US08276811B2
A virtual cash system, method, and apparatus for establishing account records containing a record of money amounts associated with a wireless device and a security code comprising a code portion to verify a deposit of money. Cash transfers between account records may be subject to restrictions associated with the cash amounts. Cash amounts can be spent from the account records directly from the wireless device via information derived from the wireless device via a bar code on the display, a short range radio signal, a light beam, or the like. A different security code is generated for each account transaction for verification.
US08276809B2
In general, the invention relates to a system that includes a smart phone and a smart card. The smart phone includes a web browser and a display for displaying a web page, where the web page includes at least one selectable entry. The smart card includes at least one proactive logic entity, where the at least one proactive logic entity is configured to respond to selection of the at least one selectable on the web page.
US08276803B1
A fixing frame and an assembled fixing device printing solder paste on a printed circuit board improve an assembly process, cut production costs, and save storage space. The fixing frame has a plurality of fixing portions and a motor unit. The fixing portions are connected to each other to define a hollowed-out planar region. The motor unit generates a plurality of pulling forces by means of mechanical transmission. The assembled fixing device includes a fixing frame and a stencil. The stencil has a solder paste printing region and a plurality of fixing regions. The edge of the solder paste printing region extends outward to define the fixing regions. The fixing regions are movably fixed to the fixing portions and bear the pulling forces. The solder paste printing region lies within the hollowed-out planar region. The directions of the pulling forces are coplanar with the solder paste printing region.
US08276799B2
A stapling device includes a device body to which a depressing bar is pivotally mounted. Through a link plate, the depressing bar selectively drives a staple striking assembly downward for striking out staples. The depressing bar has a depressing end that is located at the same side as the portion of the device body where the staple striking assembly is mounted. The link plate has an end to which a lifting member that selectively engages and lifts the staple striking assembly is mounted. . . . The staple striking assembly includes a guide board that can be set in engagement with and thus driven by the lifting member. The staple striking assembly, when lifted to a predetermined height level, is released to strike out staples and the lifting member is caused to transversely shift to allow for the instantaneous downward movement of the staple striking assembly for striking out staples.
US08276792B2
A dispenser includes a dispenser body which defines a flow passage, a valve assembly, and an actuator. The valve assembly is disposed in the flow passage and includes a first valve member and a second valve member. An actuator is coupled to the valve assembly. When the actuator is manipulated through a first range of motion, only the first of the two valve members is displaced, and when the actuator is manipulated through a second range of motion, both the first and second valve members are displaced in unison.
US08276791B2
An exemplary feed copper, configured for introducing plastic granules into a heating cylinder of an injection molding machine, includes a feed duct, a guiding duct communicated with the feed duct, and a sleeve. The sleeve movably wraps around the guiding duct, and have a lateral through hole for conforming with the lateral opening, such that the plastic granules can be accessible via the guiding duct when the lateral through hole is aligned with the lateral opening.
US08276790B2
A metering and dispensing closure for a container. A rotor and a movable member rotate in conjunction with a cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The rotor, the movable member, and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.
US08276781B1
A drinking container assembly includes a housing that has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall which is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The perimeter wall has an upper edge defining an opening extending into the housing. A closure is attached to and is coextensive with the upper edge. The closure is positionable in an open position extending upwardly from the upper edge or in a closed position folded downwardly over the opening. The closure has an access aperture extends their through and into the housing when the closure is in the closed position.
US08276776B2
One aspect of the invention provides a lid comprising: a base defining a first orifice; and a sealing member rotatably coupled to the base, the sealing member configured to seal the first orifice when placed in a sealing position. The base and the sealing member include one or more detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in the sealing position. Still another aspect of the invention provides a container including a mug and a lid configured for releasable coupling with the mug. The lid includes a base defining a first orifice and a sealing member rotatably coupled to the base. The sealing member is configured to seal the first orifice when placed in a sealing position. The base and the sealing member include one or more detents configured to releasably hold the sealing member in the sealing position.
US08276775B2
Container, made of a thermoplastic such as PET, having a body oriented along a longitudinal axis with a wall enclosing the axis defining two faces separated from each other by two connecting regions. The body is provided with one groove extending partly over the two faces of the body and one of the two connecting regions, wherein the one groove extends approximately in a plane at right angles to the axis of the body with a depth which is variable between a first depth P1 in the two faces of the body and a second depth P2 in the connecting region. The ratio P1/P2 between the two depths is between zero and a value less than or equal to 0.5.
US08276774B2
A plastic container has a base adapted for vacuum pressure absorption. The base portion includes a chime extending from a body portion to a contact ring which defines a surface upon which the container is supported. The base further includes a central portion defined in at least part by a pushup having a generally truncated cone shape in cross section located on a longitudinal axis of the container, and an inversion ring having a generally S shaped geometry in cross section and hinge means formed therein, and circumscribing the pushup. The truncated cone has an overall general diameter that is at most 30% of an overall general diameter of the base and a top surface generally parallel to a support surface.
US08276771B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a rack for storing floats. A float rack may comprise a vertical support post, a plurality of slip-Ts and a plurality of float support arms. The vertical support post will typically have a top end and a bottom end. The slip-Ts are connected to the vertical support post to provide a rotating joint about the vertical support post. The float support arms are attached to the slip-Ts.
US08276767B2
A sliding type tool storage structure comprises an open-close switching unit clamped between a first storing element and a second storing element that can slide relative to each other. When the first storing element slides relative to the second storing element to change their relative position, stopping portions on the open-close switching unit will open or close tool storing grooves on the respective storing elements. Being a simple structure, the sliding type tool storage structure is easy to carry. Furthermore, since the tool storage structure can be operated simply by sliding of the first and second storing elements, it is very convenient to use.
US08276758B2
A wafer container includes a container body and a door joined with opening of the container body for protecting wafers therein. At least one latch component is disposed in the door, and each latch component includes an oval cam and a pair of moving bars, a first end of each moving bar connecting to one of the two opposite sides of the oval cam and a second end of each moving bar having a guiding structure, a pair of moving grooves being disposed between the first end and the second end of each moving bar, at least a pair of rollers being disposed on the door and each roller being embedded in each moving groove of moving bar, and a locating spring being formed as an integral part of the moving bars.
US08276757B2
A container suitable for the preparation, storage and dispensing of compounded suppositories is provided. Methods of preparing, storing and dispensing compounded suppositories utilizing such a container and related kits are also provided.
US08276748B2
A spout for an associated container for dispensing a substance into the container. The spout may include a cap, a capsule that can be filled and sealed with a sealing layer, and a nozzle that can be screwed onto the container and carries a piercing device protruding therein such that the sealing layer of the capsule is pierced by the piercing device upon the turning of the cap.
US08276745B2
Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article.
US08276731B2
A hub for a bicycle includes a shaft (12), a hub body (40), a ratchet wheel (43), a drive seat (10), a support ring (15), a rotation ring (21), a plurality of pawl members (22), a stop bushing (121), a limit ring (30) and a damper (33). Thus, when the drive seat is rotated backward by the pedal, each of the pawl members is retracted into the respective receiving slot (212) of the rotation ring to disengage the oneway ratchet teeth (42) of the ratchet wheel, so that each of the pawl members is spaced from and will not touch the ratchet wheel when the pedal is driven backward to prevent from producing a noise when the pedal is driven backward.
US08276727B2
A dual clutch assembly which has compensating actuation forces for vehicles.
US08276726B2
A gearbox shifting point for producing a rotationally fixed connection between at least one gearwheel and one shaft. The gearbox shifting point comprises a shaft, a shifting sleeve and two gearwheels. The two gearwheels are each rotatably mounted in relation to the shaft. The shifting sleeve is mounted in a rotationally secured fashion on the shaft. The shifting sleeve and the gearwheels are embodied in such a way that a positively locking, rotationally fixed connection can be produced between the shifting sleeve and in each case one gearwheel. In order to improve problems with respect to a gearshifting hole or blockage of the gearbox, the shifting sleeve interacts with the two gearwheels in such a way that at least one positively locking, rotationally fixed connection is always produced between the shifting sleeve and one of the gearwheels.
US08276724B2
The present invention provides a technology of improving mechanism that drives a pilot clutch for operating a main clutch, in a power transmission system for a vehicle changing power transmission state by electric control in which an input shaft and an output shaft coaxially disposed in a main housing is configured such that power is connected/disconnected by the main clutch.
US08276723B2
A lock-up clutch (12) for a hydrokinetic coupling device (10), wherein the clutch includes rotational coupling means between a first element (44, 46) and an adjacent element (14A, 36) consisting of elastic tongues (60) adapted to transmit torque between the elements (44, 46, 14A, 36) and to be deformed elastically in the axial direction to enable movement of the first element (44, 46) relative to the adjacent element (14A, 36) about the articulation member in the form of an annular boss (50).
US08276722B2
The repeating transverse support is either a one-branch or a two-branch (15, 16) sleeper which is pressed against the bed plate (8) by elements which secure the directional guide rail (2). The terminal ends of this sleeper, which are in the form of mounting plates (23, 24), each support an electrical power supply lateral profile (33, 34) by way of an electrical insulator (27, 28) and an adjustment member. This repeating transverse support is of interest to the manufacturers of tracks for electrically powered guided road vehicles.
US08276712B2
A system includes a support including an extending rigid member and a first attachment at a first position on the rigid member to which a first self-retracting lifeline is attached. The first self-retracing lifeline includes a first housing from which a first lifeline exits. The first housing is movable relative to the rigid member. The system also includes at least a second attachment at a second position on the rigid member to which a second self-retracing lifeline. The second self-retracting lifeline includes a second housing from which a second lifeline exits. The second housing is movable relative to the rigid member independent of the movement of the first housing. The first position is spaced from the second position. The system further includes a connector attached to the frame to connect the frame to an article (for example, a safety harness such as a full body safety harness) worn by a user.
US08276704B2
A hydraulic steering actuator system for a forklift with front and rear sections includes a hydraulic steering motor. The forklift front section includes a mast mounting a pair of fork blades and a pair of wheels. The forklift rear section mounts a pair of drive wheels. The forklift front and rear sections are connected by an articulated connection with a vertical rotational axis. The steering actuator motor driveshaft extends generally along the vertical rotational axis. First and second actuator mounting brackets are connected to the forklift front and rear sections respectively. One of the mounting brackets includes upper and lower locking assemblies locking the hydraulic steering motor driveshaft whereby torque applied to the steering motor is transmitted to the articulated connection for turning the forklift front section relative to the forklift rear section. The range of motion is preferably 180°-205° for accommodating side-loading operations from relatively high storage shelves, e.g. in narrow-aisle warehouses.
US08276697B2
A structure for mounting a battery onto an electric vehicle comprises: a body member forming a body of the electric vehicle; a battery case containing a battery; a supporting member, which is projected outward from the battery case and is disposed under the body member, fixed to a bottom of said battery case; and a clash-proof block connecting between the battery case and the body member.
US08276696B2
A vehicle includes a cabin, a trunk area, a seating area located forward in the vehicle with respect to the trunk area, and a high voltage traction battery packaged in the trunk area. An electric motor is powered by the traction battery. A forced air system includes an inlet duct/inlet plenum arrangement for receiving air and providing air to the high voltage traction battery, an outlet duct for directing exhaust air from the high voltage traction battery, and a fan. At least one of the inlet duct / inlet plenum arrangement and the outlet duct forms a cross brace for the vehicle. The cross brace is located in the trunk area and extends between opposite sides of the vehicle to function as a structural member to provide structure and protect the high voltage traction battery.
US08276693B2
Electric vehicle powertrains, highway vehicles, and methods of manufacturing vehicles have dual belts driving wheels from two electric motors. Embodiments have a centrally-located transmission housing containing two belts and pulleys, and motors are mounted outside of the housing. A battery may power the motors and an internal combustion engine may power wheels on the other end of the vehicle through a separate transmission. Each belt may have a tensioner and drive shafts may have universal joints and decouplers. The transmission may have a central wall or supports which may support the pulleys and adjacent pulleys may have a common centerline and be supported by a common pin through the central wall.
US08276688B2
An oilfield downhole cutting tool comprises a tool body that comprises a non-cutting stabilizing section. The cutting tool further comprises a plurality of cutters coupled to the tool body forward of the non-cutting stabilizing section, wherein a maximum cutting diameter defined by the cutters is less than 1.1 times a diameter defined by the non-cutting stabilizing section. The cutting tool further comprises a cutting rate limiting component coupled to the tool body.
US08276684B2
A machine tool with an auxiliary cushion structure includes a machine tool having a grip portion and a trigger switch mounted on the grip portion. The grip portion has a control lever pivotally mounted thereon to enable the control lever to rotate against the grip portion, so as to press the trigger switch during rotation and drive the machine tool to operate. The grip portion further has an auxiliary cushion mounted thereon and a gap is formed between the auxiliary cushion and the control lever. The auxiliary cushion has a supporting surface which is tilted upwards from one end close to the control lever to the other end. Thus no matter the control lever is pressed by the operator or released, the operator's hand can rest on the supporting surface to alleviate or ease the fatigue.
US08276681B2
Provided is a vibration-type nipper. The vibration-type nipper comprises a body including a vibration space and a coupling unit for coupling with a boom positioned at an upper portion or a fixing bracket of heavy equipment, a housing positioned in the vibration space and including a vibrator, a plurality of supporting member to opposite sides of the housing and the body corresponding to the housing and supporting the housing allowing the housing to vibrate, a nipper blade installed on the housing and extending downwards, and vibration-dampening member mounted on the body at an upper portion of the vibration space and distributing vibration generated when the housing collides with the body due to elevation of the housing.
US08276678B2
A support assembly for a deformable sealing element of a downhole tool, such as a packer or a bridge plug. The assembly comprises a first and a second support device. The first and the second support devices each comprise at least one support member which support member includes a plurality of segments located on an outer surface thereof, the segments being arranged such that when moved radially outwardly they maintain a continuous surface abutting the respective end of the sealing element. A downhole tool having a deformable sealing element and including a support assembly for a deformable sealing element is described.
US08276676B2
Embodiments of the hybrid tool string include coiled tubing and jointed tubing, as well as a means typically located at the connection of the coiled and jointed tubing for sealing the fluid flowpath through the bore of the hybrid tool string. Embodiments of the hybrid tool string may use a pressure-activated valve tool attached in series between the coiled tubing and the jointed tubing, which allows for sealing of the bore by application of pressure. Embodiments of the pressure-activated valve tool may use a flapper in conjunction with a sleeve to seal the bore. The novel hybrid tool string may be used to service a well.
US08276673B2
An improved gas lift system is provided. In certain embodiments, the gas lift system includes a first tubing string and a second tubing string disposed within the first tubing string. The second tubing string is movable between a first position and a second position. Inflow of production fluids through an aperture in the first tubing string is selectively blocked when the second tubing string is in the second position. A port in the second tubing string delivers lift gas to the annulus between the first tubing string and the second tubing string. In the first position, the port is blocked to prevent fluid communication between the second tubing string and the first tubing string. In the second position, the port is uncovered to permit fluid communication between the second tubing string and the first tubing string, while a sealing member provides a seal that isolates the fluid communication from a well formation.
US08276670B2
A downhole plug can include a housing having an aperture disposed generally through the center of the housing. A stopper can be disposed in the aperture and adapted to block fluid flow therethrough. The stopper can have a composition of at least two different materials. One or more covers can be at least partially disposed on the stopper, wherein and the stopper can be at least partially encapsulated by the one or more covers. A flow control device can be disposed adjacent the stopper to selectively introduce fluid to at least a portion of the stopper.
US08276668B2
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning and possibly sealing a subsurface well. According to the method a multichannel tool string comprising an adapter on a first end of the tool string, a guide device at the second end of the tool string are run into the well, whereupon the guide device is activated in order to permit the well to be flushed by the supply of fluid through at least one of the channels in connection with the tool string and fluids and particles from the well are transported back to the surface through at least one other of the channels in connection with the tool string. The invention also relates to a device for cleaning and possibly sealing a subsurface well.
US08276657B2
A technique involves sampling fluids in a well environment. An expandable packer is constructed with an outer seal layer. At least one sample drain is positioned through the outer seal layer, and a heater element is deployed in the at least one sample drain. In one embodiment, the heater element is deployed proximate a radially outlying surface of the expandable packer. Additionally, a temperature sensor may be positioned proximate the at least one sample drain to monitor temperature in the environment heated by the heater element.
US08276656B2
A perforating gun, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises a loading tube and a plurality of charges mounted in the loading tube with at least a portion of the plurality of charges being tilted relative to an axis of the loading tube. Wherein the plurality of tilted charges are tilted relative to the axis to create a selected reactive dynamic force on the perforating gun to counter a detrimental force on the perforating gun in response to detonation of the plurality of charges.
US08276650B2
A machine includes a heat exchanger for an engine having a heat exchanger core and a filtration system. The filtration system includes a flexible filter sheet coupled with at least one take-up roller and a filter cleaner adapted to clean the filter via compressed air. A method of operating a machine cooling system includes rotating a rotatable drive element coupled with a filter, and cleaning the filter by directing compressed air therethrough.
US08276649B2
A process for casting a turbine engine component is provided. The process comprises the steps of placing a refractory metal core assembly comprising two intersecting plates in a die, encapsulating the refractory metal core assembly in a wax pattern having the form of the turbine engine component, forming a ceramic shell mold about the wax pattern, removing the wax pattern, and pouring molten material into the ceramic shell mold to form the turbine engine component.
US08276628B2
Provided is a non-pneumatic tire in which buckling can be prevented without a weight increase, the non-pneumatic tire including a spoke structure. The spoke structure is obtained by circumferentially arranging spokes intermittently at intervals and coupling together annular cylindrical outer member and cylindrical inner. The spoke structure is joined to an inner peripheral side of a tread ring. At least some of a plurality of spaces formed between two spokes adjacent to each other in the tire circumferential direction have an air-containing structure.
US08276622B2
The invention relates to a metal sheet (15) ventilation/smoke exhaust duct section (10) for incorporation into a metal sheet ventilation/smoke exhaust duct, said metal sheets (15) being covered on the outside by a heat insulating material (20) and said duct section (10) including elongated stiffening bar members (30) located on the outside of the duct and attached to said metal sheets (15), the invention being characterized in said bar members (30) being located at a distance from said metal sheets (15), said bar members (30) being attached to said metal sheets (15) at discrete locations along the length of the bar members (30).
US08276611B2
An in-line fluid flow control valve includes a housing defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber aligned along a outlet axis. The housing further defines a bore with a flow control device and an adjustment mechanism disposed therein for regulating a fluid flow rate. The flow control device defines a fluid passage interconnecting the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. The plane and the outlet axis define an acute angle therebetween. The angled position of the bore relative to the outlet axis permits access to and adjustment of the flow control device, as well as replacement of the flow control device, without disconnecting any fittings attached to the inlet and the outlet of the control valve.
US08276607B2
A retractable umbrella includes a retractable tube, a pulling rod, a rainshade screen, and a drip water collector. The retractable tube comprises retractable reels, and it is attached on a door frame of a car. Each of the retractable reels is disposed in the retractable tube. The pulling rod is attached to a rim portion of the door accepting frame of the car. The rainshade screen comprises an outer edge, an inner edge, a front edge, and a rear edge. The outer edge is attached to the retractable reels of the retractable tube. The inner edge is attached to the pulling rod. The front edge connects front portions of the inner and outer edges. The rear edge connects rear portions of the inner and outer edges. The drip water collector collects water dripped from the rainshade screen, and is disposed at an inner portion of door of the car.
US08276606B2
A semi-automatic umbrella includes a telescopic central shaft, a handle, and a runner slidable along the shaft. A first pull cord is placed in a tensed state when the shaft is extended, which causes an upward biased movement of an actuating member to thrust a spring-biased runner-retaining member to disengage from the shaft once the first pull cord is released. A tension spring body coupled to a second pull cord is stretchable to acquire an urging force. The stretched tension spring body enables an upward movement of the runner for spreading the umbrella. Once the urging force is released, a downward movement of the runner causes collapse of the umbrella and disengagement of a spring-biased shaft-retaining member from the shaft, thereby permitting folding of the shaft and closing the umbrella.
US08276602B2
A garbage collecting apparatus of a dishwasher, mounted in a dishwasher such that washing water is pumped by a washing pump to wash garbage on targets to be washed, and then such used washing water is drained by a drain pump, the apparatus including a first garbage collecting net, and a second garbage collecting net having a mesh size relatively greater than that of the first garbage collecting net, whereby various sizes of garbage can be filtered by the garbage collecting apparatus, so as to automatically be discharged to the exterior, and also a decomposition, a displeasure, an inconvenience due to washing of the collecting nets and the like which may be caused when such garbage remains in the garbage collecting apparatus can be solved.
US08276597B1
A sunscreen applicator including a reservoir containing a sunscreen, and an applicator tip in fluid communication with the reservoir, the applicator tip being configured for applying the sunscreen at a predetermined point and along a predetermined line on a user's body. In use, the sunscreen is applied from the tip to the user's body at a predetermined point on the body, such as mole, or along a predetermined line, such as a along cut or a tattoo.
US08276595B2
A lice comb (10) including a plurality of teeth (14) for capturing lice when the teeth (14) are passed through hair. The lice comb (10) is provided with a receptacle (22) including an adhesive inner surface and a means for moving lice captured by the teeth (14) into the receptacle (22) such that the lice come into contact with the adhesive surface, preventing escape of the lice.
US08276593B2
Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye.
US08276588B1
This invention is a respiratory mask for delivering pressurized gas with a perimeter that can be custom fitted to the contours of a person's face by active and individual adjustment of multiple shape-changing members in the body of the mask. In different embodiments of this invention, the shape-changing members may be located around the perimeter of the mask and individually adjusted by inflation, other pneumatic means, hydraulic means, electric means, or magnetic means. The resulting mask can conform to the contours of an individual's face, even while they sleep, so that there are no places around the mask that fit too tightly (causing irritation, skin marks, and pain) and no places that fit too loosely (causing air leaks).
US08276587B2
A hand-held, automated qualitative fit tester (QLFT) for establishing gas mask fit integrity. The automated QLFT may be configured to utilize a pressure source in combination with a cartridge and a nebulizer to generate aerosols having size distributions and concentrations that are substantially the same as OSHA-approved manual units. The QLFT may further include a cartridge that contains the aerosol solution used to test mask integrity. The cartridge may be configured to recapture solution that collects on the interior walls of the nebulizer. The automated QLFT may also be equipped with a microprocessor for executing sequences that are in substantive compliance with 29 CFR 1910.134 and for writing to a data storage device. The automated aspects of the invention can reduce or negate the need for operating personnel to repeatedly and manually actuate a squeeze ball and record results manually, as is required with present OSHA-approved hand-held aerosol generators.
US08276580B2
A solar air heating module provides heated air to a ventilation system. The solar air heating module includes a collector for heating and drawing in outside air and a housing. The collector includes an absorber plate for absorbing incident sunlight and includes a plurality of perforations therethrough. The perforations are distributed across the absorber plate for allowing passage of air into the collector. The collector also includes a collector tray mounted behind the absorber plate. The collector tray includes an output for allowing the passage of air out of the collector. The collector tray is spaced from the absorber plate to define a cavity therebetween in which air can to flow towards the output. The housing is mounted to the collector tray and forms a plenum therewith for receiving air from the output. The plenum is at a lower pressure than that of the outside air. The plenum is connected to the ventilation system. A plurality of modules may be combined to form a system.
US08276571B2
An exhaust gas re-induction apparatus and system. The exhaust gas re-induction apparatus is coupled to an exhaust system or catalytic converter of an engine. The exhaust gas re-induction apparatus includes an oxygen sensor substitute apparatus having an exhaust gas diffusion chamber disposed therein, and an exhaust gas interface housing to receive the oxygen sensor substitute apparatus. A recirculation conduit connects the exhaust gas re-induction apparatus to an air inlet of an engine. The oxygen sensor substitute apparatus includes a coupling section to attach the oxygen sensor substitute apparatus in place of an oxygen sensor apparatus. The oxygen sensor substitute apparatus also includes an exhaust gas dispersion section having a plurality of orifices for dispersing exhaust gas. The exhaust gas re-induction apparatus and the recirculation conduit have always-open passages in which the exhaust gas is recirculated to the engine at different rates depending essentially on the operating speed of the engine.
US08276563B2
An internal combustion engine piston having a combustion bowl with fuel control structure for redirecting at least a portion of the fuel exiting the combustion bowl. One form of the piston includes a sharp edge disposed at the outer surface of the piston adjacent the entrance to the combustion bowl and a rounded fuel receiving lip located within the combustion bowl.
US08276551B2
A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operating zone boundary module determining a first HCCI operating boundary and a fuel rate module determining a first fuel rate from an operator input. The system also includes a switch module modifying the first HCCI operating boundary to a modified boundary in response to a measured mass airflow, cam positions and the first HCCI operating boundary. The system also includes a combustion control module operating the engine in a spark ignited mode when a second fuel rate request is outside the modified boundary.
US08276545B2
An apparatus is provided that includes at least two substantially parallel pressure sensing members adapted to detect location of an animal foot. The apparatus also includes a system for delivering ingredients to the pressure sensing members, and a system for discharging the ingredients on the animal foot.
US08276542B1
A two-layer bonded highloft nonwoven particle entrapment pad, for entrapping soils tracked by pets, comprises an open, porous, bonded highloft nonwoven top layer and an otherwise solid, impenetrable bottom layer or structure secured to its underside. The highloft top layer is manufactured from a synthetic material consisting of numerous matrices or cross-over connections which create open porous sieve-like varieties, wherein a web structure of the highloft layer comprises a distinct top, middle, and bottom that is capable of allowing the particles and the litter to enter and be entrapped therein via gravity when stepped upon. A sticky, tackified adhesive maintained on a complex of bonded fibers of the highloft, said adhesive increases its holding capacity as does mechanical abrasion to the top surface of the highloft nonwoven. The present bonded, highloft pad can be manufactured from a variety of densities, deniers and depths from an airlaid, a drylaid, or a wetlaid process.
US08276536B2
A rudder system for a kayak includes a rudder configured for pivotal attachment to the kayak and a propeller housed in and extending from the rudder. A battery is in electrical communication with the propeller to selectively power the propeller. The kayak system includes an input in electrical communication with the propeller to operatively actuate the propeller, the input being accessible from inside the kayak. A sensor is operatively coupled to the kayak to determine a relative speed thereof. A processor is in data communication with the sensor and propeller, the processor including programming to determine a necessary propeller speed. The processor is in data communication with the input so as to establish the desired relative speed of the kayak. The propeller includes at least two blades and the propeller motor is housed in the rudder.
US08276531B2
An embroidery data providing apparatus includes a model information acquisition device that acquires model information, a size storage device that stores the model information and at least one embroiderable size in association with one another, a size acquisition device that acquires the at least one embroiderable size that corresponds to the acquired model information, a pattern information acquisition device that acquires target pattern information relating to a target pattern, an embroidery data output device that outputs as output data at least one of embroidery data of the target pattern and data for generating the embroidery data, a size determination device that determines whether the target pattern will fit within the acquired at least one embroiderable size, and a restriction device that, in a case where it is determined that the target pattern will not fit, restricts at least one of outputting of the output data and pre-output processing.
US08276528B1
A pneumatic fuel distributor for solid fuel boilers is described incorporating in various embodiments one or more of the following features: a converging nozzle section, a converging adjustable orifice section and an integral trajectory plate. The nozzle, orifice and trajectory plate are preferably all interconnected and rotate together about a common axis. The orifice damper is, in one embodiment, a rotating convergent section and independently adjustable. The unit preferably incorporates a viewing glass and access port and the rotating components are preferably removable for maintenance. The unit is preferably reversible for left or right hand installation and the trajectory plate is easily replaceable.
US08276523B2
A worksurface assembly includes a support structure and a top portion that is movable relative to the support structure. The worksurface assembly may include a mounting rail configured to support various accessory units. A utility supply system is provided, and the top portion of the worksurface assembly may be moved to provide access to the utility supply system. A mechanism provides for controlled movement of the top portion of the worksurface assembly relative to the support structure.
US08276521B2
The invention relates to a gas generator for an airbag module having a gas generator housing, in which a first chamber for receiving a propellant for igniting a main gas set in a second chamber, and an ignition device for the ignition of the propellant are provided. In order to simplify the production of the gas generator, the invention provides that the first chamber for receiving the propellant is limited by a pipe, on the first end of which the ignition device is disposed, and the second end of which reaches the gas generator housing at least approximately. The first and the second chamber are separated from each other such that no parts of the propellant may reach the second chamber via the second end of the pipe before the ignition of the propellant.
US08276519B2
This disclosure relates generally to cartridges for use in projectile-launching devices, such as ammunition cartridges, flare cartridges, and the like, including components of the cartridges, and methods for their manufacture. For example, the cartridges of this disclosure can be ammunition cartridges such as shotshell cartridges, which include an obturating medium which functions to seal the compressed but expanding hot gases and can be used without a pre -formed gas seal.
US08276516B1
An apparatus for detonating an initiation charge that is formed of a secondary explosive, such as triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB). The apparatus includes an exploding foil initiator, which can have a relatively small flyer that is suited to initiate a detonation event in the initiation charge.
US08276506B2
A cooking assistance robot is capable of efficient mixing using ingredients that are unlikely to be evenly heated. The cooking assistance robot performs cooking by physically moving ingredients in a cooking container selects a mixing direction for leveling a mountain and performs a mountain leveling operation in the selected mixing direction in a presence of a mountain of a specified height or higher in the cooking container.
