US08273416B2
A coating system and process for protecting component surfaces exposed to sulfur-containing environments at elevated temperatures. The coating system includes a sulfidation-resistant overlay coating that is predominantly niobium or molybdenum.
US08273411B2
The various embodiments herein provide a method and composition to produce an anti-corrosive layer. According to one embodiment herein, a titanium based sol is synthesized and deposited on a substrate, dried for 120° C. for 1 hour, calcinated upto 400° C. for 1 hour, doped with a corrosion inhibitor, dried and deposited a layer of hybrid silica sol and cured to obtain the anticorrosive layer. According to another embodiment, a surface pre-treatment coating has a composition comprising a titanium dioxide layer, a corrosion inhibitor doped on the titanium dioxide layer, a hybrid silicate layer deposited on the doped titanium layer to form a coating to provide an improved corrosion resistance and self-healing effect.
US08273407B2
A method of fabricating a film of magnetic nanocomposite particles including depositing isolated clusters of magnetic nanoparticles onto a substrate surface and coating the isolated clusters of magnetic nanoparticles with an insulator coating. The isolated clusters of magnetic nanoparticles have a dimension in the range between 1 and 300 nanometers and are separated from each other by a distance in the range between 1 and 50 nanometers. By employing PVD, ablation, and CVD techniques the range of useful film thicknesses is extended to 10-1000 nm, suitable for use in wafer based processing. The described methods for depositing the magnetic nanocomposite thin films are compatible with conventional IC wafer and Integrated Passive Device fabrication.
US08273401B2
A phytosterol/salt mixture for even topical application to snack products. At least one free phytosterol in dry form is combined with at least one salt of a similar particle size to form a homogenous blend and applied to the surface of a hot snack food product. The at least one free phytosterol can also be part of a phytosterol blend comprised of at least 95% free phytosterols. To ensure that neither the phytosterol nor salt component settles out and to provide for uniformity of the homogenous blend, the phytosterol blend is of a similar size distribution to the at least one salt. In test runs, a phytosterol blend and at least one salt were combined in a ratio of approximately 53:47, with size ranges determined by sieve analysis to generally fell within the range of 149 to 400 microns.
US08273400B2
An illustrative method of making a total mixed ration (TMR) equine biscuit including a fibrous material and one or more nutritional supplements may include suspending the one or more nutritional supplements with the fibrous material and impregnating the one or more nutritional supplements into the fibrous material. The biscuit may have a starch content of less than 6 percent by weight. The biscuit may have a sugar content of less than 15 percent by weight.
US08273397B2
The disclosure relates to a method of improving the efficiency of fat separation in the separation of a liquid food product with a certain fat content. The method includes the method step that the liquid food product is caused to pass through a first separator where the product is divided up into a lighter and a heavier phase. The first separator is regulated so that the lighter phase will have a fat content which is less than 15%. The method also includes the method step that the lighter phase is caused to pass through a second separator.
US08273393B2
This document provides complexes comprising a mineral-amino acid compound and a polysaccharide. For example, the document provides compositions containing such complexes and methods of making and using such complexes.
US08273389B2
The invention relates to diallyl disulfide and cinnamon oil formulations, for protecting plants from nematodes and other plant pathogens. The invention provides a method for suppressing plant damage by nematodes and other plant pathogens, which comprises the concurrent administration, to the locus, soil or seeds of plants in need of such treatment, of (a) cinnamon oil (and/or its component cinnamaldehyde), (b) an effective quantity of diallyl disulfide, as well as nematocidal compositions useful therein.
US08273387B2
Disclosed are compositions and corresponding methods of their use that include extracts from Loropetalum chinensis, Camptotheca acuminate, Lonicera maackii, Washingtonia filifera, Artemisia parviflora, Glochidion lanceolaris, Polygonum hydropiper, Populus davidiana, Tsoongiodendron odorum, Trema angustifolia, Ficus tikoua, Pistacia chinensis, Zizyphus mauritiana, Garuga forrestii, Michelia figo, Sabina chinensis, Cuphea balsamona, Setaria palmifolia, Polygonum lapathifolium, Machilus longipedicellata, Geranium nepalense, Ipomoea obscura, Cedrus deodara, Quercus aliena, Carqueja, Condurango, Catuaba, Carex baccans, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Gnaphalium pensylvanicum, Celtis sinensis, Cassia siamea, Catalpa yunnanesis, Potamogenton perforliatus, Cinnamomum japonicum, or any combination thereof.
US08273377B2
A method of manipulating allogeneic cells for use in allogeneic cell therapy protocols is described. The method provides a composition of highly activated allogeneic T-cells which are infused into immunocompetent cancer patients to elicit a novel anti-tumor immune mechanism called the “Mirror Effect”. In contrast to current allogeneic cell therapy protocols where T-cells in the graft mediate the beneficial graft vs. tumor (GVT) and detrimental graft vs. host (GVH) effects, the allogeneic cells of the present invention stimulate host T-cells to mediate the “mirror” of these effects. The mirror of the GVT effect is the host vs. tumor (HVT) effect. The “mirror” of the GVH effect is the host vs. graft (HVG) effect. The effectiveness and widespread application of the anti-tumor GVT effect is limited by the severe toxicity of the GVH effect. In the present invention, the anti-tumor HVT effect occurs in conjunction with a non-toxic HVG rejection effect. The highly activated allogeneic cells of the invention can be used to stimulate host immunity in a complete HLA mis-matched setting in patients that have not had a prior bone marrow transplant or received chemotherapy and/or radiation conditioning regimens.
US08273375B2
The invention relates to an oral multiparticle pharmaceutical dosage form in the form of a receptacle reducing the pH values of stomach, containing a plurality of pellets, particles, granules or agglomerates whose mean diameter ranges from 50 to 2500 μn substentially consisting of a) an internal matrix layer containing an active agent which is neither peptide or protein, nor the derivatives or conjugates thereof, a lipophilic matrix whose melting point is greater than 37° C. and a polymer with mucoadhesive effect, b) an external film coating substentially consisting of a polymer or an anionic copolymer which is optionally formulated with conventional pharmaceutical additives, wherein the active agent has a water solubility according to DAB 10, of at least 30 volume parts of water for one part by weight of the active agent and is coated with the lipophilic matrix and said active agent-containing lipophilic matrix is coated with a matrix made of a polymer with mucoadhesive effect. A method for producing the inventive multiparticle pharmaceutical dosage is also disclosed.
US08273373B2
A photocrosslinked biodegradable hydrogel includes a plurality of natural polymer macromers cross-linked with a plurality of hydrolyzable acrylate cross-links. The hydrogel is cytocompatible and produces substantially non-toxic products upon degradation.
US08273368B2
Methods, system and compositions for making and using a bioresorbable linked dressing made of bioresorbable microspheres in various configurations are provided for use in applying reduced pressure to a wound site. The methods include manufacture of a bioresorbable dressing comprising a casing and bioresorbable microspheres in the form of a rope shape. Further, the casing of the dressing comprises pores formed by a porogen system that may be activated by external to the wound or formed in situ within the wound site. The shape of the dressing allows the dressing to be placed into the wound site such that it fills the shape and size of the wound. Embodiments include formation of various rope dressing and their use in conjunction with reduced pressure therapy.
US08273367B2
The present invention relates to articles to be worn in contact with a mammal body, such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, nursing pads, baby diapers and the like. The article includes a mint odor-free cooling agent able to convey freshness sensation to the wearer of the article, without the need of modifying body surface temperature.
US08273364B2
A method for treating diseased plants, such as turf and trees, includes mixing a quantity of a plant remediation composition with water and applying the plant remediation composition to the diseased plants. The plant remediation composition may include from about 70 up to about 90 volume percent of a potassium silicate, up to 10 volume percent of a sodium silicate, from about 0.25 to about 3.0 volume percent of a surfactant, from about 0.25 to about 3.0 volume percent of a polyol, and the remaining volume percent water. The plant remediation composition may be used to treat plant molds, bacteria and fungi, such as Anthracnose, Fairy Ring, Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, and Snow Mold, and may also be used to prevent and remediate insect infestations.
US08273362B2
Cationic ophthalmic oil-in-water type emulsions, include colloid particles having an oily core surrounded by an interfacial film, the emulsion including at least one cationic agent and at least one non ionic surfactant, the oily core including a prostaglandin selected from the group comprising in particular latanoprost, unoprostone isopropyl, travoprost, bimatoprost, tafluprost, 8-isoprostaglandinE2, or a mixture thereof, for treating ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma. These emulsions have the property to increase the chemical stability of prostaglandins.
US08273358B2
Compositions comprising activatable recombinant neurotoxins and polypeptides derived therefrom. The invention also comprises nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods of making such polypeptides and nucleic acids.
US08273354B2
Individual monoclonal antibodies and fragments that bind a conserved epitope of the G protein of RSV and which are minimally immunogenic when administered to a human subject, are useful in treating RSV infections.
US08273345B2
Methods and compositions are provided for delivery of a polynucleotide encoding a gene of interest, typically an antigen, to a dendritic cell (DC). The virus envelope comprises a DC-SIGN specific targeting molecule. The methods and related compositions can be used to treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions, including infection, such as HIV/AIDS, and various types of cancers.
US08273343B2
This invention relates to a conjugate of a polymer moiety and an interferon-β moiety, an erythropoietin moiety, or a growth hormone moiety.
US08273341B2
The invention is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08273335B2
A method of styling hair comprising the step of applying to the hair a composition comprising an oligosaccharide comprising mannitol.
US08273333B2
A non-lathering personal care article in the form of a porous dissolvable solid structure, comprising: from about 0% to about 10% ionic surfactant; from about 1% to about 60% of a non-surfactant cosmetic active; from about 15% to about 70% polymeric structurant, wherein the polymeric structurant has a weighted average molecular weight of from about 40,000 to about 500,000; and from about 1% to about 30% plasticizer. The article has a density of from about 0.03 g/cm3 to about 0.15 g/cm3.
US08273326B2
The instant invention provides a method for diagnosing an infection in a subject by administering to the subject a compound suitable for imaging which binds to a thymidine kinase present in the infecting organism, and obtaining an image of the subject to determine the presence and location of the compound, wherein a localization of the compound is indicative that the subject has an infection.
US08273322B2
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.
US08273320B2
The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.
US08273303B2
A contoured sterilizing element is configured to conform to the outer and inner surfaces of a working end-site of a medical device such as a catheter hub, luer connector, luer component, needleless access site, and/or access port The sterilizing element is made from absorbent material and can be pre-moistened or impregnated with an anti-pathogenic agent The sterilizing element can be contained within a housing that is easily griped and opened in one hand by the user The sterilizing element is configured to wipe debris from and to sterilize and/or dry a working end-site of medical device, using a wiping, twisting, dabbing, push/pull, and/or screwing motion around all of the surface aspects of the device to be sterilized.
US08273297B2
An apparatus and a related method for performing particle agglutination reactions in at least one disposable probe tip are disclosed. The at least one probe tip includes a sample cavity for sample acquisition, at least one flanking cavity for the capture of particles by centrifugation or other means, a transition zone for the mixing of the sample with reagents for agglutination and a detection zone for the optical detection of particle agglutination. A mechanism may be attached to the probe tip for the controlled movement of fluids through the internal volume of the probe tip. The probe tip is particularly useful for the automation of high-throughput agglutination-type assays.
US08273295B2
A blood glucose meter having a compact housing, a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit including a display light source to illuminate the display unit, an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter, and a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter, where the housing includes a port integrated on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip, and corresponding methods of measuring blood glucose meter is provided.
US08273293B2
An apparatus comprising a chamber where a base concentrate common to at least a first flavored food product and a second flavored food product is formed, the first flavored food product having different flavoring than the second flavored food product, the base concentrate having a first temperature. The apparatus also comprises a process line that receives the base concentrate from the chamber, heated liquid from a heated liquid source, and flavoring from either a first flavor source or a second flavor source to form a mixture of base concentrate, heated liquid and flavoring. The mixture has a has second temperature sufficient to achieve a change in the mixture selected from the group consisting of microbial change, chemical change, biochemical change, and enzymatic change, and combinations thereof. A method is also disclosed for change over from forming a first flavored food product to forming a second flavored food product.
US08273292B2
The present invention provides a steel for machine and structural use which sustains mechanical properties such as strength by reducing S content, and exerts excellent machinability (in particular, tool life) in both of intermittent cutting with HSS tools and continuous cutting with carbide tools. The invention relates to a steel for machine and structural use which contains an oxide inclusion containing, wherein a total mass of an average composition of the oxide inclusions is 100%: CaO: 10 to 55 mass %; SiO2: 20 to 70 mass %; Al2O3: more than 0 and 35 mass % or less; MgO: more than 0 and 20 mass % or less; MnO: more than 0 and 5 mass % or less; and one or more members selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, BaO, SrO and TiO2: 0.5 to 20 mass % in total.
US08273277B2
A method for producing a proton-conducting, polyazole-containing membrane, in which A) a composition containing polyphosphoric acid and at least one polyazole and exhibiting a solution viscosity in the range from 10 Pa·s to 1000 Pa·s, measured to DIN 53018 at the temperature at the orifice during production of the membrane, is pressed through an orifice at a temperature in the range from 25° C. to 300° C., and B) the composition is then solidified.
US08273276B2
A roller die preformer for use in an extrusion system to form wide extruded components, such as a rubber tire tread, on a surface of a roller. The roller die preformer includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet and a laterally expanding flow channel extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet. A flow restrictor is configured within the flow channel to urge the flow of material toward the lateral extremities of the flow channel to thereby form an extruded component at the flow outlet having a lateral width which is greater than the lateral width of the flow inlet of the preformer.
US08273274B2
The current invention relates to methods of making nano-particles of a material with a narrow polydispersity. The particle materials are active agents, organic compounds, polymers, and combinations thereof.
US08273259B1
Ashing of organic material is conducted initially at a low temperature and then at a high temperature. A low flow rate of ashing gas maximizes ashing rate at the low temperature, and a high flow rate of ashing gas maximizes ashing rate at a high temperature. Preferably, a crossover temperature of a particular organic material in a given ashing system is determined, the crossover temperature characterized in that below the crossover temperature, a decrease in ashing gas flow rate results in an increase of ashing rate, and above the crossover temperature, an increase in ashing gas flow rate results in an increase of ashing rate.
US08273254B2
A method of sanitizing water contained in a spa is provided which comprises installing a chlorine generating cell including a diamond electrode in a filter compartment of the spa, employing a resin-filled calcium remover bag to reduce the hardness of the water, adding salt to the water; and operating the chlorine generating cell to generate chlorine and other sanitizing agents for sanitizing the water.
US08273250B2
Skimmers, barges and related methods recover heavy oil or bitumen from contaminated water environments such as tailings ponds. The skimmer has an articulated mesh-like conveyor driven around a drum by a drive sprocket. A pusher mechanism discharges bitumen or heavy oil from cavities in the conveyor. In one embodiment, the skimmer includes an automatic depth control system. In other embodiments, knife-edged shear plates remove heavy oil or bitumen adhering to the conveyor and drum. A barge may incorporate multiple parallel skimmers. The barge may include a bitumen-transfer pump having an annular fluid-injection flange that generates an annulus of lubricating fluid inside a discharge hose. A method of skimming heavy oil or bitumen involves using a skimmer that automatically adjusts its elevation or depth based on a control signal generated by a depth sensor. Another method recovers and transfers bitumen by lubricating the discharge hose using the annular fluid-injection flange.
US08273249B2
A new method that integrates electrochemical oxidation and flocculation processes for removing ammonia nitrogen in coking wastewater is disclosed in this invention. It comprises steps as follow: first, adjusting the PH of coking wastewater and adding Fe2+ into the wastewater; then leading the wastewater containing Fe2+ through such 5 areas as pulsed high-voltage discharge oxidation area, pulsed high-frequency DC electrolytic oxidation area, microbubble oxidation area, flocculation area and precipitation area in succession. High-voltage pulse and high-frequency pulse are two different mechanisms for achieving strong oxidation. With help of both solid and liquid catalysts, these two oxidations can work synergistically. The recalcitrant organic chemicals are effectively destroyed and satisfactorily removed out of wastewater. The high-concentration coking waster pretreated with this method will meet Chinese highest discharge standard as long as the routine biochemical treatment is applied thereafter. The total investment on equipments and operation expenditure of the whole system is economically modest, which, together with its highly efficient treatment performance, ensures its extensive application in the field of wastewater treatment.
US08273247B2
An apparatus for cleaning of wastewater comprising a submerged membrane biological reactor system (MBR) and a submerged membrane module (MBD) wherein the MBR is in fluid communication with the MBD for feeding excess sludge from the MBR to the MBD and wherein the MBR comprises an outlet which releases permeate passed through the membrane of the MBR and the MBD is in fluid communication with the MBR for feeding permeate passed through the membrane of the MBD back into the MBR and comprises an outlet for releasing gas.
US08273237B2
The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for recovering metal values from a metal-bearing materials, and more specifically, a process for recovering copper and other metals through leaching, electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, and the synergistic addition of ferrous iron to the leach step.
US08273229B2
A hydrogen quantity sensor can directly measure hydrogen contained in a hydrogen storage device with simple and easy means. The hydrogen quantity sensor comprises a detecting electrode comprised of a hydrogen storage alloy disposed inside a hydrogen storage vessel, a standard electrode disposed to confront the detecting electrode; and an electrolyte member disposed between the detecting electrode and the standard electrode. The detecting electrode, the standard electrode and the electrolyte member constitute a sensor portion to measure hydrogen concentration within the hydrogen storage alloy as an electromotive force value.
US08273226B2
An electrochemical test sensor includes a base, a generally hard electrically-conductive layer, an electrochemically-active layer, and a lid. The electrically-conductive layer is located between the base and the electrochemically-active layer. The electrically-conductive layer and the electrochemically-active layer are made of a different material. The electrically-conductive layer and the electrochemically-active layer form an electrode pattern. The electrochemical test sensor includes a reagent adapted to assist in determining information related to an analyte of a fluid sample.
US08273218B2
A paper machine clothing, in particular a press felt for a paper, cardboard or tissue machine, includes a load bearing base structure that extends in the longitudinal and cross directions of the clothing and which is formed, for example from a longitudinal reinforcement module substantially providing the dimensional stability in longitudinal direction of the clothing, and a transverse reinforcement module substantially providing the dimensional stability in the cross direction of the clothing, which is arranged on the longitudinal reinforcement module and is connected with same. The transverse reinforcement module is a warp knit fabric, which includes at least one system of warp threads arranged parallel to each other and one system of stitch-forming sewing threads extending substantially perpendicular thereto into which the warp threads are integrated to form a textile fabric. The warp threads extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the clothing and have a greater flexural strength than the sewing threads.
US08273216B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing paper which comprises: providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibers, adding to the suspension, after all points of high shear, a cationic polysaccharide; and a polymer P2 being an anionic polymer; and, dewatering the obtained suspension to form paper.
US08273213B2
A one-ply tissue product includes a first external surface and a second external surface, the first surface having a wet-formed pattern and the second surface having an embossed pattern imitating the wet-formed pattern. Additionally, also multi-ply tissue product is suggested comprising at least two plies including two outer plies, each outer ply having a first surface and a second surface, one outer ply having a wet-formed pattern on at least the first surface and the other outer ply having an embossed pattern on at least the first surface imitating the wet-formed pattern on the first surface of the one outer ply, both outer plies being brought together so that their respective first surfaces represent external surfaces of the multi-ply tissue product. Moreover, a corresponding method and an embossing unit are also disclosed.
US08273210B2
In the plasma processing apparatus 1, microwaves supplied from a coaxial waveguide 30 are introduced into a processing container 2 via a wavelength-shortening plate 25, a process gas is plasmatized in the processing container 2, and a substrate W is processed using the plasma. In the plasma processing apparatus 1, a dielectric member 45 is disposed at a connecting area between the coaxial waveguide 30 and the wavelength-shortening plate 25. Inside an outer conductor 32 of the coaxial waveguide 30, the dielectric member 45 is disposed to surround a part of a circumference of an inner conductor 31 of the coaxial waveguide 30, and is disposed at any position around the circumference of the inner conductor 31.
US08273209B2
A thermal diffusion sheet of the present invention includes a graphite sheet and thermally conductive adhesive layers attached to both principal surfaces of the graphite sheet. The thermally conductive adhesive layer on a first surface is substantially the same in size as the graphite sheet. The thermally conductive adhesive layer on a second surface is relatively larger in size than the thermally conductive adhesive layer on the first surface, and the entire periphery of the thermally conductive adhesive layer on the second surface lies outside the graphite sheet. The adhesive strength of the thermally conductive adhesive layers on the first and second surfaces after exposure to 40° C. for 168 hours is reduced by no more than 20% relative to the initial adhesive strength. A hardened material of a polymer component of the thermally conductive adhesive layers on the first and second surfaces has a thermal conductivity of 0.6 W/m·K or more. With this configuration, the thermal diffusion sheet has a structure in which the graphite sheet is sealed by attaching the thermally conductive adhesive layer that is larger than the graphite sheet and has a good thermal conductivity in the plane direction to a radiator plate, and can transfer heat to the radiator plate reliably at a low cost.
US08273207B2
A method for connecting an electronic part, which contains: mixing a dispersing solvent, an adhesive resin which is dissolved in the dispersing solvent, conductive particles, and insulating particles which have smaller particle diameters than those of the conductive particles so as to prepare an anisotropic conductive adhesive; placing a terminal of a substrate and a terminal of an electronic part so as to face each other via the anisotropic conductive adhesive, and applying heat and pressure to the substrate and the electronic part so as to sandwich the conductive particles between the terminal of the substrate and the terminal of the electronic part to thereby deform the conductive particles, in which the pressure is smaller than pressure at which the conductive particles are destroyed, and smaller than pressure at which the particle diameters of the conductive particles become equal to the particle diameters of the insulating particles.
US08273203B2
According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a prepreg sheet includes steps of (A) forming a resin layer 61 on a surface of a supporter 3, (B) winding a reinforcing yarn 10 around the resin layer 61, and (C) embedding at least a part of the reinforcing yarn 10 in the resin layer 61. Preferably, in step (C), the surface of the supporter 3 is relatively moved towards the reinforcing yarn 10.
US08273202B2
A centrifuge rotor includes a rotor body having first and second axial ends and a circumferential sidewall extending therebetween. The rotor body has a plurality of wells for receiving sample containers to be processed in the rotor. The rotor further includes an elongate reinforcement extending around the circumferential sidewall of the rotor body along a helical path. At least two portions of the elongate reinforcement interlock at one or more specific points on the surface of the rotor.
US08273199B1
The present invention generally relates to auto-ignition/booster compositions for inflators of occupant restraint systems, for example. An auto-ignition/booster and/or gas generant composition in accordance with the present invention includes an aromatic acid selected from tetrazoles, carboxylic acid/benzene-based fuels, nitrotriazoles, aminonitrotriazoles, aminotriazoles, bistetrazolylamines, bitetrazoles, and mixtures thereof; an alkali metal nitrate selected from potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate, and mixtures thereof; a basic constituent; and a catalytic non-oxidizing molybdenum-containing additive. A gas generator and a gas generating system including compositions of the present invention are also contemplated.
US08273193B2
The present invention supplies a lead-free, bismuth-free free-cutting silicon brass alloy with high zinc which preferably comprises 35.0 to 42.0 wt % Zn, 0.1 to 1.5 wt % Si, 0.03 to 0.3 wt % Al, 0.01 to 0.36 wt % P, 0.01 to 0.1 wt % Ti, 0.001 to 0.05 wt % rare earth metals selected from the group consisting of La and Ce, 0.05 to 0.5 wt % Sn, and/or 0.05 to 0.2 wt % Ni, and the balance being Cu and unavoidable impurities. In yet another embodiment, the alloy may be boron-free. The invented alloy is excellent in castability, weldability, cuttability, electroplating properties, corrosion resistance, mechanical properties. The alloy is especially applicable in castings which need cutting and welding under low pressure die casting, such as castings for faucet bodies in the water supply system. The alloy is also suitable for use in components which are produced from casting ingots by die forging.
US08273192B2
The present invention relates to a lead-free, bismuth-free free-cutting phosphorous brass alloy and its method of manufacture. The alloy comprises: Cu; Zn; 0.59 to 1.6 wt % P; and other elements in the amount of 0.005 to 0.6 wt %, which comprise at least two elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Sb, Sn, Rare earth element (RE), Ti and B, and the balance being unavoidable impurities. The phosphorous brass alloy contains a combined wt % of Cu and Zn of between 97.0 wt % and 99.5 wt %, within which the content of Zn is above 40 wt %. Considering the solid solubility of P in the matrix of copper will be decreased rapidly with the temperature decrease and form the brittle intermetallic compounds Cu3P with Cu, the present invention relies upon P to ensure excellent cuttability of the invented alloy. The invented alloy is reasonably priced, and has excellent cuttability, castability, hot and cold workability, dezincification corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and weldability. The phosphorous brass alloy is a useful alloy for spare parts, forging and castings that require cutting, and particularly in forging and castings for low pressure die casting that requires cutting, grinding, welding and electroplating. The phosphorous brass alloy may also be used for faucets, valves and bushings of water supply systems, and for bar and wire materials that require high corrosion resistance and compactness.
US08273180B2
An exemplary device for film coating, is provided. The device has an evaporating unit, wherein the evaporating unit includes a driving member and a carrier. The driving member has an extending rotatable shaft. The carrier includes a main body, a plurality of branches and a plurality of crucibles. The branches each extend from the main body. The crucibles each are supported by a respective one of the branches and configured for receiving a film material therein. The rotatable shaft is engaged in the main body and thereby rotating the carrier.
US08273176B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a process for obtaining silicon crystals from silicon. The method includes contacting silicon powder with a solvent metal to provide a mixture containing silicon, melting the silicon under submersion to provide a first molten liquid, contacting the first molten liquid with a first gas to provide dross and a second molten liquid, separating the dross and the second molten liquid, cooling the second molten liquid to form first silicon crystals and a first mother liquid and separating the first silicon crystals and the first mother liquid.
US08273173B2
A cement additive, comprising nanostructured or not particles of SiO2—CaO—Al2O3 and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of nano-sized particles of SiO2, 2CaO.SiO2, 3CaO.SiO2, Al2O3, P—Ca and/or combinations thereof.
US08273164B2
A fuel vapor processor has a fuel tank, a canister, a vapor pipe, a recovery pipe, an air pipe, a suction device, a vapor pipe valve, an air pipe valve, and a pressure regulator. The vapor pipe leads fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank to the canister for trapping the fuel vapor in the canister. The recovery pipe recoveries the fuel vapor desorbed from the canister into the fuel tank. The air pipe communicates the canister with the atmosphere. The suction device is disposed on the recovery pipe for desorbing the fuel vapor trapped in the canister. The pressure regulator is communicated with the air pipe between the air pipe valve and the canister in order to allow gas flow from the atmosphere toward the canister. During desorption of the fuel vapor due to the suction device, the vapor pipe valve and the air pipe valve are closed, and negative pressure is kept in the canister such that the fuel vapor is desorbed from the canister and fresh air is led into the canister via the pressure regulator.
US08273159B2
A control device module for a motor vehicle includes a control device that has a closed housing in which a first internal pressure prevails, and at least one connecting device for coupling a connecting element of an electrical cable. A closed space is defined in the coupled state between the connecting device and the connecting element, in which closed space a second internal pressure prevails. The control device also includes a pressure compensating device for adapting the first and second internal pressures to an external pressure that acts on the control device module from outside.
US08273155B2
Disclosed is a formulation for the absorption of CO2, which comprises water, at least one CO2 absorption compound and a carbonic anhydrase as an activator to enhance the absorption capacity of the CO2 absorption compound. The invention also concerns the use of carbonic anhydrase, in a CO2 absorption solution to increase the CO2 absorption rate of such solution.
US08273143B2
An air cleaner assembly, a main filter element, and a method for servicing an air cleaner assembly are provided according to the present invention. The air cleaner assembly includes an air cleaner housing and a main filter element. The air cleaner housing can include a safety liner or support having a closed end cap that supports the main filter element, and helps reduce the tendency of the main filter element to rotate during use of the air cleaner assembly.
US08273141B2
A fuel reforming apparatus including reaction substrates is provided. The reaction substrates of the present invention is made of stainless steel, nickel steel, or chromium steel. Each of the reaction substrates has a channel formed on the surface of the reaction substrate. Reactant for oxidation reaction or for fuel reforming reaction flow through the channel. A catalyst containing layer is formed on the surface of the channel by directly oxidizing the surface of the channel. Therefore, the catalyst containing layer is formed with oxidized steel. A catalyst layer is formed on the catalyst containing layer. A pair of substrates can be laminated to make one substrate a thermal source unit and another a reforming reaction unit.
US08273139B2
Systems and processes for producing syngas are provided. A first hydrocarbon can be partially oxidized in the presence of an oxidant and one or more first catalysts at conditions sufficient to partially combust a portion of the first hydrocarbon to provide carbon dioxide, non-combusted first hydrocarbon, and heat. At least a portion of the non-combusted first hydrocarbon can be reformed in the presence of at least a portion of the heat generated in the partial oxidation step and the one or more first catalysts to provide a first syngas. The first syngas can comprise hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Heat can be indirectly exchanged from the first syngas to a second hydrocarbon to reform at least a portion of the second hydrocarbon in the presence of steam and one or more second catalysts to provide a second syngas. The second syngas can comprise hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
US08273137B2
A middle distillate fuel composition is provided comprising (a) a middle distillate base fuel, (b) a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic wax component, and (c) one or more cold flow additives; a method for formulating a middle distillate fuel composition comprising a middle distillate base fuel, comprising (i) incorporating into the base fuel a Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component. The use of a Fischer-Tropsch derived wax component in a middle distillate fuel composition, for the purpose of increasing the effect of a CFPP improver additive in the composition is disclosed.
