US08303388B1

An interactive game and method for promoting self-expression and awareness and improving group dynamics involves a game of chance goal for selecting a random performance activity from among various self-awareness and self-expression questions, physical challenges, and role-play scenarios, and including the possibility of passing a question or challenge to another participant.
US08303365B2

A jet propulsion construction toy assembly includes a container mounted on a movable brick assembly. A launching unit includes a launching seat permitting extension of a nozzle of the container thereinto and having an inlet. When the nozzle extends into the launching seat, an actuator mounted movably in said launching seat is operable to engage the nozzle such that said container is filled with fluid including air and liquid and pumped out of a barrel by a pump through first and second conduits, the inlet and the nozzle. Thereafter, when the nozzle is released from the launching seat due to disengagement between the nozzle and the actuator, jet of the fluid from the container through the nozzle forms a propulsion force to drive movement of a combination of the brick assembly and the container away from the launching unit.
US08303362B2

A manufacturing apparatus for a three-dimensional image display includes a control unit configured to cause a display panel bonded to a lens plate while being housed in a decompression chamber to display an inspection chart, to cause an image capture to capture images of the inspection chart multiple times along with an increase in a decompression degree inside the decompression chamber while causing a decompressor to decompress the inside of the decompression chamber, to obtain variance of luminance distribution for each of the images captured by the image capture, to obtain change information of the variance that changes depending on a change in the decompression degree inside the decompression chamber, and to obtain the decompression degree at a change point of the variance based on the obtained change information of the variance.
US08303356B2

A terminal fitting includes a terminal connection part and a crimping part. Paired front-side crimping pieces and a lower plate part constitute a wire barrel portion which contacts core wires exposed outside as a result of removal of coating disposed at an end portion of an electric wire and is crimped so as to surround the core wires. Paired rear-side crimping pieces and the lower plate part constitute an insulation barrel portion which contacts coating at the end portion of the electric wire and is crimped so as to surround the coating. At least one pair of the crimping pieces has a thin portion formed thinner than the lower plate part and contacting the electric wire end when the crimping pieces are crimped. The thin portion is formed at an intermediate portion of each crimping piece except for a peripheral portion.
US08303350B2

The subject matter of the invention is an electrical apparatus (1) having a screw terminal for connecting electrical conductors, comprising a housing (3) with an upper face and a lower face (5, 7) and at least two screw shafts (9) which are arranged next to one another in the housing (3), wherein the screw shafts (9) each have a screw feed opening (12) on the upper face (5) and extend in the direction of the lower face (7). A transition region (11) connects the screw shafts (9) to one another. Projections (17) are arranged on the inner face of the screw shafts (9). The invention is characterized in that the projections (17) end at or beneath the level of the upper face (5) of the transition region (11), as viewed from the lower face (7), and also the projections (17) are arranged only outside the transition region (11), or at least one first projection (17) is provided outside the transition region (11) and a second projection is provided inside the transition region (11), wherein the radial extent of the second projection is less than that of the first projection (17).
US08303339B2

An audio jack connector device having an audio jack and a connector, the audio jack having a socket adapted to receive the tip end of the audio plug and the connector adapted to engage a cable, wherein the connector is adapted to mechanically and electrically connect by compression the coaxial cable to the audio jack.
US08303335B2

A connecting module with optical indication for being disposed on an electronic device is disclosed. The connecting module includes multiple first connectors disposed adjacently, and each first connector includes a base, a switch and an optical indicator. The base has an accommodating space, and the switch is disposed at a side wall of the accommodating space. When a second connector is connected to the first connector, a plug of the second connector is inserted into the accommodating space and triggers the switch so as to enable the optical indicator for indicating a connection status of the first connector.
US08303331B2

A power connector assembly includes mateable power receptacle and power plug. The power receptacle includes a first insulative housing defining a first heat dissipation path extending through opposite first mating and mounting surfaces, and a receptacle power contact exposed to the first heat dissipation path. The power plug includes a second insulative housing defining a second heat dissipation path extending through a second mounting surface of the second insulative housing, and a plug power contact for abutting against the receptacle power contact. The first and the second heat dissipation paths are in communication with each other and are exposed to an exterior so that heat generated by the receptacle power contact and the plug power contact can be dissipated therethrough.
US08303324B2

A receiving unit is provided for a circuit board carrier, wherein the receiving unit has at least one electric contact. The circuit board carrier is insertable into the receiving unit at an angle to an end position of the circuit board carrier. The receiving unit is designed in such a manner that in an inserted state of the circuit board carrier there are in essence no bending forces that act on the circuit board carrier by way of the at least one electric contact. Furthermore, a connection system and an electric machine with such a receiving unit, as well as a motor vehicle with such a corresponding electric machine, are provided.
US08303318B2

An electrical plug for charging a vehicle is provided. The electrical plug has variable grounding and includes a plug body and a collar configured to selectively adjust between a first and second position along the plug body to selectively expose a face portion of the electrical plug. The electrical plug further includes a first electrical prong and a second electrical prong extending from the face portion, the first and second electrical prong enable current transmission. The electrical plug further includes a plurality of grounding mechanisms compatible with a plurality of receptacles respectively, each of the plurality of grounding mechanisms provide a connection to ground.
US08303313B2

The invention relates to a breadboard (1) for mounting components, particularly optical components, comprising an upper panel (2) for mounting the components on top of the upper panel (2), a lower panel (3) being arranged substantially parallel to the upper panel (2) at a specified distance below the upper panel (2) and at least one spacer (4) being arranged between the upper panel (2) and the lower panel (3), wherein the spacer (4) essentially consists of a fiber-reinforced material. Further, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a breadboard (1). Vibration damping means and fixing elements (5) for fixing components to the panels are disclosed.
US08303297B2

A method and apparatus that applies corrections to the mass flow rate of combustion air into a gas or oil-fired, forced-draft burner, and thus provides for correcting the air-fuel ratio, by directly measuring the combustion air temperature and/or the barometric pressure of the combustion air, and using these measurements to develop a fan speed drive signal that corrects the volume of air inlet to the burner system without the use of the complex and expensive fully metered control systems, or elaborate feedback systems, or systems that require real-time combustion analysis, and the like.
US08303292B2

An injection mold is disclosed. The injection mold includes a female die, a male die and an ejection device die slidably passing through the male die for ejecting molded product out of the mold. The female die includes a female die body and a female die core received therein. The male die includes a male die body and a male die core slidably received therein. The female die core and the male die core configured for cooperatively defining a molding cavity for forming a product. The ejection device includes a first ejection rod and a second ejection rod slidably connected to the first ejection rod. A first distal end of the first ejection rod is connected to the male die core. When molding product, an end of the second ejection rod distal from the first ejection rod is configured to be fixed relative to the male die.
US08303289B2

An improved method and container for forming billets using hot isostatic pressing is provided. The improved method and container have features that control the deformations of the container during the high temperatures and pressures experienced in such processing so as to provide a billet having a predetermined shape such as, for example, substantially parallel, convex, and/or concave sides. Conservations of the powder used for the billet and more efficient use of the container upon the resulting billet can be achieved.
US08303277B2

A blending pump assembly for accurately maintaining the proper ratio of two fluid components. Flow of a first fluid is utilized to drive a fluid motor, which in turn drives a pumping mechanism to inject a proportional amount of a second fluid into the flow of the first fluid. The fluid motor and pump are sized so that a predetermined ratio between the two fluids is maintained regardless of changes in pressure and flow rate of such first fluid.
US08303275B2

A micropump of a peristaltic type that continuously transfers a fluid through depression of an elastic tube is disclosed. The micropump includes: a tube unit that includes the tube, a tube guide frame that fixedly holds the tube, a tube individual data storage section that stores tube individual data, and a depression mechanism section for depressing the tube; a control unit that is attachable to the tube unit, and includes a control circuit section that drives and controls a motor for driving the depression mechanism section, and a tube individual data processing section including a reader/writer unit that reads the tube individual data; and a power supply that makes an electrical supply to the control unit. In the micropump, the tube individual data is used as a basis for driving.
US08303274B2

A miniature fan, particularly an axial fan, has a space-conserving structure which permits sophisticated electronic control circuits within a limited amount of space. It features an electronically commutated motor (ECM) including an internal stator 68, an external rotor 27 on a shaft 62, and a fan wheel 28 mounted on the rotor and bearing fan blades 26. The motor flange 40′ supports a bearing tube 60 which rotatably journals the rotor shaft 62 and is formed with a cavity 84 which receives a first circuit board 86 devoted to control of motor speed and/or voltage, and a second circuit board 96 which supports a galvanometric sensor 100 which senses the rotational position of the rotor, for purposes of triggering commutation of the motor stator windings 68 at appropriate times.
US08303273B2