US08276504B2
A popcorn making machine includes a main unit comprising a fan pumping air into a chamber, enclosing a heater and a bowl. The bowl has sidewalls tapered downwardly with mini-nozzles attached thereto. Hot airflows are introduced from the chamber through the mini-nozzles into the bowl tangentially to its inner surface, forming a main hot airflow circulation. A central nozzle is mounted at the bowl's bottom, including slots, introducing additional airflows, tangential to the nozzle's surface, from the chamber into the bowl, forming an additional hot airflow circulation surrounding the nozzle, co-directed with the main circulation. The main unit comprises a receptacle collecting popcorn coming from the bowl. The claimed machine optionally includes a coater unit for coating popcorn with oil, salt, etc., and a compact cabinet enclosing the main and coater units. The above design provides for a fast and essentially even heating of corn kernels for efficient popping thereof.
US08276503B2
An axial piston machine includes a housing and pistons situated in cylinder bores of a rotatable cylinder member, which pistons are supported on a pivoting cradle, the pivoting cradle being supported via at least one pivoting bearing having a bearing gap that has fluid acting on it. The axial piston machine further includes a control and/or regulating device is provided for the control and/or regulation of the fluid pressure in the bearing gap.
US08276501B1
A recoil dissipation apparatus may include a linear roller rail and a roller block that is translatable on the linear roller rail with only one degree of freedom. A gear rack may be located adjacent the linear roller rail. A barrel clamp may be fixed to the roller block. A pinion gear may engage the gear rack. The pinion gear may be fixed on a shaft. The shaft may have a rotary viscous damper fixed at one end. The recoil force from a barrel fixed in the barrel clamp may cause translation of the roller block and dissipation of the recoil force by the rotary viscous damper.
US08276496B2
A gatling gun includes an improved barrel support structure assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially mounted barrel support arms which reduce the weight of the barrel support structure and improved air flow through the barrel support structure.
US08276489B2
A spindle apparatus includes a rotatable first spindle (5, 32) to which a tool can be attached. The first spindle is supported in a base with high precision using an air hydrostatic bearing. The spindle apparatus further includes a second spindle (6, 33) capable of rotation about an axis substantially aligned with the axis of the first spindle, first connection means for electrically connecting a base side and the second spindle, and second connection means for electrically connecting the first spindle and the second spindle. Electrical connection between the base side and the first spindle is carried out via the first and second connection means. The first connection means is, for example, a brush (15, 36). The second connection means has a degree of mechanical freedom and is, for example, a flexible electrical wire (17, 39) or a helical spring (51).
US08276488B2
A boring machine including a rotatable boring bar carrying a tool holder that is movable radially of the boring bar, wherein a sensor is provided on the tool holder to sense the proximity thereof to a work piece having a variable radius of curvature in a plane perpendicular to the boring bar.
US08276479B2
To perform exhaustion to regulate pressure in a case with surely recovering liquid in the case without draining it, even when the pressure in the case rises rapidly, a breather for regulating internal pressure in a case by performing exhaustion to the outside when the internal pressure exceeds predetermined pressure thereby reducing the internal pressure, includes an exhaust passage leading from the inside of the case to the outside; a liquid recovery passage for recovering liquid discharged from the inside of the case to the inside of the case; and a discharge valve means which opens when the internal pressure in the case exceeds the predetermined pressure, wherein the liquid recovery passage is provided at the atmosphere side beyond the discharge valve means, and a recovery valve means is provided in the liquid recovery passage.
US08276475B2
A part assembling apparatus is provided with a plurality of assembling portions and a ball screw shaft. Each of the assembling portion includes a nut runner for assembling a part to an assembling target. The ball screw shaft includes a thread portion. At least two of the plurality of assembling portions respectively include nut portions threadedly engaged with the thread portion. The nut portions are movable in an axial direction of the ball screw shaft. The thread portion includes a first thread part having a first pitch and a second thread part having a second pitch different from the first pitch.
US08276469B2
A stack-gas measuring apparatus includes a sample introducing unit (sampling unit and heating conduit pipe) for introducing stack-gas, a cooling unit (containing wet filter) in which dust components in the stack-gas are agglomerated, a filter column containing a filter element made of a polymer material for collecting the dust components, a mist scrubber which is disposed downstream of the filter column and which contains an adsorbent for removing acid mist in the stack-gas, and an analyzer in which the cleaning-processed gas is introduced to measure a particular component in the stack-gas.
US08276468B2
According to aspects of the embodiments, an apparatus and method is proposed to detect nip width by use of at least one piezoelectric (PZT) crystal embedded into a roll at both the inboard and outboard ends. A piezoelectric (PZT) crystal generates a charge when subjected to a load and when the load is released. The PZT generate signal is channeled to the ends of the roller such as with a brush contact to be processed and used within machine control. The duration measure from application and released of the load is indicative of the dwell time and the amplitude PZT generate signal is a function of the pressure. The time and amplitude of the PZT signal can be calibrated to correlate directly to nip width or pressure and tracked in machine control.
US08276460B2
A method of packaging for chip-on-board pressure sensor that includes a buffer layer with a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate between the transducer and a main chip-on-board substrate by which thermally induced package stresses can be greatly reduced or eliminated. Additionally, the use of a buffer layer with higher stiffness (elastic modulus) than the chip-on-board substrate further prevents or reduces flexural (bending) stresses from being transferred to the transducer. Such a buffer layer also enables a wider choice of materials for bonding and stable performance of pressure sensor in harsh media and environmental conditions. The pressure transducer can be adhesively bonded to a ceramic layer, which in turn can be adhesively bonded to an epoxy laminate chip-on-board substrate.
US08276458B2
An industrial process transmitter includes a sensing system and transmitter electronics. The sensing system senses a process variable over a range. The transmitter electronics is connected to the sensing system and produces a scaled analog communication signal to communicate the process variable over an analog loop. The range is disproportionately distributed over the scale by the transmitter electronics.
US08276455B2
A pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor includes a body, a sensing element, and a projection part. The body has an internal space and an introduction passage. The internal space is in communication with an outside of the body through the introduction passage. The sensing element is disposed in the internal space of the body and capable of detecting pressure of air in the internal space. The projection part is disposed in the internal space of the body or the introduction passage of the body, and inhibits liquid from entering the internal space.
US08276450B2
A method for optimally operating mechanically loaded, moved, particularly rotating components, such as gearboxes, wherein in the operating stage damage accumulation is used to evaluate the influence of a collective load on the lifespan of the loaded rotating components, the moving components (1) being divided into a plurality of segments (5-10) for determining individual collective loads (6; 18).
US08276448B2
An sensor device with high detection accuracy. The sensor device includes an angular velocity sensor for outputting an angular velocity sensing signal, an acceleration sensor for outputting an acceleration sensing signal, and an output circuit for outputting the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal. The output circuit outputs signals in a digital format according to the time-division system, so as to link timewise the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal detected at the same timing as one signal.
US08276446B2
A sensor device includes a housing base part, a bearer part, a chip structure situated on the bearer part, and a spring/damper combination via which the housing base part and the bearer part are elastically connected to one another. In the sensor device, the housing base part, the spring/damper combination and the bearer part are situated one over the other.
US08276434B2
In order to count the number of steps without involving an increase in circuit size or in computational load, a mobile phone includes a three-axis acceleration sensor to detect accelerations in three directions of X axis, Y axis, and Z axis, which are different from each other, a gravity direction detecting portion to detect a gravity direction on the basis of the detected accelerations in the three directions, a gravity direction acceleration calculating portion to calculate an acceleration in the detected gravity direction on the basis of the detected accelerations in the three directions, and a step counting portion to count the number of steps on the basis of the calculated gravity direction acceleration.
US08276433B2
The present invention provides a device that measures at least one property of the liquid or gas, where the invention is a CMUT sensor that includes a substrate, a first layer disposed on the substrate, where the first layer includes a cavity, and a compound plate, where the compound plated includes a bottom plate, an intermediate plate and a top plate. According to the invention, the intermediate plate has at least one sample inlet, a sample cavity and at least one sample outlet, where the bottom plate is disposed on the first layer, and the cavity in the first layer is sealed by the compound plate. The cavity in the first layer can be a vacuum or contain a gas. The CMUT sensor can be disposed in an array of two or more sensors and connected electrically in parallel.
US08276427B2
A frame of a metal-forming press having upper and lower traverses interconnected by vertical columns having upper and lower ends is provided with respective sets each of a plurality of identical tension bolts at each end of each of the columns. The traverses are formed at each end of each column with an array of throughgoing holes through each of which a respective one of the bolts extends, and the columns have opposite ends each formed with an identical array of blind threaded bores each in turn aligned with a respective one of the throughgoing holes. Each bolt has an inner end seated in a respective on of the bores of the respective column end and an outer end bearing inwardly on a face of the respective traverse.
US08276407B2
A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force that rotates the drum. The washing machine may also include a supporting plate to rotatably support a rotational shaft extending between the motor and the drum, and a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet. Such an arrangement may increase washing capacity by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing an external size of the cabinet.
US08276406B2
A balance ring for washing machine devices as may be used in vertical and horizontal axis washing machines is provided. One structural arrangement of the ring comprises alternatively disposed positive and negative curved blades, as well as curved and straight blades, that in combination with the different heights of the blades, reduce the time and the amplitude of the vibrations of the transition state, thus enabling the washing basket to spin at higher velocities, and reducing the centrifugal cycle while increasing the centrifugal force applied to the objects being washed. Such an structural arrangement provides a superior drying of the clothes and further results in energy savings.
US08276399B2
The present invention provides a refrigerator having a docking station for holding electronic accessories tight against the door of the refrigerator. In one aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator includes a body having one or more doors, a docking station associated with the door, and having a receiving portion adapted to receive a module, and at least one spring associated with the docking station adapted to keep the docking station and the module flush against the door to eliminate variation and fit between the module and the door.
US08276395B2
The present invention relates to a way of reducing the amount of energy required to partially compress a refrigerant in a compressor operating in a rapidly cycled unloaded mode. A valve on a suction line is closed when the compressor moves to the unloaded condition. In this manner, the amount of energy required to partially compress the refrigerant in the compressor, at the unloaded condition, is dramatically reduced.
US08276392B2
A turboprop engine (1) includes an engine nacelle (3) and at least one bleed air line (25) on the low-pressure compressor (4) and at least one ejector (21) formed by a cooling air duct (24) and a nozzle (22) to create a cooling air flow within the engine nacelle during critical ground idle operation (controlled or uncontrolled), and without undesirably increasing fuel consumption or disturbing the work cycle of the engine (1). The ejector (21) is arranged within the engine nacelle (3) in the forward part of the turboprop engine (1), with the cooling air duct (24) appertaining to the ejector (21) connecting at least one air intake (23) disposed on the periphery of the engine nacelle (3) with the interior of the engine nacelle (3), and with the at least one nozzle (22) being arranged in the cooling air duct (24).
US08276383B2
A Rankine cycle system uses as a refrigerant one of several quaternary organic heat exchange fluid mixtures which provide substantially improved efficiency and are environmentally sound, typically containing no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The system includes a closed circuit in which the refrigerant is used to drive a turbine, which may be used to drive an electric generator or for other suitable purposes.
US08276381B2
Geothermal brine always contains some carbon dioxide in solution. Separating steam from geothermal brine removes the carbon dioxide, sharply increasing the pH of the brine and causing precipitation of pH sensitive minerals, including calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate and other metal silicates, clays, and metal sulfides. The binary heat exchanger in a steam-binary hybrid geothermal power plant is especially sensitive to scale deposition from flashed geothermal brine, and application of expensive scale inhibitors is required. Deposition of scale in the binary heat exchanger can be controlled by separating a small amount of gas-rich vapor from the brine before the main stage of steam separation, and combining this gas rich vapor with the flashed brine before in enters the binary heat exchanger. The carbon dioxide thus added to the brine will decrease pH, decreasing or completely blocking precipitation and deposition of pH sensitive minerals as scale.
US08276380B2
A zero-emissions power plant receives natural gas from wells at elevated pressure and temperature. Gas is expanded through one or more turbo-expanders, preferably reformed, and sent to a fuel cell where electricity, heat, carbon-dioxide, and water are generated. The carbon-dioxide is compressed by at least one compressor and piped downhole for sequestration. The turbo-expanders have shafts which preferably share the shafts of the compressors. Thus, energy given up by the natural gas in the turbo-expanders is used to run compressors which compress carbon dioxide for downhole sequestration. In one embodiment, the natural gas is applied to heat exchangers in order to generate a stream of liquid natural gas. The remainder of the gas is expanded through the turbo-expanders and processed in the reformer prior to being sent to the fuel cell. A shifter may be used between the reformer and fuel cell. A solid oxide fuel cell is preferred.
US08276379B2
The present application thus describes a solar-thermal power generation plant that includes one or more towers; a plurality of heliostats disposed around each of the one or more towers; a direct solar evaporator mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, the heliostats being configured to reflect solar radiation toward the direct solar evaporator such that concentrated solar radiation heats a receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator; and a heat engine mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, attached to the direct solar evaporator, and configured to use the heat from the receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator to generate electricity.
US08276373B2
A method for controlling a selective catalytic reduction injection system having a storage tank, a pump, a delivery line, and an injection nozzle includes monitoring the selective catalytic reduction injection system, determining a selective catalytic reduction injector system effective area ratio, comparing the selective catalytic reduction injector system effective area ratio to a threshold, calculating a compensation factor upon surpassing the threshold, and modifying the commanded injected mass according to the calculated compensation factor.
US08276366B2
A closely-coupled exhaust aftertreatment system for an engine having twin turbochargers includes a first exhaust conduit comprising a first valve operable between first and second positions, the first promoting flow within the first conduit to an oxidation catalyst (OC), the second promoting flow within a second conduit; a third conduit is fluidly coupled to the OC outlet and includes a second valve operable between first and second positions, the first promoting flow within the third exhaust conduit to a particulate filter (PF), the second promoting flow through a fourth conduit to an inlet in the second conduit. A first turbocharger is coupled to the second exhaust conduit downstream of the inlet; an SCR catalyst is downstream of the first turbocharger to receive the flow therefrom and upstream of the PF to provide the flow thereto. A second turbocharger is coupled to the third exhaust conduit downstream of the second valve.
US08276364B2
A variable fan nozzle for use in a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle section, such as an inflatable bladder, associated with a fan bypass passage for conveying a bypass airflow. The nozzle section has an internal fluid pressure that is selectively variable to influence the bypass airflow.
US08276361B2
A thermal protection system and a method of manufacturing are disclosed. The thermal protection system may be configured to protect a movable joint, for example, a flexible bearing of a rocket motor nozzle. The thermal protection system includes a series of annular shims separated by a plurality of discrete spacers. Each shim of the series of annular shims may have a larger diameter than the previous shim, and the shims may nest. The shims may comprise a thermally stable material, and the discrete spacers may comprise an elastomer. Optionally, an annular bearing protector may separate the annular shims from the flexible bearing.
US08276359B2
A gas-turbine plant including a fuel system coupled to combustion chambers of a gas-turbine engine; the fuel system including fuel pipelines and a device for controlling fuel to the combustion chambers, a lubrication system for friction units of the gas-turbine engine and actuating units; the lubrication system including a lubrication loop for the friction units of the gas-turbine engine and a lubrication loop for the actuating units, each lubrication loop having a fuel-oil cooling heat-exchanger, a supply pump and an oil tank; wherein a first fuel pipeline of the fuel pipelines connects the device to the fuel-oil cooling heat-exchanger of the lubrication loop of the actuating units and the fuel heater, and a second fuel pipeline of the pipelines connects the device to the fuel-oil cooling heat-exchanger of the lubrication loop of the gas-turbine engine and the fuel heater.
US08276349B2
A method of applying stretch film wrapping to an agricultural bale (10) which is of rectangular cross section and using a bale wrapper apparatus which comprises: a table which supports the bale (10) and which operates to rotate the bale generally about its longitudinal axis (11) during a wrapping cycle; a dispenser reel arrangement (12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25) from which stretch film wrapping is withdrawn so as to form successive overlapping windings of film which cover the bale; and means which applies relative rotation between the table and the dispenser reel arrangement about a second axis (14) which extends substantially perpendicular to said first axis during the wrapping cycle; in which: each winding of film includes a longitudinal edge strip portion and an adjoining longitudinal strip portion; and the longitudinal edge portion has different deformation properties from the deformation properties of said adjoining portion so as to be more readily extensible under a given load than said adjoining portion, and thereby to enable the winding to tighten itself around each corner (15) of the bale (10) and thereby at least minimize the generation of creases or wrinkles in the film winding at each corner region of the bale.
US08276324B2
A bird deterrent has a base and at least one branched spike extending from the base. The branching can occur anywhere along the spike, and a single branch point can give rise to multiple branches. Spikes can have multiple branches. The various branches can be of any suitable length(s), and can be oriented in any suitable direction(s).
US08276323B2
A take-up fastener is disclosed for fastening a level in a frame construction to the level below so as to resist upward forces generated by wind and other sources on the framed construction. The take-up fastener in general includes a take-up plate, or washer, fastened to a portion of the upper level and a take-up screw fit through the take-up plate and fastened to the adjacent level below. Once the take-up fastener is fully assembled, the take-up plate includes a pair of tabs which are capable of engaging threads on a take-up screw in a way that allows one-way motion of the take-up screw relative to the take-up plate. In particular, the take-up plate can move downward relative to the take-up screw, for example on constricting of the wooden members to which the take-up plate is affixed. However, the engagement between the take-up plate and take-up screw prevents movement of the take-up plate upward with respect to the take-up screw, for example upon an upward load due to wind or other external force.
US08276313B2
An apparatus for catching an insect sitting on a contact surface. The apparatus includes a casing, a light source disposed in the casing for dazzling and immobilizing the insect on the contact surface, and a catch tube disposed in the casing and movable relative to the casing. The apparatus further includes a catch container disposed adjacent to the catch tube and a slider to lift the insect off the contact surface. The slider is movable relative to the casing.
US08276310B1
A fishing rod holder includes a central shaft with telescoping sections and a pair of support legs secured adjacent the first end thereof. A third support leg attached to the central shaft provides further supports. A rod support arm is pivotally secured within a vertical slot in the second end of the central shaft. A second end of the rod support arm includes a forked end with finger sections. A T-shaped hanger supported by the forked end has a central leg section pivotally secured to a strap that engages the handle of a fishing pole. The fishing pole is free to pivot up and down relative to the T-shaped hanger. Raising the fishing pole disengages the T-shaped hanger from the support arm, thereby pivoting the rod support arm to a vertical orientation. An anchor further secures the central shaft to a support surface.
US08276297B2
A hand-held clothes steam ironing apparatus includes first and second elongated substantially rectangular arm members having an inner portion and an outer portion, a hinge mechanism rotatably connecting the two arm members at one narrow end of each such that said inner portions are substantially opposing. Imbedded in inner portions of each arm members is at least one heat plate, this heat plates containing a plurality of steam orifices distributed longitudinally along the heat plate with fluid communication between the orifices. An electrical power supply is wired in adjacent the hinge mechanism and electrically connects to the heat plates with power control capability between the two for regulating the amount of power supplied to the heat plates. Water tanks with removable caps are attached to outer portions of each of the body members, and water conduits run between each water tank and the heat plates in the corresponding arm members.
US08276291B2
A method of drying a surface of a substrate is provided. The method includes supporting a substrate; rotating the substrate about a rotational center point; applying a liquid to the substrate via a liquid dispenser; applying a drying fluid to the substrate via a drying fluid dispenser; moving the drying fluid dispenser and the liquid dispenser in a direction toward an edge region of the substrate, the drying fluid being applied closer to the rotational center point than the fluid; upon the liquid being applied to the edge region of the substrate, discontinuing application of the liquid while continuing the manipulation of the drying fluid dispenser; and upon the drying fluid being applied to the edge region of the substrate, continuing to apply the drying fluid for a predetermined period of time.
US08276288B1
A pillow measurement device and a method of using it are provided. Certain embodiments of the device include a first leg, a second leg, a first movable portion slidably affixed to the second leg, a means for affixing the first movable portion to the second leg, and a second movable portion. One or more of these components may have measurement indicia imprinted on them. The device can be used to measure various anatomical parts of a person, such as head width, neck width, shoulder width, cervical length and cervical depth. Measurements taken using the device may be used to custom build a pillow for a person.
US08276286B2
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine is provided having a base. A cover is rotatably coupled to the base to move between a closed position and an open position. A display is arranged within the cover. The display includes a screen surface, such as a touch sensitive screen surface, disposed on one side of the housing. The screen surface being adjacent the base in the closed position and disposed on an angle to the base in the open position.
US08276280B2
The present invention provides electric pruning shears which can improve operation convenience by increasing the operating speed and eliminating hand fatigue during pruning of fruit trees.For this purpose, the present invention provides electric pruning shears which can improve safety during handling by implementing a new type of switching means having a separate safety switch capable of being separated from a main body and put on a user's finger and reduce the volume and weight by reducing the number of parts associated with the safety switch. Moreover, the present invention provides electric pruning shears which control a motor to be reversely rotated when there is an abnormality in blades of the electric pruning shears during a pruning operation, thus escaping from the overall abnormality including motor damage.
US08276277B2
The device is for holding an edible food product such as a vegetable or piece of fruit in readiness for the preparation thereof. The device may be used for peeling or cutting vegetables or fruit in a safe manner. The device includes a body that is meant to be grasped by a user of the device and a set of prongs that are supported by the body and extend from a distal end of the body. The set of prongs preferably includes at least three prongs that are disposed in a parallel array and that are for piercing engagement with the edible product. An actuator rod assembly is supported by the body and includes a proximal end cap and a distal pusher piece that is meant to engage the edible product for dis-engagement thereof from the set of prongs. A biasing spring is disposed in the body for urging the actuator rod assembly in a proximal direction.
US08276274B1
A method of assembling an outboard engine is disclosed. The outboard engine has first and second driveshafts, each having a helical gear on a first end and a driving gear on a second end. A driven shaft has a driven gear. The method comprises: rotating the driven shaft; measuring an axial displacement of one of the first and second helical gears with respect to the engine casing; selecting a shim based at least in part on the measurement of the relative axial displacement; and placing the shim on the one of the first and second driveshafts at a position axially below the helical gear. A method of assembling a marine outboard engine comprising moving a height adjustment member from a first position to a second position based on the relative axial displacement is also disclosed. An outboard engine with first and second helical gears at different heights is also disclosed.
US08276270B2
The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a printed circuit board in which a plurality of conductive layers forming a wiring pattern are laminated in the state where they are put between insulating layers, and a printed circuit board formed thereby. The printed circuit board manufacturing method for the present invention includes a step of forming a via fill (17) to allow electroless plating liquid to be in contact with the surface of the wiring pattern exposed to a bottom part of a via hole (14) formed at a insulating layer to laminate plating metallic film from the bottom part to a opening part of the via hole (14), to form the via fill (17), and a step of forming a wiring pattern to form electroless plating metallic film (20) serving as the wiring pattern onto a substrate where the via fill (17) is formed.
US08276269B2
A microelectronic device mounting substrate includes a bond pad with a side wall and an upper surface. A dielectric first layer is disposed on the mounting substrate and a solder mask second layer is disposed on the dielectric first layer. A uniform recess is disposed through the solder mask second layer and the dielectric first layer that exposes the portion of the bond pad upper surface.
US08276268B2
A system and method of forming a patterned conformal structure for an electrical system is disclosed. The conformal structure includes a dielectric coating shaped to conform to a surface of an electrical system, with the dielectric coating having a plurality of openings therein positioned over contact pads on the surface of the electrical system. The conformal structure also includes a patterned conductive coating layered on the dielectric coating and on the contact pads such that an electrical connection is formed between the patterned conductive coating and the contact pads. The patterned conductive coating comprises at least one of an interconnect system, a shielding structure, and a thermal path.
US08276260B2
A positioning device is provided for positioning of a spring leg and a shock damper motor axis when a connection to a body-shaped pieces of a suspension promoter suspended coach industry unit with a mounting stored chassis unit of the vehicle, with the positioning device includes an attachment element Fixture for fixing the direction positioning to mount one of the fixture resistance element jointed affiliated gripping central carrier with a gripper attached to appropriation reach of the spring leg and shock damper, with the gripping means by moving the grief-structural funds his joints in a rest medium defined rest positions to warden can be brought, namely a working position in which the grief by the central taken one spring leg or shock absorbers positioned, and the suspension strut or shock absorbers are not positioned normally.
US08276259B1
A method of constructing a differential inductor having a high self-resonance frequency is provided. In general, a ground point is identified. A first coil having a first and second loop is created such that the first loop is electrically further away from the ground point than the second loop. A second coil having a third and fourth loop are created such that the third loop is electrically further away from the ground point than the second loop. The first coil and the second coil are positioned such that the first loop is positioned as a near neighbor to said fourth loop and said second loop is positioned as a near neighbor to said third loop.
US08276255B2
Methods for fabricating a balance ring for a vehicular electric machine are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a first metal layer having a first planar surface, providing a second metal layer having a second planar surface, cladding the second planar surface to the first planar surface to form a composite structure, and removing a portion of the composite structure to form an annular ring.
US08276245B2
A window curtain pull cord concentrator safety device of the present invention provides a concentrator device which enables the gathering together of the free ends of a plurality of pull cords of a window curtain set, and enables complete transmission of a pulling force in an emergency. And basically comprises a drag cup, an inner bottom of a concave cavity of which is provided with a through hole enabling a wire hoop body coupled to a pulling member to penetrate therethrough. The wire hoop body is located in the interior of the drag cup, and displacement of an inner loop side of the wire hoop body relative to the drag cup is used to determine whether the free ends of the pull cords are radially restrained, thereby enabling complete relay transmission of the pulling force. In an emergency, the pull cords are rapidly released, thereby achieving instantaneous prompt safety effectiveness.
US08276241B2
A hinge includes a base, a crank, a bottom board, a crank engagement seat, and a fixed seat. The crank is pivotably connected to the base. The bottom board includes at least one retaining portion, a first rivet hole and a vertical elongated hole. The crank engagement seat is connected to the crank and located between the fixed seat and the bottom board. The crank engagement seat includes first and second through-holes and a second rivet hole. The fixed seat includes first and second adjusting holes. A first adjusting member is extended through the first adjusting hole and the first through-hole into the first rivet hole. A second adjusting member is extended through the second adjusting hole into the second rivet hole. The bottom board and the crank engagement seat can be slightly moved in the vertical direction. The crank engagement seat can be slightly moved in the horizontal direction.
US08276231B2
A device with two or more regions configured to clean or treat a working surface is disclosed. Preferably, the device is an oral-care device with a power cleaning head. The power cleaning head comprises two or more regions, wherein at least one of the regions is configured to move and wherein at least one of the regions comprises a squeegee element. Preferably, the regions are configured to independently rotate, oscillate, vibrate or otherwise move while cleaning teeth and gums and can each include bristles, nodules, squeegee elements, or any combination thereof.
US08276227B2
A pillow having a first pillow and a second smaller pillow attached to a face of the main pillow by an attachment member that is of sufficient length and flexibility to allow the second pillow to be positioned in an infinite number of parallel and/or skewed orientations relative to the first pillow. A third pillow, also smaller than the first pillow, can be attached to the first pillow on a face opposite the second pillow by another attachment member that is of sufficient length and flexibility to allow the second pillow to be positioned relative to the first pillow and second pillow in an infinite number of parallel and/or skewed orientations. The invention provides a fully formed pillow and a pillow cover.
US08276220B1
A height adjustable seat for a bath enclosure includes a frame first portion for supporting a person in a sitting position within the bath enclosure and a frame second portion disposed exterior to the bath enclosure. A mechanism for raising and lowering said frame first portion within said bath enclosure a guide system enables adjustment of inclination of the frame first portion as the frame first portion is raised and lowered with the bath enclosure.
US08276219B2
A potty seat, liner system is provided wherein the seat liner (9) is supported in a receptacle (7) by resting in the contours of a pee deflector (79) and an indentation (81). The receptacle (7) rests inside a seat (5), which is supported by a base (3). Furthermore, the liner (9) can be removed and folded onto itself to enclose waste therein. When not used with the base (3), the seat (5) is provided with an adjustment mechanism to facilitate securing the seat (5) to any desired adult sized toilet seat.
US08276217B1
A personal roll bar device for protecting a user's head, neck and back provides, in the exemplary embodiment, an impact member positioned adjacent the user's back and removably engaged with the user proximal the user's waist, the impact member extending upwardly therefrom above the user's head. A stabilizing means is removably engaged with the user's upper body and slidably coupled with the impact member, and is configured for maintaining the impact member adjacent the user's back during use. Thus, in the event the user experiences a head-first fall while using the device, an upper end of the impact member substantially protects the user's head and neck from initial impact, with the resulting impact forces being distributed through the impact member and substantially absorbed by the user's waist, thereby reducing the risk of burst and compression fractures in the user's neck and back.
US08276216B2
Maternity wear of the invention accommodates the changing shape of a woman's body during pregnancy, minimizing the need for maternity clothes. In one aspect of the invention, pants or a skirt are worn with the upper end unfastened so as to conform to the shape of the swelling torso in pregnancy, and an elastic band shaped similarly to a tube top is worn generally around the waist, so as to overlap the top of the unfastened pants or skirt and retain them on the body. A top, such as a blouse or shirt, can be worn with its tail end extending over the band. In another aspect of the invention, too-large maternity clothing is worn with the band garment engaged over the upper end. If desired the band garment can be folded over on itself, thus doubling its thickness.