US08273136B2
A method for manufacturing an electrode of an electrochemical element includes: (A) forming an active material layer on a current collector; and (B) providing lithium to the active material layer. The A step and the B step are carried out in continuous space.
US08273123B2
Unitary accommodating intraocular lenses (AIOLs) including a haptics system for self-anchoring in a human eye's ciliary sulcus and a resiliently elastically compressible shape memory optical element having a continuously variable Diopter strength between a first Diopter strength in a non-compressed state and a second Diopter strength different than its first Diopter strength in a compressed state. The unitary AIOLS include an optical element with an exposed trailing surface and are intended to be used with a discrete base member for applying an axial compression force against the exposed trailing surface from a posterior direction. Some unitary AIOLs are intended to be used with either a purpose designed base member or a previously implanted standard in-the-bag IOL. Other unitary AIOLs are intended to be solely used with a purpose designed base member.
US08273115B2
An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.
US08273111B2
A growth control device includes a bone plate having a stepped profile defined by a first level, a second level and an intermediate ramp connecting the first and second levels. The first level includes a first threaded hole for receiving a first bone fastener and the second level includes a second threaded hole for receiving a second bone fastener. The bone plate includes a proximal pair of side female notches, a distal pair of side female notches, a proximal guide hole and a distal guide hole.
US08273109B2
A structure including a pair of helically wound interlocking forms located on a cylindrical closure for an open headed medical implant and in a receiver between arms of the implant respectively. The interlocking forms each include overlapping gripping elements that engage mating elements during assembly to prevent radial splaying of arms of the implant.
US08273106B2
A soft tissue repair device includes a deformable tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending between first and second open ends and a flexible strand passing through the longitudinal bore of the tubular member. The flexible strand has a first end portion extending outside the first open end of the tubular member and a second portion forming a first loop that passes through the second open end of the tubular member and an intermediate opening between the first and second open ends of the tubular member. Pulling the first end portion of the flexible strand away from the tubular member deforms a portion of the tubular member between the second open end and the intermediate opening into a folded shape forming a soft tissue anchor.
US08273098B2
A carpal tunnel release tool and methods for using the same are disclosed. Embodiments of the carpal tunnel release tool include a guide with an angled track and a knife that fits into and follows the angled track. In one embodiment, the knife is retracted into the guide as it is advanced along the track to cut the ligament. In an alternate embodiment the blade is extended outwardly from the surface of the guide as the blade is advanced along the track. Other embodiments include a projection at the terminal end of the track that maintains the position of the ligament over the guide, serves as a type of cutting block to ensure complete bisecting of the ligament, and can aid the surgeon in placement of the guide beneath the ligament. Further embodiments include an inserter that inhibits tissue entering the track as the guide is advanced beneath the ligament.
US08273094B2
Methods and apparatus for locating a device with respect to a blood vessel. An expandable or extrudable member transverse to the device locates an internal surface of a proximal wall of the blood vessel. A typical application of such methods and apparatus is providing relative position between a femoral arterial wall and a closure device axis. Predetermined location positions are recognized as a positive stop transmitted to a physician via tactile feedback.
US08273087B2
An ultrasonic surgical instrument has an ultrasonic transducer unit having an ultrasonic transducer for producing ultrasonic vibration, a transmission member which connects the ultrasonic transducer in the proximal end side, and transmits the ultrasonic vibration produced by the ultrasonic transducer from the proximal end side to the distal end side, a sheath, in which the transmission member is inserted, having an open part on one side of the distal end side, and a treatment portion which is provided at the distal end of the transmission member, and exposed to the open part for carrying out a surgical treatment on an object part by the ultrasonic vibration transmitted from the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument cuts or shaves hard tissues.
US08273083B2
A carrier for an ablation element is provided. The carrier includes a plurality of walls defining a receiving portion configured to receive at least a portion of an ablation element. A plurality of connection formations are disposed on an exterior surface of least one of the plurality of walls. Each of the plurality of connection formations is disposed at a different vertical position of the carrier. A device for epicardial ablation is also provided. The device includes a plurality of carriers disposed adjacent to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of walls defining a receiving portion configured to receive at least a portion of an ablation element. A plurality of connection formations are disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of walls of each carrier. Each of the plurality of connection formations is disposed at a different vertical position of a carrier.
US08273079B2
A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the needle can ablate a continuous lobe region in the prostate parallel to the urethral wall. Another feature of the vapor delivery needle is that it can introduce a cooling fluid into the urethra during treatment. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.
US08273074B2
A wound exudate removal and isolation system includes a porous dressing, a canister in fluid communication with the dressing, and a first valve positioned between the dressing and the canister. The first valve is positionable between an open position and a closed position. A disposal line is fluidly connected to the canister and includes a second valve that is positionable between an open position and a closed position. A pump is fluidly connected to the canister and is configured to draw wound exudate from the dressing into the canister when the first valve is open and the second valve is closed. The pump is configured to force wound exudate from the canister into the disposal line when the first valve is closed and the second valve is open.
US08273068B2
This invention relates to polyolefin compositions. In particular, the invention pertains to elastic polymer compositions that can be more easily processed on cast film lines, extrusion lamination or coating lines. The compositions of the present invention preferably comprise an elastomeric polyolefin resin and a high pressure low density type resin.
US08273064B2
An apparatus for sanitizing the skin area beneath a worn medical cast includes a thin elongate and flexible member made from a highly pliable material, the member including a distal end having at least one cleaning pad secured thereon. The thin elongate member is sized to be fitted between the skin of a cast wearer and the inner surface of a worn cast. In one version, disposable cleaning pads are releasably secured to the distal end of the elongate member.
US08273060B2
The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument.
US08273056B2
A needle guard assembly having a resilient arm extending from a base situated to slide along the shaft of a needle, In one implementation the needle guard has an elongate containment member that rides with the resilient arm and is co-operable with the resilient arm to effectuate a covering of the entire distal tip of the needle upon the needle being refracted into the needle guard.
US08273051B2
A pneumostoma management system includes a pneumostoma management device for maintaining the patency of a pneumostoma and a drug delivery device for pneumostoma care. The drug delivery device may be used to introduce therapeutic agents into the pneumostoma for direct treatment of the pneumostoma, treatment of the lung by way of collateral ventilation, and/or treatment of non-lung tissues by diffusion into the bloodstream. The drug delivery device includes a therapeutic agent dispenser for supplying a therapeutic agent and a propellant at positive pressure, an outlet and a connector for correctly positioning the outlet relative to a pneumostoma management device. The drug delivery device includes a self-centering and self-sealing connector for engaging the pneumostoma management device.
US08273050B2
Ocular implants and methods of treating ocular disorders are provided. One method involves inserting an implant into an anterior chamber of an eye. The implant has a therapeutic drug or agent and is advanced within the anterior chamber to a location posterior to a cornea of the eye. At least a portion of the implant is placed into eye tissue at this location. The therapeutic drug of the implant is exposed to aqueous humor. In one method, an anchor is utilized to retain the implant in eye tissue.
US08273049B2
A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least, one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump. The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.
US08273046B2
Systems and methods for providing light therapy traction to a patient. A light therapy device and a traction mechanism provide concurrent, alternating and/or repetitive treatment to a patient. The light therapy device includes one or more light sources configured to deliver light to a patient. The traction mechanism is configured to provide selective separation to a particular location the patient's body, such as a location of the patient's vertebrae. In some embodiments, the light therapy and traction are performed simultaneously. In other embodiments, the light therapy and lumbar traction are performed in treatment cycles to the patient. Embodiments of the present invention embrace the application of light therapy prior to, during, and/or after a cervical and/or lumbar traction treatment.
US08273042B2
The use of an orthopedic aid with two parts (15, 16) which are movable relative to one another and with a locking device for locking the two parts (15, 16) in a predetermined relative position and for unlocking the parts (15, 16) in order to permit movement of the parts (15, 16) with respect to one another is made much safer by virtue of the fact that at least one signaling arrangement (36, 40, 41, 42) is provided which emits a particular signal for the locking state or upon unlocking of the locking device. The risk of accidents due to the parts (15, 16) being incorrectly locked is at least substantially reduced.
US08273033B2
A mainstream gas monitoring system and method that includes a mainstream airway adapter, and a gas sensing assembly associated with the mainstream airway adapter to measure an analyte of a gas flow through the adapter. A gas sensing portion outputs a signal indicative of the analyte in a gas flow in the mainstream airway adapter. A processing portion receives the signal from the gas sensing portion and determines an amount of the analyte in the gas flow based on the signal from the gas sensing portion. The gas sensing portion is subject to temperature variations associated with variations in flow rate and direction of respiratory gases. Methods are described that utilize the measurement of instantaneous respiratory flow rate combined with estimates of gas temperature and composition to estimate the sensor cooling effects from which a flow based time varying compensation factor is derived.
US08273018B1
Methods for use in, e.g., a patient care computing environment, for establishing a communication between a bedside care location and a remote care location are provided. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a multi-patient view having a plurality of selectable patient indicators and receiving an indication that one of the plurality of selectable patient indicators has been selected by a user. In another embodiment, the method may include displaying a view of an electronic record associated with a patient, e.g., an electronic medical record, the view having a selectable audio/video launch indicator, and receiving an indication that the selectable audio/video indicator has been selected by a user. The user's selection of one of the plurality of selectable patient indicators or the selectable audio/video indicator may be indicative of a request for initiation of a communication between the user and another party.
US08273015B2
A method for viewing a portion of a patient's anatomy that comprises placing a scanner assembly including an oscillating reflector in the anatomy, securing the scanner assembly to an anatomical structure, scanning the anatomy with the scanner assembly secured to the anatomical structure, collecting radiation returned from the scanned anatomy, and generating a displayable image of the anatomy.
US08273014B2
An endoscopic fluid control apparatus includes a cylinder which is attachable to an attachment part attached to an endoscope, and includes a first channel which transfers fluid to an insertion channel of the endoscope, a piston which is set on the cylinder and includes a valve part movable relative to the cylinder between a position where the first channel is opened relative to the insertion channel and a position where the first channel is closed relative to the insertion channel, a connection port part for connecting a fluid tube, and a second channel which transfers the fluid from the connection port part to the insertion channel, an elastic member which holds the piston to be movable relative to the cylinder between the position where the first channel is closed and the position where the first channel is opened, a first engagement part which engages the piston and the elastic member with each other so as not to rotate about an axis of movement of the piston, and a second engagement part which engages the cylinder and the elastic member with each other so as not to rotate about an axis of movement of the cylinder.The piston includes the valve part, a connection port part, and the second channel.
US08273006B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for treatment to tissue surrounding a body cavity or other intracorporeal site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer. Such a device includes a treatment location on a distal portion of the device with one or more radiation shielding components that partially encircle a radiation source at the treatment location to control emitted radiation from the radiation source. The device minimizes radiation damage to healthy tissue surrounding the body cavity or other site while irradiating tissue not shielded by the radiation shielding components. A device embodying features of the invention can include a sealing member at a location on a shaft of the device proximal to a treatment location to seal the passageway leading to the body cavity.
US08273005B2
A catheter-based radiation delivery system is adapted to treat pain, nervous system injury, and select neoplasms. A source of pain is identified within soft tissues of an individual or an animal. A needle or catheter is then used to deliver radiation to the source of pain.
US08273003B2
An apparatus of the present invention includes: a folding section 2 for folding a web W in two so that opposite side edges Wa and Wb of the web W are brought into a predetermined positional relationship with each other by bringing the web W into contact with an abutting member 4; a pair of carrying means 10A and 10B arranged along opposite sides of the web W for carrying the web W in the longitudinal direction X; a plurality of holding means 20 provided in each of the carrying means 10A and 10B wherein the holding means 20 can be displaced in the transverse direction D of the web W; displacement means 30 for displacing the holding means 20 in the transverse direction D upstream of the abutting member 4 so as to correct a positional relationship between the web W and the abutting member 4; detection means 3 for outputting positional information regarding a position of the web W in the transverse direction D; and control means 200 for controlling the displacement means 30 based on the positional information.
US08273001B2
A muscle toning kit includes an exercise garment having a first resistance article and a second resistance article. The first resistance article and the second resistance article cooperate to facilitate the exercise of at least one muscle group of a user. The first resistance article is adjustable to provide a range of user selected resistance levels, while second resistance article has another range of user selected resistance levels so that as the user maneuvers the exercise garment, its adjustable pressure opposing structures facilitate the toning and conditioning of the at least one muscle group of the user. The method includes wearing and deforming the exercise garment from its original shape through natural extension and flexing actions of the user to facilitate providing a resistive force to condition the at least one muscle group of the user.
US08272995B2
Various exercise machines have foot supporting linkages that move a person's feet through respective left and right paths of motion in respective planes that are skewed relative to one another.
US08272993B2
A method of carrying out a shift under load in either an electric vehicle which has a change-under-load transmission or a hybrid vehicle which has a hybrid transmission while the vehicle is operating in a purely electrical mode. The speed adaptation of the electric machine, which is required for synchronization to a new gear, is carried out in a speed regulation mode.
US08272990B2
The invention relates to a revolving gear mechanism with at least two gear wheels which mesh mutually, forming an engagement space, of which one is a revolving gear wheel which is mounted rotatably by means of a bearing on a bolt, and a lateral surface of the bolt forms a bearing surface. According to the invention, at least one axial longitudinal groove is arranged on the lateral surface of the bolt.
US08272986B2
A transmission configured for receiving power from an engine is provided with a normally-closed clutch in order to permit operation in modes requiring closure of the clutch even when hydraulic power from a pump powered by the engine or by rotation of a transmission member is not available, or is not of a sufficient pressure.
US08272977B2
A golf ball includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a cavity therebetween. A pigment is placed in the cavity. When the ball is struck, the pigment moves from a consolidated position to a dispersed position adjacent the outer layer. An observation of the dispersed pigment informs the golfer of the spin imparted to the ball.
US08272966B2
A damper device includes a damper portion and a limiter portion, and the limiter portion has a first constitutive member formed to cover the damper portion or the limiter portion, a first and second friction materials fixed to a second constitutive member of the damper portion, a cover plate provided so as to be slidable to the first friction material, a support plate arranged so as to be distant from the cover plate at a radially inner portion of the support plate and so as to contact the cover plate at a radially outer portion of the support plate, a pressure plate provided so as to be slidable to the second friction material and a coned disc spring provided between the support plate and the pressure plate, wherein the first constitutive member is at least one of the cover plate and the support plate.
US08272960B2
There is disclosed a system (400) including one or more gaming machines (404 . . . 408) and one or more system control resources (402). The system control resources (402) are configured to dynamically control the provision of services (402A, 402B) to components of the system. Each of the services (402A, 402B) is implemented by the way of one or more software processes running on one or more data processing resources (402) of the gaming system (400). At least one system control resource (402) is further configured to dynamically allocate said software processes amongst the data processing resources of the gaming system (400). The services (402A, 402B) can include a service that determines an outcome of one or more games playable on a gamin machine, and at a service configured to trigger the award of a jackpot prize.
US08272952B2
A gaming system comprises a wager input device, a display for displaying a primary wagering game, and a touch screen overlying at least a portion of the display. The system further includes a controller operative to (i) cause the display to display at least one soft key, the soft key overlying and concealing a first portion of the primary wagering game, (ii) cause the display to display a play of the primary wagering game, and (iii) during the play of the primary wagering game, cause the display to present an altered display of the soft key to reveal some or all of the first portion.
US08272943B2
According to a slot machine of the present invention, a first specific number of free games are executed when a first predetermined condition is established in a normal game. Further, a second specific number of free games are executed, when a second predetermined condition is established. Furthermore, when the first predetermined condition is established in the free game executed triggered by the establishment of the second predetermined condition, a third specific number of free games are further executed after the second specific number of free games are executed. Here, the third specific number is larger than the first specific number.
US08272940B2
A gaming device having a game which includes a predicted number of matches, and an actual number of matches. An award is provided to the player that is based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.
US08272930B2
An air system for pressurizing and air conditioning a cockpit and cabin space of a plane comprises a compressor (3) for compressing an air mass flow, wherein the air mass flow to be compressed is extracted through a ram air duct (13, 14) from the environment of the plane and supplied through a heat exchanger (15, 18) to at least one zone (10A-D) to be pressurized and air conditioned.
US08272925B2
Described herein is technology for, among other things, a multi-purpose sanding or filing apparatus. The apparatus includes a motor, a plurality of drive mechanisms in mechanical communication with the motor, and a plurality of drums, where each of the drums has an axis passing therethrough, the drums are coupled with respective drive mechanisms, and the drive mechanisms are operable to rotate the drums about their respective axes.
US08272922B2
A method for polishing a substrate using a pad comprising, a polymeric matrix having microspheres dispersed therein, the polymeric matrix being formed of a water-based polymer or blends thereof, wherein the polymeric matrix is applied on a permeable substrate, and wherein the polishing pad exhibits reduced defectivity and improved polishing performance are provided.
US08272911B2
A method for manufacturing an image display element including: a front panel; a back panel facing the front panel; plural pixels arranged in a matrix between the panels, and to be selected to be in a display or non-display state; and plural electrodes for controlling the pixels, the panels being bonded with the pixels and the electrodes interposed therebetween, and the electrodes being connected to a driving control circuit via metal wires, includes a first step of performing dicing from the back side of the opposing surface from the front panel, and forming a groove part such that electrode terminals connected to the electrodes are exposed between adjacent plural pixel lines, with the back panel bonded thereto, and a second step of forming the metal wires so as to be connected to the electrode terminals exposed at the groove part.
US08272910B2
An electroluminescent device including a transparent substrate, a securing layer, a light scattering layer, an electroluminescent unit including a transparent electrode layer, a light emitting element including at least one light emitting layer, and a reflecting electrode layer in that order, wherein the light scattering layer includes one monolayer of inorganic particles having an index of refraction larger than that of the light emitting layer and wherein the securing layer holds the inorganic particles in the light scattering layer.
US08272903B2
A probe connector adapted for fastening a cable thereto includes an insulating housing and a plurality of probe pin assemblies. The insulating housing defines a plurality of fastening openings and inserting holes penetrating therethrough. The probe pin assembly includes a shell, a plunger and an elastic element assembled in the shell. The shell has a barrel partly received in the inserting hole, and a box-shaped base shell received in the fastening opening. The base shell has a rear plate extending rearward. The rear plate extends rearward to form a connecting piece of which two opposite side edges define two clipping pieces capable of being bent towards each other to clip a core wire of the cable therebetween. The plunger partially projects out of the barrel and the inserting hole. Then the rear plate is bent downward to make the probe pin assembly be a right-angled shape.
US08272899B2
There is provided an electrical charger including a base unit and an adaptor unit. The base unit is configured for being coupled to an electronic device, and includes an electrical connector plug which includes a plurality of electrical connector plug contacts. The adaptor unit is configured for being coupled to a power supply, and includes a plurality of adaptor unit contacts and a receiving aperture defining an opening for an electrical connector plug receiving receptacle configured for receiving the electrical connector plug. After the electrical connector plug is received within the electrical connector plug receiving receptacle and while the electrical connector plug is disposed within the electrical connector plug receiving receptacle, each one of the electrical connector plug contacts is disposable in an electrical contact engagement state with a respective one of the adaptor unit contacts such that, when the adaptor unit becomes disposed in electrical communication with a power supply and the base unit becomes disposed in an electrical coupling relationship with an electronic device and each one of the electrical connector plug contacts becomes disposed in electrical contact engagement with a respective one of the adaptor unit contacts, power is supplied to the electronic device.
US08272892B2
A system is provided for use with a pre-existing hospital bed and a nurse call system. The system includes a first apparatus that is coupleable to a data port of the hospital bed and a second apparatus that is spaced from the hospital bed, that is spaced from the first apparatus, and that is coupleable to the nurse call system. A transmitter of the first apparatus is operable to transmit data received at the data port to a receiver that is operable to wirelessly receive data transmitted by the wireless transmitter of the first apparatus. The first apparatus and second apparatus are used in lieu of a cable that is otherwise usable to connect the hospital bed to the nurse call system via a hard-wired connection.
US08272887B2
A connector includes a first terminal housing for housing a plurality of first connecting terminals aligned, a second terminal housing for housing a plurality of second connecting terminals aligned, and a connecting member for collectively fixing and electrically connecting the plurality of first connecting terminals to the plurality of second connecting terminals at each contact point by pressing the adjacent insulating members. The plurality of first connecting terminals are aligned and held in a first inner housing housed in the first terminal housing. The plurality of second connecting terminals are aligned and held in a second inner housing housed in the second terminal housing. The first and/or second connecting terminals includes a low rigidity portion that can be deformed, when pressed by the connecting member, such that portions of the first and/or second connecting terminals on the contact point side are parallel to portions thereof on the opposite side.
US08272886B2
A connector capable of being water-tightly secured to cables without locally applying pressure to the cables is provided.A male connector 14 is formed with at least one guide groove 18m extending in an insertion direction on a portion in a circumferential direction, a female connector 16 is formed with at least one guide protrusion 20m that extends in the insertion direction and can be inserted into the guide groove 18m corresponding to the guide groove 18m, the guide protrusion 20m has both ends coupled to an outer surface of the second connector 16, a middle portion of the guide protrusion 20m is formed to be an elastic arm separated from the outer surface, and a lock mechanism is provided between the guide groove 18m and the guide protrusion 20m.
US08272883B1
An intersystem grounding bridge and associated intersystem grounding bridge system includes a cylindrical housing formed from an electrically conductive material, the housing having a plurality of channels in a first face of the housing for receiving and holding grounding conductor wires of associated communication components, a plurality of threaded apertures in the cylindrical surface of the housing for receipt of set screws so as to secure grounding wires inserted within these first channels, and a second channel formed in a second face of the cylindrical housing for receiving a grounding and an associated grounding conductor wire. A second threaded aperture in the cylindrical housing in cooperates with the second channel to secure a grounding rod and, if present, the associated grounding conductor wire. The grounding bridge may include a cover to form an intersystem grounding bridge system.
US08272881B2
A connector includes a socket having a generally rectangular shape, the socket including socket contacts, lock mechanisms and retainer mechanisms; and a header having a generally rectangular shape, the header including header contacts and lock mechanisms and being couplable with the socket. The lock mechanisms of the socket and the header are respectively formed from the socket contacts and the header contacts, the lock mechanisms of the socket being formed by cutting away a portion of the socket contacts. The lock mechanisms of the header also serve as retainer mechanisms thereof. The lock mechanisms of the socket and the header are arranged substantially in the same row as the socket contacts and the header contacts and positioned near four corners of the socket and the header, respectively. The lock mechanisms of the socket and the header are configured to keep the socket and the header in a coupled state.
US08272868B2
There are disclosed methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth, and dental matrices, dental wedges, interdental matrix stabilizers, dental separator rings, dental curing light devices, and kits that can be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth.
US08272865B2
Disclosed is a mold for resin injection molding that can realize rapid heating or cooling. A resin injection molding mold includes a cavity mold and a core mold and is produced on a base plate by metal photofabrication. The cavity mold is provided with a cavity warm water circuit for allowing warm water for heating to flow and a cavity cold water circuit for allowing cold water for cooling to flow. The core mold is also provided with a core warm water circuit and a core cold water circuit. The core mold includes an air blowing passage for feeding warm air or cold air into a resin molding part and a suction passage (36) for sucking a gas within the resin molding part. The resin molding part side of the air blowing passage and the suction passage is formed of a low-density shaping part that has a low metallic powder sintered density and is permeable to gas. Warm air or cold air can be blown through the low-density shaping part, whereby rapid heating or cooling of the resin injection molding mold can be realized.
US08272862B2
The article and corresponding method include a casting fixture for a part of a skin formulation applicator which is otherwise difficult to cast. The casting fixture includes a central cup section and two opposing tear-away sections. A rigid base portion of an applicator tip assembly is mounted into an upper rim of the cup section and liquid silicone material is poured into the volume defined in the cup section portion beneath the base portion. The silicone cures and bonds to extending elements from the base portion, providing a firm connection between the cast tip portion and the base portion. When the combined part is ready for use, the tear-away sections are removed by the user, which results in an easy ejection of the part, which can then be installed by the user in the formulation applicator.
US08272859B2
A burner for production of inorganic spheroidized particles according to the present invention includes a first raw material supply path (1A) through which a raw material powder is supplied together with a carrier gas; a fuel supply path (4A) disposed around the outer circumference of the first raw material supply path (1A), through which a fuel gas is supplied; a primary oxygen supply path (5A) disposed around the outer circumference of the fuel supply path (4A), through which an oxygen-containing gas is supplied; a second raw material supply path (6A) disposed around the outer circumference of the primary oxygen supply path (5A), through which a raw material powder is supplied together with a carrier gas; and a secondary oxygen supply path (7A) disposed around the outer circumference of the second raw material supply path (6A), through which an oxygen-containing gas is supplied.
US08272853B2
An arrangement for a quick positioning of a motor of a cross-flow fan including a housing, a cross-flow fan, and an automatically adjustable motor apparatus. The motor apparatus consists of a motor body and a mounting base for the motor body. The mounting base of the motor apparatus is integrally formed with the motor body. Alternatively, the motor body and the mounting base are separately formed and then combined together. The mounting base includes a mounting member and a flange member for a rapid alignment and attachment to the mounting hole and the convex ring such that the motor may be secured from outside in place. Accordingly, a convenient assembly is achieved. Moreover, the trembling motion or the noise created during the operation will be lessened for enhancing the quality and the reliability of the cross-flow fan.
US08272846B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide a screw compressor for compressing a refrigerant in a refrigeration system. The screw compressor includes a rotor case, which accommodates a primary helical rotor that is intermeshed with at least one secondary helical rotor, to compress the refrigerant in the rotor case. The rotor case also includes a slide valve supporting member that is fixed on an inner wall of the rotor case. Moreover, a slide valve, located in the rotor case, slides axially on the slide valve supporting member. The slide valve controls the volume of refrigerant during compression. The slide valve is fitted with at least one internal pressure relief valve, to relieve internal pressure in the screw compressor.
US08272837B2
A single ended or double-ended blower includes a blower motor assembly supporting opposed first and second shaft ends. The first and second shaft ends have respective first and second impellers attached thereto and enclosed within first and second volutes, respectively. The first volute is connected to an inlet and the second volute is connected to an outlet. The blower motor assembly is supported in a chassis enclosure. A radially outer inter-stage path is between the first and second volute. The second volute is at least partially substantially concentrically nested with the radially outer inter-stage gas path.
US08272833B2
A turboprop having at least one propeller formed by a set of variable pitch blades. Each blade is swivel-mounted on a rotary support and carries a gearwheel meshing with an actuator annulus rotating on the rotary support and coupled to a control annulus via an epicyclic mechanism.
US08272832B2
A centrifugal compressor for compressing a fluid comprises a compressor wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, and a compressor housing in which the compressor wheel is mounted. The compressor housing includes an inlet duct through which the fluid enters in an axial direction and is led by the inlet duct into the compressor wheel, and an inner surface located radially adjacent the tips of the blades. A bleed port is defined in the inner surface of the compressor housing at a location intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the blades, for bleeding off a bleed portion of the fluid, the bleed port leading to a recirculation flow channel that feeds the bleed portion back into the inlet duct. Highly cambered vanes are disposed in the recirculation flow channel for turning the bleed portion to take out and in some cases reverse the swirl in the bleed portion.
US08272830B2
A method and apparatus for a transfer robot that may be used in a vacuum environment is described. The transfer robot includes a lift assembly comprising a first platform and a second platform coupled to the first platform by a plurality of support members, the plurality of support members comprising a first pair of support members and a second pair of support members, a first drive assembly coupled to a portion of the plurality of support members, the first drive assembly providing a motive force to the plurality of support members to move the second platform in a first linear direction relative to the first platform, and an end effector disposed on the second platform and movable in a second linear direction by a second drive assembly, the second linear direction being orthogonal to the first linear direction.
US08272826B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes first and second transfer chambers, first and second load lock chambers for exchanging one or more substrates with respective ones of first and the second transfer chambers, and a substrate transfer unit, located between the first and second load lock chambers, for transferring the one or more substrates to the first and second load lock chambers.
US08272822B2
A packing for wind power turbine blades having at least one inflatable annular structure, which in turn has a flat outer supporting wall, and inner clamping walls for clamping a blade in a designated position with respect to the outer supporting wall. A method of packing wind power turbine blades which includes applying at least one inflatable annular structure about a blade, and causing the at least one inflatable annular structure to inflate to distend at least one outer supporting wall and at least one inner clamping wall to clamp the blade.
US08272820B2
A rope fastening device (11) can be provided at a predetermined position of a vehicle for fastening a rope (20) placed over freight on the vehicle. The rope fastening device (11) has a rope winding drum (12) having a rope hitch opening (19), a worm wheel (13) with which the drum (12) is operatively associated, a worm (14) meshing with the worm wheel (13), a rotation shaft (15) connected to the worm (14), a rotating tool (16) provided at an end of the rotation shaft (15), a gear box (17) in which the worm wheel (13) and the worm (14) are received, and an installation section (18) fitted to the gear box (17). The rope fastening device (11) can prevent a collapse of freight on a vehicle etc. by reliably fastening with simple operation a rope or other fastening materials placed over the freight.
US08272818B2
An improved vehicle wheel chock for a vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which secures a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. The vehicle wheel chock is configured to be positioned on a grating adjacent to a tire of the vehicle. The improved vehicle wheel chock includes an improved face-plate.
