051426B2
A virtual machine is extended to include native support for co-routines. In this manner, high-level programmers are afforded access to such functionality. More particularly, supplied is a mechanism inside the virtual machine to enable method/function state to be maintained and subsequently restored. Consequently, a method/function can be called multiple times and resume where it last left off. This provides direct support for tier splitting patterns, iterators and comprehensions, among other things.
US08051418B1
Techniques for controlling a thread on a computerized system having multiple processors involve accessing state information of a blocked thread, and maintaining the state information of the blocked thread at current values when the state information indicates that less than a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the blocked thread ran on the computerized system. Such techniques further involve setting the state information of the blocked thread to identify affinity for a particular processor of the multiple processors when the state information indicates that at least the predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the blocked thread ran on the computerized system. Such operation enables the system to place a cold blocked thread which shares data with another thread on the same processor of that other thread so that, when the blocked thread awakens and runs, that thread is closer to the shared data.
US08051416B2
Installation and configuration of user-specific software and a computer system is performed such that individual computers in a group is prepared by transmitting the installation packages for a predetermined set of software products and a configuration program to the individual computers. In response to a computer being started for the first time, the configuration program loads a user-specific configuration file from a database system. According to the information contained in the configuration file, software products are subsequently installed and configured on the computer on a user-specific basis using the installation packages.
US08051404B2
A method of developing software capable of performing a task, the task comprising at least one task step required to perform the task. The task step has a resultant effect. The method comprises recording a use case comprising one or more scenarios, that comprise one of more further steps; recording the scenario or one of the scenarios as a main success scenarios such that the resultant effect of the main success scenario is the same as the resultant effect of the task step. Use cases which have been stripped of context-specific information may be re-used. Such information may be included in a reference to the re-used use case.
US08051402B2
Method and apparatus for implementing communication between a software side and a hardware side of a test bench in a transaction-based acceleration verification system are described. In one example, transactors and communication channels are identified in a hierarchy of the test bench. Software side endpoints of the communication channels are automatically bound to hardware side endpoints of the communication channels during verification based on naming attributes of the transactors and communication channels with respect to the software side and the hardware side of the test bench.
US08051398B2
Systems and methods are provided for refining a design cycle for an integrated circuit. An integrated circuit design is generated. A plurality of non-critical paths within the integrated circuit design are identified. A set of at least one of the plurality of non-critical paths is modified to produce a modified design in which the sensitivity of each of the set of non-critical paths to at least one parameter is enhanced. Each parameter is either a design parameter or a process parameter. An integrated circuit is fabricated according to the modified design. The fabricated integrated circuit is evaluated to measure a set of timing data representing each of the plurality of non-critical paths. The value of the parameter is determined from the measured set of timing data.
US08051396B2
Methods and apparatus are described for optimizing a circuit design. A gate level circuit description corresponding to the circuit design is generated. The gate level circuit description includes a plurality of pipelines across a plurality of levels. Using a linear programming technique, a minimal number of buffers is added to selected ones of the pipelines such that a performance constraint is satisfied.
US08051382B1
When a user drags a mobile icon, ratings indications are displayed for target icons on which said mobile icon can be dropped.
US08051380B2
A shared electronic calendar modification notice provides calendar users accessing the calendar with notification that a calendar modification has been made by another calendar user. A shared electronic calendar user accessing the shared calendar is identified. Upon identifying a shared electronic calendar user, calendar modifications that are new to the shared electronic calendar user are identified. Modification notices are then output to communicate the new calendar modifications to the calendar user.
US08051372B1
A system and method for automatically detecting and extracting semantically significant text from a HTML document associated with a plurality of HTML documents is disclosed. The method may include receiving a HTML document, parsing the HTML document into a parse tree, segmenting the parse tree into one or more segments of one or more unique paths, processing the one or more segments based at least the HTML document, and extracting one or more processed segments from the at least the HTML document based on a predetermined number.
US08051368B2
A method for detecting microprocessor hardware faults includes sending at least one input signal to a logic block within the microprocessor, collecting an output response to the input signal from the logic block, and determining whether the output response matches an expected output response of the logic block.
US08051365B1
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for decoding data stored on a data storage medium. A disclosed decoding method and decoder include a radial incoherence (RI) detector that increases the probability of detecting RI and improves the decoding performance in terms of the bit error rate of the decoded signal. RI is detected by comparing an input signal to the decoder against a RI threshold value and generating a RI-type signal. The RI detector may include a filter for filtering out noise and error in the RI-type signal, an adaptive threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon the RI-type signal, a transition-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon each transition in the input signal, or a path-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon a best surviving path corresponding to the input signal, in combination or alone.
US08051362B2
An erasure resilient coding (ERC) distributed data storage system and method for storing data in a reliable and survivable fashion while minimizing hardware and associated costs. The system and method includes forming multiple protection groups both within and across storage nodes of the storage system. Data is segmented into original data blocks and ERC data blocks. Load balancing occurs by interleaving storage nodes with equal numbers of original data blocks and ERC data blocks while ensuring each node has an equal number of combined read and write operations. Unique read and write operations on data block can be performed independent of other data blocks in a protection group. The write operation uses Galois field arithmetic and ERC transform to either write or append a new data block to a storage node. The read operation recovers data in a variety of ways using ERC decoding.
US08051359B2
A system for generating CRC code words associated with data ranging up to w-bytes in width to be communicated over a communications channel includes a first plurality of serially coupled code-generation blocks each for generating a CRC value based on data input to each block, respective blocks of the first plurality configured for receiving data inputs having respective byte widths ranging from 2N+M to 2N−L+M, where N is equal to log2(w), and M is an offset value, and L is a whole number based on a maximum propagation delay criteria; a second plurality of parallel coupled code-generation blocks each for generating a CRC value based on data inputs, respective blocks of the second plurality configured for receiving data having respective byte widths ranging from 2N−L−1+M to 20; and, a device for selecting particular CRC code generation blocks in the first and second pluralities to be included in a CRC calculation based on the data input; wherein any number of data input bytes may be processed.
US08051358B2
Apparatus and methods store error recovery data in different dimensions of a memory array. For example, in one dimension, block error correction codes (ECC) are used, and in another dimension, supplemental error correction codes, such as convolutional codes, are used. By using separate dimensions, the likelihood that a defect affects both error recovery techniques is lessened, thereby increasing the probability that error recovery can be performed successfully. In one example, block error correction codes are used for data stored along rows, and this data is stored in one level of multiple-level cells of the array. Supplemental error correction codes are used for data stored along columns, such as along the cells of a string, and the supplemental error correction codes are stored in a different level than the error correction codes.
US08051355B2
A method and apparatus are provided for encoding and decoding a communication signal. Processes for encoding and decoding the communication signal use a first low density parity-check code (LDPC) construction and a second low density parity-check code construction that differs from the first low density parity-check code construction. Multilevel coding (MLC) is applied to protect each address bit of a signal point by an individual LDPC code. In one embodiment, the first level is coded with a progressive edge-growth LDPC code, the second level is coded with a Reed-Solomon LDPC code and the third level is left uncoded.
US08051354B2
The present invention relates to a method for realizing HARQ in multi-carrier cell, comprising: when distributing high-speed shared resource for UE, Node B distributes the high-speed downlink packet service to N frequencies, and reports the information of the established physical channel, including the frequency information, to RNC and said UE; after Node B establishes the high-speed shared resource for said UE at N frequencies, it establishes N HARQ sub-entities on the HARQ entity built for said UE, each sub-entity independently processes the high-speed downlink packet service at one frequency; correspondingly, said UE also establishes N HARQ sub-entities on the HARQ entity; Node B configures parameters for each HARQ sub-entity and notifies the configuration information to RNC and said UE through upper-level signaling; Node B and UE complete their configuration for each sub-entity of HARQ entity according to the information, and realize the HARQ function in the service. The present invention can realize HARQ function on multiple frequencies simultaneously and is compatible with current protocol in TD-SCDMA system that utilizes multi-carrier HSDPA technique.
US08051349B2
A test architecture accesses IP core test wrappers within an IC using a Link Instruction Register (LIR). An IEEE P1500 standard is in development for providing test access to these individual cores via a test structure called a wrapper. The wrapper resides at the boundary of the core and provides a way to test the core and the interconnections between cores. The test architecture enables each of the plural wrappers in the IC, including wrappers in cores embedded within other cores, with separate enable signals.
US08051347B2
Scan-enabled method and system for testing a system-on-chip (SoC). The method includes electronically determining a slack in a signal at each port of a core of the SoC. The SoC includes multiple cores. Each core includes input ports and output ports. The method also includes selecting flip-flops for each port if the slack does not exceed a slack threshold. Further, the method includes integrating a wrapper cell to each port for which the slack exceeds the slack threshold. Moreover, the method includes coupling integrated wrapper cells and selected flip-flops corresponding to the input ports to form at least one input scan chain for the core, and corresponding to the output ports to form at least one output scan chain for the core. The method also includes testing the SoC using the at least one input scan chain and the at least one output scan chain of each core.
US08051343B2
Example embodiments relate to a method and system of testing a memory module having the process of receiving single ended input signals via differential input terminals through which differential pairs of packet signals may be received from a testing equipment, wherein a number of terminals of the testing equipment may be different from a number of terminals of the memory module, and testing memory chips of the memory module based on the single ended input signals.
US08051329B1
Method and system for executing instructions out of a non-volatile memory that may have defective blocks is provided. During an initialization process, a processor reads operating system instructions from the non-volatile memory that may have defective blocks. While reading the operating system instructions, the processor expects a valid signature at a known offset. If the processor does not receive a valid signature at the expected offset, the processor continues to search for a valid signature for X more blocks after the offset. The X blocks are the number of defective blocks in a memory partition where the operating system instructions are stored.
US08051325B2
A multiprocessor system includes a plurality of nodes, each of which includes a plurality of processors, a plurality of memories, and first and second node controllers. Unique identifiers are assigned to all the components. Each of the first and second node controllers includes: each of first and second request control sections configured to determine the identifier of a transmission destination of a request based on a memory address of an access destination of the request; each of first and second registers configured to hold in the first request control section, the identifier of the transmission destination of the request; a first routing table configured to specify one of the first request control section and the second request control section as an output destination of the request based on the identifier held by the first register, the identifier held by the second register, the identifier of the transmission destination of the request, when receiving the request, and a second routing table configured to specify a signal line for the identifier of the transmission destination of the request based on the identifier of the transmission destination which is determined by the first request control section or the second request control section, to transmit the request.
US08051310B2
A method for reducing power consumption of a processor is disclosed comprising steps of applying time-frequency transformation to a plurality of load values of the processor to obtain the feature sampling cycle of the processor, and adjusting the voltage/frequency of the processor based on said feature sampling cycle. With the method of the present invention, the processor load value in next time interval can be accurately predicted, and thus the voltage/frequency of the processor in the next time interval can be adjusted on the basis of the load value.
US08051303B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a secure configuration space for a computing device. Each of the configuration resisters in a configuration space are divided into security bits and configuration data bits. The security bits are assigned a predetermined value. When reading from or writing to a given configuration register, the data in the bit positions corresponding to security bits must match the predetermined values or read/write access is denied.
US08051301B2
A memory management unit (MMU) is disclosed for managing a memory storing data arranged within a plurality of memory pages. The MMU includes a security check unit (SCU) receiving a linear address generated during execution of a current instruction. The linear address has a corresponding physical address residing within a selected memory page. The SCU uses the linear address to access one or more security attribute data structures located in the memory to obtain a security attribute of the selected memory page. The SCU compares a numerical value conveyed by a security attribute of the current instruction to a numerical value conveyed by the security attribute of the selected memory page, and produces an output signal dependent upon a result of the comparison. The MMU accesses the selected memory page dependent upon the output signal.
US08051296B2
System and methods for initializing secure communications with lightweight devices are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes enabling a device manager to securely communicate with a lightweight device, the method comprising receiving encrypted data from the device manager, wherein the device manager received the encrypted data from the lightweight device. In the embodiment, the method also includes decrypting the encrypted data to produce access information, wherein the access information enables the device manager to securely communicate with the lightweight device. In the embodiment, the method also includes securely transmitting the access information to the device manager.
US08051290B2
This invention relates to a method and an arrangement for embedding a watermark pattern in an information signal. A method of embedding a watermark pattern in an information signal comprising the steps of determining a robust signature as a set of robust features in said information signal, creating a watermark pattern as a signature dependent function of a predefined basic watermark pattern and embedding said watermark pattern in said information signal. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and arrangement for detecting a watermark pattern in an information signal.
US08051286B2
A vehicle antitheft system includes an immobilizer unit and a portable unit. Each of the units includes an antenna, a communication part, a data processor, and storages. The immobilizer unit and the portable unit authenticate each other, based on a highly encrypted authentication method, using at least first data for mutual authentication. Thereafter, the first data for mutual authentication or second data for mutual authentication different from the first data for mutual authentication is stored in the storages of the immobilizer unit and the portable unit.
US08051283B2
A message security processing system and method for Web services are provided. In the message security processing system in which messages are exchanged between a client and a server with a SOAP-RPC format, each of the client and the server includes: a security interface allowing information related to digital signature, encryption, and timestamp insertion to be set in a security context object for an application program to meet security requirements of the client or the server; a security handler receiving the security context object from the security interface, and performing security processing of a request message by calling security objects stored in a request queue of the security context object one by one in order or performing security processing of a response message by calling security objects stored in a response queue of the security context object one by one in order; and an XML security unit supporting an XML security functions by called by the security handler.
US08051277B1
A Programmable Arithmetic Logic Unit Cluster is claimed. The plurality of Programmable Logic Blocks (50) in the cluster are in a physically linear sequence; but, will process data in parallel when the data pathways permit. A physically linear and operationally parallel design is possible mainly due to an Internal Register Bus (30). A small subset of data from the Internal Register Bus (30) is modified by each Arithmetic Logic Unit (53). The greater chunk of information of the Internal Register Bus (30) passes, without changes made to the data, through a plurality of two-to-one-multiplexers (54) as data inputs, bypassing the Data Selection (52) and Arithmetic Logic Unit's (53) circuitry. Only the data specified as the Accumulator (41) and Carry History (31) are modified by the blocks (50). The Accumulator (41) and the Carry Output Line (44) are distributed back onto the Internal Register Bus (30) for subsequent blocks or for the Output Register File (79) by said two-to-one-multiplexers (54).
US08051268B2
For address management of a nonvolatile memory, the whole logical address space is divided into logical address ranges (0 to 15), and the physical address space is divided into physical areas (segments (0 to 15)). The logical address ranges are respectively associated with the physical areas (segments) to manage the addresses. The sizes of the logical address ranges are equalized. The size of the physical area (segment (0)) corresponding to the logical address range (0) in which data of high rewrite frequency such as an FAT is expected to be stored is larger than those of the other physical areas, and the logical address ranges and the physical areas are allocated. Alternatively, the sizes of the physical areas are equalized, and the size of the logical address range (0) is set as a smaller one than those of the other logical address ranges. With this, the actual rewrite frequencies of the physical areas (segments) are equal to one another, and consequently the life of the nonvolatile memory can be prolonged.
US08051265B2
An apparatus for managing memory in a real-time embedded system and a method of allocating, deallocating and managing memory in a real-time embedded system. The apparatus includes a defragmentation unit performing a defragmentation task according to a predetermined priority to collect together memory fragments, and a memory manager allocating or deallocating a predetermined area of memory upon request of a task, and calculating a memory fragmentation rate of the memory to determine a priority of the defragmentation task. The method of managing memory in a real-time embedded system includes determining whether the conditions under which the memory is used vary, and if the condition vary, calculating a memory fragmentation rate of the memory to determine a priority of the defragmentation task according to the memory fragmentation rate.
US08051263B2
A method can include receiving a signal associated with an attempted access to data that is stored at a specific location in memory; obtaining a selection value that selects which memory protection register of multiple alternative memory protection registers is to provide a memory protection attribute for the specific location in memory; obtaining, from the selected memory protection register, a memory protection attribute; and controlling access to the specific location in memory based on the obtained memory protection attribute.
US08051259B2
Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method for incremental storage de-allocation during a clean process within a point-in-time copy storage management system. The computer implemented method determines whether to perform the clean process and responsive to a determination to perform the clean process, determines whether a set of discrepant bits is present. Responsive to the determination that the set of discrepant bits is present, the computer implemented method copies each dirty grain for each discrepant bit in the set of discrepant bits to a downstream target to form a set of copied dirty grains and determines whether a particular dirty grain in the set of copied dirty grains has been allocated to a space efficient storage unit. Responsive to a determination that the particular dirty grain was allocated to a space efficient storage unit, the computer implemented method de-allocates the particular grain from an upstream source.
US08051251B2
One aspect of the embodiments utilizes a system controller which has a broadcast transmitting and receiving unit that receives a memory access request from each of CPU and notifies to the other system controllers and a snoop control unit that judges when the memory access request from any of the CPUs for each of the cache memories in the CPU is received, whether object data conflicts with object data requested by a prior access request received earlier than the memory access request and whether the object data is present in any of the cache memories, selects the status of the cache memory of the CPU, notifies the other system controller of a snoop processing result in which the status selected and the cache memory are associated, and set a final status as the status of the system controller based on priority of each status of other system controllers.
US08051245B2
It is recognized that an attached USB memory is an unanalyzable USB memory. Then, disconnect setting is made. A USB connection process is performed. A PC is instructed through a connection line to establish USB connection. The PC recognizes that the attached device is a USB-connected MFP. The PC acquires data control information of the MFP. The MFP then transfers, through the connection line, the data control information output from the USB memory.
