US08202163B2
A vehicle simulation such as for example a driving game can be provided by displaying an image of a steering wheel on a touch sensitive screen. Touch inputs are used to control the rotational orientation of displayed steering wheel. The rotational orientation of the displayed steering wheel is used to apply course correction effects to a simulated vehicle. Selective application of driver assist and different scaling of touch inputs may be provided.
US08202158B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for accessing a bonus game with a wagering game machine are described. A portal module can be used to pass a desired expected value from a base wagering game to a portal bonus game module. The portal bonus game may use the desired expected value to generate bonus game payout frequencies and bonus game payout values. Wagering game machines according to the various embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.
US08202150B2
A first hand of a card game is played from a first deck of playing cards to determine a first payout. Based on a qualifying card combination being present in the first hand, a second hand from is dealt from a second deck of playing cards. The second hand includes the qualifying card combination from the second deck and at least one randomly selected card from the second deck. The second hand of the card game is played to determine a second payout.
US08202144B2
The coin sorting system includes a feed unit, a sorting unit, and a passageway member. Each unit has a rotary disc and a stationary member opposed to the disc. Each disc has a rotating axis inclined relative to a horizontal plane. A guide passageway with an outlet thorough which coins are fed one by one as the disc rotates is formed on the stationary member of the feed unit. Provided on the stationary member of the sorting unit are a conveying passageway with an inlet thorough which the coins fed from the outlet are introduced one by one and multiple sorting devices each for selectively ejecting the coins. A rolling-coin passageway is formed on the passageway member extending aslope to cause the coins to roll from the outlet to the inlet under own weight thereof.
US08202142B2
A cutting apparatus cuts a lateral wall of a manhole to form a hole on the lateral wall of the manhole. A circular pipe is harmonized with a main pipe and fixedly disposed therein. A rotary ring configured so as to be able to rotate along the periphery of an opening in the manhole about the axial center of the main pipe is mounted on the circular pipe. A pressurized fluid material or pressurized granular material is sprayed from a nozzle held in the rotary ring. The rotary ring is rotated and the lateral wall of the manhole is cut through along the periphery of the opening in the manhole by the fluid material or granular material sprayed from the nozzle. Since the cut portion is shaped as a circle symmetrical about the axial center of the main pipe, it is possible to form a circularly shaped cut-through part centered along the periphery of the opening in the manhole without accidentally breaking or damaging the lateral wall thereof.
US08202139B2
A method of operating a substrate processing apparatus, upon the occurrence of a nonfatal failure in the apparatus, makes it possible to continue part of the apparatus operations for substrates to clean and recover a substrate or to easily discharge a substrate from the apparatus, without stopping an entire apparatus, thereby reducing the risk of a substrate becoming unprocessable. The method of operating a substrate processing apparatus having a polishing section, a cleaning section and a transferring mechanism, includes: classifying substrates, upon detection of a malfunction in any of the polishing section, the cleaning section and the transferring mechanism, according to the site of the malfunction and to the positions of the substrates in the substrate processing apparatus; and carrying out an operation for each of the substrates after the detection of the malfunction, the operation varying depending on the classification of the substrate.
US08202136B2
A method of operating a watercraft is disclosed. The watercraft includes an engine, a jet propulsion system operatively connected to the engine, the jet propulsion system includes a reverse gate, and a steering assembly for steering the watercraft. The method comprises: determining if the steering assembly is turned; sensing an operating parameter of the watercraft, the operating parameter being related to a thrust generated by the propulsion system; determining if the operating parameter of the watercraft is within a predetermined range; and moving the reverse gate to a lowered position when the steering assembly is turned and the operating parameter of the watercraft is within the predetermined range. A watercraft capable of performing the method is also disclosed.
US08202134B2
An electrode terminal and a secondary battery including the same, the electrode terminal including a screw member, the screw member including a flange on a lower outer peripheral surface thereof; and a coupling member including an upper portion bent so as to surround at least a part of the flange, and a lower portion bent so as to contact an internal surface of a cap assembly and coupled to the cap assembly.
US08202129B2
A network connector includes an elastic terminal support rack mounted in an insulation main body to support 8pcs of metal conducting terminals. The elastic terminal support rack comprises a rectangular open frame, an elongated elastic block transversely suspending in the rectangular open frame, a plurality of arched bars connected between the rear edge of the rectangular open frame and the elongated elastic block and 8 pcs of ribs located on the top side of the elongated elastic block and respectively configured subject to the shapes of the tilting portions of the metal conducting terminals to give sufficient support.
US08202107B1
A connector soldered to a PCB has an insulating housing of which two opposite ends recessed to form a pair of fixing recesses, terminals mounted in the insulating housing having soldering portions projected out of a bottom of the insulating housing, a latch member and a positioning member. The latch member has a base slice inserted in the fixing recess. A top of the base plate extends sideward and then is bent downward to form a folded plate apart facing the base plate to define an interval therebetween. The positioning member movably mounted to the latch member has a base slice inserted in the interval and a soldering slice perpendicularly connected at a bottom of the base slice for being soldered with the PCB. The base slice of is capable of moving up-and-down in the interval to adjust the soldering slice to be level with the soldering portions.
US08202106B2
A connector for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment comprises first and second connector parts adapted to be interengaged to establish an electrical connection. The first connector part has at least one pin, and the second connector part has at least one electrical contact for engagement by the pin when the connector parts are interengaged. The pin comprises an axially extending electrically conductive portion and an axially extending electrically insulating sleeve around said conductive portion, and the pin is supported by and projects axially forwardly from a support whereby its insulating sleeve is exposed along a longitudinally extending portion thereof to ambient conditions when the connector parts are disengaged. The connector part has a protective rigid metal sleeve member arranged to extend at least partly along the first portion of the insulating sleeve and at least partly along the second portion thereof.
US08202096B2
An educational tool for teaching students may include a tarp portion, an inflatable being positioned on the tarp portion, the inflatable portion including a first end section positioned on a first end of the inflatable portion, a river section connected to the first end section, a middle section connected to the river section, and a second end section connected to the middle section. The river section may include a top river section and a bottom river section, and the top river section may be independently inflatable with respect to the bottom river section. The first end section may include a first contour portion, and the middle section may include a second contour portion. The second end section may include a third contour portion to cooperate with the second contour portion, and the second end section may include a fourth contour portion. The river portion may include a pullout portion, and the educational tool may include a tunnel baffle adapted to allow users to walk in a passageway of the tunnel baffle. The tunnel baffle may cooperate with the middle and second end section in order to form a classroom.
US08202085B2
The present invention presents a power generating spark emitting apparatus in which a mischmetal flint rod also operates as a electron generating source. Either the handle material itself or an internal cathode operates in conjunction with the mischmetal flint rod to form a power source. The cathode and anode are connected across a light emitting diode or incandescent lamp to provide an illumination device. A strike plate mounted within a guided angled recess is disposed on a housing to present the mischmetal flint rod with a strike source such dragging the mischmetal flint rod across the strike plate release sparks from the mischmetal flint rod sufficient to ignite a tinder bundle.
US08202075B2
An imprint apparatus for imprinting a pattern formed on a mold in a resin material formed on a substrate with accuracy is constituted by a light source for irradiating the resin material with light for curing the resin material; a measuring device for measuring a physical value which reflects a state of the resin material resulting from the irradiation of light from the light source; and a controller for controlling a spatial positional relationship between the mold and the substrate or an amount of light from the light source on the basis of information obtained from the measuring device.
US08202061B2
A pump system includes pump having a control feature which, responsive to a supply of pressurized working fluid, reduces the pressure of the working fluid pressurized by the pump. The control feature is connected to the output of the pump by a regulating valve. The control feature receives pressurized working fluid to decrease the output of the pump in response to the pressure of the supplied working fluid. A regulating valve selectively connects the pressurized working fluid to the control feature. The regulating valve has a control port to receive pressurized working fluid from the pump to urge the valve to a closed position against a biasing force. A controllable valve is operable to interrupt the supply of pressurized working fluid to control port to alter the output pressure of the pump.
US08202052B2
A blade for a stator in a torque converter, including: a first blade segment connected to an inner circumferential section of the stator; at least one second blade segment, separately formed from the first blade segment, and connected to the inner circumferential section; and a third blade segment, separately formed from the first and second blade segments, and connected to the inner circumferential section. In some aspects, the first, second, and third blade segments include respective outer radial portions and the outer radial portions are fixedly connected. In some aspects, the first and second blade segments are in contact and the second and third blade segments are in contact. In some aspects, the first, second, and third blade segments include respective edges and the first and second blade segments are in contact along the respective edges and the second and third blade segments are in contact along the respective edges.
US08202051B2
The wind-driven turbine apparatus is an apparatus comprising: a horizontal axle, a support frame, said support frame comprising; bearings configured to support said horizontal axle; and a central bearing to permit said support frame to rotate about a vertical axis; a plurality of axial blades, spaced longitudinally along said horizontal axle, spaced radially around said horizontal axle and a tail attached to said support frame.
US08202050B2
A wind turbine includes wireless system for receiving a control signal at a hub of the wind turbine.
US08202038B2
A hydraulic servo drive device for driving a swing mechanism of a variable geometry turbocharger includes a servo piston connected to a driveshaft of the swing mechanism and a pilot spool that is accommodated in a center hole of the servo piston and slides by pilot pressure. A first hydraulic chamber to and from which pressure oil flows are provided in a housing. The servo piston separately includes a pressure port for introducing pressure oil from an outside, a first piston port for intercommunicating the center hole and the first hydraulic chamber, a second piston port for intercommunicating the center hole and the second hydraulic chamber, and a return port for exiting pressure oil.
US08202036B1
Methods of making and using a vehicle transport apparatus are provided. An exemplary method of making the vehicle transport apparatus includes at least the steps of providing a beam with a kingpin attached on each a proximal and distal end, linking a single and only axle in vertical and horizontal sliding support of the beam, wherein the beam adjusts vertically relative to the axle, and the axle adjusts horizontally relative to the beam, and wherein the beam is unsupported by the single and only axle during at least one operating mode of the beam, attaching a guide post to the axle, securing a vertical slide member to the beam and in sliding contact with the guide post, and interposing a vertical position control apparatus between the vertical slide member and the axle, the vertical position control apparatus controlling the vertical position of the beam relative to the axle.
US08202030B2
A fastener retainer is provided capable of retaining a fastener to a part prior to and during assembly. A first portion engages a fastener flange while leaving a fastener head exposed for assembly tool access. A second portion has flanges that engage the edges of the part.
US08202024B2
A partitioned package includes an inner tube having a longitudinally extending seal and containing a first material, and an outer tube having a longitudinally extending seal and surrounding the inner tube and containing a second material. The seals of the inner and outer tubes are positioned at different radial locations.
US08202018B2
A blow-molded plastic female interconnection system has a receiving section and a locking section. The receiving section receives a male interconnect. The receiving section has a floor aperture shaped to allow the corresponding male interconnect be pushed into the locking section. The floor aperture can have various shapes depending on the shape of the male interconnect. Within the receiving section is a locking projection on the receiving section's back wall and the locking projection has a bottom section that defines a portion of the ceiling of the locking section which has no back wall. When the male interconnect is being pushed into the locking section, the locking projection deforms due to the locking sections no back wall. When the male interconnect is below the locking projection, the locking projection bottom section is positioned on the male interconnect to securely interconnect the male and female units.
US08202015B2
A media tray assembly for a printer includes an output tray that is removably and pivotally mounted onto an input tray. The output tray is configured such that it can be easily installed into and quickly removed from the printer. In addition, the output tray can be pivoted upward from a substantially horizontal position and latched into an inclined position in one continuous motion by a user.
US08202005B2
A bearing module for supporting a rapidly rotatable shaft of a vacuum pump includes a rolling bearing for supporting rotatably the shaft, a reservoir for a lubricant having an element forming a sliding contact with a delivery structure supported on the shaft for delivery of the lubricant in the rolling bearing under action of centrifugal forces generated during rotation of the shaft, and a radial delivery element provided on a side of the rolling bearing opposite a side of the bearing at which the delivery structure is located, for returning the lubricant to the reservoir.
US08201999B2
A supporting/moving section for supporting and moving a device to predetermined positions at which radiation imaging is performed is prepared. An operating portion is provided for manipulating the movement of the device supported by the supporting/moving means. A detecting section outputs detection signals, which are obtained by detecting external forces which are applied to the operating portion. A control section controls the supporting/moving means to move the device such that the movement tracks target values for movement, which are determined from the detection signals. During manipulation of the operating portion, a unique oscillation frequency measuring section executes measurements to obtain a unique oscillation frequency of the device. A unique oscillation attenuating section attenuates signal components, which are included in control signals output by the control means to control the supporting/moving means and cause the movement of the device to fluctuate at the unique oscillation frequency, in real time.
US08201996B1
A passive wavelength-division multiplexing fiber-optic temperature sensor, as well as a distributed fiber-optic temperature sensing system, incorporates at least one wavelength-division-multiplexing optical coupler, so that any given sensor interfaces optically by at least one designated optical wavelength, thus providing means for any given fiber-optic temperature sensor to be distinguished from other fiber-optic temperature sensors of similar design operating on the same optical fiber system.
US08201990B2
An impeller for use in association with an extraction plate adapted for defibering liquid slurry stock and causing defibered material to pass through the extraction plate. The impeller includes a cylindrical central body portion and a plurality of vanes extending outwardly in a generally tangential direction from the central body portion. The vane leading face height from an extraction side to an air foil surface is substantially constant from the vane outer end to where the vane is attached to the central body portion at the radially outward edge of the central body portion, and then thereafter gradually decreasing in height from the radially outward edge of the body central portion to the airfoil surface at the vane inner end.
US08201986B2
A warm mix asphalt plant comprising a counter-flow drum, apparatus for precisely metering flows of A/C and water, an asphalt expander with no moving internal parts where a circular curtain of flowing clean water is mixed with a coaxial circular curtain of moving heated A/C to create asphalt foam which is heated and mixed inside a lower portion of the asphalt expander and then distributed to cover aggregate inside the counter-flow drum.
US08201982B2
A planar illumination device is provided with a plurality of light guide paths, on which scanned light in different scanning sections of a scanning range by a scanning unit is respectively incident, and an illumination unit having a plurality of emission regions for emitting the light guided by the respective light guide paths. The number of the emission regions is 2 or more and 1000 or less, and the respective emission regions successively become luminous as the scanned light is incident on the respective light guide paths.
US08201979B2
A collapsible lighting device has a main body surrounded by a collar whose position is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the main body. Pivotally connected or hinged legs are attached to the collar and to the main body with struts. When the collar is on one position, the legs deploy outward from the main body to the extent permitted by the struts, thereby allowing the legs to support the collapsible lighting device upright. A lamp head is attached to a member which telescope from the main body. When deployed, the lamp head can be switched on to provide illumination. When the collar is another position, the legs are drawn in toward the main body to form a cylindrical shape. The lam head can be positioned so that when the telescoping member is retracted into the main body, the collar surrounds the exterior of the lamp head, thus protecting the lamp head for transport. The overall cylindrical shape of the lighting device in the collapsed position facilitates transport, for example using a strap to carry the device on one's back.
US08201978B2
A luminaire having a box-like luminaire housing for receiving at least one elongate light source and at least one reflector surface arranged—seen from the region to be illuminated—neighboring the light source, the luminaire housing forms a light exit opening which is closed by a light exit element. The light exit element has in a first emission region, located in substance in front of the light source, a first light emission characteristic, and has in a second emission region, separate from the first emission region, a second light emission characteristic different with respect to the first light emission characteristic.
US08201977B2
The invention relates to a refrigerated display case with an illuminated support member or “mullion” that efficiently transfers heat generated by at least one light emitting diode (LED) to warm and maintain door seals. The invention further relates to a low-profile, elongated LED light fixture that is retrofitted to the display case mullion to provide efficient illumination. The LED light fixture includes an elongated frame having a central hub extending longitudinally along the frame. A pair of opposed arms extending upwardly at an angle from the central hub, wherein the terminus of each arm has a curvilinear configuration that defines a receiver. At least one leg extends rearward from the central hub. Two legs are spaced a distance apart to define an elongated central cavity that receives a fastener for securement of the fixture to the vertical support within the display case. A printed circuit board resides within a channel of the central hub and a plurality of LEDs are electrically and mechanically connected to the circuit board. A substantially planar lens cover resides within the receiver for securement to the frame.
US08201969B2
An LED illuminator includes an illuminator base and at least two LED lamp units inclinedly disposed on a surface of the illuminator base. Each of the LED lamp units includes a heat dissipation structure and LEDs oriented downwardly and outwardly. A U-shaped fixing element is secured to a center of the illuminator base. The LED lamp units are connected with sidewalls of the fixing element.
US08201962B2
A recessed fixture frame mounting device comprises a first hanger bar connected to a first joist, a second hanger bar connected to a second joist, a recessed can light and junction box connected to the first and second hanger bars, the recessed can and the junction box movable about an axis extending between the first and second joists.
US08201956B2
A task lighting apparatus produces glare-free illumination of a work area. The apparatus includes a shade defining a cavity having an opening, a light source positioned to emit light into the cavity, and a glare control member disposed within the opening wherein the diffuser comprises a louvered array of dual brightness enhancement film.
US08201948B2
An image display device having a screen having a fluorescent region including a fluorescent material; a light irradiation system, including a first light source outputting excitation light exciting the fluorescent material; a second light source outputting visible light; a scanning unit scanning with a light beam output from each of the first light source and the second light source on the screen; and an excitation light wavelength band reflector reflecting light in a wavelength band of the excitation light toward the screen, and formed on an output side of a light beam from the light irradiation system with respect to the screen. The visible light output from the second light source is diffused by the screen, while the excitation light output from the first light source develops a color different from that of the visible light by being projected in the fluorescent region.
US08201943B2
A first optical module scans a portion of an eye with a line of light, descans reflected light from the scanned portion of the eye and confocally provides output light in a line focus configuration. A detection device detects the output light and images the portion of the eye. A second optical module detects an optical distortion and corrects the optical distortion in the line of light scanned on the portion of the eye.
US08201942B2
A method includes identifying an actual location of a ciliary body in a patient's eye. The method also includes identifying a position for a scleral prosthesis to be inserted into scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified location of the ciliary body. The method could also include forming a scleral tunnel in the scleral tissue of the patient's eye based on the identified position and inserting the scleral prosthesis into the scleral tunnel. Identifying the actual location of the ciliary body could include illuminating a first portion of the patient's eye using illumination provided at a second portion of the patient's eye. The illumination provided at the second portion of the patient's eye may be provided through an eyelid of the patient and may travel under a cornea of the patient's eye to the first portion of the patient's eye.
US08201939B2
Eyewear includes a frame having a right temple arm and a left temple arm and a rearwardly extending lower shoulder. A rear plate has a forwardly extending upper shoulder and a pair of lenses, with a portion of each lens positioned between the frame and the rear plate. The lower shoulder extends beneath the pair of lenses and the upper shoulder extends above the pair of lenses.
US08201933B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a head body, a supply member having a first member, a second member, and a third member each having a liquid supply channel, the supply member including a first filter provided between the first member and the second member and a second filter provided between the second member and the third member; a first outer portion being provided between the first member and the second member, the first outer member being formed by integral molding for fixing the first member, the second member; a second outer portion being provided on the outer peripheries of the second member and the third member, the second outer portion being formed by integral molding for fixing the second member, the third member, and the second filter.
US08201931B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid containing chamber that contains liquid; a depressurizing unit that brings the liquid contained in the liquid containing chamber to a boil at reduced pressure; and an air open valve that opens an inner chamber space of the liquid containing chamber to air after the boiling of the liquid at reduced pressure.
US08201927B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus, contains: an ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a fluid and having a laminated structure in which a flow passage plate, in which a passage for the fluid is formed, is provided via an adhesive, in which the adhesive contains an adhesion resin, to which a hydrophilic function agent that gives hydrophilicity to the adhesive is added in a proportion of from 0.25 wt % to 5.0 wt %.
US08201926B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow channel forming substrate in which pressure generating chambers in communication with nozzles are formed; a piezoelectric element made up of a first electrode formed over the flow channel forming substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed over the first electrode and a second electrode formed over the piezoelectric layer; and a coating film provided by coating the piezoelectric element, wherein a hollow section formed by removing the coating film and a part of the second electrode is provided at an area opposite to the piezoelectric element, and an inclination angle θ1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle θ2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of θ2<θ1.
US08201925B2
An ink jet print head is provided which has a reduced size and still can prevent an overall temperature increase in a printing element board. To this end, among ink supply port arrays formed on both sides of each nozzle array, the heat resistance of the portion (beams) of the printing element board between the adjoining ink supply ports is lowered in those arrays that are close to the end portions of the common liquid chamber.
US08201923B2
An ink jet recording head includes a recording element substrate and a supporting member. The recording element substrate has an energy generating element that generates energy used for discharging liquid. The supporting member has a plurality of supply paths that are through holes facilitating supplying liquid to the recording element substrate, and supports the recording element substrate. A first protrusion is provided on a surface of the supporting member in contact with adhesive for bonding the recording element substrate, and at each end in the longitudinal direction of each of partition walls formed between the plurality of supply paths.
US08201916B2
An image recorder includes a driving source generating any of a first-direction force and a second-direction force, a function executing mechanism executing a functional operation, a switching mechanism switching between a first state to allow the function executing mechanism to execute the functional operation and a second state to forbid the function executing mechanism to execute the functional operation, a transmission mechanism transmitting the first-direction force to a feed roller unit and the function executing mechanism and transmitting the second-direction force to the feed roller unit and the switching mechanism, and a controller that after detection of a sheet on a tray, controls the driving source to generate the second-direction force such that the switching mechanism switches to the second state, and thereafter controls the driving source to generate the first-direction force such that the feed roller unit nips the sheet on the tray.
US08201914B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a full-line inkjet head that includes ejection nozzles arrayed in the width direction of a recording medium, and that ejects a liquid functional material on the recording medium; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium at a position opposite to the full-line inkjet head; a test image formation sheet-feeding unit that contact-feeds a test image formation sheet on the recording medium in the upstream of the ejection position on the conveying unit; and a test image formation sheet-separating unit that separates the test image formation sheet from the recording medium in the downstream of the ejection position on the conveying unit.
US08201903B2
An ink supply amount adjustment method for a printing press includes steps of measuring the density value of each density measurement patch printed in a range corresponding to each ink fountain key on a printed printing sheet, obtaining the opening ratio of each ink fountain key in preliminary ink feeding, based on the difference between the measured density value of a patch and a preset reference density value, and the current opening ratio of each ink fountain key or image data in the range corresponding to each ink fountain key, and performing the ink feed operation of an ink ductor roller while printing is suspended, after setting the opening ratio of each ink fountain key to the obtained opening ratio in preliminary ink feeding. An ink supply amount adjustment apparatus for a printing press is also disclosed.
US08201900B2
A safety cabinet has a box body having an open front side, a pair of doors hinged to the body and pivotal between closed positions closing the front side and open positions exposing the open front side, and a shelf slidable between an in position wholly contained in the body behind the open front side and an out position projecting forward at least partially from the open front side. A guide is provided on the shelf extending at an acute angle to the pullout direction, and an arm connected to one of the doors rides in the guide so that moving the one door into the respective open position pulls the drawer into the out position. A link connects the other door at least indirectly to the guide for pulling the other door into the respective open position on movement of the one door into the respective open position.
US08201899B2
Each strip (1) has on each of the ends of its moveable billet (P), mobile blockers (2), (4) each equipped with shafts (2′), (4′) facing each other to abutment in the modular stacking of the contiguous files and on each of its own ends, fixed blockers (3), (5) crossed through by the corresponding shaft (2′), (4′) of the corresponding mobile blocker (2), (4), so that there is always mechanical continuity between shafts (2′), (4′) of two contiguous strips (1) the shafts of which (2′), (4′) meet alignedly to abutment, one being supported upon the other in continuity with the billets (P).
US08201897B2
A method for braking an electric utility vehicle including a motor and an electromechanical brake. The method includes storing a value indicative of at least one of an amount of current, voltage, and power that is commanded to a motor of the electric utility vehicle to maintain the electric utility vehicle in a stopped state; engaging a parking brake function of an electromechanical brake after the storing; disabling the motor after the engaging; commanding the at least one of the current, voltage, and power to the motor at the stored value when an accelerator pedal is depressed; and disengaging the parking brake function after the commanding.
US08201892B2
In one aspect of the invention, a holder assembly comprises a connection block having a block bore extending from a first opening proximate a first end of the assembly to a second opening proximate a second end of the assembly. The block is adapted for connection to a driving mechanism. An extension element is disposed in the block bore and protrudes from the first opening of the block bore. The extension element comprises a central extension bore having a longitudinal length. An attachment mechanism is disposed within the central extension bore of the extension element and is disposed proximate the second end of the assembly.
US08201888B2
A fitting is specified, in particular for a vehicle seat, which has a first fitting part and a second fitting part that is rotatable around a rotary axis relative to the first fitting part, and which has at least one safety bolt that is movably guided in the radial direction on the first fitting part for the purpose of forming an interlock with the second fitting part. According to a first variant, at least one rotatable actuating cam is provided for radially supporting the safety bolt, which has outer, middle and inner support surfaces running in the circumferential direction, the support surfaces each having a radial offset relative to each other, and the step between the middle and the outer support surfaces forming a stop against the safety bolt. According to a further variant, fitting has an engagement means for retracting the safety bolt, which is designed as a link guiding the safety bolt, which includes a radial limiting surface that acts as a stop in interaction with the safety bolt. A fitting of this type is effectively protected against over-rotation.
US08201880B2
A seat cushion covering structure includes a fabric seat cushion cover into which conductive fibers, electrically connected at one end to a conductive member, are woven, and a groove, which is formed in the seat cushion and into which the fabric seat cushion cover is tucked. The conductive member is provided in the groove.
US08201876B2
A passenger seat includes a rigid frame, a seat pan supported by the frame and movable relative to the frame, a leg rest pivotally attached to a forward end of the seat pan, a seat back pivotally attached to a rearward end of the seat pan, and a single actuator linked to the leg rest such that extension of the actuator causes the leg rest to pivot forward, the seat pan to move forward, and the seat back to recline. A method of adjusting the passenger seat includes activating the actuator such that extension of the actuator causes the leg rest to pivot forward, the seat pan to move forward, and the seat back to recline.
US08201873B2
A hinge reinforcement is provided at a hinge pillar at a specified position which corresponds to an upper door-hinge attachment portion. Attachment portions which extend toward a hinge pillar inner and are attached to this hinge pillar inner are provided at the hinge reinforcement which corresponds to the upper door-hinge attachment portion. A branch frame and a gusset member which transmit an impact load inputted from a front side frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction to the attachment portions via the hinge pillar inner are provided so as to extend from the front side frame. Accordingly, the impact load inputted to the vehicle body at the vehicle collision can be properly transmitted to the vehicle rear portion, so that the deformation of the vehicle compartment can be restrained surely.
US08201872B2
A one-piece shotgun is configured to absorb impact energy when a front of the vehicle is impacted. The shotgun comprises an upper portion, a mid portion, and a lower portion, the upper portion having an end configured to connect to a hinge pillar; and a Z-trigger formed by two indentations and being located adjacent the upper portion end. The indentations of the Z-trigger are located on an outer side and an inner side of the shotgun to cause substantially lateral bending when sufficient force is applied to the shotgun.
US08201868B2
Gate removal assemblies are disclosed herein that include a stabilizing assembly; an adjustment assembly coupled to the stabilizing assembly; and a releasing assembly coupled to the adjustment assembly. Gate rack assemblies are also disclosed that includes a coupling mechanism, and at least one support mechanism. Gate removal systems are disclosed herein and include at least one gate removal assembly, and at least one gate rack assembly. In some embodiments, gate removal systems further include a gate removal assembly caddy.
US08201867B2
An omni-positional hoist ring assembly including a bushing element that includes a sleeve with an axial length, a proximal end and a distal end. A load bearing flange is radially disposed about the proximal end of the sleeve. The sleeve has an internal thread extending at least part way of the axial length of the sleeve. A mounting screw element has a major axis, a head, and a shank disposed generally co-axially around the major axis. The shank includes a threaded shank portion and a bearing portion. The bearing portion is a generally cylindrical axially extending portion of the shank that has a diameter approximately equal to the minor diameter of the thread in the threaded shank portion. A thrust washer element is provided between the head and the distal end of the sleeve. A body element receives the in-turned opposed ends of the legs of a lifting loop element in sockets. The lifting loop is free to pivot. The body element is free to rotate about the sleeve, so the lifting loop will self align with a load that is applied to it from any direction within a hemisphere centered on the major axis of the mounting screw element. The elements of the hoist rig assembly are assembled by aligning them and inserting the mounting screw element into the sleeve and threadably advancing it until the bearing is aligned with the internal thread so further rotation of the mounting screw element does not threadably advance the mounting screw element relative to the sleeve.