A linear compressor is provided in which a resonance frequency may be synchronized with an operating frequency. The linear compressor may include a fixed member including a cylinder, a movable member including a piston for compressing refrigerant in the cylinder, a center portion that coincides with the center of the piston, and a support that extends in a radial direction of the piston and linearly reciprocates about the fixed member, a plurality of front mainsprings arranged symmetrically about the center of the piston and each having one end supported on a front side of the support of the supporter and the other end supported on the fixed member, a single rear mainspring having one end supported on a rear side of the supporter and the other end supported on the fixed member, and a plurality of mass members coupled to a rear side of the supporter at a predetermined distance from the outer diameter of the rear mainspring.
US08303270B2

A motor-driven compressor includes a housing having an inlet port, a compression mechanism for compression of refrigerant introduced from an external refrigerant circuit via the inlet port into the housing, an inverter having a heat-generating component, an electric motor driven by the inverter, and a rotary shaft rotated by the electric motor thereby to drive the compression mechanism. The electric motor, the compression mechanism and the inverter are aligned in the housing in axial direction of the rotary shaft. An inlet pipe is connected to the inlet port. The housing has an outer peripheral surface in contact with the inlet pipe. The heat-generating component of the inverter is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the inlet pipe so as to be thermally coupled to the inlet pipe.
US08303266B2

A mounting structure for mounting a device to an electric motor having an output shaft has a body including an opening for receiving the output shaft through the body. A plurality of connector elements are supported by the body. The mounting structure includes a plurality of threaded inserts. Each of these inserts is inserted in one of the connector elements for receiving a fastener to connect the body to the motor. Each connector element is sized and shaped for alternatively receiving an insert in at least two, non-coincident locations. The mounting structure can be combined with an electric motor to produce an electric motor assembly that can be mounted on a pump or other device so the device is powered by the motor.
US08303264B2

A device for adjusting the flow rate of a screw- type compressor supplying compressed gas, having a control valve to supply a control pressure (Pn) which is in proportion to the gas pressure (Pw) as of a gas pressure (A); an electronic speed controller which sets a lower rotational speed (N) as the control pressure (Pr1) rises; an inlet valve controlled by the control pressure (Pr1) with a valve element which can freely move inside a housing and where a non-return valve is actuated by a spring provided in a line between the inlet valve and the control valve.
US08303260B2

The present invention provides protection for centrifugal pumps while differentiating between dangerous operating conditions (e.g. dry running, minimum flow and runout) and/or conditions where transient conditions (e.g. closed valve operation) may occur and the protection can be revoked once the condition clears. The methodology utilizes a calculated flow value which can be mathematically determined from a calibrated closed valve power vs speed curve and/or various pump and motor parameters such as speed, torque, power and/or differential pressure or from calibrated flow curves stored in the evaluation device. The calculated flow value is then compared to threshold values of flow associated with these adverse operating conditions.
US08303252B2

A turbine engine airfoil includes an airfoil structure having a side with an exterior surface. The structure includes a cooling passage extending a length within the structure and providing a convection surface facing the side. The convection surface is twisted along the length, which varies a heat transfer rate between the exterior surface and the convection surface along the length. In one example, the cooling passage is provided by a refractory metal core that is used during the airfoil casting process. The core includes multiple legs joined by a connecting portion. At least one of the legs is twisted along its length. The legs are deformed toward one another opposite the connecting portion to provide a desired core shape that corresponds to the shape of the cooling passage. Accordingly, the cooling passage provides desired cooling of the airfoil.
US08303248B2

An anti-torque mechanism which permits a full range of swashplate assembly motion. The anti-torque mechanism generally includes an anti-torque shaft and a compound bearing mounted thereto to provide five-degrees-of-freedom (spherical-linear-elastomeric) so as to permit a swashplate attachment point to move axially in response to pitch input; pivot in response to swashplate tilt; and move in/out in the radial direction.
US08303244B2

The invention concerns an engine-mounted fan shroud for use in a vehicle that has a shroud body supported by a vehicle engine, including an outer ring made of a first material having a first stiffness, and a bodyside seal extending from and being integral with the outer ring, with the bodyside seal being made of a second material having a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness. The bodyside seal fits into and seals around a seal opening in a body-mounted shroud that is mounted to radiator support structure.
US08303242B2

A hydropower generating turbine having an impeller housing disposed to receive water, at least one impeller disposed within the impeller housing, at least one adjustable duct pivotally connected to the impeller housing, and, where the duct has a plurality of duct leafs, wherein the duct leafs articulate and cause the duct to converge and diverge for selectively disposing a fluid about the impeller. The ducts may be inflow or outflow ducts, and the turbine may react to a change in the fluid and alter the shape of the impeller. Further, the turbine may have an automated controller where variable change in the flow is detected by a sensor and transmitted to the automated controller to cause a directional shift in the multidirectional turbine.
US08303241B2

A KHP system turbine for the production of energy in an underwater environment including a yaw stop arrangement for use in flowing steams where the flow direction of water therein is changeable, including bi-directional and multi-directional current flows, so that a rotatably mounted turbine remains in an optimal position within such changing flow conditions. The KHP turbine includes a rotational portion and one or two passive yaw stop assemblies that will control turbine yaw and keep the turbine oriented to capture energy from changeable underwater current flows.
US08303238B2

The invention concerns a kinematic device for supporting and programmably moving a terminal element. The platform (11) bearing the terminal element (12) is linked by four swivel joints (9) and (10) with two legs each consisting of two support rods (7) or (8) forming deformable parallelograms mounted each on slides (3) or (4) mobile in the x direction. The pivot plate (29) articulated on the platform (11) about the hinge pin (30) is controlled by the control rods (27), controlling pivoting (14) and lateral displacement (18) connected respectively by the swivel joints (26, 13 and 17) to the slides (3, 12 and 26). It consists in a parallel kinematics with four degrees of freedom, namely three translational and one rotational whereof the angle can be greater than 120°.
US08303214B2

A lay ramp for an underwater-pipeline laying vessel has an inside ramp hinged to the laying vessel; an outside ramp hinged to the inside ramp; and an actuating device having a first actuating assembly for rotating the inside ramp with respect to the laying vessel, and a second actuating assembly secured to the outside ramp and to the first actuating assembly to rotate the outside ramp with respect to the inside ramp.
US08303211B2

The present invention provides a method and pavement structure for protecting highway subgrade in frozen soil areas. The pavement structure has two or more pavement layers having gradient thermal conductivity; the thermal conductivity is layered among the pavement layers and is lowered from top to bottom, so that the pavement forms a uni-directional thermal conducting tunnel from the subgrade to the air. Heat can be easily released from the subgrade into the air, and is prevented from being transferred from the air to the subgrade. In this way, the frozen soil layer beneath the subgrade is cooled, so that the frozen soil table is made stable, and the highway subgrade in frozen soil areas is protected.
US08303206B2

The writing tool 100 having an ink composition for a writing tool 12 in an ink holding tube 14, the ink composition for a writing tool 12 containing a metal powder, a gelling agent and spherical resin fine particles, wherein the viscosity (V1) at a shear rate of 1000 s−1 is no greater than 45 mPa·s and the viscosity (V2) at a shear rate of 0.01 s−1 is at least 100 Pa·s.
US08303198B2

A label paper indexing control method for a label printer is provided that in one embodiment includes conveying label paper having labels affixed with a specific gap there between to a continuous liner through a path passed a printing position of a print head, detecting a reference position of the label paper at a detection position upstream from the print head, determining the position of a downstream label end of a label on the path as a first distance from the detection position based on when the reference position is detected, updating the first distance each time the label paper is conveyed, executing a power shutdown operation that writes the first distance to memory and turns the power off when a command instructing turning the power off is asserted, and reading the first distance from memory when the power turns on without the label paper having been replaced.
US08303164B2

Mixing device for two gases/vapours (hereinafter gases) comprising: a) a plurality of tubes arranged in a bundle (1), each provided, in its initial portion, with a plurality of side holes (5); b) a first feeding system of one of the two gases, comprising a first tubular body (6) situated on the inlet side of the tubes, and c) a second feeding system of the other gas comprising a second tubular body (7) that envelopes in a gas-proof way the tube bundle (1) and at least a portion of the first tubular body (6); characterized in that: d) the first feeding system of one of the gases comprises a plurality of fins (8), inside the first tubular body (6), which allow a uniform distribution of the feeding gas to the single tubes.
US08303162B2

A mixing device (1) including a rotor (6) having pulverizing edges (7) and acting together with pulverizing edges (9) of a stator (8) is provided. The rotor (6) simultaneously executes a feeding effect in the axial direction using pump vanes, and the stator is externally closed in the radial direction. At least one rolling bearing is provided behind the rotor (6) in the feeding direction, the rolling elements (14) thereof inducing further pulverizing of the products processed in the mixing device (1). A further pump vane unit (15) behind the rolling bearing (12) in the feeding direction can preferably improve the flow of the medium, particularly through the rolling bearing (12), and transport the processed medium out of the device (1), preferably in the radial direction.
US08303157B2

A display including a back cover, a front frame, a display panel, a light guide plate, at least one metal bracket and a light emitting element is provided. The front frame is secured to the back cover to form an accommodating space. The display panel and the light guide plate are disposed in the accommodating space. The light guide plate, which has at least one light incident surface and a light exit surface, is configured between the back cover and the display panel. The light exit surface faces toward the display panel. The metal bracket is disposed at side of the accommodating space. The metal bracket has a first part and a second part connected together. The first part is secured to at least the back cover or the front frame. The light emitting element is between the second part and the light incident surface.
US08303154B2

A backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources emitting light and a diffusion plate. The diffusion plate includes an incident surface on which the light is incident, an exit surface which is opposite the incident surface and from which the light exits, and first and second lens patterns which are disposed on the exit surface and have different shapes from each other. Each of the first lens patterns includes a first curved portion which forms a curve and first linear portions which extend from both ends of the first curved portion, respectively. Each of the second lens patterns includes a second curved portion which forms a curve and second linear portions which extend from both ends of the second curved portion, respectively.
US08303153B2

A planar light source device (10) of the present invention, includes: a plurality of light guides (21) being provided such that longer sides thereof are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween; a plurality of light sources each of which causes light to be directed from at least one of opposite end surfaces of the light guide (21) in the longitudinal direction of the light guide (21); a diffusing plate (15) being provided on a light emission side of the light guide (21) to extract light guided inside the light guide (21); and supports (31) for supporting the gap (22) between the light guides (21) at predetermined intervals. The supports (31) are made from a light-transmissive and light-scattering material. This makes it possible to provide a planar light source device that enables reduction in the occurrence of luminance unevenness caused by the support which supports the light guides.
US08303151B2

Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein relate to backlit visual display elements. A visual display element may include a base layer defining one or more microperforations and a light guide coupled to a light source. The light guide may be positioned adjacent the base layer and include one or more microlenses in alignment with the one or more microperforations along at least one vertical axis.
US08303144B2

A motorcycle is easily recognized by other vehicles or pedestrians and is hardly damaged during a maximum bank, by devising the disposition of lighting fixtures. An area surrounded by a vertical line passing on each of both side surfaces of a front wheel, a horizontal line passing through a protrusion of a step serving as a first grounding portion, and a straight line for connecting the first grounding portion with an intersection between the vertical line and the ground, is set. Lighting fixtures are provided in the area, as seen from the front side. The lighting fixtures are mounted to lower ends of front forks that support a shaft of the front wheel. The lighting fixture are mounted to lower rear ends of swing arms that support a shaft of the rear wheel. A lamp of each of the lighting fixtures is composed of an assembly of a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
US08303141B2

A total internal reflection (TIR) lens has an integrated lamp cover adapted to a lamp of a desired form factor (e.g., PAR-38). The size and shape of the TIR lens can be adapted to optimize the light output of the lamp with little regard to the desired form factor. The integrated lamp cover can extend the front surface of the TIR lens in a direction transverse from the optical axis.
US08303136B2

An LED illumination device comprises a base, at least one LED light source and a heat dissipation module. The base has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The LED light source is located on the second surface of the base. The heat dissipation module is thermally connected to the first surface of the base. The heat dissipation module has a staff and a spiral heat sink, which is attached to the staff. The staff is mounted on the base and the spiral heat sink is mounted on the staff. The spiral heat sink generates airflow through the LED light source when the spiral heat sink and the staff are rotated relative to the base, whereby heat dissipation efficiency of the LED light source is optimized accordingly.
US08303131B2

A detachable LED lighting lamp includes a light source having a light source body and a light head integrally connected with the light source body; a lamp holder having a light source stand and a power supply socket disposed at a bottom end of the light source stand; and a power supply having a power source body, a plug fixedly connected with an upper end of the power source body, and an electrical wire connected with a bottom end of the power source body. The power supply further has a drive power supply disposed therein. The light head matches with the light source stand in shape, the power supply socket matches with the plug in shape.
US08303125B2

A focus apparatus comprises a light apparatus emits the light onto an object, an optical apparatus, an image capture apparatus for receiving an image of the object through the optical apparatus, and converting the image into electronic signals, and a adapter. The adapter connects the light apparatus and the optical apparatus. The light apparatus transfers thermal energy generated by the light apparatus to the air of the surrounding environment, and scatters the light to make the light propagate uniformly.
US08303116B2

An ophthalmic is injection molded and/or, compression molded to provide a single use lens. The ophthalmic lens has a larger clear aperture than known lenses of the same type to improve the optical quality of the lens.
US08303114B2

A method for the determination of a progressive ophthalmic lens for a given wearer comprises the states of: determining the axial length (LA) of the wearer's eye, determining an ergorama associating a sight point with each direction of viewing under wearing conditions, determining power and resulting astigmatism defect targets for each direction of viewing under wearing conditions, the targets being a function of the axial length of the wearer's eye, calculating the power required on the lens for each direction of viewing by successive iterations in order to obtain the target power defect and the target resulting astigmatism.
US08303112B2

Continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles are provided with lenses with continuously changeable optical densities, so that viewing of 2D movies is optimized for visualization in natural 3D. Method and means are disclosed for the continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles to perform two independent optimizations to achieve optimized 3Deep visual effects on 2D movies. First they compute the optical density setting of the lenses for optimal viewing of 2D movies as 3D. Then they continuously render the lenses of the spectacles to these optical densities optimized for characteristics of the electro-optical material from which the lenses of the spectacles are fabricated. The invention works for both 3DTV and 3D Cinema theater viewing.
US08303102B2

A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir having a supply of release agent. An applicator is configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to an imaging surface of an imaging device. A metering blade is positioned to meter the release agent on the imaging surface applied by the applicator. The metering blade is arranged in doctor mode with respect to the imaging surface and includes a tip positioned adjacent the imaging surface. The tip has a square portion positioned proximate the imaging surface and a beveled portion opposite the imaging surface.
US08303099B2

The object of the invention to provide a recording ink with excellent discharge stability and storage stability, which rapidly penetrates into a recording medium and forms a coating, and which will never generate smearing upon high-speed printing or double-sided printing, and which excels in marker resistance, and which enables high quality image recording with less bleeding, and the ink cartridge, the ink record, the inkjet recording apparatus, and the inkjet recording method using the recording ink. The recording ink containing at least water, a colorant, a resin fine-particle, a water-soluble organic solvent and a penetrant, in which the penetrant is a diol compound whose carbon number is 7 to 11 and the resin fine-particle is a silicone modified acrylic resin not containing a hydrolyzable silyl group.
US08303092B2

A printhead is provided having corresponding nozzles, chambers and heaters. Each heater has a heater element and electrodes connecting current from a power source to the heater elements to heat, and form gas bubbles in, liquid within the chambers which causes ejection of the liquid from the nozzles. Each heater element has a cross section with a lateral dimension at least triple that of the thickness of that heater element and different than a lateral dimension of each other heater element of the corresponding chamber. The thickness of each heater element is less than 0.3 microns. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged so that the electrodes are non-coincident with the electrodes of the other heater elements.
US08303088B2

A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation.
US08303087B2

The present invention discloses a package structure of an inkjet-printhead chip. The structure includes: a nozzle structure of a print element including an ink chamber layer, a nozzle base layer on the ink chamber layer, and a nozzle layer on the nozzle base layer, wherein a plurality of nozzle through holes are set in the nozzle layer and pass through an ink chamber of the ink chamber layer; a flexible substrate set on the nozzle layer, wherein there is at least an opening set in the flexible substrate to expose those nozzle through holes; and a chip set under the ink chamber layer. Besides, the present package method is to utilize the micro-manufacturing process to form the nozzle structure of a print element and the tape automatic bonding process to bond the flexible substrate on the nozzle layer and the chip under the ink chamber layer.
US08303086B2

A lyophobic treatment method for imparting lyophobic properties to a surface of a base material having a hole section, includes: a lyophobic film forming step of forming a lyophobic film on the surface and inner wall faces of the hole section of the base material; a protective member forming step of forming a protective member on the lyophobic film on the surface of the base material; a lyophobic film removal step of removing the lyophobic film on the inner wall faces of the hole section of the base material; a protective member removal step of removing the protective member on the lyophobic film on the surface of the base material; and an ion injection step of injecting ions exhibiting lyophobic properties into at least a peripheral portion of an opening of the hole section in the surface of the base material.
US08303080B2

An ink-jet head includes an ink chamber; an ink supply channel through which ink to be supplied to the ink chamber flows; an ink discharge channel through which the ink discharged from the ink chamber flows; a partition wall constituting a side surface of the ink chamber; an ink inlet opening formed in the partition wall, the ink inlet opening communicating with the ink supply channel; an ink outlet opening formed in the partition wall, the ink outlet opening communicating with the ink discharge channel; a piezo-mounting plate constituting a top surface of the ink chamber; an expandable multilayer piezoelectric element placed inside the ink chamber, the multilayer piezoelectric element having a fixed end secured to the piezo-mounting plate and a movable end directing to the expanding direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element; a nozzle plate constituting a bottom surface of the ink chamber; and a nozzle formed in the nozzle plate, the nozzle communicating with the ink chamber, wherein the multilayer piezoelectric element is separated from the partition wall, and the ink inlet opening is positioned closer to the fixed end of the multilayer piezoelectric element than to the movable end thereof.
US08303079B2