US08272815B2
A boring tool can form a hole accurately by improving the rigidity of a reamer so that the runout of the reamer can be prevented at high speeds, extending product life by suppressing the breakage caused by cutting resistance. The boring tool is inserted into a pilot hole formed in a workpiece beforehand to cut the inner wall of the pilot hole. The boring tool comprises a shank part rotated about an axis, an edge part with a cutting edge at the tip of the shank part, and a chip discharging groove formed in the outer peripheral part of the edge part and extending from the tip to the rear end. The cutting edge is formed at a crossed ridge part between the wall surface of the chip discharging groove and the outer peripheral surface of the edge part. The cross-section of the chip discharging groove is formed in a U-shape.
US08272810B2
A pile segment for foundation underpinning. In some embodiments, the pile segment includes a head, a trunk extending from the head, and a throughbore passing axially through the head and the trunk. The throughbore has a longitudinal centerline. The area of a cross-section through the head and normal to the centerline is greater than the area of a cross-section through the trunk and normal to the centerline.
US08272804B2
A connecting structure adapted to connect two sound boxes comprises a clasping assembly and a positioning structure, the surface of the clasping assembly has a protruding portion, which has several protruding members, the surface of the positioning assembly has a hollow open, which has several oblique-rotation positioning portions and several apertures according to the protruding members of the clasping assembly, wherein the clasping assembly and the positioning assembly have four locking holes respectively for the clasping assembly and the positioning assembly being fixed to the two sound boxes; the protruding members of the protruding portion of the clasping assembly are inserted into the apertures of the hollow open of the positioning assembly accordingly, the clasping assembly or the positioning assembly is rotated in order to let the protruding members be fixed in the positioning portions, so that the different sound boxes are connected to each other.
US08272801B2
A tool for treating a surface by rubbing and including means to dispense onto the surface stuff, for example, a lotion for skin treatment, and including also a pair of opposed fins which are supported by a stiff, tapered, upstanding spine portion that traverses the tool and has an upper radial face for wiping and scrapping stuff, the fins extending laterally of and along the lower length of the spine portion and having an under face for rubbing contact with the surface, and each fin having optionally an upper absorbent face on each side of the spine portion to provide a swabbing capability, and the tool having a distal end and a proximal end, with the upstanding spine portion narrowing toward the distal end of the tool and the spine portion being hollow and shaped towards the proximal end for holding of the tool directly or coupled to a holdable object and also a method for making the tool.
US08272799B1
The portable back scrubbing device provides a polygon frame with beveled edge with perimeter lighting, as well as spaced apart lighting. The device stresses aesthetic appeal, lighting for ease of use in a shower, for example, and a plurality of scrubbing options. The plurality of scrubbing pads is provided in different pads that may be provided in varied heights and widths. Some pads are capable of opposite rotations of other pads for greater effectiveness in any use. The numerous suction cups provide for ensured, removable attachment to many surfaces. The various controls provide for rotation of the circular platform and for rotation of the platform brushes to be opposite that of the platform. Of the many functions, the circular platform motor may also provide for vibration of the pads. Soap control provides for control of liquids to be supplied to a plurality of the pads.
US08272797B2
A printer includes a fragment receiving section provided below a cutter and receiving a non-printing area cut off as a fragment falling thereinto, and a printed matter receiving section provided below the cutter and receiving a printing area cut off as a piece of printed matter and falling thereinto. The fragment receiving section includes a rocking plate rocked by a rocking mechanism between a first rocking position, where an upper end of the rocking plate resides on the downstream side in a paper conveying direction with respect to a cutting position so as to allow the fragment to fall into the fragment receiving section, and a second rocking position, where the upper end of the rocking plate resides on the upstream side in the paper conveying direction with respect to the cutting position so as to guide the piece of printed matter into the printed matter receiving section.
US08272794B2
A system that allows a material to be marked while still on the CNC tooling table and allows an operator to input marking information just prior to, or even during, the tooling cycle. The present invention comprises a sequence controller associated with a computer readable medium and adapted for communication with the CNC controller. An HMI device and a marker controller are also connected with the sequence controller. A lifter assembly is connected with the sequence controller to raise and lower a marker assembly. The lifter assembly is connected to the gantry of the CNC tooling system with an adaptor block. The present invention provides the advantage of reduced time when compared to marking the part at a separate station remotely located from the CNC system, and allows the operator to input marking information just prior to or during the CNC tooling cycle.
US08272786B2
An annular vibration isolator for a rotating shaft supported by a bearing is provided. The annular vibration isolator comprises an outer ring extending substantially entirely around the bearing, an arc portion having a contact portion extending toward the bearing, first and second axial portions enclosing a cavity, a first flange portion forming a first channel, a second flange portion forming a second channel, and the first and second flange portions forming a chamber within the cavity and forming a radial passageway connecting the chamber to the first and second channels, and a bellows disposed in the chamber and coupled to the radial passageway, the bellows adapted to receive a fluid from the first and second channels.
US08272778B2
A bezel member rotatably mounted to a case band member is provided with an accommodating groove, a pair of passing portions continuous with the accommodating groove at positions spaced apart by approximately 180°, and a pair of escape grooves continuous with both passing portions from the center side of the bezel member and open to the exterior of the case band member. The case band member is provided with engagement grooves arranged in a ring-like fashion so as to be opposed to the accommodating groove, and a ring-like reception groove surrounded by the engagement grooves and continuous with the engagement grooves. A lock member retains the bezel member at an arbitrary rotating position. The lock member has an arcuate spring portion accommodated in the accommodating groove, a pair of pushbutton portions passing through the passing portions and to be pushed in from the outside of the bezel member, and a stopper portion engaged with the engagement grooves and adapted to be detached from the engagement grooves when the pushbutton portions are pushed into the reception groove.
US08272774B2
A light guiding plate to enhance uniformity of brightness and a backlight assembly and a display device having the same in one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, the light guiding plate includes a plurality of the linear shaped prisms on a back surface thereof, and the linear shaped prisms are omitted partially at the incident portion of the light guiding plate such that a non-prism area, connection area, and prism area are formed in stated order from the incident portion end on the back surface of the light guiding plate. Therefore, the display device having the light guiding plate is adapted to increase a uniformity of brightness of the edge type backlight, and the display quality can be improved.
US08272771B2
Disclosed herein is a backlight device. The device includes: a light emitting element; a lens having an incident surface on which light emitted by the light emitting element is incident, and an outgoing surface which has an ability to converge the light and from which the light incident on the incident surface goes out; a light guide plate having a light incidence plane and introducing through the incidence plane the light going out from the outgoing surface, so as to perform surface light emission; and a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of the light going out from the outgoing surface of the lens, toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate.
US08272764B2
A fluorescent lamp type light emitting apparatus is provided. The light emitting apparatus comprises a cover, a light emitting module, radiation pads, and cap parts. The cover comprises a first cover and a transmissive second cover coupled to the first cover. The light emitting module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes in the cover. The radiation pads are disposed on the light emitting module. The cap parts comprise electrode terminals at both ends of the cover.
US08272758B2
In one aspect, an illumination apparatus includes a waveguide, embedded in which are a light-emitting source and a photoluminescent material. Output light is emitted from at least a portion of a first surface of the waveguide. The photoluminescent material includes nano-size phosphor particles and/or quantum dots.
US08272755B2
An object is to provide a showcase in which appropriate illumination can be realized by an LED illumination apparatus having a high durability against turning ON/OFF and capable of securing a predetermined illumination intensity even under an environment at a low temperature. The showcase in which the inside of a display chamber configured to display commodities is illuminated by an LED illumination apparatus includes a person detecting sensor which detects the approaching of any person, and a control apparatus which adjusts the illumination intensity of the LED illumination apparatus, and the control apparatus gradually increases the illumination intensity of the LED illumination apparatus in a case where the person detecting sensor detects the approaching of the person.
US08272752B2
A projection device (1) includes: a projector (2) adapted for projecting a mother image along a projection axis (11); and a convex mirror adapted for at least partially reflecting the mother image and projecting it onto a three-dimensional environment (7, 8a, 8b) such as the ground, a ceiling, one or more side walls and the content of a room. When combining the projector with a convex mirror, the mother image can for example be projected into a solid angle higher than 2π steradians (i.e. a half-sphere), or even substantially equal to or slightly lower than 4π steradians (i.e. a sphere). A method implemented by the device is also described. The field of the invention is particularly that of video projectors for virtual or mixed reality applications.
US08272747B2
The present invention relates to a distortion detecting system and a distortion detecting method having a structure for efficiently detecting distortion of a projected image that is projected onto a projected surface by a projector. The distortion detecting system includes a photodetecting apparatus, and an analyzing apparatus. When a reference brightness image is projected onto the projected surface by the projector, the photodetecting apparatus forms the projected image on the projected surface onto the photosensitive surface of the photodetector, and outputs light intensity profile data that indicates a one-dimensional distribution of incident light intensity in each of a first direction and a second direction on an image for inspection formed on the photosensitive surface. The analyzing apparatus detects distortion of the projected image by analyzing the light intensity profile data in the respective first direction and second direction outputted from the photodetecting apparatus based on known information concerning the reference brightness image.
US08272745B2
There is provided a light source device including a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength band, a light-source light generation section configured to generate light of each of a plurality of colors by time division by using the first light source, a second light source configured to generate light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and a light source control section configured to cause each of the light-source light generation section and the second light source to generate light in one period, and to control a drive timing of each of the first and second light sources to adjust a light-emission timing and a light-emission period of light generated by each of the light-source light generation section and the second light source.
US08272743B2
The techniques described herein provide a surface computing device that includes a surface layer configured to be in a transparent state and a diffuse state. In the diffuse state, an image can be projected onto the surface. In the transparent state, an image can be projected through the surface.
US08272739B2
A device for calibrating retinoscopes for diverging and/or converging streak and spot retinoscopy and a method for calibrating retinoscopes to produce a given convergence or divergence of light emitted from the retinoscope from a fixed retinoscopic working distance to produce a predetermined pupillary reflex endpoint at neutralization of a refractive error, thereby resulting in a more accurate corrective eye prescriptions and evaluation of the visual system.
US08272737B2
A microscope for performing an opthalmo-surgical intervention, in particular for a contactless wide-angle observation of an eye during an intervention, is provided. The microscope has a tube (1a) having an objective and an ocular, a holding arm (1), at which the tube (1a) is attached such that a movement of the objective with respect to the holding arm (1) along the optical axis of the objective is possible, an optical accessory part (8a) between the objective and the eye and a holding device for the optical accessory part (8a). The holding device for the optical accessory part is attached at the holding arm (1) by means of an attachment device (2) in such a way that the holding device does not take part in movements of the objective along the optical axis of the objective. Thereby, when changing the picture angle, a re-adjustment is highly simplified.
US08272730B2
The fixing processing apparatus includes: a conveyance device which conveys a recording medium in a prescribed conveyance direction along a conveyance path, a desired image having been recorded in an image formation region on an image formation surface of the conveyed recording medium; a heat and pressure fixing device which is arranged in the conveyance path and carries out heat and pressure fixing process in which the image formation surface of the recording medium is subjected to at least one of heating process, pressing process and non-pressing process, the heat and pressure fixing device applying pressure to the image formation region in the pressing process, the heat and pressure fixing device applying no pressure to the image formation region in the non-pressing process; and a setting device which sets a temperature of the heat and pressure fixing device to be higher in the non-pressing process than in the pressing process.
US08272710B2
A method for reducing banding artifacts for bi-directional multi-pass printing on an inkjet printer utilizing a printhead with a plurality of ink nozzles includes defining different print masks to be used for leftward and rightward printing passes such that both the order of ink laydown and the timing between ink laydown on different passes are each substantially constant for a given horizontal position within the image, independent of the vertical position within the image; and printing an input image on the inkjet printer with the defined print masks using a bi-directional multi-pass print mode.
US08272707B2
A printing device having a function that adjusts for deviation that occurs between ink droplet landing positions during bidirectional printing in which ink droplets of a plurality of dot sizes are discharged to print images on a print medium, comprising a print head that discharges ink droplets having a plurality of sizes, and a control unit that sets an adjustment value for the deviation for different types of images based upon a type of image being printed.
US08272698B2
This invention relates to a wheel spindle structure of a bicycle, in which a wheel spindle is inserted in a wheel hub so as to fix the wheel body. The wheel spindle, made of rigid titanium alloy, is cut to have a plurality of recessed grooves provided around the circumference extending along the axial direction. By providing the recessed grooves, rigidity of the wheel spindle is reduced so as to increase its elasticity. This results in high elastic force with slight elongation-contraction, whereby the wheel body can roll to move smoothly so as to remarkably increase the steering capability of the bicycle.
US08272689B2
The present disclosure relates to an automobile seat for children. The seat includes a safety harness and a system of tightening the safety harness.
US08272688B2
A vehicle seat control apparatus includes an adjusting device that adjusts a reclining angle of a seat back of a vehicle seat, and a control portion that controls the adjusting device. When adjusting the reclining angle, the control portion controls the adjusting device to start adjusting the reclining angle at a first speed, and then after a predetermined period of time passes, the control portion controls the adjusting device to adjust the reclining angle at a second speed that is faster than the first speed. The invention also relates to a control method of this vehicle seat control apparatus.
US08272687B2
The invention relates to vehicle seat comprising a seat part and to a restraint device and a corresponding method of manufacture. The vehicle seat comprises an anti-submarining restraint device for preventing an occupant from slipping through on the vehicle seat when decelerated due to a crash, said restraint device being settable to a retracted inactive position and said restraint device being settable to an extended active position. The seat part, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has lateral seat parts on both sides of the seat, a padding defining a seat area and a padding support (34) below said padding. The restraint device also comprises a tilting element (24) between the padding support and the padding and spaced apart from the lateral parts, said tilting element having at least one deformable element (24) as an energy dissipation element.
US08272682B2
A chassis of a vehicle, the chassis is provided with a pair of door sills arranged longitudinally under the door zone and each having a through hole, and a pair of central pillars, each of which raises perpendicularly and vertically from a door sill, is made of one piece, is inserted in an interlocking way in the through hole of a window sill and is welded to the window sill at the through hole.
US08272671B2
A connector connects the ends of two fluid lines, it is useful for connecting and sealing the ends of refrigerant lines in an automotive air conditioner. A resilient seal is disposed about the end of a fluid line within each end of the passageway and a combination slotted ferrule and sealing ring member formed with a sealing ring portion and a ferrule portion is captured between the seal and a compression nut treaded onto the end of the body. When the nut is tightened onto the end, it causes the ferrule portion to deform and collapse inwardly to grasp and hold the fluid line securely in place and simultaneously drives the sealing ring portion against the seal to compress the seal, which expands to form a fluid-tight seal around the end of the fluid line.
US08272670B2
A method and associated apparatus for providing an insulating housing and a protective sleeve for quick connect fittings and couplings of a computer system environment. In one embodiment, the insulative housing has a hollow center to be placed around the couplings and further comprises an insulative sleeve having a plurality of complementary parts that fit together around the coupling as a singular unit and a fastener to open and close the sleeve such that the coupling is at least partially exposed. In an alternate embodiment, a protective sleeve with a hollow center is provided that once disposed around the quick connect fittings will protect against leakage of liquids flowing into quick connect fittings during mating and unmating of them. The sleeve comprises an actuation collar area that extends over unmated portion of the quick connect fitting and a flare area disposed over the actuation collar to provide an additional gripping area for actuating the quick connect fitting.
US08272669B2
A label assembly that includes a face sheet with at least one label shape defined by one or more tearable lines of separation, a back sheet adjacent to the face sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the face sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a removable panel disposed over the label shape adhesive material and a registration tab aligned with the label shape. The registration tab includes a foldable portion that when folded provides rigidity when the tab is used as a supporting leg to place the label assembly over an object during labeling.
US08272666B2
An airbag module is stored within a column lower cover of a steering column. The airbag module is structured to include a supporting plate, an inflator, and a knee airbag. A gap is formed between a lower surface of the knee airbag and the column lower cover. Ribs are formed to project at inner side surfaces of corner portions of the column lower cover. The ribs are pressed against the knee airbag and are made to be an interfering design.
US08272654B2
A locking pin mechanism for a transport semi-trailer, the locking pin mechanism is used for locking longitudinally extending members of a frame of a transport semi-trailer together with a trailer body movably arranged on the longitudinally extending members. The locking pin mechanism comprises at least two bolt assemblies and a linkage assembly for driving the at least two bolt assemblies. The bolt assembly comprises a bolt, an inner spring, a sliding sleeve, an outer spring and a bracket. The sliding sleeve at an end away from its sliding sleeve end-plate is connected with the linkage assembly; the linkage assembly can be pulled such that the sliding sleeve of the bolt assembly is compresses the inner and outer springs to force the bolt to be pulled out from a locating hole under an action of an elastic force of the inner spring; and after the linkage assembly is released, the bolt can be inserted into the locating hole under the action of the elastic force of the outer spring. The locking pin mechanism of the invention provides an improved operability, an excellent reliability and a convenience in operation.
US08272652B2
A suspension for a rear or a front portion of a chassis for vehicles in which a pair of longitudinal stabilizer assemblies and an anti-sway stabilizer each use a same type of a stabilizer bar, with the longitudinal stabilizer assemblies pivotably connected on opposing sides of the chassis and the anti-sway stabilizer pivotably connected in transverse relation proximate an end of the chassis. The longitudinal stabilizer assemblies and the anti-sway stabilizer each include a portion of a saddle that extends around the axle and rigidly connects to the axle. A shock absorber connects between the saddle and the chassis.
US08272644B1
A card seal with an annular arrangement of leaf elements, where each leaf element has a T shape with an upper ear section and a leaf section extending from the ear section. the leaf elements each include a first raised portion and a second raised portion that form a cross, the raised portions allowing for air to pass to bend ends on the leaf sections to form a floating air seal and to limit leakage flow across the leaf elements from one side to the opposite side.
US08272629B2
A swing clamp apparatus is provided in which the clamp arm is positioned and attached to a clamp rod at a desired position in a simple and reliable manner and the clamp arm replacement workload is certainly reduced. The swing clamp apparatus comprises an attachment block fixed to the leading end of a clamp rod and to which a clamp arm is detachably attached and a pair of clamping force transmission pins inserted in the attachment block and clamp arm in the direction parallel to the orthogonal direction to the axis for coupling the positioned clamp arm to the attachment block in an integrated manner.
US08272624B1
A fence engageable weed barrier system includes a fence that is mounted in and extends upwardly from the from a ground surface. The fence includes a fence section comprising at least one post and a dividing wall attached to and extending laterally away from the at least one post. Each of a plurality of primary barriers is positioned beneath the fence section and receives a bottom edge of the dividing wall to prevent weed growth beneath the fence section. Each of the primary barriers includes a base wall that has a top side a front edge and a back edge. A back wall is attached to and extends upwardly from the back edge. A front wall is attached to and extends upwardly from the front edge. A dividing wall receiving space is defined between the front and back walls and receives the bottom edge of the dividing wall.
US08272618B2
A minimum bond assurance feature for a pi-joint assembly is provided. The pi-joint assembly includes a substructure, a member coupled to the substructure. The substructure includes one or more standoff extending above one of the lower side, the front side and the back side of the substructure. The standoff includes a space location control surface. The member includes a base, a pair of axially elongated leg extending from the base to define a channel therebetween. The channel of the member has a first channel side, a channel floor and a second channel side, wherein the space location control surface may contact the member maintaining a standoff distance between the one of the lower side, the front side and the back side of the substructure and corresponding one of the channel floor, the first channel side and the second channel side of the member. A method of assembling a pi-joint assembly of the present invention is also provided.
US08272615B2
A hub assembly for supporting a portion of a flexible sprinkler assemblage within a ceiling, the hub assembly including a primary support mounted to a ceiling support member, and a secondary support member rotatable relative to a primary support member between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, portions of the supports are overlapping and cut outs formed in the primary support cooperate together with cut outs formed in the secondary support to define a hub opening configured to receive the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage. The hub assembly also includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively connect the primary support to the secondary support, and an adjustment mechanism disposed on the primary support that is configured to secure the position of the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the hub opening, and is separate from the locking mechanism.
US08272612B2
A clip for holding an object on a supporting member comprises a holding clamp and an attaching clamp. The holding clamp has a pair of clamping members with oppositely bowed gripping portions and inwardly arched handles. The oppositely bowed gripping portions form together, when engaged, jaws for holding an object such as a cigar. The jaws are connected together for pivotal movement to cooperate with each other for clamping action upon actuation of their handles. At the juncture point of the jaws with the handles, the clamping members are provided with aligned, apertured supports for receipt of an axial binding post or rivet that extends through the apertures and for holding the clamping members together and in axial alignment. A spring, normally biasing the clamping members towards a closed position is looped around the post with its ends locked against the handles. At the ends of the handles, in the flat portions thereof, the two clamping members are riveted together, and in such manner that the clamping members can rotate 360 degrees in a circle relative to one another. In this way the clamping members can be positioned in straight-line fashion, or rotated at any angle relative to one another.
US08272605B2
The present invention is a stable, customizable umbrella system which includes one or more surface mount components which may be fixedly or selectively attached to an umbrella support pole.
US08272595B2
A fan cowl support for an aircraft having an engine pylon, an engine fan case and an engine fan cowl. The fan cowl support includes a support having a forward end connected to the engine fan case and an aft end connected to the engine pylon. At least a portion of the engine fan cowl is connected to the support.
US08272584B2
A gravity-feed spreader for particulate matter may include a rotor. The spreader may be operable for gravity-feed operation with the longitudinal axis of the rotor in a horizontal position. A generally cylindrical rotor housing with a pair of closed, axial ends may be coaxial with the rotor. Entrance and exit apertures for the particulate matter may be formed in the surface of the rotor housing between the closed, axial ends. A rotor driver may be coupled to the rotor shaft for rotating the rotor. An intake housing may include a passageway therethrough for the particulate matter. A gate may be provided for selectively opening and closing the particulate matter passageway in the intake housing. An agitator may be coupled to the rotor shaft for facilitating movement of particulate matter through the passageway in the intake housing.
US08272580B1
A golf hole painter is provided for painting an area of a golf hole above a top of a golf cup, but below the putting surface. The golf hole painter includes a base member, a liner, and a main body. The main body is rotatably attached to the base member. The main body also receives a spray canister containing paint, which is pressed and rotated along with the main body in relation to the base member to spray the entire interior periphery of a golf hole. The painted portion of the golf hole allows a golfer to more easily view a golf hole while putting on a golf green, due to the rules of golf requiring a golf cup to sit at least one inch below the putting surface.
US08272564B2
The check carrier consists of an envelope of translucent material that is dimensioned to closely conform to the dimensions of a standard check. The back of the check carrier includes an endorsement window through which a bank or other financial institution can apply its endorsement stamp directly to the check. The bottom of the check carrier may be provided with an area for receiving the MICR printing such that the MICR can be read directly off of the carrier. The MICR area can be removed. The open end of the check carrier can be sealed closed using a repositionable adhesive. The adhesive can also be used interior of the check carrier such that the adhesive contacts the check to fix the check within the carrier.
US08272563B1
Methods and devices provide security to prevent transaction activity until an audit is complete. A cash handling device such as, for example, a cash recycler may include a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, memory that stores the computer-executable instructions, and an input means for receiving user input. The computer executable instructions may cause the apparatus to: allow a first input to the input means in order to indicate that an audit is to be performed, prevent any further transactions on the cash handling until the audit is complete, allow a second input to the input means in order to indicate that the audit is complete, and allow any further transactions to proceed after the audit is complete.
US08272562B2
The present invention relates to and provides methods and promotional hang tags, tags or labels with associated product samples combined with interactive quick response or scan-able codes linked to internet Uniform (or Universal) Resource Locator (URL) for providing contact information, promotional or cross promotional product samples or products and related marketing information regarding product promotional or cross-promotional features, where the hang tag, tag or label carries any scan-able quick response internet URL code or QR code and an integral product sample, such as, but not limited to, a fragrance, a personal care product, a healthcare product, a food or beverage product, an entertainment product, a toy, a gift card, a book, an e-book, software, a website access code, an office supply product, school supply product, a travel size product, a consumer electronics product, a health and wellness product, a health and beauty product, a medical product, an educational product.
US08272553B2
A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.
US08272552B2
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US08272548B2
A device to support a headset along a wall of a vehicle, that includes a hook that has a base to receive a headband of the headset, with this base being intended to be fastened transversally to the wall by its back and being integral at the opposite front with an external element for holding the headband on the base. The hook has on opening between the back and the external element with a width I at least equal to the width of the headband, permitting the passage of the headband toward the base or during removal from the base. The aforementioned device has an anti-release element blocking the opening over a width at least large enough to prevent the passage of the headband through the opening. This anti-release element can be displaced by manual action directly on the anti-release element or through the headset into a release position to allow the passage of the headband.
US08272547B1
The motorcycle carrier apparatus provides several important features, first, not only three cross supports but also two angle supports beneath the platform upon which the motorcycle is removably placed, accommodating even the heaviest of motorcycles, a removable ramp for ease in loading and unloading. A further important feature is the clamp bar that provides the dual frame mounts that bolt to a motorcycle upper frame member. The positive attachment of these frame mounts ensures that a motorcycle is rigidly mounted and supported, with no chance of unintentional motorcycle movement or potential loss. The clamp bar is importantly height adjustable so that most motorcycles are accommodated.
US08272546B2
A support belt which includes openings to connect with and attach to the waist support of existing mei tai baby carriers. The support belt further comprises padding within its inner components and vertical stitching to enable the belt to fold to allow it to encircle the waist of a wearer. The support belt can also include attachments such as a child harness, as well as storage and attachment elements for storing and connecting additional items.
US08272536B2
The present invention provides improved retention of O-rings and easier O-ring replacement by using an O-ring retainer in a bar gun. Furthermore, the assembly of the butterfly plates of the bar gun is improved by using molded ball bearing clusters that fit in recesses in the butterfly plates, thus eliminating the welding of the balls to the butterfly plates and the need to purchase such precise and intricately small balls. The O-ring retainer and molded ball bearing cluster are preferably made from bearing quality acetal plastic materials.
US08272534B2
The processes of the present invention provides for the automated, singulated dispensing of articles, particularly solid oral medication in predetermined quantities. The dispensing of an article is effected by at least activating a driver-coupling connected to a screw having a channel of a predetermined width and depth corresponding to the dimensions of said article; rotating said screw until detection of an article drop; removing a second article from said channel; and stopping the rotation of said screw upon detection of an article drop. The methods of the present invention further include embodiments in which the rotation of the screw is subsequently reversed. Furthermore, the present invention permits for the dispensing of articles to be stopped upon having a predetermined number of articles dispensed or a detection of increased torque applied to the screw. The present invention provides for accurate pill dispensing.
US08272533B1
A device for dispensing cutlery utensils individually, having a housing containing a quantity of utensils with the housing having sides and product guides within. The front wall contains an opposing leaf escapement mechanism connected to it, to hold and singulate the utensils such that they dispense seriatim, without a user being required to physically touch or interface with any part of dispenser other than the actual desired utensil.
US08272527B2
An assembly for covering an opening formed in a pressurized tank of an agricultural vehicle includes a cover having a first compression surface and a second compression surface. A hinge assembly is included that has a hinge arm rotatably coupled to the tank intermediate its ends. The hinge assembly further includes a hinge link rotatably coupled to the hinge arm at one end and rotatably coupled to the first compression surface at the other. A latch assembly is provided that has a latch arm rotatably coupled to the tank intermediate its ends. The latch assembly further includes a latch link rotatably coupled to the latch arm at one end and releasably engaging the second compression surface at the other. Accordingly, rotating the hinge and latch arms results in a first and second pressure engaging the cover along the first and second compression surfaces to secure the cover to the tank.
US08272512B2
Food and drink trays have flat surfaces and peripheral edges with openings adapted for receiving and securely carrying a plurality of beverage and food containers. A bearing member attachable to a tray has an arched configuration and fits over the forearm of a user, while a gripping member attachable to the tray is adapted for gripping by a user's hand. A second embodiment has a pair of large circular openings on the upper surface that will hold full plates of food. The food and drink carrying tray may be made from wood, or from a lightweight material, such as plastic, and is useful for holding a plurality of beverages and plates of food when dining buffet-style in a restaurant or a home dinner party. Additional embodiments have removable grips and removable bearing members, as well as large food trays capable of receiving a variety of container-holding adapters.
US08272489B2
A multiple disc clutch includes a pressing member movable in an axial direction and which turns together with an output shaft to compress driving friction plates and driven friction plates, a clutch spring that axially presses the pressing member, a clutch lifter arranged coaxially with the pressing member and a lifter plate that is held by the periphery of the clutch lifter via a clutch bearing. The lifter plate moves the pressing member in a reverse direction to a direction pressed by the clutch spring according to the axial movement of the clutch lifter. This multiple disc clutch does not require a dedicated clutch lifter for every clutch bearing different in size and therefore the cost is reduced.
US08272487B2
A rotation transmission device has a housing having an end wall with a shaft hole. An input shaft is inserted through the shaft hole, and an inner ring is mounted around the end of the input shaft inside the housing. A two-way clutch is provided between the inner ring and an outer ring disposed around the inner ring, and an electromagnetic clutch is provided adjacently, controlling engagement and disengagement of the two-way clutch. A first bearing mounted between radially facing surfaces of the housing and the outer ring is an open bearing, provided with a labyrinth on its end near the side of the open end of the housing. A second, single-sealed bearing is provided between facing surfaces of the inner ring and the outer ring, supporting these rings rotatably relative to each other. Lubricating grease with the same quality is used for the second bearing and the two-way clutch.