US08201866B2
The invention concerns a gripper device for gripping solid or hollow items, objects or bodies, which includes a supporting body (11, 11a) holding a plurality of gripper modules (12, 12a) positioned around the geometric axis of the body, parallel and spaced at an angle. Each module includes a flexible prehensible arch-shaped element (21, 21a) having an extrados in line with a radial slot (18, 18a) along one side of the housing and engaged by an actuator piston. All the prehensile elements are movable between a decontracted rest condition, in which their extradossis are retracted in the respective slots (18, 18a), and a compressed/contracted work condition, in which their extradossis protrude from the radial slots (18, 18a) to engage from time to time the item, object or casing to be gripped.
US08201865B2
A pipe gripper device including first and second gripper bodies and a clevis assembly. The gripper bodies each have a head and an arm. The head forms a slot. The arm defines a grip segment proximate a leading end and forms a textured exterior surface. The arms are pivotably coupled and slidably contact one another along corresponding interiors. The clevis assembly includes a clevis mounted to the heads by a pin passing through the respective slots. The gripper device is transitionable between a contracted state and an expanded state by pivoting of the gripper bodies at the corresponding pivot points, with the pin sliding within the slots to define a limit of the expanded state. In the contracted state, the grip segments are readily inserted into a pipe; upon transitioning toward the expanded state, the grip segments engage the pipe interior for application of a pulling force.
US08201862B2
A collector device (1) includes an elongate handle portion (2) having a loop portion (4) attached at one end. The loop portion (4) supports a receptacle (12) which comprises an upwardly facing, in use, deposition surface (16). The handle (2) and loop portions (4) are of a self supporting sheet material and have a longitudinal fold in the sheet material (8) running along the length of the handle portion (2) and continuing across the whole loop portion (4). The device (1) may be deployed with the handle (2) and loop portions (4) both held partially folded along the longitudinal fold (8) in a V or inverted V conformation to provide increased rigidity and increased load bearing capacity, in cantilever, in comparison with a device where the handle and loop portions are held horizontally planar.
US08201860B2
The vehicle door protection device is a removable device for prevention of dents and other damage to a vehicle door, such as damage typically caused by the opening of an adjacent vehicle door. The vehicle door protection device includes an elongated base having opposed inner and outer surfaces, and an elongated fin joined to the outer surface of the base and projecting orthogonal thereto. The elongated base and elongated fin are preferably formed from high impact plastic or the like. The elongated fin preferably has a main body portion with an outer edge of increased thickness, enhancing the rigidity thereof. The inner surface of the base is releasably secured to an exterior face of the vehicle door by a magnetic layer secured to the inner surface. Alternatively, for vehicles having bodies formed from fiberglass or the like, the inner surface may have at least one suction cup secured thereto.
US08201851B2
A tank adapter has a housing. The housing has a top, a bottom and a sidewall disposed between the top and the bottom and a cavity defined by the top, bottom, and sidewall. The outer surface of the top has a first lower surface and a second raised upper surface. The second raised upper surface is located in juxtaposition to the first lower surface. The perimeter of the first lower surface is larger than the perimeter of the second raised upper surface such that a lip is formed between the first lower surface and the second raised upper surface. At least one passageway extends from the second raised upper surface to the inner surface of the top. The passageway has a first opening located in operative communication with the second raised upper surface. The passageway has a second opening located in operative communication with the inner surface of the top and at least a portion of the cavity.
US08201849B2
A balancing system for an agricultural vehicle includes a balance weight which has take-up pins at its sides. The pins are oriented coaxially to a common pivot axis so that the balancing weight can be taken up by the lower links of a three point implement hitch. When the balance weight has been taken up, it can be moved from a position of the center of gravity (S) of the balance weight close to the vehicle to a position distant from the vehicle. In order to attain a balance as optimal as possible, the position of the center of gravity of the balance weight in its position close to the vehicle is located below the pivot axis. Pivoting devices are provided so that the balance weight can be pivoted about the pivot axis so that it can also be brought from a position close to the vehicle to a position distant from the vehicle, where the balance weight occupies a lower position of the center of gravity in the position close to the vehicle than in the position distant from the vehicle.
US08201845B2
An assembly including a plate, a base, and a device for removably attaching the plate to the base. The plate is adapted to be associated with a device for removably retaining a boot, the base is adapted to be associated with a gliding board, such as a ski, the device for removably attaching the plate to the base including an arrangement for longitudinally guiding the plate with respect to the base. An immobilization mechanism is manually actuated to immobilize the plate with respect to the base along the longitudinal guiding direction.
US08201843B2
The present invention comprises a trailer hitch system, for attaching a trailer to a vehicle having a winch attached to the frame of a vehicle, a hollow receiver attached to the frame of a vehicle, where the receiver has a receiver opening, which is defined by a top guide, bottom guide and at least two side beams. The winch wire attaches to the winch, travels through the receiver, out of the receiver opening and attaches to a hitch bar at a tab. When the winch is activated the winch wire pulls hitch bar and thus, the attached trailer, into the receiver opening. A bearing located on the forward facing side of the hitch bar reduces friction between the hitch bar and the receiver as the hitch bar enters the receiver opening.
US08201838B2
A scooter having an approximately U-shaped frame between the arms and of which, a footboard is provided. The free space between footboard and the arms is big enough that sufficient room is left for the pushing foot. At the rear ends of the frame arms, the wheels are mounted while the steering bar with the steering wheel is provided at the front end of the frame.
US08201836B2
A toe binding of a safety ski binding includes a housing for at least partly mounting at least one release spring determining the safety release values and at least one sole holder loaded by the force of the release spring. When an upper force threshold is exceeded the sole holder releases the front section of a boot secured by the binding at least in lateral direction relative to the boot longitudinal axis. An adjusting device is adapted for individually changing the lateral alignment between the sole holder and the housing transversely to the binding longitudinal axis of the binding and substantially parallel to the standing plane for a boot, so that an angle or a lateral deflection between the boot longitudinal axis of a boot inserted into the binding and the binding longitudinal axis of the safety ski binding can be changed and individually preadjusted within predefined adjusting limits.
US08201833B2
An assembly that includes first and second housing members, a gasket and a plurality of bolts that exert a clamp force to clamp the gasket between the first and second housing members. The gasket includes a plurality of tab members that engage the interior of one or both of the first and second housing members. The gasket tabs can resist a force exerted by a pressurized fluid within one or both of the first and second housing members. A gasket that is resistant to side loading due to a pressurized fluid is also provided.
US08201826B1
A game that includes a stylus with differently shaped ends and a housing having stylus-receiving holes therein that are in at least two sets corresponding to the shapes of the stylus ends. Variable visual indicators and sensors are associated with each hole, with the sensors operative to detect the presence of the stylus in the corresponding hole. A controller causes the visual indicators to be sequentially activated. The controller causes a different indictor to be activated in response the stylus being present in the targeted hole. Thus, the stylus-receiving holes are progressed through in a targeting sequence. The controller is configured to terminate an active game session in response to the earlier occurring of: expiration of the timer and detection of the insertion of the stylus into an untargeted hole. Various game modes are described, including with a vibration sensor and a moving housing.
US08201821B2
A paper feeding cassette includes: a cassette case configured to store sheets; a sheet tray on which the sheets are stacked, the sheet tray being rotatably attached to the cassette case; a push-up member configured to push up the sheet tray and rotate the sheet tray in one direction when driving force is input and release the push-up of the sheet tray to allow rotation of the sheet tray in the other direction when the input of the driving force is interrupted; and a buffer member configured to be nipped by the cassette case and the sheet tray and elastically deformed when the sheet tray rotates in the other direction. The buffer member is located, when viewed from a stacking direction of the sheets, in an area closer to a rotation axis of the sheet tray than a distal end of the sheet tray that is most distant from the rotation axis in the sheet tray.
US08201819B2
A valve device is provided with a first block connected to an upstream-side suction tube that is connected to a negative-pressure chamber, a second block connected to a downstream-side suction tube that is connected to a pump, first and second shielding plates rotatably interposed between the first and second blocks, and servo motors for rotating the shielding plates. Each of the shielding plates has a plurality of air passing holes, and are rotated in opposite directions.
US08201816B2
A device and a method for taking over flexible, two-dimensional objects (100), in particular printed products, at a take-over location (S1). The objects (100) are received by receiver units (10, 12). Controllable narrowing elements (20) are present, in order to prevent a squashing and rebounding of the objects (100) on or from an abutment of the receiver unit (10, 12), with which narrowing elements, in an active condition, the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12) in a middle region between an entry opening (16) of the receiver unit (10, 12) and the abutment (15), may be reduced compared to an inactive condition. These are controlled with a control device (30). A more reliable positioning of the objects (100) in the receiver unit (10, 12), in particular at high feed speeds and with thin, elastically deformable objects (100), may be achieved.
US08201814B2
The invention relates to a device for catching a plurality of slices to be detached from a holding element, having a frame, a holder, attached to the frame, for accommodating the holding element holding the slices, at least two guiding elements on the sides and at least one bottom catching element, the guiding elements on the sides each being arranged on the frame in pairs on the right and the left.
US08201809B2
A compact, easily maneuverable lift that may be readily positioned and operated by one person, that is quickly and accurately adjustable to the desired height, and that is particularly applicable to servicing heavy parts such as aircraft batteries. The lift is easy to manufacture and may include a load platform configured to fit into tight spaces. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08201807B2
The combination of a jack stand and a vertically oriented, compact hydraulic jack enables a user to avoid misplacement when lifting a load. The stand includes a vertically oriented column moveable between a plurality of different elevated positions. An underside of an overhanging member attached to the column is engaged by a piston member of the jack to elevated the column as the jack is elevated.
US08201797B2
The invention relates to an anchoring foot for chairs positioned at desks, comprising a column (1) having a lower anchor (2) for securing same to the ground and an upper supporting element (3), rotatably coupled thereto, for securing the body of the chair (13). The supporting element (3) includes a carriage (7) which can move longitudinally along a guide (8) forwards and backwards in relation to the desk (17) and which can rotate in relation to the column (1). In addition, the supporting element (3) can include a lower cam (25) positioned facing another complementary upper cam (22) that is inserted therein by means of helical tracks (24). The lower cam (25) is pushed upwards by the return force of a spring (27), thereby rotating the upper cam (22) and rotating the seat to the initial position thereof.
US08201794B1
A portable beverage container stand includes an elongated pointed shaft, a flat cage plate fixed to one end of the shaft and extending laterally outward, a plurality of holes in the cage plate configured to receive beverage containers, a flat shelf plate below the cage plate fixed to the shaft and extending laterally to support containers placed in the cage plate holes, and a push member adjacent the shaft bottom for applying foot pressure for inserting the shaft into the ground. Alternatively, the shaft may also be mounted on a base component having a rectangular bottom frame, with an upwardly extending bridge and brace projected therefrom, with holes therein adapted to cooperatively receive and contain the shaft therein.
US08201792B2
A support stand for a flat-panel display monitor includes a rotatable bracket, and an elevating support rotatably connected to the rotatable bracket. The elevating support includes a base member, a first rotatable module, a second rotatable module, and a third rotatable module. The first and second rotatable modules are both rotatably assembled between the rotatable bracket and the base member. The second rotatable module is positioned opposite to the first rotatable module. The first and second rotatable modules are spaced by a predetermined distance, and rotate along a same direction relative to the base member. The third rotatable module is positioned between the first and second rotatable modules, and rotatably follows the first and second rotatable modules.
US08201788B2
A side arm clamp assembly is formed of a molded body having a clip receiver slot, a retention clip formed of a retention portion and an insertion portion that is slidingly receivable into the clip receiver slot. A detent is provided between the clip receiver slot and the insertion portion of the retention clip received thereinto. Means are provided for securing the molded body relative to an electronics platform with the retention portion of the retention clip projected over a mounting surface thereof.
US08201778B2
An installing structure of a wire harness on a link includes a link which pivotally connects a movable structural body to a fixed structural body, a wire harness which is installed along the link so as to extend from the fixed structural body to the movable structural body, a singular first flexible protective tube through which the wire harness is slidably passed, and a fixing member which fixes the flexible protective tube to the link.
US08201768B2
A winding device for winding up a web-like material has a roll core, on which the web-like material is wound up into a material roll, and a web guiding roller, which guides the web-like material before or when the web-like material reaches the roll core or the material roll, and a pressing element, which presses the web-like material onto the roll core or the roll after the web-like material already rests on the roll core or the roll. The pressing element is movable in relation to the roll core, and is mounted at both ends in lever arms forming a lever arm pair. The lever arms are mounted so as to be rotatable, and so that the pressing element is pivotable around bearing points of the lever arms.
US08201767B2
A comminuting device for comminuting material. The device has a frame and a shear member having a main blade, the shear member movably coupled to the frame with a shear member slide bearing located at least partially inside the frame. A supporting table is coupled to the frame, the supporting table having a counter blade, the supporting table adapted to support the scrap material. The frame has an opening forming an access way to the shear member slide bearing. The main blade and the counter blade cooperate to chop the scrap material when the shear member is moved from a first position to a second position. The shear member slide bearing is removable from inside the frame through the opening without removal of the shear member from the frame.
US08201763B2
A mobile crushing system is for crushing inputted objects and dropping the crushed objects directly into an ore path. The mobile crushing system includes a crusher vehicle on which a crushing device for crushing the objects is mounted and which includes carriers, and a feeder vehicle on which a transfer device for transferring the objects to the crushing device and which includes carriers. The crusher vehicle and the feeder vehicle travel independently and include a crusher-side connecting portion and a feeder-side connecting portion that are connected to each other. During crushing operation, the ore path is interposed between the crusher vehicle and the feeder vehicle in the front-rear direction.
US08201758B2
A fluid spraying device comprises a fluid oscillator used to oscillate fluid to generate spraying water and including an inlet, at least one power nozzle, an interacting chamber, and an outlet, characterized in that: the fluid oscillator including a first portion and a second portion; a connection of the first and the second portions communicates with the power nozzle to flow fluid through a predetermined traveling position, and the first portion includes the inlet and a section of the power nozzle, and the second portion includes the outlet and another section of the power nozzle, by using an interaction of the first and the second portions, a cross sectional area of the fluid at the connection of the first and the second portions is changed to adjust spraying water from the outlet.
US08201757B2
A flow rate regulator of a unit structure, in which the mechanism keeps constant the amount of injection of the contents in an aerosol container independent of a variation in pressure of gas for content ejection. The flow rate regulator unit has an outer sheath member (15), an inner sheath member (16), piston members (17, 18), a coil spring (25), and an ejection piece (19). The contents are ejected in substantially the following route: “hole (15a)—annular space region (21) for outer path—hole (16a)—annular space region (22) for inner path—holes (17b, 18b)—inside path (18c)—valve action region (20)—penetration section (16d)—groove-like sections (16f, 19a)—ejection hole (19c).” An annular skirt section (17a) moves in the left-right direction based on a magnitude relation between force in the right direction caused by ejection gas pressure and acting on the piston members (17, 18) and urging force to the left direction caused by the coil spring (25), and this changes an inflow cross-sectional area from the hole (16a) for flow rate adjustment to the annular space region (22) for inner path.
US08201751B2
In a railway rail pad having a rail seat portion for receiving a foot of a railway rail, the rail seat portion is provided on at least one major face thereof with a plurality of protrusions which are unevenly distributed across the face of the rail seat portion such that the ratio of the area of the face occupied by the protrusions to the area of the face free of protrusions is greater in an edge region of the rail seat portion than in a central region of the rail seat portion, the edge region being adjacent to one edge of the pad and the central region being adjacent to the edge region. The studs are arranged in columns, each stud being of substantially the same size, and the number of studs in a column in the central region which is closest to said edge region being greater than in a column closer to the center of the rail seat portion. The studs are also arranged in rows, wherein the ratio of protrusions to free area in a row of studs adjacent to, but spaced from, the center of the rail seat portion is greater than that in a row further from the center.
US08201750B2
An electronic circuit for a hot water heating system an override thermostat; a timer operable to deactivate and reactivate the burner while a room thermostat is calling for heat; a differential temperature switch configured to disconnect the electrical supply to the water pump when the difference in temperature between the water at the boiler inlet and the water at the boiler outlet falls below an adjustable set point; and, a temperature switch configured to prevent operability of the timer until the temperature of the water at the burner outlet rises above an adjustable set point.
US08201745B2
A reader device for detecting the presence of a transponder within an operating distance of the reader device, the reader device comprising a resonant circuit adapted for generating an electromagnetic field having a frequency distribution around a resonance frequency, and a transponder detection unit adapted for detecting the presence of the transponder within the operating distance of the reader device by a shift of the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit in the presence of the transponder within the operating distance of the reader device.
US08201739B2
A biometric scanner is described and claimed. The scanner has a platen, an ultrasonic plane wave generator, an ultrasonic detector, and a delay layer residing between the generator and the detector.
US08201732B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The automated banking machine may also include a portal device that is operative to cause the display, card reader and other devices in the machine to operate in response to communications through the portal device.
US08201731B1
An automated banking machine operates using data included on user cards. The machine accepts checks and dispenses cash to users. The automated banking machine operates to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks and to determine the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks.
US08201730B1
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read card data from user cards. The card data corresponds to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and the machine carries out transaction functions for consumers including dispensing cash. The machine may be configured such that when an alternative bootable media is detected, the computer is operative to prompt a user to input a bios boot password.
US08201724B2
An inorganic nanowire having an organic scaffold substantially removed from the inorganic nanowire, the inorganic nanowire consisting essentially of fused inorganic nanoparticles substantially free of the organic scaffold, and methods of making same. For example, a virus-based scaffold for the synthesis of single crystal ZnS, CdS and free-standing L10 CoPt and FePt nanowires can be used, with the means of modifying substrate specificity through standard biological methods. Peptides can be selected through an evolutionary screening process that exhibit control of composition, size, and phase during nanoparticle nucleation have been expressed on the highly ordered filamentous capsid of the M13 bacteriophage. The incorporation of specific, nucleating peptides into the generic scaffold of the M13 coat structure can provide a viable template for the directed synthesis of a variety of materials including semiconducting and magnetic materials. Removal of the viral template via annealing can promote oriented aggregation-based crystal growth, forming individual crystalline nanowires. The unique ability to interchange substrate specific peptides into the linear self-assembled filamentous construct of the M13 virus introduces a material tenability not seen in previous synthetic routes. Therefore, this system provides a genetic tool kit for growing and organizing nanowires from various materials including semiconducting and magnetic materials.
US08201710B2
An attachment mechanism for a container includes a bracket and a connector. The bracket has upper and lower portions. An annular wall is disposed between the upper and lower portions. A plurality of projections extend from the lower portion. The projections are adapted to releasably engage an upper portion of a container. A tab extends radially inwardly from the upper portion. The connector has a prong, wherein a distal portion of the prong is spaced circumferentially from the connector. The prong is adapted to be secured within a slot defined between the tab and the annular wall.
US08201709B1
A food dispensing assembly includes a front wall attached to a rear wall. The container includes a top edge, a bottom edge and a pair of lateral edges. The lateral edges taper toward the bottom edge and the bottom edge is pointed. A food product is positioned in the container. A gripping sleeve has a frusto-conical shape and includes an open upper edge and an open lower edge. The container extends through the sleeve and the sleeve is positioned between the top and bottom edges. The container is cut along a plane of the lower edge to remove the bottom edge and open the container.
US08201706B2
A can cover and method are provided for preventing debris from entering an opening in a lid of a pop-top can. The pop-top can includes an upper rim extending about the lid and a pivotable pop-top operatively connected to the lid. The can cover includes a generally flat sheet and a disc removably connected to the sheet. The disc includes a first side, a second side and an opening therethrough. Indicia is provided on the first side of the disc. The disc is receivable on the pop-top can such that the second side engages the rim of the pop-top can and the pop-top extends through the opening in the disc.
US08201692B2
An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float/sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float/sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.
US08201686B2
A golf bag that includes a main bag and an accessory bag coupled to the main bag. The main bag is formed to include a bag-receiver chamber that is configured to accept the accessory bag. The accessory bag is coupled to the main bag by posts that engage a retention slots formed in the side walls of the bag-receiver chamber. The accessory bag is supported by the main bag and includes a foldable leg assembly that permits the accessory bag to be set up in a tripod configuration when separated from the main bag. The golf bag also includes a slot formed in the side walls of the main bag to allow the main bag to be secured to a golf cart by a retaining strap provided on the golf cart while still allowing the accessory bag to be separated from the main bag.
US08201671B2
An impact absorption plate for absorbing impact in the event of a vehicle crash and a method of manufacturing the impact absorption plate includes a base plate and a plurality of bosses. The base plate has on an upper surface thereof a patterned rib unit. Each boss has fitting notches into which the patterned rib unit is fitted, and has the shape of a truncated cone which is open at a bottom thereof. Thus, when it is required to change the structure of the impact absorption plate, the removable bosses may be rearranged on the base plate as desired.
US08201670B2
A bicycle hydraulic brake actuation device includes a hydraulic master cylinder housing having a bore, a lever, a master piston and an adjuster. The lever is pivotally coupled to the hydraulic master cylinder housing for movement between an at rest position and a brake engagement position. The master piston is disposed within the bore and having an adjustment end. The adjuster is operably disposed between the adjustment end of the master piston and a portion of the lever. The adjuster is movable between a plurality of adjustment positions relative to the adjustment end such that with the lever in the at rest position, movement of the adjuster between the plurality of adjustment positions moves the master piston between a corresponding plurality of adjustment positions along an axial length of the bore.
US08201666B2
The system and method for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, such as an aircraft brake, an aircraft tire, a standby system, and landing gear. One or more sensors are provided for sensing a parameter of usage, and an estimate of usage of the part can be determined based upon the signal indicating the sensed value of the parameter of usage of the aircraft part. A plurality of sensors can be provided for sensing usage of a plurality of parts of the aircraft, and the estimate of usage of the part can be stored for access of the estimate by ground personnel. As applied to monitoring wear of an aircraft brake, a linear brake wear indicator attached to the brake moves a discrete distance when the brake is actuated, and a linear position encoder measures the distance traveled by the linear brake wear indicator as an indication of brake usage. A wheel speed monitor may also be provided for measuring the aircraft wheel speed, for distinguishing between static brake applications and moving brake applications, based upon the wheel speed signal.
US08201664B2
An aircraft engine lubrication system has a vortex separator, a first pump line having a first pump, an inlet connected to a separated lubricant area at the outlet end of the separator, and an outlet connectable to the engine. A scavenge line is provided for returning lubricant from the engine to an inlet end of the separator. A lubricant tank is connected in fluid flow communication with the separator by a connection line. A second pump line having a second pump has an inlet connected to the lubricant tank and an outlet connected to the separator for pumping lubricant from the tank to the inlet end of the separator.
US08201656B2
A vehicle steering system includes a gear rack supported in a fixed position, a pinion gear in meshing engagement with the gear rack, a steering subsystem supporting the pinion gear and moveable in a translational manner relative to the gear rack and at least one steering arm coupled to steering subsystem and configured to steer a motive member in response to movement of the steering subsystem. The vehicle steering system is configured to remain substantially within a framework of the vehicle while steering one or more motive members of the vehicle.
US08201655B1
A gas pedal locking assembly for immobilizing the gas pedal of a vehicle to prevent theft includes a pedal arm having a first portion and a second portion. A pedal is coupled to the first portion. A protrusion extends from the pedal arm and has a pivot aperture extending therethrough. A fixed pivot pin extends through the pivot aperture. A locking mechanism is provided for holding the second portion of the pedal arm in a static position to prevent pivoting of the pedal arm.
US08201639B2
A cutting attachment for rotary edgers having a planar base and a plurality of cutting fins or evacuating blades that extend outward from an outboard side of the base. A plurality of teeth are formed along a peripheral edge of the base and are defined in part by leading edges which face a direction of rotation. The cutting fins extend outwardly from the base at an acute angle so that distal ends thereof are angled in a direction opposite of the direction of rotation. The cutting fins are also spaced apart from the leading edges of the teeth of the base. The cutting fins are further attached along bases thereof at acute angles with respect to the leading edges of the teeth of the base so that radially outermost ends of the bases of the cutting fins are spaced further from the leading edges of the teeth than inner most ends of the bases of the cutting fins.
US08201637B2
The present invention provides for on-the-fly, tillage implement height adjustment. It includes a reversible gearmotor removably attachable to the tillage implement height adjuster. Utilizing the tractor's electrical system as power source for the gearmotor, and by reversing the polarity of the circuit, the present invention can achieve clockwise and counterclockwise motion thus raising and lowering the tillage implement while the farmer stays in the cab of the tractor and continues to farm.
US08201626B2
A method and system of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing subterranean hydrate reservoir is disclosed. Waste heat is captured and transferred to a hydrocarbon bearing hydrate formation to dissociate hydrates into natural gas and water. The waste heat can be heat generated from surface facilities such as a Gas To Liquids (GTL) plant, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, an electric or power generation plant, and an onshore or offshore facility producing other conventional or unconventional hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. Alternatively, the waste heat can be obtained from subterranean reservoirs such as hydrocarbon containing producing wells and geothermal wells producing heated water.
US08201624B2
The systems and processes of the present invention includes ESP variable speed drive controllers that function in conjunction with a safety logic solver, pressure sensors, and an emergency isolation valve to perform a functional test of the complete wellhead trunkline protection system without interruption of production.
US08201617B2
A latch mechanism includes a press portion, two connection portions, and two latch portions. The two connection portions are connected to opposite ends of the press portion correspondingly. Each connection portion includes two connectors. First ends of the two connectors are connected together to form a coupling end to connected to a corresponding end of the press portion. Each latch portion is selectively connected to the second end of one of the two connectors of a corresponding connection portion.
US08201596B2
A method of initially filling a new and previously unused fuel tank with a fuel including Volatile Organic Compounds includes providing a dispensing unit with an elongated flexible dispensing tube, inserting the dispensing tube through a fuel inlet of the fuel tank until the dispensing tube is disposed adjacent a bottom surface of the fuel tank, and introducing the fuel onto the bottom surface of the fuel tank in a smooth flow without spraying the fuel. Introduction of the fuel onto the bottom surface of the fuel tank in a smooth flow disposes any fuel vapors formed therein adjacent the bottom surface of the fuel tank to limit displacement of the fuel vapor into the atmosphere outside the fuel tank as the air in the fuel tank is exhausted in response to filling the fuel tank.
US08201595B2
A spout assembly transfers fluid from a container, and comprises a basic conduit construction, and a sleeve construction. The conduit construction comprises a laterally opposed extended conduit wings. The sleeve construction has a slotted end and a winged end. The slotted end comprises laterally opposed, bifurcated slots for receiving the conduit wings. Each bifurcated slot has an abbreviated and elongated slot length. The sleeve construction receives the conduit construction such that the sleeve construction is axially and rotatably displaceable relative to the conduit construction intermediate a closed position enabled via the conduit wings and abbreviated slot lengths and an open position enabled via the conduit wing and elongated slot lengths. The winged end comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, extended wings, the longitudinal termini of which provide spout assembly stop structure at a fuel inlet aperture.
US08201592B2
A method for filling a container (16) with a preparation consisting of a number of components, stored in a number of sub containers (1, 23), placed inside a housing (29). A robot, accommodated inside the housing (29), composes the preparation based upon a supplied prescription and places the sub containers (1,23) containing the components mentioned in the prescription one by one above the container (16) and makes flow out an amount of the respective component as specified by the prescription.
US08201571B1
A blind assembly includes a fastening assembly having substantially parallel frame receivers, an assembly frame carried by and disposed in substantially a common plane as the frame receivers of the fastening assembly and a blind panel carried by the assembly frame.
US08201569B2
A fluid inlet for a dishwasher configured to help manage acoustic emissions is provided. The fluid inlet includes a nozzle that defines a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices and a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices. The large diameter orifices may define a diverging cross-section. The relatively small-diameter orifices may be interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relative larger diameter orifices. The fluid inlet may further include an enclosure defining a vertically descending channel from the nozzle toward a bottom of a tub of the dishwasher and one or more dampers within the enclosure such that the water exiting the nozzle cascades down onto and over the dampers and out of the enclosures through one or more outlets of the enclosure to the bottom of the tub.
US08201563B2
The invention comprises a method for introduction of materials into a patient's body. The method generally comprises providing an elongate member for introducing the material. The elongate member defines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The method further comprises the steps of positioning the elongate member at a target site of a patient's body; providing a motorized device at least partially disposed within the lumen; and introducing the material through the lumen into the target site using the motorized device.
US08201557B2
The present invention discloses a method to compensate for a non-zero mixed venous partial pressure of inert blood soluble gas when determining physical parameter(s) of a patient in successive inert gas rebreathing tests. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining the partial pressure of said inert blood soluble gas inhaled and/or exhaled by said patient in a period prior to said successive rebreathing test; obtaining the partial pressure of said inert blood soluble gas inhaled and/or exhaled by said patient in said successive rebreathing test; determining said physical parameters) using said partial pressure of said inert blood soluble gas inhaled and/or exhaled by said patient and obtained in said period prior to said successive rebreathing test and said partial pressure of said inert blood soluble gas inhaled and/or exhaled by said patient and obtained in said successive rebreathing test. Furthermore the present invention relates to a corresponding system and computer-readable medium.
US08201555B2
A dry powder inhaler (101) comprises an inhaler body (110), including an air passageway, and a medicament container (120). The medicament container (120) holds a dose of medicament and is provided with at least one dispensing aperture (123) through which the medicament may be drawn from the medicament container (120). The medicament container (120) is displaceable from a first position, in which the dispensing aperture (123) is occluded, to a second position, in which the dispensing aperture (123) is open and air is able to flow along the air passageway. When the medicament container (120) is in the first position, the air passageway is occluded by the medicament container (120).