A cleaning apparatus for use in an inkjet imaging device comprises a wiper filament carriage; a wiper filament; and a filament tensioning system supported by the wiper filament carriage. The filament tensioning system is operably coupled to opposing ends of the wiper filament and configured to tension the wiper filament to form a substantially straight line therebetween.
US08303070B2

When completing an image in a predetermined area by an odd or even number of bidirectional printing scans, this invention makes it possible to suppress lines of image defects and density variations and thereby print a high-quality image at high speed. In completing an image by an odd number of bidirectional printing scans, the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets are thinned using the first and second thinning pattern. The first and second thinning pattern thin the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets so that a difference between the total print ratio of all forward printing scans of the odd number of scans and the total print ratio of all backward printing scans of the odd number of scans when the first thinning pattern is used differs from that when the second thinning pattern is used.
US08303065B2

A load driving circuit includes first storage elements charged by a power supply and a series storage element group constituting unit that switches the connection state between the first storage elements to constitute a series storage element group in which the first storage elements are connected in series. A second storage element charging unit charges a second storage element using the series storage element group. Switching is performed between first and second connection states to apply voltage to the load. In the first connection state, the charged second storage element and the series storage element group are connected to the load while the second storage element and the series storage element group are connected in series. In the second connection state, the series storage element group is connected to the load while the series connection between the second storage element and the series storage element group is broken.
US08303064B2

A capacitive load driving circuit that drives a capacitive load, includes: a power supply unit that generates different voltages; a plurality of charge storage elements that are charged with the different voltages generated by the power supply unit; and a load driving section that connects a charge storage element arbitrarily selected from the plurality of charge storage elements to the capacitive load to drive the capacitive load, and connects, when at least two of the charge storage elements are selected, the at least two charge storage elements to the capacitive load in a state where the at least two charge storage elements are connected in series.
US08303061B2

A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a method of cleaning a printing device are disclosed. A fluid supply device includes a main tank, a fluid chamber, a fluid-discharging head, a movable carriage, an expansion mechanism that expands the fluid chamber to draw fluid from the main tank, a suction mechanism, a remaining fluid detection unit, a comparison unit that compares the remaining fluid volume in the main tank with a specified value, and a setting unit that sets a cleaning mode. The expansion mechanism is actuated via a movement of the movable carriage. The setting unit sets a first cleaning mode in which a first amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle or a second cleaning mode in which a second amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle that is less than the first amount. The cleaning mode is selected in response to the amount of fluid remaining in the main tank.
US08303059B2

A domestic appliance for built-in installation, comprising: a housing having at least two sides; a front door; a hinge mechanism, provided at or adjacent one of the sides, coupling the door to the housing and permitting relative movement thereof, wherein the door is movable between a first position, in which the door is closed, and a second position, in which the door is fully open; and/or wherein the hinge is so shaped and dimensioned whereby, in use, the extent of protrusion of the door laterally beyond said one side when the door is in said second position is less than or equal to that when the door is in said first position. Preferably, the hinge mechanism is shaped and arranged whereby double movement, for example both rotational and translational movement, of the door relative to the housing is facilitated during movement between said first position and said second position.
US08303054B2

A drive for a movable furniture element has an actuating element for moving the furniture element and a motor for driving the actuating element. The actuating element and the furniture element may at times be moved independently of one another, and a position measurement system is provided for determining both the position of the actuating element and the position of the furniture element.
US08303049B2

A method for operating a vehicle brake system having both frictional and regenerative braking capabilities. According to one embodiment, the method monitors wheel slip at a number of vehicle wheels, evaluates individual wheel slip at a single wheel as well as collective wheel slip involving multiple wheels, compares the wheel slips to one or more speed-based thresholds that are based on vehicle speed, and uses the comparisons to help distinguish between those situations that warrant disengagement of regenerative braking operations and those that do not.
US08303038B2

A vehicle head restraint assembly may be provided with a support rod adapted to be mounted to a seat back of a vehicle seat. A rear housing may be mounted to the support rod. A front housing may be pivotally connected to the support rod. A locking arm may be mounted to one of the support rod and the front housing. A release mechanism may be mounted to one of the front housing and the rear housing and operably engaged with the locking arm. Actuation of the release mechanism may disengage the locking arm to pivot the front housing forward relative to the support rod.
US08303027B2

Provided is a front window formed in a cabin including an upper window formed in a front face of the cabin and having a window frame with an underside portion, and a lower window disposed below the upper window so as to contact the upper window, while being capable of inhibiting condensed water from building up on the underside portion and rusting the underside portion. The upper window is provided with a glass plate having a periphery to be attached to an outer face of the window frame, defining a clearance between the underside portion and the glass plate to let out the condensed water generated on an inner face of the glass plate downwardly from the underside portion.
US08303026B2

A cabin unit for a work machine comprises a cabin frame including a ceiling frame forming a top portion of the cabin frame, and a door open frame forming a front portion of the cabin frame; a door provided in the door open frame; a door opening/closing mechanism for supporting the door from the door open from to the ceiling frame to be moved rearward and upward from a closed position for closing the door to an open position in which a front surface of the door in the closed position is directed upward; a locking mechanism provided above the door for limiting movement of the door when in the closed position or the open position; and a first unlocking mechanism provided in the door for unlocking the locking mechanism. The first unlocking mechanism includes an internal control member for releasing the locked state from the inside of the door, and an external control member for releasing the locked state from the outside of the door.
US08303017B2

A cover system for a substantially flat support surface on a vehicle includes multiple stakes having channels defined along longitudinal sides thereof and which are disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface such that the stakes extend substantially perpendicular and upwardly relative to the support surface, removable panels which are removably fitted to the channels of the of the stakes and extend substantially perpendicularly at the lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface and such that open gaps are defined between lower portions of the panels and the support surface, a tarp cover disposed between upper ends of the panels to cover an opening above the support surface, and a sealing device which seals the opens gaps. The sealing device includes a first elongate portion which is adapted to sealingly engage a lower portion of at least one of the panels, and a second elongate portion which is elongate, extends continuously from the first portion toward the vehicle and is configured to sealingly engage the vehicle near the support surface, and least the second portion is formed of a flexible material. The system may also include an upper rail supported at upper ends of the panels and a securing device which secures edges of the tarp cover to the upper ends of the panels or to the upper rail.
US08303010B2

A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a main trim body and a tab. The main trim body releasably covers at least a portion of a pillar of a vehicle, and includes a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end. The tab extends from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end and is received in a vehicle component. The tab includes a first face corresponding to the pillar facing surface of the main trim body, a second face corresponding to the passenger compartment facing surface of the main trim body, a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces of the tab, and a retention member formed on the peripheral edge of the tab. The retention member retains the tab to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the pillar.
US08302994B2

A shield cover assembly for a vehicle, may include a shield cover main body, on which a slot is formed thereon in one direction and another direction of the vehicle, and a sliding cover disposed on a bottom surface of the shield cover main body such that the slot is not exposed outside the shield cover main body, wherein the sliding cover has a penetration portion formed in a hollow shape thereon and an anchorage pretensioner member is fixed to a cushion frame through the penetration portion, and wherein the sliding cover is slidable along the bottom surface in the one direction and the another direction in accordance with a movement of the shield cover main body.
US08302991B2

A method of folding a knee airbag. One side surface of the airbag is roll-folded toward the centerline defined by the airbag and the other the side surface is thereafter roll-folded toward the centerline. After the steps of roll-folding both of the side surfaces, the knee airbag is vertical roll-fold from an end toward a connection part. With the roll-folding of the side surfaces, the side surfaces are roll folded such that they form different inclination angles with respect to the centerline of the airbag.
US08302982B2

A bicycle, provided with wheels rotatable about axles, which axles are detachably coupled, in a manner secured against rotation, to a frame (3) of a bicycle (1), wherein the detachable coupling of at least one of the axles (5) is provided with a sensor (S). The invention further provides a method for determining at least one bicycle use parameter, for instance a pedal force, torque and/or chain force generated by or under the influence of a cyclist, wherein the bicycle is provided with a sensor for producing a measuring signal, which measuring signal is processed for the purpose of determining the bicycle use parameter.
US08302980B2

An eccentric steering axis strut top mount providing a reduced spindle length. An axes eccentricity is provided by laterally shifting the steering axis with respect to the strut rod axis in a direction toward a vertical ray passing through the wheel center. The axes eccentricity results in an upper point of the kingpin axis being laterally shifted toward the vertical ray with the consequence of the spindle length being shortened.
US08302979B2

A front-axle bracket for motor vehicles has two accommodations spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal vehicle direction in each instance for the bearing locations for pivoting mounting of one or two wheel guide elements, in each instance, such as transverse control arms or A-arms, accommodations for attachment of the front-axle bracket as a pre-finished unit, together with pre-assembled assemblies, on the vehicle body, and at least individual ones of accommodations for attachment of the steering gear mechanism, for attachment of the stabilizer, and for mounting of a pendulum support. The front-axle bracket is produced as a component that is in one piece with these accommodations and connects them with one another. At least individual ones of the accommodations are integrated into the front-axle bracket by way of rod-shaped connecting elements, in framework-like manner.
US08302978B2