US08276212B2
An apron, towel and bath wrap drying garment to help a caregiver bathing an infant or toddler stay dry and keep the infant or toddler warm immediately after the bath. As an apron for the caregiver, the present drying garment closes behind the neck and waist of the caregiver (with secure Velcro fasteners and optional elastic adjustable attachment for the waist) and can be easily removed. Two slits are appropriately present in the garment allowing the caregiver to slide the caregiver's arms through them when taking the infant out of the water, allowing the safe removal of the infant from the water with both hands, while preventing the caregiver from getting wet. These slits also become placeholders for the toddler's arms when the garment is folded into a bathrobe. A method is provided to wrap infants and form a bathrobe for toddlers to keep them warm until changed.
US08281411B2
A security memory device includes a memory cell array that stores a plurality of contents, including a mine, which is stored as a portion of the plurality of contents. The mine is triggered when it is accessed, typically such that the mine erases the memory contents. Also, control logic is included that controls access to the plurality of contents. In one aspect, the memory cell array can include a protected-cell zone and a free-cell zone. In this aspect, the security memory device can further include a lock that provides protection for contents stored in the protected-cell zone from access and a key that is capable of unlocking the lock.
US08281409B2
Systems and methods for securely providing email messages are provided. A workstation computer is provided that includes a memory for storing computer executable instructions and a processor for accessing the memory and for executing the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions includes an email client configured to process email messages, at least one email message having an executable decryption attachment that includes encrypted embedded content that can only be decrypted with a unique cryptography key. The executable decryption attachment, when executed, is configured to establish a secure connection with an encryption server, receive the unique cryptography key from the encryption server and decrypt the embedded content.
US08281406B2
An image processing apparatus includes an installation unit configured to install an application for image processing and license information regarding the application, an information setting unit configured to set, as threshold information, operation restriction information, which is included in the license information, regarding the application, a counting unit configured to count operation information regarding an operation of the application, an application operation restriction unit configured to restrict an operation of the application according to the threshold information and the counted operation information, a reinstallation unit configured to reinstall the application, and an information setting control unit configured to inhibit the information setting unit from setting, as the threshold information, the operation restriction information, which is included in the license information, regarding the application reinstalled by the reinstallation unit.
US08281399B1
A computer-implemented method for using property tables to perform non-iterative malware scans may include (1) obtaining at least one malware signature from a security software provider that identifies at least one property value for an item of malware, (2) accessing a property table for a computing device that identifies property values shared by one or more application packages installed on the computing device and, for each property value, each application package that shares the property value in question, and (3) determining, by comparing each property value identified in the malware signature with the property table, whether any of the application packages match the malware signature without having to iterate through the individual property values of each application package. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08281396B2
Methods and systems for scanning an endpoint terminal across an open computer network are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a scanner engine in a computer server in communication with an open computer network, and establishing a secure connection across the open computer network between the scanner engine and a scanner agent installed on the endpoint terminal in communication with the open computer network. Commands for collecting data regarding the endpoint terminal are sent from the scanner engine across the secure connection to the scanner agent. The scanner engine then receives the collected data from the scanner agent across the secure connection, analyzes the data to assess a current posture of the endpoint terminal, and determines any updates for the endpoint terminal from the analysis. Updates are sent across the secure connection to the scanner agent for installation on the endpoint terminal, and the secure connection may then be terminated.
US08281389B2
A storage device has a storage medium, a set of credentials stored on the storage medium, and a controller. The controller within the storage device is coupled to the storage medium, and adapted to identify security status of the storage device. The controller is adapted to alter one or more credentials of the set of credentials responsive to the security status.
US08281386B2
An authentication program on a network authenticator establishes a secure communication channel with an embedded device. The authentication program receives security credentials from an embedded device. The authentication program receives from the embedded device via the secure communication channel either a secret for the embedded device or a request to generate the secret for the embedded device. The authentication program registers the secret for the embedded device.
US08281374B2
Attested identities are provided. An applicant requests an attested identity. Attesting resources provide assertions that include roles, rights, and privileges for the attested identity. The collection of assertions from each of the attesting resources represents the attested identity.
US08281372B1
Device, system, and method of accessing electronic mail. For example, a computerized method includes: receiving an identifier of an email account, and a password; if the password matches a first reference password previously stored in association with said email account, then authorizing a substantially full access to said email account; if the password matches a second reference password previously stored in association with said email account, then authorizing a restricted access to said email account.
US08281370B2
Systems and methods for sharing information across at least two organizations is described. A physical node may receive a request for authorization for a user in an organization to access an individual's information in another organization. The request may be logged. The physical node may determine whether the user is authorized to access the individual's information and, if it is, provide appropriate access.
US08281367B2
A quarantine system QS includes a network connection control apparatus 103 for connecting a client computer 104 to a network; a management server (a security inspection computer 101 and a property information managed computer 102) for managing property information of the client computer connected to the network, and issuing an inspection certificate to the client computer when the property information satisfies a predetermined condition; and a network connection control computer 100, when the computer makes a connection request to the network, for checking an inspection certificate sent by the client computer and the inspection certificate issued by the management server, instructing the apparatus 103 to connect the client computer to the service network 10s when the check result matches, and instructing the apparatus 103 to connect the client computer to the quarantine network 10q for quarantining the property information of the client computer when the check result does not match.
US08281363B1
A computer-implemented method may include receiving a request to access a network. The request may be sent from a virtual machine. The method may also include proxying the request to a network-access-control module, receiving a response from the network-access-control module, and transmitting the response to the virtual machine. Proxying the request to the network-access-control module may include assigning the virtual machine a virtual identifier. Proxying the request may also include creating a temporary interface. The temporary interface may be programmed to receive the response from the network-access-control module and transmit the response to the virtual machine. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed herein.
US08281362B2
A virtual machine can be implemented by anyone because the interface and other information necessary for implementation are publicly available. Therefore, it is possible that by implementing the virtual machine illegitimately, programs run thereon on will be made to operate illegitimately instead of legitimately. A program compares secret information held by the virtual machine with verification information held by the program itself. The program thereby verifies whether the virtual machine that runs the program is implemented legitimately, and is able to reject an illegitimate virtual machine.
US08281360B2
In a computing system environment, an arrangement of computing devices includes multiple layers behind a content flow director, such as an L4 switch in a web service. In a computing device of an outermost layer directly communicating with the content flow director, a communications port is conditionally enabled upon policy being met or exceeded in the computing system environment behind the content flow director. If unmet, the communications port is disabled, if already enabled, or prevented from becoming enabled, if not otherwise already enabled. In this manner, policy establishes port enablement. In certain aspects, policy determinations include determining a time of response, a quality of service check or a pass/fail condition of the one of the computing devices. Policy is also easily implemented as remote or local computer executable instructions on the computing devices. Representative computing devices include switches, such as L4 switches, routers, servers, repeaters, adapters or the like.
US08281355B1
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for invoking third-party call control via a cable-television host device. A video signal is received into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an identifier associated with a first telephony endpoint. A command is received into the cable-television host device, the command requesting establishment of a communication session between the first telephony endpoint and a second telephony endpoint. A message is transmitted via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the identifier, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to invoke third-party call control to attempt to establish the communication session between the first telephony endpoint and the second telephony endpoint.
US08281344B1
A method is described that enables a user to remotely manage and/or monitor servers such as digital cinema screen servers and other equipment such as digital projectors within one or more digital multiplex theaters. In one embodiment, the remote management and/or monitoring of the present invention can be performed via a public, wide area network (e.g., the Internet) with or without VPN. In other embodiments, the remote management and/or monitoring of the present invention can be performed via a private, wide area network (WAN), or via a satellite communication link. In yet another embodiment, the remote management and/or monitoring of the present invention can be performed via a local area network (LAN).
US08281342B2
A tuner part 101 for receiving broadcast waves of a channel specified, a key operation part 111 including plural channel selection buttons B corresponding to channels, and a control part 116 for performing control so as to be able to visually distinguish a channel selection button B corresponding to a channel capable of being received by the tuner part 101 from other channel selection buttons B among the plurality of channel selection buttons B are provided, so that notification of a receivable channel can be provided surely.
US08281341B2
Systems and methods for providing media planners for planning a user's media content viewing activities are provided. The media planner may include an interactive grid of content with scheduled viewing, recording, or reminders set within a user-selectable time window. The media planner may prioritize content within the planner grid and automatically resolve conflicts when the number of available tuners within the user equipment device has been exceeded. Programs matching a user's viewing interests may also be automatically recorded in the user's absence. Coming-soon announcements may be received for programming outside the current program schedule window. Conditional media guidance application functions may be scheduled based on preliminary availability and attribute data associated with a coming-soon asset.
US08281339B1
Systems and methods are provided for customizing the display of interactive television overlays. A condition related to the display of an overlay on top of video for a television channel may be defined for each of a plurality of television channels. A default set of information types for an interactive television overlay (e.g., a FLIP overlay, a BROWSE overlay, etc.) may be defined for the plurality of television channels. When the overlay is displayed on top of video for a given television channel of the plurality of television channels, the overlay may include information of the default set of information types. One or more television channels of the plurality of television channels may be identified as channels for which the default set of information types does not apply (e.g., channels for which the overlay is not displayed or for which a custom set of information types is defined).
US08281335B2
A method of generating a program signal stream comprises creating a sequence of serial programs that include a first event and a second, later occurring event and inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the 5 second event. The messages may be indicative of a time to the second event, as measured from each respective message of an elapsed time since the first event, to each respective message. Alternatively or in addition, the messages may be at equal time intervals between the first event and second events. The first and second events may be the start and end of a program or a program portion, such as a chapter, an advertisement, unscheduled content or an 10 entire program, for example. At least one message indicative of the time to the second event may be inserted in the sequence of serial programs prior to the first event.
US08281330B2
A vibration-damping mechanism for the drive chassis is configured in such a manner that insulators each are placed in at least three respective predetermined positions of a drive chassis on which a motor and an optical pickup unit are mounted, and a weight plate is floatingly and movably supported on the drive chassis by way of the insulators, wherein the shape of the weight plate is determined based on a predetermined vibration-damping frequency, the at least three respective predetermined positions, and a spring constant of the insulators which are identical to each other.
US08281328B2
An optical disc mounting mechanism, comprising, a front sweeper (32) for catching an optical disc from a front slot (12) and bringing said disc into a drive module followed by pushing an optical disc out of the front slot; a rear sweeper (34) for pushing the disc out of a rear slot (16) or catching the disc from the rear slot; one or more front sensors for sensing the insertion of an optical disc; a center sensor for sensing the present of the disc in a drive module; one or more rear sensors for sensing the moving direction of the disc; a drive head for reading or writing the disc; a controlling mechanism for mounting or unmounting an optical disc to said drive head (92). The said disc mounting mechanism has good adaptability and simple structures.
US08281324B2
A system is provided for linking software applications. The system comprises a message backplane configured to linked software applications by sharing messages associated with events occurring in a respective linked software application with one or more other linked software applications and a controller configured to instruct the message backplane to link software applications.
US08281309B2
Optimization system for controlling batch job processing traffic transmitted to a mainframe computer
A system for enrollment processing optimization for controlling batch job processing traffic transmitted to a mainframe computer includes an enrollment data input operations system operatively coupled to the mainframe computer and configured to provide a universal front end for data entry of enrollment information. Enrollment records based on the enrollment information is then created. A database system stores the enrollment records, and a workflow application module operatively coupled to the database system is configured to manage processing of the enrollment records and manage transmission of the enrollment records to the mainframe computer for batch processing. A batch throttling control module operatively coupled to the workflow application module and to the mainframe computer controls the rate and the number of enrollment records transmitted by the workflow application module to the mainframe computer for batch processing.
US08281308B1
A virtual core management system including a first physical core and a second physical core, and a virtual core including a collection of logical states associated with execution of a program. The virtual core management system further includes a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the first physical core and a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the second physical core, and a virtual core management component configured to map the virtual core to one of the first physical core and the second physical core based on at least one of the temperature of the first physical core and the temperature of the second physical core.
US08281292B2
A system to enables Rapid Application Development (“RAD”) is provided. The system provides an object model of an ERP application, which enables software developers to customize the ERP applications. The object model provides a base class that is inherited by each object class. The base class provides an invoke function that is implemented by each object class. During compilation, the RAD system compiles each invocation of a function of an object into a call to a dynamic component passing an identifier of the object, an identifier of the function to be invoked, and the parameters to be passed to the function. The RAD system dynamically compiles, assembles, and instantiates object classes as needed. Because objects are bound at runtime, rather than at compile time, when the source code of an object is modified, the entire ERP application does not need to be recompiled into monolithic IL code and the compilation of object classes is deferred until an object of that class is needed during runtime. The object model thus significantly decreases the time required to customize and extend an ERP application according to the needs of an individual customer.
US08281285B2
A system and method are disclosed for history management a plurality of objects within an application, wherein each of the plurality includes at least a software method for saving the object's state and a software method for loading the object's state and a history manager function including a software method for recording an application interaction state for each user interaction with the application, wherein the application interaction state comprises the object's state for each of the plurality of objects at a time of the each user interaction with the application, wherein the user selects a desired one of the application interaction states to set the application to a desired one of the user interactions.
US08281283B2
A system and method for integrating business logic implemented in Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) into a user interface framework are disclosed. A design-time environment includes an analyzer that analyzes selected EJBs and generates a model representation of the selected EJBs, and further includes a metadata provider to provide additional metadata to the model representation. A runtime environment has a generic model component to access the selected EJBs based on their model representation, and executes the selected EJBs in the user interface framework.
US08281274B1
A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying candidate portions in the system to preserve based on similarities between the system and another system. Preservation criteria are applied on the candidate portions in the system to preserve to identify portions of the system to preserve. Design results from the another system are reused for portions in the system that are preserved.
US08281268B2
In a method of detecting metal line failures for a full-chip, a first net-list is converted to a second net-list. The first net-list includes first information related to elements and metal lines, and the second net-list includes second information susceptible to direct current analysis. Current densities of the metal lines are calculated by performing the direct current analysis on the second net-list. Defective metal lines among the metal lines are detected based on the current densities of the metal lines.
US08281265B2
In a system including a multidimensional field of reconfigurable elements, and a method for operating said field of reconfigurable elements, one or more groups of said elements suitable for processing a predetermined task may be determined, a particular one of the one or more groups is selected, and the selected group is configured in a predetermined manner during runtime for processing the predetermined task, and in manufacturing of said system.
US08281259B2
A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.
US08281249B2
An apparatus for visually displaying an item of status information relating to a technical process is provided, the item being obtained using a process visualization system. The apparatus includes image generating means for generating an image with two image sections, wherein a display window associated with the process visualization system is displayed in the image. An information region for displaying the status information is provided in the display window. The display window is continuously configured by a user. The apparatus has image control means configured to detect a configuration of the display window carried out by the user, to determine image section regions of the display window which have been placed into individual image sections, to compare the image section regions which have been determined with a predefined selection criterion, and to automatically arrange an information region in each image section region of the display window satisfying the selection criterion.
US08281246B2
A map user interface control provides functionality for displaying a map in conjunction with the display of a Web page. The map control operates in combination with a location extraction component that analyzes the contents of the Web page to identify locations mentioned therein. Once the location extraction component has identified the locations mentioned in the Web page, a map is generated that encompasses the locations identified in the Web page. Once the map has been generated, the map control displays the map in conjunction with the display of the Web page. The map might include visual indicators corresponding to the locations mentioned in the Web page. The map might also include visual indicators corresponding to other locations near the locations identified in the Web page that have been identified using co-occurrence values generated through an analysis of a set of travelogues.
US08281245B1
A system and method of displaying presentation slides. In one aspect, the system and method provides presentation slides based on a user request for information. Both the request information and the slides are associated with identifiers. A set of slides is chosen by determining whether there are any corresponding identifiers between the request for information and the presentation slides. The slides are also chosen such that the set of slides does not include any slides associated with identifiers which are a proper subset of the identifiers of any other slide in the set.
US08281244B2
A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a spiral is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The spiral interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole.
US08281243B2
The present invention provides a worker with information about work to be paid attention when the work is displayed in the moving image data. Work content for each of steps of the work to be carried out on a product is stored as moving image data in a storage unit. In response to a desired step being selected on a display device, the moving image data corresponding to the selected step is read from the storage unit. Playback of the moving image data is started on the display device. When starting the playback of the moving image data, a time bar where a progress of the playback of the moving image data is indicated by a slider. Attention work is predetermined within the step of the work. An occurrence timing of the attention work is displayed corresponding to the time bar.
US08281242B2
System and method for debugging a program. A graphical user interface (GUI) displays source code for the program in a first GUI element, and first user input is received to the first GUI element indicating an expression, e.g., including one or more one or more variables, constants, macros, and/or operators, in the source code. A value of the expression is displayed in a tooltip in response to the first user input. Second user input is received to the tooltip modifying the value, thereby specifying a new value, and the expression in the program is set to the new value. The program continues execution in accordance with the new value of the expression. The tooltip includes a first portion, e.g., context sensitive control, displaying the value and to receive the second user input modifying the value, and a second portion, e.g., text indicator, displaying non-editable information related to the expression.
US08281239B2
A system and method for selecting graphic objects to insert in a text message when composed on a wireless device, each of the graphic objects representing a set of individual alphanumeric characters. The system comprises an object table for display on a user interface of the device, such that the table is configured for including a first object of the graphic objects associated with a first predefined input and a second object of the graphic objects associated with a second predefined input. The first input is different from the second input. The system also has a first input event component for coupling to the user interface such that the first input event component is configured for mapping to the first predefined input. The system also has a second input event component for coupling to the user interface such that the second input event component is configured for mapping to the second predefined input, the first input event component being different from the second input event component. A user of the device selects one of the graphic objects from the table by employing the respective one of the input event components mapped to the predefined input associated with the graphic object in the table.
US08281229B2
Embodiments of an invention for verifying firmware using system memory error check logic are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an execution core, firmware, error check logic, non-volatile memory, comparison logic, and security logic. The error check logic is to generate, for each line of firmware, an error check value. The comparison logic is to compare stored error check values from the non-volatile memory with generated error check values from the error check logic. The security logic is to prevent the execution core from executing the firmware if the comparison logic detects a mismatch between the stored error code values and the generated error code values.
US08281228B2
A method and a device for information block coding and synchronization detecting are provided. Information block coding and synchronization detecting are preformed according to a synchronization character sequence satisfying certain conditions. Thus, the probability of incorrect synchronization is effectively reduced without increasing the complexity. Optimal synchronization character sequences in different lengths are provided to further reduce the probability of incorrect synchronization.
US08281222B2
A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses selectively blown with control values, a second plurality of fuses selectively blown collectively with an error correction value computed from the control values, control hardware that receives the control values and provides them to circuits of the microprocessor for controlling operation thereof. A state machine, serially coupled to the control hardware and to the fuses, serially scans the control values from the first fuses to the control hardware and serially scans the control values and the error correction value to a first register. The microprocessor reads the control values and error correction value from the first register, detects and corrects an error in the control values using the error correction value, writes the corrected control values to a second register, and causes the state machine to serially scan the corrected control values from the second register to the control hardware.
US08281220B2
Read error in a flash memory destroys data that is not requested to be read, and an efficient read disturb check method is therefore needed. In addition, data may be destroyed beyond repair by error correction before a read error check is run. A non-volatile data storage apparatus including a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller, in which the memory controller is configured to: count how many times data read processing has been executed in memory cells within the management area; read, when the data read processing count that is counted for a first management area exceeds a first threshold, data and an error correction code that are stored in the memory cells within the first management area; decode the read error correction code; and write the data corrected by decoding the error correction code in other management areas than the first management area.
US08281209B2
The present invention discloses an encoding method and device for Low Density Generator Matrix Codes (LDGC). Wherein, the method comprises: construct an LDGC mother code set using a plurality of LDGC with code rate R0 and different code lengths, wherein the LDGC mother code set has a uniform base matrix Gbuniform={(gi,jb)uniform}kb×nb; obtain length L of an intermediate variable according to a relationship between length K of an information bit sequence to be encoded in the LDGC mother code set and length L of the intermediate variable; obtain an expanding factor z for processing the base matrix using the length of the intermediate variable and the number of rows in the base matrix; process the base matrix using the expanding factor to obtain a binary generator matrix Gtmp, the front L rows and front L columns of which compose a triangular matrix; modify the binary generator matrix to obtain a modified binary generator matrix; take a matrix Gldgc composed of L rows and the front N+L−K columns of the modified binary generator matrix as a generator matrix of the information bit sequence to encode the information bit sequence.
US08281202B2
A method for improving transmission time interval bundling transmission in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a first bundle at a first time point, and transmitting a second bundle at a second time point behind the first time point, wherein the second time point is located in a bundle round trip time of the first bundle, and the bundle round trip time is a specific multiple of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Round Trip Time.
US08281198B2
A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses, selectively blown with a predetermined value for provision to circuits of the microprocessor to control operation of the microprocessor. The microprocessor also includes a second plurality of fuses, selectively blown with error detection information used to detect an error in the first plurality of fuses such that a blown fuse of the microprocessor returned a non-blown binary value. In response to a user program instruction, the microprocessor is configured to determine whether there is an error in the first plurality of fuses such that a blown fuse returned a non-blown binary value using the error detection information from the second plurality of fuses.
US08281197B2
A method (200) for locating a fault in an integrated circuit (100) having a plurality of digital outputs coupled to compaction logic (140) in a test mode of the integrated circuit, the compaction logic comprising at least one output for providing a test response is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a simulation model of the integrated circuit (210); providing the simulation model with a plurality of test patterns (220); receiving a plurality of simulated test responses to said test patterns (230); defining a plurality of bits in the plurality of responses, said bits defining a signature of the fault (240); providing the integrated circuit with a further plurality of test patterns (250); receiving a plurality of test responses to said further plurality of test patterns (260); and checking the plurality of responses for the presence of the signature (270). This method provides improved fault detectability for an IC subjected thereto.
US08281183B2
An apparatus with circuit redundancy includes a set of parallel arithmetic logic units (ALUs), a redundant parallel ALU, input data shifting logic that is coupled to the set of parallel ALUs and that is operatively coupled to the redundant parallel ALU. The input data shifting logic shifts input data for a defective ALU, in a first direction, to a neighboring ALU in the set. When the neighboring ALU is the last or end ALU in the set, the shifting logic continues to shift the input data for the end ALU that is not defective, to the redundant parallel ALU. The redundant parallel ALU then operates for the defective ALU. Output data shifting logic is coupled to an output of the parallel redundant ALU and all other ALU outputs to shift the output data in a second and opposite direction than the input shifting logic, to realign output of data for continued processing, including for storage or for further processing by other circuitry.
US08281182B2
A dispersed storage device for use within a dispersed storage network operates to select a set of dispersed storage units for storage of a data object by slicing an encoded data segment of a data object into error coded data slices, determining slice metadata for the error coded data slices, determining memory characteristics of dispersed storage units capable of storing the error coded data slices and selecting the set of dispersed storage units for storing the error coded data slices based on the slice metadata and the memory characteristics.
US08281177B2
There is provided a distributed control system including a plurality of field controllers which are connected through a control network. Each of the field controllers includes: a control clock that defines a control timing of the field controller; and an adjustment unit that adjusts a control time of the control clock depending on a network time obtained through the control network.
US08281176B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to buffer circuits and methods. One embodiment is a buffer circuit that receives a data signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal, the buffer circuit comprising circuitry to latch the data signal with the first clock signal to produce a first latched signal, circuitry to latch the data signal with the second clock signal to produce a second latched signal, and circuitry that selects the first latched signal or the second latched signal depending on a transition of the data signal in a previous clock cycle.
US08281170B1
A dynamic clock frequency module includes a request evaluation module configured to generate a sum of requests to utilize a system bus from a plurality of modules. A frequency assignment module is configured to calculate a clock frequency for the system bus in response to the requests and adjust the clock frequency between at least two non-zero frequency values. A pulse stretch module is configured to increase a period of time that at least one of the requests is asserted in response to the sum.
US08281169B2
Methods (10, 70, 90, and 100) and systems (50, 80, 150, and 200) for enhancing user experiences on a mobile device use non-volatile execute-in-place memory (60, 160, 207) to provide faster boot-up, reduce current drain, improve security, and facilitate storage decisions that all enhance the operation of the mobile device for a user. Methods and systems embodied herein can include power management for handheld mobile electronic devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08281167B2
In an electronic control apparatus for vehicles, there is provided a main microcomputer activated when a given activation condition is met and a sub-microcomputer to which a power control signal controlling power supply to the sub-microcomputer is supplied. A first power supply unit supplies, via a first supply line, power supply voltage to the main microcomputer for activation, and a second power supply unit supplies, via a second supply line different from the first supply line, power supply voltage to the sub-microcomputer for activation when the sub-microcomputer receives the power control signal. The main microcomputer determines whether or not the sub-microcomputer should be made to operate and performs a switchover between output and non-output of the power control signal to the second power supply unit based on the determined results, whereby the power supply to the sub-microcomputer is controlled.
US08281160B1
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing power management within Systems on Chips (SOCs). The method includes selecting an operating frequency for a chip from an operating frequency point set that provides a desired overall power dissipation value.
US08281149B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for privacy-preserving flexible user-selected anonymous and pseudonymous access at a relying party (RP), mediated by an identity provider (IdP). Anonymous access is unlinkable to any previous or future accesses of the user at the RP. Pseudonymous access allows the user to associate the access to a pseudonym previously registered at the RP. A pseudonym system is disclosed. The pseudonym system allows a large number of different and unlinkable pseudonyms to be generated using only a small number of secrets held by the user. The pseudonym system can generate tokens capable of including rich semantics in both a fixed format and a free format. The tokens can be used in obtaining from the IdP, confirmation of access privilege and/or of selective partial disclosure of user characteristics required for access at the RPs. The pseudonym system and associated protocols also support user-enabled linkability between pseudonyms.
US08281147B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate utilizing a shared secret to obscure a password within a sequence of characters. The sequence of characters can include the password as well as noise. The shared secret can leverage utilizing a set of known images that a user can uniquely distinguish from random images. By employing the imaged based shared secret, the user can login to a server from an untrusted machine suspected to be infected with spyware such as a keylogger that tracks user input.
US08281140B2
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.
US08281127B2
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an authenticating device (22) receives a first digital identity (43) and a second digital identity (63). The authenticating device (22) uses the second digital identity (63) as a key to a Identity Association Database (24) to retrieve a database entry (33). If the database entry (33) shows an association between the first digital identity (43) and the second digital identity (63), the digital identities are valid and an indication (72) of the validation of existence of association between first digital identity and second digital identity (96) is made by the authenticating device (22).
US08281125B1
A computer-implemented system and method for providing secure remote document access is provided. An index is created for the documents in a local document store. The resulting index is provided to a remote search server that operates independently of the local document store. Each document in the document store is also encrypted and provided to a remote document server that operates independently of the local document store. The encrypted documents can be located using the index on the remote search server and can be retrieved from the remote document server using an identifier obtained from the remote search server.
US08281118B2
Gaming machines and systems having a universal interface layer linking a gaming platform to a hardware platform are disclosed. In particular, the universal interface layer is configured such that the gaming platform is hardware platform independent and such that the hardware platform is gaming platform independent. Platform independence can facilitate the interchangeability of one platform without a corresponding need to modify the other platform. The gaming platform can include various gaming modules and an operating system, while the universal interface layer can include firmware, various additional gaming modules, hardware specific drivers and various APIs to facilitate communication between the gaming platform and other universal interface layer components. A safe storage manager can be included to utilize a non-volatile storage component to store data regarding a gaming machine state, with the state being recoverable after a substantial interruption to the machine.
US08281116B2
A method for accessing a protected area of a solid-state storage device via firmware control is described. During system initialization, firmware components are loaded and executed to initialize a computer system. These firmware components include a firmware driver for accessing solid-state storage devices connected to the computer system. The system firmware enables a protected area on a solid-state storage device's media to be accessed under firmware control. After firmware accesses, the protected area is closed from access by non-firmware entities by “hiding” the true size of the media such that those entities are unaware of this area of the media. Mechanisms are disclosed for providing firmware access to the protected area only during pre-boot, and for both pre-boot and run-time operations. The firmware-controlled media access scheme may be used to load firmware stored on solid-state media during pre-boot and to store system information in the protected area during pre-boot and/or run-time operations.
US08281113B2
An arithmetic-logic unit for performing an operation of a prescribed bit length in an execution stage of a processor includes a plurality of sub-arithmetic-logic units which perform in respectively different pipeline stages sub-operations created by decomposing the operation of the prescribed bit length in a bit length direction, and a plurality of pipeline registers provided so as to separate the pipeline stages from each other, wherein each of the pipeline registers operates in such a manner as to be switchable between two operation modes, a flip-flop mode in which an output value is updated in synchronism with an input trigger and a transparent mode in which an input value is directly output.
US08281112B2
A processing unit has an extended register to which instruction extension information indicating an extension of an instruction can be set. An operation unit that, when instruction extension information is set to the extended register, executes a subsequent instruction following a first instruction for writing the instruction extension information into the extended register, extends the subsequent instruction based on the instruction extension information.
US08281111B2
A system and method to execute a linear feedback-shift instruction is disclosed. In a particular embodiment the method includes executing an instruction at a processor by receiving source data and executing a bitwise logical operation on the source data and on reference data to generate intermediate data. The method further includes determining a parity value of the intermediate data, shifting the source data, and entering the parity value of the intermediate data into a data field of the shifted source data to produce resultant data.
US08281110B2
An out-of-order execution in-order retire microprocessor includes a branch information table comprising N entries. Each of the N entries stores information associated with a branch instruction. The microprocessor also includes a reorder buffer comprising M entries. Each of the M entries stores information associated with an unretired instruction within the microprocessor. Each of the M entries includes a field that indicates whether the unretired instruction is a branch instruction and, if so, a tag identifying one of the N entries in the branch information table storing information associated with the branch instruction. N is significantly less than M such that the overall die space and power consumption is reduced over a processor in which each reorder buffer entry stores the branch information.