US08201545B2
A paintball marker includes a housing having formed therein a cylindrical chamber with an axis and an open end, and a valve assembly within and coaxial with the chamber. The chamber wall has first and second openings. The valve assembly is configured so that, during one period of revolution about the axis, in a first portion the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening, and in a second portion the valve assembly closes the first opening while permitting entry of compressed gas into the chamber through the second opening. The compressed gas entering the chamber during the second portion expels the ball through the open end of the chamber. Delivery of the ball to the housing, and delivery of compressed gas to expel the ball, requires only one moving part, namely the valve assembly revolving in the chamber.
US08201544B2
A breather system for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, includes a centrifuge driven by the engine turbocharger. The turbocharger has a turbine and a compressor, the compressor driven by the turbine. The centrifuge is driven by the turbine on a common shaft with the compressor and includes a centrifuge inlet, a gas outlet and an oil outlet. Crankcase gas is delivered to the centrifuge and oil is removed by the centrifuge and collected within the turbocharger housing and substantially oil free gas is passed through the centrifuge, through an axially passage in the shaft and into an inlet of the compressor.
US08201534B2
An intake system for a V-type multiple cylinder internal combustion engine includes a plurality of parallel first intake pipes 15L connected to the plurality of cylinders of a first cylinder row, a plurality of parallel second intake pipes 15R connected to the plurality of cylinders of a second cylinder row. The first intake pipes 15L and the second intake pipes 15R extend into an air distribution case 10 so as to extend across each other. A first inlet pipe 13R is provided at a part of a first side wall 11R of the air distribution case 10 corresponding to a substantially middle point of the row of the first intake pipes 15L, and a second inlet pipe 13L is provided at a part of a second side wall 11L of the air distribution case 10 corresponding to a substantially middle point of the row of the second intake pipes 15R. Air flows through the first inlet pipe 13R into the first intake pipes 15L and air flows through the second inlet pipe 13L into the second intake pipes 15R. Dispersion of the amounts of air sucked into the cylinders can be suppressed and the generation of rambling noise can be suppressed.
US08201532B2
An anti-rotationally secured tappet of a valve drive of an internal combustion engine may include a bucket tappet including an external lateral surface. A floor and a skirt for may be arranged between a cam and a valve of the valve drive and guided in a receiving bore of a cylinder head. The skirt may include an internal lateral surface and the cylinder head may include a guide groove. A radially outward protruding anti-rotation component may be arranged in a recess of the skirt that glides in the guide groove of the cylinder head. Two spring arms may be included with the anti-rotation component and extend in a circumferential direction of the tappet.
US08201529B2
A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a fluid path arrangement. The fluid path arrangement is provided inside the housing. The fluid path arrangement opens to air outside the housing. The fluid path arrangement is communicated with a specific fluid chamber that is one of an advance fluid chamber and a retard fluid chamber defined within the housing. A rotational phase of the vane rotor relative to the housing is changed in one of advance and retard directions when hydraulic oil is introduced into the specific fluid chamber. The valve timing adjusting apparatus controls the fluid path arrangement to be opened and closed.
US08201523B2
A new approach to achieving greater fuel efficiencies in the design and implementation of hybrid automotive vehicles. Efficiency and power benefits accrue from the integration of electric motor components into various components of combustion-fueled engines, thus obviating the need for much separate equipment, such as discrete electric motor(s) and gear arrangements in order to obtain hybrid operation. Among other things, a significant savings of weight in the vehicle and increased control of the coordination between combustion-fueled and electric motor propulsion of the vehicle is obtained.
US08201521B2
An animal attracting device is provided. The animal attracting device may include a body that has an exterior body surface that has at least one recessed portion for the receipt of attractant so that the attractant may be deposited on the exterior body surface and the at least one recessed portion. An attachment member may also be included for attachment to a support member.
US08201520B2
Gravity flow animal feed dispensing apparatus includes feed supply tubes depending from a bottom wall of a feed storage hopper supported by a frame elevated above ground level. Feed dispensing tubes or a plate are connected to the feed supply tubes and flow control baffles and/or a flow control valve limit the dispensation of feed. A wildfowl embodiment of the apparatus includes an access control cage disposed about the feed dispensing member. The orientation of the feed supply tubes and dispensing tubes may be varied to provide access to feed by animals of various sizes and to provide for placement of the apparatus adjacent a confinement wall or fence.
US08201517B2
The present invention involves a method and apparatus for depositing a silicon oxide onto a substrate from solution at low temperatures in a manner that produces homogeneous growth of the silicon oxide. The method generally comprises the following steps: (a) Chemically treating a substrate to activate it for growth of the silicon oxide. (b) Immersing the treated substrate into a bath with a reactive solution. (c) Regenerating the reactive solution to allow for continued growth of the silicon oxide. In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a first container holding a reactive solution, a substrate on which the silicon oxide is deposited, a second container holding silica, and a means for adding silica to the reactive solution.
US08201510B1
A collapsible sail frame for a watercraft. The sail frame includes a shaft, a skeletal assembly, and a sail. The shaft has a tip and a handle. The skeletal assembly includes ribs, struts, a first ring and a second ring. The sail is attached on the ribs. First pivoting joints connect ribs to the first ring, with ribs extending in a radial pattern. Second pivoting joints connect struts to the second ring. Third pivoting joints connect struts to ribs. The first ring is fixed on the shaft and the second ring is slidably mounted on the shaft so as to be manually operable for deploying the skeletal assembly, to spread the sail. A loop is provided on the deck of the watercraft, for retaining the tip of the shaft and the handle includes a clamp for engaging the deck of the watercraft.
US08201507B2
A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter. The bracket assembly includes a shaft mount and a shank mount.
US08201502B2
A magnet pole, for magnetically levitated vehicles, includes a core (10) and a winding provided with winding disks that are arranged axially on top of each other. Both of the disks contain conduction band sections (6a, 6b) that are wound counter to the direction of winding and in several layers about the core (10). The conduction band sections are connected together in an electrically conductive manner by means of a connection part (1) on the core (10) near ends. The connection part (1) is bent in an outward manner on lateral longitudinal edges that are parallel to each other thus forming a curved outlet (12a, 12b).
US08201497B2
The present invention provides an easy-to-use stencil discharging box that can easily be detached from a printing apparatus with one hand, and can smoothly execute vertical discard in this state. A stencil discharging box that is detachably mounted to a printing apparatus for receiving a used stencil compressed by compressing means of the printing apparatus is detached from the apparatus. When an operation lever is depressed, a cover member provided to an upper opening of a main body moves in an upward direction to open the opening, and a stencil moving member integrally formed with the cover member pivots in a frontward and upward-direction from between compression ribs of the main body so as to lift up the used stencil sticking to the ribs in the main body. When the main body is tilted with a discharge port provided at one side face of the main body (at the near side in the figure) facing downward, the used stencil can be discharged to the outside (vertical discard).
US08201493B2
An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone.
US08201492B2
Popcorn popping machines and associated methods of manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A popcorn popping machine configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a housing having an interior portion and a first side portion opposite a second side portion. The popcorn popping machine also includes a corn mover, a heat source, and an air mover positioned in the interior portion. The air mover is positioned on a support shaft extending from the first side portion to the second side portion of the housing. In operation, the air mover is configured to direct heated air from the heat source to corn kernels moved through the interior portion by the corn mover.
US08201489B2
The present invention is a gas system for a firearm comprising a hollow gas tube extending between a forward gas tap in a firearm's barrel and a rearward piston assembly to impinge upon and operate the firearm's bolt operating system. The system does not have a translation rod extending between the two components as in prior art systems nor does it have a rearward tap like others. As such, it balances cleanliness and weight reduction of the prior art systems and reduces moving parts.
US08201483B2
Operating a power saw between a pair of parallel guide rails, which engage opposing sides of saw base plate to constrain the motion of the saw to a straight path, allows for precise cuts. A set of two or more fences allows for multiple cutting options. In some embodiments, non-parallel fences coupled to the guide rails allow for precise cuts at more than just a single angle. In some embodiments, two fences may engage opposing sides of the object to be cut simultaneously, holding the object more securely with respect to the guide rails than would a single fence. A possible clamping force holding the two fences against the object allows the miter guide to remain fixed relative to the object so that the user's hand may be freed for another task, such as holding the saw with both hands.
US08201476B2
A bicycle operating device is provided with a first operating unit, a second operating unit and a connecting member. The first operating unit includes a clamp portion for attaching the bicycle operating device to a bicycle and a first operating member. The second operating unit includes a housing and a second operating member. The connecting member includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, with the first attachment portion being detachably attached to an outwardly facing surface of the clamp portion of the first operating unit by an adjustable connection for changing a relative position of the connecting member with respect to the clamp portion. The second attachment portion is detachably attached to the second operating unit.
US08201468B2
An electromotive furniture double drive includes at least one drive motor, which is in driving engagement with a speed reduction gear train. An output element, which is secured against rotation, can be moved in its longitudinal direction by means of the speed reduction gear train. At least the speed reduction gear train and the output element are arranged in the housing, and the end positions of each output element are limited by at least one end switch. The output element and/or the housing has an adjustment device by means of which the position of the switching threshold of the at least one end switch can be adjusted from an area outside the housing.
US08201464B2
A torque wrench including a handle attached to a drive member and a transducer that senses the torque transferred from the handle to the drive member and outputs a first signal corresponding to the transferred torque. An analog mechanical input device disposed on the handle that simultaneously defines a set point and indicates the set point. A comparator receives the first signal from the transducer, receives the set point, compares the first signal from the transducer to the set point, and outputs a second signal. The mechanical input device does not display a real time measurement of the torque transferred to the work piece prior to reaching the set point.
US08201462B2
The present invention discloses a recirculation type hydrodynamic oscillator flow meter for measuring the flow of fluids such as gas, air, water and oil, flowing through a conduit. This flow meter gives very accurate measurements over a long period of time since piezoelectric sensors are employed. The principle of working of this hydrodynamic oscillator flow meter is the generation of a self induced jet where the frequency of oscillations of the fluid jet is proportional to the flow rate.
US08201444B2
A powertrain includes an internal combustion engine and an aftertreatment system having an aftertreatment device utilizing a catalyst to convert NOx. A method for indicating a malfunctioning catalyst includes monitoring an actual NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system, monitoring factors affecting conversion efficiency of the aftertreatment device, determining a predicted threshold NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system for an exemplary malfunctioning catalyst based upon the factors affecting conversion efficiency, comparing the actual NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system to the predicted threshold NOx content exiting the aftertreatment system, and indicating a malfunctioning catalyst based upon the comparing.
US08201439B2
Methods and related systems are described for determining a property of a solid material relating to wettability, and for evaluating chemical additives. A solid particle is positioned at an interface between a lighter fluid phase, such as oil, and a denser fluid phase, such as water. An external force is applied, preferably with a centrifuge, so as to urge the solid particle into the denser fluid phase. An observation is made as to whether the particles has passed through the denser fluid phase, and based on the observation the contact angle is calculated. The calculation is also based on the densities of each fluid phase, of the solid material, the amount of the external force applied, size of the solid material, and interfacial tension between the two phases. The calculation also preferably accounts for two curvatures representing the interface between the first phase and the second phase as deformed by the solid material.
US08201435B2
Machines and tools that can be used to process (e.g., to cut and/or form) plate-like workpieces, such as metal sheets. In some aspects, a plate workpiece processing tool includes a first tool portion, which is drivingly connectable to a stroke drive, and a second tool portion. The tool has at least one processing device on the first tool portion and at least two counter-devices on the second tool portion. By using an activating device provided on the second tool portion, different device pairings can be activated for workpiece processing.
US08201431B2
The invention relates to a method for handling/transporting rolls and/or supports rolls in a roll workshop. The invention is characterized in that the working rolls (7, 8) are pulled/displaced by means of a locomotive mechanism (9) from the roll stand (4) in the roll hall (1), via platforms (20), into the roll workshop (2), the locomotive mechanism (9) is displaced in a roll changing hole (10), the roll workshop (2) comprises, to the right and left adjacent to the roll changing hole, a support structure (26) which comprises a left part (27) and a right part (28), a changing carriage (31) is displaced on the support structure (26) and devices (32) for receiving the working rolls/working roll sets (7, 8, 35) are provided on the changing carriage (31), and/or the support rolls (5, 6) are pulled/displaced by the locomotive mechanism (9) from the roll stand (4) into the roll workshop (2); the support rolls (5, 6) are withdrawn from the roll changing hole (10); a novel support roll set is placed in the roll changing hole (10) and the novel support roll set is displaced by the locomotive mechanism (9) in the stand (4). The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.
US08201425B2
A lock member includes a body having a lower surface below which a male lock pin projects in an orientation that allows it to be received in a female lock member. The lower surface is continuous, entirely surrounds, and is spaced from the lock pin. The spacing provides room to receive the upper portion of the disc retaining hub. The ring-shaped planar portion may rest directly against or closely adjacent the upper surface of a media disc. In one configuration, the ring-shaped planar portion spaces the lock pin from an EAS tag chamber. The configuration of the lock member increases the likelihood that the media disc will be damaged during a physical attack on the lock member.
US08201424B2
An manufacturing method that uses synthetic redundancy to optimize equipment reliability, performance, weight, and cost. The manufacturing method identifies critical components, that would ordinarily require a redundant component to meet reliability and safety requirements, and replaces them with a single, non-redundant component. Safety and reliability is maintained by using prognostic health management to replace the non-redundant critical component prior to its failure. Verification techniques are used to ensure reliability requirements are being met.
US08201412B2
A combustor includes a combustion chamber and an interior wall circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the combustion chamber and defining an exterior surface. A plurality of turbulators are on the exterior surface. The combustor further includes means for preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the turbulators. A method for cooling a combustion chamber includes locating a plurality of turbulators to an exterior surface of the combustion chamber and preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the plurality of turbulators.
US08201408B1
A sustainable closed loop system with zero waste for cogeneration of electric and thermal energy using woodfuel from a closeby energy plantation of quick growing trees such as Gliricidia Sepium. In addition to the energy plantation sub-system, the system includes a biomass fuel preparing sub-system and a steam and power generation sub-system for use with a biological wastewater treatment sub-system. No chemicals are used for wastewater treatment.
US08201406B2
An internal combustion engine control apparatus that prevents an abrupt change in the air amount at the time of supercharger switching. The control apparatus enters a small turbo operating state in which a small turbocharger is mainly operative, during relatively low-rotation-speed and low-load side, and enters a large turbo operating state in which a large turbocharger is mainly operative, in a relatively high-rotation-speed and high-load. In the small turbo operating state, the control apparatus can exercise charging efficiency enhancement control by using a scavenging effect. Before switching from the small turbo operating state to the large turbo operating state, the control apparatus predicts whether the large turbocharger will build up its boost pressure quickly or slowly. When slow boost pressure is predicted, the control apparatus exercises charging efficiency enhancement control to provide a low degree of charging efficiency enhancement.
US08201403B2
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08201395B2
A variable position catalyst includes a catalyst housing (7) accommodating a catalyst body (1) and an actuator member (9) for moving the catalyst body (1) with respect to the catalyst housing (7) such that the catalyst body (1) can be moved to an active catalyst position (35) or to an inactive catalyst position (14). The variable position catalyst is incorporated in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine upstream of a turbocharger. The variable position catalyst can be controlled such that the catalyst body (1) is moved to the active catalyst position (35) when the engine is in a predetermined first operation state, and the catalyst body is moved to the inactive catalyst position (14) when the engine is in a predetermined second operation state.
US08201389B2
A single oil nozzle unit is mounted in a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine for providing multiple individual jets for the individual bearing components in the bearing compartment.
US08201383B2
A beam for a measuring machine is constituted by a plurality of extruded beam elements, which are set alongside one another and welded together so that each forms a portion of the cross section of the beam itself; the beam elements and the beam have a hollow section shaped like an equilateral triangle.
US08201375B2
This invention relates to a building cladding for inclined surfaces such as for a sloped roof. More specifically, this invention relates to a building cladding that is passively responsive to sun elevation angles, is multi-functional, and is substantially uniformly ornamental when viewed from common viewing positions. The cladding is predominantly comprised of pairs of substantially horizontal and vertical surfaces extended horizontally and repeated vertically or along the incline of the building substrate. Substantially horizontal surfaces may be adapted for absorbing solar energy, reflecting solar energy, generating electricity from solar energy, converting solar energy into another form of energy, and or ornamentally matching substantially vertical surfaces.
US08201373B2
The liner for concrete forms is a plastic matrix for simulating the mortar grooves conventionally formed in masonry construction. The liner is placed within a concrete form, and the concrete is poured thereover. The form is removed after the concrete sets, thereby exposing the surface with the liner still remaining therein. The surface of the concrete panel may then be treated as desired to produce a surface finish resembling brick or other masonry construction, e.g., sandblasted or coated with stucco or other material, with the liner remaining in place to protect the simulated mortar grooves. Once the surface of the concrete panel has been treated as desired, the liner is removed to expose the natural concrete surface within the grooves, with this natural concrete surface closely resembling the mortar joints in a masonry wall.
US08201371B2
A composite beam chord is between first and second reinforcement plates. The beam chord includes a first ply of reinforcing fibers with a fiber orientation of +α degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the beam chord and a second ply of reinforcing fibers with a fiber orientation of −α degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The angle α is between 2 and 12 degrees for suppression or delay of ply splitting.
US08201365B2
A reinforcement for buildings is provided. The reinforcement is composed of a mixture of a plurality of piezoelectric rods, a plurality of carbon fibers and cement material. The mixture imparts a vibration damping characteristic in the reinforcement.
US08201358B2
A plurality of grooves are formed at a position in a hook tip where a barb is to be generally provided, avoiding damage to a caught fish and avoiding fishing failure.
US08201351B2
Procedure and device for the micro-mixing of miscible or immiscible fluids through reflux cell, produced by the invasion of one of the fluids going upstream into the feeding tube of the other fluid. This tube is closed and has a tube exit which is placed opposite an area of confluence where the exiting flow of the intercepted fluid meets an approximately perpendicular current of invading fluid, which is radially and centripetally directed to the axis of this exiting flow. The product is released outside through an exit orifice. The edges of the tube exit and the exit orifice are opposite each other and separated by an axial gap; and the penetration of this reflux cell into the feeding tube is regulated by controlling the velocity of the fluid. An application of the invention is the ironing with a steam-aided water spray of drops smaller than 200 microns.
US08201346B2
A system, method, and apparatus for treating a foot using a medical shoe and interchangeable insoles. A plurality of interchangeable insoles is provided, including a surgical insole and a wound care insole. The surgical insole provides rigidity for a patient's foot. The surgical insole comprises a first upper layer and a rigid second lower layer. The wound care insole offloads weight from a wound region on the foot. The wound care insole comprises a first upper layer of stretchy, thin film, a second, middle, layer that is moldable, and a third, lower layer that is spongy and provides support.
US08201341B2
A portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) can have one or more rotatable grip assemblies to provide a locations for an operator to grasp the PCMM. A rotatable grip assembly can include a rotatable sleeve, a grip portion disposed over the sleeve, and one or more retaining rings to prevent the rotatable grip from axially sliding along one or more members of an articulated arm PCMM. A PCMM can include two rotatable grips to allow an operator to grasp the PCMM with both hands for positioning and repositioning operations. One rotatable grip can be positioned on an arm member most distant the PCMM base, and another rotatable grip can be positioned on a housing at least partially encasing an articulating joint assembly coupled to the arm member most distant the PCMM base. Other numbers of and locations of rotatable grip assemblies can be used in PCMMs.
US08201339B1
An exterior surface has a vertical mid-plane and a horizontal aperture there through. An annular recess is provided at the vertical mid-plane. The exterior surface has planar end faces parallel with each other. The horizontal aperture has opposed frusto-conical surfaces with a central axis. The frusto-conical surfaces have interior edges at the vertical mid-plane and exterior edges at the planar end faces. The exterior edges are larger than the interior edges. Coupling grooves extend to opposite sides of the recess. The coupling grooves have a generally semi-circular configuration. The grooves are parallel with each other at an angle with respect to the central axis. The grooves have midpoints spanning the central axis. The coupling grooves are adapted to receive separated strands of draw string.
US08201332B2
A method for reinforcing a metal tubular structure (1) including the following steps: introducing inside the metal tubular structure (1), a plurality of substantially linear elements (4) having a tensile strength higher than a predetermined value; and injecting a curable filling product inside the metal tubular structure, so that the curable filling product contacts an inner surface of the metal tubular structure (1) and coats the substantially linear elements (4) of said plurality of elements.
US08201326B2
One aspect is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a plurality of modules. Each of the modules includes a carrier and at least one semiconductor chip attached to the carrier. A dielectric layer is applied to the modules to form a workpiece. The dielectric layer is structured to open at least one of the semiconductor chips. The workpiece is singulated to obtain a plurality of devices.
US08201320B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a leading magnetic shield and a trailing magnetic shield that are arranged to prevent the lost of magnetic write field to the trailing magnetic shield. The write head includes a non-magnetic step layer that provides additional spacing between the trailing magnetic shield and the write pole at a region removed from the air bearing surface.
US08201314B2
A hypodermic needle extraction device for removing a hypodermic needle from a syringe having a syringe body and a luer, the device including at least one guide rod disposed with the device, a carriage assembly having a carriage slidably mounted on the guide rod, and a needle extraction assembly configured to grasp the needle such that the needle is separated from the syringe body as the syringe body and needle are urged apart.
US08201303B2
A vacuum cleaner lint brush accessory system having a lint brush and cradle. The lint brush has longitudinally opposed handle and brush portions. The brush portion has a brush material adapted to remove fibrous substances from a surface to be cleaned. The cradle has a chamber opening leading to a chamber. The chamber extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to longitudinally receive at least the brush portion of the lint brush, the chamber has at least one brush cleaning pad adapted to engage the brush material and remove the fibrous substances from the brush material. The chamber further includes an air outlet spaced from the chamber opening. The air outlet is selectively connectable to a vacuum passage of a vacuum cleaner.
US08201297B2
A grout cleaning device includes a housing having a front end, a lower region, and a handle; the lower region being separated from the handle. The cleaning device includes a rotatable brush operatively coupled to the housing at the housing front end for scrubbing grout. A motor is located in the housing and operatively coupled to the brush for rotating the brush. An ultraviolet light is operatively coupled to the housing at the housing lower region for sanitizing grout.
US08201296B2
Floor treatment cleaning system (3) for a floor cleaning machine (1). The floor treatment cleaning system includes at least two treatment elements (7a, 7b) wherein each treatment element is equipped with cleaning means (11) and is eccentrically driven by driving means (15A) via at least two synchronized eccentric pivots (8), characterized in that the respective pivots revolve around their main rotation axes (13) in such a way that the at least two treatment elements perform opposite movements thereby transporting residues on the floor in a desired direction and balancing engine masses and friction. The treatment elements (7a, 7b) can be positioned in different ways: transversely relative to the moving direction of the machine (1) and parallel behind each other, transversely relative to the moving direction of the machine (1) and next to each other and in a V-shape or arcuate with the opening in the moving direction of the machine.
US08201295B2
An oral care implement includes a display and/or a plurality of other lighted regions, together with an element for inducing motion in a head region. The display and/or lights are used to provide instructions to the user regarding a periodically-performed oral care regimen. The motion-inducing element can be pulsed or otherwise selectively activated to signal different intervals in the regimen. Upon successful conclusion of the oral care regimen, the lights and/or display and the motion-inducing element are used to provide a game or other entertainment to the user.
US08201293B2
An apparatus for providing a sleep support surface that includes a resiliently deformable sleep support having a person-supporting surface and a resiliently deformable layer with a substantially closed elongate opening that accommodates part of a massaging apparatus that has resistive compressive properties of a resiliently deformable layer lacking an elongate opening when the opening is closed. In one embodiment, the sleep support is a mattress having a foam layer with a slit formed therein in which a movable massager that is a massager head of the massaging apparatus is received. One mattress embodiment includes a foam submattress having a lengthwise extending slit extending substantially the length of the mattress and a mattress topper overlying the massager head.
US08201291B2
Various embodiments include a play yard and bassinet assembly combination. The play yard includes upper and lower horizontal frame members vertically spaced apart from each other, vertical frame members disposed between the upper and lower horizontal frame members, first and second redundant support members, and first and second mating redundant support members. The first redundant support member and the second redundant support member are disposed in a spaced apart arrangement adjacent a first vertical frame member a second vertical frame member, respectively. The first and second mating redundant support members are disposed adjacent an outer perimeter of the floor of the bassinet assembly. The first mating redundant support member is configured for engaging the first redundant support member, and the second mating redundant support member is configured for engaging the second redundant support member to provide additional vertical support for the floor of the bassinet assembly.
US08201289B2
A control is provided adjacent an overflow of a bathtub or sink. It both remotely controls operation of a basin bottom drain, and provides an option of shutting off flow through the overflow. Rotation of a handle of the control controls the bottom drain, and axial movement of the handle controls flow through the overflow. For example, a clicker-type pop-out valve can control overflow flow. Slot and projection structures restrict use of the overflow shutoff when the drain is not closed, and/or in some circumstances even when the drain is closed.
US08201287B2
A moisture barrier is formed between a water bearing floor surface and external material, such as flooring or water bearing wall surfaces, wherein the water bearing floor surface includes an embedded water barrier membrane incorporated into one or more of the edges of the water bearing floor surface. The water bearing floor surface may include a shower floor pan, sink, or similar water collecting surface. The external material may include water bearing wall surfaces, such as FRP, or flooring material, such as ceramic tile or epoxy flooring materials. The combination of the water barrier membrane and external materials creates a water proof seal without caulk or other sealant which does not deteriorate with time and usage. Also, the invention may include a non-porous adjacent material including a notch for accepting the water barrier membrane and wherein the water barrier membrane is glued or otherwise affixed to the water bearing floor surface.
US08201285B1
The pool covering system provides an effective way of protecting a swimming pool from dirt and debris. The system includes an inflatable, dome shaped body and attached outer most layer configured to rest atop an existing swimming pool, repelling dirt, debris, water and snow, thus preventing this debris from collecting within the pool or on top of a liner. A bladder inflating mechanism is provided for selectively introducing air into the body such that the body maintains a dome shape and urges the fluid and debris away from the top surface of the pool. Passageways are provided inside the bladder for evenly distributing air therein and overcoming a weight of water and debris resting on the outer most layer.
US08201280B1
An arrangement for protecting a waste water line from plugging due to debris includes a pipe with spikes projecting upstream toward the oncoming waste water flow.
US08201275B2
A protective goggle assembly includes a protective goggle having two side straps, each side strap comprises a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of each side strap; and a strap assembly that encircles the user's head, on each side of the strap assembly a second surface attachment region is provided that is configured to engage the first surface attachment region of the side straps. Free ends of the base band of the strap assembly are connected to an elastic ring to form a complete encircling band. The base band has a tail for securing the base band in position on a helmet. The complete encircling band is configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and the elastic ring being configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of the helmet.
US08201273B2
A protective hood is provided for protecting a wearer's head from environmental elements. The protective hood includes a hood body having a cap section positioned to fit over a top of the wearer's head, side sections positioned to hang adjacent sides of the wearer's head, and a back section positioned to hang adjacent a back of the wearer's head. The hood body defines an interior space for receiving the wearer's head. An outlet is provided for exhausting gas from the interior space of the hood body. The outlet includes a channel defined by first and second portions of the hood body. The channel is in fluid communication with the interior space and includes an open end portion in fluid communication with the environment for exhausting gas from the channel into the environment.
US08205264B1
A method for automated evaluation of a SPAM filter rates a sender-receiver pair based on traffic information related to the sender-receiver pair. A SPAM filter intercepts electronic messages transmitted between the sender-receiver pair and classifies them as either SPAM or HAM. On comparing the rating for the sender-receiver pair and the classification for an electronic message between the sender-receiver pair, the method generates a metric indicating the reliability of the spam filter. Repeating these steps for more than one electronic messages and related sender-receiver pairs, the method produces a set of metrics. One or more of the metrics from the set of metrics are used to calculate an evaluation factor for evaluating the SPAM filter.
US08205261B1
Incremental scanning is disclosed. A system is monitored to detect object events, and a scan list may be updated with information regarding objects to be scanned, based on some of the object events. Objects are scanned based on the information in the scan list.
US08205254B2
A method is provided to control access to a software application and, more particularly, to control access to a first software application using a second trusted application. The method comprises extracting data from a decrypted client request and determining a request type from the extracted data. The method further comprises ascertaining an entry type value from at least one of the extracted data and an entry and creating at least one string by prepending the entry type value to one or more attributes associated with the entry. Additionally, the method includes comparing the at least one string to one or more record entries to determine whether a client has permission to perform the request type.