A baby walker with a use-transferable upper tray comprises an upper tray, a base, a pair of side posts and a positioning mechanism. The upper tray is positioned by the positioning mechanism in a first position or a second position and being connected with a seat for accommodating a baby-occupant. The base has a rear opening that permits an elder baby to enter without obstacle to learn walking therein by grabbing the rear end of the upper tray, when the upper tray is moved to a second position from a first position. Each of the pair of side posts is connected between the upper tray and the base for positioning the baby walker in a selected height.
US08302965B2

A table top ball game that enables two or more people to play a variety of ball sports. Games are based on foosball/soccer table games and use similar controls, skills and operations to those already in existence. The stadium games enhance the game experience by adding features that are present in real games and by resembling the shape and imitating the images, sounds and atmosphere of a real stadium. Another aspect of the present invention provides a protective volume around the distal ends of the user operated control rods with a plurality of player figure mounted thereon. A further aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of means for eliminating dead spots on a playing surface while providing an improvement of the game.
US08302964B2

A stacker includes a sheet discharging portion constituted by a discharging belt and an extension roller that is in contact with the discharging belt. The position of the extension roller is changeable along the discharging belt. This means that, in the stacker, the position from which a sheet is discharged is changeable to a desired position in accordance with the sheet length by changing the position of the extension roller. Therefore, it is possible to stack sheets at a desired position on stacker trays, enabling the user to easily carry the stacked sheets from the stacker.
US08302960B2

A banknote processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a banknote separating and feeding portion which separates, from banknotes, one feed-out banknote closest to a banknote holding portion, and feeds out the feed-out banknote. The banknote separating and feeding portion includes a feed roller, a separating roller, a kick-on roller, and auxiliary rollers. The auxiliary rollers are positioned on an opposite side of the kick-on roller from the feed roller, protrude onto the banknote pressing portion side beyond the banknote holding surface, and contact with the feed-out banknote. Each of the auxiliary rollers has a plurality of large diameter portions formed intermittently in a circumferential direction of the auxiliary roller. The auxiliary rollers are positioned on the same axis and apart from each other such that phases of mutually adjacent auxiliary rollers in a rotation direction of the auxiliary rollers are offset from each other.
US08302952B2

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first feeding member that feeds a sheet along a predetermined feeding path, and a second feeding member that further feeds the sheet along the feeding path. The second feeding member is provided on a downstream side of the first feeding member along the feeding path. A sheet guide for guiding the sheet is provided between the first and second feeding members along the feeding path. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a sheet holding member that holds the sheet against the sheet guide, and a biasing assisting member that applies a biasing force to the sheet holding member by means of the sheet which is fed between the first and second feeding members. The biasing force assists the sheet holding member to hold the sheet against the sheet guide.
US08302944B1

An apparatus that prevents collapse mode and sling-shot mode of the accumulated air spring vibration isolation system is presented. The apparatus is contained in an air spring which is connected to accumulator. The apparatus blocks air flow to the accumulator when the air spring is attempting to bottom out, resulting in a soft pneumatic stop for the suspended mass. High pressure air within the air spring at its lowest height is evacuated to the accumulator, thus precluding a “sling shot” reaction of the suspended mass. The apparatus incorporates a double acting air cylinder with an orifice disk attached to a piston shaft end and an orifice contained within the air spring head. The upper air cylinder volume is vented to the air spring interior compartment through an unrestrictive orifice and the lower air cylinder volume is vented to the high pressure source through a highly restrictive orifice.
US08302941B2

A micro-bubble generating device is provided which is capable of mixing or dispersing micro-bubbles into a liquid with high stability and has a simple structure that permits reduction of a cost of manufacture. A first member and a first packing are superposed on each other on one side of a gas-permeable film, while a second member and a second packing are superposed on each other on the other side of the gas-permeable film. A pressurized gas delivered via a gas inlet of the first member flows through a fluid passage of the first packing, permeates through the gas-permeable film, and is ejected as micro-bubbles into a liquid flowing through a fluid passage in the form of a narrow shallow strip-like groove provided in the second packing.
US08302939B2

Method for treating contaminants at a site, especially a deep well site, includes delivering a first stream of a first gas to a first port of a laminar microporous diffuser and delivering a second stream of a second gas to a second port of the laminar microporous diffuser to effect mixing of the first and second streams of gases within the laminar microporous diffuser.
US08302934B1

A vehicle stop device includes a plurality of wheels, a generally flat base carried by the plurality of wheels, a lift system carried by the base and a generally flat deck carried by the lift system.
US08302931B2

A finely adjustable firing valve comprising a first valve (10) providing a first inlet (20) and a first discharge (21) connected through a first actuation chamber (22), and having a first shutter (23), a second valve (11) having a second shutter (37), a third valve (12), having a third shutter (43), characterized in that it comprises a piston (24) bound to said first shutter (23) that slides within said first chamber (22), of such a size that the upper surface of said piston (24) affected by the pressure inside said first chamber (22) is substantially equal to the lower surface of said piston (24) affected by the pressure existing in said first inlet (20).
US08302919B1

A bracket assembly for adjustably and releasably affixing bracket elements to an elongated support member includes a cylindrical base, a cylindrical core, and a cylindrical cap having an orthogonal arm. The bracket assembly provides adjustable bracket positioning along the elongated support member and 360 degrees about the elongated support member diameter. The orthogonal arm provides additional 360 degree adjustable positioning for any element attached to the arm outward end. Abutting bracket assemblies on an elongated support member provide a range of orthogonal arm positions 180 degrees or less, one to the other.
US08302918B2

The present invention provides a fastening bracket for fastening right and left ends of a deck cross member to respective fitting parts of a vehicle body frame. The fastening bracket includes a body plate to which one of the ends of the deck cross member is connected, a surface contact plate to which a fastening nut corresponding to a bolt to be inserted into corresponding one of the fitting parts of the vehicle body frame is fixed, the surface contact plate being provided in the body plate, a connection plate that is a part for connecting the body plate and the surface contact plate, the connection plate having a width in a direction perpendicular to a connecting direction of the body plate and the surface contact plate equal to or smaller than the surface contact plate, and a demarcating slit for demarcating the body plate and the surface contact plate.
US08302913B2

An exemplary high-lift system for an aircraft includes a wing, a high-lift flap coupled to the wing, a kinematic element which is driven by a drive device, and a flap lever structured and arranged to rotate via an actuating drive between a retracted position in which the high-lift flap complements a wing profile and a plurality of extended positions in which a slot of a given width is formed between the wing and the high-lift flap. A first end of the flap lever is coupled to the high-lift flap. A second end of the flap lever is coupled to the kinematic element and is capable of rotating relative thereto via a first rotation point. The kinematic element is structured and arranged to rotate relative to a second rotation point that is fixed in position relative to the wing. The first rotation point is separated by a predetermined distance from the second rotation point.
US08302911B2

A heated leading edge component for an aircraft and a method of manufacture thereof. The leading edge component includes an outer skin, a supporting rib for the outer skin, and a cavity located substantially in-between the outer skin and the rib for receiving a heater. The rib is attached to the outer skin on either side of the cavity.
US08302909B2

An aircraft fuselage produced by assembling, at a circumferential joint, at least two sections, each section including a coating and at least one element of at least one stiffener, the aforementioned two elements having a closed cross section and being assembled by a splicing piece. The elements of the stiffener and the splicing piece are made of composite. The aforementioned splicing piece, which has two flanges, is fixed to the coatings and to the stiffener elements by working fastenings positioned only on the flanges of the aforementioned splicing piece.
US08302899B2

The invention relates to a winder (1) for winding strips (2), in particular thin metal strips, comprising a coiler drum (3) which is arranged such that it can rotate about a rotational axis (4), and at least one pivoting arm (5) which is arranged such that it can pivot about an axis (6) and which has at least one deflection plate (7) and at least one pressure roller (8), which deflect and press the strip (2) which is to be wound. In order to improve, in particular, the winding of thin strips, the invention provides for the at least one pressure roller (8) to be assigned at least one movement means (9), by way of which the pressure roller (8) can be moved relative to the pivoting arm (5).
US08302891B2

A device for gathering and removing chicken litter from chicken houses and for compacting the litter onto a compost pile. The scraper, hauler and compacter cleans and levels the floor of a chicken house as the scraper is being pulled by a tow vehicle such as a small tractor. A tiltable container is filled with the litter as scraping is done. When the container is full, the apparatus is towed to a compost pile where the scraper is either backed onto the pile or can be pulled up onto the pile. The container is tilted and the tailgate is opened. The apparatus is configured such that the wheels are in the rear and when the container is tilted into an unloading position with the tailgate hanging down in front of the wheels, the tailgate levels the litter out as the apparatus is moved forward. The wheels compress the litter onto the compost pile. Therefore, emptying, leveling and compacting the litter are all accomplished in one fluid motion, leaving the compost pile level and ready to receive another load immediately.
US08302884B1