US08281101B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing write-to-read turnaround times using shadow writes in memory controllers and in DRAM. Embodiments of controllers including shadow write control logic may, in response to receiving a write request, issue an external write column address strobe (CAS) to DRAM to latch a valid write CAS address, and assert a set of write data values to be stored in a set of DRAM locations corresponding to the write CAS address. After asserting the write CAS and prior to asserting the complete set of write data values, such memory controllers may, in response to receiving a read request, issue an external read CAS to DRAM to indicate a valid read CAS address. A set of read data values from a second set of DRAM locations corresponding to the read CAS address, are received with reduced turnaround time after asserting the complete set of write data values.
US08281086B2
Among others, techniques and apparatus are described for de-interleaving. A data processing apparatus includes a buffer to store interleaved data; an interleaving index producing unit to produce an interleaving index of the interleaved data; and an output control unit to output the data stored in the buffer using the interleaving index.
US08281079B2
Multi-processor systems and methods are disclosed that employ a pre-fetch buffer to provide data fills to a source processor in response to a request. A pre-fetch buffer retrieves data as a uncached data fill. The source processor processes the data in response to a source request.
US08281078B2
Methods and apparatus relating to multi-level cache prefetch are described. In some embodiments, a data parking logic updates a prefetch request with one or more bits based on the status of a request queue. The one or more bits may in turn cause the corresponding prefetched data to be stored in one of at least two caches. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08281076B2
A storage system coupled to a host computer, including: a non-volatile medium that stores data; a disk cache that temporarily stores data stored in the non-volatile medium, where the disk cache is divided into a plurality of independent disk cache partitions; a control unit that controls an input and an output of data to and from the non-volatile medium; and a memory unit that stores information used by the control unit, including consistency control information setting respective commands permitted for each of the disk cache partitions, to guarantee consistency of the data; wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether or not to execute a requested command for a given disk cache partition, by referring to the consistency control information setting respective commands permitted for each of the disk cache partitions.
US08281066B1
The present invention provides a system and method for eliminating duplicate data (de-duplication) in substantially real time using an electronic storage medium.
US08281065B2
Systems and methods are provided for storing data in a portion of a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) such that the status of the NVM portion can be determined with high probability on a subsequent read. An NVM interface, which may receive write commands to store user data in the NVM, can store a fixed predetermined sequence (“FPS”) with the user data. The FPS may ensure that a successful read operation on a NVM portion is not misinterpreted as a failed read operation or as an erased NVM portion. For example, if the NVM returns an all-zero vector when a read request fails, the FPS can include at least one “1” or one “0”, as appropriate, to differentiate between successful and unsuccessful read operations. In some embodiments, the FPS may also be used to differentiate between disturbed data, which passes an error correction check, and correct data.
US08281064B2
A nonvolatile memory system is operated by providing data to be written to a nonvolatile memory, logically combining the data to be written to the nonvolatile memory with a random pattern to generate encoded data; and programming the encoded data in the nonvolatile memory.
US08281061B2
Methods and apparatus for managing data storage in memory devices utilizing memory arrays of varying density memory cells. Data can be initially stored in lower density memory. Data can be further read, compacted, conditioned and written to higher density memory as background operations. Methods of data conditioning to improve data reliability during storage to higher density memory and methods for managing data across multiple memory arrays are also disclosed.
US08281060B2
A technique includes using a virtual channel between a first process and a second process to communicate messages between the processes. Each message contains protocol data and user data. All of the protocol data is communicated over a first channel associated with the virtual channel, and the user data is selectively communicated over at least one other channel associated with the virtual channel.
US08281050B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of storage array with frame forwarding capability to reduce the complexity of an IT platform system having a large number of hardware devices. In one embodiment, a storage system comprises one or more storage devices; a storage controller having a storage controller processor and a storage controller memory and being coupled with the one or more storage devices; an interface controller receiving an input/output command directly from a host computer; and an internal bus. The interface controller and the storage controller are coupled by the internal bus. In another embodiment, a storage system comprises one or more storage devices; a storage controller having a processor and a memory and being coupled with the one or more storage devices; and a network interface controller which provides virtual Ethernet bridging.
US08281047B2
[Object] To make it possible to control a CEC-non-compliant device connected to a television receiver by using a remote control sender of the television receiver.[Solving Means] The fact that a physical address [2000] is a device (Recording Device) that a photo player 370B controls in place of the physical address [2000] is set by a user in the photo player 370B. In accordance with this setting, the photo player 370B decides a logical address {1} as a CEC-controlled Recording Device. When the user operates a disc recorder 210B that is a CEC-non-compliant device by using a remote control sender 277, a television receiver 250B generates a CEC control command addressed to the disc recorder 210B. The photo player 370B detects the CEC control command, converts the CEC control command into an infrared remote control command, and sends the infrared remote control command from an infrared sending unit 384 to the disc recorder 210B.
US08281046B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device including a memory, a display device and a controller. The controller is programmed to provide to a first server a request for User Interface (UI) device configurations, provide to the first server configuration criteria associated with the request, receive configuration data associated with target UI device configurations from the first server, present a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the display device based on the configuration data where the GUI displays selections for each of the target UI device configurations, provide a selection from among the selections of the target UI device configurations, and receive provisioning information from the first server that allows for implementing the selection of the target UI device configuration. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08281040B2
Disclosed is a wireless remote network management system for interfacing a series of remote devices (e.g., computers, servers, networking equipment, etc.) to one or more user workstations. The system is multifunctional to allow multiple users to control remote devices through serial access or keyboard, video, and cursor control device access via wireless and hard-wired connections. The remote devices are preferably coupled to a wireless-enabled remote management unit through a chain of computer interface modules, and each user workstation includes a wireless user station coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor and a cursor control device. The remote management unit and user stations preferably communicate via a wireless network, which enables a user workstation to access, monitor and control any of the remote devices.
US08281038B2
A thin client terminal 1 that can be connected to a thin client operation management server 3 includes: a memory 12 capable of storing system data for mobile environment used when the thin client terminal 1 is not connected to the thin client operation management server 3; and a controller generation section 13c that acquires the system data for non-mobile environment and uses the system data for non-mobile environment to generate a thin client controller 11a, generates a driver 11c capable of accessing the memory 12 by the operation of the thin client controller 11a, and uses the driver 11c to write the system data for mobile environment acquired from the thin client operation management server 3 in the memory 12.
US08281037B2
A system and method for targeting content to users of a device or network of user-operated devices. In an embodiment, profile information is determined about a user's media consumption activities. One or more inputs are received from an external source to specify what content to target to the user. One or more content items are selected to target to the user based on the profile information and the one or more inputs. The selection of content items is performed without communicating the profile information outside of the user's device or network of user-operated devices.
US08281033B1
Described are techniques for performing path selection. A data operation is received for a metadevice comprising a plurality of metadevice members. A first of the plurality of metadevice members is determined. The first member is the member to which the data operation is directed. In accordance with a load balancing technique for the first metadevice member, path selection is performed to select a first of a plurality of paths. The metadevice is accessible over each of the plurality of paths. The data operation is sent over the first path.
US08281032B2
An IT resource evaluation system connected to a management system for managing a plurality of IT resources working in a plurality of business systems, include a recording part for recording supply-and-demand data representing a transition of a demand or a supply of an IT resource in an entire business system, an accumulating part for accumulating actual dealing data containing a supply price, an IT resource data input part for inputting IT resource data regarding an IT resource to be evaluated, and an evaluating part for calculating value data representing a supply price in the case where an IT resource is supplied, based on supply-and-demand data, actual dealing data, and the IT resource data.
US08281031B2
In one embodiment, an audio-visual content delivery system, such as a set-top box/personal video recorder system, is configured to interface with a local area network (LAN). A packet processing circuit comprised in the system may be configured to filter and route Ethernet packet data received from the LAN to specific ports and/or queues without host processor intervention. The packet processing circuit may utilize a set of filter and routing mechanisms configurable in hardware to interpret various Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) networking transport protocols, and may transfer the packet data in a format recognized by a variety of consumer subsystems, each of which may be coupled to the decoder. The packet processing circuit may be implemented as a semiconductor device, and may allow encapsulated application data, (encapsulated using standardized encapsulation techniques), to be routed to a plurality of different types of application sinks or processors, forming a point-to-point or multi-point serial or parallel data stream over a standard transport covering numerous levels of the ISO data communications stack.
US08281026B2
The invention relates to integration of streaming data. The invention provides a means for integrating both high-throughput streaming and static content originating from multiple types and/or instances of data sources into discrete units of data. The invention provides integration of a wide variety of disparate streaming and static data sources as well as deployment of content in multiple protocols, either static or streaming or both. In the preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method and system for the insertion of domain-specific implementations of the JMS (Java Message System) messaging paradigm into a server-based JMS provider infrastructure. A Content Integration Framework provides access to Content Instances. The Content Integration Framework is used by Distribution Adapters that expose content from Content Instances cached in the system using a variety of protocols.
US08281017B2
In a conferencing system having a first conferencing apparatus and a plurality of second conferencing apparatuses, the plurality of second conferencing apparatuses transmit connection requests, which are for connecting to the first conferencing apparatus, to the first conferencing apparatus based upon first connection information, which is for connecting to the first conferencing apparatus and which a plurality of second communication devices have received from a first communication device. The first conferencing apparatus detects second connection information, which is for connecting to the second conferencing apparatuses that have transmitted the connection requests, and instructs the plurality of second conferencing apparatuses to connect themselves together based upon the second connection information.
US08281014B2
A system and method are described for managing session lifecycles within a multi-tiered enterprise network. In one embodiment, a plurality of session objects are generated at different layers of the enterprise network in response to a client request. Each of the session objects store session data defining a state of interaction with the client. In addition, one embodiment of the invention manages the lifecycle of a first session object based on corresponding lifecycles of one or more related session objects and also the type of relationship existing between the first session object and the one or more related session objects. In one embodiment, the defined relationship types include strong references, weak references, and soft references.
US08281012B2
Method, system, and computer program product for managing parallel data processing jobs in grid environments are provided. A request to deploy a parallel data processing job in a grid environment is received. A plurality of resource nodes in the grid environment are dynamically allocated to the parallel data processing job. A configuration file is automatically generated for the parallel data processing job based on the allocated resource nodes. The parallel data processing job is then executed in the grid environment using the generated configuration file.
US08281008B2
A resource allocation apparatus, method, application program, and computer readable medium thereof are provided. A plurality of data streams are transmitted to a plurality of receiving ends via a network resource, wherein each of the receiving ends has a subscribing status. Each of the data streams comprises a plurality of data layers. First, required data are sent to the receiving ends. Then, an efficiency ratio of each of the possible transmission combinations is dynamically calculated. Finally, data layers comprised in the possible transmission combination that has the greatest efficiency ratio are transmitted to the receiving ends. Efficiency ratios are calculated according to the whole network resource, the channels of the receiving ends, and the characters of the data streams. By the aforementioned arrangement, data layers received by the receiving ends can be adjusted dynamically. Thus, the efficiency of the network resource can be increased.
US08281003B2
A system and method is provided for remote active window sensing of a display in a computing device and reporting of the same. The system includes a tool comprising a remote monitoring and reporting component configured to monitor active windows of one or more remote devices and provide a report to a presenter as to whether the active windows of the one or more remote devices are associated with a presentation of the presenter.
US08280990B2
A method of configuring an edge device in a network wherein a transport network interfaces with edge devices that interface with client devices involves a configuration file. The edge device can be configured by downloading the configuration file to the edge device. The method comprises connecting the edge device to the network, downloading the configuration file to the edge device, and configuring the edge device. The configuration file may contain configuration information for the edge device including information relating to at least one edge device input and information relating to at least one output.
US08280989B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method, system and apparatus for provisioning a communication client. The method comprises receiving via a communication network a request from the communication client. The method further comprises determining a positioning object associated with the communication client. The method further comprises, based on the positioning object, determining a subscription profile associated with the communication client. The method further comprises, based on the subscription profile, compiling a configuration file.
US08280980B2
Methods and systems for providing a synchronous display to a plurality of remote users are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a synchronous display from a host to a plurality of remote users comprising rendering a frame on the host, determining a communication characteristic between each of the plurality of remote users and the host, modifying a frame display characteristic for at least one of the plurality of remote users based on one or more of the communication characteristics, and transmitting the frame to two or more of the plurality of remote users to provide substantially synchronous display of the frame to the two or more of the plurality of remote users, wherein transmitting includes transmitting to the at least one of the plurality of remote users based on the modified frame display characteristic.
US08280975B2
When there are very many images stored in a memory card, a time after a computer and a digital camera have been logically connected with each other until the computer and the camera answers a user becomes extremely long. When the digital camera caches the information of a file stored in a storage medium by accessing the storage medium in a reproduction mode, and when the digital camera and the computer are physically connected to each other and they are in a communication mode, information which the computer appears to request finally is generated and stored. After that, when the digital camera receives a data transfer request from the computer, the digital camera transmits stored information to the computer in a lump.
US08280973B2
Publishing content associated with an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message by executing instructions contained in the electronic mail attachment and accessing the content at a remote computer server identified by the attached file. The attached file includes computer-executable instructions, such as a computer program or script, which include an identifier for a remote server connected to a distributed computer network. This identified remote server typically hosts a web site containing content for viewing by the recipient of the electronic mail message. In response to launching the attached file of the electronic mail message with a viewer program, a browser program can be opened to enable the recipient to view the content of the identified remote server, typically a web site on an intranet or the global Internet.
US08280971B2
Provided herein are systems and methods for suppressing delivery of undesirable messages through vulnerable systems. In an embodiment, a system include an emulator emulates one or more vulnerable systems that can be used by spammers to relay, forward or otherwise send undesirable email messages to target systems. The system also includes one or more modules associated with the emulator and configured to automatically identifying, as being undesirable, email messages that are to be relayed, forwarded or otherwise sent to target systems via at least one of the one or more vulnerable systems emulated by the emulator.
US08280966B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method comprising specifying personal spaces in the virtual computing environment for first and second users and moving the personal spaces to encompass a virtual object, where the virtual object is associated with data on another system. A message is sent from a virtual server to one of the user's clients to access the data associated with the virtual object from the other system. Credentials necessary for accessing the data are stored on different user's clients, and the credentials are used to authenticate the user and perform the data access. The data associated with the virtual object may then be sent to the other user.
US08280958B2
A mechanism is provided for distributing file fragments in the background of a segmented peer-to-peer network using list passing between peers. Rather than trading actual content, peers may trade file names or file fragment identifiers. Upon receiving a new file name or identifier, a peer may request that file from the network, either in the background or the foreground. For example, once a client begins background file sharing in a swarm, the client may propagate file information for files it possesses to all or a portion of the peers in a swarm. Those clients then have the file information for a file without the user having to locate and specifically request that file. The file list may piggyback on a file fragment that is transferred as a result of a file sharing request.
US08280948B1
Data may be made available to one or more participants of an online collaboration session through use of a client system that generates or otherwise captures the data to be shared, and then formats that data for use by general-purpose server resources. In one embodiment, data from the operation of an application on the client system is captured. A formatted data set that is suitable for the client-server communications is prepared from the captured data. The formatted data set may be configured with characteristics to enable the server to respond to requests from one or more participant terminals of the online collaboration session. During the session, the formatted data set may be transmitted to the server in one or more discrete and independent communications.
US08280946B1
Perceived domain name service (DNS) lookup latency can be reduced for the user of a browser program. A server determines domain names that the user is likely to request in the future. In one implementation, a list of these domain names is transmitted to the browser program as a separate command. The browser program may then lookup up the domain names in the background before the user selects a link corresponding to the domain names. In another implementation, the domain names are transmitted to the browser program by embedding the domain names in a web document, in which the embedded information is not visible in the rendered version of the web document.
US08280943B1
A system and method for management of service plan modification information between various service providers and telecommunications-based devices are provided. A service management component manages subscriber and service plan information for processing service plan modification requests from a service provider and a mobile device of a subscriber. The service management component processes updated service plan information provided by a service provider component and dynamically offers the updated services to subscribers. The service management component also enables subscribers to modify aspects of their service plans and have the modifications take effect immediately. The service management component maintains various data stores associated with subscriber information and service plan information that facilitate the offer of updated service plans, including service plan features and rule sets, received from a service provider component to subscribers at corresponding mobile devices. The service management component manages a framework that allows management of the updated service plan information.
US08280940B2
A data processing apparatus including a register bank, a shadow register and an arithmetic operation unit. The register bank includes a number of registers respectively for storing a number of operands wherein the registers are n-bit registers, and n is a nature number. The shadow register stores a first backup operand for making a backup of a first operand, which is stored in a first one of the registers in response to first control signal. The arithmetic operation unit performs at least an arithmetic operation on the operands to obtain operational data, and stores the operational data in the first register in response to an arithmetic operation command.
US08280935B2
A graphing calculation apparatus comprises a mode setting unit which sets one of a manual mode and an automatic mode based on an instruction made by a user. A key data input unit inputs key data entered by the user. The input key data is stored in a key data storing unit in association with the set mode. Calculation of a function is performed based on the stored key data, and a guide display unit displays the stored key-data as guide data. For displaying the key data associated with the manual mode, when the key data corresponding to the guide data is input, subsequent key data is displayed as guide data. For displaying the key data associated with the automatic mode, the guide data is automatically input in succession and subsequent key data is sequentially displayed as guide data.
US08280926B2
A method for removing redundant data from a backup storage system is presented. In one example, the method may include receiving the application layer data object, selecting a de-duplication domain from a plurality of de-duplication domains based at least in part on a data object characteristic associated with the de-duplication domain, determining that the application layer data object has the characteristic and directing the application layer data object to the de-duplication domain.
US08280921B2
A system and a method are disclosed for performing a search with the assistance of a computer. The system may assign a unique identifier to a user, to a query submitted to the system by the user, to a human searcher that may respond to the query, and to a result produced by a human searcher in response to the query. These unique identifiers may be stored in a database, and associated with one another. The system may receive a query from the user during a first communication session, and present the query to the searcher to perform a search responsive to the query. The searcher may produce search results and transmit the results to the system during the first communication session. The system may receive the search results from the searcher during the first communication session, and forward the results to the user. Because the system maintains a database of unique identifiers for each original query associated with the unique identifier of the posing user and responding searcher, the system may establish an anonymous communication channel between the user and the searcher during the initial session when the query is posed and answered, and also during follow-up sessions that may occur in the future.
US08280893B1
Methods and systems for identification of paraphrases from an index of information items and associated sentence fragments are described. One method described comprises identifying a pair of sentence fragments each having a same associated information item from an index, wherein the index comprises a plurality of information items and associated sentence fragments, and identifying a paraphrase pair from the pair of sentence fragments.
US08280886B2
A predetermined number of temporary terms are obtained that have the highest differential affinity to each of a number of candidate terms. Each temporary term and the associated differential affinity is placed into a set of temporary terms. An average differential affinity is calculated for each temporary term of the set of temporary terms, the average differential affinity representing an average of differential affinities from the each temporary term to every term of the initial set of terms. One or more terms with an average differential affinity that fails to satisfy a predetermined threshold are removed from the temporary set. One or more terms of the temporary set with differential affinities above the threshold are placed into the set of candidate terms. One or more terms of the set of candidate terms are selected and output to a user.
US08280882B2
Disclosed is an author-centric search that facilitates identifying a source commonly associated with a topic by, for example, providing a ranked listing of experts in a field of knowledge related to a search phrase. The search phrase can be captured and parsed into the individual words (e.g., substrings) of the search phrase. Based on occurrences of the words in one or more documented communications, statistics can be generated to determine the relevancy of each documented communication in relation to the search phrase. Further, additional statistics can be generated describing the occurrence of multiple words in a documented communication and/or a distance of words between the search phrase words in a documented communication. The statistics can be utilized to generate expert scores. The expert scores can be sorted for and/or displayed to the user.
US08280880B1
In an embodiment, a filter chain object comprising an association of a starting set of data items and two or more filter links is created and stored in computer memory. Each of the filter links comprises a component object that associates a set operation and a membership criterion. Each of the filter links is associated with a particular filter view among a plurality of filter views. Each particular filter view comprises a graphical representation of a state of applying the membership criterion of the associated filter link to a subset of data resulting from filtering the starting set of data items according to zero or more preceding filter links.
US08280871B2
Techniques are provided for designating an item as being of a particular type when the item has been selected after being returned in response to a search and by identifying which mode, of a plurality of modes, in which the search engine was operating when the item was selected.
US08280867B2
A method, computer program, and database system are disclosed for identifying a second source of a request sent to a database management system by a first source. A database message is received from the first source. The database message includes a second value for a second source-identifying parameter. The second value identifies a second source. The second value for the second source-identifying parameter is stored in a log.
US08280861B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for de-duplicating electronic content based on comparing metadata. In one aspect, a method includes comparing first metadata associated with a first item of electronic content to second metadata associated with a second item of electronic content, and generating a score based on the comparison. The method also includes establishing that the first and second items of electronic content comprise potentially duplicate content when the score is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and providing information identifying either the first or second items of electronic content for display when establishing that the first and second items of electronic content comprise potentially duplicate content.
US08280857B2
A method and system for indexed field based difference detection and correction. A data feed file is partitioned into a plurality of subsets based on an indexed field of the data feed file. A redundancy check value is calculated for each of the subsets, and the redundancy check value is compared to a database file which corresponds to each subset. If the redundancy check values do not match for a subset and a corresponding database file, a difference is detected between the subset and the corresponding database file and the corresponding database file is replaced by the subset.
US08280853B1
System and method for tracking statistics at the subfile level and transparently placing or migrating inactive or less active blocks of data to other storage devices. Embodiments may provide mechanisms to track statistics at the subfile level of files including, but not limited to, database files, and to transparently place or migrate inactive or less active blocks of data of the files from higher-performing, typically more expensive, storage to lower-performing, typically less expensive, storage, while placing or migrating active blocks of data of the files to higher-performing storage, based on the subfile-level statistics rather than on file-level timestamps. In some embodiments, knowledge of file structure (e.g., database file structure), for example knowledge of database partitions with header blocks and data blocks in databases using data partitioning, may be used to separate more active and less active blocks of data of files onto storage with different performance and/or other characteristics.
US08280845B2
A distribution management system can facilitate synchronous and asynchronous communications, take advantage of electronic scheduling tools, support a facilitator paradigm, and store meeting communications for later retrieval. The system can create a collaborative environment for members of a team in communication with a computer network. An interactive forum can be provided in the collaborative environment in a manner offering varying degrees of structure for collecting information from the members of the team. The information can then be used to arrive at a collaboratively derived decision.
US08280843B2
Various embodiments utilize a special object referred to as an rsshttp object to acquire an RSS feed, process the feed and expose an object model to a web page or application. In at least some embodiments, the rsshttp object can parse through the feed's associated RSS data, normalize the feed data to a standard format, sanitize the feed data if necessary, and then present a standardized object model for interaction with web pages and applications.
US08280842B2
A system and method which may be implemented at least partly by a computer, are provided for developing a support system. A virtual representation of a device is generated for display on a user interface. Links between components of the virtual representation, which represent components of the device, and corresponding cases in a searchable knowledge base (SKB) are stored. Users can navigate the SKB in search of a solution to a problem with the device with the assistance of the virtual representation which enables actuation of the existing links. The users are able to create new links, each new link linking a component of the virtual representation with a case in the SKB which the user identifies as providing a solution to the problem with the device which is related to the component. The new link is stored for future use by the user or by other users.
US08280838B2
An evidence evaluation method and system based on question answering converts a report of analyzed information and/or a model of information into a collection of questions, determines answers for the collection of questions. A fact in the report is marked as being supported if one or more of the answers for the collection of questions support the fact. A fact in the report of analyzed facts is marked as being refuted if one or more of the answers for the collection of questions refute the fact. The method and system also may collect the answers as evidence and add the evidence to the model of information to create an updated model of information. The steps may be repeated using the updated report and updated model.
US08280820B2
A method for capturing data packets sent on a network for evaluating response time performance, the network including a financial institution and a partner bank. The method includes associating a captured data packet sent to the partner bank with a captured data packet received from the partner bank, by comparing at least one coded field of a data portion of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank with at least one coded field of a captured data portion of the data packet received from the partner bank. The method also includes measuring a response time of the associated data packet received from the partner bank, relative to a transmission time of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank. The method further includes transmitting an alert message upon determining that the response time is not within an adjustable predetermined threshold, wherein the alert message includes data from a data portion of the associated data packets.
US08280812B1
A facility for insuring information currentness is described. The facility receives from a party a request to submit an invoice. In response to receiving a request, the facility tests the currentness of information to be provided by the party. The facility permits the party to submit an invoice in connection with the request only if the testing determines that the information to be provided by the party is current.
US08280802B1
A computerized system alerts a change in direction of the price of a tradable financial instrument. The system plots a resistance line, a support line, and a transition point at which the price is changing. The transition point occurs when the price of the tradable instrument is either higher or lower than both the corresponding resistance point on the resistance line and a corresponding support point on the support line. Resistance points are calculated sequentially as the lowest averaged values of a series of critical prices for a particular time period. Support points are calculated sequentially as the highest averaged values of a series of critical prices for a particular time period, wherein the critical prices comprise the highest price, the lowest price, and the closing price of the tradable instrument for that particular time period.
US08280798B1
A method for creating an investment fund and selling shares in the fund to individual investors, each of whom has an investment ratio defined by a dollar amount of direct real estate investments held by the investor outside of the fund divided by a dollar amount of shares in the fund held by the individual investor. A target range of the investment ratio is selected for the fund. A target geographical region is selected where individual investors in the fund hold the direct real estate investments. A model composite portfolio is identified having an asset combination that includes: (i) direct real estate investment held by an individual investor in the target geographical region, and (ii) shares in the fund held by the individual investor. The asset combination in the model composite portfolio has an investment ratio that is within the target range. An optimal fund asset allocation is selected for the composite model portfolio in order to diversify and/or hedge risks associated with the direct real estate investment held by the model composite portfolio. Shares of the fund are sold to individual investors that hold direct real estate investments in the target geographic region and have investment ratios in the target range.
US08280797B2
A method for trading a security in an electronic market includes receiving closing orders and orders for the security traded in the electronic market, disseminating an order imbalance indicator indicative of predicted trading characteristics of the security at the close of trading, determining a closing price for the security based on the closing orders and orders, and executing at least some of the closing orders at the determined closing price.
US08280794B1
A system for and method of using a financial instrument to take a view on a price-to-earnings ratio for a set of one or more equities. The system and method may be used to commodify the price-to-earnings ratio for one or more equities, such as a stock or an index. The system and method may include a financial instrument that allows a user to take a view on an earnings, or ratio comprising price and earnings, for underlying equities.
US08280777B2
Systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include a merchant device, a client device and a payment processing device. The merchant device is adapted to allow a merchant to provide items for purchase via the network. The client device is adapted to allow a user to access the merchant device via the network and view the items for purchase. The client device is adapted to provide a payment mechanism to the user. The user generates a purchase request for an item by selecting the one item, dragging the item to the payment mechanism, and dropping the item over the payment mechanism. The payment processing device is adapted to receive the purchase request from the client device via the network and authorize the user to purchase the item from the merchant based on information passed with the purchase request.
US08280773B2
A method of dynamically optimizing customer retention for a web marketing site is provided. That method includes specifying a permissible defunct threshold, specifying a range of offers to be included in a set of promotions, determining a probability that a customer will become defunct in a predetermined period of time since the last interaction of that customer with the web site, and providing a promotion to a customer if the probability that the customer will become defunct in the predetermined period of time since the last interaction of that customer with the web site is greater than a predetermined threshold.
US08280767B1
A lottery system utilizing an electronic mail comprises means for specifying participants for a lottery from a database, means for uniquely allocating an electronic mail address to each of said specified participants so that said electronic mail addresses are different from each other; means for sending a first electronic mail to each of said participants, in which the electronic mail address is affixed as a unique access key to each of said participants; means for recognizing an application for the lottery from each of said participants by receiving a second electronic mail sent back to said electronic mail address; and means for notifying each one of said participants who sent back the second electronic mail to the electronic mail address of the result of said lottery.
US08280766B2
A system, method and computer program product is described that matches commercial incentives to consumers based on targeting data associated with the commercial incentive and user data associated with consumers in a manner that advantageously allows for highly-targeted delivery of commercial incentives to the consumers that are most likely to use them. Because both the targeting data and the user data may include spatial, temporal, social and topical data, matching may be performed based on any or all of these data types, as well as based on any combination of these data types.
US08280761B1
The invention provides a method of facilitating contact between a consumer and a requesting entity, with the method comprising the following steps. During an interaction with the consumer, the method of the invention obtains contact information and index information from the consumer. The method then evaluates whether the consumer meets a selection criterion specified by the requesting entity using the indexing information. A data store entry associated with the consumer can be updated with the contact information. The contact information is then referred to the requesting entity thereby providing the requesting entity with up-to-date contact information.
US08280755B2
Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for context-specific modeling of a collaborative business process includes receiving an identification of a collaborative business process to involve a communication between at least two entities. The identification is submitted by an entity seeking to model the collaborative business process for a specific context associated with the entity. The method includes selecting, in a repository and using the specific context, at least one modeling artifact that has been defined for use in the identified collaborative business process. The repository includes a plurality of stored modeling artifacts for at least one collaborative business process, each of the stored modeling artifacts associated with at least one context value. The method includes providing the selected modeling artifact to the entity in response to the received identification.
US08280744B2
An audio decoder for decoding a multi-audio-object signal having an audio signal of a first type and an audio signal of a second type encoded therein is described, the multi-audio-object signal having a downmix signal and side information, the side information having level information of the audio signals of the first and second types in a first predetermined time/frequency resolution, and a residual signal specifying residual level values in a second predetermined time/frequency resolution, the audio decoder having a processor for computing prediction coefficients based on the level information; and an up-mixer for up-mixing the downmix signal based on the prediction coefficients and the residual signal to obtain a first up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the first type and/or a second up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the second type.