US08051243B2
Embodiments of the invention include first storage mediums having first storage characteristics for making up a first pool of capacity of a first tier of storage, and second storage mediums having second storage characteristics for making up a second pool of capacity of a second tier of storage. Free capacity of the first and second pools is shared between the first and second tiers of storage. When the first pool has an amount of free capacity available over a reserved amount of free capacity reserved for first tier data, a first quantity of second tier data is moved from the second tier to the first tier. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the first and second storage mediums are contained within one or more thin provisioning storage systems, and data is moved between the first and second tiers by allocating thin provisioning chunks to the data being moved.
US08051237B2
An integrated circuit of the type comprises a plurality of units that may act as initiators and targets. At least some of the units are for a first purpose such as a cable modem function and others are for a second purpose such as television data processing. The units are connected together by a interconnect comprising a number of nodes. One of the nodes is configurable such that requests made from initiator units on one side of the node to target units on the other side of the node are not sent to the target units. The units for the first purpose are arranged on the opposite side of the node from those of the second purpose, so that the circuit is effectively configurable into two separate logical partitions, one partition for television data processing and the other partition for cable modem functions.
US08051231B2
Data communications among electronic devices within a computer, including transmitting, from a transmitting device to a first translation device, data communications encoded according to an unreliable wireline data communications protocol; translating, by the first translation device, the data communications from the encoding of the unreliable wireline data communications protocol to an encoding of a reliable wireless data communications protocol; transmitting, by the first translation device to a second translation device, the data communications according to the reliable wireless data communications protocol; translating, by the second translation device, the data communications from the encoding of the reliable wireless data communications protocol to the encoding of the unreliable wireline data communications protocol; and transmitting, by the second translation device to a receiving device, the data communications according to the unreliable wireline data communications protocol.
US08051227B1
A command is received from a first agent via a first predetermined memory-mapped register, the first agent being one of multiple agents representing software processes, each being executed by one of processor cores of a network processor in a network element. A first queue associated with the command is identified based on the first predetermined memory-mapped register. A pointer is atomically read from a first hardware-based queue state register associated with the first queue. Data is atomically accessed at a memory location of the memory based on the pointer. The pointer stored in the first hardware-based queue state register is atomically updated, including incrementing the pointer of the first hardware-based queue state register, reading a queue size of the queue from a first hardware-based configuration register associated with the first queue, and wrapping around the pointer if the pointer reaches an end of the first queue based on the queue size.
US08051215B2
An intelligent electronic device and a method for activating a function in an intelligent electronic device; the device includes an inter-module bus, a first interface and a number of hardware modules connected to each other via the inter-module bus. The modules include a process control module including a control unit that senses the types of hardware modules connected to the inter-module bus, that obtains set-up data from an external portable data carrier, where the set-up data includes configuration data and verification data, where the verification data includes hardware type data related to the modules in the device, that compares the obtained verification data with own verification data including data regarding the sensed hardware type, and that activates a protection function only if there is a match between all verification data being compared.
US08051202B2
A method and an apparatus for providing alarm correlation for a gateway router are disclosed. For example, the method receives one or more alarms, wherein each of the one or more alarms having a message signature in accordance with a router redundancy signaling protocol. The method then identifies one or more root causes by correlating the one or more alarms in accordance with the message signatures.
US08051200B1
A plurality of candidate access terminals for participation in a multi-user packet-based (MUP-based) communication are determined. Two or more candidate access terminals are grouped into a MUP-based group, the grouping based on a hybrid automatic repeat request behavior of the plurality of candidate access terminals. Data is sent to the MUP-based group using a multi-user packet.
US08051199B2
A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.
US08051194B2
A method for loading a buffer of a consumer node operable in a system for streaming multimedia content. The method includes dividing the buffer to sections each section being filled with multimedia data during a different time interval; loading a first section of the buffer by accessing at least one resource node of the multimedia content during a first time interval; and loading a second section of the buffer by accessing at least one reliable node of the multimedia content during a second time interval; wherein the buffer continuously delivers the multimedia content to a display of the consumer node and wherein the at least one reliable node is adapted to guarantee delivery of multimedia content to connected nodes.
US08051192B2
The present invention relates to systems, apparatus, and methods of intercepting commands at an application presentation layer. The method includes intercepting, at a proxy client, a command issued by an application to a network resource before the command is converted into a corresponding protocol command. The method further includes forwarding a simplified command of the corresponding protocol command to a proxy server, and converting, at the proxy server, the simplified command into the corresponding protocol command. Further, the method includes transmitting the corresponding protocol command to the network resource and receiving a response from the network resource, such that, the response corresponds to the protocol. The method further includes transmitting a confirmation message to the proxy client upon completion of the corresponding protocol command and transmitting the confirmation message to the application.
US08051188B2
A server computer sends, to a client computer, a service description document comprising information relating to a communication protocol used for exchanging messages, the service description document including a description of at least one functionality implemented by the communication protocol for an execution of the service over on the communication network using the protocol. The client computer analyzes the service description document by extracting the description of the functionalities implemented by the protocol from the service description document, verifying that each functionality is supported by the client computer of the communication network, and adding the protocol to a list of protocols usable for the execution of the service supplied by the server computer if all the functionalities associated with the communication protocol are supported by the client computer.
US08051179B2
A distributed session failover mechanism is disclosed for facilitating the replication and retrieval of session information. A first server, in a trusted network, providing a single sign-on (SSO) solution, stores session information pertaining to a particular client requesting services associated with the server. In order to provide session failover, the first server sends a copy of the session information to a bus mechanism, which is connected to one or more persistent repositories. When a second server attempts to validate the client, the second server may discover that the first server failed. The second server then requests a copy of the session information pertaining to the client from the bus mechanism. The bus mechanism retrieves the copy from a persistent repository and provides the copy to the second server.
US08051177B1
A VPN media proxy for communication between VPNs and external networks having different addressing schemes, has interfaces to the two or more VPNs, a configuration store, and an address translator arranged to translate the source and destination address of the information based on the configuration. Sharing of the proxy by many VPNs can keep costs down or enable more VPNs to be provided. A call server also shared by the VPNs is used to set up the session and to establish the configuration. The proxy can have an address within each VPN so that it appears to be a dedicated resource for each VPN.
US08051169B2
An identifier corresponding to an object is used in establishing links to related electronic resources. The identifier can be obtained by decoding a watermark, performing a hashing algorithm on content data, reading a bar code, etc. The object can be physical (e.g., a magazine page) or electronic (e.g., music or image data). Suitable devices useful with this technology include cell phones, PDAs, and the like, which may include sensors for capturing object data. The associated electronic resource can be a web site from which information, image/audio content, etc., is provided. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08051168B1
The present invention presents security and user account integration with remote authentication servers, (e.g., repositories not owned by the server). Integration may occur with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), an operating system (e.g., Microsoft Windows™ NT™) authentication, custom account repositories and others. For example, the server may synchronize associated user lists with a remote repository. In another example, the server may also make external calls to remote authentication servers to validate a user's username and password. Other information may be validated.
US08051166B1
A system and method for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request for an original resource and any embedded resource. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a set of service providers for alternatively hosting, processing, and/or transmitting at least a portion of the original resource and/or any embedded resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent resource requests for the original resource and any embedded resources using each of a variety of alternative set(s) of service providers. The processing device may also consider service provider selection criteria obtained from the original content provider. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations associated with monitoring the operation and performance of service providers with respect to specific resource requests are also provided.
US08051161B2
This document describes a directed graph model using a peer-to-peer overlay structure and a gossip-based protocol to maintain the distributed membership. A protocol suite for peers to join the live streaming session, form the P2P streaming overlay, and exchange video packets with others has also been presented. The different capabilities of the heterogeneous peers are well depicted using an adaptive out-degree mechanism. The performance of the whole system is maintained by a contribution-aware mechanism, which ensures that the peers with large contribution will get more chance to be served than those with small or no contribution.
US08051159B2
A plurality of affiliated network of websites may be configured to log user interactions thereon. The respective logs may comprise user identification information to allow a profile aggregation service to correlate user interactions across the plurality of websites and to generate respective user profiles, which may be used to configure the websites. A context aware platform (CAP) website may be configured to provide web services for entities in a business hierarchy. The CAP website may capable of presenting content in one of a plurality of operational modes associated with a geographical granularity of the franchise hierarchy. In addition, the CAP website may be configurable according to a user profile generated using user interactions across a plurality of websites and/or on the CAP website.
US08051154B2
An Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture includes a Technical Model, and a Technical Delivery Framework, and is designed to facilitate the development of complete enterprise service management solutions. The use of the Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture results in solution designs created to be independent of the technology platform being managed with a view that meets the overall business requirements that span the technology platforms within a business environment. An information technology infrastructure already in place for a customer is analyzed and broken down to its very lowest level building blocks. Then the building blocks within the model of the technical architecture are mapped with the building blocks of the customer's information technology infrastructure to determine which of the building blocks of the model are to be used for the customer's information technology operation. A specific technical delivery framework is developed for each customer.
US08051153B2
A switch apparatus for a remote boot sequence of a network device is disclosed. The network device may comprise a processor and a network control circuit. The switch apparatus may comprise a first storage element for storing a first boot code, a second storage element for storing a second boot code, and a detect and switch circuit electrically connected to the network control circuit. The detect and switch circuit may selectively connect to one of the first storage element and the second storage element in response to whether there is a detected signal of a pluggable unit inserted into said network device, so that the processor executes the remote boot sequence in accordance with the boot code stored in the selected storage element.
US08051152B2
Dynamically isolating application servers, wherein only active application servers are indicated to client applications to prevent access to inactive application servers by the client applications. A central server of a distributed system determines a state of application servers in a system, and generates a list of application servers that includes all application servers of the system including an indication of the state of the application servers. The central server also generates a filtered list of application servers that excludes inactive application servers or application servers in an inactive mode. The filtered list is passed to client applications, which enables the client applications to only access the active application servers, but not access the inactive application servers.
US08051142B2
A computer program, system, and method for granting multiple users access to a secure repository. Embodiments of the present invention provide for authenticating either of first or second users desiring access to the secure repository. In embodiments of the present invention, a respective encryption or decryption operation of files or folders transferred in or out of the secure repository is performed using a key created, at least in part, on an enrolled security template provided by said first user. Thus, even if the second user is authenticated and allowed access to the secure repository, said creation of the key is performed using the security template associated with the first user. In even further embodiments of the present invention, a single storage device contains a plurality of secure repositories.
US08051133B2
An exemplary embodiment providing for one or more improvements includes an e-mail server including at least one client mailbox for the receipt of e-mail over a network, and at least one client apparatus of the client computer coupled to the e-mail server for access to the e-mail in the client mailbox, wherein at least one of the e-mail server and the client apparatus facilitates in the filing of e-mail by providing a number of suggestions to the client user as to where to file the e-mail. One exemplary method facilitates the filing of e-mail by monitoring the filing of e-mail by an e-mail recipient, creating a dynamic shortcut list based upon the monitoring, and displaying the shortcut list to facilitate the filing of e-mail by an e-mail recipient. Another exemplary method to facilitate e-mail filing includes detecting a request for a recommendation as to where to file an e-mail by an e-mail recipient, analyzing the e-mail, comparing the e-mail to a database of e-mail filing information, and displaying a shortcut list to facilitate the filing of the e-mail by the e-mail recipient.
US08051132B2
A system and method for organizations to develop, test, execute and analyze messaging programs defining a message application server comprising (a) a dialog designer configured to provide a user interface to an organization's program designers and marketers, to allow for rapid messaging program creation, to provide the ability to select the type of messaging program, to select service addresses for the messaging program, to schedule messaging programs for execution, to upload messaging user data into lists, to create segments, to download messaging program result data, to test messaging programs, to provide reports, including real-time reports, on messaging programs; (b) a dialog server configured to execute messaging programs by execution of program instructions, to manage substantially simultaneously executed messaging programs, to store messaging user results and message delivery status, to maintain state and session context across message invocations for messaging users within messaging program; and (c) a message exchange configured to route messages to and from messaging service providers, to manage service addresses, to perform message billing and to connect to messaging service providers. The system and method allow organizations to interact with messaging users who own a messaging communication device by using the services of messaging service providers.
US08051123B1
A multipurpose arithmetic functional unit selectively performs planar attribute interpolation, unary function approximation, double-precision arithmetic, and/or arbitrary filtering functions such as texture filtering, bilinear filtering, or anisotropic filtering by iterating through a multi-step multiplication operation with partial products (partial results) accumulated in an accumulation register. Shared multiplier and adder circuits are advantageously used to implement the product and sum operations for unary function approximation and planar interpolation; the same multipliers and adders are also leveraged to implement double-precision multiplication and addition.
US08051116B2
A method for executing an MMX PSADBW instruction by a microprocessor. The method includes generating packed differences of packed operands of the instruction and generating borrow bits associated with each of the packed differences; for each of the packed differences: determining whether the borrow bit indicates the packed difference is positive or negative and selecting a value in response to the determining, the value comprising the packed difference if the associated borrow bit is positive and a complement of the packed difference if the associated borrow bit is negative; adding the selected values to generate a first sum and a first carry and in parallel adding the borrow bits to generate a second sum and a second carry; adding the first and second sums and the first and second carries to generate a result of the instruction; storing the result in a register of the microprocessor.
US08051112B2
A data-processing system including an information inputting device for inputting one or more information; a transmitting/receiving device for transmitting/receiving the one or more information; and a processing device for processing the one or more information, the processing device including: an image processing module; a data extraction module; a data storage device; and a data tracking module; wherein the data tracking module is in operable communication with a user of the information inputting device to allow the user to organize the one or more information.
US08051111B2
A method and system may include capturing a computer system in a file-based manner that promotes single-instancing of files and thus prevents the occurrence of duplicate files, separating the captured computer system into primary file resources and ancillary file resources, and creating a parent image and a child image that refers to the parent image. The method and system may further include writing the primary file resources on the parent image, and writing the ancillary file resources onto the child image. The child image may include a resource-only file and a metadata-only file which provides instructions on how to recreate the file resources stored in the parent image and the child image.
US08051108B2
Tools for synchronizing survey data between one or more survey devices and a surveying office application. The disclosed tools can help to ensure that each of the devices, and the office application, have consistent data. An exemplary tool might detect a change to data in an office application, identify any affected files on one or more survey devices, and ensure that the affected files are updated with the appropriate information. Conversely, in other aspects, a data inconsistency (which might be caused by a data change in the office application and/or on one or more of the survey devices) might be detected, and tools might be provided to enable a user to ensure that the correct version of the data is maintained by the system.
US08051105B1
A computer-implemented method to access a tree data structure in a computing environment is provided. The method includes generating a tree data structure in a computing environment, wherein the tree data structure includes nodes and links to link the nodes, wherein each node includes fields for various data types, accessing contents of the tree data structure with a single command in a computing environment. The single command references at least one specified node of the tree data structure, wherein the single command is based on at least one of: a command to access contents of the tree data structure for all nodes associated with the specified node, a command to access contents of the tree data structure for all nodes in a subtree of the at least one specified node, and a command to access at least a subset of contents of the tree data structure for all nodes in a subtree of the at least one specified node, and providing in the computing environment the contents of the tree data structure based on the single command.
US08051103B1
A merge application creates a particular set of documents for a particular matter. The merge application receives a selection of a particular master template corresponding to the particular set of documents, where the selected master template specifies a plurality of slave templates, and also receives a selection of a data structure from a database with data relating to the particular matter. The selected master template and the selected data structure are employed to produce the set of documents for the particular matter in an electronic form, where a corresponding document of the set is produced for each specified slave template in the selected master template. Each corresponding document is produced according to common content in the slave template and data in the selected data structure in the database referred to by placeholders in the slave template.
US08051101B2
Systems and methods that create a duplicate database instance on which database testing may be performed. The techniques for creating a test database instance enable database testing to proceed without impacting other organization's access to their data in the database or corrupting an organization's data. The ability to allow one organization (“org”) to test their portion of a database without interrupting other organizations from using their portions of the database enables a database system to support more than one organization as tenants.
US08051100B2
A recording medium has a hierarchical directory structure. In the directory structure, a ROOT/BDMV directory and a MoDESTxx/BDMV directory are located below a root directory. The ROOT/BDMV directory contains a BD-J application that constitutes a FirstPlayback title. The BD-J application is a program to be first executed by a playback device upon loading of the recording medium to a playback device. When executed, the BD-J application causes the playback device to display a menu for receiving a user operation of selecting the BDMV directory and executes a root change function. The root change function is to cause the playback device to recognize the selected MoDESTxx directory as a virtual root directory.
US08051098B2
Systems and methods for providing user logon and state-less authentication are described in a distributed processing environment. Upon an attempted access by a user to an online resource, transaction, or record, a logon component asks the user to supply a logon ID and a password. The logon component verifies the provided information, and upon successful identification, a security context is constructed from information relevant to the user. The security context is sent to the user and is presented to the system each time the user attempts to invoke a new resource, such as a program object, transaction, record, or certified printer avoiding the need for repeated logon processing.
US08051087B2
A system is disclosed for customizing a geographic location index based on user preferences. The system obtains geographic data provided by a user and generates a customized geographic region based on the obtained geographic data. The system generates relationship data corresponding to the new customized geographic region. The system updates the geographic location index based on the new customized geographic region and corresponding relationship data. Thereafter, on-line content may be delivered to an audience associated with the new customized geographic region, thereby allowing the user, such as an advertiser or publisher, to define targeting regions that are optimal to their specific business environment.