US08272483B2
In a vehicle wet-type multi-plate brake device, a piston sleeve 61 is slidably provided between an inner-peripheral surface of a hydraulic piston hole 57 accommodating a piston 55 and an outer-peripheral surface of the piston 55, and has a sliding resistance to move together with the piston 55. A return plate 67 is capable of coming into contact with only the sleeve 61 and of moving by a predetermined distance together with the sleeve 61. When a hydraulic pressure is supplied to an oil chamber 59, the piston 55 and the sleeve 61 move together by a predetermined distance C against a returning force of the return plate 67, and then only the piston 55 slides until coming into contact with a brake plate so that a positional relationship between the piston 55 and the sleeve 61 is constantly maintained and a stroke of the piston 55 is constantly maintained.
US08272479B1
A tree stand having one or two C-shaped platform sections removably and supportably positionable on one or two mounting brackets, with each platform section being foldable in half for ease of transport and storage, and including a hinged portion for enabling access to the stand from below.
US08272473B2
An input gear rotates integrally with an input shaft, and an output gear rotates integrally with an output shaft. Pinion gears are rotatably supported by pinion gear shaft members, respectively, and are meshed with both of the input gear and the output gear. An inner end part of each pinion gear shaft member is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of a corresponding primary hole of an inner ring member, and an outer end part of each pinion gear shaft member is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of a corresponding secondary hole of an outer ring member.
US08272461B2
A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame, at least one drive assembly and at least one caster pivot arm. The at least one drive assembly and the at least one caster pivot arm are coupled to enhance the vehicle's ability to traverse obstacles.
US08272455B2
A method for forming a wellbore in a heated formation includes flowing liquid cooling fluid to a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore in a heated formation. At least a portion of the liquid cooling fluid is vaporized at or near a region to be cooled. Vaporizing the liquid cooling fluid absorbs heat from the region to be cooled.
US08272451B2
A blade apparatus for a work vehicle comprises a blade and first and second link anchors mounted to the blade. Each link anchor comprises a plurality of mounting points for adjusting the pitch of the blade.
US08272450B2
A fire blanket, comprising poorly flammable or inflammable, substantially flexible blanket material, wherein the blanket material is folded into a storage position, wherein the blanket material is provided with two relatively rigid handles, which handles project at least partly outside the folded fire blanket, so that they can be grasped by at least one hand, and wherein the blanket material is folded up such that when the handles are moved apart, the fire blanket takes up an extinguishing position.
US08272447B2
A borehole network including first and second end surface locations and at least one intermediate surface location interconnected by a subterranean path, and a method for connecting a subterranean path between a first borehole including a directional section and a second borehole including a directional section. A directional drilling component is drilled in at least one of the directional sections to obtain a required proximity between the first and second boreholes. An intersecting component is drilled, utilizing magnetic ranging techniques, from one directional section to provide a borehole intersection between the first and second boreholes, thereby connecting the subterranean path.
US08272440B2
Methods for treating an interval of a subterranean formation having a permeability that varies include identifying the interval to be treated; introducing a relative-permeability modifier into the interval, wherein the relative-permeability modifier modifies the interval to have a more uniform effective permeability to water, and wherein the relative-permeability modifier comprises a water-soluble polymer; and introducing a sealant into the interval, wherein the more uniform effective permeability of the interval allows for a more uniform treatment of the interval by the sealant than would be allowed without treatment of the interval with the relative-permeability modifier.
US08272424B2
An ultrasonic welding assembly, comprising a sonotrode, wherein the sonotrode further includes at least one welding region and at least one node adjacent to the welding region; a mount for supporting the sonotrode, wherein the mount further includes a force application region; at least one ultrasonic transducer connected to the sonotrode for transmitting acoustic vibrations to the at least one welding region; at least one roller connected to the sonotrode in a flexible manner for permitting rotation of the sonotrode about its axis; a device for maintaining axial alignment of the sonotrode relative to a target welding area; and a low-friction bearing in contact with the at least one node for the application of force thereto, wherein the at least one low-friction bearing is connected to the mount.
US08272422B2
A film loading arrangement simplifies the film loading process for a user and prevents the improper loading of a laminate film roll into a laminator. The components allow the laminate roll of film to be loaded in the correct orientation by providing differing connection structures on each end of the laminate film roll. The differing connection structures are received by respective receiving structures on the laminator. Each connection structure is compatible with only one of the receiving structures such that when the connection structures are attached to the roll, the film can be loaded in only one direction, i.e., correctly. Therefore, the user can properly load a laminate film roll and avoid damaging the laminator as a result of improper film loading. A tensioning mechanism can be provided for adjusting the force required to unroll laminating film from the supported roll.
US08272399B2
A valve assembly includes a valve housing located between a fluid inlet region maintained at a first pressure and a fluid outlet region maintained at a second pressure. A movable metering plate is located within valve housing. A fixed metering plate interacts with the movable metering plate to meter fluid flow through the valve housing. An armature is coupled to the movable metering plate and is configured to move the movable metering plate from a closed position toward an open position. The fluid admission system further includes a balancing region to balance pressure related forces acting on the movable portions of the valve, including the metering plate. A balance passageway is in communication with the balancing region and the fluid outlet region to maintain the balancing region at the second pressure of the fluid outlet region when the movable metering plate is in the closed position.
US08272394B2
A double valve is provided that includes an in-line inlet check valve and an outlet check valve that cooperate to prevent back flow of fluid through the valve. The check valve also includes at least one vent that allows for fluid trapped within the check valve to drain, thereby preventing freezing of the check valve and hydrant to which it is interconnected. The check valve provided omits many superfluous components and thus is smaller and easier to install than check valves of the prior art.
US08272391B2
An auto bending structure of sunshade has an upper section of bending and a lower section of bending, which are connected by a sliding rod with a top through hole and a bottom through hole. The bottom through hole has a guide pin sliding in an arc groove provided on the scarf joint part of the lower section of bending, linear groves corresponding to the arc groove are provided on both sides of the groove of the upper section of bending. A sliding sleeve with a bottom through hole is provided on the top of said sliding rod, the bottom through hole of said sliding sleeve is corresponding to the top through hole of the sliding rod. The upper section of umbrella stem is provided with a linear groove which is surrounded by a ring, the ring is connected with the sliding rod and sliding sleeve by the connecting pin, which slides in the linear groove to make the ring to cooperate with the lower nest moving up and down as pulled by the umbrella string.
US08272390B2
A wash fluid containment system includes an elevated, fluid impervious surface upon which items to be washed are placed for washing. The surface is configured to cause wash fluid to flow to an edge of the surface and off of the surface to prevent buildup of wash fluid on the surface. A collecting trough is positioned in fluid flow communication with the edges of the surface to which the fluid flows to catch and collect the fluid as it flows from the surface. Used wash fluid is taken from the collecting trough for disposal or recycling and solids and debris can be easily removed from the trough.
US08272389B2
A compact mirror floss container configured to dispense floss includes: (i) a first clam shell member having a mirrored interior surface and (ii) a second clam shell member pivotally coupled to the first clam shell member. The second clam shell member includes a receiving mechanism. A floss cartridge is coupled about the receiving mechanism and configured to dispense floss. An attachment member is coupled to one of the first clam shell member and second clam shell member, configured to selectably couple to a receiving member. The container also includes a securing mechanism coupled to one of the first clam shell member and second clam shell member, configured to selectably couple the first clam shell member to the second clam shell member. The container also includes a cutting member configured to cut floss; and a decorative cover. The decorative cover is selectably coupleable to the clam shell members.
US08272380B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for compensating for inelastic and elastic leaks in a ventilation system. The disclosure describes a model-based enhancement to conventional pressure triggering methodology that optimizes the timing and patient work of pressure triggering performance. The methods and systems described herein compensate for the additional effort a patient has to exert to generate the same amount of airway pressure drops compared to no leak condition. One method described includes calculating an elastic leakage and an inelastic leakage based on current measurements of pressure and flow in the ventilation system and then compensating a pressure threshold for the effects of the inelastic and elastic leaks in the system.
US08272369B2
A system for feeding gas fuel to an internal combustion engine, having: a fuel tank; fluidic connector along which fuel flows, and interposed fluidically between the tank and a cylinder of the engine; and an electro-injector fluidically in series with respect to the fluidic connector, and which is interposed between the tank and the cylinder, and is activated selectively to disable or enable fuel flow to the cylinder; the electro-injector is positioned with respect to the fluidic connector solely by connecting at least an inlet or outlet of the electro-injector to at least one pipe defined by the fluidic connector.
US08272367B2
A control system for an internal combustion engine for driving a vehicle, which controls an output torque of the engine, is provided. In this control system, a rapid change in a demand torque of the engine is detected, and a feedforward correction amount is generated during a correction period which is substantially equal to a resonance period of a powertrain of the vehicle, from a time when the rapid change in the demand torque is detected. An output torque control amount of the engine is corrected with the feedforward correction amount. A torque change amount integrated value is calculated by integrating an amount of change in the demand torque, and the feedforward correction amount is generated according to the torque change amount integrated value.
US08272366B2
A control device which can reduce an exhaust amount of unburned HC at a time of start of an internal combustion engine using a fuel containing alcohol is provided. The control device controls closing timing of an exhaust valve and opening timing of an intake valve so as to close the exhaust valve at a timing at an advance side from an intake top dead center and enlarge a minus overlap until the intake valve is opened after the exhaust valve is closed in accordance with the alcohol concentration of the fuel, for a predetermined time period (hereinafter, a first predetermined time period) at a time of start. The control device controls fuel injection timing so as to start fuel injection in the minus overlap for a second predetermined time period at the time of start which is included in the first predetermined time period.
US08272364B2
An implement comprises an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve. At least one handle, the inside of which is provided with a gas lever likewise in a pivotal manner, is attached to a housing surrounding the internal combustion engine. The minimum distance between the gas lever and the handle is defined by a stop. When the operator lifts the implement by the handle, the position of the gas lever also changes. Even when the gas lever is fully depressed, only a part-load position is achieved at the throttle valve. In this way, effective rotational speed limitation is achieved.
US08272362B2
Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst during engine cold-start conditions. One example embodiment uses positive valve overlap to drive a boosted blow-through airflow through the cylinders of an engine. Fuel is injected with the blow-through airflow during the valve overlap, and also injected into engine cylinders outside the valve overlap. The catalyst is heated by the resulting exothermic reaction of the blow-through airflow with the combustion products and the injected fuel in the exhaust manifold.
US08272359B2
A camshaft assembly may include a assembly and a shaft. The cam assembly may include a hollow structure with an interior surface and an exterior surface. A plurality of projections may be located on the exterior surface of the hollow structure. The interior surface of the cam assembly may define a recess axially aligned with at least one of the plurality of projections. At least one of the plurality of projections may define an undercut portion. The cam assembly may be coupled with the shaft.
US08272351B2
The present invention provides a portable water bottle and dish assembly and method for humans and pets to provide a human or pet with a readily accessible water bottle integrally attached to a delivery dish. The portable water bottle and dish assembly broadly comprises a bottle having a top portion and a body portion with an outer shell and an internal chamber that is removably attached and housed within a delivery dish. The delivery dish is configured in size and shape to provide access to a pet or human for drinking therefrom. Optionally, the bottle comprises an insulating internal chamber adapted to insulate the liquid housed therein, keeping the liquid at a constant temperature for a period of time. Alternatively, the delivery dish comprises an insulating interior compartment adapted to insulate the liquid when the bottle is within the interior compartment of the delivery dish.
US08272350B1
A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle formed by a continuous sidewall extending between a bottom and an opposed top. A diverter, formed with inclined channels, is positioned in the bottom of the receptacle opposite to the top. A volume is defined by the continuous sidewall between the inclined channels of the diverter and the top, an opening is formed in the continuous sidewall opposite to each of the inclined channels, and the inclined channels of the diverter are for receiving and conveying material from the volume to the respective openings.
US08272347B2
A gas heating device that may be used in a system for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process is described. The gas heating device may be configured for heating one or more constituents of a film forming composition. The gas heating device comprises one or more resistive heating elements. Additionally, the gas heating device comprises a mounting structure configured to support at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements. Furthermore, the gas heating device comprises a static mounting device coupled to the mounting structure and configured to fixedly couple the at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements to the mounting structure, and a dynamic mounting device coupled to the mounting structure and configured to automatically compensate for changes in a length of the at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements. Further yet, the dynamic mounting device comprises a thermal break configured to reduce heat transfer between the dynamic mounting device and the mounting structure.
US08272345B2
An electrohydrodynamic spraying or spinning deposition system, which includes a common source of pressurized liquid within a manifold, and an array of 2 or more spraying tips, each tip being fed from the common source of pressurized liquid to create a liquid flow path. An individual flow impedance device is disposed within each tip's individual liquid flow path from the pressurized liquid source into each spraying tip. The individual flow impedance devices are disposed within a replaceable sheet, which can be easily cleaned or changed to accommodate the instance liquid viscosity and composition. A high voltage source is applied to create a high voltage potential applied between the tip array and a deposition surface.
US08272338B2
A safe anchoring device for anchoring a safe to a floor. In addition to anchoring the safe, the safe anchoring device simultaneously provides a watertight and airtight seal for the interior of the safe. A tunnel connects the interior housing to the exterior housing. Insulation is between the interior housing and the exterior housing. A removable top cover covers the tunnel on the inside of the safe at the interior housing. When the anchoring device is used to anchor the safe to the floor, a removable threaded locking bolt extends through the tunnel and is threaded onto a threaded tube section of a bottom cover while the bottom cover is securely attached to the floor. In a preferred embodiment, when the safe is anchored to the floor the watertight and airtight seal is provided by a gasket under the top cover and an O-ring under the bolt head of the threaded locking bolt. When the safe is not anchored to the floor, the threaded locking bolt is removed and the bottom cover covers the tunnel at the exterior housing. In a preferred embodiment, when the safe is not anchored to the floor the watertight and airtight seal is provided by gaskets under the top cover and the bottom cover.
US08272337B2
The modular folding table includes a collapsible truss framework that supports a folding table top and a folding utility shelf, and includes legs that can be connected horizontally or vertically to the legs of one or more similar modular folding tables, to provide desired table and shelf space with a structure that is foldable, strong and stable.
US08272336B2
A locking mechanism, in particular for locking a table top in the work position thereof and for releasing the table top in order to pivot it for example into an approximately vertically extending storage position, is distinguished in that the locking mechanism comprises between the fully locked position and the fully released position at least one intermediate position, in which the table top is pivotable only through a restricted angular range in a manner delimited by stops.
US08272335B2
A cable manager for a tabletop includes raceway and a holder. The tabletop includes a support surface and an edge surface. The raceway is for a cable having an end with a plug. The raceway is configured to be positioned lengthwise along at least a portion of a length of the edge surface. The raceway provides a slot along and through which the cable can, with respect to the support surface, be moved laterally and extended and retracted. The holder is configured to be positioned on the support surface and to retain the plug in a stationary position at a first location adjacent to the support surface. The plug is removable from the holder to be repositioned to a desired one of a plurality of second locations adjacent to the support surface.
US08272328B1
A method of converting a bomblet into a hand-thrown grenade may include providing a bomblet having a fuze, a shaped-charge liner, a casing, and explosive material disposed between the shaped-charge liner and the casing. The fuze may be removed from the bomblet. A housing may be attached a fuze end of the bomblet. The housing may adjoin the casing. A cavity that abuts and is exterior to the shaped-charge liner may be filled with a filler material, such as pellets. A hand-grenade fuze may be attached to the fuze end of the bomblet.
US08272318B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
US08272313B2
The invention comprises an improved recoil control device comprising a bolt head and an inertia block for use in a variety of firearms. In one embodiment, the bolt head and inertia block are articulated so that the displacement of the bolt head results in a force component outside the firing axis of the barrel of the firearm. The device can be incorporated into firearms of a variety of sizes and configurations to produce recoil reduction and/or weight reduction advantages.
US08272287B2
A device for latching and locking of shift rockers (1, 1′) of a shift device of a transmission. The device has a lock part (3, 3′), for each shift rocker (1, 1′), which resides in a receptacle (2) of the shift rocker (1, 1′), which interacts with a lock contour (5, 5′), positioned in a non-moving area of the transmission, for the latching purpose, whereby the lock part (3, 3′) also serves, in addition to the latching, as an interlock for the shift rocker (1, 1′).
US08272286B2
A linear actuator with a dustproof mechanism provides reliable dustproof capability over the entire stroke of the actuator. A linear actuator 100 with a dustproof mechanism includes a ball screw, a movable stage 4 including a ball screw nut that engages the ball screw, the movable stage capable of making linear reciprocating motion in the axial direction of the ball screw in response to rotary motion of the ball screw, a housing member 2 disposed to cover at least the ball screw, openings 27, 28 formed in the housing member 2 along the path along which the movable stage 4 travels, and dustproof belts 29, 30 disposed inside the housing member 2 to block the openings 27, 28. The linear actuator 100 with a dustproof mechanism further includes end plate covers 105a, 105b that cover both ends of the housing member 2 and hence has high dustproof performance.
US08272284B2
An electrically driven linear actuator (1) has an electric motor with a ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) connected to an output shaft (2a) of the electric motor (2), via a power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12) to convert a rotary motion of the electric motor (2) to a linear motion of an object member to be controlled by the actuator (1). Housing members (5, 6 and 8) contain the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) and the power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12). Stroke end members (14 and 14), of a ball screw shaft (4) or a ball screw nut (3) forming the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4), are rotatably supported relative to the housing members (5 and 8) via a free rotation mechanism (20 and 20).
US08272280B2
The present invention is a method and apparatus for contaminant detection in the food industry. Particularly, the method and apparatus involve collecting air samples containing aerosolized contaminate particles from a foodstuff and analyzing the sample for presence of a contaminate. Aerosol lab-on-a-chip and/or electronic nose devices are utilized for the detection of contaminant particles.
US08272279B2
Chemical sampling systems and methods that can inexpensively and efficiently provide accurate chemical sampling in dusty environments are disclosed. The system can include a chemical detector, an elastomeric membrane, and a support structure for the elastomeric membrane. The gas chromatograph can have a sample inlet through which chemicals from the gaseous environment can enter the gas chromatograph. The sample inlet can be covered with the elastomeric membrane, the elastomeric membrane being configured to extract chemicals from the gaseous environment while excluding dust and other particles from passing into the gas chromatograph. The support structure can be disposed between the elastomeric membrane and the sample inlet and can provide mechanical support to the elastomeric membrane.
US08272274B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for operating the device to determine at least one property of a fluid. The device includes a base on a substrate and a tube structure extending from the base and spaced apart from a surface of the substrate. The tube structure includes at least one tube portion and more preferably at least a pair of parallel tube portions substantially lying in a plane, at least one continuous internal passage defined at least in part within the parallel tube portions, and an inlet and outlet of the internal passage fluidically connected to the base. A drive element is operable to induce vibrational movement in the tube structure in a plane of the tube structure and induce resonant vibrational movements in the tube portions. A sensing element senses the deflections of the tube portions when the tube structure is vibrated with the drive element.
US08272269B2
The present invention relates to a method for examining a medium (19), comprising the following steps of: transmitting a measurement input signal (4) comprising at least one measurement frequency, wherein the measurement input signal (4) is coupled into a medium (19); receiving a measurement output signal (9) emerging from the medium (9); transmitting a counter measurement input signal (13) comprising at least one counter measurement frequency, wherein the counter measurement frequency essentially corresponds to the measurement frequency, and wherein the counter measurement input signal (13) is coupled into the medium (19) simultaneously and in an opposite direction to the measurement input signal (4); receiving a counter measurement output signal (16) emerging from the medium (19); calculating a Doppler correction by comparing the counter measurement input signal (13) with the counter measurement output signal (16) in terms of the counter measurement frequency and by comparing the measurement input signal (4) with the measurement output signal (9) in terms of the measurement frequency; calculating a phase shift between the at least one measurement frequency of the measurement input signal (4) and the corresponding measurement frequency of the measurement output signal (9); correcting the phase shift as a function of the Doppler correction.
US08272265B2
System and method for active detection of asymmetry in a rotating structure, the method comprises: imparting harmonic mechanical excitation on the rotating structure that is asynchronous to the speed of rotation of the structure; obtaining a response from the excited rotating body; and analyzing the response to determine a presence of modulation of the imparted harmonic mechanical excitation, that causes vibration at a frequency that is a combination of both the harmonic mechanical excitation and the modulation speed of rotation.
US08272264B2
A type of liquid level gauge for continuous measurement of boiler steam drum under full conditions and its method for calculation of liquid level, this liquid level gauge includes one metal measurement tube and one transmitter. The steam-side pipe connected to steam drum is fitted on the upper part of the metal measurement tube and the water-side pipe connected to steam drum is fitted on the lower part of the metal measurement tube, one insulated jacket pipe is available inside the metal measurement tube and 1# probe, 2# probe, and 3# probe are mounted from down upwards inside the insulated jacket pope. The respective probes are mutually insulated and not conducted. The three probes are respectively connected with the transmitter through lead wires of the probes. This liquid level gauge is able to monitor the water and steam dielectric constants in a real-time manner, and the liquid level values can be outputted accurately in a continuous way with the liquid level gauge for boiler steam drum designed according to this invention in all the cases, no matter the boiler is under the startup, shutdown, or joint discharge status, etc, thus to achieve the function for a continuous measurement of liquid level under full conditions.
US08272260B2
Methods and apparatus for evaluating a formation include conveying a formation evaluation tool in a borehole on a tubular carrier extending from a surface location at least to the formation evaluation tool. A cable is conveyed to the formation evaluation tool and communication between the formation evaluation tool and the cable is established after the formation evaluation tool is moved to a selected borehole location.
US08272247B2
An apparatus for determining the breakage properties of a particulate material, the apparatus including: a support; a rotor mounted relative to the support and including at least one guide channel through which a particle of the particulate material is guided in use, the guide channel having an inlet and an outlet; a drive associated with the rotor; a feed channel for feeding particles of the particulate material to the inlet of the guide channel; a stator associated with the rotor and including an impact surface that is radially spaced from a circumferential edge of the rotor; and a collector for collecting pieces of the particulate material following impact; wherein the apparatus is provided with a control system for accurate control and adjustment of impact velocity of the particulate material with the impact surface.
US08272244B2
The invention describes an apparatus for stamping can lids or the like, having a bridge (10) supported on a frame and carrying stamping tools (1) actuated vertically in a continuously repeating manner, having a longitudinal conveying device (30) gradually transporting metal sheets (11, 12) under said tools (1) in each case with the latter opened, and having a transverse conveying device (20, 40) laterally displacing to a limited extent the metal sheet (11, 12) moving or moved longitudinally in each case, wherein a separately controllable transverse conveying device (20, 40) is arranged in a stationary position in each case on the feed and discharge side approximately symmetrically to the tools (1) close in front of and behind the latter, said transverse conveying device (20, 40) in each case carrying a driving roller pair (31, 32; 51, 52) as the longitudinal conveying device (30, 50), which delivers the metal sheet (11, 12) in a controlled clamping manner or releases it in a controlled manner.Furthermore, a method of using the apparatus described is presented.
US08272243B2
A moving die is held by a robot and made to approach a vehicle, and a positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole of the vehicle. The moving die is brought into a floating state of being displaceable relative to the vehicle by reducing a force of the robot for maintaining an attitude thereof. In a state of holding the moving die by the robot, a surface of the moving die is brought into contact with the vehicle by an adsorbing mechanism including an adsorbing portion of an elastic member provided to the moving die. The moving die and the robot are cut to be separated.
US08272238B2
A case has a body defining an accommodation such as may be sized to accept a squat cylindrical object such as a magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, a DVD or such like object. The case may include a locking mechanism, and that locking mechanism may be a combination locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may permit axial access to the accommodation, or it may permit radial access to the accommodation. The accommodation may lie in whole or in part between relatively movable members of the locking mechanism.
US08272237B2
An automatic strand take-up installation includes at least a first gripping member for taking hold of at least one strand bundle, the first gripping member being guided by a first conveying loop to a second gripping member guided by a second conveying loop, the bundle passing from one loop to the other loop due to an operating system for opening and closing the gripping members.
US08272234B2
A method of making a silica crucible in a mold cavity of the type in which air is drawing through silica grain placed in the mold cavity. A pure silica grain layer is formed on top of a natural silica grain layer. At least a portion of the purse silica grain layer is fused while substantially no air is drawn through the silica grain. Any remaining pure silica grain and a least a portion of the natural silica grain layer is fused while drawing a substantially higher volume of air through the silica. At least a portion of the fused pure silica grain layer is then sublimated.
US08272226B2
A method for producing clumped frozen food products includes the steps of forming a plurality of cryogenically manufactured ice cream units; conveying the units along a conveyor to a rotating container; disposing a liquid on the units while the units are within the rotating container, wherein the liquid hardens into a binder that facilitates fusion of individual units with one another to form a plurality of clumps, each of the clumps respectively comprising a plurality of fused units coupled with the binder. After forming into clumps, the clumps may be removed from the rotating container and stored in a frozen form.
US08272225B2
An apparatus for cooling cassette magazines containing tissue samples is described. The apparatus comprises a housing, a cooling device, and a transport apparatus for transporting one or more cassette magazines within the housing. The cassette magazines are introduced into the apparatus via an input chute and can be removed via an output chute.
US08272218B2
A fuel nozzle for delivery of fuel to a gas turbine engine. The fuel nozzle includes an outer nozzle wall and a center body located centrally within the nozzle wall. A gap is defined between an inner wall surface of the nozzle wall and an outer body surface of the center body for providing fuel flow in a longitudinal direction from an inlet end to an outlet end of the fuel nozzle. A turbulating feature is defined on at least one of the central body and the inner wall for causing at least a portion of the fuel flow in the gap to flow transverse to the longitudinal direction. The gap is effective to provide a substantially uniform temperature distribution along the nozzle wall in the circumferential direction.
US08272214B2
A cable adapted for use as an actuator, adaptive structural member, or damper, includes a plurality of longitudinally inter-engaged and cooperatively functioning shape memory alloy wires.
US08272201B2
Means for cooling a bearing assembly supporting a rotor stage of a gas turbine engine after engine shutdown. The engine comprises a combustion section, a compressor for the delivery of air to the combustion section, and a bearing assembly supporting a rotor stage. The means for cooling a bearing assembly comprises a means operable to generate a signal representative of turbine duct temperature immediately prior to engine shutdown, a means for determining the duration for cooling after engine shutdown as a function of the signal representative of turbine duct temperature, and the compressor operable as a cooling means to deliver cooling air to the rotor stage after engine shutdown. Thereby the amount of heat conducted to the bearing assembly is limited such that the temperature of the bearing assembly is limited to below a predetermined temperature.
US08272198B1
Flexible platform jointed to a conveyor belt for a combine harvesting, chopping and spinning machine
A flexible platform jointed to a conveyor belt for a harvesting, spinning, and chopping machine which improves the functioning of all the platforms width, and eliminating deficiencies related to material, cereal or grain transport, with a transporting auger in all its width, obtaining a more homogeneous and smoother material flow. The platform includes two conveyor belts (1,2) adjacent and parallel to each other. The conveyor belt (1) is movable and flexible and is located adjacent to the cutting blades. The conveyor belts (1,2) are located between central corresponding augers (3, 4) and retractile central fingers (5), facing the feeder.
US08272197B2
A handheld lawnmower has a housing and a pair of wheels mounted on an axle. The axle is mounted to the housing. A handle mount is formed on the housing. The handle is connected to the handle mount, and the handle extends above the housing. An electric motor is connected to a top portion of the housing at a blade assembly cap. A blade assembly has a blade connection header, and a blade shaft is connected to the blade connection header at a blade shaft first end. The blade shaft is connected to a blade junction at a blade shaft second end, and a blade has a leading edge. The blade assembly is mounted in a direction to provide a flat cutting angle for the blade. A battery is electrically connected to the electric motor.
US08272196B2
A side seal assembly for a shrink wrap packaging system is located downstream in the feed direction from a wrapping station to join first and second plies together and enclose each of the products in individually wrapped packages. The side seal assembly includes a heated side seal mechanism to form the side seal weld and separate the selvage film. The assembly includes an indexing mechanism to index the side seal mechanism and expose a clean surface to the film without removal or extensive servicing of the assembly and the heretofore requisite downtime for the system. The sealing and cutting functions are combined into a single, stationary component thereby reducing the number of movable parts. Moreover, indexing the side seal mechanism operatively exposes a clean, free of resin build-up, peripheral edge of the side seal mechanism to the plies, without the need to stop production for extended periods of time while consistently producing a thin side seal weld on the package.
US08272192B2
The present invention is directed to opening a spring roll pack in a controlled manner. A support surface is provided that is positioned to support the spring roll pack. A compression mechanism compresses the spring roll pack. As the spring roll pack is compressed, the spring roll pack is rotated while an accumulator winds wrapping material of the spring roll pack.
US08272180B2
An upright space-dividing wall panel is provided having an internal frame and a top cap attached to a top rail of the frame. The top cap includes a lengthwise channel in which threaded fasteners are slidably received for engaging the top cap to the frame rail. The top cap further includes side channels which cooperate with coupling brackets for securing a second panel to the wall panel. Further, a locator clip arrangement is provided between the top cap and a side trim cover on the end of the wall panel for precisely locating the trim cover relative to the top cap.
US08272174B2
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes flashing positioned on the substrate that includes a first surface, a second surface and an aperture extending therethrough. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket supports at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion; the first portion abuts the flashing first surface and the second portion extends through the aperture.
US08272170B2
A drain box includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion generally defines a cavity and has a bottom wall that extends below a plane defined by a generally flat roof of a building. The second portion is laterally adjacent to the first portion. The second portion has a bottom wall that extends along a portion the roof. A downspout guard is located within the cavity. The downspout guard includes a water-porous material located entirely within the first portion of the housing.