A cross-flow injector is used to introduce fluids into a chemical vapor deposition process chamber separately and simultaneously for efficiently atomizing and vaporizing the fluids. The cross-flow injector consists of a three port cavity having an inlet nozzle, a throat region, and an exit nozzle. The injector cavity is defined by the tapering of the inlet and exit nozzles to the smaller diameter of the throat region. The tapering allows for pressure differentials at the inlet, throat, and exit regions, and assures the inlet pressure being much greater than the exit region. The throat region consists of additional apertures for injecting dopants and precursors within the fluid flow. The pressure differential at the throat region atomizes and vaporizes the injected dopant and precursor fluids. In a second embodiment, the injector cavity consists of two ports, having an inlet nozzle and a throat region. The inlet nozzle is tapered to meet the smaller diameter of the throat region, and the throat region extends to and becomes the exit nozzle portion so that the exit nozzle portion maintains the same diameter as the throat region.
US08302881B1

A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area.
US08302880B2

A method of creating substantially monodisperse droplets comprising supplying a first fluid (1) and a second immiscible fluid (2) within a set of channels, the second fluid surrounding the first fluid and filling the channels to form a composite jet. The composite jet passes through an entrance channel (4) into a wider cavity (3), where the first fluid breaks into droplets (5), the resulting composite of droplets of the first fluid within the second fluid passing through an exit channel (6). The cross sectional area of the exit channel perpendicular to the flow is smaller than the cross sectional area of the cavity and the passage of a droplet of the first fluid out of the cavity via the exit perturbs the composite flow field within the cavity such that the incoming jet of the first fluid is perturbed.
US08302871B2

A method for communicating with a magnetic stripe reader in which an electronic apparatus is activated from an off state to a reduced power mode, a magnetic stripe reader is detected, then the apparatus is activated from the reduced power mode to a full power mode and it broadcasts a signal that contains a transaction specific data packet that is read by the magnetic read head. The signal is a time varying and spatial varying magnetic field that is interpreted by the magnetic read head as originating from a standard magnetic stripe and it is generated by a magnetic stripe broadcaster comprised of a track 1 flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 1 read head of the magnetic read head and a track 2 magnetic flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 2 read head of the magnetic read head.
US08302870B2

The invention relates to a personal document that can be read contactlessly and which includes a laminate having a chip film and a chip, a substrate covering the chip film on the structure side of the chip and a covering layer covering the chip film on the rear side, the chip having an integrated circuit, said chip being thinned to the thickness defined herein. The personal document includes a polymeric carrier film that connects to the chip through a coupling reagent possessing functional groups compatible with functional groups of the semiconductor material of the chip and of the polymer carrier film layers of the chip film. Also, the chip is connected to an antenna provided on the substrate.
US08302863B2

A lighting device for increasing the contrast of an image of a concave or convex structure provided on a surface, the device including: a first light source arranged so as to emit, according to a first axis of incidence Ii, a first light, the bandwidth of said first light, or “first bandwidth”, being less than 100 nm; a second light source arranged so as to emit, according to a second axis of incidence, a second light, the bandwidth of said second light, or “second bandwidth”, being less than 100 nm; and a third light source arranged so as to emit, according to a third axis of incidence, a third light, the bandwidth of said third light, or “third bandwidth”, being less than 100 nm, the first, second, and third axes of incidence being substantially convergent and the bandwidths of the first, second, and third lights being divergent from each other.
US08302853B1

Systems and methods for customized deposit slips are described. The system comprises a first module to receive an account selection from a user for a bank account, a second module to create a representation of a deposit slip customized with an account number for the account selection, and a third module to post the deposit to the bank account identified by the account selection. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08302849B2

A display device includes a display unit, a contactless communication unit provided such that at least a part thereof overlaps with the display unit or is provided near the display unit and carries out contactless communication with plural kinds of IC cards, a storage that stores announcement data relating to the kinds of the respective IC cards, a controller that selects the kinds of IC cards, and an operation component for further selection of the kind of one IC card from the kinds of IC cards selected by the controller. The announcement data stored in the storage are displayed on the display unit before readout of the kinds of IC cards by the contactless communication unit. The kinds of IC cards with which contactless communication is possible are selected by the controller, and the kind of one IC card is further selected by the operation component.
US08302837B1

A solder feeder having a housing member with a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member fixed to an interior wall of the housing member and extending through and projecting from the housing member for receiving solder. A trigger, having in combination, a short portion having a plurality of teeth thereon and a long portion. The trigger pivotably attached to the housing member so that the short portion of the trigger extending through an opening in a wall of the housing member in alignment with and cooperating with a slot in a wall of the guide member and the long portion extending externally along a length of the housing member.
US08302834B2

A probe for friction stir welding MMCs, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, as well as non-ferrous alloys, the probe including a shank, a shoulder, and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a superabrasive material, the pin and shoulder being designed to reduce stress risers, disposing a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool.
US08302833B2

A power tool that includes a structure; a flywheel coupled to the structure; a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly. The actuator is coupled to the activation arm assembly. The activation arm assembly is coupled to the structure and includes a pinch roller. Actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel.
US08302826B2

In a lightweight intimate apparel hanger, the hanger body has a first arm extending from a hook of the hanger to a first end of the body and a second arm extending from the hook to a second end of the body. The first arm and the second arm body each have an upper flange, a lower flange and a middle web connecting the upper flange and the lower flange. The first arm has a height H defined as from the upper flange to the lower flange and a width W defined as the width of the upper flange and the lower flange, the ratio of the width W to the height H (W/H) larger than 1. The hanger can has a top sizer attaching means for attaching a top sizer or a lower neck sizer attaching means for attaching a lower neck sizer.
US08302824B2

A dispensing closure has a flow conduit that provides a sufficient flow restriction to prevent unwanted spurting of the product when the container is initially opened. The dispensing closure includes a closure body with an upper deck and a flow conduit extending through the upper deck. The flow conduit includes an entry orifice having an entrance axis and an exit orifice having an exit axis. The entrance axis is parallel to, but not co-linear with, the exit axis to provide a non-linear flow path from an interior of the closure to the exterior of the closure.
US08302823B2

An anti-leak device for a tube container is disclosed, to have a predetermined amount of contents in the tube container be continuously extruded and then prevent more extrusion, and to prevent infiltration of external air. The anti-leak device includes a main body having a head with a tube outlets and a connection groove, and a leakage prevention unit having an opening and closing part, an insertion part and a fixed part. The opening and closing part is inserted in an inlet path of the insertion part. The insertion part is inserted in the fixed part having a discharge hole and engaged with the connection groove, thereby forming a movement space for the opening and closing part to reciprocate between the tube outlet and the insertion part. The opening and closing part directly opens and closes the tube outlet not to allow external air into the main body.
US08302818B2

An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser includes a container body and a top portion. The container body includes a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein. The top portion includes a first lock channel, a first magnet adjacent to the first lock channel, a second lock channel, and a second magnet adjacent to the second lock channel. A first sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the first lock channel. The first sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to engage and disengage with the first slot, and a base portion having a third magnet disposed therein. A second sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the second lock channel. The second sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to be engaged and disengaged with the second slot, and a base portion having a fourth magnet disposed therein.
US08302817B2

A fluid dispenser is disclosed having a storage chamber for storing a liquid, a collection assembly for collecting a portion of liquid, a pump assembly, and a tube extending from within the storage chamber to within the collection chamber through which the portion of liquid is pumped into the collection assembly. The pump assembly includes one or more pump actuators, and the fluid dispenser may have multiple storage chambers, each having a corresponding tube. In addition, the fluid dispenser may have multiple collection chambers. The pump actuators may be, for example, a flexible diaphragm or a trigger-actuated pump mounted on the side of the fluid dispenser. The pump mechanism may be incorporated into the capillary, and it may be, for example, a piston pump or any other type of pump known in the art.
US08302814B2

A dispensing apparatus provides for the dispensing of product from a collapsible tube. The apparatus includes a body for supporting the tube. The body has a forward end for accommodating a dispensing end of the tube and rearward end for accommodating a closed end of the tube. An elongate actuatable plunger is supported by the body. The plunger includes an elongate rod and a base attached to the rod. Actuating means is provided for effecting movement of the plunger in a first direction along the body for engagement with the collapsible tube wall thereby deforming the tube wall and dispensing the contents of the tube from the dispensing end. The actuating means also provides for retractable movement of the plunger in the second direction opposite the first direction. The base is positioned on the rod for dispensing engagement with the tube upon movement of the plunger in the first direction and movable out of dispensing engagement with the tube upon in a second direction.
US08302810B2

A tissue dispenser for use with a cup holder having a body including a lower portion dimensioned for being received within an inner wall associated with the cup holder. An opening is provided in the body for withdrawing successive tissues. A waste storage compartment is configured within the body separate from the opening for storing used tissues.
US08302802B2