US08205251B2
Methods and systems for processing application-level content of network service protocols are described. According to one embodiment, a network connection is redirected by a networking subsystem implemented within a kernel of an operating system of a firewall device to a proxy module within the firewall device that is configured to support a network service protocol associated with the network connection. The proxy module retrieves one or more content processing configuration schemes associated with a matching firewall policy for the network service protocol and the network connection. The content processing configuration schemes each include multiple content processing configuration settings for each of one or more network service protocols. Application-level content of a packet stream associated with the network connection is then processed by the proxy module reassembling the application-level content from multiple packets of the packet stream and scanning the application-level content based on the retrieved content processing configuration schemes.
US08205248B2
In a system with a main memory, a network adapter, and a display, a transaction security module in communication with the network adapter. The transaction security module acts to: establish a secure identification item with an entity which positively identifies the entity; accept an application OS of the entity; and initiate a guest OS with the entity; the network adapter acting to connect with the entity subsequent to initiation of a guest OS; and the display acting to display the secure identification item subsequent to connection with the entity.
US08205240B2
A method of putting a first gateway device into service, the first gateway device having an application service module and a network module enabling communications between the first gateway device and the activation manager, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation. The method comprises identifying, at the first gateway device disposed at a user premises, an activation manager in communication with the first gateway device, transmitting, from the first gateway device, an activation certificate to the activation manager for verification and authentication, generating a service authentication key associated with the first gateway device, storing the service authentication key and an indication that the associated gateway device status is activated in a database, determining the services available to the first gateway device, and transmitting the service authentication key and an identification of the available services to the first gateway device.
US08205238B2
Transport agnostic, secure communication protocol for transmitting host platform posture information to the Network Access Control Server or PDP (Policy Decision Point) and for receiving policy information to be enforced on the trusted host platform and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.
US08205236B2
The contents distribution system for distributing contents to a terminal of each user through a communication network, including a distribution server which connects to each terminal through the communication network to distribute contents, in which the distribution server sequentially divides data of contents to be distributed into frames to generate frames coded by a predetermined plurality of different coding systems, selects, based on a request from the terminal of the user, a frame appropriate for the request from among the generated frames and transmits the selected frame to the terminal in question.
US08205235B2
Systems and methods for representing a tuner device in a content directory service that is implemented in a media server are disclosed. An exemplary method involves representing a tuner as a tuner container. A broadcast channel which is accessible to the tuner is represented as a broadcast item within the tuner container. The exemplary method also involves exposing the broadcast item within the tuner container as an object for browsing by a control point. Information about the broadcast item may be sent to the control point in response to a browse request. A connection may be established with a media renderer for transmission of content from the broadcast channel to the media renderer.
US08205230B2
A system for displaying information may include memory, one or more processors, and one or more modules stored in memory. The one or more modules are configured for execution by the one or more processors and may include instructions for: presenting a subset of a collection of data on a first grid having a first axis corresponding to units of time and a second axis, the collection of data comprising data representing time-bounded events; presenting a second grid having, first and second axes corresponding to the first and second axes of the first grid, the second grid corresponding to a larger portion of the collection of data than the subset presented on the first grid; and presenting a user moveable window for selecting a portion of the second grid, and selecting the subset presented on the first grid in accordance with a current position of the window.
US08205224B2
An image signal processing apparatus includes: a signal receiving part receiving an image signal including rating system information of an image; a control part causing a UI (user interface) to be displayed to select whether to use the rating system based on the rating system information; an OSD (on screen display) processing part generating the UI under control of the control part; and a first information storing part storing the rating system information under control of the control part if the rating system information is selected to be used.
US08205222B2
A portable optical disc player includes a housing having a top casing and a bottom casing, a traverse module, a plurality of first fixing members, and a plurality of fasteners. The traverse module is configured for reading information from, or writing information to, a disc and disposed (or sandwiched) between the top casing and the bottom casing. The plurality of first fixing members is mounted on the interior surface of one of the top casing and the bottom casing. The plurality of fasteners extends through the other of the top casing and the bottom casing, and is received in the plurality of first fixing members respectively so as to fix the top casing and the bottom casing together. Thus, the traverse module is firmly clamped by the top casing and the bottom casing accordingly.
US08205212B2
A mechanism for enabling a computer which includes an installer for providing Plug and Play (PnP) to obtain information for a network device is provided. Using an existing development resource, such as a PnP installer, a simple installation method is provided. By causing a proxy server to as a communication intermediary between the computer and a peripheral device which is not in compliance with a predetermined management method, the peripheral device can be managed using the predetermined management method.
US08205209B2
Selecting a number of processors to run an application in order to save power is performed. A number of code segments are selected from an application. Each of the code segments are executed using two or more of a plurality of processing resource combinations. Each of the code segments are scored with a performance value. The performance value indicates a performance of each code segment using each of the two or more processing resource combinations. A selection is made of one of the two or more processing resource combinations based on an associated performance value and a number of processing resources used to execute the code segment. The application is then executed using the selected processing resource combination.
US08205205B2
A method of processing a computational job with a plurality of processors is disclosed. A request to process a job is received, where the job has a priority level associated with the job. A first group of the processors is designated as being available to process the job, where the number of processors in the first group is based on the priority level associated with the job. A second group of the processors is designated as being available to process the job, where for each processor in the second group a current utilization rate of the processor is less than a second predetermined utilization rate. Then, the job is processed with one or more of the processors selected from the first group of processors and the second group of processors.
US08205204B2
An multi-threading processor is provided. The multi-threading processor includes a first instruction fetch unit to receive a first thread and a second instruction fetch unit to receive a second thread. A multi-thread scheduler coupled to the instruction fetch units and a execution unit. The multi-thread scheduler determines the width of the execution unit and the execution unit executes the threads accordingly.
US08205192B2
Compiler device for optimizing program which manipulates a character string includes append instruction detection unit, store code generation unit, and append code generation unit. The append instruction detection unit detects an append instruction which appends a character string to a string variable for storing a character string, in the program. The store code generation unit generates, a substitute for each of a plurality of the append instructions detected by the append instruction detection unit, a store code for storing data of an appendant character string to be appended to the string variable by the append instruction into a buffer. The append instructions append the character strings to the same string variable. The append code generation unit generates append code for appending a plurality of the appendant character strings to the string variable, at a position executed before an instruction to refer to the string variable in the program.
US08205189B2
A method and system for definition control in a data repository application. Each structure for the repository application is defined. Each structure and a corresponding definition for the structure are stored in a library. An object is created for each structure stored in the library that points to the definition. The structures are interconnected as the application is built. The repository application is built for a specific use includes each of the interconnected structures and provides automatic tracking of each use of each definition and automatic cascading of definition changes to each use.
US08205180B1
A method of placing a circuit design in logic blocks of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a circuit design to be implemented in the logic blocks of the integrated circuit; determining clock skew for a clock tree providing clock signals to a plurality of memory elements of the integrated circuit; evaluating timing requirements associated with the circuit design; and transforming the circuit design to a placement configuration, wherein the placement configuration places the circuit design in the logic blocks of the integrated circuit according to the timing requirements of the circuit design and the clock skew for the clock tree.
US08205179B2
Method and apparatus for approximating the average critical area of a layout or layout region, involving summing, over all the object segments of interest, respective critical area contribution values that are dependent upon particular layout parameters of the objects, each of the contribution values being representative of a plurality of defect sizes, and being defined such that for each defect size in the plurality of defect sizes, and for a particular defect type, the contribution values collectively count all critical areas arising due to the object segments of interest only once.
US08205178B2
Method, computer program and system to perform timing analysis of designs containing clock networks by eliminating Common Clock Path Pessimism. The method includes transforming a clock network into a clock tree that includes nodes with different clock signal arrival times and leaf nodes representing source and destination registers. The tree is populated with information regarding the source and destination registers and the associated timing for the clock arrival signal. The method then enumerates Common Clock Path Pessimism (CCPP) groups, where any source register and any destination register in a CCPP group have the same nearest common ancestor node in the clock tree. The creation of CCPP groups enables analysis time reduction because only one timing calculation is required for the CCPP group instead of having to perform the analysis for each possible pair of registers. The method eliminates CCPP for each CCPP group and then displays the results.
US08205177B2
A characterized cell library for EDA tools includes receiver model data that provides two or more capacitance values for a given receiver modeling situation (signal type and operating conditions). The receiver model can then use different capacitance values to generate different portions of the model receiver signal, thereby enabling more accurate matching of actual receiver signal timing characteristics. For example, a two-capacitance receiver model can be generated by using the first capacitance value to match the delay characteristics of an actual receiver, and by using the second capacitance (in light of the use of the first capacitance) to match the slew characteristics of that actual receiver. Because typical EDA timing analyses focus mainly on delay and slew (and not the detailed profile of circuit signals), a two-capacitance receiver model can provide a high degree of accuracy without significantly increasing cell library size and computational complexity.
US08205176B2
A computer implemented method and system for converting schematic diagrams. The method includes accessing a first set of schematic diagrams, wherein the schematic diagrams represent an integrated circuit design to be realized in physical form. A plurality of a first type of circuit elements in the first set are converted into a second type of circuit elements. The conversion is implemented in accordance with a set of conversion rules. A second set of schematic diagrams representing the integrated circuit design and including the second type of circuit elements are then output.
US08205172B2
The present subject matter describes a graphical web browser toolbar the stores visual representations of user-selected web pages. A saved page is included in the toolbar as a tile that shows a thumbnail image of at least a portion of the page. A user may customize the thumbnail image by zooming onto an area of the page. The user selects a tile from the toolbar to show an enlarged version of the thumbnail image with data from the web page, such as a link to the web page. A comments section allows a user to enter comments related to the web page into the tile. Tiles may be arranged according to groups as configured by the user. The toolbar may be stored and transmitted to a remote location. Using the described techniques, a web shopper can save images in a graphical toolbar and send items saved therein to an acquaintance.
US08205167B2
A method and system for providing an advertisement window in a certain area of a web browser executed in a user terminal, wherein the user terminal being communicated with at least one advertiser server and an advertisement control server over the Internet. The method includes the steps of requesting a user identification code; receiving the user identification code from the advertisement control server, and storing the code on the local storage of the user terminal; requesting advertisement control data to the advertisement control server using the stored user identification; receiving the advertisement control data from the advertisement control server, and displaying control information of the advertisement window; accessing and obtaining the advertisement data located on the received address; and placing, in a certain area of the web browser.
US08205162B2
System and method for creating a graphical program (GP) having portions that execute on different targets. A GP including a plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicating functionality of the program is created in response to user input, including a first graphical code portion with a first execution context specifying execution of the first graphical code portion on a first target. A second execution context indicating a second target for execution of a second graphical code portion of the GP is established in response to user input, e.g., by displaying a context structure indicating the second execution context and associating the second graphical code portion with the context structure in response to user input. During execution of the GP, the first graphical code portion executes on the first target using the first execution context, and the second graphical code portion executes on the second target using the second execution context.
US08205160B2
A computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating a multi-frame presentation is provided. The generated GUI may include a canvas pane configured to display a main frame and supporting frame icons representing a plurality of supporting frames of the presentation. The generated GUI may further include a connector tool operable within the canvas pane for creating a link between a source element and a target element, the source element being the main frame or an element of the main frame, the target element being a supporting frame or an element of a supporting frame, the link being defined by an associated linking script, the connector tool being operable to create the link via a click-and-drag action from the source element to the target element.
US08205159B2
A system, method and medium organizing a template, which enables a user to easily create moving images, are provided. The system includes a template controller to generate a time tab indicating when to display the moving image and to identify one or more scenes of the moving image by parsing a script in response to a user command, a scene controller to identify one or more objects included in each of the scenes and an execution module to define dynamic effects for each of the objects and to load the identified objects and the identified execution module, an object controller to create a control code for each of the identified objects based on the loaded objects and the loaded execution module, the control code controlling the identified objects according to the time tab, and a template storage unit to store the template that includes the script, the execution module, the objects, and the control code.
US08205155B2
Text management software system which stores and retrieves text as paragraph size Text Fragments. Each fragment is stored in a separate record in a text store. As text is created and is to be saved to a text store, the system is adapted to break the text into paragraph size text fragments. As or before text is stored the system runs statistical comparisons between text fragments and builds a matrix of similarity between the text fragments stored in the separate records and presents these to the author for substitution.
US08205153B2
Techniques for extracting information from a formatted document are provided. The techniques include combining one or more visual layout rules, one or more mark-up rules and one or more text-based rules in connection with a formatted document, and specifying one or more rules from the one or more visual layout rules, one or more mark-up rules and one or more text based rules to extract information from the formatted document.
US08205148B1
A method for synchronizing media clips uses audio data of the media clips. The method estimates a global offset between two media clips. The global offset may be determined in a wide variety of ways. The method selects a first test region of the audio track of the first media clip and uses the global offset to identify a corresponding second test region in the audio track of the second media clip. The first and second test regions are compared, for example by cross-correlation, to determine a local offset. In some embodiments a plurality of local offsets are determined for different parts of the media clips. A computer system may perform the method to automatically synchronize media clips.
US08205136B2
A method of handling a stuck bit in a directory of a cache memory, by defining multiple binary encodings to indicate a defective cache state, detecting an error in a tag stored in a member of the directory (wherein the tag at least includes an address field, a state field and an error-correction field), determining that the error is associated with a stuck bit of the directory member, and writing new state information to the directory member which is selected from one of the binary encodings based on a field location of the stuck bit within the directory member. The multiple binary encodings may include a first binary encoding when the stuck bit is in the address field, a second binary encoding when the stuck bit is in the state field, and a third binary encoding when the stuck bit is in the error-correction field. The new state information may also further be selected based on the value of the stuck bit, e.g., a state bit corresponding to the stuck bit is assigned a bit value from the new state information which matches the value of the stuck bit.
US08205135B2
A memory system including a memory controller and a memory and a related method are disclosed. The method includes communicating a command and error detection/correction (EDC) data associated with the command from the memory controller to the memory, decoding the command and executing an EDC operation related to the EDC data in parallel, and if the command is a write command, delaying execution of a write operation indicated by the write command until completion of the EDC operation, else immediately executing an operation indicated by the command without regard to completion of the EDC operation.
US08205112B2
The present invention provides a data migration management apparatus that can easily create a re-execution task for re-executing an error-terminated data migration task, and also can increase the possibility of the re-execution task being successful. In a case where a data migration from a migration-source volume to a migration-destination volume fails, the management apparatus uses the information of the failed task to create a re-execution task. The management apparatus changes the configuration of a volume pair as necessary. The management apparatus manages the failed task in association with the re-execution task.
US08205111B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for writing data from a writer coupled to a reader via an in-die interconnect into a queue entry according to a first clock of the writer, generating a mapping of which second clocks of the reader that the reader is allowed to read from the queue, based at least in part on the first and second clocks, and reading the data from the entry at an allowed second clock. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08205103B2
A power-source control system and method which calculates required power representing electric power to be supplied to an information processing apparatus, supplies electric power corresponding to the required power calculated, controls the power-source apparatus, generates frequency information representing an operating frequency to be determined by the frequency controller in accordance with a load of a CPU, and changes the operating frequency of the CPU by assigning the operating frequency represented by the frequency information to the CPU when the electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus is adjusted using the required power calculated.
US08205102B2
Embodiments of the invention include a management agent which has access to power output control circuitry of a digital electronic communication switch, a power meter, a load sharing means, and the ability to manage the power of switching circuits in the switch. The power meter enables the management agent to identify the power consumed by the switching circuits that are enabled and operational. This information, coupled with (1) knowledge of the power allocated to each port via PoE, and (2) policy information (which specifies power allocation preferences) is used in a two-pass power management method.
US08205096B2
Software application protection methods and systems for protecting and verifying licensing of an original application. The system reads the original application executable, and generates a shelled application comprising the original application and a shell containing the license information. The shelled application implements license APIs, and establishes secure communications within the shelled application between the original application and the shell. Licensing for the original application can be verified by the shelled application alone.
US08205095B2
A method for conducting a remote debugging session comprises setting a secure connection link with a failed client machine, receiving status information from the client machine through the connection link in response to a debug instruction sent to the client machine, displaying the status information in a readable form, requesting a user to enter a cryptographic key in response to a request for saving the status information, and generating a secured file containing the status information encrypted with the cryptographic key.
US08205089B2
A trusted rendering system for use in a system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works. A trusted rendering system facilitates the protection of rendered digital works which have been rendered on a system which controls the distribution and use of digital works through the use of dynamically generated watermark information that is embedded in the rendered output. The watermark data typically provides information relating to the owner of the digital work, the rights associated with the rendered copy of the digital work and when and where the digital work was rendered. This information will typically aid in deterring or preventing unauthorized copying of the rendered work to be made. The system for controlling distribution and use of digital works provides for attaching persistent usage rights to a digital work. Digital works are transferred between repositories which are used to request and grant access to digital works. Such repositories are also coupled to credit servers which provide for payment of any fees incurred as a result of accessing a digital work.
US08205088B2
In a method and arrangement for authenticated transmission of a personalized data set or program to a hardware security module in a device such as a franking machine, a system manufacturer buys security modules, from a security module manufacturer and incorporate the security modules at a production site in the device and loads a data set and/or an application program into the security module, making the device operable. Authentication occurs using a first security module-specific fixed code, a second security module-specific fixed code that is calculated from the first code according to a given algorithm, and a third security module-specific fixed code that is calculated from the second code and the data in the data set and/or in the program.
US08205087B2
A software tool for digitally signing multiple documents is disclosed. When a user wishes to sign multiple documents containing embedded executable code for purposes of authenticating the code, the user launches this software tool. The user specifies the documents which he or she wishes signed. Thereupon, the tool automatically signs each of the documents and displays the results.
US08205080B2
A system and method are described for securing over the air communications between a service and a communication device. For example, one embodiment of a method for creating a security token on a communication device for communication between the communication device and a service includes combining a device identification of the communication device with a device capability to create a device information, the device capability known by the service. The method further includes encrypting the device information.
US08205075B2
Provided is an authentication system capable of identifying a cause of a failure when authentication fails. A data structure of data to be authenticated has a header authentication data area (D2), and an authentication data area (D4) in addition to a header area (D1) and a data area (D3). The header authentication data area (D2) authenticates validity of the header area (D1), and the authentication data area (D4) authenticates the validity of the header authentication header area (D2) and the data area (D3). Since two kinds of authentication are carried out, the cause of the failure in authentication can be identified easily when authentication is failed.
US08205066B2
A co-processor is provided that comprises one or more application engines that can be dynamically configured to a desired personality. For instance, the application engines may be dynamically configured to any of a plurality of different vector processing instruction sets, such as a single-precision vector processing instruction set and a double-precision vector processing instruction set. The co-processor further comprises a common infrastructure that is common across all of the different personalities, such as an instruction decode infrastructure, memory management infrastructure, system interface infrastructure, and/or scalar processing unit (that has a base set of instructions). Thus, the personality of the co-processor can be dynamically modified (by reconfiguring one or more application engines of the co-processor), while the common infrastructure of the co-processor remains consistent across the various personalities.
US08205061B2
A command from an application is received to access a data structure associated with one or more virtual addresses mapped to main memory. A first subset of the virtual addresses for the data structure having constituent addresses that are mapped to the symmetric memory components and a second subset of the virtual addresses for the data structure having constituent addresses that are mapped to the asymmetric memory components are identified. Data associated with the virtual address from the first physical addresses and data associated with the virtual addresses from the second physical addresses are accessed. The data associated with the symmetric and asymmetric memory components is accessed by the application without providing the application with an indication of whether the data is accessed within the symmetric memory component or the asymmetric memory component.
US08205059B2
An optical disc drive is provided, mainly comprising a buffer, a processor and a driving module for accessing an optical disc. The optical disc drive receives a plurality of write commands. Each write command comprises a data block and a destination address. The buffer buffers data blocks to be recorded to the optical disc with corresponding write commands in either a random mode or a sequential mode. The processor schedules a recording operation based on the write commands, and selectively switches the buffer to the random mode or to the sequential mode based on arrangements of data blocks buffered in the buffer. The driving module is controlled by the processor to perform the recording operation, whereby the data blocks are recorded to the optical disc when a start recording condition is met. Specifically, the start recording condition varies with the random or sequential modes.
US08205057B2
In a system and method for write hazard handling a memory management unit policy is pre-computed for a write request using an address that is at least one clock cycle before data. The pre-computed memory management unit policy is registered and used for controlling a pipeline stall to ensure that a non-bufferable write is pipeline-protected, so that no non-bufferable location is bypassed from within the pipeline, and so that a subsequent non-bufferable read will get data from a final destination. A read request is bypassed only after a corresponding write request is updated in a write pending buffer. The write request is decoded with the write request aligned to data. The write request is registered in the write pending buffer. Arbitration logic is allowed to force the pipeline stall for a region that will have a write conflict. Read requests are stalled to protect against write hazards.
US08205052B2
A computer system including a copy source volume and a copy target volume which may be selectably PAIRED or SPLIT. User management information stores: an entry indicating that a first user is permitted to effect a PAIR operation and a PATH operation; and, an entry indicating that a second user is permitted to effect a PATH operation. Operation management information indicates permitted PATH and PAIR operations in relation to each user and a volume's PAIR or SPLIT status, and stores: an entry indicating that the first user is permitted to effect the PAIR operation in which the PAIR status is PAIR, or is SPLIT WITH BACKUP DISABLED; and, an entry indicating that the second user is permitted to effect the PATH operations in which the PAIR status is SPLIT WITH BACKUP ENABLED. PAIR management information stores the PAIR status and the BACKUP ENABLED or DISABLED status.
US08205048B2
The present invention makes is possible to appropriately set the power saving control of the storage device from the management device of the storage device. In addition, the storage device executes control of the power saving for the magnetic disk device after ensuring consistency between an instruction from the administrator and the operating state of the magnetic disk device in the storage device.
US08205040B1
A device may select a longest run of contiguous unwritten pages from multiple runs of contiguous unwritten pages provided in a ternary content addressable memory, and may write a rule on a page that is located at a middle portion of the longest run to create two runs of contiguous unwritten pages. The device may also receive a packet, and may apply the rule to the packet.
US08205022B2
A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in a target field bus protocol is described. The method comprises the reception of a first device description of the apparatus. The first device description of the apparatus comprises at least one variable. The at least one variable is related to a storage cell of the apparatus. The target field bus protocol is selected from a plurality of field bus protocols, and at least one block is formed from the at least one variable. The at least one block has a maximum block size that corresponds to the smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols. The maximum block size can be transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used. Subsequently, the at least one block is provided as device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.
US08205018B2
A method and apparatus for allowing a limited functionality Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller to manage specific USB peripheral devices on a downstream facing USB port is provided. The port is also capable of dynamically interfacing to any USB compliant peripheral device, even one not supported directly by the limited capabilities of the host controller.
US08205016B2
In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a plurality of electrical devices and management logic coupled to the electrical devices. While the electrical devices are each in a pre-boot environment, the management logic obtains information from the electrical devices and uses the information to determine electrical compatibility of, and/or configure, the electrical devices.
US08205010B1
A system for providing data for loading a user system application comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to generate a data for loading a user system application using a template and provide the data for loading the user system application. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08205006B2
Embodiments of the invention broadly provide systems, methods and devices for discontinuous multi-media content transfer and handling. Various embodiments of the invention also provide for multi-media content management such that various policies (for example, DRM policies of multi-media content providers) are efficiently adhered to.
US08205005B2
The invention relates, in particular, to an automation system (10; 110), in which a programmable logic control device (20; 120) can be connected via a network (100; 200) to a database system (60; 160). So that the programmable logic control device (20; 120) can exchange data directly with the database system (60; 160), the programmable logic control device (20; 120) has a first driver module (42; 132) associated with a physical interface (50; 150) for controlling data transmission via the network (10; 110) and also a second driver module (41; 132) for controlling the data exchange with the database device (60; 160).
US08205000B2
A set of devices of a distributed data processing system and a protocol are selected to complete an action received by a requesting application. The set of devices and protocol are selected based on whether the protocol supports the type of the requested action; whether the protocol is an allowable/supported protocol for each device along a topology mapped logical route for completing the requested action; and assigned priorities of each protocol. The topology mapped logical route is then used for completing the requested action using the selected protocol. The requesting application may use the action in accordance with the selected allowable supported protocol, e.g., to monitor or discover the target device.
US08204995B2
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer program products for establishing a single session for processing a multimodal application with multiple devices and for distributing the multimodal application amongst the multiple devices participating in the single session based on the respective capabilities of each device are provided. A system, method and computer program product for allowing new devices operated by the same user to join in the previously established session for processing the multimodal application where the capabilities of the new device exceed that of all devices currently participating in the session are also provided.
US08204991B2
A method and device for communicating information resources between subscriber end stations and nodes belonging to different network domains is described. The device instantiates different virtual network machines for different network domains using separate independently administrable network databases. Each of the administrable chores of the separate independently administrable network databases includes the assignment of access control and the configuration of the policies for those network databases. The policies include traffic filtering policies to indicate what kind of information payloads can be carried, traffic and route filtering policies to indicate what paths through the network will be used for each payload carried. Each of the network domains includes one of the different virtual network machines and each of the different network domains is virtually isolated from other network domains.
US08204986B2
A method for monitoring performance of a data center that includes: (a) a performance monitor analyzing packets that flow between a client and a web or application server; (b) assigning packets to contexts where a context is a request-reply entity; (c) determining one or more of application, network, and back-end latency measures wherein: (i) the application latency measure is a time it takes for an application to respond to a request, (ii) the network latency measure is a time that it takes for packets to go through a network between the client and the web or application server, and (iii) the back-end latency is a time required for a back-end system to execute a request and respond to the application server.
US08204972B2
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system on behalf of a plurality of management customers. The distributed data processing system is logically represented as a set of scopes, wherein a scope is a logical organization of network-related objects. Endpoint objects, system objects, and network objects are logically organized into a set of scopes that do not logically overlap. Each scope is uniquely assigned to a management customer. The distributed data processing system is managed as a set of logical networks in which a logical network contains a set of scopes and in which each logical network is uniquely assigned to a management customer. An administrative user may dynamically reconfigure the logical networks within the distributed data processing system while managing the logical networks for a set of customers.
US08204964B2
A file, including visual information or auditory information may be uploaded to a processing device. Respective portions of content of the file may be identified for compressing and saving at respective bit rates. A number of component files may be created, compressed and saved, at the respective bit rates, based on the identified respective portions of content of the file. A network page, including a reference to the uploaded file, may be created. The reference to the uploaded file, in the network page, may be replaced with references to the compressed, saved component files and the network page may be saved. A processing device of a user may request the network page and the compressed, saved component files. A reasonable facsimile of the file may be reproduced based on an aggregate of the compressed, saved component files.
US08204958B2
Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatus for analysis and capture of network data items are described herein. Some embodiments include a receiving module which may receive a network data item from a network and which may then duplicate the network data item into two network data items. A capture module may receive one of the network data items for storage in storage device. A statistics or analysis module may in parallel receive the other network data item and may then perform network analysis on that network data item. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08204952B2
Systems and methods for obtaining a digital file similar to one used by a device associated with a member of a social network are provided. Digital file information about the digital file is stored on a web-based social network database. The digital file may be located on the same server as the web-based social network database or a third party server such as a mobile phone carrier. A user of the web-based social network database requesting the digital file may require a different format of the digital file than that used by the device of the member. If a different format is requested by the user, a server finds or converts the digital file to be compatible for use by a device specified by the user.
US08204940B2
When sending electronic mail, a user of a mobile phone can add predetermined conditions (or data) to the electronic mail. When the mobile phone receives electronic mail with the conditions added thereto, the received electronic mail can be displayed and deleted according to the aforementioned conditions. The receiver of the electronic mail cannot freely dispose of the received electronic mail. The added conditions are, for example, display date and time, display period, number of displays, retention period.
US08204937B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking real-time communication data within a single contact tracking application for diverse communication providers and applications. A global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider. Real-time communication data for contacts dynamically determined to be recent contacts is retrieved from the data store, based on properties such as a most recent communication time, a communication count, and the like. Real-time communication data corresponding to contacts identified as pinned contacts for which display of real-time communication data is preferred, also may be retrieved. A user interface is generated for displaying the one or more recent and/or pinned contacts, which may vary in size based on the number of contacts identified as pinned contacts, from which a contact may be selected for real-time conversation or e-mail.
US08204927B1
A system and method for cognitive processing of sensor data. A processor array receiving analog sensor data and having programmable interconnects, multiplication weights, and filters provides for adaptive learning in real-time. A static random access memory contains the programmable data for the processor array and the stored data is modified to provide for adaptive learning.
US08204912B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with insertion rate responsive b-trees are described. One system embodiment includes a capacity logic to detect a divide condition for a leaf node and an insert logic to determine an insertion level for the leaf node. The system embodiment may include an allocation logic to selectively allocate a set of leaf nodes. Characteristics of the set (e.g., number of members) may depend on the divide condition and the insertion level. The system embodiment may include a partition logic to move a partition key from the leaf node to a parent and to associate the partition key with the set of leaf nodes. A fuzzy index logic may provide key-based addressing to the set of leaf nodes.
US08204909B2
An online service provider (OSP) operates online data centers to store members' data objects relating to various online member services of the OSP. An aggregated catalog lists members' data objects residing in the online data centers and also those residing in member computers' local storage. An aggregator monitors contents of the online storage facilities to detect new storage of prescribed types of data objects owned by the members, and also communicates with member computers to identify prescribed types of data objects newly stored in the respective local storage. The aggregator updates the aggregated catalog to list the newly stored data objects. Responsive to a request by a member, a finder searches the aggregated catalog and utilizes results of the search to provide, for display at the requesting member's computer, a consolidated listing of online data objects and locally stored data objects owned by the requesting member.