US08051085B1
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining the lengths of one or more substrings of an input string that matches a regular expression (regex) The input string is searched for the regex using an non-deterministic finite automaton (NFA), and upon detecting a match state a selected portion of the input string is marked as a match string. The NFA is inverted to create a reverse NFA that embodies the inverse of the regex. For some embodiments, the reverse NFA is created by inverting the NFA such that the match state of the NFA becomes the initial state of the reverse NFA, the initial state of the NFA becomes the match state of the reverse NFA, and the goto transitions of the NFA are inverted to form corresponding goto transitions in the reverse NFA. The match string is reversed and searched for the inverted regex using the reverse NFA, and a counter is incremented for each character processed during the reverse search operation. The current value of the counter each time the match state in the reverse NFA is reached indicates the character length of a corresponding substring that matches the regex.
US08051082B2
A system and method to facilitate interactive selection of groupings of clusters and presentation of related datasets are described. An interactive data interface is presented to a user in a display window, the interactive data interface configured to display multiple alternate groupings of clusters associated with at least one dataset of records targeted by the user. Selection of a grouping of clusters from the plurality of selectable groupings is further facilitated based on one or more predetermined parameters associated with each grouping of clusters and the individual clusters within a respective grouping, such as, for example, a target ratio value and a target count value corresponding to each cluster of records.
US08051080B2
Techniques are provided for ranking the entities that are identified in a document based on an estimated likelihood that a user will actually make use of the annotations. According to one disclosed approach, usage data that indicates how users interact with annotations contained in documents presented to the users is collected. Based on the usage data, weights are generated for features of a feature vector. The weights are then used to modify feature scores of entities, and the modified feature scores are used to determine how to annotate documents. Specifically, a set of entities are identified within a document. A ranking for the identified entities is determined based, at least in part, on (a) feature vector scores for each of the identified entities, and (b) the weights generated for the features of the feature vector. The document is then annotated based, at least in part, on the ranking.
US08051079B2
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can create a wish list based upon a variety of inputs and criteria. In one aspect the architecture can generate a wish list based upon one or more images of an item desired by a user. Accordingly, the architecture can examine the image to identify the desired item and to extract relevant features from the item in order to, e.g., match the imaged item to a catalog item for sale by a vendor. In another aspect, the architecture can access information associated with a third party to build a wish list for a user. Appreciably, according to the particular aspect, the wish list can include items that are designated to a particular beneficiary.
US08051073B2
Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.
US08051066B2
Configurably storing data in a plurality of files based on expressions and conditions associated with the data. Logging software enables tracking of the navigation pattern of users for selected network properties under specified conditions. The logging software is configurable such that most current and future logging specifications may be fulfilled without any code changes to the logging software.
US08051064B2
A method and system for updating searches on an online auction site are described. In one embodiment, a database of auction postings is automatically searched based upon at least one search criteria to produce at least one new search result. The at least one new search result is compared with at least one previous search result. In addition, an e-mail notification of the result of the comparison is sent to a user notifying a user of the comparison.
US08051062B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing an auction for sponsored search according to a set of constraints. In accordance with one embodiment, a polyhedron that incorporates a set of one or more restrictions is defined, wherein the polyhedron that incorporates the set of one or more restrictions represents a plurality of allocations, wherein each of the plurality of allocations is a subset of a plurality of ads to be displayed on a particular occurrence of a search query received via a search engine. A subset of the plurality of allocations is obtained via application of an analysis tool to the polyhedron. One of the subset of the plurality of allocations is then identified, enabling the ads in the allocation to be displayed.
US08051055B1
Apparatus, methods and computer-readable medium for displaying information related to performance of a given database statement which accesses a plurality of multi-partition objects during a time interval. In some embodiments, the method comprises: a) determining, for a given database statement that accesses a plurality of index or table partitions during the time interval, for each accessed partition of a plurality of partitions, a respective aggregate wait time associated with said accessed partition; b) in accordance with the determined wait times for the given database statement, presenting, to a user, a description of performance of the database during the time interval.
US08051050B2
Data segments are logically organized in groups in a data repository. Each segment is stored at an index in the data repository. In association with a write request, a hash algorithm is applied to the data segment to generate a group identifier. Each group is identifiable by a corresponding group identifier. The group identifier is applied to a hash tree to determine whether a corresponding group in the data repository exists. Each existing group in the data repository corresponds to a leaf of the hash tree. If no corresponding group exists in the data repository, the data segment is stored in a new group in the data repository. However, if a corresponding group exists, the group is further searched to determine if a data segment matching the data segment to be stored is already stored. The data segment can be stored in accordance with the results of the search.
US08051046B2
Techniques are provided for managing caches in a system with multiple caches that may contain different copies of the same data item. Specifically, techniques are provided for coordinating the write-to-disk operations performed on such data items to ensure that older versions of the data item are not written over newer versions, and to reduce the amount of processing required to recover after a failure. Various approaches are provided in which a master is used to coordinate with the multiple caches to cause a data item to be written to persistent storage. Techniques are also provided for managing checkpoints associated with the caches, where the checkpoints are used to determine the position at which to begin processing recovery logs in the event of a failure.
US08051031B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for creating a data structure residing on a computer recordable medium for verifying whether a software aircraft part can be loaded. The data structure comprises a set of aircraft identification objects. An aircraft identification object within the set of aircraft identification objects contains a level of specificity about a set of aircraft on which the software aircraft part can be loaded. The set of aircraft identification objects are capable of being read from the computer recordable medium to verify whether the software aircraft part can be loaded in an aircraft.
US08051027B2
A computer implemented method including determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to a case-based dataset stored within memory accessible by at least one processor; generating, for each of a plurality of rule-based classifiers, rule-based classification data identifying class boundaries between the records upon determining that the predetermined condition has been satisfied; computing a structural risk of the rule-based classification data for each of the rule-based classifiers with respect to the records identified within the record data; selecting rule-based classifiers having generated rule-based classification data identifying class boundaries between the records with a structural risk below a predetermined threshold; identifying selected rule-based classifiers having rule-based classification data that is within a predetermined degree of similarity with the case-based classification data; and replacing the case-based dataset stored within the memory with rule-based classification data of at least one of the identified rule-based classifiers, wherein determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied comprises determining whether the number of records identified within the record data exceeds a predetermined record threshold.
US08051019B2
A neural network resource sizing apparatus for database applications. Through use of multiple database application metrics input into a neural network learning algorithm, recommended resource capacities are generated. Input parameters such as the number of records, lookups, images, PDFs, fields, BLOBs and width of fields for example may be utilized to train a neural network to yield needed resource metrics such as the processing power, memory, disk and/or network capacities required to run the database application. Training for the neural network may involve running tests over all desired cross interactions of input and output parameters beginning for example with a small repository and ending with the maximum complexity of data and schema test. The training data is input into the neural network for the given database application version and utilized to plan resource utilization. A portal or webservice may be utilized to provide an interface to the apparatus.
US08051017B2
A practical economic and technical model for building commercial-grade electronic file delivery services that provide the same scale, predictability, and differentiated service levels as physical courier services traditionally used to move electronic data on physical media. Systems and methods for providing such services using a charge-back scheme based on congestion pricing are described.
US08051013B2
An apparatus for coordinating a relationship in a network environment is provided that includes a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users. The central web site includes an on-line component and an off-line component such that one or more of the end users can communicate and gather information about each other at the central web site and the central web site can facilitate a meeting in person between two of the end users.
US08051008B2
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.
US08051007B2
A method and a system facilitate payments between a plurality of parties. A plurality of payment commitment made to a second party is accessed, the plurality of payment commitments contributing towards a total commitment receivable value for a second party and made by a plurality of payor parties to the second party. The total commitment receivable value for the second party is calculated utilizing a risk indication, where the risk indication is based on reputation information of a party. A payment process, for payment of the total commitment receivable value by a first party to the second party, is initiated.
US08050997B1
A system and method for making proceeds of an ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) transaction available to a user before the transaction is completed. The system may be part of an on-line system or traditional merchant configured to facilitate payments or fund transfers from users. A user requests the transfer of funds to an entity (e.g., another user, a merchant, the user's account with the system) via an ACH entry. The system calculates a risk associated with the user, while considering various data (e.g., number of previous ACH entries, how many failed, how many succeeded, amount of the transfer). If the risk is low enough, the ACH entry is initiated and the desired funds are released for the transfer even before the ACH entry clears. The ACH entry may be presented as a default choice for funding the transfer.
US08050992B2
A secure card comprising biometric data of an individual for identifying or confirming authority of the individual. Prior to issuing the secure card a cardholder's biometric data is stored in the secure cards memory. When the secure card is used the cardholder inputs biometric data. This input biometric data is then compared to the biometric data stored in the card. If the input biometric data matches the stored biometric data the identity of the cardholder is confirmed. The secure card also comprises a transparent input area to separate the cardholder from an identity verification machine.
US08050986B2
A system, method, and computer program for determining a quantity mismatch report so that a plurality of configured quantities for a plurality of product variants can be compared. The method includes transforming a plurality of logical expressions. The method also includes detecting a quantity mismatch report from said transformed logical expressions. The method further includes determining at least one product variant from the quantity mismatch report.
US08050974B2
A method and system for generating transaction price data relating to electronic commerce. In one embodiment, the system classifies items based on an item classification hierarchy. Each item classification in the hierarchy may have associated item-specific attributes. When a commercial transaction relating to an item is conducted, the item is identified based on its item classification and values for the associated item-specific attributes. The system records information relating to commercial transactions for items that have been so identified and uses those records to generate transaction price data. For example, the system may evaluate commercial transactions relating to a fixed-price sales or auctions to a suggest the fair market value of the item. When generating transaction price data, the system may allow the user to specify an item classification along with values of its attributes. The system identifies records of commercial transactions relating to items with that item classification and with matching attribute values and bases the transaction price data on those identified records.
US08050968B2
The invention includes facilitating the substantially real-time transfer of loyalty points between accounts. The method and system include receiving a transfer request (e.g., consumer request, triggering event, etc) for a transfer of a certain number of loyalty points, accessing and analyzing the total number of loyalty points in the transferor account to determine if a sufficient number of points exist, analyzing the type/level of consumer and type/level of points to be involved in the transfer, deducting the requested loyalty points from the transferor account, determining if any rules exist for restricting or limiting the transfer of points, using a conversion engine to convert the point value to an appropriate point value in the transferee account and increasing the point balance in the transferee account.
US08050963B2
A method for assessing fees for parking is disclosed. The method includes determining the length of a vehicle and assessing a parking fee based upon that vehicle length. The disclosed method may also include marking at least a portion of the selected parking area in increments of length or marking the length of a vehicle on that vehicle. Embodiments of the method are also disclosed that include calculating the parking fee so that a longer vehicle is charged more than a shorter vehicle for parking in the selected parking area. Other embodiments of the disclosed method include calculating the parking fee based on different length ranges that include at least a first length range and a second length range. The first length range has lengths that are shorter than lengths in the second length range. The parking fee is based on which length range the length of the vehicle falls within.
US08050962B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for assuring content of a product. The method comprises identifying key elements that at least partially specify the content of the product creating assessment criteria for each of the key elements, and defining maturity levels for each of the assessment criteria. The method further comprises developing a planned maturity level for each of said assessment criteria that comprise a relationship between the maturity and the maturity levels and conducting evaluations of the assessment criteria with at least the planned maturity level to determine a plurality of metrics for each of the assessment criteria that at least partially corresponds to the maturity of the content. In addition, the method comprises projecting a future maturity level for at least one of the assessment criteria based at least in part upon a statistical analysis of the metrics of the at least one of the assessment criteria and identifying issues with the content of the product based at least in part upon the future maturity level.
US08050960B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for recommendations based on adoption curve. A method includes tracking over a period of time user popularity of a media content using a web service residing in a server, the popularity and period of time representing a life cycle of each of the media content. The method tracks over the period of time users enrolled in the web service and when in the period of time each of the users adopted the tracked media content and associates adopted media content with user profiles representing the users. The method recommends media content associated with a first user who adopted the tracked media content earlier in the period of time to a second user who may want to adopt the tracked media content subsequently in the period of time.
US08050959B1
A method is provided for analyzing operational risk associated with one or more organizations, comprising receiving operational loss data from a plurality of organizations at a third-party risk management entity that is a separate entity from the plurality of organizations. The operational loss data includes confidential information regarding one or more of the plurality of organizations. The data received from the plurality of organizations, including the confidential information, is pooled. The pooled data is used to generate an operational risk model for one of the plurality of organizations, and this operational risk model is transmitted to the organization. A system for modeling operational risk for a plurality of organizations is provided, comprising a first data store configured to collect data regarding operational losses from the plurality of organizations, whose data includes confidential information regarding one or more of the organizations. The system includes software instructions configured to pool the operational loss data collected from the plurality of organizations and software instructions configured to generate operational risk models for the organizations using the pooled data, wherein the confidential information is not removed from the pooled data. The system also includes a second data store configured to store the generated models.
US08050955B2
Multimedia contacts are forecasted, propagated, and managed for each period in a range. The number of contacts received in a period is forecasted using historical methods and is propagated to succeeding periods based on the business goals, such as how quickly a certain contact type is to be handled. After the contacts have been propagated, a total contacts to handle is determined for each period, and the staffing requirements are calculated therefrom.
US08050952B2
A method of documenting occurrence of an event in a computer system includes receiving first event information forwarded upon a first event occurring in execution of a first step in a transaction process. The first event information includes a first step key, a first step type, and first time-of-occurrence information. The method includes identifying, upon receiving the first event information, an anchor step type that previously has been assigned for use in documenting the first event. The anchor step type is associated with an anchor step in the transaction process. The method includes reading, using the anchor step type, an anchor key of the anchor step in an execution log for the transaction process. The execution log is identified using the first step key. The method includes associating the anchor key with the first time-of-occurrence information. A performance measure having start and end events may be evaluated.
US08050948B2
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.
US08050943B1
Systems and methods are provided for retaining or shifting prescription market share. The systems and methods may include receiving, from a pharmacy computer, a prescription claim associated with a drug requested by a customer; determining that a payor will not cover the prescription claim; subsequent to determining that the payor will not cover the prescription claim, determining that eligibility requirements in accordance with a market share retention program have been satisfied in order to make the drug available for free to the customer; and transmitting, to the pharmacy computer, a notice of availability of the free drug for the customer.
US08050940B2
Methods for determining whether a drug is a specialty drug, methods for creating tools to be used in making the determination, and the tools themselves are disclosed. The overall value of a drug depends on the drug's attribute values with respect to each of a set of drug attributes (concerning, e.g., the drug's route of administration, targeted disease, possible adverse reactions, risk of toxicity, cost, need for patient compliance with the treatment regime, and handling, preparation, and/or storage requirements. If the overall value or its partial overall values meet certain criteria, the drug is deemed to be a specialty drug.
US08050934B2
This invention locally controls the pitch of speech and audio signals. The invention is based on a seamless time scale modification (S-TSM) scheme connected to a synchronized sampling rate converter that switches between different time scale factors in a seamless manner and controls pitch during playback in a nearly continuous way.
US08050926B2
An apparatus for adjusting a prompt voice depending on an environment comprises a receiver module used for receiving a background sound, an analyzer module generating a control signal according to the background sound and an output module adjusting an output frequency of a prompt voice through the control signal and outputting the adjusted prompt voice.
US08050924B2
Methods and apparatus for implementing the generation of names. In one implementation, a system for generating a name includes: a user interface that receives user input including values for corresponding characteristics and name lengths; a rule dictionary that indicates one or more rules, each rule indicating a relationship between a phoneme and a characteristic; a phoneme selector that selects a phoneme using a value for a characteristic received through said user interface and a rule corresponding to that characteristic; a phoneme compiler that combines selected phonemes to form a name, wherein said name includes a number of letters based on said name length; storage storing data, including data representing said user input and said rule dictionary; and a processor for executing instructions providing said user interface, said first phoneme selector, said second phoneme selector, and said phoneme compiler.
US08050921B2
A system and method according to the present invention automates call monitoring activities to evaluate and directly improve agent-customer interactions. Rather than listening to an entire call or monitoring only a small fraction of all the calls made in the contact center, the system performs highly accurate, automated evaluations of all customer interactions. By automating the time-consuming aspect of monitoring calls, the system empowers contact center operators to address quality issues, more accurately measure, coach and reward agents, and identify business-critical trends.
US08050915B2
In one embodiment, sample information and frame length information are obtained from the audio signal. The sample information indicates a total number of audio data samples for each channel in the audio signal, and the frame length information indicates a number of samples in a frame of each channel. An optimum prediction order is determined for each block based on a maximum permitted prediction order and a length of the block, where a prediction order is the number of linear prediction coefficients. The optimum prediction order is selected as a minimum one of the global prediction order and the local prediction order. The global prediction order is determined based on the maximum permitted prediction order, and the local prediction order is determined based on the length of the block.
US08050909B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for post-processing a dialogue error in a speech dialogue system using multilevel verification, in which both of a user's current utterance and a whole dialogue flow are taken into account through the multilevel verification including speech recognition results analysis, linguistic analysis, discourse analysis and dialogue analysis. As a result, various errors that may occur in the speech dialogue system are detected, and error post-processing appropriate to a detected error type is performed, so that speech recognition errors may be reduced.
US08050894B2
Space frames consist of combination of one or more basic modules to function as a decorative feature or a building element in architectural design. There are certain aesthetic criteria to meet on the design of a basic space frame module; space frame module, geometric regularity, and dimension regularity for all the angles and lengths between edges. Designers exercise their own creativity to develop space frame modules base on these criteria. The present invention relates to a hybrid algorithm based on evolutionary algorithm for graph encoding scheme (EAGES) and genetic algorithm (GA) to evolve the design automatically in relative small number of generations. The hybrid algorithm is a tool to architects and designers to rapidly produce aesthetically pleasing designs with the resources available to them.