US08272168B2
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes a fixed panel and a sliding panel. A track includes a first side wall connected to the fixed panel and a second side wall spaced from and extending along the first side wall defining a channel therebetween. The channel receives the sliding panel for movement of the sliding panel relative to the fixed panel. A horizontal seal is coupled to the first side wall in the channel for sealing between the first side wall and the sliding panel. A vertical seal is affixed to the fixed panel and intersects the horizontal seal at an intersection in the channel. The vertical seal extends along the wall into the channel beyond the horizontal seal at the intersection for preventing the flow of water from the horizontal seal past the vertical seal and onto an interior side of the fixed panel.
US08272157B2
A device for directing a beam of radiation at a target. The device includes a fiber laser for producing the beam of radiation, an aiming mechanism, for aiming the beam of radiation at the target, that moves independently of the fiber laser, and an optical fiber for conveying the beam of radiation to the aiming mechanism.
US08272144B2
An electric household appliance (1) having a casing (2); a rotary drum (3) housing laundry to be dried and mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (L) inside the casing (2); a door (4) which rotates to and from a work position closing an opening (2a) in the casing (2) to close the drum (3); a hot-air generator (5) for circulating hot air inside the drum (3); a steam generator (15) for circulating a steam jet inside the drum (3); an exhaust manifold (11) communicating with the drum (3) to allow outflow of air/steam from the drum (3); and a shutter device (30) for selectively opening/closing the exhaust manifold (11) to permit /prevent free outflow of air/steam from the drum (3).
US08272138B1
An apparatus and method of aligning a vehicle's fixed rear axle relative to the vehicle frame and suspension elements uses an adjustable axle housing shim between one end of the axle housing and a leaf spring. One end of the axle is moved by the adjustable axle housing shim to remove any skew in the axle and wheels.
US08272133B2
A circular saw having a saw blade depth adjustment detent mechanism for facilitating rapid positioning of a saw blade at predetermined depth positions includes a housing enclosing a motor disposed therein that rotates a circular saw blade. The circular saw includes a foot which rides on a workpiece to guide the saw blade during cutting operations. The saw blade depth adjustment detent mechanism pivotally interconnects the foot to said housing such that the circular saw blade is adjustable to the foot through a number of saw blade depth settings within a range of saw blade depth of cuts relative to the foot. The saw blade depth adjustment detent mechanism includes a saw blade depth detent and a second member having a plurality of spaced saw blade depth recesses that are each matingly engageable with the saw blade depth detent to provide the range of saw blade depths.
US08272126B2
An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a circuit board that allows highly accurate preservation of the circuit profile and gives a circuit having a desired depth in preparation of a fine circuit by additive process.The method of producing a multilayer circuit board in an aspect of the present invention includes a film-forming step of forming a swellable resin film on the surface of an insulative substrate, a circuit groove-forming step of forming circuit grooves having a depth equal to or greater than the thickness of the swellable resin film on the external surface of the swellable resin film, a catalyst-depositing step of depositing a plating catalyst or the precursor thereof on the surface of the circuit grooves and the surface of the swellable resin film, a film-separating step of swelling the swellable resin film with a particular liquid and then separating the swollen resin film from the insulative substrate surface, and a plating processing step of forming an electrolessly plated film only in the region where the plating catalyst or the plating catalyst formed from the plating catalyst precursor remains unseparated after separation of the swellable resin film.
US08272125B2
Provided are methods of manufacturing a plurality of electrochemical sensors. The methods include forming a plurality of working electrodes on a first electrode region of a substrate, forming a plurality of counter electrodes on a second electrode region of the substrate, disposing a spacer layer on one of the first and second electrode regions, folding the substrate with the spacer layer between the first electrode region and the second electrode region to form a layered structure, and separating or cutting the layered structure to form individual electrochemical sensors.
US08272123B2
A method for designing a printed circuit board to meet a specification is described. A first voltage switchable dielectric material is placed in apposition with a first copper foil. A second voltage switchable dielectric material is placed in apposition with a second copper foil. An arcuate portion of the first copper foil is placed in apposition with a first side of an aluminum member, an adhesive substance being situated between the first copper foil and the first side of the aluminum member. An arcuate portion of the second copper foil in is placed apposition with a second side of the aluminum member, an adhesive substance being situated between the second copper foil and the second side of the aluminum member.
US08272112B2
The invention particularly relates to a tool set making it possible to introduce in a sheath (2) a flow-monitoring device (1) comprising a hollow body (11), a valve (12), a cup-type seal member (13), and a plurality of retention elastic legs (14). This tool set comprises three tools (3, 4, 5), whereof the first tool is formed of a contention bushing (31) and an ejecting pusher (32), whereof the third tool (5) receives the sheath (2) and comprises a cylinder (51) wherein a centering piston (51) slides in the sheath, and whereof the second tool (4) shaped like a funnel, is inserted between the first tool (3) and the third tool (5), and makes it possible to radially compress the seal (13) and the legs (14) of the device (1) while inserting them into the sheath (2) while this device is pushed out of the first tool.
US08272110B2
The present invention is directed to an improved shoe lace comprised of a plurality of bendable support elements permanently held within a limp material at each of the two end tips by a sleeve, whereby the lace enables children, and persons with physical disabilities, to more easily tie their shoes, as well as staying tied while wearing the improved shoe laces.
US08272109B2
A retaining device for retaining an object or objects to a surface or surfaces. The device includes an elongate, flexible strap having a plurality of bores and a retaining member embedded within a platform body. The retaining member has first and second portions. The first portion has a first end which is passed through one or more of the bores of the strap to operatively connect the strap to the retaining member. The strap is placed around the object to be retained. The second portion retains the first portion in a closed position so that the object is retained securely but non-permanently. An adhesive between the platform body and the surface permanently fixes the retaining device to the surface.
US08272106B2
A driven conveyor having an upper surface for receiving and transporting seed cotton comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats, each extending transversely relative to the direction of travel. Each slat has a roughened surface to which cotton fiber will adhere. The transverse gaps between the respective slats facilitate severance of seed by a transverse blade that is in contact with the upper surface of the conveyor, while the cotton fiber adheres to the slatted upper surface and is pulled through the pinch point between the blade and the conveyor. An air flow chamber is arranged above the blade so that seed separated from the fiber at the pinch point can be removed. An air suction device is provided downstream of the blade for removal of the fiber from the upper surface. A blade mounting assembly resiliently biases the blade in floating contact with the upper surface of the conveyor.
US08272105B2
An extendable linkage mechanism for operating a slave actuator over a range of distances from a master actuator, an extendable handle for operating a tool over a range of handle length; and a tool for use by an operator for dispensing drywall joint compound into joints between sheets of drywall. Slanted engagement surfaces on master and slave wedges engage each other as well as master and slave rods to transmit motion and force at varying distances, for instance, from a lever at one end to a clamp at the other end. The elongated slave rod passes through orifices in the wedges. Structural or tubular members may slidably engage to provide extendibility.
US08272096B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) consisting of a rubber profiled element (48) comprising a wiper lip (50) and at least one carrier element (46) that can be connected to a wiper arm (18) by means of a fixing element (14) and a connection element (22). The fixing element (14) comprises a covering cap (16) and the connection element (22) fixed to the wiper arm (18) secures the wiper blade (10) perpendicularly to a pivoting axis (20) by means of a clip (52), on the end (54) thereof at an angle to the wiper blade. According to the invention, the covering cap (16) comprises an opening (34) or recess for the angular end (54) of the clip (52), on the side of the cap opposing the rubber profiled element (48), in the region of the connection element (22), said opening only partially overlapping the covering cap (16) in the mounted position.
US08272088B2
A patient support system to be used in conjunction with a standard linear accelerator, and other sources, is described that allows access of the treatment beam to the breast from up to 360 degrees. This support system places the patient in a prone position with the breast going through an aperture. The prone position increases the separation of the breast from the chest wall and other critical organs and reduces motion of the target tissue due to breathing. This invention offers up to 360 degree radiation beam access to the breast. This helps in skin sparing, better dose conformity, and allows one to use modern treatment techniques such as IMRT and IGRT. It also includes a provision for an imaging system. This invention can also be used with CT and MR imaging modalities.
US08272087B2
A piece of resting furniture such as a bed or chair comprising a least one actuator (4,5) and a control unit (11) and at least one control panel (9,10) to bring about an adjustment of the piece of furniture, and further comprising at least one strain gauge (18,19) connected to an alarm to detect whether a person is occupying the piece of furniture or not wherein the strain gauge (18,19) is located in connection with the actuator (4,5). The function is based on relative changes in the load on the strain gauge (18, 19) from a preset reference thereby allowing use of sensors with low resolution, which thereby are comparatively cheap. Moreover, when placing the strain gauge (18,19) in connection with the actuator (4,5) this simplifies the incorporation thereof in the piece of furniture. Not least the construction also renders it possible in an easy manner to upgrade existing hospital and care beds with an egress function.
US08272083B1
A faucet installation system and method for use on faucets that include a valve stem that is adapted for insertion through an aperture in a sink or a countertop is disclosed. The system uses a valve having a valve stem that is adapted for connection to a water supply line that connects to a water supply valve. The valve stem includes an external surface that cooperates with a retention nut that is split, so that retention nut may be attached to the valve stem after the valve stem and water supply line have been attached to one another and inserted through the aperture in the sink or countertop, eliminating the need to attach the water supply line to the stem from under the sink or countertop.
US08272082B1
Tub box systems, apparatus and methods of assembling in concrete floors under bath tubs. Tub boxes with water sealing members can include troughs/gutters about the perimeter edges of the tub box which collect water leakage between the tub box and concrete floors. Raised ribs on the outside of the tub boxes block water flowing on the surfaces of the tub box from reaching lower drain lines. Water barrier rings with flat outwardly extending sides and concentric raised ridges which attach about downwardly projecting drain bases underneath the tub box further prevent water leaks running down the drain bases. Fire stop material can be clipped about the drain bases and expand from heat to prevent fire from traveling upward around the drain lines in the concrete floors under bathtubs.
US08272080B2
A pumped shower draining device for shower apparatus, the device comprising a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within or adjacent to the housing which pumps waste water from the waste water inlet to the waste water outlet, a first pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, a second pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, and a controller to control the first and/or second pump-driving devices. The first pump-driving device is hydraulically operable by shower water supplied to a shower head. The second pump-driving device is electrically operable, and the controller controls at least one of the first pump-driving device and second pump-driving device to supplement and/or to be substituted for the other. Shower apparatus having the pumped shower draining device is also provided.
US08272077B2
A sanitary washing apparatus includes: a washing nozzle; and a pressurizing device. The sanitary washing apparatus that performs first and second jetting processes alternately jetted with a prescribed waiting time there between. The pressurizing device makes minimum pressure of water in the second jetting process higher than minimum pressure of water in the first jetting process and makes maximum pressure of water in the second jetting process higher than maximum pressure of water in the first jetting process so that the second water mass is faster than the first water mass. The prescribed waiting time between the first and the second jetting processes is set so that before the first water mass impinges on the human body, the second water mass having faster velocity than the first water mass overtakes the first water mass to enlarge jetting water cross-sectional area of the first water mass.
US08272070B2
Conical face shields, sports helmets, and methods for orienting a conical face shield in a sports helmet are described. In embodiments, the conical face shield has at least two opposing arcuate edges, at least two opposing side edges, and a shield. The arcuate edges each have a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end. Further, the edge surface of the first arcuate edge and the edge surface of the second arcuate edge include an arc segment and the arc segment of the edge surface of the first arcuate edge is part of an ellipse with a greater semi-minor axis than the semi-minor axis of the ellipse forming the arc segment of the edge surface of the second arcuate edge. In various other embodiments, the conical face shield may be horizontally and/or vertically tapered.
US08276209B2
A method and system for determining the level of allowed communication between devices. By addition of one or more tamper-resistant proximity check server(s), round-trip time measurements to estimate the distance between the communication devices are performed in order to determine the amount of communication allowed between these devices. In one embodiment, a single tamper-resistant proximity server computes the distance between communication devices that are implemented as trusted applications on open platforms.
US08276208B2
Methods, systems, and articles to receive, by a fail-over computing device, a request to instantiate a virtual-machine in response to a virtual-machine failure on a separate physical device. The request includes a minimum security rating. The fail-over computing device then compares the minimum security rating against an assigned security rating of the fail-over computing device and instantiates the virtual-machine if the assigned security rating meets or exceeds the minimum security rating.
US08276200B2
A system and method for securely processing sensitive streams in a mixed infrastructure includes analyzing a stream to determine data sensitivity. A likelihood that processing elements employed to process the stream would result in a risk to sensitive information is determined. At least a portion of the data stream having sensitive information is transferred to a secure processing environment to ensure security of the data stream during processing.
US08276197B1
A method and system are provided for accessing network resources. An embodiment of the method includes receiving login information associated with logging one or more customers in to a data network associated with a first domain substantially owned by a first entity; and utilizing the login information to automatically register the one or more customers with a second data network associated with a second domain so that at least a portion of services that would have been available to a customer who was properly logged in to the second network will be available to the one or more customers by virtue of the registering.
US08276193B2
An Activity Access Control (AAC) utility controls access to applications and devices by allowing an administrator to set terms of use/access regarding a applications and/or devices for a group of users, whose activity are monitored. The AAC utility also enables administrator and user access to a compromise facility via a centralized access point to establish or request changes to the terms of use/access. The AAC utility allows the administrator to dynamically update information and set terms based on real-time information collected during activity monitoring. Dynamic updates may also occur based on the monitored user's request, the priority of the requesting user(s), historical data, occurrence of a special event, completion of other internal or/external tasks, and/or pre-set limitations or thresholds. In addition, the AAC utility facilitates the real-time display or publishing of the terms of use, status information, and statistical information to users and the administrator.
US08276190B1
A user using a browser having stored authentication information for a web service in a first domain is authenticated to a web service in a second domain. The browser is provided with computer program instructions causing the browser to transparently provide the stored authentication information to the service in the first domain, receive cross-domain authentication credentials from the service in the first domain, and provide the cross-domain authentication credentials to the service in the second domain. The service in the second domain validates the cross-domain authentication credentials. If the credentials validate, the service in the second domain transparently provides the user with authenticated access.
US08276186B2
A method for communicating data between a first and second control system (FCS and SCS). FCS (202) controls a first process (FP) having first security data (FSD) in a first data security format (FDSF). The method involves modifying the FSD (214) from being in the FDSF into modified security data (MSD) in a modified security format (MSDF) compatible with SCS (226). Subsequent to the modifying, a request is received from an SCS user. The request includes a user type, process parameter (PP) associated with the FP, and request for information regarding the PP or a request to change a PP value. The method also involves referencing the user type and PP to the MSD. The method further involves blocking or allowing the request based on results of the referencing. If results indicate that the request is allowed, then an access level can be impersonated for changing the PP value in FCS.
US08276185B2
A memory device includes: at least one storage area for storing data; a protection control structure adapted to selectively allow an external device access to the at least one storage area of the memory, the storage area being not freely accessible by the external device if protected; a control logic adapted to identify an access request by the external device to the at least one storage area and cooperating with the protection control structure for managing an unlock procedure for selectively granting the external device at least temporary access rights to the storage area if protected; means for providing a first code to the external device in said unlock procedure; means for receiving a second code from the external device in response to said first code; means for verifying validity of the received second code. The means for verifying validity are adapted to ascertain a correspondence of the second code with the first code based on a predetermined relationship. The control logic instructs the protection control structure to grant access to the storage area if the validity of the received second code has been verified. The first code issued by the memory device to the external device upon receiving an access request is changed after performing predetermined number of unlock procedures.
US08276182B2
Television content from multiple sources is described. In embodiment(s), a television client device includes an interface to receive television media content in multiple streaming video formats. A television media service implemented in the television client device can process television media content when received in a first streaming video format, and render the television media content for display. In addition, the television media service can process additional television media content when received in a second streaming video format, and render the additional television media content for display.
US08276168B2
An apparatus and method for increasing data storage capacity of a media library is disclosed herein. The elevation or vertical clearance of a tray assembly included in the library is configured to permit access of data storage media stored near the floor of the library.
US08276166B2
Systems and methods for providing interoperability of systems are provided. One embodiment may be seen as instantiating a server in a container having instances of Enterprise Java™ Beans (EJB), and accessing the EJB through the local interface of the EJB. Since the EJB is accessed from within the container, the need for translation of messaging protocols at a bridge is removed. The server components are provided access to the EJB logic through the local interface of the EJB.
US08276162B2
A computer-implemented method for updating a web user interface on a client device is provided. A router back-boned to the Internet communicates with the client device web-user interface data defined in markup language to dynamically update the web-user interface on the client device. The router contains no logic regarding the web-user interface running on the client device. The client device has a browser server for dynamically updating the web-user interface through downloading and caching the data from the router. The browser server on the client device has (i) a user interface model of the web-user interface running on the client device defined in Javascript, and (ii) a JavaScript Runtime Engine for dynamically converting the downloaded and/or cached web-user interface markup language data into JavaScript objects. The web-user interface is dynamically updated by combining steps (i) and (ii).
US08276154B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for partitioning streaming data. Embodiments of the invention can be used to hash partition a stream of data and thus avoids unnecessary memory usage (e.g., associated with buffering). Hash partitioning can be used to split an input sequence (e.g., a data stream) into multiple partitions that can be processed independently. Other embodiments of the invention can be used to hash repartition a plurality of streams of data. Hash repartitioning converts a set of partitions into another set of partitions with the hash partitioned property. Partitioning and repartitioning can be done in a streaming manner at runtime by exchanging values between worker threads responsible for different partitions.
US08276153B2
A method, system and computer program capable of executing a transaction in a scalable manner by dividing and then executing the transaction in a distributed environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a system divides and then executes a transaction in a distributed environment. The system includes means which divides the transaction processing into an optimistic process which unlikely causes conflicts and a pessimistic process which likely causes conflicts; a first server; and a second server. The first server includes a first transaction execution unit for executing the optimistic process; and a transaction log transmission unit for transmitting a result of the execution of the optimistic process to the second server. The second server includes a transaction log receiving unit for receiving the transmission log; and a second transaction execution unit for executing the pessimistic process.
US08276139B2
Virtual machines are provisioned computers in a computer environment based on input/output (I/O) requirements of software tasks. A workload request, requesting the execution of a software task on a virtual machine, is received. The I/O requirements of the software task are matched to an optimal computer, in the computer environment, that has an I/O bandwidth capability that best matches the I/O requirements of the software task. The software task is then routed to a virtual machine, on the optimal computer, for execution of the software task.
US08276138B2
Providing data to an application running on a segmented virtual machine (VM) is disclosed. Providing data includes opening an interface between the segmented VM and an external data source, transferring data from the external data source to an interface buffer, transferring a first selected amount of data from the interface buffer to a shell VM buffer, transferring a second selected amount of data from the shell VM buffer to a core VM buffer, and providing portions of the data from the core VM buffer to the application in response to read requests from the application.
US08276123B1
In general, techniques are described for intelligently selecting test cases within testing environments. Specifically, a computing device may include a user interface with which a user interacts to specify a safety level. The device also includes a control unit that determines those functions of source code that changed. Based on these changed functions, the control unit determines those functions of the source code not changed but impacted by the changes within a set distance. The control unit then selects, for each of these determined functions, one or more test cases in accordance with one or more test selection algorithms by adaptively applying these algorithms in order of decreasing safety assurances and increasing precision. The control unit further aggregates these selected test cases and implement the test cases to ensure the safety level with respect to a percentage of functional errors occurring within a software program compiled from the source code.
US08276118B2
Operating an integrated development environment in a data processing system comprising running a source code editor, displaying source code in a graphical interface of the source code editor, displaying at least one cross-reference marker, the at least one cross-reference marker indicating crosscutting in the source code, receiving an input, changing one or more cross-reference markers, and highlighting the one or more changed cross-reference marker.
US08276116B2
An algebra operation method includes the steps of converting algebra operations for a plurality of objects which appear in a program into an algebra operation sequence object described using object access data used to access the plurality of objects and object state data used to store states associated with the plurality of objects without immediately evaluating the algebra operations, determining a function to be applied to the algebra operation sequence object, and evaluating the algebra operations by executing the function by designating an argument group required for the function in response to a call of a substitute operator.
US08276113B2
A method displays a Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagram on a graphic user interface. The UML diagram can have, for example, nodes representing objects of an object-oriented system. Further, input is received regarding the location of a user-directed pointer on the UML diagram. The location of the pointer identifies a currently “selected node” of the UML diagram. In response to such input, the method dynamically highlights portions of the UML diagram depending on the location of the selected node. This highlighting process dynamically alters the appearances of nodes logically related to the selected node by highlighting nodes that are relatively closely related to the selected node differently (e.g., more brightly) than nodes that are not as relatively closely related to the selected node.
US08276109B2
A mixed-height cell library for designing integrated circuits is provided. The mixed-height cell library includes a first plurality of cells having a first track height and a second plurality of cells having a second track height that are configured to be coupled to the first plurality of cells at respective power and ground rail lines. A method for mixed-height cell placement and optimization is also provided. The method comprises abutting cells of different track heights to form a plurality of rows of cells by coupling power and ground rails of the cells at a secondary layer that is different from a primary layer that is used to connect active material and determining whether re-ordering cells within rows allows for further compaction of adjacent rows. The method further comprises re-ordering cells within rows so to allow for further compaction of adjacent rows. The method also includes the steps of splitting rows vertically to minimize the distance between the split rows.
US08276102B2
Techniques for estimating yield of an integrated circuit design, such as a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design, are provided. In one aspect, a method for determining a probability of failure of a VLSI query design includes the following steps. A Voronoi diagram is built comprising a set of shapes that represent the design. The Voronoi diagram is converted into a rectangular grid comprising 2t×2s rectangular cells, wherein t and s are chosen so that one rectangular cell contains from about one to about five Voronoi cells. A probability of failure is computed for each of the cells in the grid. The cells in the grid are merged pairwise. A probability of failure for the merged cells is recomputed which accounts for a spatial correlation between the cells. The pairwise merge and recompute steps are performed s+t times to determine the probability of failure of the design.
US08276101B2
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user of a computing device with the ability to perform text-entry operations (e.g., using a touch screen) on a computing device. Specifically, the techniques of this disclosure may, in some examples, allow the user to use gestures on a mobile computing device to perform text entry and editing operations. Using a presence-sensitive user interface device (e.g., a touch screen), the user may use gestures to enter text into text-based applications (e.g., short message service (SMS) messages, e-mail message, uniform resource locators (URLs), and the like). Using visually-defined areas on the touch screen, the user may utilize gestures of certain patterns, relative to the defined areas, to indicate text entry and editing operations such as, for example, deleting characters and words, indicating a space or return characters, and the like.
US08276100B2
An input control device for enabling the user to perform predetermined operation for an icon simply by performing move operation of a pointer without button operation is provided. An operation selection area generation section 167 generates position information of an area indicating operation corresponding to selection and activation of predetermined operation for an object to be selected, and a display section 15 displays an operation selection area based on the operation selection area position information. When an operation selection determination section 168 determines that a pointer arrives at the operation selection area, it instructs a control section 19 to execute operation for the icon corresponding to the operation selection area information. Upon reception of the instruction, the control section 19 activates and executes the operation corresponding to the operation selection area.
US08276092B1
A method for reporting financial data includes displaying a report of the financial data at a first level of granularity and a report slider. The report includes a first plurality of line items. The report slider includes a sliding module in a first position, The method detects a first movement of a sliding module on the report slider from the first to second position, and generates a first sub-report for a first line item of the first plurality of line items and a second sub-report for a second line item of the first plurality of line items based on the second position of the sliding module. The first line item and the second line item are selected in the report. The first sub-report and the second sub-report display financial data are at a second level of granularity. The method displays the first sub-report and the second sub-report with the report.
US08276084B2
The present invention permits performance adjustment in a virtual universe. In particular, the invention proposes a mixed server-based/peer-to-peer approach, in which transmission responsibilities are shifted towards peer-to-peer computing as the number of avatars within a region increases. The invention may foster fluid business transactions (e.g., sales) during times of high avatar load.
US08276082B2
A method and computer readable storage media for organizing digital stream contents. A plurality of time-sequential segments of digital stream data may be stored in a corresponding plurality of stream data files. Identifying information for each of the stream data files may be stored in order of recording in an administrative file.
US08276064B2
A method to generate an effective schema of an electronic document for optimizing the processing thereof may include performing a programmatic analysis to determine all required portions of the electronic document. The method may also include generating a parser or deserializer to build an optimized document model; and specializing a document processing program against the optimized document model.
US08276052B1
A system and method for recovering the seed of a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) using soft decisions is disclosed. In some implementations, a log-likelihood ratio is calculated to determine the certainty with which each bit in the seed has been recovered, and in some implementations, the value of the PRBS is used in the calculation of the log-likelihood ratio. In some implementations, a linear feedback shift register stores the log-likelihood ratio for each bit in the sequence.
US08276044B2
An information recording apparatus includes a writing system for writing the datasets to the recording medium, so that each of the datasets can be identified from a certain number indicating an order that each of the datasets was sequentially written to the recording medium, and from the number of writing operations (WP) carried out for a dataset of the certain number, the writing system writing a first dataset; the writing system being configured for substantially appending a second dataset onto the first dataset, the second dataset having the same certain number as the first dataset, and for setting a value obtained by incrementing the WP of the first dataset as the WP of the second dataset. A writing control system controls, in the case where an error occurs at the time of the appending, the appending on the first dataset, in a position shifted forward by a predetermined distance from the position of the first dataset on the recording medium, by setting the value obtained by incrementing the WP of the first dataset as the WP for the second dataset, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance with which error correction of the first dataset is avoided by appending the second dataset onto the first dataset so that the second dataset overwrites a part of the first dataset.
US08276041B2
A method for reading data from a data storage system is provided. The method comprises requesting a virtual data volume to access data from one or more data blocks in the data storage system; requesting a virtual protection information volume to access protection information associated with the data blocks; validating the data using the protection information; and providing the data to the host interface, in response to successful validation of the data. A method for writing data to a data storage system is also provided. The method comprises receiving data to be written to one or more data blocks in the data storage system, wherein the data is stored in a cache; generating protection information to be stored on a virtual protection information volume; requesting a virtual data volume to update the data blocks with the data; and requesting the virtual protection information volume to store the protection information.
US08276039B2
A first error detection for a first data word is performed using a first error correction code associated with the first data word. In response to the first error detection indicating a first uncorrectable error at the first data word based upon the first error correction code, a second error detection for a plurality of data words including the first data word and a second data word is performed using a second error correction code based upon the first and second data words.
US08276037B2
The invention related to a turbo decoder comprising SISO decoding modules each other interconnected in a feedback control scheme having scaling modules for applying a scaling factor to extrinsic information delivered by said SISO decoding modules. The turbo decoder comprises a selection module for adaptively selecting said scaling factor based on a number of decoding iterations of the turbo decoder.
US08276034B2
A receiving unit wirelessly receives a packet communication signal. When receiving a packet included in the packet communication signal is failed, a requesting unit issues a retransmission request for retransmitting the packet. A storing unit stores therein packets included in packet communication signals received before and after issuing the retransmission request. A setting unit sets an order of transferring the packets stored in the storing unit to a control unit in an order of receiving the packets without a fail. A transferring unit transfers the packets stored in the storing unit to the control unit in the order set by the setting unit.
US08276030B2
Scan distributor, collector, and controller circuitry connect to the functional inputs and outputs of core circuitry on integrated circuits to provide testing through those functional inputs and outputs. Multiplexer and demultiplexer circuits select between the scan circuitry and the functional inputs and outputs. The core circuitry can also be provided with built-in scan distributor, collector, and controller circuitry to avoid having to add it external of the core circuitry. With appropriately placed built-in scan distributor and collector circuits, connecting together the functional inputs and outputs of the core circuitry also connects together the scan distributor and collector circuitry in each core. This can provide a hierarchy of scan circuitry and reduce the need for separate test interconnects and multiplexers.
US08276027B2
A semiconductor memory in which arbitrary operation mode information is set in a plurality of CRs at test time and by which a test cost is reduced and a method for testing such a semiconductor memory. The plurality of CRs hold operation mode information. When a CR control circuit detects write commands to write to an address for register access or read commands to read from the address for register access in a predetermined order, the CR control circuit updates the operation mode information for each of the plurality of CRs on a time division basis. A command generation section generates the write commands, the read commands, or a test start command by which write operation or read operation does not occur, in response to a control signal from the outside. In addition, the command generation section regenerates the test start command each time the plurality of CRs are updated. A data pad compression circuit changes the operation mode information to be written to the plurality of CRs by using test data inputted to part of data pads, after inverting the test data or in its original condition according to a code, as data for a rest of the data pads, the code represented by part of an address inputted at the time of the test start command being sent.
US08276025B2
An embodiment is a method and apparatus to interleave data. A demultiplexer demultiplexes an input packet having N bits into L sub-packets on L branches. M flipping blocks flip M of the L sub-packets. M is smaller than L. L sub-interleavers interleave the (L-M) sub-packets and the M flipped sub-packets. A concatenator concatenates the interleaved sub-packets to form an output packet.
US08276017B2
In a system management apparatus, a failure detection unit detects a readout failure in one of blocks constituting distributed data stored in a first RAID disk array. A request unit requests a computer to supplement one of the blocks of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array in which a readout failure irrecoverable by use of only the data stored in the first RAID disk array occurs, where the computer has a second RAID disk array storing a duplicate of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array. And an overwriting unit receives data corresponding to the one of the blocks from the computer, and overwrites the one of the blocks with the received data.