US08204905B2
In various embodiments, systems and methods are provided that can facilitate searching for entities, such as rules, that apply to search criteria. The disclosed systems and methods can reduce some of the performance bottlenecks associated with, for example, rules-based search systems by using metadata. The metadata may be generated to reduce the size of information about a set of entities that is required to be searched. In some embodiments, the metadata may represent one or more tuple elements, such as keys and values of keys in key-value pairs.
US08204893B2
A data processing apparatus and a method for displaying time-based data are provided. The data processing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing data processed by the data processing apparatus and identification information for sorting the data, a display unit having a first display section for displaying one or more data sort functions and a second display section for displaying data according to a data sort function selected from the first display section, and a control unit for sorting the data stored in the storage unit and controlling the display unit to display the data in a life data mode.
US08204892B2
A method, computer-readable medium, and machine are provided for boosting the performance of sort operations. A database server performs an operation on a set of data. The operation uses disk space such as a temporary tablespace. The disk space belongs to a disk group in which data is stored according to a level of redundancy. A determination is made as to whether the operation is a sort operation. If the operation is not a sort operation, then at least part of a result of the operation is stored on the disk space according to the level of redundancy specified for the disk group. If the operation is a sort operation, then only a single copy of the at least part of the result is stored without storing a redundant copy of the at least part of the result. Optionally, backup information sufficient to re-perform the sort operation may also be stored.
US08204888B2
An interface can allow for associating documents with tags. A search system can use connections between the tags and documents to determine search-independent rank values for the documents. The search-independent rank values can be combined with term matching indications to get a total relevance of the document.
US08204872B2
A method for instantly expanding a keyterm is provided. According to the query term, a data search process is performed by several search engines. Several document snippets related to the query term are obtained from the search engines. A related term table containing several keyterms corresponding to each snippet is built up by analyzing each of the document snippet. According to a position relationship between the each keyterm and the query term in each snippet, a correlation calculation is performed for giving each keyterm a correlation value. A semantic merging process is performed to merge the correlation values of the keyterms with the same semantic meaning to be a correlation indicator. Some of the keyterms are determined to form a keyterm set of the query term.
US08204869B2
A computer-implemented system and method for defining and justifying policy requirements includes: a hierarchical regional mapping (HRM) module provides a common language and a hierarchical model for geography and for jurisdictions; a legal references library (LRL) module contains applicable legal references; a legal references policy mapping (LRPM) module maps legal references to policies; and a requirements cross-checking (RCC) module cross-checks information in the legal references policy mapping module.
US08204867B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enhanced block-level deduplication. A computer program product stores one or more express block signatures in an express directory that meet a reference count requirement. The computer program product also stores one or more primary block signatures and one or more reference counts for the primary block signatures in a primary directory. Each primary block signature has a corresponding reference count. The computer program product determines whether a block signature for a data block matches one of the one or more express block signatures stored in the express directory.
US08204864B1
The invention provides a method and system for performing a dump operation that preserves partial results of an aborted or interrupted dump, and allows restarting the dump from near where it was stopped. Thus, tapes from the original dump, plus tapes from the restarted dump, can be combined to provide a consistent subset of a filesystem. In a preferred embodiment, the dump operation is performed on a consistent recorded snapshot of the filesystem, so that the subset of the filesystem recorded on the tapes is itself consistent. As an emergent consequence, the dump operation is freely interruptable, restartable, and provides a set of tapes that maintain a consistent subset of the filesystem that is transparent to tape-restore operations and other operations to be performed on the filesystem as it was recorded on tape.
US08204863B2
A selective restore technique for restoring file systems within computer systems provides on-demand access during the restore process, while preventing users from slowing the restore process by generating random accesses to files that have not yet been restored, early in the restore process. The restored files are grouped into multiple groups of files, which correspond to multiple phases of the restore process. On-demand requests may be locked out for some or all users during the first one or more phases of the restore, while they are permitted for the subsequent phases, ensuring that critical files needed by all users will be available before the backup process is interrupted by on-demand accesses. The groups are generally organized by elapsed time since last access or modification, and may be organized at restore time or during periodic back-up operations so that the files may be similarly organized in the backup media.
US08204861B2
This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing event driven audit logging. The method includes establishing, at an audit logging system, audit logging framework configured to provide application independent connectivity and further configured to provide event driven audit logging. The method further includes receiving, at the audit logging system, a selection of an application to provide event driven auditing, enabling event driven auditing for the selected application, and receiving a selection of event types to enable for auditing by the audit logging framework. Furthermore, the method includes based on the selected event types, tracking the application actions associated with the selected events, creating an event log for the application, and providing access to the event log.
US08204850B1
A system for defining a report comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to retrieve a set of fields associated with a received indication of a familiar data instance; retrieve a set of report data sources, wherein the set of report data sources is associated with one or more fields selected from a set of fields associated with the familiar data instance; and define a report using a selected report data source from the set of report data sources. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08204845B2
A method includes obtaining, at a first execution environment of a first device, an as-needed rule set. The as-needed rule set is a subset of context-specific rules filtered from a total potential rule set based at least on a hardware characteristic of a second execution environment. The as-needed rule set is associated with an agent. The agent and the as-needed rule set are encoded into a transferable form. The encoded agent and the encoded as-needed rule set are sent from the first execution environment to the second execution environment.
US08204836B2
A system that enables dynamic discrete decision simulation is provided. Simulation has many advantages in modeling complex systems to facilitate decision making. The innovation discloses a system that integrates an agent-based discrete event simulator, a geographic information system, a rule base, and interactive databases in addition to interfaces and other supporting components. The modules can seamlessly communicate with each other by exchanging a progression of data, and by making a series of deductive decisions through embedded algorithms. The integrated system can be applied to disaster management planning and training.
US08204826B2
A method and apparatus provides a decisioning solution for merchants accepting Internet transactions, integrated with means for processing payments electronically. The invention claimed herein provides features, such as, but not limited to, electronic transfer of funds, authentication of parties, seemless integration with merchant's Web page, and reporting of suspicious activity.
US08204819B2
A system, method, and computer program product for automating a bidder-centric bidder online auction interaction. The method can include receiving a bidder and an online auction service at a bidding automation service; receiving an auction in a bid portfolio; receiving a bid parameter; setting a bid time before time before time auction close (TAC) and receiving a minimum absolute time logged for prior auctions; and activating a bid proxy to transmit bid information to online auction. Auction monitoring of temporal progression of product auctions, and notification of changes in status that could prevent an initial bid from being placed by a bid proxy, can be provided. Bid proxies can be activated as an auction nears completion to begin placing bids until the auction is won or lost, or if out-bid, can execute a higher bid.
US08204816B2
A method and system for creating a stock index for a group of investment management companies is disclosed. The method may include obtaining first trade information for each security representative of the group of investment management companies during a first time period, aggregating the first trade information for a predetermined time period, storing the aggregated first trade information, calculating from the aggregated first trade information an index for the group of investment management companies, determining a standardized measure of the index based on the aggregated first trade information obtained in the first time period, and periodically recalculating the index based on second trade information for each security representative of the group of investment management companies during a second time period.
US08204814B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for performing a valuation of a contingent claim, such as a call or a put, are provided that initially determine the present value distribution of contingent future benefits that is attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim, such as according to a jump-diffusion model. The present value of an exercise price, such as a distribution of contingent future investments of a distribution of contingent future investments, required to exercise the contingent claim is also determined. An average of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and the present value of the contingent future investment is determined. By utilizing appropriate discount rates, the benefits and investment can be effectively valued, which, in turn, permits the contingent claim project to be effectively valued in an intuitive manner.
US08204807B2
The apparatus and method implements, manages, and tracks on-line digital transactions via an escrow, including opening, servicing, real-time or near-real time status of the broker, title company, lender, vendor, buyer and seller, and closing of an escrow via a medium such as the internet. Multiple access methods are employed. The present invention provides computerization and internet type process implementation for escrow processes including, but not limited to, digital transaction coordination, digital status coordinators, seamless escrow transactions, on-line digital signatures, video signature authentication, digital certificate authentication, signature authentication, satellite and other wireless transmission of escrow transactions, voice digital instruction, the merging of voice with digital data transactions, set-top/WebTV digital escrow transmission, global digital escrow networking, and the like. The system includes appropriate data, application, and servers along with supporting LAN or WAN-based application to perform escrow services.
US08204806B2
The present invention provides a system and method of automatically establishing and electronically funding electronic accounts over a computer network. The present invention provides a series of straight-through processes operable within a client/server environment. The present invention enables the submission of on-line new account information, real-time processing of such account information, and the establishment of validated new electronic accounts for use by potential customers regardless of the availability of host processing systems.
US08204800B2
An approach is provided for displaying purchasing information on a mobile device. Purchasing information that is transmitted for display using a purchasing application on the mobile device is redirected for display on a browser application or a messaging application when the purchasing application is not resident on the mobile device.
US08204799B1
Combining fulfillment of customer orders from merchants in computer-facilitated marketplaces. An order management system may include a virtual shopping cart interface that may be used with a number of merchants. Each merchant may be registered to receive fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for inventory items the merchant offers in commerce. The virtual shopping cart interface may be configured to receive requests to indicate various items within a virtual shopping cart corresponding to a customer. Different inventory items offered by different merchants may be placed within the virtual shopping cart. In response to the customer's request to finalize an order, the order management system may instruct the fulfillment services provider to ship the items in the virtual shopping cart to the customer. A single shipment may include items offered by several different merchants, and each of the merchants may be the merchant of record for its respective inventory item.
US08204798B1
A method and system for integrating imaging printing and communication service in a subscriber service plan. A service provider, such as a wireless carrier, will establish for a subscriber an integrated service plan that entitles the subscriber to engage in a designated quantity of communications on a recurring time period basis, such as monthly, and to also have a designated quantity of images printed on the recurring time period basis, for a designated fee. The integrated service plan will then be used as a basis to authorize communication service to the subscriber and further as a basis to authorize image prints requested by the subscriber.
US08204796B2
A distributed network transaction system and method includes a central exchange computer connected via the Internet (world wide web) to multiple remote computers associated with, for example, individual brokers. A central database is provided with the exchange computer and each remote computer can have a respective database for information that the individual brokers was to maintain separate from the system. E-commerce transactions are conducted by the system, which performs a number of transaction-related functions, such as pushing tickets up to the system for sale, purchasing tickets online, shipping, web site-related and bookkeeping. The system and methodology accommodate price event functions where non real-time tickets can be sold and the orders filled with tickets acquired on the system.
US08204793B2
A portable communication device and method of use is provided. In one embodiment, the method of using a handheld mobile telephone includes capturing a plurality of images via an image input device; storing the plurality of images in a memory, receiving a first speech input, identifying command information in said first speech input; retrieving information from memory based, at least in part, on the command information. The method may further include generating a request related to an article of commerce that includes, at least in part, the information retrieved from memory, determining a destination for transmitting the request, and wirelessly transmitting said request through a mobile telephone network to the destination.
US08204792B2
An image of at least one object (14) is captured. An object class selection is received from a menu (70) of a plurality of object classes. At least one task menu specific to the object class selection is provided. A task selection is received from the at least one task menu. A task associated with the at least one object (14) is facilitated based on the image and the task selection.
US08204777B2
Systems and techniques for management and analysis of cost and savings information. Products sold by an enterprise, and the components used in the creation of those products are identified. Transaction data relating to purchases of components by the enterprise is gathered from various sources and used to generate cost information for the components. The cost information is compared to baseline cost information to compute savings information for the components. Specifications of components used in products, information relating to the number of products created and sold and information categorizing components and products is used to generate cost and savings information for components, products and categories of products.
US08204768B1
A system and method for projecting a flexible spending account (FSA) allocation for a consumer may be dependent on historical healthcare-related claim information, including health insurance claim information and FSA reimbursement claim information. The method may be implemented as a web-based service or as a stand-alone software application. An FSA allocation application may identify, in historical claim information, recurring expenses predicted to be incurred in a given future time period, and may estimate an initial allocation for the time period based on these recurring expenses. The FSA allocation application may produce a recommended allocation by adjusting the initial allocation dependent on expected changes in the consumer's health insurance plan, the consumer's dependents, the health of one or more family members, tax regulations, or costs of medical services. An FSA allocation application may be configured to exchange information with a comprehensive healthcare management application, which may maintain the historical claim information.
US08204764B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of managing appointments in a health care system.
US08204761B2
A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.
US08204749B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium for practicing a method of emotion detection during a natural language dialog between a human and a computing device are disclosed. The method includes receiving an utterance from a user in a natural language dialog, receiving contextual information regarding the natural language dialog which is related to changes of emotion over time in the dialog, and detecting an emotion of the user based on the received contextual information. Examples of contextual information include, for example, differential statistics, joint statistics and distance statistics.
US08204741B2
An apparatus and method for selecting a set of channels from a plurality channels in a signal processor, the method comprising sampling each one of a plurality of channels and obtaining a binary representation of each one of the samples, arranging each one of the binary representations of samples into a series of bit planes from a most significant bit plane containing the most significant bit of each binary representation, to a least significant bit plane containing the least significant bit of each binary representation, determining those bit planes having binary representations that conform to a predetermined value criteria, and selecting a set of channels by summing bits from each one of those determined bit planes that conform to the predetermined value criteria.
US08204735B2
A machine translating apparatus includes an input unit that inputs a source language sentence, a syntax analyzing unit that performs a syntactic analysis on the source language sentence and generates syntax information, an extracting unit that extracts from the syntax information the first partial information that includes the first partial structure including all the nodes under the most significant nodes that are the nodes of the syntax information and the corresponding morphemes, and also extracts the second partial information including the second subtree representing a difference between two items of the first partial information and the corresponding morphemes, a translating unit that translates the morphemes of all the items of the partial information with multiple translation systems, and a most-plausible structure selecting unit that selects a combination for which the average of the translation scores takes the maximum value.
US08204733B2
A power testing apparatus for a USB interface includes first and second USB interfaces, and a simulation apparatus. The simulation apparatus includes a first voltage regulator, first and second resistors, and a load resistor. The first USB interface is configured to connect to a circuit board. The second USB interface is configured to connect to a USB device. The first voltage regulator includes input, output, and adjusting terminals. The first resistor is connected between the output terminal and the adjusting terminal. The second resistor is connected between the adjusting terminal and ground. The load resistor is connected to the output terminal and ground. Signal pins of the first USB interface are connected to signal pins of the second USB interface. A voltage pin of the first USB interface is connected to a voltage pin of the second USB interface and the input terminal.
US08204731B2
The present invention provides a signal analyzing method for an electronic device having an on-chip network and an off-chip network. Compared with the conventional signal analyzing method for an electronic device having an on-chip network and an off-chip network, the signal analyzing method of the present invention is able to provide a complete electrical connection and accurate electrical characteristics for an electronic device having an on-chip network and an off-chip network.
US08204711B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for managing test procedures for a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation environment. The apparatus comprises an input interface for receiving input from a user, a first processor coupled to the input interface and in operable communication with the HIL simulation environment. The first processor is configured to generate a test sequence comprising a plurality of test procedure references based on input from the user, wherein each test procedure reference corresponds to a test procedure that comprises instructions for issuing commands to, and receiving data from, the HIL simulation environment, and sequentially execute each referenced test procedure within the generated test sequence in cooperation with the HIL simulation environment, in response to a command from the user.
US08204710B2
Scales for detecting equilibrium anomalies of a human body include force sensors under a dynamic. A processing unit determines, from signals of the sensors, the total weight of a subject on the plate. The weight is viewed on a display. Deformable members associated with each sensor provide support along an upward direction of the plate relative to a fixed portion of the scales. A module compares data of the sensors received by the processing unit, to detect a poor distribution of the forces. The display is modified when a poor force distribution is measured by the detector module. The subject can thus exercise dynamically to find a balanced position of his/her feet on the plate.
US08204704B2
A test structure for precise characterization of an MOS stack has two semiconductor devices DT1 and DT2 comprising MOS transistors. The dimensions (length Li, width Wi) of the transistors of the first device Ti and the dimensions (length L′i, width W′i) of the transistors T′i of the second device are selected so that the sum of the lengths of the transistors on the one hand, and the sum of the widths of the transistors on the other hand, are respectively equal in the two devices, and so that the surface area difference Sequiv between the two devices is nonzero. An associated measurement method is used to calculate the curve of the difference capacitance between the two devices as a function of the voltage by means of a capacimeter. By placing each of the devices as the load of a suitably controlled CMOS inverter, this curve can be recorded by a dynamic measurement method based on measuring the current in each inverter.
US08204697B2
A system for assessing the health of a mechanism includes a processor for receiving observation data from at least one sensor, the processor including: a detector receptive to the observation data and capable of identifying whether the mechanism is operating in a normal or degraded mode; a diagnoser to identify a type of fault from at least one symptom pattern; and a prognoser capable of calculating a remaining useful life (RUL) of the mechanism, wherein the prognoser includes a population prognoser for calculating the RUL based on a duration of use of the mechanism, a cause prognoser for calculating the RUL based on causal data, and an effect prognoser for calculating the RUL based on effect data generated from the fault. A method and computer program product for assessing the health of a downhole tool is also disclosed.
US08204696B2
A chromatographic analyzer is provided for facilitating curve fitting by means of the linear least-square method for a chromatogram that contains a plurality of overlapping peaks. The present invention is characterized by a chromatographic data processor for executing data processing of a chromatogram obtained by separating a sample to be measured using a column and detecting the separated sample, wherein fitting processing is executed to each peak in an arbitrary time region having the plurality of peaks of the chromatogram starting from the front side of the time region or from the back side of the time region, and the processed peaks are subtracted from the chromatogram in the time region so that the plurality of peaks in the chromatogram can be separated from one another. Thus, the plurality of overlapping peaks, particularly three or more overlapping peaks in the chromatogram can be easily separated from one another only by defining some setting conditions.
US08204692B2
A system to monitor drilling rig activity and to provide and manage drilling rig information, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system can include a communication network, a drilling rig information management server, a database accessible to the processor of the server, and drilling rig information management program product stored in the memory of the drilling rig information management server and including instructions that when executed by the processor of the drilling rig information management server cause the server to perform the operations of retrieving drilling rig location data from the database responsive to user selection of a geospatial location attribute, accessing digital mapping data to display a digital map associated with the user selected geospatial location attribute, and providing data to display indicia of a drilling rig location for at least one drilling rig overlaid upon and spatially oriented to at least portions of the digital map.
US08204688B2
Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.
US08204687B2
A display route creation method includes: a route determination step in which a route determination section determines a route based on a departure point and a destination set on a map; a directional sign information extraction step in which a read section reads out directional sign information existing on the route from a map information storage section; and a route creation step in which a merging section merges a display image portion indicating the road direction included in the directional sign information and the route to create a display route in which the route and display image portion are integrated with each other.
US08204680B1
A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of spline control points representing a two-dimensional geometry of a portion a road segment and obtaining data indicating a road grade of the portion of the road segment. The spline control points and data indicating road grade are obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The method further comprises projecting the spline control points onto a slope provided by the road grade to obtain a representation of a restored true road curvature of the portion of the road segment.
US08204675B2
A probability that a selected point of interest is accessible to customers for commercial transactions is determined. In response to receiving a mailing address of a selected candidate point of interest and a calculated estimated time of arrival, it is determined whether the mailing address of the selected candidate point of interest is stored in a data storage device. In response to determining that the mailing address of the selected candidate point of interest is stored in the data storage device, a percentage probability that the selected candidate point of interest is accessible to customers for commercial transactions at the calculated estimated time of arrival is assigned based on utility usage data and a confidence level associated with the utility usage data stored in the data storage device. The percentage probability that the selected candidate point of interest is accessible to customers for commercial transactions is sent via the network.
US08204667B2
A method for controlling an antilock brake system on a vehicle, the method comprising calculating a prediction of tire normal forces and modifying a brake torque applied to a brake based on the predicted tire normal forces. The prediction of tire normal forces may be calculated using predicted longitudinal forces or estimates of longitudinal forces that are obtained by predicting a master-cylinder pressure.
US08204660B2
An apparatus controls automatic travel of a vehicle equipped with a motive power generator. In the apparatus, information indicating a road surface on which a vehicle is present currently is acquired. It is determined whether or not a command for shifting the vehicle from its stopped state to its traveling state is issued. When the command is issued, automatic shift of the vehicle is made from its stopped state to its traveling state by controlling drive of the motive power generator based on the acquired information. It is further determined whether or not, of a component of gravity applied to the vehicle, there is a force component applied in a direction opposite to a travel direction of the vehicle. When there is the force component, the operation applied to the motive power generator is continued even if the brake pedal is pressed by the driver.
US08204658B2
An automatic transmission control apparatus secures the safe operation of a motor drive through the use of a voltage determination unit that determines which one of a voltage detected by a control apparatus voltage detection unit and a voltage detected by a motor voltage detection unit is to be utilized as a duty reference voltage. The motor control apparatus controls the motor, based on a motor drive duty that a drive duty calculation unit calculates by use of the voltage selected by the voltage determination unit.
US08204655B2
A construction machine includes: a work arm rotatably mounted at a construction machine main body; a work tool mounted at the work arm; an attitude decision device that decides an attitude of the work arm or the work tool relative to the construction machine main body; a follow-up enabling device that allows the work arm or the work tool to follow a displacement of a contacting object that comes into contact with the work tool and applies an external force to the work tool, by adjusting the attitude of the work arm or the work tool decided by the attitude decision device; and a switching device that selects whether or not to allow the work arm or the work tool to follow the displacement of the contacting object via the follow-up enabling device.
US08204654B2
A boundary definer or data processor establishes an outer boundary of a work area and defines an offset between an inner boundary and the outer boundary. A reference path module or data processor defines a primary reference path with a target angular heading within the work area. The reference path module or data processor generates secondary reference paths spaced apart from and generally parallel to the primary reference path. An incident angle estimator estimates an incident angle of incidence of the vehicle with the outer boundary. The former or data processor establishes an inner boundary point spaced apart from the outer boundary by the offset and coextensive with a corresponding one of the reference paths. Further, the former or data processor interconnects the established inner boundary points to form the inner boundary.
US08204650B2
The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system.
US08204634B2
The present device relates to a driving dynamics control system for vehicles, including at least one signal distribution to which vehicle data, environment data and data regarding the driver's request are sent in the form of input data, and including several controllable or regulatable subsystems which modify the dynamics of the vehicle such as a driver-independently adjustable steering system, a driver-independently adjustable chassis, a driver-independently adjustable brake, and a driver-independently adjustable driving track. The system is characterized in that the data of the signal distribution is sent to a central determining unit (driving condition detection, driver request detection), in that the central determining unit determines from the data of the signal distribution a central control target, and these items of data regarding the central control target are sent to a central regulating variable distribution or a central driving condition controller, respectively, which, in an interactive communication with the subsystems, actuates these subsystems in such a way that the control target is realized by the subsystems on the vehicle.
US08204632B2
A load shedding system and method for controlling imbalances in a power system includes a signal generator adapted to generate a signal representative of a local system, and a modifying circuit adapted to adjust set frequencies. The system also includes a processing circuit adapted to process data received from the signal generator and modifying circuit and set load shedding priorities for the local system based on the processed data.
US08204631B2
Discussed is a method and device for increasing the operational flexibility of a current-generating system with a turboset, comprising a turbine coupled to an electrical generator, a power set point value being predefined, and a future target time at which the turboset is supposed to be at the power set point value, so that a power curve is determined via the power set point value and the target time, the turboset being operated starting from a actual power value at an actual time along the power curve such that the predefined power set point value is reached at the predefined target time. Also discussed is a gas turbine and to a steam turbine in accordance with the above description.
US08204625B2
A provisional desired motion trajectory of an object is determined based on a moving plan of the object. Then, it is determined whether a robot leg motion can satisfy a necessary requirement. The requirement is related to a position/posture relationship between the object and the robot, and a determination of whether the requirement can be satisfied is made at a future, predetermined step. A restrictive condition related to robot leg motion is satisfied at each step up to the predetermined number of steps. If the requirement is satisfied, then a desired gait is generated on the basis of the provisional desired motion trajectory. Otherwise, a desired gait is generated on the basis of a desired motion trajectory of the object according to a corrected moving plan.
US08204624B2
Systems, methods and devices for the automated retrieval/delivery of goods from one location to another using a robotic device such as a tug and accompanying cart. A computer within the tug/cart stores a map of the building floor plan and intended paths for the tug to take when traversing from one location to the next. During the delivery, a variety of different sensors and scanners gather data that is used to avoid obstacles and/or continuously adjust the movement of the tug in order to more closely follow the intended path. The system preferably includes wireless networks that allow one or more tugs to communicate with a tug base station, a primary network located at the site of the delivery and a remote host center that monitors the status and data collected by the tugs.
US08204614B2
A user selects a plurality of pieces of music data desired to be reproduced concurrently, at an input unit of an audio processing apparatus, from music data stored in a storage device. A reproducing apparatus reproduces selected music data respectively and generates a plurality of audio signals under the control of a control unit. An audio processing unit performs allocation of frequency band, extraction of a frequency component, time-division, periodic modulation, processing and allocation of a sound image, to respective audio signals under the control of the control unit. Then the audio processing unit attaches segregation information of audio signals and information on the degree of emphasis to respective audio signals. The down mixer mixes a plurality of audio signals and outputs as an audio signal having a predetermined number of channels, then an output unit outputs the signal as sounds.
US08204613B2
A method for generating an audio clock includes: receiving a reference clock; receiving a received signal from a multimedia interface of a receiver, wherein the received signal comprises a video signal and an audio signal; utilizing one of the reference clock and a video clock of the video signal to count the other of the reference clock and the video clock and determining a ratio signal; and generating an output clock according to the ratio signal and the reference clock.
US08204612B2
A tip-based computer controlled system for a dental delivery device is disclosed. The system automatically controls an operating characteristic such as power control or fluid flow based on tip identification and history. The operating characteristic may also be controlled in response to particular conditions throughout the dental procedure, such as (but not limited to) temperature, dental hygiene material, fluid type, etc. The system may provide an alert or shut off if unsafe conditions occur and/or error circumstances are detected. An operator interface is provided to configure the system and augment/override an executing control algorithm during a procedure. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also disclosed.
US08204610B2
An electronic device, a display device, and a method of controlling audio/video output of the electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device includes a data processing unit, a visual output unit, an audio output unit, and a user operating habit database. The data processing unit executes an application program, the visual output unit outputs an image signal, the audio output unit outputs an audio signal, and the user operating habit database records a corresponding relationship between different program types and operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit. And, the data processing unit acquires the program type of the application program being run for controlling the operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit.
US08204604B2
An insertion kit for implanting an electrode in a patient can include a handle; an insertion member coupled to the handle at a proximal end of the insertion member and configured and arranged to be inserted into a patient; an alignment member coupled to the handle and disposed over the distal end of the insertion member; and an electrode configured and arranged to be inserted into the patient using the insertion member. In some instances, the insertion kit may also include one or more of a marker that cooperates with the alignment member to mark a position of the electrode on the skin of the patient; a pointer that cooperates with the alignment member to find the marked position on the skin of the patient; and a second electrode and a second insertion member configured and arranged for detachably coupling to the handle in place of the insertion member.
US08204602B2
Techniques are disclosed for recharging an Implantable Medical Device (IMD). In one embodiment, a first external coil is positioned on one side of a patient's body, such as on a front side of the torso in proximity to the IMD. A second external coil is positioned on an opposite side of the patient's body, such as on the back of the torso. A recharging device generates a current in each of the coils, inductively coupling the first and the second coils to the secondary recharge coil of the IMD. According to another aspect, each of the two external coils may wrap around a portion of the patient's body, such as the torso or head, and are positioned such that the IMD lies between the coils. According to this aspect, current generated in the coils inductively couples to a second recharge coil that is angled within the patient's body.
US08204601B2
The cranial electrostimulation devices described herein are suitable for use in detoxification from and amelioration of the symptoms of acute and chronic withdrawal from simultaneous multiple addictive substances by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. A plurality of time-division multiplexed analog waveforms is applied to the mastoid process of a person in need thereof, thereby treating symptoms of withdrawal from addictive substances. The invention also provides a protocol for encoding a plurality of different waveforms combined sequentially or simultaneously, as well as an improved cranial electrostimulation apparatus having a stable output waveform signal over the useful service life of the power supply, e.g., the battery.
US08204599B2
A system and a method of disposing a second sensor module overlying a first sensor module system is described. A first assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module is at least partially overlapped by a second assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module. If necessary or desired, the functions of the second sensor module can replace the functions of the first sensor module. The sensor module may include a blood pressure sensor.