US08050886B2
An electronic motion-based input device and method for correcting errors in acceleration due to a deviation from a horizontal plane of motion by correcting for gravitational acceleration components due to the deviation in the plane of motion.
US08050884B2
Methods and apparatus are provided to determine the emissivity, temperature and area of an object. The methods and apparatus are designed such that the emissivity and area of the object may be separately determined as functions dependent upon the temperature of the object derived from a three or more band infrared measurement sensor. As such, the methods and apparatus may only require a regression analysis of the temperature of the object without any regression analysis of the emissivity and area of the object.
US08050883B2
A method is provided for performing inverse interpolation that estimates the values of at least two identified parameters. Initially, a database of sensor responses is generated over a range of values for each of the identified parameters. The sensor responses associated with incremental changes in each parameter value form a grid cell. Each corner of a grid cell is a grid point which represents the sensor response for a specific value of each of the identified parameters. A target point of sensor values is obtained from a sensor. The database is searched to identify the grid cell which contains the target point. Using the grid cell corners as reference values, the final estimate of the parameter values is interpolated. In some cases there are three or more parameters to be estimated. The database may include sensor responses computed at multiple excitation frequencies.
US08050880B2
One or more embodiments of the present invention relates to an iterative method for generating an almost-constant, nearly constant, or substantially-constant envelope time signal with prescribed Fourier transform magnitude in the frequency domain, and a constant envelope time signal whose Fourier transform magnitude closely matches the prescribed Fourier transform magnitude in the frequency domain. Different starting points for the iterative algorithm give rise to different solutions and their accuracy can be adjusted using a monotonic error criterion presented here.
US08050869B2
The invention provides methods for detecting known blocks of functionally aligned protein sequences in a test nucleic acid sequence, e.g., in an uncharacterized EST. The method can detect the presence of known blocks of functionally aligned protein sequences in a test nucleic acid sequence based on the total number of base matches for the variety of possible lags.
US08050863B2
A navigation and control system including a sensor configured to locate objects in a predetermined field of view from a vehicle. The sensor has an emitter configured to repeatedly scan a beam into a two-dimensional sector of a plane defined with respect to a first predetermined axis of the vehicle, and a detector configured to detect a reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects. The sensor includes a panning mechanism configured to pan the plane in which the beam is scanned about a second predetermined axis to produce a three dimensional field of view. The navigation and control system includes a processor configured to determine the existence and location of the objects in the three dimensional field of view based on a position of the vehicle and a time between an emittance of the beam and a reception of the reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects.
US08050858B2
In a vehicle-mounted navigation system, an operating unit that operates the driver's seat side image and an operating unit that operates the passenger's seat side image had to be provided separately, which increased the number of operation buttons and the size of the navigation system device. In a vehicle-mounted navigation system that displays images in multiple directions, an operating direction detector detects which direction an operation was performed from, and a controller controls the vehicle-mounted navigation system based on a detection result of the operating direction detector.
US08050850B2
An internal combustion engine includes a valve timing change mechanism that changes the phase of an intake cam, and a lift amount change mechanism that changes lift amount by causing displacement of a control shaft. An electronic control unit performs a coordinated control in which the lift amount change mechanism is operated such that the position of the control shaft that is detected by a position detection sensor becomes the target position, and the valve timing change mechanism is operated according to a control state of the lift amount change mechanism. When a discrepancy between the actual position of the control shaft and the detected position thereof is estimated to be large, coordinated control is forbidden and the valve timing change mechanism is operated based on engine load.
US08050849B1
A mixed-mode method for operating a vehicle's propulsion plant to travel at a selected average speed using the minimum amount of fuel. The method involves travelling in one mode at high speed part of the time, and in a different mode at low speed part of the time, in such a way that the average speed is the selected value.
US08050845B2
An ECU estimates a variation amount of fuel which is actually suctioned by a fuel pump based on a fuel pressure in a common rail. Even though the fuel pressure in the common rail deviates from a target fuel pressure, when the estimated variation amount of fuel is substantially zero, an energization quantity to a solenoid of a flow control valve is compulsorily reduced.
US08050834B2
Information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone is acquired. Based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone. The gear ratio of the host vehicle is set to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.
US08050830B2
A driving apparatus includes a first transmission mechanism receiving mechanical power from an engine output shaft by a first input shaft, a second transmission mechanism receiving the mechanical power from the engine output shaft and a motor by a second input shaft, and a first clutch capable of engaging the engine output shaft with the first input shaft. When performing cranking of an internal-combustion engine, an ECU selects a gear position of the first transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism to reduce speed of the mechanical power received by the second input shaft and transmit the power to the first input shaft, and puts the first clutch into an engaging state. The speed of the mechanical power from the motor is reduced by the first and second transmission mechanisms to increase torque, and power is transmitted to the engine output shaft through the first clutch.
US08050824B2
An assist gradient Ra and also an F/B gain gradient Rp are inputted to an assist gradient compensation control unit. The F/B gradient Rp is added to the assist gradient Ra in an adder and the sum obtained is inputted into a switching control unit. The assist gradient Ra that has been inputted from a basic assist control unit is directly inputted together with the sum to the switching control unit. When a torque feedback control is executed, the switching control unit outputs the sum of the assist gradient Ra and F/B gain gradient Rp to a filter constant computation unit and an assist gradient gain computation unit.
US08050822B2
A driving/braking force manipulation control input of a k-th wheel, which denotes one or more specific wheels among a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, is determined such that a required condition concerning a relationship among a road surface reaction force that may act from a road surface on the k-th wheel on the basis of the detected values or estimated values of a road surface reaction force and a friction characteristic of the k-th wheel, a feedback control input related to the driving/braking force of the k-th wheel for bringing a difference between a state amount of the vehicle and a reference state amount close to zero, a driving/braking force feedforward control input based on a drive manipulated variable supplied by a driver of the vehicle, and a k-th wheel driving/braking force manipulation control input is satisfied.
US08050815B2
A method for selectively monitoring one or more vehicle systems is disclosed. The method includes recognizing, at the vehicle, an activation device that is configured to trigger predetermined setting(s) for the one or more vehicle systems. The telematics unit transmits to a secure server a signal indicative of the fact that the activation device is in use. Access to the secure server for monitoring the one or more vehicle systems via an Internet-enabled program is selectively enabled. A system for monitoring one or more vehicle systems is also disclosed. Further, a method for controlling vehicle system parameters is disclosed herein.
US08050802B2
A levitated XY stage with a mechanism to disable the bearing element to allow the physical elements of the stage to come into contact with one another and “Coulomb weld” together, thereby eliminating drift. Preferably, the XY position shift of the stage that results from disabling the bearing is measured, and feed-forward communication to, for example, the AFM scanner is used to enable an offset and remove the error.
US08050801B2
A building automation system (BAS) architecture is disclosed. The BAS comprises, in one embodiment, an architecture comprising a communication network and having a dynamic extensibility capability and an automatic configuration capability; an engine communicatively coupled to the communication network; and at least one control device communicatively coupled to the communication network, the control device being known or unknown to the engine. The engine can be adapted to selectively implement the dynamic extensibility capability to establish communications with and to control both known and unknown control devices. The engine can be further adapted to selectively implement the automatic configuration capability to determine at least one characteristic of both known and unknown control devices. A method of adding a control device to a building automation system (BAS) by dynamically extending and automatically configuring an architecture of the BAS is also disclosed.
US08050799B2
A method for determining of spraying parameters for controlling a painting appliance which sprays and is moved over an area to be painted, in particular a robot with a painting application. A known spraying map is produced, using known spraying parameters and paint amount, for a predetermined movement speed of the painting appliance, and a paint amount is matched to a new movement speed in comparison to the predetermined movement speed. Furthermore, new spraying parameters are calculated for the adapted paint amount, while maintaining a spraying map which is similar to the known spraying map.
US08050792B2
A method and a device for optimization of flatness control in the rolling of a strip using any number of mill stands and actuators. A mill model is used represented by a mill matrix that includes information of the flatness effect of each actuator. Each actuator's flatness effect is translated into a coordinate system having a dimension less than or equal to the number of actuators used. The actual flatness values are monitoring/sampling across the strip. A vector of the flatness error/deviation is computed as the difference between the monitored/sampled strip flatness and a reference flatness vector. The flatness error is converted into a smaller parameterized flatness error vector. A dynamic controller is used to calculate optimized actuator set-points in order to minimize the parameterized flatness error, thereby achieving the desired strip flatness. Also a system for optimization of flatness control in rolling a strip.
US08050780B2
A servo-controlled system is disclosed for providing simulated feel equivalent to that of traditional mechanical hand controllers. Processed position and force sensor signals are used in a feedback loop that controls the motor mechanically connected to the stick. The feedback loop comprises a low-level motor feedback loop, and high-level force feel loop. The latter comprises static and dynamic performance components. The system allows variable and additional force cues to be specified externally to the system and felt by the operator, and/or external signal to backdrive the stick to follow a specified motion. The control framework permits the electronic coupling of the motion and applied forces by pilots in a dual arrangement while retaining the above-mentioned features. It simulates cross-coupling mechanical compliance due to force fight between pilots, detents and asymmetric force feel gradients. Parameters associated with loops and performance components can be specified independently.
US08050776B2
A method and apparatus for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting by the simultaneous electrical stimulation of the pericardium meridian six point and pericardium meridian seven point on the ventral side of the wrist of a patient. The meridian stimulator comprises a wrist-band like housing that is worn on the ventral side of the human wrist and contains a circuitry means included within the said housing and electrically coupled to the electrodes. A negative electrode is positioned on the pericardium meridian six point and a positive electrode is placed on the pericardium meridian seven point and a low amperage current is passed through these points via electrodes positioned at these points. A liquid crystal display unit reads the current supplied to the electrodes and indicates via an indicator light when current is being supplied to the meridian stimulator and further comprises a touch screen for a power on and off button and for increasing the rate of electrical stimulations.
US08050766B2
A laryngeal stimulation system including a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a respiratory signal in a subject and a laryngeal stimulator adapted for coupling to a laryngeal muscle and operable to stimulate the laryngeal muscle in response to the sensor detecting the occurrence of the respiratory signal is provided. A method for laryngeal stimulation including detecting an occurrence of a respiratory signal in a subject and then stimulating a laryngeal muscle in response to detecting the occurrence of the respiratory signal is also provided.
US08050761B2
A method for treating patients after a myocardial infarction which includes pacing therapy is disclosed. A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to deliver pre-excitation pacing to one or more sites in proximity to an infarcted region of the ventricular myocardium. Such pacing acts to minimize the remodeling process to which the heart is especially vulnerable immediately after a myocardial infarction.
US08050755B2
An implantable cardiac device detects a patient therapy request originating from external to the implantable device. A shock therapy delay period is timed in response to the detection of the patient therapy request. Atrial shock therapy is provided to the patient after expiration of the shock therapy delay period (if the presence of an ongoing atrial arrhythmia is detected). The patient therapy request may be provided by a patient activator including a magnet for operating a reed switch in the implanted device to provide the request. A patient activator including an input and receiver/transmitter circuitry may be employed to request the immediate providing of atrial shock therapy, and/or to set the duration the shock therapy delay period. By allowing specific delays to therapy after a therapy request, a patient can prepare for the requested therapy and thereby mitigate therapy discomfort.
US08050752B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body with a liquid delivered with the use of ultrasound. Delivering a liquid with the use of ultrasound may be accomplished by utilizing a device comprising an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound horn, a channel running at least partially through said horn, and a dampening grommet at the distal end of the horn (hereafter called the “delivery device”). The delivery device may further comprise a liquid supply emptying into said channel. Subjecting liquids within the horn of the delivery device to ultrasonic energy accelerates the liquid, thereby creating a higher velocity, low pressure liquid stream. Consequently, the method of the present invention enables the treatment of maladies deep within lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body. The method of the present invention may also be used for douching and/or cleaning lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body.
US08050750B2
A medical device and associated method discriminate near-field and far-field events by sensing a bipolar signal and a unipolar signal at a tissue site, detecting an event in response to one of the bipolar and unipolar signals, and comparing an event feature determined from the bipolar signal to an event feature determined from the unipolar signal.
US08050749B2
The reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram based upon an endocardial electrogram. This method includes: (a) acquisition (10) of a plurality of endocardial electrogram signals (EGM) through a plurality of endocardial leads defined based upon endocardial electrodes; (b) calculation (12), by combining the endocardial electrogram (EGM) signals acquired at step (a), of the corresponding endocardial vectogram (VGM); (c) angular rescaling (14) of the orthonormalized mark of the endocardial vectogram (VGM) with that of the surface vectocardiogram (VCG); (d) estimation (16), based upon the endocardial vectogram (VGM) calculated at step (b), of a reconstructed surface vectocardiogram (VCGreconstructed), and (e) calculation (18) of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) corresponding to said reconstructed surface vectocardiogram (VCGreconstructed).
US08050748B2
A method for monitoring a patient (110) includes determining (114) convex hulls for pairs of monitored signals from the patient, and determining whether a perturbation has occurred (115, 116) in one or more of the convex hulls. This exemplary embodiment (110) can also include alerting an operator that a clinically significant change may have occurred (117) in the patient if each of the convex hulls has been perturbed. If only a subset of the convex hulls is perturbed, an artifact has probably occurred (118).
US08050747B2
Methods for diagnosing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque using optical coherence tomography to measure tissue optical properties, including backreflectance of heterogeneous layers, such as plaque cap, lipid pool composition and macrophage presence. Methods also include measurement of spatially and temporally dependent reflectance, measurement of multiple wavelength reflectance, low coherence interferometry, polarization and quantification of macrophage content.
US08050744B2
In an optical measurement system and imaging method adapted to measure in vivo information in a living body without harming the living body, light rays of a plurality of wavelengths which are modulated in intensity with a plurality of different frequencies are irradiated on a plurality of irradiation positions on the surface of a living body, and time-variable changes in living body transmitting light intensity levels corresponding to the respective wavelengths and the respective irradiation positions are measured at different positions on the surface of the living body. Light is utilized to image the results of the measurements, in which the measuring time is shortened by estimating fluctuation attributable to the living body, and the presence or absence of a change in measured signal can be decided easily by displaying an estimation signal and a measured signal at a time.
US08050742B2
A biopsy device for marking a biopsy site is disclosed. The biopsy device can include a marker deployer and at least one marker disposed within an internal lumen of the deployer. The marker can include a non-metallic marker body sized and shaped to reduce variability in marker deployment force. In one embodiment, the marker body can be shaped to cooperate with a feature in the internal lumen of the deployer.
US08050738B2
A position detecting apparatus includes a linear magnetic-field generator that generates a linear magnetic field in an area inside the subject; a diffuse magnetic-field generator that generates a diffuse magnetic field having position dependency on magnetic field direction in the area; a magnetic-field line orientation database in which a correspondence between magnetic field direction and position of the diffuse magnetic field in a reference coordinate axis is recorded; an orientation calculator that calculates orientation information of a body-insertable device introduced into a subject in the reference coordinate axis based on linear magnetic-field information and the earth magnetism direction; and a position calculator that calculates a magnetic field direction of the diffuse magnetic field at the position of the body-insertable device based on the linear magnetic-field information, orientation information, and diffuse magnetic-field information, and calculates the position of the body-insertable device based on the magnetic field direction and correspondence recorded.
US08050735B2
An imaging system for imaging an object, including: a support member adapted to receive the object in an immobilized state; a removable phosphor plate assembly adapted to respond to ionizing radiation by emitting visible light; first imaging means for imaging the immobilized object in a first imaging mode to capture a first image; second imaging means for imaging the immobilized object in a second imaging mode, different from the first imaging mode, to capture a second image; and third imaging means for imaging the immobilized object in a third imaging mode, different from the first and second imaging modes, to capture a third image, wherein the first imaging mode uses the phosphor plate assembly and is selected from the group: x-ray mode and low energy radio isotope mode; the second imaging mode uses the phosphor plate assembly and a high energy radio isotope mode, and the third imaging mode is selected from the group: bright-field mode, fluorescence mode and luminescence mode.
US08050733B2
The invention relates to a sensor system, a garment and a heart rate monitor. The sensor system comprises at least one flexible film structure comprising: a first insulation layer and at least one electric conductor layer formed on top of the first insulation layer and comprising an electrode area, which is configured to establish an electric contact with the surface of the user's skin and to generate as output an electric signal proportional to a momentary value of the electrocardiogram.
US08050728B2
A cable is capable of communicating signals between a monitor and a physiological sensor. The monitor is capable of activating individual light emitters of an emitter array arranged in an electrical grid by driving at least one of row drive lines and at least one of column drive lines of the electrical grid. The cable has a first row input, a first column input, a second row input and a second column input. The cable also has a first output which combines the first row input and the first column input and a second output which combines the second row input and the second column input. The inputs are adapted to connect to electrical grid drive lines of a monitor. Further, the outputs are adapted to connect to contacts of a physiological sensor having back-to-back configured LEDs in electrical communication with the contacts.
US08050727B2
An exemplary slide mechanism (100) includes a rear cover (20), a front cover (30), and a coil spring (50). The front cover is slidably attached to the rear cover. The coil spring connected is configured for creating an elastic force to make the front cover slide relative to the rear cover. The coil spring includes a coiled portion (52) connected to the front cover, a free portion (54) connected to the rear cover, and a connecting portion (56) connecting the coiled portion and the free portion.
US08050716B2
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a display unit; a band connected with both ends of the terminal body; and a manipulation unit disposed on the terminal body and moving in multiple directions based on a central shaft.