US08276016B2
Systems and methods are described for service availability that provides automated recovery of server service in a timely and application intelligent manner, maintaining application consistency and integrity, while preserving server identity. The systems and methods, referred to herein as a Service Preservation System (SPS), manage complete recovery of server data and preserve continuity of server service, reestablishing user access to server(s) after an event or disaster in which in which primary or other server(s) fail. The failures, disasters, and losses referred to herein can be at many levels and include, but are not limited to, accidental deletion of an item, loss of an entire mailbox, loss of an entire disk drive, loss of an entire server, and/or loss of an entire server site.
US08276013B2
A system and method for using a link energy signal in physical layer devices (PHYs) having a silent channel/interface in energy efficient Ethernet (EEE). LPI modes in EEE suffer deficiencies in cable unplug detection due to the latency in refresh cycles. LPI modes in EEE also suffer from potential frequency drift, which leads to high bit error rate (BER) when coming out of LPI mode. A link energy signal transmitted during LPI modes enables real-time detection of cable unplug and the frequency lock to be maintained.
US08276003B2
Reducing current draw of solid state drives from a shared power supply of a computer at computer startup, each SSD including computer memory, a capacitor, a disk controller, and a charge controller, the disk controller configured to enable the charge controller to charge the capacitor upon receiving a charge command, the SSDs organized into startup groups characterized by a position in a predefined startup order. Upon startup of the computer, beginning with a first startup group in the predefined startup order and until the last startup group in the predefined startup order has received a charge command, embodiments include, sending, by a storage device initiator, a charge command to a startup group to initiate charging of the capacitor of each solid state drive in the startup group and waiting a predefined period of time before sending another charge command to a next startup group in the predefined startup order.
US08275990B2
A method for receiving/sending multimedia message uses a wireless LAN, and communicates with a gateway via the wireless LAN so as to send and receive multimedia messages. Furthermore, the gateway of the invention detects whether the user device is located within the wireless LAN. If yes, then multimedia messages are sent and received via the wireless LAN; and if not, then via conventional telecom network. The invention also discloses a corresponding gateway and a corresponding user device.
US08275981B2
A computing system includes a flash storage device that loads a boot program from a flash storage of the flash storage device to a random access memory of the flash storage device. A processor of the computing system then accesses the boot program from the random access memory and executes the boot program.
US08275976B2
A hierarchical instruction scheduler included in a hierarchical microprocessor comprising a plurality of execution clusters. In one embodiment, a hierarchical instruction scheduler comprises a first-level instruction scheduler configured to receive instructions for execution; store first operand status information for respective operands of the instructions; and dispatch the instructions to respective execution clusters based on the instructions' respective first operand status information. The instruction scheduler also includes a plurality of second-level instruction schedulers, each operatively coupled with the first-level instruction scheduler, each second-level instruction scheduler being included in a respective execution cluster The second-level instruction schedulers are each configured to receive instructions for execution from the first-level instruction scheduler; store second operand status information for respective operands of the instructions received from the first-level instruction scheduler; and dispatch instructions, for execution, to respective execution units of the execution clusters based on the instructions' respective second operand status information.
US08275974B2
An advantageous system and method are provided for supporting and/or enabling the creation of dynamic reports and/or data presentation(s) in connection with a spreadsheet-based application or program. The system and method offer a full complement of spreadsheet-based formatting and calculation capabilities. In addition, the system and method may be used in conjunction with and/or incorporated as part of spreadsheet-based application(s) and/or program(s) found on stand-alone clients and/or networked clients. The system and method generally include an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows, a database in communication with the electronic spreadsheet, and an expansion formula that functions to control retrieval of data from the database and automatically varies/expands at least one of the defined number of columns and rows to accommodate the data retrieval.
US08275973B2
A reconfigurable device comprises a plurality of processing elements, a main memory unit that stores plural pieces of circuit configuration information, a cache unit that caches circuit configuration information forwarded to at least one of the processing elements from the main memory unit, and a cache control unit that controls forwarding of circuit configuration information from the cache unit to the processing element. The cache control unit selects circuit configuration information which must be forwarded to each processing element. When the selected circuit configuration information is not stored in the cache unit, the cache control unit reads out the circuit configuration information from the main memory unit, stores the read-out circuit configuration information in the cache unit, and sends forward the circuit configuration information to the processing element from the cache unit.
US08275965B2
For a storage apparatus in which flash memory disks and hard disks coexist, high-density mounting of flash memory modules is achieved. A storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes flash memories and a storage controller. A second storage apparatus including magnetic disks is connected to the storage apparatus. For creation of a logical volume, the storage controller can form a storage area using a flash memory or a magnetic disk. When an input/output request is issued from a host computer, if a storage area is formed with a flash memory, the storage controller directly accesses the flash memory to handle the input/output request. When the storage apparatus defines a storage area formed with a flash memory, the storage apparatus defines the storage area by adding up the capacity of a storage area to be provided for the host computer and a substitute area capacity determined in consideration of restrictions imposed on the number of times of deletion of the flash memory.
US08275962B2
One or a plurality of copy pairs are disposed in a plurality of storage systems. A management server determines the propriety of execution of an operation request for each user for either a local copy pair or a remote copy pair. As operation requests, a pair create, a split, a resync, a restore, and a pair delete can be cited.
US08275951B2
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention, a system comprises a plurality of computers coupled together and to an array of redundant storage devices that is accessible to the plurality of computers. Each of the plurality of computers comprises a local memory that stores at least one bitmap. The least one bitmap logs regions of the redundant array that have been modified.
US08275950B2
A storage system adapted to be coupled to a plurality of host devices via a fibre channel. The storage system including a plurality of storage devices, at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices corresponding to a logical unit of a plurality of logical units, the logical unit having a logical unit number (LUN). The storage system also including a storage control device having a cache memory and controlling to store data, addressed to the LUN, into the portion of the plurality of storage devices. The storages system also including an input device being adapted to be used to set information, which is used to prevent an unauthorized access to the logical unit and which corresponds to a relationship between a host device of the plurality of host devices and the logical unit.
US08275937B2
A storage system 200 has a storage device 240 providing a plurality of logical volumes 250 used as data storage areas of a host 100 and a plurality of MPPKs 210 executing data IO processes for the logical volumes 250 from the host 100 and, when it is determined whether the MPPKs 210 correlated with the logical volumes 250 must be changed based on a storage function such as local copy set for the logical volumes 250, if it is determined that the change is necessary, the MPPK 210 after the change is determined such that the logical volumes 250 are correlated with the same MPPK 210.
US08275931B2
A block management method for a flash memory of a storage system is provided, wherein the flash memory includes a plurality of physical blocks. The block management method includes grouping the physical blocks into a plurality of physical units, and grouping the physical units into a data area, a spare area, and a replacement area. The block management method further includes performing a first physical unit switch which switches the physical units between the data area and the spare area, and performing a second physical unit switch which switches the physical units between the spare area and the replacement area. Therefore, the block management method can uniformly use the physical blocks and thereby effectively prolong a lifespan of the storage system.
US08275930B2
The present invention allows a save target stored in a volatile memory, to be reliably saved to a non-volatile memory and reduces the time required for the save processing as much as possible. The charging state of a battery is regularly of irregularly checked. It is determined, according to the checked charging state, which information element stored in the volatile memory should be made a save target at the time of the occurrence of a power interruption. Among a plurality of information elements stored in the volatile memory, a predetermined information element is made a non-save target of save processing, according to a state related to the predetermined information element.
US08275924B2
A system for communicating between an accessory and an electronic device includes a first interface, a second interface, and a docking station. The first interface is configured to communicate with the electronic device. The second interface is configured to communicate with the accessory. The docking station is coupled to the first interface and the second interface. The docking station is configured to receive a set of preferences from the accessory and forward the set of preferences to the electronic device.
US08275923B2
An exemplary high speed data storage system includes hard disks, a first control panel, a second control panel and a midplane interconnected between each of the first and second control panels and the hard disks. Each of the first and second control panels includes a control chip and a connector. First and second printed circuit wires corresponding to the hard disks are layered on the first and second control panels for electrically connecting the control chip with the connector, respectively. The first printed circuit wires of the first control panel and the second printed circuit wires of the second control panel are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, and an order of stacking circuit layers of the first printed circuit wires of the first control panel is the reverse of an order of stacking of circuit layers of the second printed circuit wires of the second control panel.
US08275915B2
A link detection system for a network cable is applicable for detecting a connection state of the network cable. If the network cable is connected to the link detection system, the network state detection unit sends a voltage level of a first signal, so as to turn on the power supply of the LAN controller. If the network cable is unplugged, the LAN controller sends a second signal, so as to turn off the power supply of the LAN controller. Alternatively, if the network cable is linked to the network interface in an idle contact state, the network state detection unit sends another voltage level of the first signal, so as to not turn on the power supply of the LAN controller, thereby reducing the power consumption of the personal computer.
US08275911B1
A free space laser beam communication system, set forth by way of example and not limitation, advantageously includes a laser beam generator configured to develop a laser beam, a laser beam detector which is not in a line-of-sight of the laser beam generator, and a laser beam redirector within a line-of-sight of the laser beam generator and configured to redirect the laser beam to the laser beam detector. A path of the laser beam can be varied by adjusting a relative position between the laser beam generator and the laser beam detector.
US08275903B1
A method and system for concurrent processing transmit requests uses transmit queue including a circular buffer and a queue state including a producer index, a consumer index, and a producer list. Producer processes write to the circular buffer concurrently. The producer list signals which portion of the circular buffer are allocated to each of the producer processes.
US08275901B1
A network comprising a server and a remote client including an input output pin is disclosed. The server and the client are connected through a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection. The server controls the client input output pin, e.g., switches it on and off. The input output pin control instruction is transmitted from the server to the client. The control instruction is not stored in the client memory upon its execution.
US08275897B2
Systems and methods for providing accelerated data storage and retrieval utilizing lossless and/or lossy data compression and decompression. A data storage accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data compression encoders that are configured to simultaneously or sequentially losslessly or lossy compress data at a rate equivalent to or faster than the transmission rate of an input data stream. The compressed data is subsequently stored in a target memory or other storage device whose input data storage bandwidth is lower than the original input data stream bandwidth. Similarly, a data retrieval accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data decompression decoders that are configured to simultaneously or sequentially losslessly or lossy decompress data at a rate equivalent to or faster than the input data stream from the target memory or storage device. The decompressed data is then output at rate data that is greater than the output rate from the target memory or data storage device. The data storage and retrieval accelerator method and system may employed: in a disk storage adapter to reduce the time required to store and retrieve data from computer to disk; in conjunction with random access memory to reduce the time required to store and retrieve data from random access memory; in a display controller to reduce the time required to send display data to the display controller or processor; and/or in an input/output controller to reduce the time required to store, retrieve, or transmit data.
US08275894B2
A common location service request/response method between various types of clients and location servers. A location request and a location estimate are delivered between a terminal and a location server using messages defined in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol. In this manner, the terminal and server using the SIP protocol can easily send a request/response for location information, making it possible to provide a new service associated with the location service.
US08275886B1
A storage system to be used by a host is automatically configured using an agent running at a management console communicatively coupled to the host and to the storage system. In response to probes initiated by the agent, information regarding the host and the storage system, which information is required for the host and the storage system to establish a connection therebetween is obtained and is provided to the host and the storage system. Thereafter, the agent instructs the host and the storage system to establish the connection and further instructs the host to configure the storage system and, finally, to mount the storage system in some instances, the agent may use instruction compliant with the storage management initiative-specification (SMI-S) or, more generally, with the WBEM standard.
US08275885B2
A method, apparatus and system for processing of a series of service messages. In one embodiment, the series of service messages is formed by a plurality of service messages, and at least two server instances provide real-time processing of the service messages and store the information provided by the service messages and results obtained from processing the service messages. The method includes the steps of: determining an activity that affects real-time processing of the service messages will occur in at least one server instance of the server instances; and dispatching subsequent service messages among the service messages to other server instance(s) other than the at least one server instance, so as to ensure that said activity will not affect message processing delay.
US08275882B2
The present invention includes, but is not limited to, a method, system and computer-usable medium for providing automated management of threshold crossing alarms. Transaction processing resources are selected for monitoring, followed by selecting a monitoring time interval, an initial threshold alarm level. Selections are then made regarding transaction codes to monitor, acceptable average transaction processing times, and acceptable ratio of successful transactions to unsuccessful transactions. The transaction processing resources are then monitored to count the number of transactions processed, measure the processing time for individual transactions, and capture their corresponding transaction result code. An average transaction processing time value and a successful transaction ratio processing value are generated. Comparison operations are performed. If the results of the comparison operations are acceptable, then threshold crossing alarms are then suppressed and the threshold alarm level is increased. If not, then a threshold crossing alarm is generated and the threshold alarm level is decreased.
US08275873B2
An exemplary architecture is for an Internet Location Coordinate enhanced Domain Name System (DNS). An exemplary method includes requesting information for a plurality of servers associated with a network domain name of a Domain Name System (DNS) where the information includes information based in part on packets transmitted by each of the plurality of servers to a plurality of network beacons; receiving the requested information from a name server associated with the Domain Name System (DNS); and, based in part on the received information, selecting an optimal server for the network domain name. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.
US08275866B2
The present invention provides techniques for assigning network nodes to community of interest clusters. A seed point representing a cluster is selected. One or more nodes are added to the cluster based on each node's geographic proximity to the selected seed point. Nodes that are adjacent to the cluster are identified and a clustering metric is computed that is representative of the affinity that each identified adjacent node has for the cluster. One or more of the identified nodes are added to the cluster when the clustering metric for the one or more identified nodes exceeds a predetermined value.
US08275862B2
A single unified server transmits/receives information in a common interface format with respect to a plurality of service servers and a portable terminal and has a common database in a data format corresponding to the common interface format, and the plurality of service servers connects to clients in a specific interface format to provide services by individual applications, respectively, and coverts a data format between higher-rank data transmitted/received in the common interface format and lower-rank data transmitted/received in the specific interface format. The portable terminal transmits/receives information in the common interface format using the application.
US08275860B2
Methods and apparatus for maintaining access point names (APNs) at a centralized location for distribution to gateway nodes are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for maintaining service profile information includes receiving the service profile information from a server arrangement that is substantially external to a node. The server arrangement and the node are associated with a network that supports a general packet radio service (GPRS) protocol. The method also includes storing the service profile information in a memory of the node.
US08275859B2
A request for a partial update of web content is received that identifies at least one web content element associated with the web content. An update is requested for the identified at least one web content element from a content server. The partial update of the web content is performed in response to receipt of the update for the identified at least one web content element from the content server. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08275857B2
An Intelligent Network Peripheral (INP) is equipped with a recording control processor that is connected to at least one internal or external recording device (e.g., hard drive, disk array, CD-recorder, DVD recorder, and/or tape device). Using the INP, a user may be prompted to perform an activity, such as (1) start a new recording session, (2) playback a recorded session, (3) delete a recorded session, (4) edit recording parameters (e.g., the number of stored frames, the length of a session to record, the resolution of the image to record), and (5) re-run a recorded session. An INP may be incorporated into a Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) switch, a Rack Connection Manager (RCM) and/or a Pod Extension Module (PEM) for recording at least one of video from and user input to a computer for diagnostic and other purposes.
US08275838B2
A system and method for conditioned distribution of e-mail is provided. Delivery of an e-mail message to selected second recipients (equivalently addressees) may be conditioned on a set of preselected conditions, in particular to a set of conditions associated with the delivery of the e-mail to a set of first recipients. In response to message delivery notifications corresponding to the set of first recipients, a determination is made if the delivery conditions are satisfied, and delivery to the set of second recipients made accordingly. Delivery to a set of third recipients may be likewise conditioned on another set of conditions.
US08275837B1
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for scheduling calendar events. An exemplary method includes receiving, from a requesting device, an invite request referencing a network address associated with a calendar for a target user, wherein the network address is encoded in a machine-readable code from which the requesting device extracted the network address. The method then includes, sending a preauthorized availability for the calendar of the target/service user to the requesting device, wherein the availability is for a predetermined time length. The method then includes receiving a selection of a desired meeting time within the preauthorized availability from the requesting device and creating a calendar event according to the received selected desired meeting time.
US08275836B2
A system for supporting collaborative activity in a network includes a storage component storing data related to the network and a model of the network; a processor that accesses the stored data and the model to process the data according to the model, where the stored data relates to the collaborative activity including user-defined data created by interaction of a user and the model, and context data related to the user, where the user-defined data and the context data, as metadata, are stored in the storage component; and a user interface, provided by the processor, that presents the user-defined data, the context data, and the model in a form readable by the user, the interface permitting the user to define a set of arbitrary domains, relate the user-defined data to the domains, and view relationships between the user-defined data and the context data, and the domains.
US08275809B2
Several tools are included in an object processing system that also includes a common object model containing a data structure and an administrative program for the data structure. The tools have read access and optionally also write access to partial areas of the data structure via the administrative program. The partial areas can be different from one another and can contain mutually corresponding information. The administrative program optionally updates the other partial areas by compulsion, during write access approaches by a tool.
US08275804B2
One machine, i.e. computer, on a network, such as associated with a distributed database, e.g. a data store or a partition thereof, is designated as a master, which alone can issue system orderstamps for transactional operations, while other machines associated with the data store or partition thereof act as any of clients that submit transactions to the master, or as slaves that adhere to updates from the master. If a transactional operation on the distributed database is attempted on a client machine, and communication cannot be established with the master machine, the transaction fails. The distributed data store having such a master provides a method that decreases transaction time across the distributed database, and maintains consistent data between separate machines.
US08275799B2
Methods and apparatus for information modeling, such as product modeling, are described. In one specific embodiment, a system for capturing product information includes a plurality of product trees and a plurality of configuration trees. Each configuration tree is associated with one of the plurality of product trees. At least two of the configuration trees share at least one usage configuration node, and the at least two configuration trees are associated with a same product tree. The at least two configuration trees share at least one occurrence configuration node.
US08275798B2
Participants in a communication are rendered by determining whether each entry in a list of participants in the communication satisfies criteria specified by a user participating in the communication. The criteria are used to identify a first subset of participants that are to be rendered in a first style that differentiates the first subset from remaining participants in the list. The first subset of participants is formatted in the first style.
US08275791B2
A process for executing a downloadable service with specific access rights to at least one profile file in a user's computer. The web browser is used for accessing a web server through a first set of communication port and socket. Therefore is arranged a confined runtime environment such as for example an extended sandbox (11) and used in Java programming which is assigned a second communication port and sockets and which is used for executing downloadable service with restricted access on at least one profile file. The process can be used for executing services under the form of a signed archive file which signature is used for both validating the archive file and for selecting one particular secure class loader prior to the generation of the compiled code of the service.
US08275787B2
A system and apparatus for managing data collection processes can include a data collection system having a controller element that assigns a priority level for processes, assigns to each of the processes a query interval for requesting use of processing resources, prompts each of the processes according to their respective query interval to request use of at least a portion of available processing resources, releases at least a portion of the available processing resources to a requesting one of the processes when the utilization of available processing resources exceeds a utilization threshold, and modifies the query interval of the processes after occurrence of a triggering event. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08275786B1
Systems and methods for providing refinements to queries based upon the context of a refinement indication. Refinements, for example, can be related to a previous search query and can be provided to the user based upon receipt of a refinement indication.
US08275783B2
To provide a conversion program search system that can increase the reusability of conversion programs as well as can find a solution to a data connection problem in a short time. A first-signature generation means 71 generates a first signature indicating, in a binary manner, whether one piece of data meets each of predetermined multiple description formats. A second-signature generation means 72 generates a second signature of a conversion program, based on the difference between the first signatures of conversion-source data and post-conversion data. When a conversion path candidate generation means 74 generates a candidate for a solution to a data connection problem, an evaluation value calculation means 75 calculates the evaluation value of the candidate using the second signature. A conversion path identification means 76 tries conversion paths to serve as a solution in the descending order of the evaluation values.
US08275780B2
A rule discovery program which enables discovery of a rule by automatically searching for a feature portion which is effective for generation of a rule in multimedia data. When sample data items are inputted, a search unit selects evaluation positions on a data array constituting each of the sample data items so as to generate a selection pattern. Next, an integration unit integrates the evaluation positions in the selection pattern so as to generate a predetermined number of evaluation regions, and a rule-candidate generation unit generates a rule candidate indicating a relationship common to the sample data items. A rule-candidate evaluation unit evaluates the generated rule candidate, and an output unit outputs, as a rule, the rule candidate when the rule candidate satisfies a predetermined criterion.
US08275777B2
In order to reproduce contents with a substantially high degree of efficiency, the present invention provides a content reproduction system in which, typically, a music providing server holds a reproduction list showing a music reproduction order in which pieces of streaming musical data are to be reproduced sequentially and sequentially provides the pieces of streaming musical data to a music reproduction terminal in accordance with the music reproduction order shown in the reproduction list held therein, whereas the music reproduction terminal sequentially reproduces the pieces of streaming musical data provided by the music providing server sequentially.
US08275774B2
A streaming query system for extensible markup language is provided. An XPath query translator receives and analyzes a user-input XPath document. An abstract syntax tree analyzer establishes an abstract syntax tree. A XML parser receives and parses an XML document. An index generator generates an index for the XML document. A computation module performs a format calculation based on the abstract syntax tree and the index, and generates a query result accordingly.
US08275766B2
Systems and methods are described for intercepting user interactions without network-provided content. The intercepted information can be used for prioritizing search results by statistical and other analyses of user interactions with a network resource and/or network content. A server connected to a network can receive captured information from an agent that is installed in a device connected to the network. The captured information can be related to an interaction of a user with a network resource. An aggregator may be provided to aggregate the captured information with other captured information related to a plurality of network resources and maintains a repository of aggregated captured information. A prioritizer can determine the relevance of network content based on characteristics of the aggregated captured information. The prioritizer determines relevance for a plurality of search results based on frequency of prior user interactions with the content of the search results.
US08275765B2
The present invention provides a method and system for automatic objects classification. The method comprises: acquiring a set of objects; classifying the objects based on query log to generate a first classification result; classifying the objects based on ontological information to generate a second classification result; and semantically fusing the first and second classification results to generate a final classification result. According to the present invention, compared with the prior arts, by semantically fusing the query log-based classification result and the ontology-based classification result, the accuracy and user-friendness of the object classification can be improved.
US08275762B2
One embodiment is a method that generates points from an input space obtained from a query for a database. A kernel function maps the points from the input space to a feature space. Given a point in the feature space, a reverse mapping identifies coordinates in the input space for the point to predict performance of the query before the query executes in the database.
US08275755B2
Systems and methods enabling search of a repository for the location of data that is similar to input data, using a defined measure of similarity, in a time that is independent of the size of the repository and linear in a size of the input data, and a space that is proportional to a small fraction of the size of the repository. The similar data segments thus located are further analyzed to determine their common (identical) data sections, regardless of the order and position of the common data sections in the repository and input, and in a time that is linear in the segment size and in constant space.
US08275741B2
A method of memory management in an electronic device, includes receiving at the electronic device, representative viewable or audible samples of data records, and storing the representative viewable or audible samples of data records in a memory of the electronic device. Each of the representative viewable or audible samples of data records includes one of a compressed version of a corresponding one of the backup data records, and a viewable or audible portion of the corresponding one of the backup data records.
US08275740B1
Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to electronic form processing systems and/or techniques, and may more particularly relate to data linkage for electronic forms. In one or more example embodiments, form data associated with one or more forms may be stored in a first database. The structures for one or more electronic forms may be defined, at least in part, by metadata stored in a second database. The one or more electronic forms may be generated based at least in part on the structures defined by the metadata from the second database and may be displayed using one or more subsets of the form data from the first database.
US08275737B2
The present invention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for capturing, integrating, organizing, navigating and querying large-scale data from high-throughput biological and chemical assay platforms. It provides a highly efficient meta-analysis infrastructure for performing research queries across a large number of studies and experiments from different biological and chemical assays, data types and organisms, as well as systems to build and add to such an infrastructure.
US08275736B2
A method of knowledge sharing using a computer system is provided. The method includes: receiving a question electronically submitted by a user; forwarding the question and at least one response option to at least one expert using a first computer interface; monitoring selected response options from the at least one expert; and selectively presenting the selected response options to the user using a second computer interface.
US08275734B1
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing automated processing of returned mailpieces. Recipient data and mailpiece data are processed to generate a mailpiece operation rule, all of which are then encoded to generate a unique identifier. The unique identifier is then indexed to its corresponding recipient data, mailpiece data, and mailpiece operation rule and thereafter associated with a corresponding mailpiece, which is then sent to an intended recipient. If the sent mailpiece is undeliverable to its intended recipient, it is returned and its unique identifier is scanned and then decoded to extract its corresponding recipient data, mailpiece data, and mailpiece operation rule. The extracted mailpiece operation rule is then processed to initiate a corresponding returned mailpiece operation.
US08275733B2
A system for creating an album is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an image input configured to receive related images, an image memory coupled to image input, an image processor coupled to image memory, and an album output coupled to image processor. The image processor is configured to use game play with users to assign metadata labels to the related images and assign album layout rules based upon the story schema and metadata labels.
US08275724B2
A biologically-inspired system and method is provided for self-adapting behavior of swarm-based exploration missions, whereby individual components, for example, spacecraft, in the system can sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the entire system. The swarm-based system can exhibit emergent self-adapting behavior. Each component can be configured to exhibit self-sacrifice behavior based on Autonomic System Specification Language (ASSL).
US08275718B2
An interactive information dissemination system includes a media server (210) for receiving a plurality of media elements and storing the media elements in a database. A sender client (200) enables a first user to identify message data, a recipient identifier, and a media element from the database of media elements. A recipient client (202) presents the media element to a second user associated with the recipient identifier. The recipient client (202) further presents the message data to the second user when the second user performs a predetermined action, such as submitting authentication information or requesting the message data, to receive the message data. The message data may be secured by requiring sender and recipient authentication, and by encoding the data using a private encoding key and data package identifier managed by a main server (206) and a key server (208).
US08275711B2
A service level agreement may be imposed by a service provider, such as an Internet service provider, that may include, e.g., a volume limitation and a bandwidth limitation. One or more limitations of the service level agreement may be enforced or modified in response to a triggering event. For example, a bandwidth limitation on a network subscriber may be enforced or modified based on how much data is consumed by the subscriber.
US08275710B1
A system for bill pay enrollment may comprise at least one subsystem that scans a paper a bill into a digital image, at least one subsystem that recognizes information on the digital image, and at least one subsystem that uses at least some of the recognized information to enroll a payee into a bill pay system.
US08275707B1
A process for identifying a normalized insurance quality index of present and prospective insurance policies for an insurance book that can be utilized to more accurately predict present and future profitability on a standardized basis.
US08275704B2
A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
US08275700B2
The present invention is directed at a system and method to rate lender profiles to determine the level of risk that is present in the loans originated or purchased by a particular lender will be based on a misrepresentation or as a result of material inaccuracies in the financial information provided by or on behalf of the borrower. The rating is preferably based on a variety of factors including at least one of, for example, prefunding controls, post closing controls, product mix, and/or loan source.
US08275699B2
Provided in some embodiments is a method for conducting an honorary credit transaction. The method includes providing a system configured to provide honorary credit to a purchaser in exchange for an honorary commitment to provide payment for electronically transmittable item to one or more agents, wherein the honorary commitment comprises a non-legally binding commitment to provide a payment to the one or more agents for purchase of the electronically transmittable item, receiving a request from a first purchaser to provide a second purchaser honorary credit in exchange for an honorary commitment to provide payment for an electronically transmittable item to one or more agents, providing the second purchaser honorary credit in exchange for an honorary commitment to provide payment for the electronically transmittable item to one or more agents, providing the electronically transmittable item to the second purchaser via electronic transmission prior to receiving payment for the electronically transmittable item, and if a payment is received for the electronically transmittable item via at least one of the one or more agents, providing an incentive to the first purchaser.
US08275696B2
As market conditions descend or ascend an axis of prices, the display of market information is repositioned, at a pre-determined rate if desired, around an item of interest. An item of interest may include the best bid price, the best ask price, the inside market, a moving average, a last traded price, a theoretical value, the result of an equation, or some other item of interest to the trader. According to the present embodiments, market information may be displayed in a region relative to an axis of prices, and when an event occurs, a repositioning signal is initialized causing the axis to be repositioned such that the item of interest is positioned at a pre-determined location in the region. The price axis can be repositioned at a fixed rate or at a dynamically variable rate.
US08275688B2
A system and method is provided to generate personalized savings recommendation and/or needed assignments of reference-date dependent investments. Recommendations and assignments are based on differences between a investor profile and an ideal representative that was used to construct the investments. The system provides a configurable increasing level of financial service based on a Methodology Publisher's configuration for reference date based investments. A forecast simulation system is provided for each investor with various optimizers by the Methodologically Publisher to provide various level of financial services and portfolio recommendations for reference date dependent investments. Reports may be provided to investors illustrating progress toward goals and highlighting distribution of potential risky outcomes. An online inter-active mode may allow an investor to provide further profile information and customize a solution to their needs.
US08275670B2
Under the present invention, a customer will login to a secure computer infrastructure and initially be polled and/or provide some input relating to an integrated IT solution that is desired. The customer can then make selections for hardware and/or software components desired for the integrated IT solution. The present invention will analyze the selections and verify whether each of the selected components is of similar quality to one another. If not, the customer can be alerted. The present invention will also make recommendations for services that best match the selected components. The integrated IT solution will then be finalized based on the components and services selected by the customer. Once the solution has been finalized, a corresponding contract(s) can be developed/generated, approved and executed within the secure computer infrastructure.
US08275669B2
An automatic system for determining outcomes to an auction process represents the auction by a directed graph and uses a K best solutions algorithm to determine the K best solutions. The system uses a particular graphical representation. Constraints may be included directly into the graph.