US08204595B2
A lead assembly for a small implantable medical device (a.k.a, microdevice 10) provides means to attach a remote electrode to microdevice, which means inhibit fluid ingress when microdevice is not attached to lead assembly. Microdevices may provide either or both tissue stimulation and sensing. Known microdevices include spaced apart electrodes on the outer surface of the microdevice. Lead assembly includes an insulated lead including a proximal end and a distal end, with at least one conductor therebetween; at least one electrode at the distal end of the lead and electrically connected to the at least one conductor, and a connector attached to the proximal end of the lead and adapted to be removably connectable to microdevice. Connector includes at least one contact to electrically connect at least one device electrode on microdevice to at least one conductor, thereby electrically connecting at least electrode and the at least one electrode at the distal end of lead. Lead assembly is configured to inhibit fluid ingress into the connector. A number of embodiments of the invention, capable of inhibiting fluid ingress into connector, are taught.
US08204594B2
A system and method for cardiac rhythm management, which includes an electrode system having at least one electrode and control circuitry coupled to the electrode system from which a first cardiac signal is sensed. The control circuitry includes a pulse circuit to produce electrical pulses at a first value to be delivered to the electrode system in a first cardiac region. At least one cardiac signal is sensed from a second cardiac region, where the cardiac signal includes indications of cardiac depolarizations from the second cardiac region which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulses delivered to the first cardiac region. The first value of the electrical pulses are then modified by a pulse adjustment circuit when a cardiac depolarization which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulse delivered to the first cardiac region is detected from the second cardiac region.
US08204590B2
Delivery of fusion pacing therapy to a later depolarizing ventricle (V2) of a heart of a patient may be timed based on the depolarization of the V2 during at least one prior cardiac cycle. In some examples, a V2 pacing pulse is delivered upon the expiration of a pacing interval that begins at detection of an atrial sense or pace event (AP/S). The pacing interval may be substantially equal to the duration of time between an AP/S and a V2 sensing event of at least one prior cardiac cycle decremented by an adjusted pre-excitation interval (PEI). In another example, the V2 pacing pulse is delivered at the expiration of a pacing interval that begins upon detection of a V2 sensing event of a prior cardiac cycle. The pacing interval may be substantially equal to a duration of time at least two subsequent V2 sensing events decremented by the adjusted PEI.
US08204585B2
Implantable medical devices and techniques are implemented that use bio-impedance to measure aspects of patient physiology. A signal separation method is performed at least in part in an implantable device. The method involves detecting a plurality of impedance signals using a plurality of implantable electrodes coupled to the implantable device. The method further involves separating one or more signals from the plurality of impedance signals using a signal separation technique, such as an algorithm-based separation technique.
US08204580B2
A system include circuitry to receive information from a mobile device including ECG data representative of a beating heart, circuitry to analyze the ECG data using at least one pattern to detect a notable finding in the ECG data and circuitry to determine at least one pattern to send to the mobile device, based on the analysis of the ECG data. The system sends the at least one determined pattern to the mobile device.
US08204576B2
A medical guiding system of the invention includes: a detection portion for detecting a position and an orientation of a medical instrument and positions of feature points of a subject; a storage portion for storing reference image data having positional information on an organ of a human body; and a guide image creation portion for creating a guide image indicating the position of the medical instrument with respect to the subject from the reference image data. The guide image creation portion calculates the position of the medical instrument with respect to the subject, based on the position and the orientation of the medical instrument and the positions of feature points of the subject which are detected by the detection portion, and creates a guide image by correcting the calculated position of the medical instrument, using the positions of the feature points.
US08204574B2
A stylet for an image guided system, which includes a locating device and which is operable for emitting an electromagnetic field for locating the stylet. The stylet includes a flexible elongate member, an electrically conductive member, and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is disposed inside the electrically conductive member and is made out of a magnetic material. The reinforcement member reinforces the stylet and provides electrical communication between the conductive member and the locating device such that current induced in the conductive member is transmitted to the locating device via the reinforcement member.
US08204570B2
Described are an electrode and electrode catheter using thin metallic threads or wires, for example, microwires having diameters as low as 10−6 to 10−4 meters or less. The embodiments allow for the efficient mounting of at least one electrode on a catheter, resulting in the creation of a flexible ring-microelectrode that is suitable for, amongst other things, the detection of myoelectrical activity in a patient's muscle, such as the diaphragm or other inspiratory-related muscle.
US08204567B2
A method for processing an analog composite signal in a system has the steps of receiving a composite signal with at least one first signal component and at least one interfering signal component; filtering the composite signal with a filter having a transfer function H(s); sampling the filtered composite signal in periodic intervals wherein each periodic interval has n samples; forming a matrix equation representing the composite signal wherein the matrix equation has a signal vector with the at least first one signal component and the at least one interfering signal component and a matrix comprising weighted coefficients; solving the matrix equation to determine the at least one signal component; outputting the at least one signal component.
US08204560B2
A handheld communication device (10) is provided. The handheld communication device (10) includes a first housing (102) having a circuit board portion (230) and a display portion (240) extending from a first end of the circuit board portion along a (230) predominant plane (239) of the first housing (102), a second housing (104) including a battery (342) and a keypad (124) where the battery (342) and keypad (124) are coextensive along a length and width of a predominant plane (227) of the second housing (104), a hinge assembly (106) that couples a midpoint of the circuit board portion (230) to an end (226) of the second housing (104) where the hinge assembly (106) defines a pivot axis that is mutually parallel to the predominant planes of the both the first and second housings (102, 104) and a user connector (130) located on a second end (128) of the circuit board portion (230) opposite the display portion (240) where an axis of insertion of the user connector is parallel to the predominant plane of the first housing (102) and wherein a total thickness of the display portion (240) and second housing (104) is substantially equal to a thickness of the circuit board portion (230).
US08204553B2
A control system for a mobile device comprises an audio input that generates an audio input signal. An audio amplifier amplifies the audio input signal using a gain. An adaptive gain control (AGC) module receives the audio input signal and adjusts the gain of the audio input signal. A comparing module generates a first signal when the gain is less than a threshold. A timing module determines a duration of the first signal. A selecting module communicates with the timing module and selects one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.
US08204552B2
A method for predicting an available time of a battery in a mobile device includes: defining one or more modes depending on usage patterns of the mobile device that affects power consumption of the battery; creating time-series data about power consumption amount of the battery and use time of the battery in each mode; calculating, based on the time-series data, average power consumption rate per each mode and use time rate; and predicting the available time of the battery, based on the average power consumption rate per each mode and the use time rate per each mode.
US08204543B2
A base station for a cellular wireless communications network has a first interface, enabling connection with a remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network. The base station also has a second interface, enabling connection over a wide area network, and a third interface, enabling connection over a local area network. Software enables communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a core network of the cellular wireless communications network. Software can also enable the remote communications device to communicate with a device in the local area network, or with a server in the wide area network, without using the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.
US08204539B2
In order to put the voice transmission function of a data transmission device into practice, the present invention provides an analog processing device for a data transmission device, which includes an analog signal processing unit for performing analog signal processes on an input signal received by the data transmission device and an output signal transmitted by the data transmission device, an audio interface unit coupled to the analog signal processing unit, for transmitting the input signal and the output signal, an output unit coupled to the audio interface unit, for transmitting the output signal from the audio interface unit to an external device, and an input unit coupled to the audio interface unit, for transmitting the input signal from the external device to the audio interface unit.
US08204534B2
A system of controlling transmit power of a base station where a terminal device having a receive diversity function is wirelessly connected includes a power information generation part to generate transmit power control information that corresponds to variation in reception characteristics of the terminal device when a receive diversity state is switched; and a transmit power control part to control transmit power of a downstream signal based on the transmit power control information.
US08204531B2
A power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device of a non-contact power transmission system includes an amplitude detection circuit that detects amplitude information that relates to an induced voltage signal of a primary coil, an A/D conversion circuit that performs A/D conversion of the amplitude information, and a control circuit. The A/D conversion circuit performs A/D conversion of a detected voltage detected by the amplitude detection circuit at a conversion timing and determines digital data relating to a reference threshold voltage, the conversion timing being a timing after a given period has expired from a timing when the detected voltage has exceeded a provisional voltage. The control circuit performs at least one of data detection that detects data that has been transmitted from a power reception device by means of load modulation, foreign object detection, and detachment detection using the digital data relating to the reference threshold voltage.
US08204527B2
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a subscriber station transceiver allocating and transmitting groups of subcarriers between a plurality of transceiver antennas are disclosed. One method includes the subscriber station transceiver receiving at least one downlink signal through each of the plurality of subscriber station antennas. The subscriber station transceiver characterizes a received signal of the at least one downlink signal over multiple subcarriers. The subscriber station transceiver allocates groups of subcarriers for uplink transmission through each of the plurality of subscriber antennas, wherein the allocation is based on the characterized received signal of the at least one downlink signal over multiple subcarriers.
US08204520B2
A system and method that overrides the initial destination number of an SMS message based on the destination number in the message itself. The communications device, a serving MSC or STP checks the destination address and overwrites the default SMSC address with a local special number service center address when it detects a special number destination address recognized anywhere in the world (e.g., 9-1-1, 1-1-2, 1-1-0, etc.). The message is then delivered to a local special number service center. The special number service center then delivers the message to an answering point, which then communicates with the caller.
US08204510B2
A serving mobile location center (SMLC) receives a position request concerning a mobile-of-interest (MOI) operating in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, and in response a wireless location system (WLS) is tasked to locate the MOI. A plurality of location measurement units (LMUs) are instructed to receive and digitize radio frequency (RF) energy. At the LMUs, a signal of interest is received and cross-correlated with a known training sequence to produce a received detection metric. The detection metric is weighted to favor the MOI even in the presence of interference from other mobile devices. The SMLC selects the LMU with the best weighted detection metric as a reference site and selects two or more LMUs with lesser weighted detection metrics above a threshold as co-operating sites. The received signal of interest is demodulated and demodulated data are distributed to the co-operating sites. The co-operating sites produce a reference waveform and cross-correlate the reference waveform with stored data to produce a TDOA measurement at each co-operating site, and the TDOA measurements are used to compute MOI position information.
US08204504B2
The invention is directed to a mobile communications system having improved spectral efficiency. The invention is further directed to methods and apparatus to achieve this improved spectral efficiency. In the mobile communications system communication with a plurality of mobile terminals is provided by a base station. Within the system terminals are adapted to communicate with one or more adjacent similar terminals to establish groups of terminals, called micro-cells. Each terminal within a micro-cell receives signals from the base station and then performs a first processing step on these signals. These processed signals are shared with all the other terminals within the micro-cell. Each terminal then performs a second processing step on the information it has received from all the other terminals within the micro-cell which enables it to derive a signal intended for reception by that terminal. The technique is applicable to both the uplink (user to base station) and the down link (base station to user) and also to peer to peer (user to user) communication.
US08204500B2
Apparatus and method for management of optimal voicemail deposit to the voicemail of a currently roaming mobile telephony user during late call forwarding, is located at the user's home network and includes a disconnection unit for disconnecting an international link upon detection of late call forwarding; a triggering unit that ensures that a trigger signal is available for triggering the passing of control of the call to allow direct forwarding of the caller to the voicemail; and a direct forwarding unit that receives the control and carries out the forwarding. Generally the roaming user only generates a single trigger, and this causes difficulties if multiple services need triggering for the same call, such as a prepaid unit and the optimal voicemail deposit. The disclosure teaches methods which when used in combination provide a system that can operate at the home network irrespective of the configuration of the roaming network.
US08204497B2
A reproducible method for testing mobile radio devices in different tolerant test modes by generating an instruction sequence that can be programmed or that can be obtained from measurement data, for controlling a protocol test that simulates a mobile radio network and that sends signals to the mobile radio device and tolerates allowable deviations of the received response signals of the mobile radio device according to mobile telephony standards in the tolerant mode while keeping a protocol of the unacceptable deviations as errors, and that terminates the test upon ever deviation in the strict mode and outputs the protocol on an output device once the test is finished.
US08204487B2
An incentive system is delivered via a mobile device. A database module registers a customer in the system. The registered customer is provided the mobile device for free or reduced cost. A streaming module is connected to the database module for serving content to the customer. A priority module is connected to the streaming module for implementing a content delivery schedule. The streaming module serves a content notification to the registered customer. The database module records a registered customer acceptance of content and calculates a corresponding content-based incentive. Finally, the streaming module serves the content-based incentive to the registered customer.
US08204486B2
An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.
US08204479B2
Methods, systems, apparatus including computer program products having instructions for porting numbers are provided. In one example system and method, a vPBX system can receive a request from a user to port an existing phone number to the vPBX system. The vPBX server can identify a porting authentication template, based on the requirements of an existing service provider. The vPBX server generate a fax document on the retrieved template. The vPBX server can populate the generated fax document with user information. The vPBX server can receive a user's hand signature from a touch-screen interface of a mobile device. The vPBX server can authenticate the fax document with the received signature, and transmit the authenticated fax document to the existing service provider. The vPBX server can provide the user with a temporary line number with forwarding functions until porting is completed.
US08204477B2
Disclosed are methods and devices including a mobile communication device, a proximity application server and a receiving device. The methods of the mobile communication device include receiving an enterprise identification signal that may be an SSID transmitted by an enterprise access point. The user of the mobile communication device may have opted into receiving the services of the enterprise in accordance with the disclosed methods and devices. Therefore, the mobile communication device may generate a proximity data signal including an indication of receipt of the enterprise identification signal and an identifier of the mobile communication device. The identifier may be the telephone number of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device can then transmit the proximity data signal to a proximity application server. The proximity application server can correlate the proximity data signal. Correlated data in turn may be sent back to a receiving device of the enterprise.
US08204474B2
A mobile telephone station is installed in each of a real society and a virtual society arranged on the Internet. A telephone number of a real mobile telephone is associated with a telephone number of a virtual mobile telephone owned by a virtual person corresponding to the owner of the real mobile telephone or the same telephone number is assigned to the telephones so as to link their exchange functions. Thus, it is possible to make a telephone call to both the real society and virtual society without performing a special operation, such as changing telephones in each case, and to use a virtual settlement card issued by a virtual settlement company, and thus this enables performing rich and smooth economic activities in the virtual society.
US08204463B2
A method of enabling a communications receiver to verify an antenna weight previously signalled by the communications receiver to a base station, the method including the steps of; equalizing (14) a channel estimate of a dedicated pilot channel by the complex conjugate of a channel estimate of a common pilot channel to form an estimate of the transmission weight used by the base station; and for each transmission slot, combining (20) a component of the transmission weight estimates for current and previous slots to form an optimised transmission weight estimate.
US08204461B2
A digital radio receiver for receiving information on a piece of music that is identification information for specifying content of digital acoustic information, the identification information being broadcast together with the digital acoustic information is provided. The digital radio receiver includes an internal memory configured to store the information on the piece of music; an operation unit configured to set a timing at which the information on the piece of music is stored in the internal memory; a display unit configured to display the information on the piece of music; and a controller configured to perform a process for storing the information on the piece of music in the internal memory in response to the operation of the operation unit.
US08204455B2
Techniques for sending and receiving signals include pre-distorting signals before transmission across a communication path. The signals are pre-distorted as a function of a distortion on the communication path. In one embodiments, transmitter a broadcasts to receiver b and there is also a transmitter b broadcasting to receiver a. This return channel enables both transmitters a and b to have a priori information regarding the transmission medium and path the signal takes. In this way, the nature of the distortion or interference is known to the transmitter, therefore, it pre-distorts the transmitted signal to compensate for the receiver exceeding its capabilities in recovering signal.
US08204451B1
A transceiver for use in a wireless device. The transceiver may include a receive portion for receiving an input RF signal. The receive portion may include at least one receive filter which may include a first filter. The transceiver may also include a transmit portion for transmitting an output RF signal. The transmit portion may include at least one transmit filter, which may include the first filter used in the receive portion. The transceiver may further include a plurality of switches, which may include a first switch coupled to an input of the first filter and a second switch coupled to an output of the first filter. The plurality of switches may be configurable to enable use of the first filter in the receive portion for receiving the input RF signal and use of the first filter in the transmit portion for transmitting the output RF signal.
US08204438B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an RF ID card reader, comprising RF ID circuitry to generate an RF ID signal, a transceiver in communication with said RF ID circuitry and an array antenna associated with said transceiver for scanning an area for at least one tag and establishing communication with at least one tag.
US08204437B1
A system and method for distributing at least one digital photographic image is presented, the system and method comprising at least one capturing device and at least one receiving device disposed in a communicative relation with one another via at least one wireless network. In particular, the capturing device is structured to capture the at least one digital photographic image via, for example, a capture assembly, whereas the receiving device is cooperatively structured to receive the digital photographic image via, for example, the at least one wireless network. In addition, the capturing device(s) and receiving device(s) may be disposed in a selectively paired relationship via one or more common pre-defined pairing criteria. Further, the at least one digital photographic image may be filtered via at least one pre-defined transfer criteria disposed on the capturing device and/or receiving device.
US08204426B2
Whether a job-lock function is enabled is determined. Whether a current mode is a mode for outputting an image of an area on an original document onto a recording paper is determined. When the job-lock function is determined to be enabled, and when the current mode is the mode for outputting the image of the part of the area of the original document on the recording paper, the image of an area larger than the part of the area is read. It is possible to improve accuracy of recognizing a copying protection pattern, and to improve security, even when density unevenness is present on a copying prevented original document.
US08204424B2
The present invention provides a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device, which, even when spherical (perfectly spherical or irregularly shaped), polymerized toner with a small particle diameter is used, can achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and sufficient cleaning ability (particularly cleaning ability under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions). The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device includes an elastic rubber member; and a supporting member. The elastic rubber member has a double layer structure including an edge layer and a base layer. The edge layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 65° to 72° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 10 to 35%. The base layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 70° to 80° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 40 to 70%, the JIS-A hardness value being larger than the value of hardness of the edge layer.
US08204422B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process cartridges provided for black and for another color. The process cartridges each including a set of a latent image carrier, a charging unit that charges a surface of the latent image carrier, and a lubricant applying unit that applies lubricant to the surface of the latent image carrier. The process cartridges for black and for the another color each has a cartridge frame with which the process cartridge is attachable to and removable from an apparatus body. The cartridge frames of the process cartridges for black and for the another color being of the same type. The process cartridge for black differs from the process cartridge for the another color in the configuration of the charging unit. The amounts of lubricant applied by the lubricant applying units to the respective latent image carriers differ with respect to the configuration of the charging unit.
US08204421B2
A fusing apparatus for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium using heat and pressure includes a fusing roller; an endless pressing belt disposed opposite the fusing roller; and a pressing member for pressing the endless pressing belt onto the fusing roller. A recording medium with a transferred toner image is passed through a fusing nip between the fusing roller and the pressing belt. The fusing roller includes positive and negative crown portions along the axial direction. The pressing member includes convex and concave surface portions along the longitudinal direction. When the pressing member is pressed onto the fusing roller, the positive and negative crown portions of the fusing roller are engaged with the concave and convex surface portions, respectively, of the pressing member. The pressing member exerts a greater pressing force on the fusing roller at a central portion than at an end portion.
US08204417B2
Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt.
US08204415B2
A developing unit includes a brush member that includes a base member and a plurality of raisings that are erected on a surface of the base. The brush member traps toner within the raisings and causes a flicker movement in the raisings of the brush so that the toner trapped within the raisings is shaken and flown due to the flicker movement to the surface of a toner carrying member.
US08204399B2
A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.
US08204397B2
A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.
US08204393B2
In a method for electrographic printing of color images on a final image carrier, charge images of images to be printed are generated on a charge image carrier and are developed into toner images with toner, the toner images being transferred onto an intermediate carrier from which they are transfer-printed onto the final image carrier. The charge images for individual colors of the color image are generated in succession on the charge image carrier and are developed into individual color toner images with color toner. The individual color toner images are transferred onto the intermediate carrier and are there collected atop of one another in a color collection cycle to form a complete color toner image. Before transfer printing of the complete color toner image on the final image carrier, the final image carrier is pivoted onto the intermediate carrier, and after the transfer printing, the final image carrier is pivoted away from the intermediate carrier. After transfer printing of the complete color toner image, the color toner images for a next complete color image are transferred from the charge image carrier onto the intermediate carrier after an end of the pivoting of the final image carrier away from the intermediate carrier.
US08204388B2
Consistent the present disclosure, a receive circuit is provided that includes a balanced detector portion and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). The anode of one photodiode is connected to the cathode of the other by a bonding pad, which supplies the sum of the currents generated in each photodiode to an input of the TIA. Thus, the TIA may, for example, have a single input, as opposed to multiple inputs, thereby reducing the number of connections so that the photodiodes and the TIA may be integrated onto a smaller die. In addition, since there are few connections, fewer TIAs are required and differential stages are unnecessary. Power consumption is thus reduced, and, since the photodiode current is fed through one input to the TIA, fewer feedback resistors are required, thereby reducing thermal noise. In addition, since the anode of one photodiode is connected to the cathode of the other, the dark current generated in each flows in opposite directions, and is therefore effectively cancelled out. Since one input is provided, impedance matching with other inputs is unnecessary, nor is additional DC biasing circuitry needed. As described in greater detail below, an example of the present disclosure includes a bonding pad, which connects the two photodiodes and provides the input current to the TIA.
US08204386B2
Apparatus and methods for driving a transmitter to generate DNPSK signals is disclosed including generating N data streams comprising data symbols and for each of a plurality of sets of N simultaneous data symbols of the N data streams, imposing signals are on L of a plurality of signal lines, with the value of L corresponding to values of the N simultaneous data symbols. Signals on the plurality of signal lines are ANDed with a clock signal synchronized with the N data streams to produce RZ signals. The RZ signals are summed and the summed signal is input to a laser that produces an output having frequency modulation corresponding to the magnitude of the summed signal. The output of the laser is passed through an optical discriminator.
US08204384B2
A system, method, and communication device are disclosed. The system can include an optical interrogator and a phase-modulating communication device. The communication device can include a retro-optimized lens, a phase modulator, and a processor. The retro-optimized lens can be a non-imaging optical arrangement configured to minimize deviation between an incoming signal and a reflected signal used for return link communications. The processor can be configured to calibrate a modulation path length of the communication device based on a wavelength of the communication signal and can control an operation of the phase-modulator to send phase-coded messages to the interrogator. Optionally, the processor can perform a real-time phase calibration of the communication device using feedback from the interrogator.
US08204383B2
A wireless communication interface for a portable wireless terminal and a system for wirelessly communicating by a portable wireless terminal with another device via a free space. The interface facilitates aligning the portable wireless device with another devices for improved communication. The interface including: a light source for generating a data-modulated visible light signal and outputting the visible light signal to the free space; an optical detector for generating an electrical signal by photoelectrically converting the visible light signal input from the free space, and for outputting the electrical signal. A demodulation unit demodulates the electrical signal input from the optical detector, and outputs a data signal.
US08204371B2
A back focus adjustment apparatus of a camera includes a casing, an adjusting module and an image capturing device. The adjusting module includes a fixed support, a movable support and a drive module. The drive module includes an adjustment wheel and two drive wheels. The lens module is mounted on a bottom surface of the casing. The fixed support is fixed in the casing and opposite to the bottom surface thereof. The image capturing device is mounted on the movable support. The drive module is defined on the fixed support. The drive module is connected to the movable support through worm gears defined on drive wheels. The drive wheels and the adjustment wheel are gearingly engaged. The image capturing device moves back and forth according to the adjustment of the adjusting wheel of the adjusting module.
US08204368B2
The device includes a lens port (1) for underwater photography attachable in use to housing. The port (1) has a control element which includes a knob (2) operable externally of the port (1) to engage and disengage a ring forming part of a camera lens positioned, in use, within the port (1). The construction will operate even if there is some misalignment between the port (1) and the lens during insertion of the lens into the port (1).
US08204363B2
A copy protection color stripe process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines including the color stripe process. Then some or all of the lines including the modified color bursts are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including phase shifting the color stripe burst into the correct phase, replacing, attenuating and or eliminating some of the color stripe bursts or at least a portion of particular color burst envelopes so that they are no longer effective, mixing the color stripe burst with color stripe signals of the correct phase so as to eliminate most or all of the phase error present or modifying the horizontal sync pulse signals immediately preceding the modified color bursts so that the modified color bursts are not detected by a VCR and hence have no effect.
US08204359B2
In an embodiment, a method of providing modified media content is disclosed and includes receiving media content that includes audio data and video data having a first number of video frames. The method also includes generating abstracted media content that includes portions of the video data and audio elements of the audio data, where the abstracted media content includes less than all of the video data and includes fewer video frames than the first number of video frames.
US08204349B2
Optical apparatus, comprising an optical fiber having a wavelength of operation, the optical fiber comprising an inner core, the inner core supporting a fundamental mode and at least first and second higher order modes (HOMs) at the wavelength of operation; a first ring-shaped core region spaced from and disposed about the inner core; a second ring-shaped core region spaced from and disposed about the ring-shaped core region; and wherein the optical fiber is configured and arranged such that the first HOM optically interacts with the first ring-shaped core region and the second HOM optically interacts with the second ring-shaped core region.
US08204346B2
An optimized planar optical router consisting of two stages performing stationary imaging between an input waveguide and a set of output waveguides has advantages of reduced size, larger number of channels and minimal loss variation in each passband. Each stage is a waveguide grating router, the two stages are characterized by nearly equal free-spectral ranges, and a waveguide lens is connected between the two stages. In one embodiment, the lens is connected between the central zones of the two stages, and the diffraction orders of the two stages vary monotonically from each passband to the next. In another embodiment, the loss caused by secondary images is substantially reduced by using a composite lens providing efficient transmission of both principal and secondary images.
US08204345B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board for optical waveguides, including: preparing a base substrate; forming an optical waveguide, which includes a lower clad, a core formed on an upper middle of the lower clad, and an upper clad formed on the lower clad to surround an upper surface and a side surface of the core, on an upper middle of the base substrate; disposing a side substrate including a first side substrate that has a through hole, through which the optical waveguide penetrates, provided at the middle thereof and a first circuit pattern formed therein and a second side substrate disposed on the first side substrate on the upper part of the base substrate on which the optical waveguide is formed; disposing an upper substrate on the side substrate on which the through hole is formed; and stacking the side substrate and the upper substrate on the base substrate on which the optical waveguide is formed.
US08204344B2
Herein disclosed is an optical modulator, having: a substrate (1); and a center and ground electrodes (4a to 4c), in which the substrate has ridge portions (8a to 8c), the center and ground electrodes are respectively formed above the ridge portions, the ridge portions below the center and ground electrodes respectively have top parts (10a, 10b) having a respective first and second end points (18, 19) separated with a distance of “WR”, the substrate has a bottom surface (21b) between the ridge portions having center and midway points (23, 24) positioned with a respective distance of WR/2 and WR/N (3≦N≦25) from the first end point, the ridge portion below the center electrode has a normal line (13), and the center point and the midway point define a straight line (25) crossed with the normal line at an angle larger or equal to 90.1°.
US08204341B2
A computerized system having a computer system storing a database of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data. The computerized system also has a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The computer system further has computer executable logic that when executed by a processor causes the computer system to receive a selection of a geographic point from a user, search the database to find images that contain the selected point, and make the images available to the user.
US08204340B2
A method for a computer system includes receiving a first camera image of a 3D object having sensor markers, captured from a first location, at a first instance, receiving a second camera image of the 3D object from a second location, at a different instance, determining points from the first camera image representing sensor markers of the 3D object, determining points from the second camera image representing sensor markers of the 3D object, determining approximate correspondence between points from the first camera image and points from the second camera image, determining approximate 3D locations some sensor markers of the 3D object, and rendering an image including the 3D object in response to the approximate 3D locations.
US08204339B2
An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described.
US08204335B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing images, in particular for determining the degree of blockiness in coded images. The invention comprises apparatus and methods for determining a degree of blockiness in a digital image comprising blocks each block comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of pixels each pixel having a value by performing the steps of: for each block determining an intra block measure in dependence upon the values of a set of pixels within said block; and determining said measure in dependence upon a plurality of said intra block measures corresponding to each block. Method and apparatus for generating a quality measure in dependence upon the measure of blockiness are also provided.
US08204334B2
In an implementation, a pixel is selected from a target digital image. Multiple candidate pixels, from one or more digital images, are evaluated based on values of the multiple candidate pixels. For the selected pixel, a corresponding set of pixels is determined from the multiple candidate pixels based on the evaluations of the multiple candidate pixels and on whether a predetermined threshold number of pixels have been included in the corresponding set. Further for the selected pixel, a substitute value is determined based on the values of the pixels in the corresponding set of pixels. Various implementations described provide adaptive pixel-based spatio-temporal filtering of images or video to reduce film grain or noise. Implementations may achieve an “even” amount of noise reduction at each pixel while preserving as much picture detail as possible by, for example, averaging each pixel with a constant number, N, of temporally and/or spatially correlated pixels.
US08204332B2
A method and device for generating an adaptive image tone scale curve and an image processing system including the device are provided. The method may include determining an abscissa and an ordinate of a reference control point and a reference slope of a curve passing the reference control point according to an image of different tissue sites and/or different orientations depending upon one or more practical requirements; calculating an average value of pixels in an area of interest in the image and using the average value as a current image feature value; constructing an S-shaped reference tone scale curve equation by using the coordinates of the reference control point and the reference slope; and substituting coordinates of a new control point and a slope of a curve passing the new control point into the S-shaped reference tone scale curve equation to calculate parameters therein, so as to obtain the adaptive image tone scale curve.