US08050711B2
Video signals for a mobile terminal are converted to accommodate reproduction by an alternative display terminal. The video signal is processed to provide a converted video signal appropriate for an alternative display terminal that is separate from the mobile terminal. This converted video signal is then provided for the alternative display terminal to accommodate the corresponding video display on a screen provided by the alternative (e.g., external) display terminal.
US08050689B2
A method is disclosed for determining a minimum bounding polygon for use in a geo-coding system. A first polygon is received defining a geographic region. A minimal number of points is determined corresponding to the first polygon to define a second polygon at least bounding the first polygon.
US08050682B2
Disclosed is a method for delivering buffer status information to a target base station, to which a mobile station has decided to hand over, by a serving base station in a communication system. The method includes the steps of constructing buffer status information containing a first parameter indicating the number of a smallest packet among packets within a predetermined section stored in a buffer, a second parameter indicating the number of a packet to be transmitted at a next point of time, a third parameter indicating the number of a first packet, the lifetime of which has not yet expired, and a fourth parameter indicating whether or not an instruction to initialize the buffer status information has been transmitted to the mobile station; and transmitting a message containing the constructed buffer status information to the target base station.
US08050680B2
A vertical handover method and apparatus in a wireless communication system are provided, in which a serving network selects a target network for a vertical handover of a terminal from among at least one candidate target network to which the terminal can perform the vertical handover, transmits information about the selected target network to the terminal, and requests the vertical handover of the terminal to the target network, the target network acquires a profile of the terminal from a policy store, upon receipt of the vertical handover request from the serving network, the terminal requests a connection to the target network, and the target network transmits information about a router to which the terminal will connect to the terminal, upon receipt of the connection request from the terminal and updates a proxy binding for the terminal in the policy store.
US08050672B2
The present invention provides a telecommunication system, a mobile phone and a calling method adapted for the telecommunication system. The telecommunication system includes a mobile phone connected to a wireless network and a wired phone connected to a wired network. The mobile phone and the wired phone communicate each other within a predetermined coverage area. When there is not a wired phone within the predetermined coverage area or there is a wired phone within the predetermined coverage area and the current state of the wired phone is busy, the mobile phone makes a call via the wireless network. If there is a wired phone within the predetermined coverage area and the current state of the wired phone is idle, the mobile phone sends a phone number to the wired phone, and the wired phone makes the call via the wired network.
US08050671B2
The invention includes a method and apparatus for determining network growth information for a radio access network (RAN) and a wired network supporting communications of the RAN (denoted as a core network). The method includes obtaining RAN configuration information including RAN component configuration information and RAN component connectivity information, obtaining actual traffic information and forecast traffic information for the RAN, and determining RAN growth information by correlating the actual traffic information and the forecast traffic information with the RAN configuration information, the RAN growth information indicating whether at least one additional RAN component is necessary to support the actual and forecast traffic. The method may further include determining network growth information associated with the core network using core network configuration information and at least a portion of the RAN growth information.
US08050661B2
A scheme for redirecting e-mail messages and message attachments from a mail system to a mobile data communication device. In one embodiment, a method comprises one or more of the following: automatically detecting a data item including an e-mail message and a message attachment by a redirector component associated with the mail system, processing the data item for sending a first portion of the data item to the mobile data communication device via a wireless network, receiving a command message from the mobile data communication device at the redirector component requesting more of the data item, and sending a second portion of the data item including the message attachment to a user of the mobile data communication device in response to the command message.
US08050660B2
A method and apparatus for handling messaging service message adaptation. An original message is received from an originating communication device, the original message based on a wireless communication message protocol, the original message being of a first message type. The message is modified according to preferences of a message recipient communication device to generate a second message of a second message type. The second message is sent to the message recipient communication device. A modification notification is sent to the originating communication device, the modification notification indicating that the original message was modified.
US08050657B2
A portable electronic device. Tamper-resistant circuitry for inclusion in an electronic device. The tamper-resistant circuitry comprises wireless receiving circuitry operable to receive an incoming communication. The tamper-resistant circuitry also comprises a first circuit operable to change a signal state in response to the incoming communication. The tamper-resistant circuitry also comprises a verification sensor circuit coupled to the first circuit. The sensor is operable to detect a circuit condition indicative of unauthorized use and upon detection of the circuit condition to prevent the change of the signal state.
US08050654B2
A user of a mobile communication terminal registers a title or test body that a lock request electronic mail should have for locking function of a contactless type communication device is a lock control information area 23R of the mobile communication terminal. After that, if a lock request electronic mail having the registered title is received, and the lock request electronic mail is detected by the lock request detection section 51, then when the contactless type communication device is in a usable state, in the mobile communication terminal the function lock section 52 within the control section locks the function of the contactless type communication device via the wired communication path.
US08050646B2
To provide a noise suppressing device which accurately suppresses weak electric field strength pulse noise.A band-limiting unit (5) band-limits a composite signal obtained by demodulating an FM baseband signal, to a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency so as to output a monaural audio signal. A pulse detecting unit (62) which detects pulse noise in the audio signal outputted by the band-limiting unit (5). A pulse judging unit (63) judges that a detection result of the pulse detecting unit (62) is valid in the case where pulse noise is detected in the composite signal, at a position corresponding to the detected pulse noise. A pulse suppressing unit (64) suppresses the pulse noise detected in the audio signal, in the case where the pulse judging unit (63) judges that the detection result is valid. Specifically, the amplitude of the composite signal which is synchronized with the audio signal is compared with a threshold, and it is judged that the detection result is pulse noise in the case where the amplitude of the composite signal exceeds the threshold.
US08050638B2
A power amplifier controller controls a power amplifier and is coupled to a polar modulator. The polar modulator generates an amplitude component and a phase-modulated component of the desired RF modulated signal, and outputs to the power amplifier controller. The power amplifier controller regenerates a combined phase and amplitude modulated RF signal to generate an input signal to a power amplifier by adjusting the gain of a VGA based on the amplitude component of the desired RF modulated signal. Concurrently, the power amplifier controller both controls an adjusted supply voltage to the PA and adjusts the gain of the VGA based upon an amplitude correction signal or amplitude error signal.
US08050635B2
A vehicle communication system includes a connection quality module and a channel scan frequency module. The connection quality module determines that a vehicle is out-of-range (OOR) from a host when a connection quality between the vehicle and the host is below a predetermined connection quality threshold. The channel scan frequency module controls a frequency of attempts by the vehicle to connect to the host when the vehicle is OOR based on at least one of whether an engine is on and a movement rate of the vehicle.
US08050630B1
A method is provided for determining the validity of a signal received by a GPS receiver. A signal that is unfiltered, either mathematically or electronically, is monitored to determine the variability of different occurrences of the signal. These occurrences, which may be sequential, are compared to each other in order to detect whether or not variation exists between one occurrence of the signal and a subsequent occurrence of the signal. If no variation exists, it is determined that the signal is invalid and that a loss of fix of the satellite signal has occurred. If sufficient variability exists in the signal, between successive occurrences, the signal is deemed to be valid and suitable for use to control a vehicle such as a marine vessel.
US08050627B2
A method (10 or 40) or system (200) of predictive sensing of periodic intermittent interference (PII) can include the measuring (12) of energy on a channel for an indication of PII, determining (14) if a channel is currently in a PII on-cycle, and adjusting (16) a clear channel assessment threshold to a new threshold for improved sensitivity of the PII on-cycle. If a current energy level on the channel is below the new threshold and if a previous on-energy characteristic suggests that the current energy level will remain below the new threshold for a predetermined minimum period of time, then a clear channel indication can be provided (20). A busy channel indication is provided (45) when either the current energy level is above the new threshold or the previous on-energy characteristic suggests the current energy level will not remain below the threshold for predetermined minimum period of time.
US08050613B2
A method of reusing a sheet includes receiving a sheet having a printed image, scanning a new image, determining whether the sheet is acceptable for reuse, covering at least one portion of the printed image on the sheet with a white-out toner via a white-out unit, fusing the white-out toner to the at least one portion of the sheet, printing a new image onto the sheet, and performing the receiving, scanning, determining, covering, fusing and printing operations on the sheet a plurality of times. A printing device for covering and printing over a printed image includes a receiving subsystem configured to receive a sheet, a processing module configured to determine whether the sheet is acceptable for reuse, and a fuser module configured to fuse a white-out toner.
US08050603B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms multicolor toner images superposed on a transfer belt. A sensor is disposed in an image formation region and detects a pattern on the transfer belt. A controller determines, when image data is received, whether or not a region of a toner image based on the image data will be superposed on a region of the pattern. The controller controls the image forming unit to form the toner image based on the image data and the pattern simultaneously on the transfer belt when the controller determines that the region of the toner image based on the image data will not be superposed on the region of the pattern.
US08050599B2
A toner cartridge includes a toner receptacle that houses toner, a plurality of stirring members housed in the toner receptacle, a plurality of gears meshing with each other on outside of the toner receptacle, and a phase display section. The stirring members are arranged next to each other in the toner receptacle and rotate to stir the toner. Each of the stirring members has a scraper that scrapes off the toner adhering to an inner surface of the toner receptacle. The gears rotate to rotate the stirring members in an interlocked manner with each other. The phase display section shows a meshing position of the gears so that the gears mesh with each other at a position where a phase difference along a rotating direction of the stirring members occurs between the scrapers of the stirring members that are next to each other.
US08050597B2
A toner container includes a container body that contains toner therein, and a cap portion that is held by a toner-container holding unit and includes a toner discharge opening to discharge the toner contained in the container body. A gear portion is detachably attached to the container body so that a rotational force is transmitted to the container body.
US08050592B2
An image forming device includes a casing having a guide, image forming portions configured to form images on a recording medium, and a drawer configured to be installed in and withdrawn from the casing along the guide in a first direction for installation and in a second direction for withdrawal opposite the first direction. The drawer may include a housing configured to house each image forming portion, a projecting portion coupled to the housing and protruding in the first direction, and a support portion coupled to the projecting portion. An engagement of the support portion with the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during installation and withdrawal.
US08050584B2
A power control apparatus includes a heating roller provided to fix a toner image of print data in an image forming apparatus, the heating roller having a heating resistor to receive roller power. A maximum level of a source power supplied from an external source is gradually increased up to a specific maximum supply level and the maximum source power to the heating resistor is supplied as the roller power while gradually increasing the maximum level of the source power up to a specific maximum supply level. A surface temperature of the heating roller is measured, and the source power of which maximum level is equal to the maximum supply level is supplied to the heating resistor as the roller power until the measured surface temperature reaches a specific fixing target temperature, and the toner image is fixed onto a fed printing medium.
US08050581B2
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. A charge unit charges a surface of an organic photo conductor (OPC) to a predetermined electric potential. A developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the OPC by coating a developer on the same. A power supply unit supplies power to the charge unit and the developing unit. A control unit regulates the power supplied to the charge unit and the developing unit. After a developing process in the developing unit, the control unit regulates the power applied to at least one of the charge unit and the developing unit so as to collect a residual developer on the surface of the OPC to the developing unit. Accordingly, contamination of the charge unit and the transfer unit can be prevented and an image of a good quality can be achieved.
US08050569B2
A device for optical remote monitoring, preferably an optically readable membrane-based microphone, and a system including such a device is provided. The device for optical remote monitoring includes a retroreflector and an acoustic membrane. The acoustic membrane suitably is a light-modulating component and modulates the reflection of an incident light beam in relation to the pressure field, from a sound source, to which the membrane is exposed. The retroreflector may be a corner cube having three sides with the membrane arranged on one of the sides. The membrane can be part of a side or one side may consist of a membrane.
US08050565B2
A multiservice private network and interface modules (M1-M5). Each of said modules is dedicated to interfacing a specific terminal equipment (T1-T4, GTW; 310-380) in the multiservice private network. The interface modules (M1-M5) are connected to the terminal equipment on a one-to-one basis. Each interface module (M1-M5) is configured to send and/or receive data in a format adapted to the terminal equipment to which it is connected, at a specific wavelength, in order to interconnect, via said private network, at least two mutually compatible terminal equipments among all the terminal equipments. This arrangement is typically applicable in particular to interconnecting, via a common network, heterogeneous different terminal equipments, so that the mutually compatible terminals communicate directly with one another without interfering with communication between other terminals of a different type.
US08050564B2
In an optical data transmission system, one channel is removed from a group of wavelength division multiplexed optical channels and another channel carrying different information at the same wavelength is inserted in its place. The process occurs by adding an optical signal whose electric field is the difference between the electric field of the new and old channels. The difference calculation takes into account the phase of the incoming WDM channel and phase of the laser source of the difference signal. The method has applications in optical transmission networks as add-drop nodes and optical regenerators, for generation of high bandwidth optical signals, and for secret optical communications.
US08050559B2
A multi-chassis network device includes a plurality of nodes that operate as a single device within the network and a switch fabric that forwards data plane packets between the plurality of nodes. The switch fabric includes a set of multiplexed optical interconnects coupling the nodes. For example, a multi-chassis router includes a plurality of routing nodes that operate as a single router within a network and a switch fabric that forwards packets between the plurality of routing nodes. The switch fabric includes at least one multiplexed optical interconnect coupling the routing nodes. The nodes of the multi-chassis router may direct portions of the optical signal over the multiplexed optical interconnect to different each other using wave-division multiplexing.
US08050557B2
An exemplary aspect of the invention is a transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, comprising a level comparing unit for measuring an input level of an entered optical signal, and determining whether the input level has exceeded a preset level and a controller for performing high-speed control of the level of an optical signal to be outputted when the input level exceeds the preset level.
US08050551B2
A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprises a front panel that can have an appearance other than a conventional camera. The front panel can include at least one aperture therethrough. A lens can be in or near the aperture, the lens having a field of view. A camera mount can be positioned on the front panel. The camera mount can include a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view. The camera mount can be capable of adjustment without movement of the lens.
US08050530B2
A method for producing an optical fiber element provided with several optical fibers disposed in a matrix, including: a) placing and maintaining the several optical fibers in grooves formed in a mould plate, said grooves being in different planes, b) injecting a hardenable material adhering to the several optical fibers, c) solidifying the hardenable material to maintain the several optical fibers in a position set by the grooves, and d) removing at least the mould plate.
US08050522B2
Provided are a video processing apparatus and a video processing method thereof. The video processing apparatus includes: an input unit which receives a broadcasting signal which may include zoom-in information having regional information on a part of a video image; a video processor which processes the inputted broadcasting signal; and a controller which controls the video processor to zoom in the part of the video image based on the regional information of the zoom-in information if the broadcasting signal includes the zoom-in information.
US08050518B2
An image processing apparatus includes a determining unit that determines whether image capturing conditions concerning super-resolution processing are satisfied for each piece of image data, and an adding unit that adds data corresponding to a result of determination made by the determining unit to each piece of the image data.
US08050517B2
Method and apparatus for modulating sub-channel pixel in multi grayscale monochrome output apparatus
Provided is a method and apparatus for modulating sub-channel pixels in a multi grayscale monochrome output apparatus, more particularly, a method and apparatus for modulating sub-channel pixels in a multi grayscale monochrome output apparatus that can represent a high grayscale input image on a low grayscale output apparatus through sub-channel pixel modulation.
US08050515B2
An image processing circuit and method thereof for enhancing text displaying of an image are provided. The image processing circuit performs the method. Firstly, at least a first illumination area and at least a second illumination, which is located adjacent to the first illumination area in the image are defined according to luminance values of a plurality of pixels of the image. Next, a luminance regulation value of at least one of the pixels in the first illumination area is calculated, and the luminance value of the corresponding pixel in the first illumination area is adjusted according to the luminance regulation value. During processing of the image, the luminance values of all of the pixels in the second illumination area are restricted from any adjustment.
US08050513B2
A method of generating a multiscale contrast enhanced image preserving the shape of the edge transitions is described. Enhanced detail pixel values are computed by combining enhanced center difference images at least one scale.
US08050508B2
A detecting system and method of compression-related noise levels is provided to produce a compressed index of an image. A line buffer temporarily stores a pixel (i, j) and neighboring pixels. An edge filter calculates an edge index for the pixel (i, j). A line filter calculates a line index for the pixel (i, j). A first determination device produces an edge signal according to the edge index and the line index for indicating whether the pixel (i, j) locates at an edge. A first buffer temporarily stores edge signals of the pixel (i, j) and left and right pixels. A second buffer temporarily stores line indexes of the pixel (i, j) and associated pixels. A second determination device produces a ringing signal for the pixel (i, j) according to the edge signals temporarily stored in the first buffer and the line indexes temporarily stored in the second buffer.
US08050507B2
A system of generating three-dimensional (3D) depth information is disclosed. A color and object independent local blurriness estimation unit analyzes blurriness of each pixel of a two-dimensional (2D) image. Subsequently, a depth assignment unit assigns depth information to the 2D image according to the analyzed blurriness.
US08050501B2
In an image matching apparatus of the present invention, when a document type discrimination section that discriminates a document type determines that a target document is an N-up document on which plural document images are laid out, a resolution conversion section that converts a resolution of image data into a default resolution before features are extracted from the image data converts a resolution of image data of the target document into not the default resolution but a resolution which varies depending on the number of document images laid out on the target document and a document size of the target document. This makes it possible to determine a similarity to a reference document with high accuracy even in a case where each document image included in the target document to be matched is reduced in size from its original document image, i.e., in a case of an N-up document.