Tubes packed with gas absorbent media are installed in radial sectors in a high pressure gas tank interior. When a tank is fully packed with gas absorbent tubes in all sectors, interstices in the internal spaces between the tubes, an internal heat exchanger may be centrally installed within the tank having conduits for high pressure gas flow in the tank in a configuration in accordance with the cooling and heating requirements of the particular tank system. Flanged ends on the tubes maintain spacing of the tubes, facilitating gas flow and absorption.
US08302791B2

A lower locking pin body for the hinge joint between a lower locking pin and a lower locking pin hook has a suspending hole of a coupler lock lifter to facilitate it rotating surrounding the lower locking pin hook under the effect of the hole. There are two coupler suspending holes which are respectively arranged on each side ends of the lower locking pin body to facilitate the workers opening the coupler on either side of a car. A two-side operating coupler with above said lower lock pin body and a draft gear are provided, wherein the draft gear also includes two lock lifters and two lock lifter seats. The lock lifters are mounted into a key-shaped hole of the lock lifter seats, and the lock lifter has a limiting segment on the matched position. Two hook head ends of the lock lifters pass respectively out from the key-shaped holes of the coupler lock lifter seats and hang with the coupler lock lifter suspension hole of the two-side operating coupler. It has clearance between the limiting segment of the coupler lock lifter and a stripe-shaped hole wall of the key-shaped hole.
US08302790B2

Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion.
US08302778B2

The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for separating materials are provided. The present invention provides a method of separating first material from a second material such as mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise methyl isobutyl carbinol mixture derived from a methyl isobutyl ketone and/or methyl isobutyl carbinol manufacturing process. Additionally air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.
US08302775B2

A first aid system organized with pockets containing first aid and emergency preparedness supplies and equipment and a system for refilling. Each pocket in the kit contains supplies and equipment useful in providing initial care for a particular illness or injury and is quickly identified through textual labels and transparent elements. The pockets are connected into a strip of pockets which is folded to fit within a case. The strip of pockets is easily deployed from the case facilitating rapid and accurate identification, selection, and acquisition of items appropriate for initial care of a particular illness or injury by comprehensive visual presentation of the organizational scheme and the supplies and pieces of equipment themselves.
US08302773B1

A package is provided to include first and second sheets being releasably sealed together in a manner to define multiple compartments, each having one or more medical implements. A perimeter sealed region can have a seal width greater than an intermediate sealed region. A longitudinal intermediate sealed region and a transverse intermediate sealed region can be arranged within the perimeter sealed region. Formation of the perimeter sealed region along first and second ends of the package can be subsequent to the perimeter sealed region along third and fourth ends of the package. Before the formation, compartments having an opening facing the first end can receive medical implements, and compartments having an opening facing the second end can receive medical implements. The medical implements can remain uncovered by individual pouches when inserted into the respective compartments, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and environmental wastes.
US08302768B2

The present invention provides a unique method of manufacturing an inexpensive, hermetically sealed ammunition container by the use of a conventional canning operation where the ammunition is inserted into cans that have been enamel coated inside and out and placed between resilient cushioning plugs and put into a vacuum chamber. Optionally, all of the air, atmosphere/oxygen and atmospheric moisture that may be present in the can is removed and replaced with an inert gas before the can is sealed. This packaging system fulfills the need for a method of storing ammunition over an extended period of time, and provides a convenient, air tight and compact package for ammunition and related components.
US08302766B2

A device for transporting freight, especially freight containers in the cargo compartments of aircraft, especially to a power drive unit (PDU) having a drive roller (3) received in a frame (1) wherein the at least one drive roller (3) carrying the drive roll (4) placed thereon is mounted so as to be pivoted relative to the frame for the purpose of replacing the drive roll (4).
US08302754B2

A tapered coupling structure allows a tapered shaft to be coupled to and decoupled from a hub without the use of an 0-ring. The tapered shaft is provided with a taper part on the side that is coupled to the hub, and the hub is provided with a high-rigidity part having a thickness in the radial direction larger than that of other regions and having a high rigidity in the radial direction. An oil groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the taper part to feed oil to the coupling surfaces of the taper part and the hub is provided in a region corresponding to the high-rigidity part in the axial direction.
US08302752B2

A multi-plate clutch includes a clutch inner member, having a cylindrical portion and a pressure-applying plate portion, and a pressure-receiving plate opposite the pressure-applying plate portion with plural driving and driven friction plates interposed therebetween. The multi-plate clutch also includes a center cam having a disc portion, an assist cam and a slipper cam disposed on the disc portion. The assist and slipper cams include identical material, and have substantially identical shapes. An outer circumference of the assist cam is splined to an inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the clutch inner member, so the assist cam can move in the axial direction relative to the clutch inner member. An outer circumference of the slipper cam is splined to the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion, so that axial motion of the slipper cam, relative to the clutch inner member away from the disc portion, is limited.
US08302751B2

The present invention discloses a driving system for a belt axis of a winch in the field of mechanics, which addresses the problems existing in conventional driving systems, such as a complicated structure and poor reliability. The driving system for the belt axis of the winch is positioned at the extension end of the belt axis on one side of a winch support. The driving system includes a rotary body and a fixed base, in which the fixed base is connected to the extension end of the belt axis via a connection means and the inner end of the rotary body is set on the fixed base. An insertion pore is positioned at the outer end of the rotary body. A spring is provided between the rotary body and the fixed base, under the action of which the inner end face of the rotary body is attached to the outer end face of the fixed base. A one-way clutch mechanism is disposed between the inner end face of the rotary body and the outer end face of the fixed base, which is formed by engagement of the one-way gear teeth on the surfaces. The rotary body could drive the fixed base to rotate therewith only when it runs in one direction by way of the one-way clutch mechanism. Therefore, the present invention has benefits such as improved reliability and convenient installation and maintenance.
US08302749B2

The invention relates generally to bags and cases for storage of cameras or other objects. More specifically, the system integrates a waterproof dry bag component optimized for storage of cameras and camera accessories, with a bag component of substantially the same size and shape of the dry bag into a single unit. When separated, the two components can perform as individual units.
US08302747B2

An energy absorber for aircraft includes one or more energy absorber elements and a housing, whereby the energy absorber elements can absorb crash impulses by plastic deformation within the housing.
US08302746B2

A hydraulic shock absorber which includes a piston which is slidably fitted into a cylinder and partitions the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers; and a piston rod which is connected to the piston and slidably penetrates through an end wall of the cylinder, wherein the piston rod penetrates through the piston and includes on the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod at least one groove which communicates between the first and second fluid chambers, and the first and second fluid chambers are communicated with each other through the at least one groove.
US08302742B2

An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle, in which a one-way clutch assembly is arranged in the housing of the automatic slack adjuster housing such that a thin-wall region of the housing associated with the gear drive of the one-way clutch assembly is located outside of a load path through which brake applications forces are conveyed from a brake actuator to a brake cam shaft upon which the automatic slack adjuster is located. The new positioning of the one-way clutch assembly drive results in unexpectedly lower stress levels in the automatic slack adjuster, resulting a more durable slack adjuster and permitting surprisingly large increases in slack adjuster capacity rating.
US08302729B2

An electrical power supply unit for vehicle comprises: a Main Power Supply 100, a Voltage Converter 40 for converting the output voltage of the Main Power Supply 100 to supply electrical power to a Motor Drive Circuit 30, a Subsidiary Power Supply 50 to be charged by the Voltage Converter 40 and to aid the electrical power supply for the Motor Drive Circuit 30 with its stored electrical power, and an Electrical Power Supply Control Unit 62 to control the converted voltage of the Voltage Converter 40. The Electrical Power Supply Control Unit 62 controls the converted voltage of the Voltage Converter 40 based on the Voltage Converter Temperature Tb and the Subsidiary Power Supply Temperature Ts so that the heat generation condition of the Voltage Converter 40 and the heat generation condition of the Subsidiary Power Supply 50 are balanced. Thereby, the difference between the timing when a Voltage Converter Temperature Tb reaches an overheat prevention starting temperature and the timing when a Subsidiary Power Supply Temperature Ts reaches an overheat prevention starting temperature decreases, and the timing when an overheat prevention starts can be delayed as much as possible.
US08302728B1

A four-wheel steering system for a remote control vehicle. The system includes a pair of steering actuators driving a pair of front bell cranks. A front toe link is pivotally connected to each of the spaced front bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left front tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the front toe link and a corresponding front steering knuckle. An elongated center tie rod is pivotally connected between one front bell crank and one of a pair of rear bell cranks. An elongated rear toe link is dependently pivotally connected to the pair of rear bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left rear tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the rear toe link and corresponding right and left rear steering knuckles whereby the front knuckles steer in one direction while the rear knuckles steer in an opposite direction.
US08302726B2

An air cleaner is disposed on an upper side of an engine. The air cleaner and an intake port of the engine can be easily connected without enlarging the interval between a left-right pair of frames. A saddle ride type vehicle includes a longitudinally laid crankshaft type engine having a crankcase, a cylinder and a cylinder head. A left-right pair of frames support the engine. An air cleaner is disposed on the upper side relative to the engine with the frames therebetween. The air cleaner takes air in through an intake duct connected to the engine through a throttle body provided in a case. The engine is disposed so that the cylinder is inclined to one side and the one side of the cylinder head is disposed near one of the frames. The throttle body is disposed between the other frame and the other side of the cylinder head.
US08302725B2