US08280742B2
An input device for a mobile body allows for a safe input operation at the time of operating equipment, such as a car, regardless of whether the mobile body is traveling or stopped. The input device includes an input section for receiving inputs by hand and voice operations, a traveling state determination section for determining a traveling state of the mobile body, and an item executability determination section for determining, in the determined traveling state, whether each of the received inputs corresponds to an item executable by the hand and voice operations. The input device also includes a display content generation section for generating a display mode which distinguishably shows whether nor not the item is executable by the hand and voice operations in accordance with a determination by the item executability determination section, and a display section for displaying the generated display mode.
US08280737B2
A sound signal generating method includes: generating, using a computer, a plurality of unit waveform signals by dividing the original sound signal having a periodic length of repeating similar waveforms by the length of the waveform; generating, using a computer, a repetitive waveform signal for each of the generated unit waveform signals by repeating the waveform of the unit waveform signal a given number of times; and generating, using a computer, an outputsound signal by shifting each of the repetitive waveform signals in each length with a sequence in which the unit waveform signals form the original sound signal and then superimposing on one another.
US08280733B2
An automatic speech recognition system recognizes user changes to dictated text and infers whether such changes result from the user changing his/her mind, or whether such changes are a result of a recognition error. If a recognition error is detected, the system uses the type of user correction to modify itself to reduce the chance that such recognition error will occur again. Accordingly, the system and methods provide for significant speech recognition learning with little or no additional user interaction.
US08280731B2
A speech enhancement method operative for devices having limited available memory is described. The method is appropriate for very noisy environments and is capable of estimating the relative strengths of speech and noise components during both the presence as well as the absence of speech.
US08280717B2
A tape printer provided with a standard phrase print function adapted to print a plurality of standard phrases as a set, includes: a selection section adapted to select an input language in the standard phrase print function; a search table creation section adapted to create a search table corresponding to the selected input language; an extraction section adapted to extract the standard phrase of the selected input language and the standard phrase of a language other than the selected input language based on the created search table, the standard phrase of the selected input language and the standard phrase of the other language corresponding to each other; and a print section adapted to print the extracted standard phrases as the set.
US08280712B2
A computer-implemented method may include defining an input bus signal in a graphical block diagram model by associating the input bus signal with a first group of signals, at least two of the first group of signals having a different data type; defining an output bus signal in the graphical block diagram model by associating the second bus signal with a second group of signals, each of the second group of signals corresponding to one of the first group of signals; defining an input to a non-virtual operation block in the graphical block diagram model as the input bus signal; defining an output to the non-virtual operation block in the graphical block diagram as the output bus signal; and simulating an operation performed on the input bus signal by the non-virtual operation block, the operation being performed on each of the first group of signals and output to each of the second group of signals.
US08280710B2
The present invention is a method for determining the thermal stability of a collagen peptide, collagen-like peptide or triple-helix construct with the repeating peptide unit Gly-Xaa1-Xaa2. The instant method accounts for the destabilizing effect of peptide repeats which do not conform to the highly stable Gly-Pro-Hyp peptide and for the interaction between triplets. The instant method finds use in mutant analysis of collagen peptides, collagen-like peptides or triple-helix constructs and engineering of collagen peptides, collagen-like peptides or triple-helix constructs.
US08280709B2
The invention relates to a computer system for modeling an oilfield having a subterranean formation and an underground reservoir therein. The computer system includes a repository storing a geomechanical model for representing at least a portion of the subterranean formation and the reservoir, the geomechanical model comprising a stress equation and a fluid flow equation, a processor and memory storing instructions when executed by the processor comprising functionalities for combining the stress equation and the fluid flow equation into a matrix equation, and modeling the oilfield by solving the stress equation and the fluid flow equation simultaneously.
US08280695B2
Method for adapting a template to a target data set. The template may be used to remove noise from, or interpret noise in, the target data set. The target data set is transformed (550) using a selected complex-valued, directional, multi-resolution transform (‘CDMT’) satisfying the Hubert transform property at least approximately. An initial template is selected, and it is transformed (551) using the same CDMT. Then the transformed template is adapted (560) to the transformed target data by adjusting the template's expansion coefficients within allowed ranges of adjustment so as to better match the expansion coefficients of the target data set. Multiple templates may be simultaneously adapted to better fit the noise or other component of the data that it may be desired to represent by template.
US08280685B2
An improved solution for performing an inspection is provided, in which a user can use a handheld computing device to obtain and/or record the set of attributes required for the inspection. In particular, an inspection schedule can be initiated on the handheld computing device and the user can be prompted for the various attributes based on the inspection schedule. Various solutions can be incorporated for receiving the attributes on the handheld computing device, including manual entry, audible entry and/or one or more data sensing devices. Subsequently, the set of attributes can be communicated to a base station for further processing and/or more permanent storage.
US08280682B2
A device for monitoring movement of shipped goods and a related improvement include a detector for generating a signal in response to movement of the device during shipping when associated with the goods. A processor processes the signal to generate one or more movement events, and time-tags the movement events with time of occurrence information from a clock. A GPS chip locates the device, data from the GPS chip providing location information of where each of the movement events occurred. A first communications port communicates each movement event, tagged with the time of occurrence information and location information, to a receiver remote from the device.
US08280679B2
An activity monitor that has a sensor for sensing movement, a processor for processing sensed data and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to use the sensed data to determine the number of steps taken for each of a plurality of epochs and to determine a measure of the fraction of each epoch spent stepping, the monitor being configured to record in a long term part of the memory at least two of the number of steps; the measure of the fraction of each epoch spent stepping and a measure of cadence calculated using the number of steps and the fraction of each epoch spent stepping.
US08280677B2
The present invention provides a geographical data collecting device, including a distance measuring unit 5 for projecting a distance measuring light and for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, an image pickup unit 3 for taking an image in a measuring direction, a display unit 6 for displaying an image picked up, a touch panel installed to match a position of screen of the display unit, a tilt sensor 11 for detecting a tilting in a measuring direction, an azimuth sensor 12 for detecting a horizontal angle in the measuring direction, and a control arithmetic unit 8, wherein the control arithmetic unit displays a scale to indicate horizontal and vertical lines on the display unit and controls the scale display so that the scale always indicates the horizontal and the vertical lines in the image based on a result of detection of tilting from the tilt sensor.
US08280673B2
A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include an apparatus inside such as electronics of which power consumption may be determined. Data including temperatures of two locations within the enclosure at various electronics power consumption levels may be entered into a 2-D plot. An approximation of the 2-D plot may be effected with an appropriate equation to be solved for ambient temperature. The data of the dimensional 2-D plot plus temperatures of a third location and air flow levels in the enclosure may be entered into a 3-D plot. An approximation of the 3-D plot may be effected with an appropriate equation to be solved for ambient temperature.
US08280670B2
A circuit breaker includes an actuator, a switching device connected to the actuator, and a test unit configured to test a connection between the actuator and the switching device by detecting a first connection voltage at the connection between the actuator and the switching device. The test unit is further configured to test the operation of the switching device by turning the switching device on without operating the actuator.
US08280667B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a waveform generator that generates a test signal to be supplied to the device under test; a digitizer that measures a response signal output by the device under test; a judging section that judges acceptability of the device under test based on the measurement result of the digitizer; and a loop-back path that connects an output terminal of the waveform generator to an input terminal of the digitizer when calibration is performed for the waveform generator and the digitizer. The loop-back path includes a noise removal filter that eliminates a noise component from a signal passed therethrough; and a path switching section that connects the waveform generator to the digitizer via the noise removal filter when the digitizer is being calibrated, and connects the waveform generator to the digitizer without including the noise removal filter therebetween when the waveform generator is being calibrated.
US08280661B2
Methods, systems and mediums are disclosed for aligning mass spectrometry data before the analysis of the mass spectrometry data. The mass spectrometry data may be received from a mass spectrometry machine, and re-sampled using a smooth warping function. To estimate the warping function, a synthetic signal is build using, for example, Gaussian pulses centered at a set of reference peaks. The reference peaks may be designated by users or calculated after observing a group of spectrograms. The synthetic signal is shifted and scaled so that the cross-correlation between the mass spectrometry data and the synthetic signal reaches its maximum value.
US08280658B2
A portable instrument, described in GB2413189, is held between the fingers of one hand and measures the cumulative exposure of a worker to vibration. However, this instrument will not comfortably fit the hands of all workers There is also an administrative problem in administering the allocation of different instruments to respective workers at the beginning of a shift, recording the measurements at the end of a shift and ensuring that instruments are adequately charged. The problem is solved by using a docking station (14) to receive the instruments before and after use, to receive information recorded by or stored within the units, to charge the batteries and to receive identity information concerning a worker requesting access, to a unit. When a worker returns an instrument to the docking station, a processing mechanism collects information about the identity of the worker, and the state of charge of the instrument's battery. It also informs a worker about to start work which instrument to take and records which worker has or has had which instrument.
US08280646B2
A method of offsetting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions includes the steps of capturing CO2 emissions data from a vehicle, transmitting the emissions data to a data collection unit, which then stores collected CO2 data and prepares a CO2 emission report. The CO2 emission report is used in preparing a customized CO2 offsetting package, which is selected by a vehicle owner. The selected CO2 offsetting package offsets the CO2 emissions through purchased credits, which neutralize the CO2 released from the vehicle. The owner of the package is given a visual indicator exhibiting that the vehicle is currently carbon neutral.
US08280643B2
The present invention provides a method for determining the structure of a microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecule in complex with fibrinogen, by providing a ClfA complexed with a fibrinogen gamma-peptide; determining a ClfA binding region of the fibrinogen gamma-peptide; determining one or more critical amino acid residues in the ClfA binding region of a native fibrinogen gamma-peptide that is critical for a ClfA:fibrinogen gamma-peptide interaction; determining one or more amino acid residues of the ClfA that binds to the ClfA binding region of the native fibrinogen gamma-peptide; modeling the structure of the ClfA binding region; determining the structure of the ClfA in complex with the :fibrinogen gamma-peptide interaction; and identifying one or more potential agent(s) that inhibit the ClfA:fibrinogen gamma-peptide interaction without affecting binding of other proteins to the fibrinogen gamma-peptide.
US08280633B1
A method of presenting a visual representation of a probable impact of a weather phenomenon to a location includes obtaining an impact function for the location by combining a weather function corresponding to a characteristic of the weather phenomenon with a damage function associated with the same characteristic. A graphic representation of an interest at the location is obtained. A visual representation of a probable impact of the weather phenomenon on the interest by modifying the graphic representation of the interest, where the modification is based on a predicted impact to the interest determined using the impact function.
US08280631B2
Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations for underground facilities/utilities. Electronic records of marking information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, multiple pieces of geo-location data (e.g., from a GPS receiver) are collected and logged per actuation of a marking device (e.g., a trigger-pull to dispense marking material). A computer-generated image or other visual representation of the marking operation may be electronically rendered in a display field based on logged marking information, essentially in real time as the marking operation is conducted, and/or recreated thereafter based on one or more stored electronic records.
US08280625B2
Methods and computer readable medium for collaborating on geographical maps between two or more computers are disclosed. In particular, sharing a geographical location on a map between two or more computers and co-navigating a map between two or more computers are disclosed. With respect to sharing a geographical location, the geographical location is retrieved to the first computer. The geographical location is added to the map being rendered at the first computer and is sent to a second computer. A map including the geographical location is rendered at the second computer. With respect to co-navigating, a map is displayed from a map perspective at the first computer. The map perspective is sent to the second computer. A map from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer is rendered at the second computer.
US08280606B2
A slip angle differential value calculation unit 34 calculates a slip angle differential value of a body of a vehicle, a braking force application prohibiting unit 35 prohibits the application of braking force by a braking force application unit 33 when a yaw rate detection value takes a positive value and the sip angle differential value is a positive judgment threshold or more or when the yaw rate detection value takes a negative value and the slip angle differential value is a negative judgment threshold or less.
US08280595B2
A system, and method of use thereof, for enabling short range intercommunication and the exchange of logistical information between and among a plurality of authorized agricultural machines that are designed to be operable in conjunction with one another to effect, as a specific identified group, a given agricultural operation, including a plurality of individual agricultural machines each of which has a communications control portion operable to transmit and receive short distance communications signals and each of which also has authentication credentials associated therewith establishing such machine's entitlement to share in the logistical information and to be considered and treated as a member of the specific identified group involved in the performance of the given agricultural operation, with such individual agricultural machines, when positioned in range of the short distance communications signals of the individual agricultural machines, forming a peer-to-peer network in which such individual agricultural machines are joined as group members and are operable to effect the distribution over a wireless bus of the peer-to-peer network of logistical information of a group member of such network.
US08280587B2
In a method for operating a vehicle (1) having a plurality of wheels (3) and wheel sensors (5) which are associated with said wheels and whose measurement signals are representative of angular speeds of the respective wheels (3), respective scaling values (SV1, SV2, SH1, SH2) are adapted when a predefined condition is met, the condition depending on the yaw rate (GR) of the vehicle and/or on the steering angle (LW) of the front/rear wheels.
US08280584B2
A system for controlling the climate in a cabin space using the state of a user's hand is provided. The system includes a controller and a heating ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC system). The HVAC system is operable to direct air into the cabin space so as to maintain a predetermined climate within the cabin space. The controller is operable to actuate and control the HVCAC system. The system further includes a handheld sensor operable to detect the state of the user's hand. The handheld sensor is in communication with the controller and transmits the state of the hand to the controller. The controller processes the state of the hand so as to calculate an HVAC system operating setting operable to optimize the user's comfort. The controller then actuates the HVAC system so as to execute the calculated heating ventilation and air conditioning system operating setting.
US08280580B2
A system and method for controlling the operation of stabilizing the movement of a vehicle between primary and secondary drivers is provided. A primary key is adapted to be associated to the primary driver. A secondary key is adapted to be associated to the secondary driver. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is a primary or secondary driver. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to stabilize the movement of the vehicle. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of stabilizing the movement of the vehicle in response to the driver status signals.
US08280567B2
A method of verifying clearance of a rail crossing includes: (a) detecting the presence of a train near the crossing, the train being equipped with a locomotive control unit; (b) in response to detection of the train near the crossing, generating a unique code; (c) capturing an image of the crossing; (d) transmitting the unique code along with the image to a remote operator control unit; (e) using the locomotive control unit, waiting for a response from the operator control unit containing the unique code; and (f) if the response containing the unique code is received by the locomotive control unit, permitting further operation of the train and, if the unique code is not received by the locomotive control unit, carrying out an automatic response which prevents movement of the train through the crossing.
US08280566B2
In a locomotive consist having at least a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive with a distributed power system on each locomotive in the locomotive consist, a system for establishing distributed power operations of the locomotive consist from a single location, the system including a communication network providing communications to and from at least one distributed power system, and a distributed power setup unit in communication with the distributed power system by way of the communication network. The distributed power setup unit has at least one of a processor, display and an input device to allow a user to establish distributed power operations.
US08280556B2
An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode.
US08280555B2
Even at spots, such as a window side and the back side of a room, where air conditioning loads are different from each other, comfortable air conditioning is obtained at low cost using a common air conditioning unit. One indoor apparatus and wireless transceiver having a ZigBee-compliant transmission device are installed in the room. Sensor units having temperature/humidity sensors and ZigBee-compliant wireless transceivers are installed at plural indoor spots where the air conditioning loads are different from each other. A controller in the indoor-apparatus receives sensor information (temperature/humidity information) via the wireless transceivers from the sensor units, and computes a weight average based on the sensor information and weight values that are pre-stored in the storing devices and that correspond to the sensor units. Using the computed value as a control value, the controller controls an air conditioning unit.
US08280550B2
Devices, systems, and methods are described for remotely managing items that are configured to be stored in at least one dispensing device. This includes receiving user identification information at a host computer system from an electronic device that is remotely located from the dispensing device. This also includes transmitting from the host computer system to the electronic device a disposition of at least one item, wherein the at least one item is associated with a patient. Further, this includes receiving, at the host computer system from the remote electronic device, information about the item originating from the dispensing device, wherein the information includes a further disposition of the item.
US08280537B2
An editor in an industrial automation environment comprises an input component that receives modification data relating to at least one of lifecycle and deployment of an object, the object is associated with a programmable logic controller and configured in accordance with a hierarchically structured data model. An implementation component can implement the modification data with respect to the object. The editor can further comprise a security component that determines that an entity providing the data to the input component is authorized to implement the modification data.
US08280533B2
An adaptive process controller performs continuously scheduled process model parameter interpolation to determine a particular set of process model parameters which are used to develop controller tuning parameters for controller tuning. More particularly, a state-based, adaptive PID controller described herein uses a new technique to determine an appropriate process model to be used to perform adaptive tuning over the various operating regions of the plant, and in particular, uses a process model parameter determination technique that enables continuously scheduled process model parameter update over the various plant operating regions or points. The use of this continuously scheduled process model parameter update method provides for smoother transitions between tuning parameters used in the PID controller during adaptive tuning procedures which are implemented based on changes in the operating region or the operating point of the process, thereby providing for better overall control.
US08280529B2
There is provided a sequence control apparatus for outputting a sequence of control signals to operate a control target, including a sequence storing section that stores thereon sequence data in association with each state received from outside, where the sequence data includes a plurality of control signals to be sequentially supplied to the control target and a plurality of pieces of time interval information designating time intervals during which the plurality of control signals are respectively kept supplied to the control target, a sequence data selecting section that, on reception of a state from the outside, selects sequence data associated with the state, a sequence reading section that sequentially reads the plurality of control signals and the plurality of pieces of time interval information included in the selected sequence data and sequentially supplies the plurality of control signals to the control target, and a time control section that refers to the plurality of sequentially read pieces of time interval information to control the time intervals during which the plurality of control signals are kept supplied to the control target.
US08280528B2
A cochlear stimulation lead and method of making a curved electrode array are provided. In one embodiment of the lead, while the curved section of the lead is curled further beyond its originally molded curvature and held in this position, a filling channel is filled with a filling material that is hardened or cured in this held position. The resulting lead has a tip curvature that is more curved than the originally molded curvature.
US08280527B2
For a suture sleeve and implantation method for one or two implantable leads, the suture sleeve is adapted to be inserted into a vein to secure and protect the lead from damage when a suture thread is positioned and tied around the vein in the region over the suture sleeve to prevent bleeding from the vein. The suture sleeve has two lead receiving through holes, into each of which a medical implantable lead is insertable. The suture sleeve also has two elongated sleeve portions, each including a lead receiving through hole, which are positioned in parallel and displaced in relation to each other such that they are connected in a connecting portion. At least one sleeve portion projects further in one direction.
US08280518B2
A device and method for programming an implantable pulse generator. In one embodiment, commands are entered designating implantable pulse generator programming variables into programmer memory. At least some of the commands are transformed into an executable macro. The macro is stored in the programmer memory. The macro is executed to transmit the programming variables to the implantable pulse generator.
US08280509B2
Systems and methods provide for selection of automatic capture verification modes. A number of capture verification modes are evaluated, wherein at least one of the capture verification modes has a distinct temporal relationship between delivery of a pacing pulse and detection of capture of heart tissue by the pacing pulse than the other capture verification modes. One or more capture verification modes are selected based on the evaluation. Capture verification is implemented using the selected one or more capture verification modes.
US08280498B2
A method of obtaining an indication of the position of an esophageal catheter inserted into a patient includes the steps of obtaining an electrical signal from the esophageal catheter, determining an ECG component of the electrical signal, determining the widths and/or rate of a number of periods in which the ECG component exceeds a threshold value, using the rate or widths of the periods to determine the presence of a P-wave in the ECG component, and concluding that the catheter is in a good position for obtaining a correct EMG signal if a P-wave is determined to be present. If not, the position may be corrected. The method may be performed by a control unit in a ventilator or a monitoring device.
US08280496B2
A method according to an embodiment of the invention includes inserting an endoscope at least partially into a body lumen. At least a portion of the body lumen is illuminated at a first wavelength. The portion of the body lumen is illuminated at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. A characteristic of an area of interest when the portion of the body lumen is illuminated at the first wavelength is compared with the characteristic of the area of interest when the portion of the body lumen is illuminated at the second wavelength. A medical device or treatment parameter is selected to treat the area of interest based on the comparing. In some embodiments, the body lumen is a ureter. In such an embodiment, a composition of a kidney stone within the ureter can be identified.
US08280495B2
A tip assembly for a catheter includes a housing having a recess that receives an optical bench. The optical bench accommodates adjacent fibers, one of which is in optical communication with a first beam re-director. The first beam re-director is oriented to cause a beam incident thereon to travel in a direction away from the optical bench. An engaging structure coupled to the optical bench provides torque coupling between the housing and an end of a torque cable extending axially along the catheter.
US08280494B2
A measurement apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to irradiate three types of ultrasonic waves and light upon a test region in a test object, and to measure modulated light and non-modulated light, the modulated light being modulated by an acousto-optical effect, and a signal processor configured to calculate a modulation depth that is an intensity of the modulated light divided by an intensity of the non-modulated light for the one, and at least one of a scattering characteristic and an absorption characteristic of the test region in the test object by utilizing a first change rate of the modulation depth to an amplitude of the one or an amount corresponding to the first change rate, and a second change rate of the modulation depth to a frequency of the one or an amount corresponding to the second change rate.
US08280492B2
An operating method is disclosed for an X-ray machine for examining a patient by using a contrast agent in the case of which a preliminary examination is carried out for determining a contrast agent curve in the case of which a series of attenuation values relating to defined scanning instants are acquired at a set scanning position, the contrast agent curve being determined on the basis of the attenuation values, and being stored for a follow-up examination. The contrast agent curve can be loaded during a follow-up examination and need not be determined anew, and so a reduction is attained in the contrast agent used, the applied radiation dose and the examination time. The contrast agent curve can, furthermore, be adapted to the examination situation currently present by taking account of biosignals.
US08280490B2
A registration aid for medical images obtained from an examination subject respectively with different imaging modalities at separated points in time, has a carrier adapted to be reproducibly applied to an examination subject at separated points in time at a substantially identical position on the examination subject at each of the separated points in time, and at least one landmark provider carried by the carrier, the landmark provider providing a first landmark visible in a first of the imaging modalities and a second landmark, different from the first landmark, visible in a second of the imaging modalities. The landmark provider provides the first and second landmarks with a fixed spatial relation relative to each other to allow contents of an image obtained with the first of the imaging modalities to be brought into registration with contents of an image obtained with the second of the imaging modalities, with the carrier being applied to the examination subject while each of the images is obtained.
US08280487B2
In a method for operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus having a patient positioning table with a tabletop as well as a control device by which the displacement of the tabletop relative to a homogeneous magnetic field (generated by a magnetic field generation device) and the acquisition of images of an anatomical subject of the patient in a field of view within the homogeneous magnetic field are controlled, the control device determines a suitable stepped displacement of the tabletop using information about the patient size, information about the subject to be acquired and information about the size of the homogeneous magnetic field and/or field of view present relative to the table displacement direction, and the control device controls the tabletop displacement as needed according to the determination result.
US08280481B2
The present disclosure provides electrodes that possess components capable of indicating to an end-user when the electrode is in need of replacement. In embodiments, the electrodes include a hydrogel in combination with a pH indicator which changes its color or opacity upon repeated use of the electrode, thereby indicating an appropriate time for changing or replacing the electrode.
US08280479B2
The present invention discloses a flexible 3D microprobe structure, which comprises at least one probe, a base and a hinge portion. The probe is connected to the base via the hinge portion. The probe forms a bend angle with respect to a normal of the base by attracting the probe through an electrostatic force to make the hinge portion bend with respect to the base, and thus to form a 3D structure having the bend angle. The probe, the base and the hinge portion are made of a flexible polymeric material to reduce the inflammation response of creatures. Further, a fixing element is used to enhance the structural strength of the flexible 3D microprobe structure.
US08280468B2
A superconducting magnet device for a single crystal pulling apparatus is arranged outside a pulling furnace containing a crucible for melting a single crystal material therein so as to apply a magnetic field to the melted single crystal material. The superconducting magnet device for a single crystal pulling apparatus includes a cryostat containing a superconducting coil therein, and a refrigerator port arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the cryostat and provided with a cryogenic refrigerator that cools the superconducting coil. The cryogenic refrigerator is provided in a region of the outer surface region of the cryostat at which the intensity of the magnetic field generated by the superconducting coil is weak.
US08280467B2
A cooling system includes a first section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a first flow of coolant and to permit the first flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a second section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a second flow of coolant and to permit the second flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a cable joint configured to couple the first section of HTS cable and the second section of HTS cable. The cable joint may be in fluid communication with at least one refrigeration module and may include at least one conduit configured to permit a third flow of coolant between said cable joint and said at least one refrigeration module through a coolant line separate from said first and second sections of HTS cable. Other embodiments and implementations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US08280459B2
A continuous housing (100) and integral user interface (101) is disclosed. The housing comprising a continuous housing having a cavity (117) to receive an electrical component and to surround the component on a plurality of sides. The housing further comprises, an integral user interface portion incorporated into a continuous housing portion.
US08280457B2
Techniques for use in communicating messages to a mobile device operative in a wireless network are described. A communication network receives a broadcast message which includes a protocol type identifier in a protocol type identifier field. The communication network identifies whether the protocol type of the broadcast message matches one of a plurality of protocol types stored in association with an identification of the mobile device. If the protocol type of the broadcast message matches one of the stored protocol types, then the communication network produces, from the broadcast message, a unicast message which includes information from the broadcast message, and causes the unicast message to be sent to the mobile device in the wireless network.
US08280456B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a user with feedback regarding power consumption in a battery-operated electronic device. In one aspect, a method performed by data processing apparatus includes identifying, using the data processing apparatus, usage of a hardware component of a battery-operated electronic device that includes the data processing apparatus, attributing the usage of the hardware component to the hardware component or to a software application that uses the hardware component, recording, using the data processing apparatus, a power consumption resulting from the usage, and presenting power consumption feedback to a user using the data processing apparatus. The power consumption feedback identifies the hardware component or the software application of the electronic device and the power consumption resulting from the usage.
US08280450B2
Constant phone-call quality is kept irrespective of setting of a tone adjusting function of a cellular phone under connection. There is provided a sound collector for collecting voices and converting the voices to a voice signal, a communication unit for communicating with a cellular phone terminal according to a predetermined communication protocol, and a reproducing unit for reproducing the voice signal received in the communication unit. A hands-free phone-call device for enabling the cellular phone terminal to execute hands-free phone call is provided with a signal processor for subjecting a voice signal to signal processing of adjusting tone quality to a predetermined state, and a controller for obtaining information on a tone adjusting function from the cellular phone terminal when the cellular phone terminal having the tone adjusting function for adjusting the tone quality during phone call is connected to communicate, and transmitting a predetermined command when it is determined that the tone adjusting function of the cellular phone terminal can be stopped or not, whereby the tone adjusting function of the cellular phone terminal is stopped and then the signal processor is made to execute the signal processing.
US08280448B2
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method comprises displaying a character input window for inputting a character string through a touch input on a touch screen; receiving an input character string through the character input window; and outputting a control signal for controlling a haptic module to generate a haptic effect corresponding to the configuration of the input character string so that it is possible for a user to easily recognize the configuration of the input character with the sense of touch.
US08280445B2
A system and method of performing a beam discovery between a device and a plurality of other devices in a wireless network is disclosed. Sector training sequences to a plurality of other devices are transmitted via a transmit directional antenna having a set of transmit sectors. A plurality of feedback messages are received from the plurality of other devices, where the plurality of feedback messages are indicative of optimum transmit sectors that have been determined at the other devices based at least in part on the sector training sequences. Beam training sequences are transmitted to the plurality of other devices via the transmit directional antenna. A plurality of feedback message indicative of optimum transmit beam directions within the optimum transmit sectors are received from the plurality of other devices.
US08280443B2
Disclosed are systems and methods which provide high bandwidth data communication with respect to a large coverage area using smart antenna and/or directional antenna (referred to herein as multi-beam antenna) technology. Circuitry may be provided at a WLAN AP to provide selection of particular antenna beams used in the downlink and/or uplink, control of multicast transmission, control of unicast transmission, and to provide antenna pattern shaping techniques. Embodiments implement multi-beam antenna technology with little or no hardware modifications to AP circuitry. Other embodiments implement multi-beam technology using radio front-end and/or radio hardware modifications to AP circuitry. Various diversity techniques may be implemented, such as selection diversity, maximum ratio combining, and equal gain combing. To provide desired antenna pattern shaping, phase offsets with respect to a signal as transmitted in each antenna beam may be employed.
US08280441B2
A multiple interface smart card adaptor is described for mobile phones to take advantage of at least wireless and contactless communications.
US08280436B2
A wireless telephony device includes a memory that stores at least one telephony application. A processor executes the telephony application to process at least one telephone call via a wireless telephony network in response to commands of a user. A breath analyzing sensor analyzes a breath of the user in conjunction with the at least one telephone call and generates breath analysis test data in response thereto. The telephony application generates a breath analysis test message, based on the breath analysis test data and transmits the breath analysis test message via the wireless telephony network.
US08280432B2
The present invention relates to a mobile communication device and a method for operating a mobile communication device with which triggering of a certain function can be avoided in some situations. The mobile communication device comprises an imaging section operable to acquire an image of a user of said mobile communication device, a user interface operable to receive an input of a user, and a controller configured to deactivate at least one function of said user interface based on an output signal of said imaging section.