US08050493B2
An improved image processing method for generating an image from a hard copy document includes the following steps: scanning the hard copy document multiple times using a scanner to generate a plurality of images; performing deskewing for each image; performing translational compensation for each image; selecting two images (first and second) among the plurality of images that have the highest similarity to each other; dilating the first image; converting the dilated first image into a binary form; eroding the converted first image to generate a first processed image; eroding the second image; converting the eroded second image into a binary form; dilating the converted second image to generate a second processed image; and extracting common portions of the first and second processed images to generate a final image. This method can be used to generate high quality scanned images of hard copy documents for purposes of document authentication.
US08050492B2
An apparatus and a method for generating and outputting stereoscopic images. A user can select either a barrier mode and an interlaced mode. In the barrier mode, images are generated in the barrier scheme, whereas in the interlaced mode, images are generated in the interlaced scheme. In a case where the user selects the interlaced mode, when the images are detected with the left and right camera sensors, the images are rotated by −90 degrees and are then detected. Subsequently, stereoscopic images are generated from rotated images according to the barrier scheme, and generated images are stored along with information on a currently set image generation mode. Next, when the user desires to output the stored stereoscopic images through an interlaced output device for providing stereoscopic images in the interlaced scheme, the stored stereoscopic images are rotated by 90 degrees, and the rotated stereoscopic images are provided to the interlaced output device. Accordingly, without an additional configuration unit for a special purpose, the stereoscopic images stored in the barrier scheme can be output as normal stereoscopic images through the interlaced output device.
US08050491B2
A 3D object modeling system and method system and method captures a 2D representation of the object to be modeled and breaks the 2D image into its geometric elements. The 3D stereoscopic image is then fitted to the geometric elements generated from the 2D image to generate the final model. The 3D stereoscopic image may be compared with the geometric elements to detect distortions in the object, allowing the distortions to be corrected in the final model to ensure that the model accurately depicts the original object.
US08050484B2
A method for tracking paper currency in a holder, includes: scanning paper currency deposited or removed from a holder; determining the total number of each individual denomination of paper currency contained within the holder based on the scanned paper currency deposited and removed from the holder; recording the total number of each individual denomination of paper currency; determining the total value of the paper currency within the holder; outputting the denomination of paper currency when the paper currency is scanned during depositing or removal from the holder; outputting the recorded number of each individual denomination of paper currency and the total value of the currency within the holder; and wherein the recorded number of each individual denomination of paper currency and the total value of the currency within the holder is dynamically tabulated based on the scanning of paper currency deposited or removed from the holder.
US08050475B2
A technique for detecting and localizing vascular occlusions in the brain of a patient is presented. The technique uses volumetric angiographic data of the brain. A mid-sagittal plane and/or lines is/are identified within the set of angiographic data. Optionally, the asymmetry of the hemispheres is measured, thereby obtaining an initial indication of whether an occlusion might be present. The angiographic data is mapped to pre-existing atlas of blood supply territories, thereby obtaining the portion of the angiographic data corresponding to each of the blood supply territories. For each territory (including any sub-territories), the asymmetry of the corresponding portion of the angiographic data about the mid-sagittal plane/lines is measured, thereby detecting any of the blood supply territory including an occlusion. The angiographic data for any such territory is displayed by a three-dimensional imaging technique.
US08050459B2
A method is provided for detecting a pedestrian exterior to a vehicle by use of a vehicle-mounted image-based monitoring system. An edge-based pedestrian detection analysis is applied to the input image data to determine an edge-based confidence value of a candidate image area being a pedestrian. A motion-based pedestrian detection analysis is applied to the input image data to determine a motion-based confidence value of a candidate image area being a pedestrian. A final confidence value is obtained by combining the edge-based confidence value and motion-based confidence value using weighting factors that are functions of vehicle speed. The final confidence value is compared to a threshold value for determining whether to generate a warning that a pedestrian may be present in the input image data.
US08050441B2
A portable speaker having at least one driver mounted in a first enclosure and a second enclosure separate from the first enclosure and having pivotally mounted to it the first enclosure. The second enclosure has all electronics, controls and a battery compartment. The first enclosure is moveable relative to the second enclosure between a first configuration and a second configuration, the at least one driver being protected by the second enclosure when the first enclosure is in the first configuration.
US08050436B2
In acoustic systems, especially with hearing aids, feedback whistling keeps occurring. To avoid this, a limit gain frequency response of the amplification device, which represents the limits of feedback whistling, is thus recorded. On the basis of the curve recorded a required gain frequency response with a number of interpolation points is created, with each interpolation point having a predetermined minimum distance in each case to the limit gain frequency response in at least two different directions. This enables feedback whistling to be largely avoided, even with shifts in resonant frequencies.
US08050434B1
A method for processing audio signals can include receiving left and right front audio signals, where the left and right front audio signals including information about front spatial position of sound sources relative to a listener. The method can also include receiving left and right rear audio signals, where the left and right rear audio signals include information about rear spatial position of sound sources relative to a listener. In addition, the method can include applying at least one front perspective filter to each of the left and right front audio signals to yield filtered left and right front output signals, where the left and right front output signals each drive a front speaker. Moreover, the method can include applying at least one rear perspective filter to each of the left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals, where the left and right rear output signals each drive a rear speaker to simulate a rear surround sound effect when positioned in front of a listener.
US08050428B2
An exemplary audio signal transmission circuit includes a codec to provide analog and digital audio signals; an amplifier connected to the codec to receive the analog audio signals; a control circuit connected to the codec to receive the digital audio signals and connected to the amplifier to selectively turn off the amplifier; a front audio port connected to the amplifier to receive amplified analog audio signals generated by the amplifier; and a rear audio port connected to the amplifier and the control circuit to selectively receive the amplified analog audio signals or the digital audio signals. The control circuit and the front audio port are turned off when the rear audio port is connected to an analog system, and the amplifier and the front audio port are turned off when the rear audio port is connected to a digital system.
US08050425B2
An audio signal supplying device includes a connection terminal which is connected to a speaker unit and which outputs an audio signal to the speaker unit, a specifying section which specifies a type of the speaker unit connected to the connection terminal, an acquiring section which acquires a parameter corresponding to the type of the speaker unit specified by the specifying section from an outside, a storing section which stores the parameter acquired by the acquiring section, an inputting section into which the audio signal is input, an acoustic characteristic controlling section which adjusts an acoustic characteristic of the audio signal input into the inputting section based on the parameter stored in the storing section, and a supplying section which supplies the audio signal whose acoustic characteristic is adjusted by the acoustic characteristic controlling section to the connection terminal.
US08050417B2
Auxiliary electromagnetic valve for its incorporation into a main valve of a gas servo valve, which comprises a body with an auxiliary outlet conduit connected to an outlet conduit of the servo valve, a pivoting arm that comprises a closure member of a valve seat of the auxiliary outlet conduit, a ferromagnetic armature that closes the magnetic circuit opening the valve seat, and a return means, supported by a plate, that returns the pivoting arm in order to keep the seating closed. The body is configured by means of a peripheral surface fitted to a cavity of the main valve, a lower surface supported against the cavity by means of fitting means, an intermediate transverse surface on which the valve seat is fitted, a transverse perimetral rim upon which the plate is fixed, and an auxiliary hole that connects the valve seat to the outlet conduit.
US08050414B2
A method for discriminating a noise pulse from a background noise in which a signal of interest is converted to an envelope signal using an entropy-based envelope generator, which envelope signal is then integrated over a plurality of consecutive integrative periods, producing an integrated envelope signal for each of the integration periods. The ratio of the envelope signal at the end of each of the integration periods corresponding to each corresponding said integrated envelope signal is determined and compared with a predetermined threshold signal for each of the integration periods, resulting in a comparison value. The integration period in which the comparison value exceeds the predetermined threshold signal and which is preceded by two integration periods in which the comparison value does not exceed the threshold value represents the point in time at which the noise pulse is detected.
US08050411B2
A device stores one-time pad data for use in carrying out various tasks. In order to preserve the ability to carry out important tasks that require the use of one-time data, use of the one-time pad data held by the device is controlled such that an amount of this one-time pad data is only usable by a predetermined set of important tasks comprising at least a replenishment task for replenishing the device with one-time pad data.
US08050402B2
A method for secure conversion between two different random markings used for cryptographic functions, converts a first binary data word, masked by a binary mask word according to a first masking process, into a corresponding second binary data word, masked by said binary mask word according to a second masking process, the first and second binary data words and the binary mask word including corresponding pluralities of bits, wherein each of the pluralities of the bits includes a least significant bit, a first bit, and at least one i-th bit i≧2.
US08050398B1
Disclosed herein are teleconferencing pods that include a microphone and a loudspeaker for open-air conversations, connectible to a separate telephonic device that generates an intermittent sidetone that is active at certain times not in the control or monitoring of the pod. In those pods is a sidetone suppressor that suppresses a distracting open-air echo produced from the intermittent sidetone and a compensator that detects sidetone transitions to avoid generating an echo signal in the pod and to avoid adapting suppression in the absence of an externally-generated sidetone. Sidetone suppression may be by several means, and may include variables controlled by adaption, including delay factors, scalers and coefficients. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
US08050390B2
A system for powering an electric device with power drawn from a telephone line in a telephone network includes an exchange connecting a telecommunication network to a subscriber apparatus through one telephone line. The system includes a control and feeding device located at the subscriber's premises, connected between the telephone line and subscriber apparatus, and further connected to the electric device to be powered, and a logic control unit in the exchange connected between the subscriber line interface circuit of the telephone line and the telecommunication network, and a bidirectional device connected between the logic control unit and subscriber circuit for recognising and applying to the logic control unit signals received by the subscriber circuit through the telephone line, and for sending to the subscriber circuit control information generated by said logic control unit and relating to the power drawing.
US08050389B2
A system for automatically selecting an outgoing message for an incoming call. In response to receiving an incoming call, a calling party is identified. The identified calling party is compared against call log data to determine that the identified calling party has previously heard a first outgoing message. In response to determining that the identified calling party has not previously heard the first outgoing message, the first outgoing message is played as a selected outgoing message for the incoming call. In response to determining that the identified calling party has previously heard the first outgoing message, a second outgoing message is played as the selected outgoing message for the incoming call. Then, the call log data is updated to identify the selected outgoing message played for the incoming call.
US08050383B2
A radiographic apparatus controls the irradiation of a subject with radiation on the basis of a comparison result between an irradiation area calculated on the basis of an opening area of an aperture and a detection area of radiation of an image data generator that detects radiation that has been transmitted through the subject and generates image data.
US08050363B2
A Turbo decoder and method for decoding a double-binary circular recursive systematic convolutional (DBCRSC) encoded signal with unknown initial and final states executes iterations of forward and backward recursion on a payload block of the DBCRSC encoded signal and a padded block using an estimated forward state metric (FSM) and an estimated backward state metric (BSM), which are updated at one or more iterations.
US08050359B2
Method for modulating an RF signal includes the steps of modulating an RF signal using frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation to define a plurality of symbols (2030, 2031). The FSK modulation includes transitioning the modulated signal (204) between at least two different frequencies (f1 and f0) during a guard period (210). The method includes the further step of varying a frequency of the modulated signal 204 during the guard period (210) in accordance with a predetermined rate of change. The predetermined rate of change is selected to minimize a bandwidth of the RF signal.
US08050351B2
The method and system are disclosed for automatic feedback control of integrated optical quadrature modulator for generation of optical quaternary phase-shift-keyed signal in coherent optical communications. The method comprises the steps of detecting at least a part of an output optical signal from the QPSK modulator, extracting of a particular portion of the output signal in frequency domain, and processing the signal in frequency domain to optimize the transmission of an optical link. The system and method of optical communications in fiber or free space are disclosed that implement the quadrature data modulator with automatic feedback control.
US08050348B2
A receiver performing an adaptive overlap and add (OLA) function in a multi band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme and a method using the receiver. The receiver performing the OLA function in the multi band OFDM includes a channel estimator to estimate a delay spread from a digital input signal; a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimator to estimate an SNR from the digital input signal; and an overlap and add (OLA) module to determine an OLA length based on the estimated delay spread and the estimated SNR and to perform an OLA according to the determined OLA length, wherein the OLA module adds, to header samples of an OFDM symbol, tail samples corresponding to the estimated delay spread of the OFDM symbol corresponding to the digital input signal.
US08050347B2
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that can improve the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter has a randomizer to randomize an input data stream which has null bytes being inserted at a specified position, a multiplexer to output a data stream formed by inserting specified known data into the position of the null bytes of the randomized data stream, an encoder to encode the data stream outputted from the multiplexer, and a modulator/RF-converter to modulate the encoded data, RF-convert the modulated data and transmit the RF-converted data. The receiving performance of the digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system can be improved even in a multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received signal and using the known data in synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver.
US08050341B2
A method and an apparatus for acquiring a target frequency of a multi-path signal are disclosed. The multi-path signal includes a first path signal and a second path signal. First, the first path signal is received through a first path and the second path signal is received through a second path. Then, a target region is determined. The target region is a portion of a second cyclic prefix in the second path signal which overlaps with a first cyclic prefix in the first path signal. Afterward, the target frequency is determined based on the target region.
US08050332B2
In a communication system, data is selectively transmitted using single-ended or differential signaling. The data is transmitted in relation to a plurality of clock signals having different relative phases. When the data is transmitted using single-ended signaling, data on adjacent signal lines undergo logic transitions at different times in relation to the plurality of clock signals.
US08050325B2
A system and method for more efficiently determining motion vectors of uncovering areas adjacent the edge of frames when the frame image is moving in the direction of the frame boundary. Backwards motion estimation is used to determine a block of video data which is, in one implementation, the block of video data adjacent the frame edge having a reliable motion vector known from the first frame. Once the block is identified, the blocks of video data in the uncovering area between the identified block and the frame boundary can then be assigned the motion vector data of the identified block.
US08050321B2
A method for encoding a video sequence comprising an independent sequence of image frames, wherein at least one reference image frame is predictable from at least one previous image frame that is earlier than the previous reference image frame in decoding order. An indication of at least one image frame is encoded into the video sequence, which indicated image frame is the first image frame, in decoding order, of the independent sequence, said at least one reference image frame being included in the sequence. In the decoding phase, the indication of at least one image frame is decoded from the video sequence, and the decoding of the video sequence is started from said first image frame of the independent sequence, whereby the video sequence is decoded without prediction from any image frame decoded prior to said first image frame.
US08050317B2
A receiver with an equalizer and an equalizing method are disclosed. The method includes equalizing received serial data in the equalizer, detecting an error in equalized serial data output by the equalizer, and determining reset of the equalizer in relation to an error detection.
US08050315B2
An open collector/open drain interface, such as I2C interface between two or more integrated circuit devices, employs isolation techniques to provide electrical isolation of a digital signal for transmission of the signal between the devices. Uni-directional isolator channels are utilized to transmit bidirectional digital signals, and a selection of an isolator channel operating in an intended transmission direction is performed by direction control logic. Edge detection logic is utilized to determine changes in edges of a digital signal, thus determining a transmitting device and a transmission direction. The direction state is held in a direction state register. This state is held until the appropriate edge is detected on the transmit side, returning the isolator to the idle state. In the idle state neither side of the isolator is in a driven state. During transmission, the digital signal is transmitted through an isolator channel and sent to a receiving device.
US08050311B2
A first aspect of the present invention relates to a wireless relaying network having a number of network nodes, including a transmitting node, at least one relaying node and at least one receiving node. Briefly, according to the present invention the transmitting node forms an OFDM-symbol and transmits a signal comprising the OFDM-symbol to the at least one relay node and directly to the receiving node. The relaying node receives, amplifies and transmits the symbol to the receiving node in such manner as to enable the relayed signal and the direct signal to be receive concurrently at the at least one receiving node to enable constructive interference of the OFDM symbol.
US08050305B2
A semiconductor device having high reliability, a long lifetime and superior light emitting characteristics by applying a novel material to a p-type cladding layer is provided. A semiconductor device includes a p-type semiconductor layer on an InP substrate, in which the p-type semiconductor layer has a laminate structure formed by alternately laminating a first semiconductor layer mainly including Bex1Mgx2Znx3Te (0
US08050304B2
A laser diode comprising a first separate confinement heterostructure and an active region on the first separate confinement heterostructure. A second separate confinement heterostructure is on the active region and one or more epitaxial layers is on the second separate confinement heterostructure. A ridge is formed in the epitaxial layers with a first mesa around the ridge. The first mesa is 0.1 to 0.2 microns above the second confinement heterostructure.
US08050298B2
A digital broadcasting receiver and a stream processing method are provided. The digital broadcasting receiver includes a demodulator which demodulates a received transmission stream and an equalizer which equalizes the transmission stream, wherein the transmission stream includes at least one field which includes additional data stream packets and normal data stream packets, wherein the transmission stream is constituted such that at least a portion of packet data of the additional data stream packets is included in an area disposed in each packet of at least one of the normal data stream packets, and wherein the additional data stream packets are inserted into the area after being encoded and interleaved.
US08050287B2
An integrated network adapter is operable to establish a network interface with a plurality of media types, including at least a power line network and a telephone line network, based on pre-configuration, upon initialization and dynamically during operation. The adapter further is operable to establish network interfaces simultaneously or separately with a plurality of media types and provide that a communications event can occur simultaneously or separately over a plurality of media types.
US08050279B2
The present invention relates to a method for accessing integrated services by an access network, including: establishing at least one Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label Switch Path (LSP) in a broadband access network; MPLS encapsulating at a broadband access node a service to be transmitted, and transmitting the encapsulated service in the broadband access network via the LSP. As MPLS is a technology for providing multi-layered connection, in the embodiments of the present invention, MPLS is utilized as the means for networking of broadband access network and private line passing through the core network, so that the problem faced by the broadband access network serving as the bearer network of integrated services can be solved, the integrated services of video, voice, data and private line (including IP private line, and traditional private lines of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) and FR (Frame Relay)) can be carried over the broadband access network at a lower cost.