US08204323B2
A technique for controlling the quality of one or more compressed images. The technique allows, for example, the selection of a target quality metric(s) and the compression of the image(s) such the compressed image(s) meets the metric(s). Alternatively, a target quality metric can be specified, and the image(s) compressed using parameters estimated to achieve the target quality. Optionally, the quality metric can also be made available to, for example, a user on an image processing system. The quality metrics can be, for example, for one or more layers, one or more images and/or one or more image sequences.
US08204322B2
A method of coding (decoding) an image comprised of a pixel block divided into a plurality of sub-blocks, which method autonomously determines an order of optimal coding (decoding) adapted to a correlation between adjacent sub-blocks without providing additional information. This method pays attention to context information accompanying the image information and instructing a correlation direction between pictures and so on, sequentially predicts a reference sub-block serving the best coding (decoding) efficiency among adjacent reference sub-blocks to be referred to for the coding (decoding) based on the correlation direction, and determining the order of coding (decoding) according to this prediction.
US08204320B2
Disclosed are an image encoding method and apparatus for encoding an image by grouping a plurality of adjacent prediction units into a transformation unit and transforming the plurality of adjacent prediction into a frequency domain, and an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by using the image encoding method and apparatus.
US08204310B2
An exemplary method for online character recognition of East Asian characters includes acquiring time sequential, online ink data for a handwritten East Asian character, conditioning the ink data to produce conditioned ink data where the conditioned ink data includes information as to writing sequence of the handwritten East Asian character and extracting features from the conditioned ink data where the features include a tangent feature, a curvature feature, a local length feature, a connection point feature and an imaginary stroke feature. Such a method may determine neighborhoods for ink data and extract features for each neighborhood. An exemplary Hidden Markov Model based character recognition system may use various exemplary methods for training and character recognition.
US08204305B2
In a daytime and nighttime image recognizing method and apparatus, the method comprises predefining an air region and a terrestrial region for each image captured by a camera apparatus; inputting an image captured by the camera apparatus; calculating a lightness value histogram for the air region of the input image; and determining a lighting condition of a photo environment of the camera apparatus based on the lightness value histogram for the air region of the input image. The daytime and nighttime image recognizing method and apparatus are able to correctly recognize the lighting condition of the environment even if the air region in an image is obstructed by a background or there are no lane lines in an image. Moreover, when an erroneous recognition occurs for an individual image, the interference caused by the erroneous recognition can be precluded efficiently.
US08204299B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates capturing a portion 2-dimensional (2D) data for implementation within a 3-dimensional (3D) virtual environment. A device that can capture one or more 2D images, wherein the 2D image is representative of a corporeal object from a perspective dictated by an orientation of the device. The device can comprise a content aggregator that can construct a 3D image from two or more 2D images collected by the device, in which the construction is based at least in part upon aligning each corresponding perspective associated with each 2D image.
US08204298B2
Methods and apparatus for placing wafers axially in an optical inspection system. A “best worst” focus method includes a series of through-focus images of a test wafer acquired using full field of view of the inspection optics. The value of the worst quality in each image is associated with the respective axial location, forming a locus of “worst” values as a function of axial location. The axial location is chosen which optimizes the locus, giving an axial location that provides the “best-worst” image quality. A “video focus” method includes a series of through-focus images generated using reduced field of view. A figure of merit is associated with each image, providing through-focus information. The “video focus” can be calibrated against the “best worst” focus. Further, a point sensor can be used to generate a single z-value for one (x,y) location that can be calibrated with “video focus”.
US08204296B2
Methods for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection includes acquiring output of an inspection system for a centrally located die on a wafer and one or more dies located on the wafer. The method also includes combining the output for the centrally located die and the one or more dies based on within die positions of the output. In addition, the method includes generating the standard reference die based on results of the combining step.
US08204295B2
A system receives a mask pattern and a first image of at least a portion of a photo-mask corresponding to the mask pattern. The system determines a second image of at least the portion of the photo-mask based on the first image and the mask pattern. This second image is characterized by additional spatial frequencies than the first image.
US08204288B2
There is provided a method of processing an ultrasound spectrum image. According to such method, a spectrum image is formed based on ultrasound data and then the noise is removed from the spectrum image. The noise-removed spectrum image is matched with one or more spectrum models representing specific spectrum types. Then, whether or not the noise-removed spectrum image contains an aliasing is checked. If the noise-removed spectrum image contains the aliasing, then the aliasing is removed from the noise-removed spectrum image to provide a noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing. Thereafter, contour tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect contour points. Further, peak tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect peaks.
US08204283B2
A fingerprint input module includes at least one prism sheet, an image-capturing unit, and a planar light source. The prism sheet has a micro-prism array. The image-capturing unit has a lens. The planar light source is disposed between the prism sheet and the image-capturing unit, and has a through hole in optical alignment with the lens for passage of light from the micro-prism array to the lens.
US08204261B2
An input audio signal having an input temporal envelope is converted into an output audio signal having an output temporal envelope. The input temporal envelope of the input audio signal is characterized. The input audio signal is processed to generate a processed audio signal, wherein the processing de-correlates the input audio signal. The processed audio signal is adjusted based on the characterized input temporal envelope to generate the output audio signal, wherein the output temporal envelope substantially matches the input temporal envelope.
US08204259B2
In a condenser microphone having a battery holder and a battery cover therefor, one part is used as a member for grounding the battery cover and as a member for preventing the battery cover from coming off. In a condenser microphone 1 including a microphone housing 2 formed of a metallic cylindrical body; an output connector 4 provided with a predetermined number of terminal pins 43 in a metallic connector sleeve 41; a battery holder 3 provided between the microphone housing 2 and the output connector 4; and a battery cover 5 formed of a metallic cylindrical body for opening/closing the battery holder 3 by sliding, a first ring-shaped groove 41a is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the connector sleeve 41; in the first ring-shaped groove 41a, there is disposed a conductive member 6 consisting of a circular conical tube body in which one end thereof on the battery holder 3 side is in elastic contact with the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, and the other end thereof on the opposite side has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the groove bottom of the first ring-shaped groove 41a; and in the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, there is formed a second ring-shaped groove 52 with which the one end of the conductive member 6 increases in diameter and engages.
US08204258B2
An audio system includes an automatic level controller receiving at least one input audio signal from at least one audio medium. The automatic level controller includes a gain adjust module for producing an output audio signal based on the at least one input audio signal. A difference between a maximum sound level and a minimum sound level of the at least one input audio signal is greater than a difference between a maximum sound level and a minimum sound level of the output audio signal. A filter arrangement is communicatively coupled to the automatic level controller. The filter arrangement receives the output audio signal and divides the output signal into a plurality of filtered signals. Each of the filtered signals corresponds to a respective frequency band. A multiband dynamics controller is communicatively coupled to the filter arrangement. The multiband dynamics controller receives the filtered signals and applies a different respective gain characteristic to each of the filtered signals to thereby produce a plurality of gain adjust signals. The gain adjust signals are combined into a multiband dynamics controller output signal.
US08204256B2
An audio source (TV, stereo) detects, through a wireless signal from a headphone or from its cradle, when the headphone has been disengaged from the cradle. In response the audio device automatically mutes or lowers the volume output by its speakers.
US08204249B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to adaptive real-time, acoustic echo cancellation methods and systems. One method embodiment of the present invention is directed to reducing acoustic echoes in microphone-digital signals transmitted from a first location to a second location. The first location includes a plurality of loudspeakers and microphones, each microphone produces one of the microphone-digital signals including sounds produced at the first location and acoustic echoes produced by the loudspeakers. The method includes determining approximate impulse responses, each of which corresponds to an echo path between the microphones and the loudspeakers. The method includes determining a plurality of approximate acoustic echoes, each approximate acoustic echo corresponds to convolving a digital signal played by one of the loudspeakers with a number of the approximate impulse responses. The acoustic echo in at least one of the microphone-digital signals is reduced based on the corresponding approximate acoustic echo.
US08204245B2
A sound projecting bumper may include a vehicle bumper configured to be attached to a vehicle, the bumper comprising a plurality of uprights and at least one generally horizontal member, the bumper further comprising a horn for emitting sound, the horn comprising a driver, a cone, a speaker and a diaphragm for producing the sound, and wiring to connect the bumper device to the vehicle's electrical system. The horn may be configured to focus sound particularly forward of the vehicle. The driver may be attached to one of the uprights, and the bumper may include a second driver attached to a second one of the uprights. The horn may be generally aligned with one of the uprights, or the horn may be formed in a generally horizontal member. The bumper may further include a channel in the generally horizontal member, wherein the channel extends generally along a portion of the generally horizontal member, turning to form the horn.
US08204238B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones.
US08204237B2
A stereo audio signal is processed to determine primary and ambient components by transforming the signal into vectors corresponding to subband signals, and decomposing the left and right channel vectors into ambient and primary components by matrix and vector operations. Principal component analysis is used to determine a primary component unit vector, and ambience components are determined according to a correlation-based cross-fade or an orthogonal basis derivation.
US08204234B2
An apparatus and method for generating a binaural beat for brainwave induction is provided. Upon receipt of a stereo audio signal, a decorrelator extracts a common component existing in common in both channels of the stereo audio signal, and outputs the remaining stereo components except for the extracted common component. A frequency shifter generates a common component in which the binaural beat is included, by shifting a frequency of the extracted common component. First and second mixers mix the common component in which the binaural beat is included, with the remaining stereo components.
US08204232B2
Accelerated computation of combinations of group operations in a finite field is provided by arranging for at least one of the operands to have a relatively small bit length. In a elliptic curve group, verification that a value representative of a point R corresponds the sum of two other points uG and vG is obtained by deriving integers w,z of reduced bit length and so that v=w/z. The verification equality R=uG+vQ may then be computed as −zR+(uz mod n) G+wQ=O with z and w of reduced bit length. This is beneficial in digital signature verification where increased verification can be attained.
US08204229B2
A method and a system for distributing key of media stream are provided. The method comprises: determining, by a security management server, whether a domain to which the calling terminal belongs and a domain to which a called terminal belongs subscribe a key distribution protocol; generating a key based on encryption capability information obtained in a calling process, and distributing the generated key to the calling terminal and the called terminal, if the protocol has been subscribed; generating a key based on encryption capability information obtained in a calling process, and distributing the generated key to the terminal at the same side as the security management server, if the protocol has not been subscribed. By applying the disclosure, the key is generated by the security management server, so that complexity may be reduced for media stream key negotiation to facilitate promotion of media stream encryption service.
US08204223B1
A system of Quality of Service signaling in an IP cable telephony system includes encrypting Quality of Service signals and sending them, instead of directly from an Internet Protocol Digital Terminal to a Cable Modem Termination System, indirectly via Broadband Telephony Interface serving a telephony device. The Broadband Telephony Interface, which lacks the encryption and decryption keys, includes the encrypted Quality of Service signaling message in a signaling message it transmits to the Cable Modem Termination System when requesting a change in access to network resources. The Cable Modem Termination System attempts to decrypt the Quality of Service signaling message; and it controls access to network resources in accordance with the contents of the Quality of Service signaling message if it is able to decrypt it. This system reduces the number of signaling messages and network resources needed for call processing while providing security against denial-of-service attacks.
US08204222B2
Methods of steganographically encoding auxiliary data into audio and decoding the auxiliary data. In an encoding method, a processor maps the auxiliary data to samples in the audio data. A processor modifies the mapping of the auxiliary data to the samples over time. A processor modifies a feature of the samples of the audio data to which the code signals are mapped to convey the auxiliary data substantially imperceptibly in the audio data. In a decoding method, a processor performs decoding of a multibit auxiliary code embedded in an audio signal. A processor decodes code values of the auxiliary code from two or more different portions of the audio signal, each having the multibit auxiliary code. A processor combines the code values decoded from the two or more different portions of the audio signal to determine the code values of the auxiliary code.
US08204212B2
A method for reducing noise is in a subscriber line interface circuit of a phone includes detecting a work state of the phone, and reading a voltage on hook on the tip wire when the phone is in the on hook state. Voltages of an off hook state on the tip wire and a voltage off hook state on the ring wire are read when the phone is in the off hook state, and calculation of a public voltage based on the voltages in the register, and loading the public voltage on the ring wire are done. The public voltage on the ring wire are converted into oscillatory voltages on the ring wire in symmetric wave forms having phases opposite to those on the tip wire, when the phone is in the pulse dialing state.
US08204209B2
A telephone system comprising an analog telephone and a full-duplex speakerphone adapter is disclosed. The analog telephone comprises an ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit for transmitting and receiving analog signals and a handset for users. The full-duplex speakerphone adapter is coupled between the analog telephone and a central office, uses a subscriber loop interface circuit through the first telephone line to couple to the ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit of the analog telephone and uses a telephone hybrid interface circuit through the second telephone line to couple to a wall jack to communicate with the central office.
US08204207B2
A communication support system is connected with a network enabling communication among user terminals and is capable of accessing a user information recording portion in which shared information concerning users and access information showing users who accessed the shared information are recorded. The communication support system includes: a user identification portion that acquires a communication start request from a user terminal and identifies an originator and a receiver; a retrieval portion that retrieves shared information concerning the receiver that the originator has not accessed from data recorded in the user information recording portion; and a control portion that, based on a result of the retrieval by the retrieval portion, controls the communication. Thereby, the communication support system can control whether or not to start the communication based on the presence or not of information about the receiver that the originator should confirm.
US08204206B2
Embodiments of systems for selecting a communication path related to a networked contact center comprise a communication module configurable to receive data indicating that a customer of a tenant is seeking to initiate a communication with the tenant, and a path selection module configurable to register a first location, the first location being a geographical location of an agent associated with the tenant, determine a second location, the second location being a geographical location of the customer of the tenant, and based on the first location and the second location, establish the communication between the agent and the customer using a communication path having low communication latency.
US08204204B2
A customer-agent routing system (102) has a memory (102B) for storage, and a processor (102A) for controlling operations of the memory. The processor is programmed to retrieve (210) from the memory historical information about a calling party, restrict (212) access to one or more of a plurality of services according to the retrieved historical information, and process (218) a service request from the calling party according to the restricted services.
US08204199B2
The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.
US08204198B2
An active stream is selected from one of a plurality of audio streams generated in a common acoustic environment by obtaining, for each stream obtaining, at a series of measurement instants tn, where n=1 . . . N, a final performance metric that is representative of the stream's goodness for representing near-end speech at each measurement instant tn. The final performance metrics for each stream are accumulated to determine an overall performance score. A switch to a new stream as the active stream occurs when the stream with the best overall performance score exceeds the overall performance score of the currently active stream by a threshold amount.
US08204193B2
The television receiver apparatus in the prior art has such a problem that, when phone calls come in this receiver set while the user watches a television, incoming calls of all phone calls are informed and also the television watching is suspended or interrupted. A telephone device of the present invention includes a phone book portion 7 for storing previously the sender information used to specify the sender as phone book information, and an incoming call display control portion 8 for executing control such that the sender information obtained from the incoming call sensing portion 5 is compared with the phone book information when the incoming call sensing portion sensed the incoming call while the content of the television broadcasting is displayed on the display portion 9, and the content of the television broadcasting and the sender information or the phone book information are displayed simultaneously on the display portion 9 when the sender information coincides with the phone book information or the sender information or the phone book information is not displayed when the sender information does not coincide with the phone book information. Such an effect can be achieved that, when the phone call comes in from the sender except those being listed previously in the phone book portion while the user watches the television, it can be prevented that the incoming call is displayed simultaneously on the television screen.
US08204185B1
A method and apparatus for retrieving voicemail messages transmitted in packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, the customer subscribes to a voicemail service and enables a customer premise equipment to access the endpoint device used to receive email containing the audio files from the voicemail service. The customer equipment accesses the emails, retrieves the attached audio files for the voice messages and transfers the messages to a recording device with capability to play all the messages at the same time, e.g., in a continuous or consecutive manner as in an answering machine with a single user input.
US08204169B2
Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.
US08204168B2
A bit synchronization circuit comprising an initial phase determining unit for rapidly determining, during a period of receiving a preamble of burst data, a clock with a phase synchronized with received burst data from among multi-phase clocks having the same frequency as an internal reference clock and a phase tracking unit for modifying the synchronized phase clock responsive to phase variation of received data during a period of receiving a payload of burst data by taking the synchronized phase clock determined by the initial phase determining unit as an initial phase. The bit synchronization circuit retimes burst data with a data retiming clock having a predetermined phase relation with the synchronized phase clock and outputs the burst data in synchronization with the internal reference clock.
US08204167B2
Implementations related to systems, devices, and methods that make use of a master slave arrangement are described. In some implementations, a master device is configured to generate a clock signal and a slave device is coupled to the master device and is configured to receive the clock signal. The clock signal may control data behavior associated with the master device and the slave device. Additionally, the master device may have a power consumption rate that is lower than the power consumption rate of the slave device.
US08204166B2
An apparatus including a multiplexer configured to provide an output clock selected from a source clock, a destination clock, and a transition clock is provided. The apparatus further includes a phase difference calculation module configured to calculate a phase difference between the source clock and the destination clock and a clock generation module configured to generate a plurality of clocks. The apparatus further includes a clock selection module configured to select one of the plurality of clocks as the transition clock and a control circuit configured to provide: (1) a signal to the clock selection module for selecting one of the plurality of clocks as the transition clock based on the phase difference between the source clock and the destination clock and (2) a signal to the multiplexer to provide as the output clock one of the source clock, the destination clock, or the transition clock.
US08204160B2
Teachings presented herein offer reduced and stable computational complexity for symbol block detection using multi-stage assistance, and also provide for the generation of soft bit values. A demodulator generates these soft bit values by forming from a set of candidate symbol combinations, for each group of symbols in a symbol block, a subset of candidate symbol combinations for that group. The demodulator selects from the set the most likely combination, at least one combination that has a complementary bit value for a respective bit value in the most likely combination, and as many of the next most likely combinations not already selected as are needed for the size of the subset to conform to a pre-determined size. The demodulator generates soft bit values by limiting the candidate combinations of symbols considered for a symbol block according to the subsets formed for the groups of symbols in that symbol block.
US08204158B2
A transmit circuit reduces undesired amplitude modulation (AM) in transmit signal pulses by substituting predetermined amplitude information for actual pulse amplitude information during portions of the pulse corresponding to nominally constant amplitudes. For example, GMSK and certain other modulation formats use a desired transmit pulse shape that includes a nominally flat middle portion. An exemplary AM reduction circuit detects generated pulse values corresponding to the nominally constant-amplitude portions of the transmit pulse and substitutes predetermined, preferably constant, amplitude values in their place. As such, the circuit may include a comparator used to detect the pulse values corresponding to variable amplitude portions of the pulse, which it passes through, and to detect those amplitude values corresponding to constant-amplitude portions of the pulse, which it replaces with substituted values. Such operation may include amplitude value filtering, and such operations may be modal, e.g., performed in dependence on modulation mode, etc.
US08204156B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods that employ conditional probabilities to calculate phase errors are disclosed. For a received signal, the embodiments may develop several phase error estimates relative to each point of a constellation, the number and location of points of the constellation depending on the modulation technique of the received signal. In addition to calculating the phase error estimates, the embodiments may also calculate weights, or probabilities, associated with each of the estimates. The embodiments may use the estimates and the weights to calculate a composite phase error estimate. The composite phase error estimate may be used to correct the received signal and eliminate or reduce the impact of the phase error.
US08204155B2
In a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, multiple receive antennas produce a received signal vector, Y, which includes an element for each of the receive antennas. In an embodiment of a de-mapping method performed within a MIMO receiver, a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) search is performed within a search space that includes the full constellation of symbol points. Based on the results of the QPSK search, the search space is reduced to fewer than all of the quadrants, and the received signal vector data is scaled and transformed to the reduced search space. A lower-level QPSK search is performed, and the process is repeated until the modulation order is reduced to a QPSK constellation. Hard or soft decisions corresponding to the search results may then be passed to a decoder.
US08204134B2
A method of decoding a compressed video sequence, wherein image frames are entered into a buffer memory in connection with the decoding. The video sequence includes an indication relating to at least one discontinuity in the numbering of the image frames, which indication is decoded from the video sequence. Then, in response to the indication, the buffer memory is configured to provide a number of image frames corresponding to a discontinuity in the numbering of the image frames, and the image frames provided by the buffer memory are used in the decoding process. Preferably, said indication informs that at least one discontinuity in the numbering of the image frames in the video sequence are intentional, and the number of image frames provided by the buffer memory are used in place of image frames that do not exist at a decoder.
US08204130B2
A video encoding apparatus and method to distribute one or more macroblocks, classified into the same slice group, over an entire frame, according to the H.264 standard. The video encoding apparatus includes: a macroblock group setting module, which sets the number of macroblocks in a macroblock group; a bit count extraction module, which extracts a bit count from each of the macroblocks; a bit count arrangement module, which arranges the macroblocks according to the extracted bit counts; a slice group determination module, which respectively allocates a plurality of slice group identifiers to the macroblocks, with reference to the result of the arrangement performed by the bit count arrangement module, so that a plurality of pieces of address information of the macroblocks can correspond one-to-one with the slice group identifiers; a rearrangement module, which classifies the macroblocks into a plurality of slice groups, according to the slice group identifiers of the macroblocks, and rearranges the macroblocks in slices of the slice groups; and an encoding module which encodes the rearranged macroblocks.
US08204127B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding an image by using motion prediction and a method and apparatus for decoding an image by using motion prediction. The method of encoding an image by using motion prediction, the method includes: determining at least one candidate predictor set including at least one candidate predictor within a candidate predictor range away from a location of a current predictor in a reference frame; determining a reference predictor based on a distortion rate of hypothesis predictors determined according to the at least one candidate predictor of each of the at least one candidate predictor set; performing motion prediction with regard to a current frame by using a reference block corresponding to the reference predictor and a current block; and encoding image data including the current frame based on a result of the motion prediction.
US08204124B2
An image processing apparatus includes a unit configured to calculate a sum of absolute differences between pixel values of pixels in a block of interest and pixel values of pixels in a reference block, a unit configured to compare sums of absolute differences calculated and to determine a minimum sum of absolute differences thereamong, a unit configured to estimate a motion vector for the pixel of interest using the reference pixel having the minimum sum of absolute differences and the pixel of interest, a unit configured to generate a motion-compensated image by using pixel values of the pixels as pixel values of corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image, a unit configured to cumulatively add sums of absolute differences, and a unit configured to generate an interpolation image by mixing the pixels and corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image according to an obtained cumulative-sum result.
US08204119B2
A moving picture prediction method for enabling a calculation amount and a storage capacity to be reduced in a prediction about a moving picture by scaling processing is provided. A method for predicting the value P of Time T from the value P0 of Time T0 and the value P1 of Time T1 includes a step of judging whether it is possible to generate a predictive value with a predetermined significant number of bits by scaling using Time T0, T1 and T (Step S90); a step of predicting the value P from the values P0 and P1 by scaling using Time T0, T1 and T when it is possible to generate a predictive value with the predetermined significant number of bits (Step S92); and a step of predicting the value P from the values P0 and P1 without using Time T0, T1 and T when it is impossible to generate a predictive value with the predetermined significant number of bits (Step S91).
US08204111B2
A video image sequence including coefficients of frequency sub-bands with different spatial resolutions is coded. A data stream including at least one restitution level (Niv N−2, Niv N−1, Niv N) is formed. The restitution levels have coefficients of frequency sub-bands whose spatial resolution equals a spatial resolution of the restitution level. There are inserted, in at least one restitution level, coefficients of frequency sub-bands with a spatial resolution higher than the spatial resolution or resolutions of the restitution level.
US08204107B2
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of reducing phase and amplitude modulation bandwidth in polar transmitters. The bandwidth reduction mechanism of the present invention effectively reduces the phase modulation bandwidth of the polar modulation performed in the transmitter by modifying the zero-crossing trajectories in the IQ domain. This significantly reduces the phase modulation bandwidth while still meeting the output spectrum and error vector magnitude (EVM) requirements of the particular modern wideband wireless standard, such as 3G WCDMA, etc. The mechanism detects a zero crossing or a near zero crossing within a predetermined threshold of the origin and an offset vector is generated that when added to the input TX IQ data, shifts the trajectory to avoid the origin thus reducing the resultant polar modulation amplitude and phase bandwidth.
US08204106B2
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing intermediate compression or decompression for use with a video decoder and a memory. In one aspect, there is provided a method including receiving information to enable compression of a macroblock. At an intermediate section coupled to a video decoder and a memory, a macroblock may be compressed. The compression of the macroblock may be based on the received information. The compressed macroblock may be provided to memory. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08204099B2
A signal processing unit and a wireless communication device are comprised of a carrier data generating unit; a carrier demodulation unit; a matched filter unit that outputs correlation peak detected data; a correlation peak detecting unit that detects a correlation peak from the correlation detected data and outputs correlation peak position information; a coarse frequency deviation detecting unit that detects a frequency component in accordance with a carrier frequency deviation amount with respect to carrier demodulated data and outputs a frequency deviation amount to the carrier data generating unit; a fine frequency deviation detecting unit that outputs a fine frequency deviation amount to reduce the frequency deviation amount from the correlation detected data and the correlation peak position information to the carrier data generating unit; and a control unit that inputs the correlation peak position information and adjusts a processing clock signal.
US08204096B2
An automatic frequency hopping method is provided for use with a wireless device. The wireless device could transmit data in two or more communication frequency bands. According to the counts of successful data transmission in respective communication frequency bands, the reasons of communication failure are analyzed. According to the reasons of communication failure, the automatic frequency hopping method discriminates whether a frequency hopping procedure is performed. Since the frequency hopping procedure is performed when a proper frequency hopping condition is satisfied, the automatic frequency hopping method could achieve the power-saving purpose and avoid the wireless communication interference with other wireless devices.
US08204088B2
An external resonator type wavelength tunable laser has a laser medium, a dispersion system which spatially disperses light emitted from the laser medium by wavelength, and a wavelength selecting system having a reflecting surface which selectively reflects a part of the light which is reflected by the reflecting surface as a return light, and the wavelength selecting system is structured so that the inverse of a number of a wavelength of the return light linearly changes with time.
US08204084B2
Systems and methods enable adaptive, single bit-timeslot granular digital multiplexing capable of automatically and dynamically selecting an appropriate input bit from a set of alternative input ports, based on a current status of the alternative inputs. The invention enables input-status-adaptive, dynamic multiplexing of individual bits from multiple, e.g. byte-wide, input ports onto, e.g. a byte-wide, multiplexer output. An input status adaptive, dynamic, bit-granular M-by-M digital cross-connect can be formed out of an arrangement of M (an integer) instances of the input-controllable adaptive M:1 multiplexers. An application is a synchronous, digital network channel that can be dynamically shared, even at a single bit time-slot granularity, among multiple path sources, which furthermore can be located even at different network nodes. Such multi-source-bus configurations of adaptive-multiplexed network channels enable allocating network resources dynamically based on real-time data packet demand variations, thereby maximizing the network throughput for bursty data traffic.
US08204083B2
In a communication network, a network connection apparatus accepts timing information of a grand master to achieve timing synchronization. Next, the network connection apparatus requests slave nodes to be in timing synchronization with itself to achieve the timing synchronization. Even when the grand master is removed or crashed, when a new slave node is added, or when a hack node tries to hack the communication network, the network connection apparatus still periodically requests the slave nodes to be in timing synchronization with itself so that the timing synchronization inside the communication network is not negatively affected.
US08204076B2
A packet based display interface arranged to couple a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device is disclosed that includes a transmitter unit coupled to the source device arranged to receive a source packet data stream in accordance with a native stream rate, a receiver unit coupled to the sink device, and a linking unit coupling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit arranged to transfer a multimedia data packet stream formed of a number of multimedia data packets based upon the source packet data stream in accordance with a link rate between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.
US08204070B1
A backplane device to connect to a plurality of stackable network switch devices. According to one aspect of the intention, each of the plurality of stackable network switch devices can implement its own internal non-blocking switching. According to another aspect of the intention, the relative configuration of connectors and signal lines of the backplane device provide for a switch device to be readily connected into (or disconnected from) a switch stack implementing combined non-blocking switching.
US08204068B2
Methods and apparatus for Fibre Channel interconnection is provided between a plurality of private loop devices through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is connected to two or more Arbitrated Loops containing, or adapted to contain, one or more private loop devices. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved. In another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for implementing a logical loop of private loop devices by segmenting the logical loop into a plurality of sets, assigning each set to a physical Arbitrated Loop and connecting the Arbitrated Loops to a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. Additional methods are provided for restricting attached devices to Arbitrated Loop physical addresses within certain ranges. Additionally, methods are provided for resetting hosts, the method generally comprising the steps of detecting the addition of a storage device to a first Arbitrated Loop, and thereafter, resetting the Arbitrated Loop or loops on which a host or hosts reside on second Arbitrated Loop. Methods for operation with use of SCSI initiators generate a link service reject when no address match is found, or when an address match is found, but where no device with the destination ALPA exists on the Arbitrated Loop corresponding to the destination.
US08204062B2
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a S4 Serving General Packet Radio Service Support (S4-SGSN) node, and method, for radio resource management. Specifically, the S4-SGSN may be configured to restrict or reject a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) activation or a PDP modification procedure based on a Quality of Service (QoS) analysis.