US08275666B2
Managing online content via user supplied and/or refined tagging is disclosed. In some embodiments, a selection of an item available from an online store is received, and one or more tags to be associated with the item are received from a member of an online community comprising users of the online store. In some embodiments, an indication of a degree of usefulness of a tag is received from a member of an online community, and an attribute of the tag is updated to reflect the indication.
US08275665B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for estimating, refining, and using the tare mass for an item to determine and monitor item depletion. In response to detecting an initial presence of an item in the storage unit, a controller collects data about the item. The controller then searches a database for a recorded item containing the same item identification. The tare mass of the item is set equal to the refined tare mass of the recorded item retrieved from the database. The tare mass is then used to calculate a depletion threshold for the item.
US08275663B2
For use in a wireless communication network, a method and system for targeting advertising for a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of advertisements from an advertising distributor. The method also includes filtering the advertisements based on meta data for each advertisement. The method further includes receiving ratings of the advertisements from a plurality of mobile devices. The method also includes further filtering the advertisements based on an end user profile and the ratings from the plurality of mobile devices. The method still further includes transmitting a selected advertisement to the first mobile device.
US08275661B1
Disclosed is a system for performing online data queries. The system for performing online data queries is a distributed computer system with a plurality of server nodes each fully redundant and capable of processing a user query request. Each server node includes a data query cache and other caches that may be used in performing data queries. The data query, as well as request allocation, is performed in accordance with an adaptive partitioning technique with a bias towards an initial partitioning scheme. Generic objects are created and used to represent business listings upon which the user may perform queries. Various data processing and integration techniques are included which enhance data queries. An update technique is used for synchronizing data updates as needed in updating the plurality of server nodes. A multi-media data transfer technique is used to transfer non-text or multi-media data between various components of the online query tool. Optimizations for searching, such as the common term optimization, are included for those commonly performed data queries. Also disclosed is a system for targeting advertisements that are displayed to a user of the system.
US08275660B2
Effective virtual reality environments including in-store virtual reality environments such as supermarket aisles, store shelves, cooler displays, etc. are generated using frameworks and customer layout information. Marketing materials are integrated with the virtual reality environment while introducing imperfections and/or other cues of realism to create a virtual reality environment representation. Imperfections may include misaligned marketing materials, product label blemishes, packages placed slightly askew, etc. Sensory experiences output to the user via the virtual reality environment representation elicit interactivity with a user and user movements, motions, and responses are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing materials and/or the virtual reality environment representations.
US08275659B2
Methods and systems for dynamically incorporating advertising content into multimedia environments, such as games, are provided. Example embodiments include a dynamic inserter, which selects content, based upon a set of criteria, to deliver to a receiving client system, such as a game client. The receiving client system typically dynamically determines locations within the game where advertisements are desirably inserted. Associated with these locations are ad tags that specify criteria for the ads including, for example ad type, ad genre, and scheduling information, which are sent by the client system to the dynamic inserter to select appropriate ads. The dynamic inserter selects ads based upon the criteria and sends them to the client system, which selects them for ad tags with conforming criteria. The client system then renders the selected ad in the appropriate location.
US08275655B2
System and methods of use are discloses that default routing of an ID read by an ID reader as part of a purchase transaction in a retail store, to a first computer system (MCS) instead of the POS computer system for the retail store, the first computer system processes the ID, and the POS computer system receives the results of the processing in the form of a IDs recognizable by the POS computer system and for which the POS computer system has associated costs.
US08275653B2
A method of providing industrial status views reflecting a schedule for industrial project plan generated by a project schedule planning and management application includes uploading the industrial project plan schedule, uploading CAD drawing files comprising a physical layout of resources, structural elements and equipment units included in the project plan schedule, extracting project data from the uploaded project schedule and CAD drawing files and generating Plan progress views that reflect expected completion percentages of intended project tasks and operations over a fixed industrial project timeline, according to the plan schedule, as well as Comparison progress views depicting a difference between the expected and actual project progress.
US08275644B2
Techniques for optimizing a Business Process Model (BPM) having at least one work process are presented. At a simulation client, a determination is made whether a simulated business outcome associated with a test BPM satisfies a business value deficiency associated with a current BPM. In response to a determination that the simulated business outcome does not satisfy the business value deficiency, the test BPM is optimized. Once the simulation client determines that the simulated business outcome satisfies the business value deficiency, the test BPM is implemented as an actual BPM. Moreover, an actual business outcome associated with the actual BPM is generated. A determination is made whether the actual business outcome satisfies the simulated business outcome. In response to a determination that the actual business outcome does not satisfy the simulated business outcome, the actual BPM is optimized.
US08275638B1
An apparatus and method of using the apparatuse. The method includes: controlling a computer system comprising a digital computer processor to process input data into output data, the processor in communication with an input device, to receive the input data, and to an output device, to output the output data, the processor programmed so as to facilitate managing a dual purpose profit sharing plan cooperating with a pension plan such that money in an incidental account of the dual purpose profit sharing plan funds a retiree health account of an employee of an employer, and money in another account of the dual purpose profit sharing plan funds pension plan retirement income benefits of the employee.
US08275635B2
The methods and systems described herein may involve providing a device, determining at least one lifeotype of at least one individual in association with the device, analyzing the at least one lifeotype, and modifying at least one attribute of the device based on the analysis. The methods and systems described herein may involve providing a computer program that operates on a data structure that includes at least one of life byte data and lifeotype data, and providing an interface to such computer program whereby a system may access the computer program to obtain at least one of the life byte data and the lifeotype data.
US08275633B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for obtaining health information with a handheld device. The present invention relates to a system for providing real time health information utilizing a bar code or RF ID reader on a handheld device. The bar code or RF ID reader could be used to obtain a product identity in a retail or home environment. Health information is correlated with the product based on the product's identity. This information could then be used for a variety of health related purposes including ingredient alerts, high fat content, high calorie content, nutritional budgets, etc. Alternatively, products could be scanned before consumption in the home environment to assist in health budgets for particular nutritional values such as calories, fat, carbohydrate, or protein. The bar code or RF ID reader for both embodiments may be incorporated into any existing handheld device.
US08275611B2
An apparatus for adaptively suppressing noise in an input signal frequency spectrum derived from overlapping input frames is provided. The system includes a psychoacoustic power computation module configured to compute a noisy signal power in psychoacoustic bands, a voice activity scoring module configured to compute a probabilistic score for a presence of a speech, and a noise estimation module configured to estimate a noise power in the psychoacoustic bands based on information of past frames, the probabilistic score, and the computed noisy signal power. The system also includes a gain computation module configured to compute a gain for each frequency, based on a probabilistic heuristic, the probabilistic score and the information on the past frames, and a gain post-processing module configured to perform a gain time smoothing, a gain frequency smoothing, and a gain regulation for the computed gain.
US08275607B2
A word is selected from a received text and features are identified from the word. The features are applied to a model to identify probabilities for sets of part-of-speech tags. The probabilities for the sets of part-of-speech tags are used to weight scores for possible part-of-speech tags for the selected word to form weighted scores. The weighted scores are used to select a part-of-speech tag for the word and the selected part of speech tag is stored or output. The scores for the possible part-of-speech tags are based on variational approximation parameters trained from a sparse prior over probability distributions describing the probability of a part-of-speech tag given a word.
US08275604B2
Embodiments for the adaptive learning of translation layout patterns to mine bilingual data are disclosed. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the adaptive learning of patterns to mine bilingual data includes processing a bilingual web page into a Document Object Model (DOM) tree. The embodiment further includes linking the bilingual snippet pairs of each node into a plurality bilingual snippet pairs. The embodiment also includes determining one or more best fit candidate patterns based on the plurality of translation snippets via a Support Vector Machine classifier. The embodiment additionally includes mining one or more translation pairs from the bilingual web page using the one or more best fit candidate patterns. The translation pairs are further stored in a data storage. The one or more translation pairs including at least one of a term pair, a phrase pair, or a sentence pair.
US08275599B2
A bus emulation device in accordance with one aspect of the present description includes an embedded microcontroller and a nonvolatile memory carried on a body. The memory contains firmware which includes boot code adapted to boot the microcontroller to operate in one of a plurality of dedicated operating modes in response to a mode switch. These dedicated operating modes include a learning mode in which bus signals generated by other bus devices are recorded in the nonvolatile memory, and an emulation mode in which recorded bus signals are retransmitted over the bus in response to received signals, to emulate a bus device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US08275591B2
A crane planner for planning an operation of a crane, in particular a crawler crane, with a central planning unit which comprises a central database with data on the usable cranes and a calculation module for calculating the load moments occurring during the operation, wherein the simulation and calculation of the operations is executed by the central planning unit and the input and output of data is effected via clients, the clients communicating with the central planning unit via the Internet.
US08275586B2
End-to-end testing of applications across networks is enabled. To test the application and the infrastructure subsystems, an application server connected to the network contains an application under test. A response simulator is connected to the other end of the network. A test module is accessible to the application and to the simulator and contains a test message to be transmitted to the simulator, and an expected response message from the simulator. The application transmits each test message and compares a response message from the simulator to an expected response message. The simulator obtains the response to each test message from the test module.
US08275585B2
An elastomeric spherical bearing includes a multiple of shims, at least two of which have different thicknesses. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the shims has a different thickness with an essentially equivalent stress on each shim.
US08275582B1
A method and system for estimating the inception of gimbal motion of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), includes independently filtering, in a computer process, three-axis angular orientation rate information or data from component gyroscopes in the IMU, to provide a first output; adaptively detecting, in another computer process, discontinuities in the first output; estimating a regularity of gimbal motion to provide a second output; and comparing the discontinuities detected in the first output to the estimated regularity of gimbal motion provided in the second output, in another computer process, to determine which of the discontinuities detected in the first output are true discontinuities and which of the discontinuities in the first output that are false discontinuities, and to identify other discontinuities which have been missed in the first output. The true and missed discontinuities are estimates of the inception of gimbal motion of the IMU.
US08275575B2
A method of statistical analysis is based on an accelerated degradation model for estimating the failure rate from a set of accelerated life data (e.g. stress, humidity, temperature, voltage, resistance, vibration, etc.). The method re-samples randomly distributed data and organizes it into subsets that may be ordered. The maximum is found for each subset. From the maximums a parametric LEV distribution is determined. Maximum Likelihood Estimation methods may be used to find the parameters employed in the determined LEV distribution. The failure rate is calculated using the determined LEV distribution of the sample maximums.
US08275568B2
A semiconductor test system with self-inspection of an electrical channel is disclosed, which includes a tester head, a plurality of parameter detection units and a self-inspection controller. The tester head includes a plurality of pin electronics cards inserted therein, in which the plurality of pin electronics cards contain a plurality of power channels, a plurality of I/O channels and a plurality of drive channels. The self-inspection controller outputs different inspection signals respectively to each power channel, each I/O channel and each drive channel. Then, the plurality of parameter detection units detect response signals respectively produced by each power channel, each I/O channel and each drive channel in response to the inspection signals respectively received thereby, and the response signals are judged by the self-inspection controller. Thus, the invention is capable of self-inspecting each electrical channel if it is in a normal condition, either in an open or short circuit, or if there exists a leakage condition.
US08275563B2
According to a feature of the present disclosure, a method is provided for the determination of anomalous events in complex systems, such as problems, inefficiencies, and failures, and a tool is provided for the detection of these events. Many complex systems are non-stationary or experience periodic fluctuations or spikes in values that are outside of normal ranges, but constitute normal behavior nevertheless. The method accounts for both non-stationarity, as well as fluctuations and spikes. Additional novel features include both a threshold setting initialization method and a regression method for the determination of the start points and end points of events.
US08275558B2
A method and apparatus for visually detecting and measuring retention assembly tightness are disclosed. In an embodiment, an optical device is used to obtain at least an image of a retention assembly, the optical device being insertable into a slot between two stator core laminations and directable toward a side view of the retention assembly. The image is displayed on a display, and a measurer is used to determine a tightness of a retention assembly.
US08275554B2
Systems for differentiating the lengths of nucleic acids of interest in a sample are provided. The system includes a microfluidic device, a detector, and a software system. The microfluidic device includes an amplification microchannel or microchamber containing a reaction mixture under conditions that provide one or more amplicons of the nucleic acid of interest. The detector is integral with or proximal to the microfluidic device and is configured to detect the amplicons as one or more signals from a homogenous mixture. The software system interprets one or more coincidentally detected signals to indicate lengths of one or more individual nucleic acid molecules of interest, thereby differentiating the lengths of the nucleic acids of interest.
US08275551B2
Method of imaging seismic data recorded using a set of seismic receivers positioned to receive seismic responses from a subsurface formation upon activating a seismic source. The seismic responses are direction-sensitive responses. A virtual signal received by receiver k from the virtual source at the position of receiver m is determined by processing involving cross correlating at least part of the responses of a receiver m with at least part of the responses of a seismic receiver k. Part of direction-sensitive responses or part of the virtual signal that contains a component of the wave field at receiver m traveling in a first direction and part of the direction-sensitive responses or part of the virtual signal that contains a component of the wave field at the receiver k traveling in a second direction may be removed.
US08275545B2
A system locates a user in a remote troubleshooting environment. An office device is utilized to perform at least one of a copy, a facsimile, a print, and an email. A headset facilities audio communication between the user and a remote troubleshooter. A compass is located proximate to the office device wherein the headset is placed in a predetermined location proximate to the compass to establish a datum point such that movement from the datum point is recognized as a location proximate to the office device. A remote processing component displays the location of the headset relative to the office device based on information provided by the compass.
US08275543B2
A method of controlling a navigation apparatus, and which includes displaying map information on a touch screen display unit of the navigation apparatus, receiving at least a first touch input signal corresponding to a touching of a first position on the display unit and a second touch input signal corresponding to a touching of a second position on the display unit while the first position is continuously touched, calculating, via a controller, a traveling route including the touched first and second positions, and displaying the calculated traveling route on the displayed map information to inform a driver of a vehicle including the navigation apparatus about the calculated traveling route including the first and second positions.
US08275541B2
A method using airport surveillance data to output a location of a delay and an amount of time a vehicle is subjected to the delay during a movement of the vehicle between two locations, the delays being observed in the surveillance data as a knot of several data points. A first method is used to identify proposed knots based on distances between individual data points within the data. A second method is used to identify proposed knots based on the speed of the vehicle. Another method can be used to separate proposed knots have been incorrectly joined together. This method performs the separation by arranging the data points into a two-dimensional grid to form clusters of grid cells having data points. The location of the individual cells is then analyzed to determine whether clusters should be separated. Each of the remaining clusters defines a hold where the vehicle is delayed.
US08275537B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a valve (13) in a thermal engine (10), the valve having a closed position and an opened position, the method comprising at least one step of opening the valve, said step including at least one phase (I) for bringing the valve into an open position and a phase (II) for maintaining the valve in an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method and to a method for supplying an engine with an oxidant.
US08275528B2
Methods and systems for managing acceleration of a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission by controlling transmission turbine acceleration are provided. A desired transmission turbine acceleration is determined based on vehicle speed, turbine speed, and other information obtained from the vehicle transmission. One or more torque limits are determined as a function of the turbine acceleration. The torque limits are applied to manage acceleration of the vehicle.
US08275523B2
The present disclosure relates to a commercial vehicle with a control unit connected with the drive of the commercial vehicle and to a method for controlling a commercial vehicle.
US08275521B2
A highway tractor (12) has a fifth wheel (28) to which a trailer (14) that is to be towed by the tractor can be coupled. A positioning system sets fore-aft position of the fifth wheel on the tractor. The positioning system (FIG. 2; FIG. 3) has a positioning mechanism for moving the fifth wheel fore and aft on the tractor and a controller for processing certain data that is used to cause the positioning mechanism to move the fifth wheel to a fore-aft target position on the tractor.
US08275518B2
A target parking position setting section (23) is adapted to temporarily set a target parking position (p31, p32, p33) for the vehicle for each parking mode in a predetermined stop position. A parking mode determining section (25) is adapted to determine the parking mode and the target parking position corresponding to the parking mode based on an operation of a steering wheel performed by a driver after the target parking position (p31, p32, p33) is set. A guiding section (29) is adapted to guide the vehicle (1) to the determined target parking position (P3).
US08275516B2
A rollover risk assessment system includes sensors and a processor for estimating rollover risk associated with maneuvering on varying terrain.
US08275510B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of determining that a change speed solenoid is abnormal when a target speed ratio falls within a predetermined range, an upshift is recognized and the change speed solenoid is abnormal; determining that the change speed solenoid is normal when the change speed solenoid is not abnormal; determining that a belt pinch pressure solenoid is abnormal when the target speed ratio is substantially equal to a speed ratio γmin on a maximum speed-increase side and the target speed ratio is not substantially equal to an actual speed ratio; and determining that the belt pinch pressure solenoid is normal when the target speed ratio is substantially equal to the actual speed ratio.
US08275504B2
A stabilization apparatus for stabling load voltage of vehicle is applied to a vehicle battery unit, a vehicle computer unit and a vehicle load unit. The stabilization apparatus for stabling load voltage of vehicle includes a voltage boost unit and a microcontroller unit. The voltage boost unit is electrically connected to the vehicle battery unit and the vehicle load unit. The microcontroller unit is electrically connected to the voltage boost unit and the vehicle computer unit. When the voltage of the vehicle battery unit is going to drop, a voltage-drop signal is sent from the vehicle computer unit to the microcontroller unit. The voltage boost unit is controlled by the microcontroller unit to supply a boosted voltage to the vehicle load unit.
US08275497B2
A method and device for assisting in driving a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, having a surroundings detector for detecting at least a partial area of the surroundings of the vehicle, an output device for the output of information concerning the vehicle surroundings obtained from the surroundings detection to a driver, and an evaluation unit for determining a risk level based on the vehicle-surroundings information. To facilitate driving of the vehicle, it is provided that at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information provided for determining the risk level, and the risk level determined by the evaluation unit are output continuously by the output device to the driver during operation of the vehicle.
US08275495B2
Disclosed is a method and device, which provide an enhanced ability to monitor the navigation of an aircraft during a phase of flight in which the aircraft is close to the ground in which the aircraft uses positional information supplied by a satellite positioning system for the navigation. A display screen is used to display a first characteristic sign representing a selected setpoint value for a height parameter of the aircraft. The display screen also displays a second characteristic sign representing a current auxiliary value expressed in the form of an achievable height parameter. An alert is emitted when the second characteristic sign is determined to be within a predetermined height value of the first characteristic sign, and the alert is shown in visual format on the display screen. An alarm is also emitted following a predetermined time after the alert is emitted, if the setpoint value is not replaced by a new setpoint value.
US08275494B1
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for controlling an aircraft.
US08275484B2
A controller for a variable heating system is operable to control a stepper motor operated gas valve to adjust gas flow to vary the heating level. The controller includes a first terminal for receiving a thermostat signal requesting heating, an electronic memory, and a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory and first terminal. The microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and generates a control signal for the stepper motor to operate the gas valve. The microprocessor includes a programmable read-only-memory encoded with an instruction to store a time duration during which the microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine a predetermined heating level based on the stored time duration. The microprocessor responds to a thermostat signal requesting heating by determining the number of steps the motor must move to vary the gas flow corresponding to the predetermined heating level.
US08275480B2
A method for management of first in, first out stores is provided. The method includes producing parts at a primary process. The parts are processed at a secondary process. A storage region is provided that includes at least one store lane pair including a first store lane and a second store lane. The first store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The second store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The receiving volumes of the first store lane are filled with the parts in the order they are produced at the primary process in a first in, first out fashion from the pick side of the first store lane to the drop side of the first store lane using an automated guided vehicle sized and configured to pass through each of the plurality of receiving volumes. After a last receiving volume nearest the drop side of the first store lane is filled, the receiving volumes of the second store lane are filled using the automated guided vehicle.
US08275475B2
Methods, digital systems, and computer readable media are provided for estimating change of amplitude and frequency in a digital audio signal by transforming a frame of the digital audio signal to the frequency domain, locating a frequency peak in the transformed frame, determining an interpolated peak of the located frequency peak, computing inner products of a portion of the transformed frame about the interpolated peak with a plurality of test signals, and estimating change of amplitude and change of frequency for the frequency peak from results of the inner products.
US08275471B2
Systems and methods for enabling communication with a wired sensor are provided. A wired sensor may be adapted for wireless communication using a sensor interface. A sensor interface is communicatively coupled with a wired sensor that provides information about a detected environmental condition. The sensor interface wirelessly transmits information received from the wired sensor to a controller that may control an electrical load based on the wirelessly transmitted information.
US08275465B2
A method of fabricating a stimulation lead by supplying a lead body with a plurality wire conductors extending the length of the lead body and being within insulative material therein; providing a plurality of terminals and electrodes on the ends of the lead body, wherein the plurality of terminals and electrodes are electrically coupled, wherein the providing comprises: (i) positioning a conductive band about the lead body that is adapted to be clasped about the lead body; (ii) positioning a conductor wire between an exterior surface of the first end and an interior surface of the second end of the conductive band; (iii) closing overlapping ends of the conductive band about the conductor wire; and (iv) welding the ends to seal the conductive band about the lead body.
US08275462B1
Systems and methods for efficiently transmitting power using a high frequency (e.g., RF) telemetry transmitter are provided. The telemetry transmitter may include a fixed clock source (which may provide a fixed clock signal), telemetry phase shift circuitry (which may include switching circuitry and phase shifting circuitry), and a push-pull network. The telemetry phase shift circuitry generates a phase shifted clock signal that is phase shifted with respect to the fixed clock signal. The fixed and phase shifted clock signals may drive the switching circuitry to produce a high frequency signal that is passed through the push-pull network. The power or magnitude of the high frequency signal is based on the phase delay between the fixed clock signal and the phase shifted clock signal.
US08275459B2
An implantable arrangement including an implantable electromedical device having an exterior wall and an implantable sensor and/or actuator outside of the exterior wall. The sensor and/or actuator are in signal connection with the implantable device via an electric stage and a mechanical stage arranged in series, wherein the mechanical stage sends and/or receives mechanical vibration signals through the closed exterior wall, and the electrical stage sends and/or receives the same signals in electrical form.
US08275455B2
In accordance with one aspect, the invention relates to medical devices which comprise at least one reservoir, a therapeutic-agent-containing region disposed within the reservoir and an electrode comprising a conductive polymer. The devices of the invention are configured such that a rate of release of the therapeutic agent from the reservoir changes upon a change in the oxidation state of the conductive polymer.
US08275453B2
A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue in the human breast. A plurality of measuring electrodes are used to measure the tissue and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue. Surface electropotential and impedance are also measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.
US08275446B2
A computer system and a computer-implemented method are provided for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure having a lumen and for indicating regions of abnormal wall structure. A three-dimensional volume of data is formed from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the three-dimensional structure. An isosurface of a selected region of interest is created by a computer from the volume of data based on a selected value or values of a physical property representing the selected region of interest. A wireframe model of the isosurface is generated by the computer wherein the wireframe model includes a plurality of vertices. The vertices are then grouped into populations of contiguous vertices having a characteristic indicating abnormal wall structure by the computer. The wireframe model is then rendered by the computer in an interactive three-dimensional display to indicate the populations of abnormal wall structure.
US08275444B2
The disclosure is directed to techniques in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is coordinated with the operation of an implantable medical device (IMD). By using an IMD to sense conditions, MRI can be improved because the sensed conditions can accurately define timing for application of electromagnetic radiation bursts. Moreover, by applying stimulation pulses specifically to coordinate the electromagnetic radiation bursts, the MRI may also be improved.
US08275435B2
An implantable medical device having an optical sensor selects the function of modular opto-electronic assemblies included in the optical sensor. Each assembly is provided with at least one light emitting device and at least one light detecting device. A device controller coupled to the optical sensor controls the function of each the assemblies. The controller executes a sensor performance test and selects at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test. The controller selects at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to a result of the performance test.
US08275433B2
A non-invasive blood constituents measuring instrument measures blood constituent values including blood glucose concentration in a living body non-invasively. The instrument is composed of a light source 11 to irradiate a light containing plural wavelengths to a living body 13, a light receiver 14 to detect the light transmitted through a living body or reflected and scattered thereon, a spectrum analyzer 15 to analyze the light transmitted through the living body or reflected thereon at different times, a subtraction processor 18 to generate spectrum subtraction from the spectrum of the light at the different times measured by the spectrum analyzer 15, and a blood glucose concentration predictor 21 into which the output data of the subtraction processor 18 are input and which outputs a blood constituent value.
US08275429B1
High magnetic field gradient strength superconducting coil systems for use in medical applications are provided. Systems capable of providing time-varying gradient magnetic field strength greater than 50 mT/m, over a spherical volume with a diameter greater than 20 centimeters include superconducting gradient coils and a heat conduction assemblage in physical contact with each coil.
US08275428B2
Disclosed herein is a topologically protected π/8-gate which becomes universal when combined with the gates available through quasi-particle braiding and planar quasi-particle interferometry. A twisted interferometer, and a planar π/8-gate in CTS, implemented with the help of the twisted interferometer, are disclosed. Embodiments are described in the context of state X (CTS) supported by an ISH, although the concept of a twisted-interferometer is more general and has relevance to all anionic, i.e. quasiparticle systems.
US08275426B2
A button control structure is used for an electronic device including a barrel defining a groove. The button control structure includes a button, a support element and a split ring gasket. The support element defines a slot. The button is slidably attached to the support element. One portion of the split ring gasket is received in the slot, the other portion projected from the slot and received in the groove.
US08275425B2
A portable device suitable for various multimedia environments includes: a main body; a folder; and a hinge unit mounted on the main body and rotatably connecting the folder to the main body. The hinge unit is slidable on the main body together with the folder. The mode-switching of the portable being provided according to the sliding position of the hinge unit.
US08275416B2
A combined base station controller (12) and base transceiver station (14) comprises a selector distribution unit (SDU, 20), a main call control (MCC, 22) coupled to the SDU, a radio call control (RCC, 18) coupled to the MCC, and a channel element control (CEC, 16) coupled to the RCC.
US08275415B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for automated multi-device, multi-persona wireless SIM management. A virtual SIM database associated with a user is maintained on the mobile service provider's network. Such a virtual SIM database contains multiple personas for that user. For each of the user devices they wish to use on the mobile service network, the user is furnished with one “stub” SIM to be installed on the user device, onto which may be loaded any one of the personas maintained by the virtual SIM database. Upon an event, a selected user device downloads a selected persona from the network and loads it onto its stub SIM, so that the selected device is now registered on the network with that persona.
US08275414B1
Apparatus and methods are described for providing a user augmented reality (UAR) service for a camera-enabled mobile device, so that a user of such mobile device can use the mobile device to obtain meta data regarding one or more images/video that are captured with such device. The meta data is interactive and allows the user to obtain additional information or specific types of information, such as information that will aid the user in making a decision regarding the identified objects or selectable action options that can be used to initiate actions with respect to the identified objects.
US08275411B2
A telecommunications device including a laptop computer having a telephony soft client. According to embodiments of the present invention, calls may be received even when the laptop computer is turned off. The laptop computer wakes up responsive to detecting an incoming call. In some embodiments, the system checks on a user presence status before waking up the laptop. In some embodiments, the telephony soft client may be quick booted to allow a user to make an emergency telephone call, without fully booting the laptop computer.
US08275407B2
Methods and apparatus for communicating information using different transmission power levels during different time periods are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in a peer to peer wireless communication system. A device uses a high transmission power level for transmitting during a first predetermined period, so that information can be transmitted to at least some devices which are not reachable using lower transmission power levels. The high transmission power level used during the first predetermined period of time exceeds a maximum average permitted power level permitted for a second predetermined period of time. In some embodiments a device refrains from transmitting for a period of time after transmitting at the high transmission power level. In some embodiments the device transmits at a lower transmission power level during a third period of time following the first period of time.
US08275406B2
A method and apparatus in a base station for jointly controlling sub-channel transmission power and assigned codec modes for a first and second mobile station utilizing Voice services over Adaptive Multi-user channel on One Slot (VAMOS). The base station receives signal quality information reports from the mobile stations every 480 ms using the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH), and receives codec mode requests from the mobile stations every 40 ms using Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) in-band signaling. The base station associates the requested codec modes with estimated levels of speech quality currently being experienced by the first and second mobile stations. The base station then allocates sub-channel transmission power and assigns codec modes to the first and second mobile stations based on the estimated levels of speech quality associated with the requested codec modes and the signal quality reports.
US08275402B2
A network server operable to communicate information over a half-duplex push-to-talk over cellular wireless communication system includes a location manager operable to determine geographic location of a plurality of recipients, an alert notification manager for preparing alert messages based information regarding events and respective geographic locations of the events, and a message delivery notification manager operable to deliver alert messages to the recipients over the half-duplex push-to-talk over cellular wireless communication system based upon the geographic location of each recipient relative to the geographic locations of the events, with the alert messages being delivered to the recipients without completion of calling procedures and incoming call acceptance by the recipients that are required by conventional full-duplex cellular communication systems.
US08275394B2
A method and system for marking a location with a mobile device, uploading location information from the marked location to a location based service, creating a web page for the location information, and adding descriptive content to the web page pertaining to the location.
US08275393B2
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for executing a predetermined routine including one or more location determination modes to determine a geographic position, i.e., the location of a wireless communication device. In certain aspects, the predetermined routine may be configured to adjust the Quality of Service (QoS) for one or more of the location determination modes implemented in the routine. Based on the pre-configuration of the routine, adjustment of the QoS of one or more location determination modes may occur as a matter of course or the routine may be configured to adaptively adjust the QoS based on conditions, such as network conditions, environmental conditions and the like, existing at the point in time in which the location determination mode is executed.