US08050278B2
A host computer communicatively linked with a virtual circuit network and communicatively linked with a device over a local area network receives a virtual circuit message from the virtual circuit network, such as an asynchronous transfer mode network. A data structure associating a virtual circuit of the virtual circuit network with the device is referenced, and based on the association, the virtual circuit message is passed to the device over the local area network. The data structure may be a table containing an entry associating the virtual circuit with the device or with the network address of the device.
US08050269B2
A mobile terminal and message transmitting/receiving method are disclosed for adaptive converged IP messaging. The mobile terminal supporting converged IP messaging (CPM) converts a CPM message into an adaptive converged message and transmits the adaptive converged message. Upon reception, a received message is converted into a CPM message according to a message identifier.
US08050266B2
A method for debugging network connections that involves receiving a packet for a first destination by a network interface card (NIC), classifying the packet, sending the packet to a first receive ring associated with the NIC, and sending the packet from the first receive ring to a first virtual NIC, where the first virtual NIC is associated with a second destination, and where the second destination is used to debug the first destination.
US08050264B2
A method and system for re-routing a multicast stream is provided. The method for re-routing a multicast stream includes: providing a prior multicast forwarding path corresponding to a first route; establishing a new multicast forwarding path between a downstream router and a second upstream router corresponding to a second route; re-routing a multicast stream from said prior multicast forwarding path to said new multicast forwarding path, wherein said multicast stream utilizes said prior multicast forwarding path until said new multicast forwarding path is operational; and pruning said prior multicast forwarding path when said new multicast forwarding path is operational. Therefore, the multicast stream transmitting will not be interrupted during the switchover process of the multicast forwarding path caused by that a unicast route to a multicast source or a rendezvous point has changed.
US08050260B1
A switch element and a method for routing packets in an IB Multi Level switch and network is provided. The method includes determining if alternate routing is enabled for a packet; determining an alternate route address for the packet, if alternate routing is enabled; and routing the packet using the alternate route address, if the alternate route address is valid. The switch element includes a routing table in a port that determines a base route address; and if alternate routing is enabled for a packet, the port determines an alternate route address for a packet; and routes the packet using the alternate route address.
US08050257B2
A high capacity network comprises a plurality of edge nodes with asymmetrical connections to a plurality of switch planes, each switch plane comprising fully meshed fast-switching optical switch units. Upstream wavelength channels from each source edge node connect to different switch planes in a manner which ensures that upstream wavelength channels from any two edge nodes connect to a common switch unit in at most a predefined number, preferably one, of switch planes. Thus, switch units in different switch planes connect to upstream channels from orthogonal subsets of source edge nodes. In contrast, downstream wavelength channels from a switch unit in each switch plane connect to one set of sink edge nodes. In an alternate arrangement, the upstream and downstream asymmetry may be reversed.
US08050253B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for decentralized triggerless processing of signaling messages in a multi-application processing environment. According to one method, a signaling message is received at a screening module. At least one application to perform message processing on the signaling message is determined from a screening policy. The signaling message is modified to include application routing information to allow the at least one application to complete signaling message routing. The signaling message is forwarded to, and routed by, the at least one application using the application routing information.
US08050247B2
A retransmission method and apparatus performed in a transmitter of a mobile communication system supporting a Hybrid Automatic Retransmission reQuest (HARQ) operation and an Automatic Retransmission request (ARQ) operation for retransmission of a packet are provided. At least one ARQ entity generates at least one ARQ packet, and an HARQ entity transmits an HARQ packet including the at least one ARQ packet to a receiver, and transmits a local NACK signal indicating transmission fail of the ARQ packet to a corresponding ARQ entity, if the HARQ packet fails in transmission.
US08050244B2
A communication system includes at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber. The optical-wireless device may include an optical fiber power unit for converting optical power into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered by the optical fiber power unit. The optical-wireless device may include a substrate mounting the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The wireless communication unit may include a radio frequency transmitter, and a signal optical grating coupling the transmitter to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The radio frequency transmitter in some embodiments may include an ultra-wideband transmitter. A dipole antenna may also be provided including first and second portions extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.
US08050220B2
A method and apparatus of transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system is provided. A reference signal sequence is generated by using a pseudo-random sequence. A portion or entirety of the reference signal sequence is mapped to at least one resource block and is transmitted. The pseudo-random sequence is generated by a gold sequence generator which is initialized with initial values obtained by using cell identifier. The reference signal provides low PAPR and high cross correlation characteristic.
US08050203B2
In a multi-channel digital wireless audio system with at least one transmit node and at least one receive node, each node can both receive and transmit digital audio signals. Signals sent from a receive node to a transmit node may acknowledge satisfactory signal receipt, or may requesting retransmission of data packets received in a corrupted state. Original and retransmitted signals may be sent in compressed form to enable use of narrow-band digital radios. The system preferably incorporates a dual control channel to enable transmission of meta data. Each system node preferably incorporates a hardware-multithreaded processor adapted to implement various functions such as baseband functions, RF protocol functions, error correction functions, and audio processing functions, with each independent thread being adapted to implement a different functional block.
US08050202B2
A radio resource selecting method according to the present invention semi-persistently selects a radio resource to be allocated to an uplink acknowledgement signal indicating a reception state of a persistently allocated downlink signal from a plurality of radio resources defined by frequencies and codes, and includes the steps of: (A) selecting candidates for an allocation radio resource to be allocated to the uplink acknowledgement signal from the plurality of radio resources; (B) notifying candidate information on the selected candidates for the allocation radio resource; and (C) selecting a single allocation radio resource from the plurality of candidates for the allocation radio resource indicated in the candidate information notified in the step (B).
US08050196B2
Network formation in wireless networks according to an embodiment of the present invention is enhanced based on control of network formation packet transmissions (e.g., Packet Radio Organizational Packet (PROP) transmissions). A source-initiated approach controls re-transmission of inquiry/reply PROP packets based on the presence of a neighboring node. This reduces the size and amount of PROP packets transmitted during neighbor discovery. In addition, the source-initiated approach controls re-transmission of PROP packets indicating a change in an upstream or control type node (e.g., LNC PROP). In this case, the node determines the presence of steady-state conditions (e.g., maintenance of conditions for the original LNC PROP transmission), and enables a single re-transmission of the LNC PROP packet, thereby reducing the transmission of unnecessary or duplicate LNC PROP packets (e.g., containing substantially the same information as previously transmitted packets since conditions have remained the same).
US08050194B2
A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes, prior to receiving the configuration file for the cable modem, providing an equipment identification message containing a description of the customer premise equipment device connected to the cable modem. In the case where the cable modem has yet to be provisioned, the configuration file received from the network server is a particular access-limiting configuration file that is selected from a group of access-limiting configuration files. The selection of the particular access-limiting configuration file is based on the description of the customer premise equipment device in the equipment identification message. This allows different devices to have different network restrictions or different walled gardens.
US08050192B2
In a port forwarding configuration system and method for wire and wireless networks, when an Internet protocol (IP) is allocated according to a request from a wireless terminal of a private network and an initialization information message is transmitted by the terminal, a port to be used by the terminal is configured and a configured port information message is transmitted to the terminal so as to open a port for the terminal, thereby performing a remote connection of a user terminal to the wireless terminal through port forwarding.
US08050179B2
A communication device (1001) is provided. The communication device (1001) can include a transceiver (1003), for transmitting and receiving communications when operably connected to a communication network. Also, the communication device (1001) can include a processor (1009) cooperatively operable with the transceiver (1003). The processor (1009) can facilitate receiving (1015) one or more frames from a transmitting device. Also, the processor (1009) can obtain a frame check sequence result (1019). Before obtaining the frame check sequence result, the processor can initiate (1017) a transmission of a responsive frame corresponding to the one or more frames. The responsive frame will explicitly indicate an acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NAK) of the one or more frames.
US08050178B2
At least one timer is used to prevent a stall condition. If a timer is not active, the timer is started for a data block that is correctly received. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. When the timer is stopped or expires, all correctly received data blocks among data blocks up to and including a data block having a sequence number that is immediately before the sequence number of the data block for which the timer was started is delivered to a higher layer. Further, all correctly received data blocks up to a first missing data block, including the data block for which the timer was started, is delivered to the higher layer.
US08050174B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a set of signal paths for a chip. A defective signal path within the set of signal paths for the chip is detected. Signals are re-routed through the set of signal paths such that the defective signal path is removed from the set of signal paths and sending signals using remaining data signal paths in the set of signal paths and using an extra signal path in response to detecting the defective signal path.
US08050165B2
A need to effectively record data of various sizes on a large-capacity holographic memory capable of high-speed recording is achieved, for example, by curing a first part of the holographic recording which is able to be multiplex-recorded in one or more units of a predetermined volume, and by not recording/curing a second part which is not able to be multiplex-recorded in a predetermined volume at a timing when the first recording part is cured. Also the above need can be achieved by, another example, by adding dummy data to the second part. Alternatively, the second part can be recorded on another track, in which it is possible to record in different units, e.g. by bit recording in a track that utilizes a DVD recording format. According to the present examples, we can record data of various sizes on the holographic memory effectively while performing large-capacity and high-speed holographic recording.
US08050150B2
A near-field light detection element is provided with a light source, a conductive scatterer for generating near-field light by being irradiated with light from the light source, and a photoelectric conversion element arranged in a near-field light generation region near the scatterer. The scatterer irradiates near-field light to a recording medium, and the near-field light detection element detects an intensity change of the near-field light generated by a change of the dielectric constant of the recording medium based on an electrical conductivity change of the photoelectric conversion element.
US08050141B1
A system and method is provided for estimating a trajectory of an incoming bullet based on the acoustics of the shock wave created as the bullet travels through the air. A first auditory signal representing a direct sound from the shock wave is recorded and its azimuthal direction is determined. Based on this azimuthal direction and other assumptions two possible bullet directions that can cause that shock wave are estimated. A second auditory signal representing a reflection of the shock wave as it travels through the air also is recorded and its azimuthal direction determined. The azimuthal direction of the ground reflection will lie between the azimuthal direction of the first auditory signal and the more correct of the two estimated trajectories, and thus can resolve the ambiguity in the estimated direction of the bullet source.
US08050140B2
A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
US08050135B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a first address buffer configured to be used in a test mode and a normal mode and to receive more addresses in the test mode than in the normal mode; and a second address buffer configured to be used in the normal mode and disabled in the test mode.
US08050132B2
A semiconductor device 110 has a plurality of memory cell blocks provided with a plurality of memory cells storing a predetermined amount of data. Each memory cell block has four or more inputs and outputs, and is internally provided with a read address decoder to the memory cell and a sense amplifier for amplifying a voltage in outputting outside. Each memory cell block is structured so as to store a truth table data for outputting a desired logic value in response to a specified address input, thereby operating as a logic circuit. The memory cell has a read word line correspondingly to the read address decoder. In the case when a voltage is applied to the read word line, the data that is held at that time is read from a read data line. The memory cell blocks are connected to each other such that the four or more outputs from one memory cell block are inputted to other four or more memory cell blocks through the sense amplifier.
US08050129B2
An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus includes an e-fuse macro and a switch device. The e-fuse macro is disposed in an integrated circuit, and has a plurality of e-fuse units. The switch device is disposed in the integrated circuit, and has an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro. The switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode.
US08050125B2
In an embodiment, a bit line sense amplifier of a semiconductor memory device with an open bit line structure includes sense amplifier blocks, first voltage drivers, and a second voltage driver. The sense amplifier blocks include a first sense amplifier and a second sense amplifier, each sensing and amplifying a signal difference between a bit line and a complementary bit line. The first voltage drivers apply a power source voltage to the first sense amplifier, and the second voltage driver applies a ground voltage to the second sense amplifier. The first voltage drivers are disposed for every two or more sense amplifier blocks in a bit line sense amplifier region in which the sense amplifier blocks are arranged, and the second voltage driver is disposed in a conjunction region in which a control circuit is located to control the sense amplifier blocks. Both capacitive noise and device size are minimized.
US08050123B2
A semiconductor memory device simultaneously selects an object cell and a counter cell which connect with a common bit line, simultaneously activates sub-word lines of the object cell and the counter cell after predetermined levels are written in the object cell and the counter cell, simultaneously read data of the object cell and the counter cell from the common bit line, and hence, determines whether the object cell is normal or defective, based on a voltage level of the common bit line. Thereby, the defective cell in the semiconductor memory device can be reliably detected.
US08050118B2
A semiconductor memory device having read and write operations includes a discrimination signal generating unit for generating a discrimination signal during the write operation; and a selective delay unit for receiving and selectively delaying a command-group signal in response to the discrimination signal.
US08050112B2
An internal voltage generation circuit includes a temperature detection unit which detects an internal temperature of a semiconductor memory device and generates a temperature signal, a driving control signal generation unit which receives the temperature signal and generates first and second driving control signals, and an internal voltage generation unit which receives the first and second driving control signals and generates an internal voltage.
US08050109B2
A non-volatile memory core comprises one or more memory bays. Each memory bay comprises one or more memory blocks that include a grouping of non-volatile storage elements. In one embodiment, memory blocks in a particular memory bay share a group of read/write circuits. During a memory operation, memory blocks are transitioned into active and inactive states. The process of transitioning blocks from an inactive state to an active state includes enabling charge sharing between a memory block entering the active state and another memory block that was previously in the active state. This charge sharing improves performance and/or reduces energy consumption for the memory system.
US08050106B2
A method writes data in a non-volatile memory comprising memory cells that are erased before being written. The method comprises the steps of providing a main non-volatile memory area comprising target pages, providing an auxiliary non-volatile memory area comprising auxiliary pages, providing a look-up table to associate to an address of invalid target page an address of valid auxiliary page, and, in response to a command for writing a piece of data in a target page writing the piece of data as well as the address of the target page in a first erased auxiliary page, invalidating the target page, and updating the look-up table.
US08050097B2
According to an aspect of a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device, a first program operation command is input, and a program operation is executed according to a program start voltage stored in a program start voltage storage unit. Here, a program voltage, which is applied at a time point at which a memory cell programmed higher than a verify voltage while the program operation is performed occurs for the first time, is updated to a program start voltage.
US08050096B2
A non-volatile memory device and programming process is described that compensates for coupling effects on threshold gate voltages of adjacent floating gate or non-conductive floating node memory cells by adjusting the threshold voltage level programmed in view of the data being programmed on a following programming cycle into adjacent memory cells, so that the coupling effect results in the desired target threshold voltages for the cells. In one embodiment of the present invention, memory cell coupling is compensated for by adjusting programming level of one or more memory cells of a first page a memory array to a higher or lower threshold verify target voltage given the data/programming level to be written to directly adjacent memory cells of a second page, so that coupling between the directly adjacent memory cells of the first and second pages brings the memory cells of first page to their final target programming level.
US08050091B2
An electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is provided. The EEPROM includes a semiconductor substrate including spaced apart first, second and third active regions, a common floating gate traversing over the first through third active regions, source/drain regions formed in the third active region on opposite sides of the floating gate, a first interconnect connected to the first active region, a second interconnect connected to the second active region, and a third interconnect connected to either one of the source/drain regions.
US08050089B2
A flash memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks. A selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks includes 2n pages of data. The selected memory block includes different types of memory cells capable of storing different numbers of bits.
US08050084B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells each having a resistance corresponding to one of a plurality of first resistance distributions, a temperature compensation circuit including one or more reference cells each having a resistance corresponding to one among one or more second resistance distributions, and a data read circuit including a compensation unit and a sense amplifier, the compensation unit being adapted to supply compensation current to a sensing node, an amount of the compensation current varying based on the resistance of each reference cell, and the sense amplifier being adapted to compare the level of the sensing node with a reference level and to output a comparison result.
US08050074B2
A memory device is comprised of a magnetic structure that stores information in a plurality of domains of the magnetic structure. A write unit writes information to at least one of the plurality of domains of the magnetic structure by applying a write current to the magnetic structure in response to a control signal. A read unit reads information from at least one of the plurality of domains of the magnetic structure by applying a read current to the magnetic structure in response to the control signal. A domain wall movement control unit is coupled to a portion of the magnetic structure and moves information stored in the plurality of domains in the magnetic structure to other domains in the magnetic structure in response to the control signal. The write unit, the read unit and the domain wall movement control unit are all coupled to the same control signal line that provides the control signal.
US08050073B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory block having first and second word lines extending in a first direction and bit lines extending in a perpendicular second direction; a first driver region at a side of the memory block in the first direction driving the first word lines; a second driver region at another side of the memory block in the first direction driving the second word lines; a sensing region at a side of the memory block in the second direction controlling the bit lines responsive to signals from drive lines; a first conjunction region at an intersection of the first driver and sensing regions including a first driver driving the drive lines responsive to signals from control lines; and a second conjunction region at an intersection of the second driver and sensing regions, including a second driver driving the drive lines responsive to signals from the control lines.
US08050071B2
A memory core capable of decreasing the area of core conjunction region is disclosed. The memory core includes a first sub word-line driving circuit and a first sub word-line control signal generating circuit. The first sub word-line driving circuit is disposed in a first region, and generates a first word-line driving signal to provide the first word-line driving signal to an array unit. The first sub word-line control signal generating circuit is disposed in the first region, and generates the first sub word-line control signal based on a sub word-line driving signal. Therefore, the memory core has a small size and, consequently so can the semiconductor device.