US08280431B2
Mobile devices, systems, and methods enable individual mobile devices and network services to utilize idle mobile computer resources through virtualization and wireless mesh networking in a manner that is transparent to users. Other embodiments include apparatus and systems of devices for dispatching virtual node modules to perform service functions.
US08280428B2
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) with improved performance through channel quality prediction employing link adaption techniques including a receiver which makes selective measurements on downlink transmissions, and then stores one or more of the measurements or a channel quality indicator derived therefrom. The receiver then retrieves one or more of the past measurements (or the past channel quality estimates themselves), and combines it with current measurements (or the current channel quality estimate), to predict what the channel quality will be at some future time and derive a predictive channel quality indicator (CQI). This predictive CQI, derived from both current channel measurements and at least one past channel measurement, is then sent to the transmitter for use in updating transmission parameters.
US08280427B2
Measured are received power of a first signal received from a first entity, and received power of a second signal received from a second entity. A gain factor (or a matrix of gain factors if multiple antennas are used) is determined using the measured received powers of the first signal and of the second signal. If transmit power from the apparatus to the second entity is considered as the benchmark, the second signal is forwarded from the apparatus to the first entity using a second signal transmit power that is determined using the gain factor. Or, if transmit power from the apparatus to the first entity is considered as the benchmark, the first signal is forwarded from the apparatus to the second entity using a first signal transmit power that is determined using the gain factor. Method, apparatus, and memory storing computer program are detailed.
US08280417B2
Short user messages can be conveyed in system management signaling for a data or telephony network. In one example, a first control message is sent from a first radio to a second radio, the control message including a data field, the data field containing a short message directed from a user of the first radio to a user of a third radio. In response, a second control message is received in reply to the first control message from the second radio, the second control message including a data field, the data field containing a response to the short message.
US08280406B2
A location-based messaging system and its methods of operation are disclosed, including methods for sending geographic location information for a target address from a computing device to a receiving device that will enable the receiving device to display a map and/or directions from a geographic location of the receiving device to the geographic location of the target address. Methods for processing and distributing location-based data, methods for receiving and responding to location-based data, and methods for virally distributing location-based applications are also disclosed.
US08280400B1
A mobile communication device may include a wireless communication system configured to wirelessly communicate with other communication systems. A location sensing system may be configured to sense the location of the mobile communication device. A data storage system may be configured to store data representative of tasks which the mobile communication device should perform at different locations. A task manager application may contain at least one algorithm. The algorithm may be configured to receive information indicative of the current location of the mobile communication device from the location-sensing system, query the data storage system for any tasks which the mobile communication device should perform at the current location, and cause any tasks located by the query to be performed while at the current location.
US08280399B2
A method and system for controlling a location update of a Mobile Station (MS) and paging the MS, taking into account location characteristics of the MS in a communication system are provided. The system for controlling the location update includes the MS for receiving a broadcasting message from a preferred BS during a PLI, for determining whether a paging group is changed, for verifying lazy location update information in the broadcasting message to delay a location update of the MS, if the paging group is changed and for updating a location of the MS according to the lazy location update information.
US08280393B2
The invention discloses a method and an apparatus of bandwidth resource allocation in a mobile communication system. The methods is used for dividing sector bandwidth resource into private bandwidth resource for only users in its own sector and a public bandwidth resource. The bandwidth resource in the public bandwidth resource which is not allocated to users in its own sector for use can be lent to other sectors, and bandwidth resource in the public bandwidth resource which has been allocated to users, located at a central area, of its own sector for use can be multiplexed by other sectors. The method of bandwidth resource allocation in a mobile communication system according to the present invention utilizes the resource of the adjacent cells efficiently, and resolves the interference among cells due to the bandwidth resource borrowing/multiplexing.
US08280382B2
A cellular communication system comprises an access point (101) which supports an underlay cell of a first cell on an underlay frequency using another frequency. A proximity detector (113) detects user equipment (109) in response to a wireless transmission therefrom, which uses a different transmission technology from a transmission of the cellular communication system. In response to the proximity detection, the access point (101) temporarily transmits a pilot signal on the first cell frequency. The user equipment (109) is then switched to the access point (109) and the underlay frequency in response to a detection indication from the user equipment (109) indicating that the pilot signal has been detected. Following the switch the access point (101) terminates the transmission of the pilot signal.
US08280380B2
Disclosed is a method and system for transmitting/receiving a neighbor base-station information message in a broadband wireless access system. A base station sets and transmits a neighbor base-station information message, which includes a specific flag field for limiting neighbor base-station information and a reserved field and omits iterative neighbor base-station information depending on a value set in the specific flag field, thereby increasing a transmission efficiency. A mobile terminal receives the neighbor base-station information message from the base station, checks the received message, and then updates an operator ID according to the value set in the specific flag field.
US08280379B2
A method and a terminal for determining soft handover diversity thresholds are disclosed in the present invention. In the above method, at first, a terminal determines a dynamical addition threshold of a diversity corresponding to the terminal according to the first predetermined information, wherein the first predetermined information comprises: carrier-to-interference noise ratios CINRs of all the base stations in the diversity, and parameters carried in downlink channel description messages that are received from base stations by the terminal; then, the terminal determines a dynamical deletion threshold for each base station in the diversity according to the second predetermined information respectively, wherein, for each base station, the second predetermined information comprises: CINRs for base stations in the diversity whose CINRs are greater than the CINR of the base station, and parameters carried in downlink channel description messages. According to the technical solution disclosed in the present invention, a terminal can perform handover according to the current network condition, thereby the system stabilization can be ensured and the system efficiency can be improved.
US08280378B2
A system and method for improving quality of experience (QoE) of using a mobile device can comprise utilization of stored information relating to RANs of service providers and QoE ratings, receiving an event related to the RANs or to mobile Web browsing actions, receiving requests for QoE metrics based on the event, parsing and interpreting results of the QoE metrics; preparing and beginning an emulation session of the RANs, choosing a presentation style, rendering QoE in accordance with the browser actions and the presentation style which can be purely quantitative comparison, pre-recorded session, limited interaction-emulated session, live interactive session and live automatically controlled non-interactive session, and enabling user input according to the presentation style. The method can comprise standardizing information to allow comparison of the information, rendering network-related information on a display and updating the presentation of the network-related information to maintain a fair representation of the RANs being emulated.
US08280371B2
A radio system has silence periods in which wave transmission from a terminal is stopped and in which a base station measures external noise power. The base station includes a receiver for receiving a signal from the terminal, and a controller that has preset frequency information representing a frequency of diagnosing the receiver to a measurement frequency of external noise power, and diagnoses normality of the receiver by using one silence period out of plural silence periods on the basis of the frequency information while measuring the external noise power by using the other silence periods. When the receiver is diagnosed, the external noise cannot be measured during this silence period, and thus during this silence period the external noise measured during the just preceding silence period is held and applied as external noise under the diagnosis of the receiver.
US08280368B2
The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that determines when a performance disruption indicates a loss of synchronization with a broadcast signal and, in response, initiates reacquisition of the signal. Reacquisition techniques may include identifying and decoding only select portions of header information in the broadcast signal. Reacquisition may also be initiated in response to one or more deterministic triggers and during a test mode of operation.
US08280364B1
A system that facilitates inter-operable communications between first responder (FR) wireless communications devices at an emergency location. The system includes an on-site tactical communications plan that is configured into a communications control device. The communications control device is part of an emergency command vehicle. First responders utilize their associated FR devices to establish a wireless IP data session with the communications control device via a macro wireless network. Once the IP data session is established, the FR device is authenticated by the communications control device. The tactical plan is then transmitted to the FR device via the established wireless IP data sessions. Once the tactical plan is transmitted to the FR devices, each of the FR devices comprises identical radio configurations and channel assignments.
US08280361B2
The invention relates to a method for renewing program files of a programmable, mobile telecommunications terminal, according to which the program files are transmitted from a telecommunications network to the telecommunications terminal via the air interface. The aim of the invention is to allow the program files to be renewed in a simple and cost-effective manner and with little effort. To achieve this, the terminal type is determined by the telecommunications network, new program files that exist in devices of the telecommunications network, or are available elsewhere are determined and made available for the identified terminal type and the existing new program files are automatically transmitted to the terminal via the air interface.
US08280360B2
The present invention includes a method and software application for providing a promotion to a user on a phone. The software application resides on a user's phone and “listens” for phone numbers dialed by a user. In response to the user dialing a phone number, the software determines whether a promotion or an offer for a promotion should be provided to the user. In response to determining to play or offer to play a promotion to the user, the software application on the phone effectively “intercepts” the call and plays to the user either a promotion or an offer to hear about a promotion prior to placing an outbound voice call. The software application may retrieve the promotion from local memory or may connect with a remote server to download an applicable promotion.
US08280358B2
A user leaving an ad-hoc network is detected and a corresponding sequence of commands are executed independently of surrounding conditions. A user who joins the network transmits an execute-on-leave script to one or several users. The execute-on-leave script includes the commands that have to be executed when the user leaves the network, to ensure that the script is executed even when the device is no longer a network user.
US08280352B2
Method, and computer for handling information messages in a wireless communication infrastructure comprising an information message service and a mobile stations comprising the steps: a) receiving a connection request from one or more mobile stations at a server facility providing the information message service; b) receiving identity information about the one or more mobile stations at the server facility via a server facility interface; c) receiving a recording of a plurality information messages at the server facility; d) receiving information at the server facility indicative of the termination of the recording the plurality of information messages; e) storing the plurality of information messages in a storage space on the server facility and; f) receiving information at the server facility specifying at least one time period which at least one of the information messages recorded should be active; g) playing at least one of the information message recorded when receiving information indicative of a call being made to the one or more stations during the specified time period.
US08280344B2
Systems and methods deliver a dynamic telephone directory to wireless handsets of emergency services personnel for responding to an incident. When an incident occurs, wireless handsets of emergency services personnel near the incident are identified. An incident-specific telephone directory is generated using information stored in a database of emergency response personnel including wireless handsets of emergency services personnel within an incident response area plus personnel outside the area with responsibilities for managing or assisting in the incident response. The incident-specific telephone directory is then delivered to wireless handsets of emergency services personnel. The database of emergency services personnel and the incident-specific telephone directory may be organized by name, roles and responsibilities, agency, geography, incident type, and response plan. Wireless handsets within an incident response area may be those wireless handsets accessing a private network provided for emergency communications or by wireless handsets reporting their location to a central server.
US08280343B2
In one embodiment, when a mobile device is powered on, a mobile switching center acquires the contact information, such as, but not limited to, a phone number and the physical location associated with the mobile device. If the mobile device is a new device to the area, the contact information of the mobile device is passed to a reverse 911 database in order for a user of the mobile device to receive local alert messages transmitted by a reverse 911 system.
US08280341B2
A system receives a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data from a first network device and identifies a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) using the received GPS data.
US08280340B2
Systems of clock generation for integrated radio frequency receiver. In an integrated radio frequency receiver, a mixer is often used to down convert the incoming radio frequency signal. The down converted signal is then digitized and digital signal processing circuitry is used for efficient and flexible implementation of various functions to receive the underlying audio and/or data information. The mixer requires clock generation circuitry to provide a proper local oscillator signal for a selected channel. On the other hand, the digital signal processing circuitry requires its separate digital clock for proper operations. The clock generation system utilizes single local oscillator generation circuitry to provide the local oscillator signals required by the mixer and the digital clock signals required by the digital signal processing circuitry. In order to maintain a fixed frequency for the digital clock signal regardless channel selection, a fractional divider coupled with sigma-delta circuitry is used to derive the digital clock signal.
US08280339B2
A mixer capable of detecting or controlling a common mode voltage thereof, includes at least: a mixing module for mixing a first set of differential signals and a second set of differential signals to generate at least one mixed signal; and a compensation module for compensating at least one operation point of the mixing module.
US08280326B2
A receiver comprises a radio frequency splitter and respective tuning elements, which are coupled to respective outputs of the radio frequency splitter One of these tuning elements has a control terminal coupled to receive a direct current control signal via a radio frequency-blocking circuit. A direct current path extends, via the radio frequency splitter, from the aforementioned control terminal to a control terminal of another tuning element.
US08280320B2
An apparatus and a method for simultaneously supporting Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and beamforming in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method, two data streams are mapped to each of all of 2N transmission antennas; the two data streams are multiplied by different Cyclic Delay Diversity (CDD) phase sequences; the two data streams multiplied by the different CDD phase sequences for each transmission antenna are added; and the added data stream is multiplied by a beamforming coefficient and transmitted for each transmission antenna.
US08280307B2
An integrated wireless antenna/transceiver module that has particular application for use on a vehicle. The module includes a plurality of antenna radiating elements integrated on a circuit board where a separate radiating element is typically provided for each wireless application desirable for the particular vehicle. The module further includes a separate transceiver integrated on the circuit board where each transceiver is electrically coupled to a particular radiating element. Each of the transceivers is also electrically coupled to a local area network hub that receives signals from the transceiver, where the hub multiplexes the signals onto a digital interface to be sent to the particular application in the vehicle.
US08280304B2
A device and a method for programming the read/writeable memory of the RFID circuitry by communications between either RF antenna (12) or bus communications port controller interface (4) or both. In a peripheral device (1), an EEPROM (6), bus communications controller interface (4), NFC interface (8), antenna (12), and logic controller (10) operate to receive and transmit configuration and calibration data between a Bluetooth circuit (40) and an external device (22). The dual interfaced EEPROM (2) shares or partitions its EEPROM (6) between the Bluetooth circuit (40) and the external device (22).
US08280303B2
A distributed digital signal processor (DSP) includes instruction memory, data memory, a multiply-accumulate module, an instruction MMW transceiver, a data MMW transceiver, and a multiply-accumulate transceiver. The multiply-accumulate module performs a function upon first and second data elements in accordance with a command of an instruction. The instruction MMW transceiver transmits a MMW instruction signal that includes at least a portion of the instruction. The data MMW transceiver transmits a MMW data signal in response to receiving the MMW instruction signal, wherein the MMW data signal includes the first and second data elements. The multiply-accumulate MMW transceiver recovers the first and second data elements from the MMW data signal and recovers a command corresponding to the function from the MMW instruction signal.
US08280302B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for communication, and a program that makes it possible to provide a communication environment not limited by a use environment. An electrode controlling unit 261 in a transmitting device 260 checks a state of capacitive coupling of each of an electrode 271 and an electrode 272 in an electrode unit 262 with surroundings, controls connection of each electrode to a transmitting unit 263 according to a result of the check, and makes the electrode 271 and the electrode 272 function as a transmission signal electrode or a transmission reference electrode, the transmission signal electrode and the transmission reference electrode being different from each other. The transmitting unit 263 connects the electrode 271 and the electrode 272 to an amplifying unit under control of the electrode controlling unit 261, and transmits a signal to a communication medium 280 via one of the electrodes. The present invention is applicable to communication systems.
US08280299B2
An image forming apparatus capable of ensuring security of discharged printouts and preventing noise made by the operation of the image forming apparatus from becoming obtrusive to a user. The post-processing apparatus switches the operation mode of post processing to one of a normal operation mode and a quiet operation mode, and opens and closes a sealing door. Current limiting circuits switch the operation mode to the quiet operation mode before sealing of the door is released by a sealing drive circuit in response to an instruction from the user.
US08280291B2
A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on a recording sheet passing through a fixing nip formed by pressing a pressing member against an inside surface of a pressure belt via a low friction sheet, so that an outside surface of the pressure belt presses against a fixing member, wherein the pressing member includes a first pressing part whose front-side portion is an elastic pressing part, and a second pressing part whose front face presses against a rear face of the first pressing part, the second pressing part has a side wall near an upstream portion of the first pressing part that is upstream from the front-side portion with respect to a rotation direction of the pressure belt, and an upstream end of the low friction sheet, upstream from the other end with respect to the rotation direction, is sandwiched between the side wall and the upstream portion.
US08280285B2
Deflection recessed in a bow shape at the axial central portion in the longitudinal direction of the transfer member is avoided to prevent failure in image caused by the transfer nip being improperly forming at the central portion. The pressing force of the transfer member against an image bearing member resulting in failure in transfer is made uniform in the longitudinal direction. The transfer member forming the transfer nip are pressed toward the photosensitive drum at the central portion in the longitudinal direction or in the positions which are spaced apart toward the center from the ends to avoid the deflection of the transfer member.
US08280283B2
An image forming apparatus for transferring and superimposing toner images formed on plural image bearers onto an endless intermediate transfer member in an electric field created between the plural image bearers and plural semi conductive transfer members internally contacting the endless intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus includes a heat generating member arranged inside the intermediate transfer member to generate heat. A heat transfer member is provided to transfer the heat to the plural semi conductive transfer members.
US08280278B2
A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when the process cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position.
US08280268B2
A developing device is provided with a first transporting member for transporting a developer containing a toner and a carrier; a second transporting member opposite to the first transporting member to interpose a first spatial region therebetween and opposite to an electrostatic latent image carrying member to interpose a second spatial region therebetween; a first electric field forming device, composed of first and second power sources, for shifting the toner in the developer held onto the first transporting member to the second transporting member; and a second electric field forming device, composed of the second power source, for shifting the toner held onto the second transporting member to an electrostatic latent image on the carrying member. The operation of the second electric field forming device is controlled based on electric currents flowing in the first and second power sources, which are detected by first and second detecting blocks, respectively.
US08280264B2
A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the toner supply container including a rotatable container body for containing toner; and a sensor, rotatable integrally with the container body, for detecting a remaining toner amount in the container body.
US08280253B2
An optical telecommunications network terminal includes a device for generating downlink optical signals and a device for receiving uplink optical signals, the optical signals being conveyed in optical transmission means connected to the terminal. More particularly, the generator device is adapted to generate a continuous optical signal at wavelength λii and having an initial power greater than a power threshold for the occurrence of a stimulated Brillouin effect, above which threshold said continuous optical signal induces in the optical transmission means a continuous Brillouin backscattering uplink optical signal at wavelength λ′ii. The optical signal receiver device further includes means for analyzing the power of said continuous Brillouin backscattering optical signal at wavelength λ′ii.
US08280240B2
An electronic flash device that is capable of preventing an electric leak from a secondary electrode section or a circuit board pattern that is electrically connected with the secondary electrode section to conductive materials such as a surrounding metal exterior and a metallic frame in a downsized electronic flash device. An electronic component has a high voltage section for emitting an emission section. A circuit board contains the electronic component. An insulating member covers the high voltage section of the electronic component. The insulating member is extended to a side of the circuit board that is opposite to the side on which the electronic component is contained at an outer edge section of the circuit board close to the high voltage section.
US08280238B2
System and method for modifying an optical assembly with another image modifying device by using an adapter assembly to connect or couple three image modifying devices together. The adapter assembly includes two adapters that have collars to hold a night vision monocular between them, and to each connect with a camera and lens, respectively, modifying a camera-lens assembly for use in night time photo surveillance. Attachment members on each adapter may include mechanical and/or electrical connectors to couple or connect the adapters to each other, and/or to electrically connect the camera with the lens.
US08280229B2
DVD playback over Multi-room by copying to the hard drive of a primary device in a networked multi-room system (NMS). The DVD content is saved to a hard drive and can then be retrieved by any of the remote devices in the NMS by accessing the program guide or the recorded programs list. The DVD menu can be altered to include previews, contests, products, etc.
US08280226B2
A method, system, and computer program product for selecting, in real time, a leading view of a multi-angle television program. A video recorder receives a program view selection. The video recorder then transmits a viewer data request for the currently selected program view to a service provider. The video recorder may then receive requested viewer data of the selected program view and one or more alternate views of the selected program. The video recorder may then determine if the selected program view is the leading view of the selected program. When the selected view is not the leading view and the video recorder is configured for automatic view switching, the video recorder may autonomously switch to the leading view of the selected program. Alternatively, the video recorder may present vote totals of all views of the selected program and enable a selection of a desired alternate view.
US08280225B2
There is provided an information processing device capable of communicating with a purchase history storage device for storing purchase history data and a display device, the information processing device including a storage unit for storing user image data and property data; a communication unit; a purchase history data acquiring unit for acquiring the purchase history data; a property data recording unit for generating and recording the property data based on the purchase history data; a property data updating unit for updating the property data to property data including a second property image represented with a time interval from when the user purchased the property until present based on the property data and time information; and a display data generating unit for generating display data shown with the user image and an image of the property according to the display request.
US08280209B2
Cable conduits include an elongated tubular conduit body having an exterior surface and an interior surface that define a tube wall, the interior surface of the tubular body defining a longitudinal internal cavity that is configured to hold a plurality of jacketed cables. The conduits also have first and second longitudinally extending channels within the tube wall. A first ripcord is free-floating within at least a portion of the first longitudinally extending channel and a second ripcord is free-floating within at least a portion of the second longitudinally extending channel. The first and second longitudinally extending channels are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal internal cavity. Related methods of slitting such cable conduits are also provided.
US08280207B2
A method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips are disclosed and may include coupling one or more optical signals into a back surface of a CMOS photonic chip comprising photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. The devices may be integrated in a front surface of the chip and one or more grating couplers may receive the optical signals in the front surface of the chip. The optical signals may be coupled into the back surface of the chip via one or more optical fibers and/or optical source assemblies. The optical signals may be coupled to the grating couplers via a light path etched in the chip, which may be refilled with silicon dioxide. The chip may be flip-chip bonded to a packaging substrate. Optical signals may be reflected back to the grating couplers via metal reflectors, which may be integrated in dielectric layers on the chip.
US08280204B2
An optical wiring board and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a base substrate having an optical waveguide layer with a mirror groove formed on one surface thereof and a first insulation layer stacked on one surface of the optical waveguide layer and having a through-hole connected with the mirror groove formed thereon, forming a metal mirror layer connected from the mirror groove to an inner wall of the through-hole and forming an electrode pad on a side of the other surface of the optical waveguide layer, in which the electrode pad is disposed in accordance with the position of the metal mirror layer.
US08280199B2
The invention relates to a device, system, and method for optimizing and altering electromagnetic frequency using Doppler shifts of electromagnetic radiation, and, in particular, optimizing frequency for application to photovoltaic devices and the like. The device comprises a crystal positioned in a channel undergoing a vibration, wherein an interaction between an incoming electromagnetic radiation and the vibration of the crystal optimizes a frequency of electromagnetic radiation. Also, a method comprising providing a channel, at least two parallel walls having an reflective surface; separating an incoming electromagnetic radiation into component frequencies; vibrating at least two parallel walls, wherein parallel walls contain at least one crystal capable of vibration; directing incoming electromagnetic radiation toward at least two parallel walls, wherein contact between incoming electromagnetic radiation and vibration of at least one crystal alters a frequency of electromagnetic radiation toward said optimal frequency.
US08280198B2
A system to perform modifications, or adjustments, to a digital image includes an interface component to receive selection input that indicates a location with respect to the digital data to be modified. A detector then detects a characteristic of the digital data. A configurator configures a data modification component to modify the digital data based on the detected characteristic. As configured by the configurator, the data modification component is further configured to modify the digital data based on a horizontal displacement with respect to the indicated location and a vertical displacement with respect to the indicated location.
US08280191B1
A system and method for expansion and reduction of images uses pyramidal retargeting to reduce complexity in image resizing. An image pyramid may be generated dependent on a function of pixel data or energy values for each pixel of an input image. An image resizing solution may be developed by applying seam carving techniques to a lower-resolution version of the input image represented by the image pyramid, and may identify bands in the higher-resolution input image to be resized. A resizing operation may then be applied the bands based on local content. The resizing operation may include seam carving techniques, scaling techniques, and/or hybrid resizing techniques, and may be selectable by a user. Identified bands may be expanded to obtain a smoother solution. Different bands may be expanded by different amounts, based on local content. The number of bands and the expansion factors may be configurable based on user input.
US08280190B2
To provide a processing method for reducing motion blur while increasing resolution. By performing a super-resolution process, a resolution-increased image is obtained from an input image in multiple frames. By performing an enlargement process, an enlarged image is obtained from the input image in one frame. A high-frequency image is obtained by subtracting the enlarged image from the resolution-increased image. A high spatial frequency-emphasized image is obtained by adding the high-frequency image to the resolution-increased image. The enlarged image and high spatial frequency-emphasized image are displayed alternately every half frame.
US08280189B2
A method for tracking a position of an object includes using a field sensor associated with the object to measure field strengths of magnetic fields generated by two or more field generators, wherein a measurement of at least one of the field strengths is subject to a distortion. Rotation-invariant location coordinates of the object are calculated responsively to the measured field strengths. Corrected location coordinates of the object are determined by applying to the rotation-invariant location coordinates a coordinate correcting function so as to adjust a relative contribution of each of the measured field strengths to the corrected location coordinates responsively to the distortion in the measured field strengths.
US08280188B2
An image processing apparatus includes a feature amount recognition unit that recognizes a feature amount of each of plural pieces of image data, and a processing reference extraction unit that extracts a processing reference for image correction to be made to the plural pieces of image data from the feature amount recognized by the feature amount recognition unit.
US08280177B2
An encoding device includes a first memory that stores image data, plural second memories that are associated with plural target pixels in the image data, each second memory storing pixel data of one or more reference pixels near the associated target pixel thereof, a controller that causes each second memory to store pixel data of the one or more reference pixels near the associated target pixel thereof specified from the image data stored in the first memory, and plural encoders that perform encoding on each of the plural target pixels by estimating pixel data of each target pixel using pixel data of the one or more reference pixels near each respective target pixel stored in the plural second memories wherein the plural target pixels have different positions in a subscanning direction such that one target pixel does not overlap with another target pixel in a main scanning direction, and the total amount of data of all of the reference pixels used by the plural encoders is equal to or less than the amount of information of one line of image data stored in the first memory.
US08280164B2
A method for extracting an object out of each image in a group of digital images that contain the object, includes providing a group of digital images, each containing the object with a background; selecting a seed image from the group of digital images, and displaying the seed image to a user; the user providing at least one marking for the seed image, which corresponds to a subset of pixels in the seed image that indicates whether the set of pixels belongs to a part of object of interest or a part of the background; producing from the seed image and the marking a statistical model that can be used for separating the object of interest from the background in the group of images; and applying the statistical model to each image in the group of digital images to produce a cutout of the object of interest from each digital image.
US08280159B2
An image processing device that processes input image data includes: an image dividing unit that divides the input image data into a plurality of blocks; an image type determining unit that determines the type of the input image data for every block on the basis of the number of edge elements included in the block; a frequency component conversion unit that converts color components of the input image data into frequency components for every block; and an image compression unit that compresses corresponding image data for every block by specifying unnecessary components of the converted frequency components of the image data on the basis of the determined type of the image data and suppressing or removing the specified unnecessary components.
US08280152B2
The invention relates to a method for optically scanning the three-dimensional geometry of an object by means of triangulation, in which a pattern (9, 9′) is projected onto the object (7) to be scanned in order to obtain a 3D data set, and the projected pattern (9, 9′) is recorded in an image (40, 41). In a first step for the production of at least one first image (40), a first pattern (9) is projected and in a second step for the creation of at least one further image (40), a further pattern (9′) deviating from the first as regards position or shape is projected onto the object (7) to be scanned and the image (41) is created. The first image (40) and the further image (41) comprise at least one common point (44). The 3D data acquired from the images (40, 41) are merged in a subsequent step on the basis of the 3D data of the at least one common point (44) such that the 3D data acquired from said images (40, 41) agree at least with reference to the 3D data of the common point (44) in the 3D data set.
US08280144B2
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing material properties of an object using hyperspectral imaging. An exemplary method includes obtaining a hyperspectral image of an object; analyzing the hyperspectral image according to an algorithm; and correlating data obtained from the analysis with material properties of the object.
US08280129B2
A medical image managing device can be used in a medical image system in which an image storage device storing medical images obtained by an imaging device as past images so as to specify an examination and a series and one or more image reference devices referring a user to the past images stored in the image storage device are connected to each other through a network.
US08280127B2
A system and method for analyzing three-dimensional image data are disclosed herein. The system includes a processor configured to generate an overview image of at least a portion of a patient. The processor is configured to generate a cross-sectional image including a cross-sectional view of the overview image. The processor is also configured to generate a statistical image showing a parameter value relating to the portion of the patient shown in the overview image. The system also includes a visual output device connected to the processor. The visual output device is configured to display the overview image, the cross-sectional image, and the statistical image generally simultaneously. Also, the overview image, the cross-sectional image, and the statistical image are interconnected such that an update, change, or input applied to any one of the images results in an update to one or more of the other images.
US08280115B2
A key region extraction unit (303) extracts a first region including pixels having a predetermined pixel value in a physical space image. A motion vector detection unit (304) calculates motion vectors at a plurality of portions on the physical space image. An object region detection unit (305) specifies, using the motion vectors, a second region to be merged with the first region. When superimposing a virtual space image on the physical space image, an image composition unit (308) excludes a composition region obtained by merging the first region with the second region from a virtual space image superimposition target.
US08280111B2
A system, circuit and methods for target detection from hyper-spectral image data are disclosed. Filter coefficients are determined using a modified constrained energy minimization (CEM) method. The modified CEM method can operate on a circuit operable to perform constrained linear programming optimization. A filter comprising the filter coefficients is applied to a plurality of pixels of the hyper-spectral image data to form CEM values for the pixels, and one or more target pixels are identified from the CEM values. The process may be repeated to enhance target recognition by using filter coefficients determined by excluding the identified target pixels from the hyper-spectral image data.
US08280103B2
Methods, devices and computer program products for enabling secure and efficient extraction of embedded watermarks from digital host content are provided. Upon the reception of a multi-channel digital host content with embedded watermarks, a subset of the received channels are selected and combined together to form a composite content. The composite content is then examined to recover embedded watermarks. The particular subset of channels can be selected according to a probability value. Further, a set of new channels can be selected and combined after a particular time interval has elapsed. The number of selected channels can also be varied each time a new selection is made.