US08275387B2
A mobile station comprises a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station; a selection unit configured to select a communication area to perform communication from a plurality of communication areas based on traffic load in the plurality of communication areas where the reception unit can receive the signal; and a notification unit configured to notify the base station of the communication area selected. Another mobile station comprises a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station; a calculation unit configured to calculate a ratio of an average reception quality value over a short period to an average reception quality value over a long period; and a selection unit configured to select a communication area to perform communication from a plurality of communication areas where the reception unit can receive the signal, based on the ratio.
US08275386B2
A subscriber station for use in a wireless network capable of communicating according to a multicarrier protocol. The subscriber station determines a total average signal level across N subbands, where each of subband comprises a plurality of subcarriers. The subscriber station also determines a first average signal level within a first subband. The subscriber station then transmits a channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback message to the wireless network. The CQI feedback message comprises a first data field indicating the total average signal level and a second data field indicating the first average signal level. The first data field may indicate the total average signal level as an absolute value and the second data field may indicate the first average signal level relative to the total average signal level.
US08275382B2
A multimedia communicator is disclosed. The multimedia communicator comprises a processing unit; and a storage device coupled to the processing unit. The multimedia communicator further includes a plurality of interfaces to allow the multimedia communicator to offer a user a plurality of services. The MMC which includes a microprocessor computing system may be located in a car, for example, or within a handset similar to handsets presently utilized for cell phones. The MMC may be connected to a WiFi Internet connection, a cellular network, a satellite radio or equivalent satellite network, or to other available wireless networks. Additionally, the MMC has the potential to interface with GPS signals as desired.
US08275364B2
The method and system of authentication of authorized person and transaction approval principally at the direct debits by means of a mobile communication device (2) is based on the fact that an alphanumerical chain is sent from the mobile communication device (2) into energy passive identifier (3) approached to the mobile communication device (2), the identifier (3) is supplied contact free by electromagnetic field of the mobile communication device (2) while in the identifier the received alphanumerical chain is signed electronically and in such signed alphanumerical chain is sent back into the mobile communication device (2). Payment approval is realized by the correctness approval of the electronically signed alphanumerical chain and by approaching the mobile communication device (2) to the payment terminal (1). The invention enables to use a high level of cryptography security by using a passive identifier (3) which does not demand own energy source.
US08275355B2
The present invention provides a method for a roaming user to establish security association with the application server in the visited network. When receiving the service request from the roaming user, the application server in the visited network establishes security association with the roaming user by making use of the authentication results of the generic authentication architecture in the home network via the BSF in the local network, or the generic authentication architecture proxy in the local network, or the AAA server in the local network and the AAA server in the roaming user's home network, so as to achieve the object that the roaming user is able to use the services of the visited network after authentication of the generic authentication architecture in his home network.
US08275350B2
Cell broadcast protocols are used to distribute emergency alerts to mobile devices. Emergency alerts may be received from an emergency provider or governmental agency. Parameters of an emergency alert may be derived and mapped to parameters of a cell broadcast message, which may then be transmitted to mobile devices. In one embodiment, attributes of an emergency alert are mapped to a first parameter of a cell broadcast message, and the contents of the emergency alert are mapped to the first parameter of the cell broadcast message. If the contents of the emergency alert exceed the available space in the first parameter, the remaining contents of the emergency alert are mapped to a second parameter of the cell broadcast message.
US08275347B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for initiating an emergency alert system alert from a mobile device. In addition to the general system, methods and computer readable medium for such initiating of an emergency alert system alert from a mobile device the process may further implement receiving multiple such emergency alert system alert initiation messages and combining them to determine a more accurate location area of the emergency.
US08275340B2
A fixed point finite impulse response (FIR) filter comprising: 1) an input stage for receiving an input signal as a sequence of input samples comprising: i) delay elements connected in series for receiving and shifting N sequential input samples; ii) multipliers, each multiplier receiving a selected one of the N sequential input samples from the delay elements and multiplying the selected input sample by a corresponding coefficient to produce an intermediate product; and iii) a summer for receiving and adding N intermediate products from the multipliers to produce an output sum signal comprising a sequence of output sum samples; and 2) an output stage for truncating k least significant bits (LSBs) from each of the output sum samples, wherein k is a variable number.
US08275338B2
The apparatus is a complete passive implementation of an image reject mixer (IRM) that is capable of operating at very high frequency. Using a hybrid as part of the IRM circuit enables operation at very high frequencies that also employs a high intermediate frequency (IF). All the components of the design are passive and implementable in MOS technologies providing significant cost and implementation advantages. Furthermore, the apparatus is operative at frequencies that are higher than several tens of GHz.
US08275337B2
An adaptive array wireless communication apparatus able to suitably select antenna elements, small in amount of processing, fast in convergence speed, and suitable for transmission/reception, and a method of the same, which controls the directionalities of array antenna elements based on array weights, controls an antenna element selecting unit 23 so that the antenna elements are intermittently determined, and adjusts a period of determination of the antenna elements based on information of the antenna elements determined at a controlling unit 26.
US08275332B2
An apparatus comprising a plurality of switchable full step mixer unit cells, wherein each switchable full step unit cell is configured to, when the full step transceiver mixer unit cell is turned on, increase the gain experienced by an electronic signal by a full step increment, and wherein the step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature; and at least one switchable partial step mixer unit cell configured to, when the partial step transceiver mixer unit is turned on, increase the gain experienced by the electronic signal by a predetermined step increment less than that of a full step, and wherein the partial step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature.
US08275331B2
Techniques for optimizing the power consumption of existing low cost multi-gain state power amplifiers (PA) to increase the talk time of wireless communication devices are described. In an exemplary embodiment a device, such as a baseband processor, operates to set a multistage PA having at least two gain states for amplifying a transmit signal to a lowest power consuming gain state. The device calculates a transition power level as a function of an identified maximum power reduction (MPR) value and switches the PA to a higher gain state from a lower gain state when a transmission power level is higher than the calculated transition power level.
US08275328B2
A mobile phone to transmit and receive a radio frequency signal through a first antenna and a second antenna in a radio communication system includes a first radio frequency signal receiving unit to convert the radio frequency signal received through the first antenna into a baseband signal to be transmitted to a controller, a second radio frequency signal receiving unit to convert the radio frequency signal received through the second antenna into a baseband signal to be transmitted to the controller, and a radio frequency signal transmitting unit to convert a baseband signal transmitted from the controller into a radio frequency signal, to distribute the radio frequency signal, and to selectively output the distributed radio frequency signal to the first antenna and the second antenna.
US08275313B1
In one embodiment, a first sensor node 100 includes a radio to effect wireless communications; a sensor module 204 to sense a selected parameter; and a scheduler 228 that selects a listen time for the first sensor node, such that, during the listen time, the radio is activated and able to receive wireless signals and, during a time other than the listen time, the radio is deactivated and unable to receive wireless signals, and causes transmission to a second sensor node a first message. The first message includes a time offset from a transmission time of the first message, the time offset indicating a timing of a first listen time for the first sensor node. In response, the node 100 receives, from the second sensor node, a second message, with the time selected by the second sensor node to transmit the second message to the first sensor node being based on the time offset.
US08275307B2
An audio integrator monitors the outputs of a plurality of audio sources, and a controller prioritizes the audio sources. An active audio detection circuit determines when one or more of the audio sources become active. When the two or more audio sources are active simultaneously, the controller directs the highest priority audio source to one or more speakers. If a lower priority audio signal is currently playing, newly active voice communication audio, such as communications or directional information, is delayed to preserve the beginning of the message during an audio switch-over. A currently-playing, lower-priority audio signal may be decreased in volume, and a tone unique to the new audio source sounded, prior to the switching the audio to the higher-priority source. During audio input (e.g., while actuating a push-to-talk button on a microphone), all active audio sources are quieted.
US08275306B2
A method, system and processor-readable storage medium for evaluating vocabulary similarity are disclosed. A generic rate may be determined for each word in a plurality of first responses. Each first response may respond to one of a plurality of first prompts. At least one first response may respond to each of the first prompts. A specific rate may be determined for each word in a plurality of second responses, which each respond to a second prompt. A target response may be received that is associated with the second prompt and has a plurality of words. A vocabulary similarity index may be computed for the target response based on one or more generic rates and on or more specific rates. A determination of whether the target response is off-topic may be made based on the vocabulary similarity index for the target response.
US08275304B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit configured to read image information of an original document, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet according to the image information, a sheet discharge space located between the image reading unit and the image forming unit, into which the sheet is discharged after passing through the image forming unit, a first sheet discharge port disposed facing the sheet discharge space, a second sheet discharge port located beneath the first sheet discharge port, and a sheet handling unit detachably mountable in the sheet discharge space, configured to connect to the first sheet discharge port and block the second sheet discharge port when mounted in the sheet discharge space.
US08275303B2
A discharging unit including: a casing; a discharger to discharge printing medium; a storage plate disposed in the casing below the discharger, to store the printing media discharged by the discharger; and a separation preventing unit to prevent the printing media from being ejected from the discharging unit by selectively protruding from the storage plate.
US08275293B2
A conductive member includes a substrate, an elastic layer provided on the substrate and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, in which the surface layer has a sea/island structure includes a sea portion containing a first resin and an island portion containing a second resin, and at least the island portion contains carbon black.
US08275292B2
A rubber composition for a conductive roller that has at least an elastic layer above an outer periphery of a shaft member having conductivity is provided, the rubber composition including: a binary epichlorohydrin rubber; and a vulcanizing agent that contains at least sulfur, wherein the rubber composition does not contain a quinoxaline vulcanizing agent and a triazine vulcanizing agent.
US08275288B2
An image forming device includes a main body having a main frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium onto which images are transferred from the photosensitive members, a fixing unit that fixes the images onto the recording medium, and an attaching member that attaches both the fixing unit and an end section of the conveying unit nearest the fixing unit to the main frame.
US08275279B2
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable drum; a charging roller for electrically charging the drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the drum into a developer image; a cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on the drum after transfer; and a control device. The cleaning device includes a cleaning blade contacting the drum. The control device is capable of performing an operation for rotating the drum, in a direction identical to the rotational direction of the drum during image formation effected by rotating the drum, after a lapse, without next instruction of image formation, of a predetermined period from a stop of rotation of the drum after completing image formation. The predetermined period is longer with a larger number of sheets subjected to the image formation in an image forming job before the rotation of the image bearing member is stopped.
US08275271B2
An image forming apparatus includes a prediction unit, an inquiry unit and a request unit. The inquiry unit judges whether or not the prediction unit deals with a type of a consumable item used in image formation processing. The request unit transmits use history information to a consumable item management apparatus and requests the consumable item management apparatus to predict a remaining usable period of the consumable item when the inquiry unit judges the prediction unit does not deal with the type of the consumable item in the image formation processing. The use history information indicates a use history of the consumable item. The prediction unit predicts the remaining usable period of the consumable item using the use history information in the image formation processing when the inquiry unit judges the first prediction unit deals with the type of the consumable item used in image formation processing.
US08275270B2
Avalanche amplification structures including electrodes, an avalanche region, a quantifier, an integrator, a governor, and a substrate arranged to detect a weak signal composed of as few as several electrons are presented. Quantifier regulates the avalanche process. Integrator accumulates a signal charge. Governor drains the integrator and controls the quantifier. Avalanche amplifying structures include: normal quantifier, reverse bias designs; normal quantifier, normal bias designs; lateral quantifier, normal bias designs; changeable quantifier, normal bias, adjusting electrode designs; normal quantifier, normal bias, adjusting electrode designs; and lateral quantifier, normal bias, annular integrator designs. Avalanche amplification structures are likewise arranged to provide arrays of multi-channel devices. The described invention is expected to be used within photodetectors, electron amplifiers, chemical and biological sensors, and chemical and biological chips with lab-on-a-chip applications. Structures have immediately applicability to devices critical to homeland defense.
US08275259B2
A method for determining a value of chromatic dispersion compensation in an optical network including a plurality of nodes connected by at least one transmission line, the plurality of nodes including a plurality of dispersion compensators, the optical network including a plurality of wavelength paths between the optional nodes, the method includes determining a compensation value of the dispersion compensators in the optical network by the computer, the compensation value selecting that an error between the object value of the residual chromatic dispersion in accordance with of the first end node of the first path and the permissible value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the first end node of the first path is least, and the value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the first end is in the permissible value of the residual chromatic dispersion of the second end node of the second path.
US08275254B2
A camera module includes a lens assembly and a baseboard assembly mounted on the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a lens, a barrel receiving the lens, and a support member receiving the barrel. The baseboard assembly includes a circuit board and an image sensor on the circuit board. The baseboard defines a friction surface at a side surface thereof.
US08275250B2
A zoom switch assembly for an image photographing apparatus includes a fixing member which includes a flat unit, a rotating member which is mounted rotatably with respect to the fixing member, an electric conductivity unit which is mounted on the rotating member to rotate opposite the flat member, and a position detection pattern which is formed along a rotation trace of the electric conductivity unit on the flat unit of the fixing member, and through which electricity flows selectively according to a rotation angle of the electric conductivity unit.
US08275247B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for normal reverse playback of GOPs of a bitstream stored in a storage medium from an Xth GOP. The apparatus includes an MPEG decoder which reads a first bitstream corresponding to the Xth GOP and an (X−1)th GOP from the storage medium and which decodes pictures of the Xth GOP and reference pictures of the (X−1)th GOP using the read bitstream, a frame buffer which stores the pictures decoded by the MPEG decoder, and a display block which displays the decoded pictures stored in the frame buffer, wherein during the normal reverse playback, the apparatus displays all the decoded pictures only once, and each display time of the decoded pictures displayed only once is the same. Accordingly, the apparatus can perform a linear search even during the normal reverse playback.
US08275239B2
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes.
US08275232B2
A data transmission interface apparatus is provided for communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means specified for multimedia data transmission. The data transmission interface apparatus has at least a processor for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets.
US08275228B2
A network interface unit (NIU) for a modular workstation includes a housing. One or more input network adapters on the housing receive input connectors of a first multi-network cable that is connected to a distribution network. One or more output network adapters on the housing receive output connectors of a second multi-network cable that is connected to another NIU of another modular workstation to provide for a daisy chain connection. One or more workstation adapters are provided on the housing for providing connections to one or more networks of various security levels. Cables that are connected to one or more CPUs or telephones of the workstation are connected to respective ones of the workstation adapters. The workstation adapters of the NIU may provide one or more of visual, physical, and geographical verification and segregation of the network connections to enhance the integrity of the security of the various networks available at the NIU.
US08275223B2
An opto-electrical hybrid wiring board is formed with a flexible wiring board; a first rigid wiring board and second rigid wiring board connected to each other by the flexible wiring board; a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, one of which is arranged on the first rigid wiring board and the other on the second rigid wiring board; and a flexible optical waveguide for optically connecting the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. One end of the flexible wiring board is inserted in and supported by the first rigid wiring board, and the other end is inserted in and supported by the second rigid wiring board; the rigid wiring boards and flexible wiring board are electrically connected to each other by using vias to connect the wiring of the first and second rigid wiring boards and the wiring of the flexible wiring board at the inserted portions.
US08275221B2
A method of evaluating a user subject interest is based at least upon an analysis of a user's collection of digital image records and is implemented at least in part by a data processing system. The method receives a defined user subject interest, receives a set of content requirements associated with the defined user-subject-interest, and identifies a set of digital image records from the collection of digital image records each having image characteristics in accord with the content requirements. A subject-interest trait associated with the defined user-subject-interest is evaluated based at least upon an analysis of the set of digital image records or characteristics thereof. The subject-interest trait is associated with the defined user-subject-interest in a processor-accessible memory.
US08275218B2
A forward and backward image resizing method is used for resizing a low-resolution image into a high-resolution image. In the method, the low-resolution image is obtained first, and then a forward and backward image resizing process is performed, so as to resize the low-resolution image into the high-resolution image with an integral multiple resolution. The forward and backward image resizing process includes: resizing the low-resolution image by the integral multiple, so as to generate a first-resizing image with the integral multiple resolution; further increasing the resolution of the first-resizing image by 2-fold, so as to generate a second-resizing image; and reducing the resolution of the second-resizing image by 2-fold, thereby obtaining the high-resolution image.
US08275202B2
There is provided a method of grouping pixels in a 2D digital image that assigns labels to regions of objects to differentiate between objects separated in the input image and groups a region of an object having the same label into one group when pattern recognition and image process are performed on the 2D digital image. A method of grouping pixels in a 2d digital image according to an aspect of the invention may include: determining whether a target pixel in an input image is included in a labeling section; determining whether the target pixel is connected to a previous pixel of the target pixel and an upper pixel located adjacent to and above the target pixel to perform a labeling process, and renewing a label table while saving a labeling result in a line memory when the target pixel is included in the labeling section and is a valid pixel including object information; and grouping pixels of the input image using the labeling result and the renewed label table, and renewing a group.
US08275194B2
Site modeling using image data fusion. Geometric shapes are generated to represent portions of one or more structures based on digital height data and a two-dimensional segmentation of portions of the one or more structures is generated based on three-dimensional line segments and digital height data. A labeled segmentation of the one or more structures is generated based on the geometric shapes and the two-dimensional segmentation. A three-dimensional model of the one or more structures is generated based on the labeled segmentation.
US08275189B2
The present invention relates to a defect inspection system which can perform inspection condition setting easily in a relatively short period of time, can examine the inspection condition setting even when there is no sample, and further can provide an inspection condition and a defect signal intensity to a person, who sets the inspection condition, to assist the inspection condition setting. In the defect inspection system, a defective image, which is an inspection image, and a reference image corresponding thereto and a mismatched portion of the defective image and the reference image are digitalized as a defect signal intensity and accumulated in association with the inspection condition, and the inspection conditions are changed to repeat evaluations while repeating accumulating works until the evaluation of all the inspection conditions in a set range is completed. After all the evaluations are completed, if there are a plurality of defects to be inspected, the work is repeated by times corresponding to the number of kinds of the defects and a recipe file including the accumulated conditions having the high defect signal intensity and an inspection condition item distribution as a inspection condition recipe is automatically outputted and is provided to the person who sets the inspection condition. And, appearance inspection for detecting a pattern defect or a foreign material defect on a substrate is performed.
US08275184B2
A measuring body for an implant, having a measuring geometry that can be captured by a measuring camera and a connection geometry on the implant. Said measuring geometry is arranged on a test part and the connection geometry is arranged on a bearing part, both parts being embodied as separate components. Said bearing part comprises a bearing for the test part and the test part comprises a counter bearing to the bearing and the measuring geometry is provided on a free end of the test part. Also provided is a method for capturing a 3D-measurement drawing of a measuring body that is arranged on an implant.
US08275181B2
A method for performing a high-resolution pharmacokinetic analysis for calculation of tissue parameters for a fast-enhancing tissue enables medical personnel to accurately determine pharmacokinetic parameters in fast-enhancing tissues. The method includes obtaining mask image data of the tissue when it is in a steady state condition, obtaining a time series of image data of the tissue when the contrast agent is flowing in the tissue, and increasing a spatial resolution of the time series of image data using the mask image data to obtain a time series of increased spatial resolution image data. The method further includes performing a pharmacokinetic analysis to obtain data including at least one parameter that characterizes the tissue, providing a multi-parameter look-up table derived from a combination of two or more parameters, and providing a display including one parameter or a parametric image, where the parametric image is derived from the look-up table.
US08275177B2
A fingerprint and indexing service is implemented to receive a media object and generate a fingerprint corresponding to the media object. The fingerprint and indexing service may segment the fingerprint into frames and generate a confidence value for each bit within each frame. The confidence values may be added together and totaled, such that each frame has a corresponding confidence score. The frames may be ranked, according to their confidence scores. N of the top ranked frames may be selected as the index. Subsequently, a search component may determine the index values for a query media object. The database of media objects may be searched for matching index values for fingerprints with fingerprint lengths matching the query media object's length. Once a match is declared, the fingerprints of the query media object and the matching media objects within the database may be compared to determine if a match exists.
US08275171B2
A composition determining apparatus includes a subject detecting unit configured to detect one or more specific subjects in an image based on image data; a subject orientation detecting unit configured to detect subject orientation information indicating an orientation in the image of the subject detected by the subject detecting unit, the detection of the subject orientation information being performed for each of the detected subjects; and a composition determining unit configured to determine a composition based on the subject orientation information. When a plurality of subjects are detected by the subject detecting unit, the composition determining unit determines a composition based on a relationship among a plurality of pieces of the subject orientation information corresponding to the plurality of subjects.
US08275165B2
A communication device comprises a housing with a housing wall encapsulating a housing interior. A microphone is arranged in the housing interior and communicates via an audio passage with the outside of the housing. An electrical socket is adapted to receive an electrical plug through a socket opening, which is accessible from the outside of the housing. The audio passage comprises the socket opening and the electrical socket includes a socket casing which surrounds the socket opening and extends in the insertion direction of the electrical plug. The socket casing includes through-going holes which form a part of the audio passage. The electrical plug is adapted to be removably inserted in the electrical socket and is provided with latching protrusions, which are adapted to be received in the through-going holes in the socket casing, when the electrical plug is inserted in the electrical socket.
US08275163B2
A battery compartment for a behind-the-ear hearing device includes a battery compartment body having a battery receiving space for accommodating a battery and at least one latching element for locking to a hearing device housing. The latching element and the battery compartment body are formed of different materials and the latching element is disposed in a holding device in the battery compartment body. A behind-the-ear hearing device with a latching element and the use of polyoxymethylene for manufacturing the latching element, are likewise provided. As a result of the separation of the latching element and the battery compartment body and the use of different materials, a switching and locking function can be optimized and the wearing quality can be improved.
US08275161B2
For enabling fast, customer-specific and precise matching of a hearing device's directional characteristic, a hearing device having a signal processing unit for performing a processing algorithm is provided, with at least one design-related parameter of the hearing device having been made available to the signal processing unit and with the signal processing unit performing the processing algorithm based on the design-related parameter of the hearing device. It should be considered as especially advantageous in the case of the inventive hearing device that a processing algorithm can be performed particularly precisely and customer-specifically based on the provided design-related parameters of the hearing device.
US08275157B2
A ribbon microphone unit includes: an electrode lead portion for conducting an electric signal which a ribbon diaphragm generates cooperating with a magnet; a tightening member for securing the ribbon diaphragm; and a screw for crimping the tightening member, wherein the tightening member is crimped via the ribbon diaphragm and the electrode lead portion by the screw, and wherein the ribbon diaphragm includes a portion sandwiched by the tightening member, and the portion is formed in an irregular shape in the thickness direction.
US08275156B2
To obtain a ribbon microphone unit, which makes the tension of a diaphragm adjustable by configuring a ribbon diaphragm assembly that is detachable to a magnetic-circuit assembly including a magnet, and which further allows a user side to carry out the maintenance by replacing the ribbon diaphragm assembly; a ribbon microphone unit comprises: a magnetic-circuit assembly including a magnet; and a ribbon diaphragm, wherein the ribbon diaphragm, together with a substrate having a circuit pattern formed on both ends thereof, a metal fitting for crimping an end portion of the ribbon diaphragm to the circuit pattern, and a screw for crimping the metal fitting toward the substrate, constitute a diaphragm assembly, and wherein the diaphragm assembly is secured to the magnetic-circuit assembly.
US08275147B2
Angular discrimination between signals is described. Multiple signals are sampled with multiple signal sensors spatially separated from each other. Respective transform signals are determined that are representative of each sampled signal. If a difference between the transform signals in a given transform kernel bin is greater than a difference threshold, a first transform signal is modified by altering that kernel bin. Then the resulting modified transform signal is inverse transformed.
US08275143B2
An audio system comprises at least one pair of wireless headphones having an active operating mode and an inactive operating mode, the at least one pair of headphones comprising a solid-state audio player, a rechargeable battery, means for connecting to a computer, means for charging the battery, and a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor detects movement of the headphones and causes headphones to be put into inactive mode when no motion is detected for a certain period of time and causes headphones to be put back into active mode when motion is detected.
US08275141B2
A noise reduction system and a noise reduction method are provided. The noise reduction system comprises a uni-directional microphone, an omni-directional microphone and a signal processing module. The signal processing module comprises an adaptive noise control (ANC) unit, a main noise reduction unit and an optimizing unit. The uni-directional microphone senses a first audio source to output a first audio signal, and the omni-directional microphone senses a second audio source to output a second audio signal. The ANC unit executes an adaptive noise control to output an estimated signal according to the first audio signal and the second audio signal. The main noise reduction unit executes a main noise reduction process to output a de-noise speech signal according to the estimated signal and the second audio signal. The optimizing unit executes an optimizing process to output an optimized speech signal according to the de-noise speech signal.
US08275138B2
A method of acoustically rendering a virtual environment is described. The method includes receiving a subset of polygons derived for an acoustic display from a set of polygons generated for a graphical display. Acoustic reflections are determined from a sound source that bounce off of polygons in the subset of polygons to a listener position in the virtual environment. It is determined whether a polygon in the subset of polygons causes an occlusion of the sound source at the listener position, and a play list of sounds is generated based on the reflections and occlusions.
US08275129B2
A data scrambling method for scrambling raw data from a host system is provided. The data scrambling method includes generating a random number and storing the random number into a storage unit. The data scrambling method also includes receiving a user password from the host system, generating a padded value by using a first function unit based on the random number and the user password, and generating a nonce value by using a second function unit based on the padded value and a key. The data scrambling method further includes generating scrambled data corresponding to the raw data by using a third function unit based on the nonce value and the raw data. Accordingly, the raw data of the host system can be effectively protected.
US08275126B2
An apparatus for hash cryptography has a hardware structure that is capable of providing both secure hash algorithm (SHA)-1 hash calculation and SHA-256 hash calculation. The apparatus for hash cryptography generates a plurality of first message data corresponding to a plurality of first rounds when the SHA-1 hash calculation is performed and generates a plurality of second message data corresponding to a plurality of second rounds when the SHA-256 hash calculation is performed by using one memory, one first register, one XOR calculator, and one OR calculator, calculates a message digest by the SHA-1 hash calculation by using the plurality of first message data when the SHA-1 hash calculation is performed, and calculates a message digest by the SHA-256 by using the plurality of second message data when the SHA-256 hash calculation is performed.
US08275124B2
A threshold secret sharing apparatus, a threshold secret sharing scheme, a secret information recovery apparatus a secret information recovery method, and a program thereof are provided using XOR computation, thereby offering a general (k,n) threshold secret sharing scheme with high computation speed. Secret information K is divided into (np−1) divided pieces of secret information Kq (np is a prime number which is equal to or greater than a secret distribution number n). Furthermore, dummy secret information K0 is generated. Moreover, random numbers R, which are mutually independent are generated. Then, pieces of shares are created using exclusive-OR (XOR) operations based upon the dummy secret information K0, the divided piece of secret information Kq, and the random numbers R. The pieces of shares thus generated are concatenated so as to generate n shares Si, thereby providing a (k,n) threshold secret sharing scheme.
US08275123B2
Systems for exchanging encrypted data communications between devices. A system can comprise a first device and a second device. The first device can comprise a first sensor adapted to create a first data profile based at least in part on a sensed condition, and a first transceiver integrated with the first sensor and adapted to generate a first cryptographic key from the first data profile. The second device can comprise a second sensor adapted to create a second data profile based at least in part on the sensed condition, the second data profile being substantially similar to the first data profile, and a second transceiver integrated with the second sensor and adapted to generate a second cryptographic key from the second data profile, the first and second cryptographic keys comprising a set of identical cryptographic keys.
US08275106B1
A method and apparatus manage conference calls by receiving for each of participants a participant access code to identify a subconference call to which each of participants is assigned; forming a conference call of all participants; initiating subconference calls by a host of the conference call; transferring each of the participants into a subconference call identified by the participant access code of each of the participants; re-initiating the conference call by the host; and re-forming all of the participants back into the conference call.
US08275105B2
In an IP telephone terminal, a function implementation controlling unit is configured so as to be capable of controlling implementation of a function instructed by a file received via IP telephone communications when the communicating unit receives the file. The configuration data storing unit stores configuration data that is used by the function implementation controlling unit to implement the function. The configuration data acquisition controlling unit performs control to acquire configuration data from the configuration data storing unit when a communicating unit receives a read file that is transmitted from an external IP telephone terminal. The response file generation controlling unit performs control to generate a response file including the configuration data. The response file transmission controlling unit controls a communicating unit to transmit the response file to the external IP telephone terminal that has transmitted the read file. The update controlling unit performs, when the communicating unit receives a write file, control to update the configuration data based on the write file that is transmitted from the external IP telephone terminal that has received the response file.
US08275100B2
A method for a computer includes determining a call-in fax telephone number called by a facsimile transmission device, receiving the facsimile transmission from a facsimile transmission device including a digitized representation of a transmission page including an optical representation of data associated with an e-mail address, determining the data optically, which is independent of the call-in number, determining a graphics template associated with the call-in number, combining a digitized representation of the transmission page with the graphics template to form a digitized representation of a composite page, formatting the digitized representation of the composite page into a second format, determining additional service provider data in response to the facsimile or the scanned image, and transmitting the additional service provider data and the digitized representation of the composite page in the second format to the electronic destination address.
US08275094B2
A device, a method and a line testing device connected to a line-capturing matrix for providing wetting current in the communications field are disclosed. Connecting the line-capturing matrix to a wetting current circuit in a network device makes it possible to acquire a wetting current from the wetting current circuit via the line-capturing matrix in the network device. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, one wetting current circuit may provide wetting currents for lines of multiple ports by connecting to a line-capturing matrix in the network device. The wetting current circuit may be a built-in or an independent wetting current circuit. By using the solution provided in the embodiments of the invention, the cost of system hardware may be reduced while the power consumption of the system may be lowered.