US08050067B2
A control system for controlling conversion of an input power into an output power in a converter module is provided. The control system includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, and an active switching device. The control system further includes a master controller and a communication link interconnecting the master controller and the converter module. Also, the system has a timing generator generating a timing signal with a cycle time equal to or less than the shortest time constant of the converter module and immediate power circuit elements relating to the converter module. The timing generator is integrated in or interconnected with the master controller. Furthermore, the control system has a signal generator integrated in or interconnected with the master controller generating switching control signals, each switching control signal containing a control message defining a switching state for the active switching device.
US08050062B2
A system for supplying AC power from a DC power source, such as a photovoltaic array is disclosed. The system includes a converter and an inverter coupled by a DC link. Control methods and systems are provided to maintain the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source. During steady state conditions, the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage are maintained below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source by controlling the output of the inverter. The DC link voltage is temporarily adjusted to allow for higher DC link transients when the DC power source is first coupled or re-coupled to the system. During conditions when the inverter is decoupled from the system, the converter is controlled to maintain the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source.
US08050060B2
The disclosure specifies a method for operating a converter circuit, the converter circuit having a converter unit with a large number of drivable power semiconductor switches and with a three-phase electrical AC voltage system, in which the drivable power semiconductor switches are driven by means of a drive signal (SA) formed from a control signal ((SR), and the control signal (SR) is formed by adjusting an H-th harmonic component of system currents (iNH) to a system current setpoint value (iNHref), where H=1, 2, 3, . . . . In order to reduce a harmonic component in the system voltages, the system current setpoint value (iNHref) is formed by adjusting an H-th harmonic component of system voltages (uNH) to a predeterminable system voltage setpoint value (uNHref), the control difference (uNHdiff) from the H-th harmonic component of the system voltages (uNH) and the system voltage setpoint value (uNHref) being weighted by a system impedance (yNH) determined with respect to the H-th harmonic component. In addition, an apparatus is disclosed for implementing the method.
US08050045B2
The invention relates to a surface mount type electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board or hybrid IC (HIC) and a method of manufacturing the same and provides an electronic component which can be formed with a small size and a low height at a low cost and a method of manufacturing the same. A common mode choke coil as the electronic component has an overall shape in the form of rectangular parallelepiped that is provided by forming an insulation layer, a coil layer (not shown) formed with a coil conductor, and external electrodes electrically connected to the coil conductor in the order listed on a silicon substrate using thin film forming techniques. The external electrodes are formed to spread on a top surface (mounting surface) of the insulation layer.
US08050038B2
A heat dissipation device for dissipating heat from an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board, includes a fin unit, a heat-conducting board attached to the electronic component, a heat pipe thermally connecting the fin unit and the heat-conducting board, and a clip disposed on the heat pipe. Two engaging portions protrude upwardly from a top face of the heat-conducting board towards each other. The heat pipe extends between the two engaging portions. The two engaging portions press two opposite ends of the clip downwardly, thereby securing the heat pipe to the top face of the heat-conducting board.
US08050037B2
In an electronic control device that includes two or more kinds of lead-insertion-type parts, including at least a coil and a capacitor, the parts are installed on a support that has a wiring, a terminal structure and mechanically fixing portions; the leads of the above parts are respectively inserted in and electrically connected to holes formed in the wiring portion of the support; the parts and the support are fixed to each other with an adhesion material for fixation; the upper surfaces of the parts are attached to a metallic chasis with a thermally conductive material of a low elasticity modulus interposed in between; the mechanically fixing portions of the support are fixed to the metallic chasis; and the terminal structure of the support is electrically connected to a circuit board that mounts at least a controlling element.
US08050021B2
An ejectable/retractable interface module is disclosed. AN exemplary interface module may include a display trolley assembly, and a display module pivotally connected to the display trolley assembly. A management cable connects the display module to a computer board in the display trolley assembly. The display trolley assembly and display module are configured for during ejection and retraction in a blade enclosure so that the display module folds flat and retracts into the blade enclosure to reduce damage during shipping. The display module pivots to a desired viewing angle during use.
US08050017B2
A computer with a touch sensitive or pen sensitive display is disclosed in which the position of the fully opened display has been designed in order that the torque typically applied to the top most pen or touch sensitive part of the display, in relation to a rotational axis about which the computer would rotate if it were to tip backwards, is less than that needed to cause the computer to tip backwards about that rotational axis. The computer is therefore stable even when the display is being touched by pen or finger, unlike conventional clam shell designs.
US08050014B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor having a solid electrolyte layer, comprising: the solid electrolyte layer having an electrically-conductive polymer hybrid layer containing an electrolytically-polymerized electrically-conductive polymer and a chemically-polymerized electrically-conductive polymer.
US08049998B2
A magnetoresistance effect device includes: an insulator layer; a first and second ferromagnetic layer laminated to sandwich the insulator layer; a magnetic bias layer laminated with the second ferromagnetic layer; and a connecting section formed discontinuously on a side face of the insulator layer. The connecting section is not interposed between the second ferromagnetic layer and the magnetic bias layer. The connecting section is made of a ferromagnetic material, and electrically connecting between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistance effect device includes: laminating a first and second ferromagnetic layer to sandwich an insulator layer, and laminating a magnetic bias layer with the second ferromagnetic layer; and forming a connecting section for electrically connecting between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer by discontinuously forming a ferromagnetic material on a side face of the insulator layer.
US08049997B2
A first shield portion located below an MR stack includes a first main shield layer, a first antiferromagnetic layer, and a first magnetization controlling layer including a first ferromagnetic layer exchange-coupled to the first antiferromagnetic layer. A second shield portion located on the MR stack includes a second main shield layer, a second antiferromagnetic layer, and a second magnetization controlling layer including a second ferromagnetic layer exchange-coupled to the second antiferromagnetic layer. The MR stack includes two free layers magnetically coupled to the two magnetization controlling layers. Only one of the two magnetization controlling layers includes a third ferromagnetic layer that is antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to the first or second ferromagnetic layer through a nonmagnetic middle layer. The first shield portion includes an underlayer disposed on the first main shield layer, and the first antiferromagnetic layer is disposed on the underlayer.
US08049980B1
A mass data storage system including a hard disk drive comprising heads and platter surfaces determines when a head of the disk is faulty and the disk continues to operate as a partially failed disk with respect to the remaining heads which are not faulty. A striped parity disk array comprises disks capable of operating as partially failed disks allows copying of data from the platter surfaces not associated with a faulty head of a partially failed disk to a spare disk which reduces the amount of data that must be rebuilt in the rebuild process, thereby reducing the amount of time the array spends in degraded mode exposed to a total loss of data caused by a subsequent disk failure.
US08049977B2
A lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens mounted to the lens barrel, and an anti-dazzling film received in the lens barrel. The anti-dazzling film defines at least two first postholes. The lens module further includes at least two positioning posts. The positioning posts integrate with the first postholes to secure the anti-dazzling film to the lens barrel.
US08049974B2
A first part has first, second and third inwardly-facing surface portions angularly spaced about an axis, and a second part has outwardly-facing fourth, fifth and sixth surface portions spaced angularly about the axis, a radial distance from the axis to each surface portion decreasing progressively in a given direction along the axis. Each of the fourth, fifth and sixth surface portions faces, is closely adjacent to, and is substantially congruent in shape with a respective one of the first, second and third surface portions. At least one of the first and second parts is an optical component.
US08049970B2
A zoom lens system has, in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power; during magnification change, the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, the fourth lens unit and the aperture stop move; the first lens unit includes a negative lens and a positive lens in order from the object side; the second lens unit includes a negative lens and a positive lens in order from the object side; the third lens unit includes three or less lenses including one positive lens and one negative lens; and the fourth lens unit includes one positive lens.
US08049949B2
An electrochromic device includes a first substrate spaced from a second substrate. A first transparent conductive electrode is formed over at least a portion of the first substrate. A polymeric anode is formed over at least a portion of the first conductive electrode. A second transparent conductive electrode is formed over at least a portion of the second substrate. In one aspect of the invention, a multi-layer polymeric cathode is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode. In one non-limiting embodiment, the multi-layer cathode includes a first cathodically coloring polymer formed over at least a portion of the second conductive electrode and a second cathodically coloring polymer formed over at least a portion of the first cathodically coloring polymer. An ionic liquid is positioned between the anode and the cathode.
US08049948B2
This invention provides a novel process for producing an electrochemical display element, which can easily form a white scattering layer between opposed electrodes, has a high level of suitability for production, and has high stability after long-term use. The production process is characterized in that a film containing a white scattering material and a polymeric binder is formed on at least one electrode in opposed electrodes, the other electrode is disposed so as to face the electrode with film formed thereon, a low-viscosity electrolyte is poured into a space between the opposed electrodes, and the polymeric binder is dissolved in or swollen in the electrolyte to form a gel-like electrolyte layer containing the white scattering material and the polymeric binder within the space.
US08049946B2
A method of lubricating MEMS devices using fluorosurfactants 42. Micro-machined devices, such as a digital micro-mirror device (DMD™) 940, which make repeated contact between moving parts, require lubrication in order to prevent the onset of stiction (static friction) forces significant enough to cause the parts to stick irreversibly together, causing defects. These robust and non-corrosive fluorosurfactants 42, which consists of a hydrophilic chain 40 attached to a hydrophobic fluorocarbon tail 41, are applied by nebulization and replace the more complex lubricating systems, including highly reactive PFDA lubricants stored in polymer getters, to keep the parts from sticking. This lubrication process, which does not require the use of getters, is easily applied and has been shown to provide long-life, lower-cost, operable MEMS devices.
US08049943B2
A quantum bit computation method includes operating a two-quantum-bit gate on quantum bits of a first physical system and a second physical system, second energy states of second physical systems except for the first physical system and the second physical system do not change, three energy states being represented by |0>, |1> and |3>, the two energy states being represented by |2> and |4>, energies of |2> and |4> being higher than energies of |0>, |1> and |3>, a transition frequency between |3> and |2> being equal to the resonance frequency, |0> and |1> representing quantum bits, flipping quantum bits of first physical systems after operating the two-quantum-bit gate, executing no operations by a time equal to a time for operating the two-quantum-bit gate, after flipping the quantum bits, and again flipping the quantum bits of the first physical systems after executing no operations.
US08049937B2
In a frame (8) holding a sensor board (7) with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (6k) arranged and mounted and an imaging element (5) for focusing light reflected from an original onto the sensor board (7), the imaging element (5) includes a plurality of rod lens arrays (5) each having at least one cut end in a lengthwise direction, and cut portions of the rod lens arrays (5) are connected to each other to be tailored to a predetermined reading width, the frame (8) includes a holding section (13) for holding the rod lens arrays (5), and the holding section (13) includes a bottom surface (13B) widened at a part where a cut portion and/or a connection portion of the rod lens arrays (5) is located.
US08049912B2
An image processing system having a reading section which reads a document image to obtain an image data, an impact detecting section to detect an impact, an identifying section which identifies an image data obtained by reading the document image using the reading section upon receiving an impact, when the impact is detected by the impact detecting section during a reading operation of the document image using the reading section, and an outputting section which visualizes and outputs the image data identified by the identifying section for an operator.
US08049910B2
A method for configuring a printer to automatically print multiple proof prints includes configuring a printer with an adjustable process parameter to a first value, configuring the adjustable process parameter to a second value; generating a single submission event that expresses the first value and the second value of the adjustable process parameter, and configuring the printer with the single submission event such that the printer automatically prints a first proof print with the first value and a second proof print with the second value.
US08049900B2
A method and a system for Uniform Frequency Sample Clocking to directly sample the OCT signal with a temporally-non-linear sampling clock derived from a k-space wavemeter on the external sample clock input port of a digitizer. The Uniform Frequency Sample Clocking comprises at least one Pathway, which includes characterizing the swept light source, creating a digital representation of the waveform based from the characterization data, and generating a clock signal using a waveform generator to output the clock signal to a digitizer external clock.
US08049899B2
A Michelson-interferometer which has two reference arms and a short coherence length is used for the method and apparatus for measurement of geometric values on transparent or diffuse objects (19). The basic optical delay times of the reference arms (11, 12) are chosen in such a manner that they result in an optical delay time difference corresponding to a layer thickness, as a geometric value. The at least two reference arm beams (33a, 35a) are passed to a single rotating path-length variation element (23), with a mutual spatial offset angle (dw). A delay-time change, which is dependent on the rotation angle, of the reference arm beams is produced as a function of a rotation angle caused by rotation, in order to allow a delay-time change caused by the path-length variation element (23) to be applied successively to the basic optical delay times in the reference arms (11, 12). A topography as a further geometric value is obtained by projection of a light-intensity structure onto a surface to be measured, and by measurement of its image.
US08049894B2
A device and method of operation for analyzing signal features over multiple optical wavelengths is presented. A plurality of rotating thin film filters is arranged with respect to a collimated beam of light so that each thin film filter transmits light of a particular wavelength to a detector unit responsive to an angle of incidence of light upon the thin film filter when the thin film filter optically interposes the collimated light beam. Each of the plurality of thin film filters is optically interposed periodically and rotated so that the angle of incidence of light from the first input unit upon the thin film filter varies when the thin film filter is optically interposed to scan the light by wavelength within a selected wavelength band into a detector unit for measurement.
US08049891B2
The present invention provides an adjustment method for a position detection apparatus which comprises an optical system including first and second optical members whose positions can be changed, and detects a position of an object, comprising the steps of calculating a value representing an asymmetry of a detection signal of a light which enters a photoelectric conversion device via the optical system, for each of a plurality of positions of the first optical member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical system, specifying a position of the object in the direction of the optical axis, at which the value is insensitive, for each of the plurality of positions, and adjusting a position of the second optical member in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis based on the value at the position of the object specified in the specifying step.
US08049887B2
The spectroscopy module 1 is provided with a body portion 2 for transmitting light L1, L2, a spectroscopic portion 3 for dispersing light L1 made incident from the front plane 2a of the body portion 2 into the body portion 2 to reflect the light on the front plane 2a, a light detecting element 4 having a light detecting portion 41 for detecting the light L2 dispersed and reflected by the spectroscopic portion 3 and electrically connected to a wiring 9 formed on the front plane 2a of the body portion 2 by face-down bonding, and an underfill material 12 filled in the body portion 2 side of to the light detecting element 4 to transmit the light L1, L2.
US08049879B2
An apparatus and associated method for measuring transmitted optical distortion in a glass sheet includes a glass stand which receives a glass sheet for mounting between a background screen which includes a matrix of spaced apart dots, and a digital camera which captures (1) an image of the glass sheet surface, and (2) an image of the dot matrix transmitted through the glass sheet. The captured images are downloaded to a computer that is suitably programmed to analyze the image data to (1) determine the presence of any markings or elements on the surface of the glass sheet that should be isolated from the dot matrix image, (2) modify the background image to eliminate the image data corresponding to any such surface markings or elements from the image, and (3) determine characteristics indicative of optical distortion in the modified image of the dot matrix background transmitted through the glass sheet.
US08049863B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The method includes: providing a first substrate and a second substrate; providing a plurality of liquid crystal drops on the first substrate, wherein two adjacent liquid crystal drops in X direction is kept by a distance d1 mm, and two adjacent liquid crystal drops in Y direction is kept by a distance d2 mm, each liquid crystal drop is G mg, d1 16.7, d2 15.4, and G 1; connecting the first substrate and the second substrate so that the liquid crystal drops are sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and polymerizing the polymeric components of the liquid crystal drops while applying a predetermined voltage to the liquid crystal drops.
US08049860B2
A glass substrate for a reflective mirror of a rear projection television (RPTV) which ensures display quality by quantitative control, and can reduce control cost and manufacture cost is provided. A reflective mirror 3 of the rear projection television (RPTV) includes a float glass plate (glass substrate) 1 formed to have a plate thickness of 3 mm by a float process, and a reflection enhancing film 2 constituted of aluminum (Al) formed on one surface 1a of the glass substrate 1 by a sputtering method. In the measurement condition of a cut-off value of 0.8 to 8 mm, the maximum amplitude of a filtered waviness curve is 0.1 μm or less, the maximum value of a viewability index value γ (=A/D3) in a range of spatial frequencies 2 to 500/mm by spectral analysis of the filtered waviness curve is 0.02 (/m2) or less, and an integral value of the viewability index value γ is 2.0 (/m3) or less.
US08049859B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate by a frame-shaped sealing member, a display area located inside the sealing member, a non-display area located outside the display area and a plurality of spacers interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A relief area in which a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate is larger than that in the display area is provided in at least a portion of the non-display area.
US08049857B2
An LCD device includes: a backlight unit including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which generate light, and emit the light to a liquid crystal panel; a main flexible circuit board on which driving circuits to drive the LEDs and the liquid crystal panel; a sub-flexible circuit board on which the LEDs are mounted and electrically connected to a wire pattern formed on the main flexible circuit board by being soldered to a side surface of the main flexible circuit board to electrically connect the light emitting diodes and the driving circuits for the light emitting diodes; and a support main encompassing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit and including a step portion at a side surface thereof to accommodate a soldering portion between the side surface of the main flexible circuit board and the sub-flexible circuit board which are connected by soldering.
US08049848B2
A liquid crystal display having a wide viewing angle and easily manufactured. The liquid crystal display comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display has a conductive protrusion disposed on the surface of the upper substrate opposing to the lower substrate. The conductive protrusion is disposed over a scanning electrode line or a signal electrode line and has the same potential as that of the upper electrode. As another structure, each of pixel electrodes on the lower substrate has a smaller area than that of a common electrode on the upper substrate and is covered by the common electrode, and each of the pixel electrodes comprises an electrode portion having approximately symmetrical shape.