US08280091B2
A phasing plug includes a base portion including an input side, an output side, a plurality of entrances on the input side, a plurality of exits on the output side arranged about a central axis, and a plurality of channels fluidly interconnecting the entrances with the respective exits. Each corresponding entrance, channel and exit establish an acoustical path from the input side to the output side that is non-radial relative to the central axis. Two phasing plugs may be provided in a dual compression driver.
US08280085B2
A hearing aid has a housing, a signal-processing arrangement housed in the housing, an LED, an actuatable switching element arranged on the housing, and a battery. The LED is connected to a positive pole of the battery with its anode connector and to a first connector of the signal-processing arrangement with its cathode connector. The signal-processing arrangement is formed with a monitoring unit, which switches the first connector if there is a drop below a first threshold voltage such that the cathode connector can be connected to a negative pole of the battery.
US08280080B2
A device includes a first wafer, a second wafer, a gasket bonding the first wafer to the second wafer to define a cavity between the first wafer and the second wafer, and an acoustic transducer disposed on the first wafer and disposed within the cavity between the first wafer and the second wafer. One or more apertures are provided for communicating an acoustic signal between the acoustic transducer and an exterior of the device. An aperture may be formed in the cavity itself, or the cavity may be hermetically sealed. An aperture may be formed completely through the first wafer and located directly beneath at least a portion of the acoustic transducer.
US08280079B2
Provided are a piezoelectric microspeaker and a method of fabricating the same. In the piezoelectric microspeaker, a diaphragm includes a first region and a second region. The first region may be formed of a material capable of maximizing an exciting force, and the second region may be formed of a material having less initial stress and a lower Young's modulus than the first region.
US08280072B2
Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter.
US08280068B2
A method and device for transforming ambient audio are provided. Example embodiments may include monitoring ambient audio proximate to a sound processing device located in an environment. The device may analyze the ambient audio to derive one or more first characteristics. Memory may be accessed to obtain at least one transformation audio from a number of stored transformation audio. Each stored transformation audio may have one or more associated characteristics. A characteristic associated with the transformation audio may match one or more of the first characteristics. The device may generate output transformation audio based on the one or more transformation audio to provide modified output audio for propagation into the environment.
US08280064B2
A wireless communications apparatus comprises a monitor component that analyzes transmitter operating parameters of the wireless communications apparatus. A generator component generates an acoustic anti-phase burst based at least in part upon the analyzed transmitter operating parameters, wherein the acoustic anti-phase burst reduces effects of radio frequency interference received at a hearing aid.
US08280063B2
In public audio presentation it is desirable that the playback loudness is continuously adapted to the background noise loudness. Such adaptation of the playback volume requires a continuous measurement of the loudness somewhere within the sound exposure area. A dipole loudspeaker panel has a strong attenuation of the emitted sound in the panel plane. When placing a microphone capsule in that plane but outside the panel, the sound emitted from the panel will be recorded by the microphone with a significant sound pressure level attenuation. Such specific microphone arrangement can capture the background noise without being unduly disturbed by the direct sound emitted from the loudspeakers.
US08280059B2
A method for generating a group key are provided in the field of network communications. The method includes the following steps: Group members select DH secret values and generate DH public values. An organizer generates an intermediate message and broadcasts a DH public value and the intermediate message. The group members generate a group key according to a DH secret value selected by the organizer and DH public values of the other group members except the organizer. A system for generating a group key and communication devices are also disclosed in the present invention.
US08280057B2
A method includes receiving data at a first wireless node in a wireless network, where the data is associated with an industrial control and automation system. The method also includes decrypting the received data using a first encryption key to produce decrypted data and encrypting the decrypted data using a second encryption key to produce encrypted data. The method further includes communicating the encrypted data to at least a second wireless node in the wireless network. Another method includes generating first data at a first wireless node in a wireless network, where the data is associated with an industrial control and automation system. The other method also includes encrypting the first data using an encryption key and transmitting the first data to multiple second wireless nodes in the wireless network, where the second wireless nodes are capable of using the same encryption key to decrypt the first data.
US08280056B2
A data integrity system including a transmitter, having a TX pseudorandom function generator, a TX switching function having a transmitting option and a TX combiner operative to receive, from a Host, an initialization data entity including at least one word, [TA1], in an initialization phase, to receive, during normal operation, two data entities of interest each including at least one data word of interest [TA2] and [TA3] respectively; to receive a first data entity including at least one word [TC1] comprising a randomized data entry, from the TX pseudorandom function generator, to generate a first XOR sum of the initialization data entity's word [TA1] and the at least one randomized data entity [TC1], in at least one iteration of an initialization phase; and, during normal operation, to generate and to output a second XOR sum [TA2⊕TC2=TB2] and a third XOR sum [TA3⊕TC3=TB3], wherein TB2 and TB3 are randomized data entities, wherein the words TA1, TA2 and TA3 are operative to initialize the data integrity system including enabling the data integrity system to encrypt the TA2 word and to generate an identifying hash value output using the TA3 word.
US08280046B2
The present invention is related to a method and system for deriving an encryption key using joint randomness not shared by others (JRNSO). Communicating entities generate JRNSO bits from a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate and the JRNSO bits are used in generation of an encryption key. The authentication type may be IEEE 802.1x or a pre-shared key system. In an IEEE 802.1x system, a master key, a pairwise master key or a pairwise transient key may be generated using the JRNSO bits. The encryption key may be generated by using a Diffie-Hellman key derivation algorithm.
US08280040B2
Encrypting information involving the execution of a first instruction and a second instruction on a processor. The first instruction causes the processor to perform an AddRoundKey transformation followed by a ShiftRows transformation. The second instruction causes the processor to perform a ShiftRows transformation followed by a MixColumns transformation. These instructions are useful for performing AES encryption. The first and second instructions also have inverse modes that may be used to perform AES decryption.
US08280038B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, systems and means for distinguishing between microphone line signals resulting from: actuation of a microphone button of a headset plugged into a telephone device jack, and removal of the headset plug form the jack. During a telephone call, a first signal can be detected on a microphone line of a headset jack to indicate whether a microphone button of the headset is actuated. Also, while the headset plug is being disconnected from the jack, a transition on the microphone line can be detected, from a second signal indicating that the microphone is being disconnected, to a third signal indicating that the microphone button is actuated. Consequently, to avoid erroneously hanging up a call, transitions to the third signal when removing the plug form the jack can be ignored and the call can be maintained. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08280036B2
An apparatus comprising a digital subscriber line (DSL) transmitter configured to transmit a transmitter referred virtual noise for a tone in a subscriber line, wherein the transmitter referred virtual noise is based on a time history of a noise condition in the subscriber line. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a transmitter referred virtual noise for a DSL tone using a plurality of noise condition measurements, and determining a DSL bitloading using the transmitter referred virtual noise.
US08280032B2
The application relates to the registration of the identity of a telephone terminal in association with the identity of a computer terminal in a Computer Technology Integration environment CTI-enabled switching apparatus and a registration server interconnected by a CTI-link and a telephony link. A registration method whereby the registration is essentially achieved by using the telephony link to present PIN data inputted using the telephone terminal to the registration server and to identify the from the CTI-link the identity of the telephone terminal which presents the PIN data over the telephony link faces the problem of how to tie in the correct CLI to the correct call. This problem is solved by the application in that the port of telephony link used by the switching apparatus for the call by which the PIN data is transmitted is transmitted in combination with the CLI over the CTI-link. The registration server retains information on which port of the switching apparatus is associated with which registration server port and a table look-up is being used to find out at which port of the registration server the call over said telephony link is received.
US08280029B1
The invention provides a customer service response system (CSRS), that a customer service agent can selectively employ to simultaneously interact with one or more customers. When a caller places a telephone call to the customer service call center, the CSRS answers the call and plays a message to the calling party. The message may be a greeting message and may prompt the calling party for information such as a claim number. The CSRS then displays this information on a graphical user interface at the call center. The customer service agent in front of the GUI can answer the call, or can respond to the caller with a question by clicking a button on the GUI.
US08280028B1
System and method for providing a telecommunication transmission from an originating device to a terminating device over a telecommunications network. In one embodiment a bit code may be received from the telecommunication network, such that the bit code is extracted from the telecommunication transmission from the originating device. A directory number associated with the originating source may be received and a predefined message may be determined based at least on the directory number and bit code. The predefined message may be displayed on the terminating device.
US08280020B2
Transparent caller name authentication is provided to authorized third parties by creating an Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate chain. An owner of a registered caller name can authorize third parties to use the caller name by issuing a PKI sub-certificate to each authorized third party. An authenticated caller name displays the owner's name to the called party. Outsourcing and mobile employment is thereby facilitated, and called party confusion is reduced.
US08280018B2
Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications to access diverse categories of information. One embodiment includes: storing data representing a privilege of a user during a predetermined period of time; responsive to a first request made via a presentation of a listing of the first entity for a service of the first entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the first entity to deliver the service of the first entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the first request; and responsive to a second request made via a presentation of a listing of the second entity for a service of the second entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the second entity to deliver the service of the second entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the second request.
US08280017B2
A communication terminal apparatus is provided capable of preventing a misunderstanding that the external attachment telephone is hooked up, so that the external attachment telephone can be correctly shifted to a receiving mode. In the apparatus, a ring signal detecting section detects a ring signal sent by a line exchange machine from a line; and a hookup detecting section monitors a line voltage of the line and detects a hookup of an external attachment telephone. In the hookup detecting section, a line voltage detecting section detects the line voltage on the line; a reference voltage outputting section outputs a reference voltage; a threshold value voltage switching section switches to a threshold value voltage representing a first voltage level or switches to a threshold value voltage representing a second voltage level; and a voltage comparing section compares the reference voltage with the line voltage when the ring signal is detected. When a comparison result indicates that a difference is or over a threshold value voltage representing the first voltage level, it is detected that the external attachment telephone is hooked up.
US08280015B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining contextual information with a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains additional contextual information that is not obtained automatically when a voicemail message is received. More specifically, the method includes automatically obtaining a first set of contextual information from a client associated with the caller when the caller is transferred to a voicemail system. Then a determination is made regarding whether the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained. If the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained, the requested information is obtained from a third-party service or by prompting the caller.
US08280011B2
Included are embodiments for recording data from a communication. A least one embodiment includes a system for recording data from a communication that includes a controller component and a gateway component passively coupled to a switching component. In at least one embodiment the gateway component configured to receive at least a portion of the control data, the gateway component further configured to receive media data associated with the with the communication.
US08280005B2
An X-ray image acquiring system capable of improving the detection accuracy of a foreign substance contained in a subject is provided. An X-ray image acquiring system 1 irradiates X-rays to a subject S having a predetermined thickness W from an X-ray source, and detects X-rays transmitted through the subject S in a plurality of energy ranges. The X-ray image acquiring system 1 includes a low-energy detector 32 for detecting, in a low-energy range, X-rays having been transmitted through a region R1 extending in a thickness direction within the subject S, a high-energy detector 42 for detecting, in a high-energy range, X-rays having been transmitted through a region R2 extending in a thickness direction within the subject S, and a timing control section 50 for controlling detection timing of X-rays in the low-energy detector 32 and the high-energy detector 42 so that an inspecting region E located at a predetermined site within the subject S is included in the region R1 and the region R2.
US08280004B2
A method is provided for decontaminating biological pathogens residing in an enclosure of an electronic device. The method includes: identifying materials used to encase the enclosure of the electronic device; tailoring x-ray radiation to penetrate the materials encasing the enclosure; and directing x-ray radiation having a diffused radiation angle towards the electronic device.
US08279991B2
In operation, a transmitting device selects a synchronization pattern associated with the desired timeslot that is at least mutually exclusive from synchronization patterns associated with other timeslots on the same frequency in the system. Once selected, the transmitting device transmits a burst embedding the synchronization pattern that was selected, where appropriate. If the receiving device detects the synchronization pattern, it immediately synchronizes with the timeslot with confidence that it is synchronizing to the desired timeslot by using sets of synchronization patterns associated with the desired timeslot that are at least mutually exclusive from synchronization patterns associated with the other timeslots on the same frequency.
US08279989B2
A baud rate acquisition circuit (10) for synchronizing a sampling signal with an input signal operates in broad rate sweeping and a rate fine tuning phases. In the rate sweeping phase, a timing error detector (24) examines the sampling signal generated by a decimator (16). If the sampling signal is outside a rate acquisition range from the target rate, a rate sweeping algorithm selects a new sampling rate. In response to the sampling rate within the rate acquisition range, the timing error detector (24) examines the asymmetry thereof to generate a rate correction signal to synchronize the sampling signal with the input signal. Next in the rate fine tuning phase, a multiplexer (22) routes the sampling signal through a square root filter (18). By examining the waveform shaped signal, the time error detector (24) synchronizes the sampling signal with the input signal with high accuracy.
US08279986B2
Provided are: plural circuit components including a circuit component which constitutes a receiving unit receiving a signal sequence which is arranged so that a desired signal and a signal different from the desired signal are lined up in time series, the desired signal indicating desired data which includes at least one of text data, sound data, image data, and a computer program product; and an operating parameter changing unit which changes an operating parameter of at least one of the plural circuit components, during a period in which the receiving unit receives the signal different from the desired signal.
US08279985B2
An OFDMA communication system includes a plurality of terminals, with at least one of the terminals including at least one type of multi-user decoder adapted to decode a signal intended for the at least one terminal received on a subchannel of the system and adapted to decode at least a portion of an interfering signal received on the subchannel. The system also includes a plurality of base stations. Each of the base stations may be in communication with others of the base stations for exchanging information about data throughput for particular terminals in cells of the system using particular subchannels in the cells. Each of the base stations assigns the subchannels to terminals in the cell of the base station so as to maximize data throughput in the entire system.
US08279977B2
A signal decoder, a method of detecting an RF signal at a MIMO receiver and a MIMO receiver are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the signal decoder includes: (1) a tree pruner configured to reduce a number of nodes of an MLD tree to expand based on modulation properties of the transmitted radio signals and SE enumeration of at least a portion of the MLD tree and (2) a vector sorter configured to sort multiple rows of child nodes of the MLD tree in parallel.
US08279972B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA) capable of implicit feedback in a wireless local area network, comprising at least one power amplifier, a plurality of antennas capable of being connected with said at least one power amplifier, and a switch capable of switching the connection between said plurality of antennas and said at least one power amplifier thereby enabling said wireless station to sound a complete channel matrix for an access point (AP) in communication with said wireless station (STA).
US08279968B2
A method of encoding a signal to be transmitted from a terminal via a channel in a communication network includes receiving the signal at the terminal; determining characteristics of the channel; encoding a first portion of the signal in accordance with a first encoding method to produce a first encoded signal portion; and encoding a second portion of the signal in accordance with a second encoding method to produce a second encoded signal portion. The first portion of the signal encoded in accordance with the first encoding method is dependent on the determined characteristics of the channel. The first encoded signal portion and the second encoded signal portion are transmitted via the channel.
US08279967B2
A code division multiplex signal transmitter includes an operational circuit, a modulator unit and a multiplexer. The operational circuit adds up input transmission data on channels to produce resultant added data and modulates pieces of bit transmission data which are indicative of the values of the respective bits of the added data, when expressed in binary form, the pieces of bit transmission data being equal in number to the M bit positions of the added data expressed in binary form. The modulator unit includes modulators corresponding in number to the M bit positions of the added data in the binary form. A k-th modulator, where k is an integer of 1 to M, inclusive, modulates a k-th piece of bit transmission data to produce a k-th bit modulated signal whose amplitude level is 2k-1. The multiplexer multiplexes first to M-th bit modulated signals to produce a code division multiplex signal.
US08279953B2
A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus and a wireless communication method for suppressing interference between codes, while further reducing the ratio of redundant components occupying a signal to improve the transmission efficiency. The transmitting apparatus (100) transmits a signal having a frame structure in which a plurality of symbols follow a pilot symbol to which a guard interval has been added. In the receiving apparatus (200) that receives that signal, a long FFT target section acquiring part (202) acquires, from the received OFDM signal, a long FFT target section that is a target section in which delay waves are to be removed by use of a pilot symbol. A long FFT part (203) performs a fast Fourier transformation of the long FFT target section to convert it to a frequency domain signal. A frequency equalizing part (204) performs a frequency equalization of the long FFT target section by use of an interpolation result of communication line estimation value. A long IFFT part (205) performs an inverse fast Fourier transformation of the long FFT target section as frequency equalized to convert it back to a time domain signal.
US08279947B2
A method, apparatus and system for multiple-description coding (MDC) and multiple-description decoding (MDD) are provided in the present invention. The MDC method comprises the following steps: receiving signals, processing the signal according to the first multiple-description method to generate at least two first description signals, processing at least one of the first description signals through the second multiple-description method to generate at least two second description signals, and coding the second description signal to generate the multiple-description bit stream. The MDD method comprises the following steps: receiving the multiple-description bit stream, decoding the multiple-description bit stream to generate the second description signal, processing the second description signal through the second multiple-description inverse transformation method to generate the first description signal, processing the first description signal through the first multiple-description inverse transformation method to generate the reconstruction signal. This invention simplifies the MDC and MDD, and distributes the voice quality deteriorations to different parts, thus improving user experience.
US08279946B2
System and method for providing a variable frame rate and adaptive frame skipping on a mobile device
A processor and method are provided for decoding a multimedia file having video and audio data streams that are configured to be played in synchronization. Frames of the video stream are decoded and played with the audio and, to compensate for saturation of the processor usage, two procedures are performed. The first procedure operates at a first periodic interval and slows down the frame rate to reduce processor usage if needed. The second procedure first attempts to speed up the video to catch up to the audio if they are out of sync and if this cannot be done in the next time interval, the decoding of a select number of frames is skipped such that the video and audio data streams are resynchronized.
US08279945B2
Methods for compensating timing errors in an A/V stream are provided. An embodiment of the methods includes: receiving a plurality of encoded video frames of a current Group of pictures (GOP) from the video encoder and a plurality of encoded audio frames; when an error occurs in the video encoder, utilizing a most recent encoded video frame of a previous GOP received from the video encoder as a reference to generate a plurality of dummy video frames; and utilizing the dummy video frames to pad the current GOP.
US08279943B2
A method for reception of DVB-H signals wherein a MPEG transport stream is grouped into packets belonging to a certain IP data stream and forming bursts in time slices, the MPEG-TS is modulated into OFDM symbols, these symbols are grouped in frames, the frames themselves are grouped in superframes and symbols, frames and superframes are provided with numbers, whereas a transmitter does not change the transmission parameters (FFT mode, guard interval, code rate, modulation format) between successive bursts and a receiver is notified about a relative time from a first burst to transmission of the next burst and the receiver is switched off between the first and the next burst comprising: accurately calculating the receive time of the next burst from the DVBH delta-t time received in the first burst; setting a wake up timer and powering down the receiver; powering up the receiver for reception of the next burst exactly at the superframe boundary; executing signal acquisition; calculating the symbol number and frame number of the first symbol that contains relevant data to be modulated within the actual superframe; calculation the number of bis to be discarded from the MPEG-TS to align with a boundary of a MPEG-TS-packet; discarding the bits; and starting demodulation at the boundary of the MPEG-TS-packet.
US08279942B2
An image data processing apparatus includes: plural arithmetic processing sections; a main memory; and a cache memory, wherein slices of the image data are sequentially and cyclically assigned to the plural arithmetic processing sections and plural slices to be processed are set as objects of processing, respectively, and the plural arithmetic processing sections process the image data in parallel to establish a consistent relationship of the processing of each slice with processing of the immediately preceding slice, in which the current slice and the immediately preceding slice can be simultaneously processed in parallel so that a reference macroblock of the macroblock in processing in the current slice may partly overlap with a reference macroblock of the macroblock in processing in the immediately preceding slice.
US08279939B2
Control data subsequent to an extension start code is stored in an encoding apparatus when transmitted after each header data of a video sequence layer, a GOP layer, a picture layer and a slice layer. And in transmission of the next header data, the content of the control data subsequent to the extension start code in the header data to be transmitted is compared with the content of the preceding header data of the same layer stored in the encoding apparatus. And if the result of such comparison signifies that the compared data are mutually the same, neither the extension start code nor the subsequent control data is transmitted. At the reception of each header data of the video sequence layer, the GOP layer, the picture layer and the slice layer, the control data decoded subsequently to the extension start code is stored in the decoding apparatus. And when the extension start code is not existent in the next header data to be decoded, the preceding header data of the same layer stored in the decoding apparatus is duplicated and used as the control data of the layer being currently encoded.
US08279937B2
Techniques, apparatus and system for correcting moving image wavering are disclosed. An apparatus includes a selecting unit to select at least one reference macroblock from an input image of a first frame and to select at least one search area from an input image of a second frame. The selected at least one search area corresponds to the at least one reference macroblock. The apparatus includes an operating unit to communicate with the selecting unit and to perform a statistical operation by matching the at least one reference macroblock of the first frame to each of search blocks included in the at least one search area of the second frame. The apparatus comprises a vector calculating unit to communicate with the operating unit and to calculate a motion vector to correct an output image of the second frame based on a resultant value of the statistical operation.
US08279936B1
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for identifying a block of pixel data in a reference frame. The system may include a data fetch, a shift register, and one or more processing blocks. The data fetch may receive a best fit integer block, where the best fit integer block is identified by comparing the current block of pixel data to a search area within a reference block of pixel data. The shift register may be configured to load pixel data to be used for performing a fractional pixel expansion for one quadrant corresponding to each integer pixel in a block of pixel data, the block of pixel data including the best fit integer block plus one additional row of integer pixels and one additional column of integer pixels, wherein a combination of all of the one quadrant fractional expansions provides a plurality of fractional blocks for the best fit integer block. The one or more processing blocks may be configured to compare each of the plurality of fractional blocks with the current block to identify a best fit fractional block, the best fit fractional block being the best fit pixel match with the current block.
US08279933B2
The present invention provides an improved motion estimation encoder for digital video encoding applications. In one example embodiment, the improved encoder receives a raw image in the form of a current frame and estimates the macroblock motion vector with respect to a reference frame. The encoder then performs an initial local search around an initial motion vector candidate derived from spatio-temporal neighboring macroblock parameters. The encoder then compares the user-defined complexity scalable sum of absolute difference between the original and the associated reference macroblock against an adaptive threshold value for motion estimation convergence. The encoder introduces a global full search around a candidate from a coarser level, in case an initial local search fails. The encoder then selects an inter encoding mode for coding the current macroblock, when the first local search is successful, otherwise the encoder selects the inter or intra encoding mode for encoding the current macroblock by comparing variances of the original and difference macroblocks.
US08279926B2
In one embodiment, a method that partitions a first sequence of pictures into plural representations, encodes each of the plural representations independently of each other with a common time base, provides a first portion of the plural encoded representations based on a first network condition, the first portion having a first bit-rate, and provides a second portion of the plural encoded representations having a second bit-rate different than the first bit-rate, wherein a switch from providing the first portion to providing the second portion is responsive to a second network condition different than the first network condition.
US08279923B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for adaptively improving an image quality of current images to be coded by reducing effects due to pulsing artifacts. The video coding method is intended for coding a video on a per predetermined block basis using one or more predetermined quantization control variables. The method includes calculating a correlation degree indicating a correlation between an original block in a current original picture to be coded and a prediction block in a previous uncompressed picture, and includes changing a first predetermined quantization control variable to a second predetermined quantization control variable, so as to reduce a quantization step size when the correlation degree is greater than a predetermined threshold. The method also includes determining the quantization step size based on the second quantization control variable, and coding the original block based on the determined quantization step size using a predetermined image coding tool.
US08279916B2
A receiver includes a constellation processing module and a plurality of equalization stages. The constellation processing module groups points of a constellation associated with a transmitted signal into a plurality of subsets. At least two adjacent ones of the subsets have one or more common constellation points so that the at least two adjacent subsets overlap. The constellation processing module also determines a centroid-based value for each of the subsets of constellation points and groups the centroid-based values into one or more sets. Each of the equalization stages except for a the last equalization stage localizes a search for a final symbol decision using the set of centroid-based values input to or selected by the equalization stage as constellation points. The last equalization stage determines the final symbol decision using the subset of constellation points input to or selected by the last equalization stage.
US08279910B2
Apparatus and methods of implementing code space search of received signals are described herein. A code space search is implemented as a searcher that perform a subtask that is dynamically reconfigurable at each boundary of an initial integration time. Each particular subtask sets forth a programmable configuration of coherent integration hypothesis that are performed during the initial integration time. The searcher stores the results of the coherent integration hypothesis in a first portion of memory. A search accelerator operates on the initial integration results. The search accelerator can perform coherent integration of various frequency bins of different timing hypothesis, can generate energy values of the coherent integration results, and can generate a non-coherent energy summation. The energy values of the coherent integrations and non-coherent energy summations are stored in a second portion of memory. The ability to reconfigure the subtasks and accelerator operation provides flexibility in search space dimensions.
US08279897B2
A wireless node receives a beacon from a wireless access point. The beacon includes a wireless protocol time synchronization function (TSF) timestamp generated with reference to a global clock for a network. The wireless node synchronizes a counter according to the TSF timestamp. The wireless node receives a global timing offset (GTO) packet from the wireless access point and combines the GTO packet with a counter value to generate a global timestamp.
US08279896B2
A wireless node clock is periodically synchronized with a wireless access point clock. The wireless access point clock is globally synchronized with other access points in a network. Failure of the access point is detected. A search is performed for a beacon signal of a neighboring wireless access point that is associated with the network. The neighboring access point also has a globally synchronized clock. The wireless node clock is synchronized with the globally synchronized clock of the neighboring wireless access point.
US08279893B2
A system and method are provided for communicating data over a network. In some embodiments relating to data transmission, data is divided into a plurality of portions, such that the portions may be transmitted utilizing a plurality of different types of data connections. In other embodiments relating to data receipt, a plurality of portions of data is received utilizing a plurality of different types of data connections, after which the portions may be reassembled.
US08279890B2
A method and apparatus for supporting uplink (UL) protocol changes includes reconfiguring a medium access control (MAC) protocol from a first MAC protocol to a second MAC protocol. A hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) process associated with the first MAC protocol is flushed, and a MAC-e/es reset is performed. Segments of a MAC-e/es packet data unit (PDU) that are contained in a segmentation entity are discarded.
US08279889B2
A method for dimming a first packet associated with a first bit rate to a second packet associated with a second bit rate is described. A first packet is received. The first packet is analyzed to determine a first bit rate associated with the first packet. Bits associated with at least one parameter are discarded from the first packet. Remaining bits associated with one or more parameters and a special identifier are packed into a second packet associated with a second bit rate. The second packet is transmitted.
US08279885B2
A beltway mechanism that takes advantage of atomic locking mechanisms supported by certain classes of hardware processors to handle the tasks that require atomic access to data structures while also reducing the overhead associated with these atomic locking mechanisms. The beltway mechanisms described herein can be used to control access to software and hardware facilities in an efficient manner.
US08279874B1
A self-configuring network comprises network devices that are automatically provisioned with appropriate network resources upon the occurrence of a network event. A profile containing one or more commands to provision a network device with appropriate network resources is deployed to selected connecting devices. The selected connecting devices are targeted for deployment based on the network device and/or port groups to which they belong as determined from a network management system. The profile is bound to the selected connecting devices and affected ports as well as the network events that will trigger execution of the profile on the devices where they are deployed. A graphical user interface and profile information database may be used to facilitate managing the profiles, targeted devices/ports and associated network events.
US08279864B2
A network device may store a plurality of LSP labels each associated with a network policy and desired quality of service, wherein each LSP label defines a path through a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network. Upon receiving a request to transmit data in accordance with a network policy and desired quality of service, the network device may transmit an appropriate LSP label for transmission through the MPLS network.
US08279862B2
A communication system includes a switching system and a service control system. The switching system receives and processes a communication request to transfer a query message. The service control system receives and processes the query message to generate and transfer a response message indicating a route. The switching system receives and processes the response message indicating the route and transfers a communication using the route. The service control system may process the query message with multiple parallel functions to generate an action message and process the action message to select the route.
US08279861B2
A computer-implemented method and system of enabling concurrent real-time multi-language communication between multiple participants using a selective broadcast protocol, the method including receiving at a first server a real-time communication from a first participant, the real-time communication being addressed to a second participant constructed in a first spoken language. A preferred spoken language of receipt of real-time communication is identified by the second participant. A determination is made whether the preferred spoken language of receipt is different than that of the first spoken language of the real-time communication. The real-time communication from the first spoken language is translated and delivered to the preferred spoken language of receipt of the second participant to create a translated real-time communication whenever the preferred spoken language is different than the first spoken language and forwarded without translation when the preferred spoken language of the second participant is the same as the preferred spoken language of the first participant.
US08279851B2
An apparatus, system, and method for a communication network that includes a mobile device, a target device, and a connection settings server. The mobile device is configured to transmit a request for device-to-device connection settings data to the connection settings server, the connection settings server is configured to receive the request, determine appropriate device-to-device connection settings data, and transmit the appropriate device-to-device connection settings data to the mobile device, the mobile device is further configured to receive the appropriate device-to-device connection settings data and establish a device-to-device connection with the target device, wherein the establishing of the device-to-device connection is facilitated by the device-to-device connection settings data.
US08279849B2
There is provided a propagation delay time adjustment method for adjusting the propagation delay time occurring within a reception circuit for each channel of a center node device configuring a 1-to-N communications system in which communication is performed between the center node device and N (N being an integer of 2 or more) individual edge node devices using a Synchronous Code Division Multiplexing method, the center node device comprising a main control section, and each of the edge node devices comprising an auxiliary control section that controls the propagation delay time in cooperation with the main control section, the transmission delay time adjustment method comprising: transmission permission signal transmitting; transmission controlling; reception phase controlling; reception validity determining; optimum reception phase determining; and reception phase setting in which the main control section sets the optimum reception phase as the reception phase for the reception circuit.