US08204053B1
IP packets associated with a communication are received at a first network device in an IP recording system. The first network device communicates to other devices in the IP recording network to receive a determination if the IP packets associated with the communication are to be recorded. The first network device may then be instructed to direct the IP packets associated with the communication to a recording device. In some implementations, the IP packets may duplicated, encrypted, re-encoded, compressed, etc. prior to recording.
US08204046B2
Service resource items for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service item is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI which is then used to access the desired service resource item.
US08204042B2
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is established in a network that that includes a Regional/Access Network (RAN) that facilitates differentiated end-to-end data transport between an Application Service Provider (ASP) and a Customer Premises Network (CPN) that includes Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). Application Programming interface (API) calls are used at the ASP to communicate with the RAN to establish VoIP service for the user having a user selected bandwidth and/or QoS associated therewith.
US08204039B2
Described is a system comprising a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The first device has access to a packet routing table which includes data indicative of a packet transmission path in a wireless mesh communications network. The second wireless device is communicatively coupled to the first device and has access to the routing table. Upon receipt of a packet by the first device which is addressed to the second device, the first device determines, as a function of at least one of (i) the routing table and (ii) a first identifier of the second device, a second identifier of a third wireless device to receive the packet directly from the first device. At least one of the first, second and third devices updates the routing table.
US08204031B2
A wireless communications device includes an antenna, a multi-port path selection structure having an antenna port connected to the antenna, and plural ports connected to respective one or more receive and transmit paths of the wireless communications device. The multi-port path selection structure has a transmit band reject filter connected to the transmit path and a second filter connected to the receive path.
US08204030B2
A communication method includes the steps of: establishing a session with one or two or more other communication terminals according to a set content before it is changed in a case where a change request for own set information about a radio communication is received; notifying a set content to be changed to the one or two or more other communication terminals with which the session is established; and changing the own set information from the set content before it is changed to the set content to be changed.
US08204028B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising configuring a transceiver for special reuse using a virtual time division multiple access (TDMA) technique in a wireless personal area network that allows additional non-interfering transceivers to perform concurrent transmissions with said transceiver.
US08204025B2
A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.
US08204022B2
The present invention provides a method for supporting handoffs of a first mobile unit in a wireless communication system that supports multiple vocoder technologies. The method includes allocating, prior to completion of a handoff of the first mobile unit, a transcoder function to the first mobile unit. The method also includes detecting a change in a format of at least one packet received from the first mobile unit. The change indicates that the vocoder technology used by the first mobile unit to form packets has changed. The method also includes transcoding packets in response to detecting the change in the format.
US08204021B2
A method and an apparatus of subchannelization is provided. The method includes receiving information indicating the number of physical resource unit (PRU) sets allocated to a subband from a base station, and mapping PRUs of a physical region to a subband PRU or a miniband PRU in a granularity of the PRU set according to the received information, wherein the subband PRU is allocated with at least one subband comprising a first number of contiguous PRUs, the miniband PRU is allocated with at least one miniband comprising a second number of PRUs, and the PRU set comprises PRUs whose number is equal to the number of PRUs included in one subband. Subchannelization can be effectively achieved while maintaining a frequency selective scheduling gain and a frequency diversity gain to the maximum extent possible.
US08204014B2
A method and system that enables the usage of sounding-based feedback or analog feedback in a MIMO communication system with non-beamformed or broadcast pilot symbols is disclosed. The mobile station may employ a feedback channel to send a sounding waveform to a base station, a feedforward channel to receive from the base station codebook weights derived from the send sounding waveform, a receiver to receive communication from the base station, and a processor to detect beamformed data from the received communication and received codebook weights from the base station. The base station processes the sounding waveform to determine codebook weights on groups of subcarriers. Additionally, the base station transmits the beamformed payload and broadcast pilots to the mobile station.
US08204013B2
A method for detecting a GSM channel of interest, in a wireless communication device capable of supporting broadband as well as narrowband wireless systems, includes receiving (210) analog signals across a wide bandwidth and identifying (220) possible GSM channels within that wide bandwidth. The wireless communication device then samples (230) the analog signals to produce a time domain digital signal and further chooses (240) a pair of frequencies that correspond to a possible GSM channel. The wireless communication device converts (260) the time domain digital signal at the chosen pair of frequencies into first and second frequency domain digital signals and calculates (270) a power ratio between the first frequency domain digital signal and the second frequency domain digital signal. If the calculated power ratio for the possible GSM channel exceeds a threshold, the wireless communication device determines (280) that the possible GSM channel is the GSM channel of interest.
US08204012B2
A system for using frequency resources in a multi-cell communication system is provided. The system includes cells included in a multi-cell communication system, each cell being controlled to use frequency resources based on a preset segment sequence, wherein available frequency bands which can be used by the respective cells are equal to each other, the available frequency band is divided into “A” number of segments, each segment is divided into “B” number of partial bands, each partial band is divided into “C” number of channels, and the segment sequence comprises an order in which the “A” number of segments are used.
US08204002B2
Methods and apparatus to prioritize mobile station transmissions in response to network acknowledgment polling are disclosed. An example method in a mobile station disclosed herein comprises receiving a request for acknowledgment information expected to be transmitted with data, and transmitting a control message in response to the request if a previously transmitted data block is associated with a tentative acknowledgment state, the control message including acknowledgment information.
US08204000B1
Methods and systems are provided for achieving quality of service (QoS) by using the reverse activity bit (RAB) in creation of neighbor lists for selected access terminals. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals in a first wireless coverage area. The access node maintains and broadcasts a standard neighbor list identifying neighboring wireless coverage areas, each having a respective RAB. The access node generates a QoS neighbor list, consisting of one or more coverage areas from the standard neighbor list having a RAB that is cleared. The access node transmits the QoS neighbor list to a subset of the access terminals. Each access terminal in the subset uses the QoS neighbor list in place of the standard neighbor list, while the other access terminals use the standard neighbor list.
US08203995B2
A method for transmitting data in a wireless network includes generating a packet of data having a connection identification (CID) indicating a connection to a final destination for the packet of data. A desired path for transmitting the packet of data to the final destination is determined. The desired path includes one or more relay stations. The generated packet of data is encapsulated in one or more capsules, each capsule having a CID indicating a connection to one of the one or more relay stations along the desired path. The packet of data is routed along the desired path using the CIDs of the one or more capsules and the packet of data to arrive at the final destination. At each of the one or more relay station, an outer-most capsule having a CID corresponding to the present relay station is stripped from the packet of data.
US08203989B2
A method involves determining a first content identifier for content and determining a second content identifier for the content, wherein the first content identifier belongs to a first system layer and the second content identifier belongs to the second system layer. The method further involves requesting for delivering of the content by transmitting the first content identifier in a control message, wherein the control message belongs to a second system layer. The content is received via radio interface within a connection, wherein the connection belongs to the second layer. The second system layer is lower than the first system layer.
US08203988B2
Disclosed is a radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to the method for receiving a MBMS service effectively by considering of time information related to a MBMS service transmission scheme.
US08203982B2
The present application discloses a system of at least a network element and at least a terminal. The system constituents are configured to provide assistance by the terminal to the network element in terms of access domain selection for at least one of the media channel and the session control channel of an incoming call to the terminal. In this regard, the terminal acquires information about the capabilities of an access network in which the terminal is camping. Upon receiving, at the terminal, an invitation to participate in a call, the terminal analyzes the acquired information about the capabilities of the access network, and optionally or additionally of the IMS network. The terminal responds to the invitation, based on the result of the analyzing, with an indication that indicates a respective access domain to be used for at least one of the media channel and the session control channel of the incoming call.
US08203976B2
An interface device includes a parallel-to-serial converting unit, a driver, a receiver, and a serial-to-parallel converting unit. The parallel-to-serial converting unit converts parallel signals into a single-ended signal. The driver converts the single-ended signal from the parallel-to-serial converting unit into a differential signal and transmits the differential signal to an external device via signal lines. The receiver converts a differential signal received via the signal lines from an external device into a single-ended signal. The serial-to-parallel converting unit converts the single-ended signal from the receiver into parallel signals. A direction in which the differential signal is to be transmitted is determined based on a control signal.
US08203974B2
The invention relates to method applicable in a packet-switched cellular network for voice connections, by which method a new dedicated channel can be established quickly using the existing dedicated channel of the voice connection. The establishment of the new dedicated channel utilizes the previous dedicated channel the existence of which is extended by sending to at least the receiving terminals post-speech packets according to the invention. The post-speech packets produce a 2-second delay, approximately, which is sufficient to establish a new dedicated channel between terminals participating in a session.
US08203970B2
One embodiment relates to a method of selecting a root node for a spanning tree. Spanning trees are simulated with different nodes as the root node. An optimality criterion is calculated for each simulated spanning tree. Another embodiment relates to a network management apparatus that includes a processor, memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data, an internal communication system, and at least one port. The memory includes a) processor-executable code configured to simulate spanning trees with different nodes as the root node, and b) processor-executable code configured to calculate an optimality criterion for each simulated spanning tree. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08203968B2
Once the user has configured which call paths to monitor, VOIP automatically creates all the required IP SLA operations, including turning on the responder on the destination side. When these operations disappear, either due to their periodic expiration or due to a router reset, so the service dynamically recreates the IP SLA operations as necessary.
US08203966B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for setting up connection for wireless relay network, wherein, mobile station utilizes the primary transmission path from itself and relay stations in the initial ranging and network entry procedure to send a request signal to base station. After the base station receives the request signal, it allocates a transmission path for the mobile station, and sends the information to the relay station on the path along the primary transmission path, and sends a response message to the mobile station. When the mobile station and the related relay stations obtain the corresponding response message and transmission path information, the signal sent by the mobile station is sent to the base station via relay stations along the transmission path.
US08203960B2
An improved mechanism is provided that facilitates transmission of small packets within an ad hoc peer-to-peer network. A small packet is identified to a receiver within a control channel so that its lower power can be considered in an interference management protocol implemented among local peer devices. In a traffic slot, a transmitter voluntarily backs down on the transmitter power as a smaller packet will require much lower signal-to-noise ratio. This will improve the signal energy per bit per noise power density for the transmission as well as minimize the interference caused to other wireless communications happening in the same spectrum.
US08203958B2
A frame counter correction apparatus connected to an Ethernet network, including transmission counter for counting a number of frames to be transmitted; inspection frame generator for generating an inspection frame for measuring a frame loss; and transmission counter correction unit for calculating a difference between a counter value of the transmission counter at a time of generation of the inspection frame and the counter value of the transmission counter at a time of transmission of the inspection frame, and adding a calculated difference value and information for specifying the inspection frame as a correction target to another inspection frame.
US08203943B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an access node, multicast control parameters for white, black, and grey lists of multicast groups. The access node applies the multicast control parameters to an IGMP process running on a port associated with a subscriber. In response to receiving an IGMP message requesting joining a multicast group, the access node either: autonomously forwarding the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the white list, blocking the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the black list, or relying on a Layer 3 broadband network gateway (BNG) to instruct the access node whether to add a forwarding entry on the port for the multicast group where the multicast group in on the grey list. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08203941B2
One embodiment disclosed relates to a network device that includes at least one port to connect to a network and at least one throttle that limits a rate of connections made from the device. An auto-adaptive thresholding mechanism determines a threshold for the throttle. The mechanism may be tunable to various aggressiveness levels. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a network apparatus including multiple ports capable of making connections and multiple throttle instantiations. Each throttle instantiation is associated with a port or group of ports. Threshold levels for each throttle instantiation are independently set. The ports may be physical ports or may be logical ports.
US08203935B2
A device includes: an ingress interface unit determining an output port of an input signal, adding destination information including information on the output port, and outputting the signal; two or more egress interface units; a switch unit receiving the signal including the destination information, determining a forwarding destination of the signal based on the destination information, and forwarding the signal to at least one of the egress interface units as the forwarding destination; a notifying unit notifying of, when a fault related to the output port occurs, alternative destination information including information of an alternative output port; a registration unit registering the alternative destination information in a storage unit in a way that associates the alternative destination information with the destination information; and a translation unit rewriting, when the storage unit is registered with the alternative destination information, the destination information in the signal into the alternative destination information.
US08203934B2
Methods and apparatus for allowing a traffic level switch associated with an automatic protection switching (APS) topology to occur transparently and without reconverging routing are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing protection switching configuration information associated with a router arrangement to includes identifying a first interface and a second interface of the router arrangement as an APS group. The method also includes providing information regarding the APS group to a process that implements a routing protocol. Providing the information regarding the group includes identifying the first interface as a primary interface and identifying the second interface as a backup interface that is arranged to protect the primary interface.
US08203927B2
An information recording medium (100) is provided with: a data recording area (105, 115) to which one attribute, which corresponds to recorded data, of a plurality of types of attributes is given in each of segmentized area units; and an address recording area (1031, 1032) to record therein an address (AD0-1, AD1-1) of an edge portion on an outermost side of a recording area, which is a continuous recording area to which a data area attribute of the plurality of types of attributes is given and which is a recording area closest to an edge portion on an innermost side of said data recording area, the data area attribute indicating a status that user data is recorded as the data.
US08203925B2
An apparatus for recording angular multiplexed pits on optical recording media using a device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution is described. The device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution has at least one light influencing part for introducing a phase shift of 180° in a first half of the light beam relative to the second half of the light beam, wherein the border between the first half of the light beam and the second half of the light beam is rotatable around an optical axis of the light beam.
US08203923B2
It is desired that the overshooting and undershooting of optical pulse waveforms of optical pickups included in optical disk devices be reduced to improve the quality of recording. Among pulses to be recorded, the trailing edge of each last pulse and the leading edge of the subsequent erase top pulse are made to almost coincide with each other. Ratio a/b, where a is the difference between erase top pulse power level Pet and erasing power level Pe and b is the difference between recording power level Pw and the erasing power level Pe, is adjusted to realize an optical pulse waveform with reduced overshooting and undershooting for each of different recording media. Erase top pulse duration Tert is switched according to different recording speeds for different recording media.
US08203915B2
An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation.
US08203912B2
A capacitive ultrasound transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, the third electrode including a central region disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the first electrode, and a peripheral region disposed outward of the central region and disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the second electrode. The transducer further includes a layer of a high dielectric constant material disposed between the third electrode and the first electrode, and between the third electrode and the second electrode. The transducer may be operable in a collapsed mode wherein the peripheral region of the third electrode oscillates relative to the second electrode, and the central region of the third electrode is fully collapsed with respect to the first electrode such that the dielectric layer is sandwiched therebetween. Piezoelectric actuation, such as d31 and d33 mode piezoelectric actuation, may further be included. A medical imaging system includes an array of such capacitive ultrasound transducers disposed on a common substrate.
US08203907B2
Method for updating a velocity model (926) for migrating seismic data using migration velocity scans with the objective of building a model that reproduces the same travel times that produced selected optimal images from a scan. For each optimal pick location (914) in the corresponding test velocity model (916), a corresponding location is determined (922) in the velocity model to be updated, using a criterion that the travel time to the surface for a zero offset ray (918) should be the same. Imaging travel times are then computed from the determined location to various surface locations in the update model (924), and those times are compared to travel times in the test velocity model from the optimal pick location to the same array of surface locations. The updating process consists of adjusting the model to minimize the travel time differences (934).
US08203902B2
A memory system including a memory array, and a read write/module. The memory includes a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of memory cells, in which each memory cell is formed at a corresponding intersection of a bit line and a word line in the memory array. The read/write module is configured to control activation of at least two memory cells in the memory array during a read operation or a write operation, wherein the at least two memory cells activated by the read/write module are located on a different word line and a different bit line in the memory array, and wherein each memory cell coupled to a same bit line of the plurality of bit lines is configured to be written to or read from based on selection of the bit line.
US08203897B2
Semiconductor device and semiconductor memory device include a plurality of internal circuits configured to perform test operations in response to their respective test mode signals and a plurality of test-mode control units configured to control the test operations of the internal circuits to be disabled in response to a test-off signal.
US08203891B2
A voltage sensing circuit, which is capable of controlling a pumping voltage to be stably generated in a low voltage environment, is provided. The voltage sensing circuit includes a current mirror having first and second terminals, a first switching element configured to control current on the first terminal of the current mirror by a reference voltage, a second switching element configured to control current from the second terminal of the current mirror in response to a pumping voltage, and a third switching element configured to control current sources of the first and second switching elements to receive a negative voltage.
US08203890B2
A data output buffer switches it operating mode according to its operating frequency. The data output buffer includes a delay control unit, and a buffer unit. The buffer unit provides data of an internal buffer input line to an external buffer output line. The delay control unit generates a buffer enable signal corresponding to a received reference control signal. The buffer unit blocks the provision of the data to the buffer output line in response to a deactivation of the buffer enable signal. The buffer enable signal remains in an activated state when the period of the reference control signal is shorter than a reference period. The data output buffer may be included in a semiconductor memory device.
US08203888B2
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sense amplifier circuit that are configured to carry out a plurality of read cycles on a plurality of bit lines connected to those memory cells that are selected by a selected one of the word lines. During the second and subsequent read cycles, supply of a read current is ceased to those bit lines when it is determined in the preceding read cycle that a current not less than a certain determination current level flows therethrough, and the read current is supplied only to the remaining bit lines. A setup time of the bit lines in the first read cycle is set shorter than a setup time of the bit lines in the second and subsequent read cycles.
US08203885B2
According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory system includes: a nonvolatile semiconductor memory; and a memory controller having: a memory interface unit that inputs commands to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory and inputs or outputs data between the nonvolatile semiconductor memory; a memory that stores writing information indicating a memory cell transistor that is written the latest in each of the NAND cell units; and a processor that sets a read voltage based on the writing information to read out data from the memory cell transistors connected to a first word line; wherein a row controller is configured to set a plurality of levels of the read voltage to be applied to the first word line, with respect to one threshold for discriminating data stored in a memory cell transistors.
US08203881B2
The method of operating the nonvolatile memory device may include performing a read operation on a first address region, comparing a read time of the first address region with a reference time, and storing read data from the read from the first address region in a second address region based on the comparison result.
US08203879B2
An operation method of a non-volatile memory suitable for a multi-level cell having a first storage position and a second storage position is provided. The operation method includes: setting a main voltage distribution group and a plurality of secondary voltage distribution groups, wherein each of the main voltage distribution group and the secondary voltage distribution groups includes N threshold-voltage distribution curves, and N is an integer greater than 2; selecting a first operation level and a second operation level according to a programming command; programming the first storage position according to the threshold-voltage distribution curve corresponding to the first operation level in the main voltage distribution group; selecting one of the secondary voltage distribution groups according to the first operation level and programming the second storage position according to the threshold-voltage distribution curve corresponding to the second operation level in the selected secondary voltage distribution group.
US08203876B2
Methods for programming and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for programming includes initially biasing a subset of a plurality of control gates of a string of memory cells with a negative voltage, wherein the subset is less than all of the plurality of control gates of the string. The control gate of a selected memory cell is subsequently biased with a programming voltage during a programming phase.
US08203874B2
A staggered magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer extending in a lateral direction between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion and a tunneling barrier disposed between a reference magnetic layer and the first end portion and forming a magnetic tunnel junction. Current flows through the free magnetic layer in the lateral direction to switch the magnetic tunnel junction between a high resistance state and a low resistance state.
US08203873B2
An asymmetrically programmed memory material (such as a solid electrolyte material) is described for use as a rectifying element for driving symmetric or substantially symmetric resistive memory elements in a crosspoint memory architecture. A solid electrolyte element (SE) has very high resistance in the OFF state and very low resistance in the ON state (because it is a metallic filament in the ON state). These attributes make it a near ideal diode. During the passage of current (during program/read/erase) of the memory element, the solid electrolyte material also programs into the low resistance state. The final state of the solid electrolyte material is reverted to a high resistance state while making sure that the final state of the memory material is the one desired.
US08203872B2
A memory is configurable among a plurality of operational modes. The operational modes may dictate the number of storage levels to be associated with each cell within the memory's storage matrix.
US08203870B2
An apparatus and associated method for a non-volatile memory cell, such as a multi-bit magnetic random access memory cell. In accordance with various embodiments, a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is adjacent to a second MTJ having a magnetic filter. The first MTJ is programmed to a first logical state with a first magnetic flux while the magnetic filter absorbs the first magnetic flux to prevent the second MTJ from being programmed.
US08203869B2
A memory array includes a plurality of magneto-resistive changing memory cells. Each resistive changing memory cell is electrically between a source line and a bit line and a transistor electrically between the resistive changing memory cell and the bit line. The transistor has a gate electrically between a source region and a drain region and the source region being electrically between the magneto-resistive changing memory cell and the gate. A word line is electrically coupled to the gate. A bit line charge accumulation sensing for magneto-resistive changing memory is also disclosed.
US08203867B2
An integrated circuit with SRAM cells containing dual passgate transistors and a read buffer, all connected to one word line is disclosed. The read buffer and one passgate transistor may be variously configured to a separate read data line and write data line, or a combined data line, in different embodiments. The read buffer in addressed SRAM cells may be biased during read operations. The read buffer in half-addressed SRAM cells may be biased or floated, depending on the configuration of the read data line and the write data line. The read buffer in addressed and half-addressed SRAM cells may be biased or floated, depending on the configuration of the read data line and the write data line.
US08203849B2
A joint board is arranged between an upper package and a lower package. The arrangement of the joint board makes it possible to reduce the size of solder balls and to arrange them with narrower pitch. The joint board has slightly greater dimensions those of the upper package and the lower package. This makes it possible to prevent underfill from leaking and spreading.
US08203846B2
Provided is a semiconductor photodetector element which is reduced in manufacturing cost and improved in precision. The semiconductor photodetector element includes: a first photodiode formed in a P-type silicon substrate; a second photodiode formed in the P-type silicon substrate and has the same structure as that of the first photodiode; a color filter layer formed above the first photodiode from a green filter; a color filter layer formed of a black filter above the second photodiode; and an arithmetic circuit portion which subtracts a detection signal of the second photodiode from a detection signal of the first photodiode.
US08203839B2
A cooling device may include a fluid inlet manifold, a case body, and a fluid outlet manifold that are formed of a molded polymer composite material. The fluid inlet manifold may include a fluid inlet channel and a fluid inlet reservoir. The case body may include a plurality of cooling channels extending from a first surface of the case body to a second surface of the case body. The cooling channels may fluidly couple the first surface of the case body to the fluid inlet reservoir. The fluid outlet manifold may further include a fluid outlet channel and a fluid outlet reservoir. The cooling channels may fluidly couple the second surface of the case body to the fluid outlet reservoir. The fluid inlet channel, cooling channels, and fluid outlet channels may include a cross-section topology.
US08203829B2
The present disclosure discloses a battery cover assembly for use in an electronic device. The battery cover assembly includes a housing and a cover. The housing includes a compartment couples to the cover. At least one elastic member is fixed to the back wall of the compartment. A plurality of grooves, and a plurality of receiving spaces formed in the two side walls communicating with the compartment. Each groove communicates with one receiving space. A first connecting plate and a second connecting plate movably connected to the base, each of the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate comprises at least one protruding post slidably received in the grooves, which connects the base to the housing. A first elastic connecting member are connected to the first connecting plate and the knob. A second elastic connecting member are connected to the second connecting plate and the knob.
US08203819B2
An electrical protection component with a short-circuiting device includes a gas-filled surge arrester that includes at least two electrodes. Preferably, one electrode in each case is arranged at the ends of the surge arrester. The electrical protection component has a thermal short-circuiting device, wherein the thermal short-circuiting device includes a clip having at least two sections. At least a first section of the clip is attached to the surge arrester by snap action. At least a second section of the clip at least partly surrounds the first section and is spaced apart from the first section by means of a fusible element. The second section has a short-circuiting link at an end. The short-circuiting link electrically connects the electrodes of the surge arrester to one another in the case where the fusible element melts.
US08203818B2
An electronics system includes an electronic device, a power source and a temperature control switch. An actuator having a shape memory alloy is attached to the temperature control switch and moves the temperature control switch between an open position preventing a current flow between the power source and the electronic device, and a closed position permitting current flow between the power source and the electronic device. The shape memory alloy transforms shapes upon the ambient temperature falling below a low critical temperature or rising above a high critical temperature to move the temperature control switch into one of the closed position to permit current flow to the electronic device or the open position to prevent current flow to the electronics device respectively.
US08203817B2
A power supply circuit includes an output transistor including a source coupled to power supply voltage, and a drain from which output voltage is outputted; a first error amplifier powered by the power supply voltage and outputting a signal based on a potential difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage; a buffer transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the first error amplifier, and a source coupled via a constant current source to the power supply voltage and coupled to a gate of the output transistor; a current detection transistor coupled to the output transistor such that a gate and source are shared; and an overcurrent protection circuit configured to limit the drain current of the buffer transistor based on the increase of the drain current of the current detection transistor and thereby control the output current of the output transistor.
US08203815B2
Transient overvoltage suppression circuit prevents voltage surges from damaging an attached load. The suppression circuit includes a transistor connected in series with a low-side or return line of the load. A control circuit monitors the voltage on the input line (i.e., high-side) and in response to a detected voltage transient turns the transistor OFF to isolate the load from the transient voltage.
US08203812B2
The present invention discloses a secondary side protection method for a switching power converter, used to turn off a secondary side switch according to a secondary side voltage signal, wherein the secondary side voltage signal has falling edges corresponding to the start instants of secondary side discharge periods, and rising edges corresponding to the end instants of the secondary side discharge periods, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the time interval between two adjacent the rising edges repeatedly to derive discharge end cycle times; and generating a first turn-off signal to turn off the secondary side switch when the relative difference of two successive the discharge end cycle times exceeds a predetermined percentage. The present invention also provides a secondary side protection apparatus according to the method.
US08203810B2
A solid state pre-charge module includes a relay, a transistor connected to the relay and a solid state device connected to the transistor. The solid state device controls switching of the transistor.
US08203808B2
In an MR element constituted in such a manner that a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer whose magnetization direction is changed according to an external magnetic field, are laminated in this order; the free layer has a multilayer constitution including a magnetic body mixed with an element having 4f electrons at a certain ratio. Specifically, the first layer in contact with the spacer layer, the third layer, the fifth layer, and the seventh layer of the free layer are formed by mixing Nd, Sm, Gd, or Tb into CoFe. The second layer and the sixth layer of the free layer are formed by mixing Nd, Sm, Gd, or Tb into NiFe. The third layer of the free layer is Cu. A damping constant of the free layer is greater than 0.018.
US08203806B2
A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.
US08203805B2
A method and apparatus for controlling lubrication in hard disk drives. Hard disk drives often include lubrication on the disks to protect the disks from incidental contact with the head slider. Embodiments of the invention include lubrication control recesses on the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider. The recesses reduce air stagnation on the ABS and/or store excess lubrication that migrates from the disk to the head slider. By reducing build-up of lubrication and storing excess lubrication, the lubrication control recesses avoid failure that may occur as a result of the lubrication interfering with the ABS or the read/write elements of the head.
US08203793B2
An optical system having a larger total lens length than a focal length includes lenses L and NL on at least one of a magnification conjugate side and a reduction conjugate side with respect to an aperture stop. The lens L satisfies conditional expressions as follows, −1.68×10−3·νL+0.590<θL<3.15×10−4·νL2−1.86×10−2·νL+0.878, and 5<νL<27, where νL and θL are an Abbe number and a gF-line partial dispersion ratio of the lens L. The refractive power of the lens L is positive when located at the magnification conjugate side, or negative when located at the reduction conjugate side.
US08203790B2
A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material abhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid abhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.
US08203784B2
The invention is directed to a multispectral illumination device for a microscope or for a reader. According to the invention, the illumination device comprises at least three receptacle positions for lighting modules and at least one receptacle position for coupling modules, the mechanical devices for connecting the lighting modules or coupling modules at the receptacle positions to the illumination device being designed in such a way that the lighting modules or coupling modules can be easily changed. Further, the receptacle positions are arranged in such a way that, with suitable selection of the lighting modules and coupling modules, all individual spectra of the lighting modules in a total spectrum are available simultaneously at the output of the illumination device.
US08203781B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus includes an optical branching unit for branching an input signal light in four directions, a polarization component extraction unit extracting four polarization components having mutually different polarization parameters from lights branched in four directions by the optical branching unit, and a determination unit determining input/non-input of the signal light based on the four polarization components extracted by the polarization component extraction unit.
US08203780B2
A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure in which one or more polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and at least one transparent electrode layer (104). The layered structure is further interposed between a plurality of substrates (102). When a bias is applied to the device (100), the device (100) exhibits an increase in signal efficiency of approximately three to four times that of similar, but non-buffered, devices. Concurrently, the device (100) of the present disclosure utilizes approximately half the biased voltage, advantageously resulting in a longer device lifetime.
US08203773B2
An image processing apparatus includes a counting section for counting pixels belonging to a chromatic text component and chromatic pixels belonging to a component other than the text component among pixels composing image data obtained by reading a document, a comparison section for comparing the counted numbers with respective predetermined values, a determination section for determining that the document contains a chromatic color when either one of the number of the pixels belonging to the text component and the number of the chromatic pixels belonging to the component other than the chromatic text component is not less than the corresponding predetermined value, and an image processing section for performing a process with respect to the image data in accordance with a determination result by the determination section.