US08279845B2
A system for realizing the reception of a incoming call number by a terminal includes a CDMA network and a HRPD network providing service support for the terminal, respectively, where an MSC in the CDMA network connects with an access network of the HRPD network via interface A1. A method for realizing the reception of a incoming call number by a terminal in advance includes: the MSC in the CDMA network transmitting the incoming call number of a paging to the access network of the HRPD network through interface A1; the access network forwarding the incoming call number of this paging to the called terminal; the called user deciding whether to accept the incoming call based on the received incoming call number. Accordingly, the switching between HRPD and CDMA2000 1x can be avoided when the user decides not to accept the incoming call.
US08279842B2
In a mesh network having a plurality of wireless nodes, including a first, second, third and fourth node, wherein each node includes a routing table, a method of route discovery. A first route request message is broadcasted from the first node and received at the second and third nodes. In the second node, a link quality metric is calculated as a function of link quality of the link to the first node and as a function of capacity in the routing table of the second node. In the third node, a link quality metric is calculated as a function of link quality of the link to the first node and as a function of capacity in the routing table of the third node. A second route request message is broadcasted from the second node and received by the fourth node, wherein the second route request message includes the link quality metric calculated by the second node. A third route request message is broadcasted from the third node and received by the fourth node, wherein the third route request message includes the link quality metric calculated by the third node. A route path is selected as a function of the link quality metric calculated by the second node and the link quality metric calculated by the third node.
US08279839B2
A transmission method in a wireless telecommunication system including at least a base station intended to communicate with terminals over bidirectional communication channels, wherein one or more supplementary symbols that are formed of a set of pilot sequence elements are transmitted between the base station and the terminal during a time delay. The method includes the steps of: obtaining the multiplexing resources of the wireless telecommunication system, assigning to at least one obtained multiplexing resource, pilot sequence elements, and transferring at least one supplementary symbol that includes pilot sequence elements.
US08279834B2
A method for handling Circuit Switched Fallback includes receiving an indication that Circuit Switched Fallback is supported and registering to a Circuit Switched domain by tunneling Circuit Switched Registration information to the Circuit Switched domain. The method also includes receiving information that includes a Circuit Switched specific parameter setting. The method further includes preparing for using Circuit Switched Fallback by applying the received Circuit Switched specific parameter setting and switching from a Packet Switched domain to the Circuit Switched domain.
US08279828B1
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for disabling tones within WiMAX signals in order to eliminate interference at third-party receivers. The method includes identifying signal to protect for a receiver, and identifying characteristics of the receiver. The method further includes identifying WiMAX signals transmitted by a base station located in a geographic region that can interfere with the protected signals. Additionally, the method includes determining an interference level between the receiver and the base station based on the protected signals, the characteristics of the receiver, and the WiMAX signals. Moreover, the method includes providing a list of tones that are to be disabled within the WiMAX signal in order to eliminate the interference level.
US08279817B2
A method of managing an offset operation of discontinuous reception, hereinafter called DRX, for a mobile device of a wireless communication system includes separately managing a start offset operation of a long DRX cycle and a start offset operation of a short DRX cycle.
US08279816B2
A method in which a user equipment processes data in a wireless mobile communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a first data block from an upper layer, transferring a second data block including the first data block to a lower layer at a particular protocol layer, discarding the first and second data blocks present in the particular protocol layer if a certain period of time has passed, and transferring information associated with the discard of the second data block to the lower layer.
US08279815B2
A resource allocation for reducing overhead in a mobile communication system is provided. An operating method of a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system includes calculating a total amount of resources allocated to a corresponding subframe in a period of a corresponding fixed allocation resource; when the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe is greater than a threshold, temporarily canceling one or more corresponding fixed allocation resources to make the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe less than or equal to the threshold; and reallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocation resources according to a corresponding rule.
US08279814B2
Provided is a method of allocating a channel time in a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In a WPAN where a parent piconet and at least one child piconet coexist, the method includes receiving a request frame transmitted from at least one of a plurality of child piconnet coordinators (PNCs) in order to request channel time allocation for data transmission, according to a common mode that is a PHY transmission mode commonly supported by a parent PNC and the child PNCs; and transmitting a beacon frame including channel time allocation information corresponding to the request frame to all the child PNCs of the WPAN.
US08279813B2
A method and apparatus to transmit pilot subcarriers over uplink channels. The pilot subcarriers includes symbols which hierarchically structured. The symbol includes a first split of at least two fractional frequency reuse (FFR) groups, a second split of a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) group to a distributed resource group and localized resource group and a third split of said distributed resource group and localized resource group into plurality of subchannels.
US08279806B2
The invention relates to a technique for uplink data transmissions in, e.g., mobile networks. A method embodiment for performing the technique in a transmitter (122) comprises the steps of allocating, for a first transmission (T1′) as the transmission power for an uplink control channel (UCOCH), the smaller of an available transmission power and a desired transmission power for the uplink control channel; and allocating, for at least one subsequent transmission (T2′) triggered by a feedback indication (128), zero transmission power to the uplink control channel (UCOCH).
US08279801B2
A radio base station apparatus of the invention includes a scramble code-generating part that generates a different scramble code for each sector, at least for adjacent sectors, and a scrambling part that uses a scramble code generated by said scramble code-generating part to scramble a scrambling-target portion in said downlink sub-frame. This contributes to increasing extraction precision when extracting a desired signal from a signal that was affected by interference between/among sectors.
US08279798B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing end-to-end security over an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-enabled network are provided. A first subscriber module accesses an IMS network via an access gateway as a roaming network. The roaming network routes a request for a session from the first subscriber module from its P-CSCF to the I-CSCF of a third-party home network. The third party home network, in turn, routes the request to an S-CSCF implemented at the subscriber's home network, which comprises a second subscriber module. In this way, the session between the two subscriber modules is managed by the subscriber's S-CSCF rather than by a carrier's IMS network, and the subscriber may administer the security relationship without reliance on the carrier or the third party.
US08279793B2
A system for providing a service is provided. The system includes a central control to promote a plurality of cells to use a first counting method to determine whether user equipment within the plurality of cells are interested in the service. Based on responses from at least one of the cells having interested user equipment, the central control promotes the at least one of the cells to either provide the service via point-to-multipoint broadcast, or use a second counting method to determine whether to provide the service via point-to-multipoint broadcast or point-to-point communication.
US08279790B2
An embodiment may include circuitry to be comprised in a node. The node may be communicatively coupled to a network and may include a host processor to execute at least one communication protocol-related process. The circuitry may determine, at least in part, whether to buffer, at least in part, at least one packet received from the network based at least in part upon whether a weighted moving average exceeds a first threshold and is less than a second threshold. The average may be determined based at least in part upon one or more time intervals between one or more packet receptions from the network. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
US08279776B1
In a communication system, a gateway receives an IP message having source IP address and port number and having a destination IP address and port number. The gateway system transfers the IP message with a different destination IP address. A base station receives the IP message and wirelessly transfers the IP message to a routing system. The routing system transfers a reverse DNS query for the source IP address and receives a DNS reply indicating a domain name. The routing system selects a network address translation set based on the domain name, translates a destination port number into another destination IP address using the network address translation set, and transfers the IP message with the other destination IP address.
US08279772B2
The present invention relates to a method, user equipment and a base station adapted to handle channel state feedback reports in a more flexible way. More specifically, a channel state feedback procedure is provided which utilizes the resources available for transmission of channel state feedback more efficiently. This is achieved by including uplink grant availability into the channel state feedback reporting triggers used for determining when and how to send channel state feedback from a UE, i.e. a channel state feedback reporting request may be sent by a base station in an uplink grant to a UE comprising an indication of an expected amount of information to be returned.
US08279767B2
Provided is a method of assigning a frequency channel using efficient spectrum sensing in a multiple Frequency Assignment (FA) system. The method includes a channel sensing process, wherein a base station (BS) of a secondary user classifies multiple frequency channels licensed to a primary user into a plurality of channel states by changing a sensing period according to the types of classified channel state sets, and manages the sensed channel states as frequency channel state set information; a channel state set broadcasting process, wherein the BS transmits the frequency channel state set information managed in the channel sensing process to secondary user terminals using a broadcast message; and a channel assigning process, wherein if the BS receives a channel assignment request message from a new secondary user terminal which has received the broadcast message, the BS assigns an unused frequency channel from among frequency channels licensed to the primary user to the new secondary user terminal using the frequency channel state set information. Accordingly, a frequency channel can be assigned to a secondary user requesting channel assignment using frequency channel state set information without a primary user experiencing interference noise.
US08279764B2
A network element is identified from among a plurality of network elements to be used to test parameters of a network. The use of one network element to test the network provides more reliable results than using random communications from a plurality of network elements. The test network element is identified using testing pool definitions which may be provided by a network operator. The testing procedure using the single network element may use multiple pings to reduce the affect of transient responses on the network.
US08279758B2
In a network wherein a data plane for communicating user data, and a control plane for managing data forwarders are configured of different media, the path teardown of the data plane which is forwarding the data is prevented when a fault has occurred in only the control plane. When the GMPLS controller of the control plane has detected refresh timeout with respect to an adjacent node (101 in FIG. 1), it checks whether or not a transmission equipment corresponding to a faulty controller has a fault (102), and it maintains a path state (103) in a case where the fault is limited to the control plane. Thus, the exchange of refresh messages with the adjacent node is continued without cleaning up the resources of the transmission equipment (104 through 107).
US08279733B2
The invention relates to write strategy modification, and in particular, to dynamic write strategy modification. A dynamic write strategy modification apparatus comprises a measurement module, a write strategy development module, and a write laser module. The measurement module measures a plurality of different parameters. The write strategy development module calculates or chooses an optimal parameter from the plurality of different parameters and modifies a default strategy to generate a modified write strategy. The write laser module drives to write data onto an optical disc. A write strategy modification will be repeated until writing is finished.
US08279728B2
The present invention discloses read and write power control methods and system for an optical recording device that records information on an optical disk having read-only areas. The read and write power control methods respectively introduce the steps of determining a specific level of a former power control signal output based on a former power control, and then according to the specific level, setting a predetermined level of a power control signal to induce a present power control for rapidly outputting a proper power of the pick-up head. Accordingly, the level transition of the read/write power control signal can be shortened and even eliminated. An unstable read/write power output for the pick-up head can be avoided.
US08279719B1
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser are described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The method and system include providing at least one waveguide, at least one write pole, and at least one coil. The waveguide(s) are for directing the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The write pole(s) each include a write pole tip, a yoke, a back pedestal and a return pole. The write pole tip is coupled to the back pedestal through the yoke. The back pedestal has at least one aperture therein. The aperture(s) are configured to allow the energy from the laser to pass therethrough. The coil(s) are for energizing the at least one write pole.
US08279710B2
An underwater system (10) comprising a transmitter (12) for broadcasting an electromagnetic synchronization signal and at least one node (14) that has a receiver for receiving that signal, the node being adapted to use the received signal for synchronization.
US08279704B2
Circuits and methods are described for decoding exemplary memory arrays of programmable and, in some embodiments, re-writable passive element memory cells, which are particularly useful for extremely dense three-dimensional memory arrays having more than one memory plane. In addition, circuits and methods are described for selecting one or more array blocks of such a memory array, for selecting one or more word lines and bit lines within selected array blocks, for conveying data information to and from selected memory cells within selected array blocks, and for conveying unselected bias conditions to unselected array blocks.
US08279699B2
A semiconductor memory device includes an internal clock generator configured to generate an internal clock signal having a first clock period in response to a chip enable signal and change the first clock period of the internal clock signal in response to a clock control signal, and a controller configured to receive external commands including the chip enable signal and generate the clock control signal corresponding to a first external command other than the chip enable signal. Here, the semiconductor memory device performs a data input/output operation in response to the internal clock signal with the changed clock period.
US08279691B2
Provided is a semiconductor integrated device including a semiconductor memory circuit and a peripheral circuit of the semiconductor memory circuit. The peripheral circuit includes a first transistor having a first voltage as a breakdown voltage of a gate oxide film. The semiconductor memory circuit includes a pair of bit lines, one of the pair of bit lines being connected to a gate transistor of a memory cell, and a precharge circuit that includes a transistor having a breakdown voltage substantially equal to that of the first transistor, and precharges the pair of bit lines to a predetermined voltage in response to an activation signal. The activation signal of the precharge circuit is a second voltage higher than the first voltage.
US08279686B2
A memory circuit includes at least one memory cell for storing a charge representative of a datum. The memory cell is coupled with a word line and a first bit line. At least one bit line equalization transistor is coupled between the first bit line and a second bit line. A bit line equalization circuit is coupled with the bit line equalization transistor. The bit line equalization circuit is configured for providing a pulse to the bit line equalization transistor to substantially equalize voltages of the first bit line and the second bit line during a standby period before an access cycle of the memory cell.
US08279685B2
A system includes a voltage generator to produce a pre-charge voltage signal for pre-charging one or more signals in a memory circuit. The one or more signals can be data bus lines used to access memory. The voltage generator can include an input indicating whether the memory circuit is set to a power-saving mode. The input adjusts a magnitude of the pre-charge voltage signal produced by the voltage generator. Adjusting the pre-charge voltage can result in power savings. When in the power-saving mode, the voltage generator circuit can adjust the pre-charge voltage to a value that reduces an amount of leakage current associated with a pre-charge voltage. Reducing the leakage with respect to the pre-charge voltage means that the saved power can be used for other useful purposes.
US08279683B2
A DRAM includes a register storing subsets of row addresses corresponding to rows containing at least one memory cell that is unable to store a data bit during a normal refresh cycle. Each subset includes all but the most significant bit of a corresponding row address. A refresh counter in the DRAM generates refresh row addresses that are used to refresh rows of memory cells. The refresh row addresses are compared to the subsets of row addresses that are stored in the register. In the event of a match, the row of memory cells corresponding to the matching subset of bits is refreshed. The number of refreshes occurring each refresh cycle will depend upon the number of bits in the subset that are omitted from the row address. The memory cells that are unable to retain data bits are identified by a modified sense amplifier.
US08279678B2
A method of performing a program verification operation in a nonvolatile memory device includes storing program data, programmed into a selected memory cell of a memory cell block, in a page buffer which is coupled to a bit line of the memory cell block via a sense node, controlling a voltage level of the sense node in response to a value of the program data, changing the voltage level of the sense node in response to a program state of the selected memory cell coupled to the bit line, and performing a program verification operation on the selected memory cell by sensing the voltage level of the sense node.
US08279673B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided so that chip size may not increase and occurrence of misreading induced by capacitance of adjacent global bit lines GBL may be prevented, and includes: a non-volatile memory cell array for recording data by setting a threshold voltage for each memory cell transistor serially connected between selection transistors on terminals of a selected bit line; and a control circuit 11 for reading a bit line and data from the memory cell transistor through a global bit line commonly connected to the bit lines. A ground transistor 23 for connecting the global bit line with a predetermined power line is disposed at a position of the global bit line. The ground transistor 23 activated by the control circuit 11 is adjacent to the global bit line where the data is readout and connected to the global bit line where the data is not readout.
US08279667B2
Provided are nonvolatile memory devices and program methods thereof, an integrated circuit memory system includes a memory array comprising at least one magnetic track, each of the at least one magnetic track including a plurality of magnetic domains and at least one read/write unit coupled thereto, decoding circuitry coupled to the memory array that is operable to select at least one of the magnetic domains, a read/write controller coupled to the memory array that is operable to read data from at least one of the plurality of magnetic domains and to write data to at least one of the plurality of magnetic domains via the at least one read/write unit coupled to each of the at least one magnetic track, and a domain controller coupled to memory array that is operable to move data between the magnetic domains on each of the at least one magnetic track.
US08279664B2
Phase change memory device, memory system, and programming method using variable verification pulses
In a method of programming a phase change memory device, write data is programmed in a plurality of phase change memory cells by applying write pulses to each of the plurality of phase change memory cells. Whether each of the phase change memory cells is programmed is verified by applying verification pulses to each of the phase-change memory cells. A number of applications for the verification pulses and the intervals between respective applications of the verification pulses are varied in accordance with a verification result for each of the phase-change memory cells.
US08279661B2
A magnetic memory element (10) for use in a cross-point type memory is provided with a spin valve structure having a free layer (5), a nonmagnetic layer (4), and a pinned layer (3). The magnetic memory element is also provided with another nonmagnetic layer (6) on one surface of the free layer (5), and furthermore, a magnetic change layer (7) whose magnetic characteristics change depending on temperature so as to sandwich the nonmagnetic layer (6) with the free layer (5). In the magnetic change layer (7), the magnetization intensity increases depending on temperature.
US08279659B2
A system and method of operating a memory device is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a bit cell coupled to a first bit line and to a second bit line. The apparatus also includes a sense amplifier coupled to the first bit line and to the second bit line. The apparatus includes a loop circuit configured to provide a sense amplifier enable signal to the sense amplifier in response to receiving a first signal. The apparatus also includes a wordline enable circuit configured to provide a wordline enable signal to a wordline driver in response to receiving a second signal. The loop circuit receives the first signal before the wordline enable circuit receives the second signal.
US08279646B1
A regulated power supply apparatus and method is provided. A converter circuit is configured to generate a regulated voltage signal from an unregulated voltage signal. A power sequencing circuit includes an unregulated voltage source input terminal and is configured for coupling an unregulated voltage signal to an unregulated voltage signal input terminal of the converter circuit. The power sequencing circuit includes an enable output coupled to the enable signal input terminal and includes a power limiting circuit and a trigger circuit. The power limiting circuit includes a first cascade of discrete analog components as controls for a first switching element and the trigger circuit includes a second cascade of discrete analog components as controls for a second switching element. The first cascade is configured as a charge control circuit for controlling a rate of charge of a first filter network and includes a zener diode coupled in parallel. The second cascade is configured as a detector of voltage levels and generates the enable signal. The first and second switching elements are semiconductor switches. The first filter network is coupled upstream of the converter circuit and a second filter network is coupled downstream. In an exemplary embodiment, the converter circuit is a DC to DC bus converter circuit and the regulated power supply apparatus is a fan controller circuit.
US08279643B2
An integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit that is coupled to measure a signal from a first resistive external circuit coupled between a fourth external terminal of the integrated circuit and a first external terminal of the integrated circuit during a duration of an initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to a supply threshold value. A regulator circuit is coupled to charge the fourth external terminal to the supply threshold value during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal measured from the first resistive external circuit during the duration of the initialization period after the fourth external terminal has been charged to the supply threshold value.
US08279630B2
A power supply circuit includes continuous conduction mode power factor correction (PFC). The PFC may be performed by generating a carrier signal voltage at a beginning of a switching cycle of the power supply, generating a sampling voltage indicative of drain current of a drive transistor, and detecting when the carrier signal voltage has decreased to the same level as the sampling voltage at an intersection time. The ON time of the drive transistor may be set to twice the intersection time.
US08279624B2
Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of EMI shielding apparatus (e.g., one-piece shields, multi-piece shields, frames, etc.) having one or more latching members insertable into openings or holes in a substrate (e.g., printed circuit board, etc.) and engagable to the substrate. The engagement of the latching members with the substrate mechanically attaches the EMI shielding apparatus to the substrate.
US08279619B2
A method for fabricating a point-of-load (POL) power supply system can include providing a circuit board. The circuit board can include a first set of connections configured for coupling a predetermined first portion of components of a voltage regulator down (VRD) system to the circuit board and a second set of connections configured for coupling a replacement module to the circuit board. Each of the first set of connections and the second set of connections is electrically coupled with a third set of connections that is configured for coupling a second portion of components of the VRD system to the circuit board. The second portion of components of the VRD system is connected to the circuit board. The replacement module is connected onto the circuit board via the second set of connections such that the replacement module and the second portion of components of the VRD system cooperate to provide at least a portion of the POL system.
US08279616B2
A printed circuit board having an embedded chip capacitor includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer, placed away from the first conductive layer; a chip capacitor, having a first electrode connected to the first conductive layer through being seated in a cavity formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; a filled material, filled in a space excluding a space occupied by the chip capacitor in the cavity; and a via, penetrating the filled material and connecting the second conductive layer to the second electrode of the chip capacitor.
US08279615B2
A method for producing an encapsulation module and/or for encapsulating a micromechanical arrangement, wherein electronic connection provisions are formed from a blank of electrically conductive semiconductor material, by one or more structuring processes and/or etching processes, wherein, in the course of forming the electronic connection provisions, a pedestal of the semiconductor material arises, on which the electronic connection provisions are arranged, wherein the latter are subsequently embedded with an embedding material and the embedding material and/or the semiconductor pedestal are removed after the embedding to an extent such that a defined number of the electronic connection provisions have electrical contacts on at least one of the outer surfaces of the encapsulation module thus produced, wherein upon forming the electronic connection provisions, on the pedestal of the semiconductor material, an insular material hump is formed, on which a plated-through hole is arranged in each case, and which embodies a semiconductor electrode.
US08279607B2
A cooling module assembly method includes forming at least one through-hole on a circuit board; coupling the circuit board to a heat dissipating unit so that a face of the circuit board is coupled to a coupling face of the heat dissipating unit; filling the at least one through-hole with metal solders; fixing at least one heat-generating element to another face of the circuit board, with the at least one heat-generating element aligned with and covering the at least one through-hole; and soldering the at least one heat-generating element and the heat dissipating unit together by melting the metal solders in the at least one through-hole.
US08279606B2
A component loading system includes a board having a socket. A first base member is secured to the board through a plurality of first heat dissipater coupling posts. A first securing member is moveably coupled to the first base member. A second base member is secured to the board through a plurality of second heat dissipater coupling posts. A second securing member is moveably coupled to the second base member. A loading member is moveably coupled to the first base member and includes a pair of opposing side edges that define a width of the loading member. A heat dissipater is operable to be coupled to the plurality of first heat dissipater coupling posts and the plurality of second heat dissipater coupling posts. The loading member is operable to be secured to the board by moving the loading member adjacent the second base member, moving the first securing member into engagement with the second base member and a top surface of the loading member that extends between the side edges, and moving the second securing member into engagement with the first base member and the top surface of the loading member that extends between the side surfaces.
US08279588B2
A housing of an electronic device encloses and supports at least one operational component and includes at least one opening sized to accommodate a mechanical input assembly. The mechanical input assembly includes a feature arranged to receive an input event, at least a portion of the feature exposed at an outside surface of the housing, an operational indicia visible on the exposed portion and having a preferred orientation with respect to the housing, the operational indicial providing an indication of how an operation of the operational component is influenced, and a shaft having a size and shape in accordance with the opening, the shaft attached to the external feature at a first end and an integrally formed self-capturing feature at the second end. The self-capturing feature is inserted into the opening until activated. The indicia is then properly aligned and the mechanical input assembly is locked to the housing.
US08279587B2
A flexible, compact size, low power consumption, low cost, high performance software defined radio platform that can be used in different areas, including industrial applications, amateur radio, and academic research. The present invention is a processing platform that packs a complete computer inside a pocket size enclosure. The invention makes use of a graphic user interface and touch screen LCD display for interaction with a user. Additionally, the invention is also able to use a plurality of daughter cards for transmission or receiving of radio signals including a broad range of frequencies. With a plurality of different types of ports, the present invention is versatile in its ability to communicate with other devices.
US08279586B2
Patient monitoring systems can include a display unit and a patient parameter module. The patient parameter module can be connected to a docking region so as to communicate with the display unit in two or more orientations.
US08279584B2
A capacitor assembly that includes a solid electrolytic capacitor element containing an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte (e.g., conductive polymer) overlying the dielectric is provided. The anode body is in electrical contact with an anode termination and the solid electrolyte is in electrical contact with a cathode termination. The capacitor element and terminations are encapsulated within a resinous material so that at least a portion of the terminations remain exposed. In addition to enhancing mechanical robustness, the resinous encapsulating material acts in some capacity as a barrier to moisture and oxygen during use, which could otherwise reduce the conductivity of the solid electrolyte and increase ESR. To even further protect the capacitor element, especially at high temperatures, the encapsulated capacitor element is also enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas. It is believed that the ceramic housing is capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the solid electrolyte is less likely to undergo a reaction in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly.
US08279573B2
A circuit protection device for protection of circuitry is provided. The circuit protection device comprises a housing defining a chamber and a plurality of conductors. The conductors are configured to connect to the circuitry and extending into the chamber, and comprise at least a first conductor and a second conductor spatially separated from the first conductor. The circuit protection device further comprises an ignition component disposed in the chamber and configured to electrically connect the first and second conductors. A circuit protection system is also presented.
US08279568B2
This application discusses, among other things, switch circuit apparatus having power down protection and not requiring power up sequencing. An apparatus embodiment can include a first supply node coupled to a first input of a level shifting circuit via a protection circuit, a second supply node coupled to a second input of the level shifting circuit via a single pull-up transistor, and a switch including a control input, a first node, and a second node controllably isolated from the first node, wherein the control input is coupled to the level shifting circuit. The first and second inputs of the level shifting circuit can be coupled via a rectifier, and the protection circuit can be configured to power the first and second supply nodes to controllably isolate the first and second nodes from each other when a voltage of one of the first or second nodes exceeds a threshold.
US08279559B1
One embodiment includes a track recording head for creating discrete tracks in a rotating magnetic storage medium. The track recording head includes a main body, at least one stylus, and a stylus actuator. The main body is configured to be attached to a head gimbal assembly. The main body has an air bearing surface configured to face a corresponding surface of the rotating magnetic storage medium. The stylus is formed on the air bearing surface and is configured to be actuated towards the surface of the rotating magnetic storage medium to contact and apply stress to the rotating magnetic storage medium to create isolation regions of non-directionally magnetizable material. The stylus actuator is formed in the main body and is configured to actuate the stylus.
US08279555B2
A magnetic recording medium and a method of manufacturing the magnetic recording medium are provided. In order to increase the recording density of the magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording medium is configured to multiple magnetic layers by consecutively forming a first magnetic layer having a thin film shape and a second magnetic layer comprising patterned magnetic bits. The first magnetic layer has a magnetic anisotropic coefficient greater than that of the second magnetic layer.
US08279547B2
A data storage device determines a zone layout based on a quality evaluation factor. The zone layout is designed such that a measurement value of the quality evaluation factor for each track in each zone is within a range between a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit and a maximum amount of variation of the measurement value within each zone is substantially equal to a difference between the upper limit and the lower limit.
US08279546B1
Systems and methods for detecting and designing enhanced disk sync marks using correlation detection are disclosed. The enhanced sync marks provide better noise immunity and higher detection rates over traditional Viterbi-based detection schemes even with a shorter sync mark length. The disk sync mark may provide optimal noise immunity for a particular target polynomial or a plurality of common target polynomials. The minimum Euclidean distance between a candidate sync mark and a plurality of right-shifted versions of the candidate sync mark is computed and compared with other candidate sync marks. The sync mark with the largest minimum Euclidean distance is then selected as the optimal mark. Systems and methods are also disclosed for detecting and designing a disk sync mark using correlation detection when the polarity of the disk is unknown or time-varying.
US08279544B1
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user's view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.
US08279535B2
Image capture lens modules and image capture systems are presented. An image capture lens module includes a first compound lens with a first lens element, a second lens element, and a third lens element arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. A second compound lens includes a fourth lens element, a fourth lens element, and a fifth lens element arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. A curvature radius of the first lens element is positive, a curvature radius of the third lens element is negative, a curvature radius of the fourth lens element is negative, and a curvature radius of the sixth lens element is negative. An abbe number of the first lens element exceeds 55 and an abbe number of the third lens element is less than 30.
US08279532B2
A zoom lens system includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first through third lens groups are arranged sequentially from an object side. When the zoom lens system is zoomed from a wide angle position to a telephoto position, an interval between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases and an interval between the second lens group and the third lens group increases. The first lens group comprises three lenses. An imaging apparatus includes the zoom lens system.
US08279528B2
An optical element includes a container including first and second end face walls, a side face wall, and an accommodating chamber inside the walls; first and second liquids enclosed in the chamber; a first electrode provided on a surface of the first end face wall; a second electrode provided on a surface of the second end face wall; an insulating film provided on a surface of the second electrode; and a unit configured to apply a voltage. The shape of an interface between the liquids is changed by a voltage application, and a light transmission path, the center of which is a virtual axis passing through the end face walls in the thickness direction of the container, is formed in a portion of the second liquid. An opening having a diameter the same as or larger than the maximum diameter of the transmission path is provided in the first electrode.
US08279527B2
A wide-angle projection optical system includes a first lens set with positive power, an aperture stop, a second lens set with positive power, a third lens set with negative power, and a negative power reflecting mirror. The first lens set provides optical characteristics to match with a light beam coming from the object side. The second lens set is arranged behind the aperture stop to converge the light beam. The third lens set is configured to diverge the light to enlarge a full field angle. The negative power reflecting mirror is configured to further enlarge the full field angle and correct image distortion. The first lens set, the second lens set, the third lens set and the reflecting mirror have a common optical axis. The optical axis is shifted with respect to a center of a micro display.
US08279523B2
A polarization conversion element includes: a plurality of light transmitting substrates sequentially bonded at a plurality of inclined planes thereof that form an angle of approximately 45° with respect to a light incident face and a light emitting face being approximately parallel to the light incident face; a retardation plate providing a phase difference to incident polarized light; a polarization separation film separating incident light into two types of polarized light; and an air layer. In the element, the polarization separation film and the air layer are alternately formed along the plurality of inclined planes.