In an apparatus for preventing theft of equipment (electric wheelchair) having a prime mover (electric motor), a prime mover controller, and an authenticator that acquires ID information from an electronic key when the key is brought close thereto by an operator, determines whether the acquired ID information corresponds with authentication ID information, and permits the controller to start the prime mover when the acquired ID information is determined to correspond with authentication ID information, the controller stores operating history of the equipment, and the authenticator acquires the history from the controller when the key is brought close thereto and transmits the acquired history to the key when the key is brought close thereto, thereby making it easy to acquire the operating history of the equipment.
US08302723B2

A vehicle shroud can include a front projection, a middle projection and a rear projection. In a side view of the vehicle shroud, the front projection can be approximately wedge-shaped, and the middle projection can extend downward.
US08302719B2

A vehicle including an energy stocking mechanism having an elastic member connected to the driving wheel of the vehicle so that power of the driving wheel is stocked as elastic force in the elastic member and the stocked elastic force is output as power to the driving wheel, and an output limiter that holds the energy stocking mechanism when the elastic force is stocked in the elastic member and releases the holding of the energy stocking mechanism to output the elastic force when the vehicle starts running. A power stocking source for stocking elastic force into the energy stocking mechanism is installed in the vehicle or a station at which the vehicle stops, and connected to the energy stocking mechanism so that power from the power stocking source is applied to the energy stocking mechanism and stocked as the elastic force in the energy stocking mechanism.
US08302714B2

An airflow control device for controlling a flow of air through a grille of a vehicle includes a sheet of flexible material. The sheet is moveable between an open position allowing airflow through the grille and a closed position blocking airflow through the grille. The sheet moves in a generally vertical path between the open position and the closed position.
US08302707B2

A DHD hammer that can exhaust working air volumes partially through a proximal end of the DHD hammer's actuator assembly includes a drive chamber, a return chamber, and a backhead that includes exhaust ports. Working air volumes from the drive chamber are exhausted through the backhead while working air volumes from the drive chamber are exhausted primarily through a drill bit.
US08302705B2

A downhole steering system comprises a first full gauge stabilizer 34, a bias unit 28, a universal joint 26, and a second full gauge stabiliser 22, the bias unit 28 and universal joint 26 being located between the first and second full gauge stabilizers 34, 22. The system further comprises a drill bit 10 and a fluid powered downhole motor 14, the motor being located, at least partially, between the drill bit 10 and the second stabilizer 22.
US08302701B2

An electric power tool is provided with: a motor; a hydraulic pressure generator driven by the motor and configured to generate a plurality of impacts in one revolution thereof; an impact angle detector configured to detect an impact angle in one impact of the hydraulic pressure generator; an electric current detector configured to detect an electric current applied to the motor; a determination unit configured to determine an impact failure based on the impact angle and the electric current detected by the impact angle detector and the electric current detector; and a rotation controller configured to decrease a rotation speed of the motor when the determination unit determines the impact failure.
US08302694B2

A flow control system includes a pump positioned in a wellbore to remove liquid from the wellbore. An isolation device is positioned downhole of the pump and is expandable within the wellbore between a sealed position and an unsealed position. The isolation device in the sealed position substantially reduces gas flow at the pump during removal of the liquid.
US08302693B2

A free falling drop sub carries an explosive tool such as a shaped charge pipe cutter or well perforator. The drop sub includes an aperture plugging element to isolate an upper pipe string from a lower pipe string. An upper pipe string fluid pressure actuated valve element retained by shear pins is released to admit the upper string pressure against a pressure displaced firing pin. Displacement of the firing pin initiates detonation of the explosive tool.
US08302690B2

A system and method for increasing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface reservoir by utilizing an intersection of two well bores and a flexible linear cutting device, such as a segmented diamond wire saw, to form a fissure beginning at the intersection of the well bores and extending along a specified the length of the well bores. The ends of the cutting device can be actuated above ground. The shape of the fissure can be a substantially ruled surface defined between the two bores between which the fissure is formed. Configurations for the well bores include both bores extending from the surface and, alternatively, a first bore extending from the surface and a second bore extending from a whipstock in the first bore. The fissure may be located and oriented to maximize the extent of the fissure formed within the hydrocarbon bearing horizon and to intersect with a maximum number of natural and/or previously formed fractures.
US08302681B2

Construction of well screens utilizing pre-formed annular-shaped elements. A well screen includes a filter layer configured to filter fluid flowing through the well screen and a drainage layer which radially supports the filter layer, the drainage layer including multiple individual annular-shaped elements. Another well screen includes a drainage layer configured to support the filter layer, with the drainage layer including at least one cavity molded therein. Another well screen includes a base pipe and a layer made up of multiple individual annular-shaped elements stacked coaxially on the base pipe. A cavity is formed in at least one of the elements.
US08302674B2

An air conditioning system, which can automatically remove a malodor generated due to condensate water remaining in an evaporator during a predetermined period of time after operation of an air conditioner or turning-off of the air conditioner and control a filtering mode time of a filter to filter an air. The air conditioning system characteristically comprises a shiftable deodorization filter (30 or 40) located on a flow channel of the cool air passageway and operationally moved to a filtering mode position so as to screen the flow channel of the cool air passageway during a predetermined period of time after an air conditioner is turned on or off, whereby the air passing through the cool air passageway C and a malodor contained in the air are filtered.
US08302673B2

In a parallel flow heat exchanger having an inlet manifold connected to an outlet manifold by a plurality of parallel channels, a spirally shaped insert is disposed within the refrigerant flow path in the inlet manifold such that a swirling motion is imparted to the refrigerant flow in the manifold so as to cause a more uniform distribution of refrigerant to the individual channels. Various embodiments of the spirally shaped inserts are provided, including inserts designed for the internal flow of refrigerant therethrough and/or the external flow of refrigerant thereover.
US08302669B2

A louver for an air-conduction housing of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another to facilitate air stratification and are subdivided by partitions which are part of the louver. At least one of the regions is configured as a drum-type louver.
US08302661B2

A nucleated casting apparatus including an atomizing nozzle configured to produce a droplet spray of a metallic material, a mold configured to receive the droplet spray and form a preform therein, and a gas injector which can limit, and possibly prevent, overspray from accumulating on the mold. The gas injector can be configured to produce a gas flow which can impinge on the droplet spray to redirect at least a portion of the droplet spray away from a side wall of the mold. In various embodiments, the droplet spray may be directed by the atomizing nozzle in a generally downward direction and the gas flow may be directed in a generally upward direction such that the gas flow circumscribes the perimeter of the mold.
US08302658B2

An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. The heavyweight section includes anchoring structures to which the lightweight section can securely attach. This arrangement maintains the overall weight of the club head compared to a similarly proportioned conventional club head while shifting the center of gravity low and aft. As such, the club head provides benefits such as forgiveness for thin shots, heel/toe shots, and provides longer drives with less roll.
US08302655B2

A spring drive device is for use with a sunshade assembly which includes a coupling shaft coaxial to and rotatable with a winding shaft and formed with a guided path. The spring drive device includes a spring member disposed in and connected to a shell unit. A connecting shaft is formed with a guideway which has an initial region engaged with the spring member, such that when the connecting shaft is moved along a coupling route, the guideway is kept in slidable engagement with the spring member until a relay region of the guideway reaches the spring member. The connecting shaft is engageable with the coupling shaft to align the guided path with the guideway such that when the movement of the connecting shaft is continued after the relay region reaches the spring member, the guided path is brought to take over the slidable engagement with the spring member.
US08302654B2

A vertically collapsible weather resistant barrier for an opening, having a plurality of side frames secured along the height of side walls and/or an intermediate post defining the opening. Each side frame has a longitudinal channel along its length facing inward toward the opening. The channel accommodates sheaves extending from the barrier and by which a ceiling mounted pulley system may house and lower the barrier with the side frame. The barrier comprises a plurality of pantograph structures at opposite ends of a plurality of panels. The arms of the pantograph structure closest to the side walls house a locking mechanism thereon facing the side frame at either end of the arm that engages a latch in and a proximate arm to pull them into tight vertical alignment when substantially fully extended. The locking mechanisms are covered by an expandable bulb seal that bulges outwardly when the locking mechanism is engaged to create a seal between the pantograph and the channel in the side wall.
US08302647B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire having low rolling resistance and higher resistance against irregular wear. To achieve the above object, a pneumatic tire includes a tread portion comprising a plurality of block arrays each of which is constituted of a plurality of blocks that are partitioned by a plurality of main grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and a plurality of lateral grooves crossing the main grooves, wherein at least one of the block arrays is provided with a thin rib that continuously extends in the circumferential direction of the tire in a central area of the block array as viewed in a width direction of the tire and is partitioned by two sipes extending in the circumferential direction of the tire, the depth of the sipes extending in the circumferential direction of the tire is 0.7 times or less of the depth of the lateral grooves.
US08302625B1

Disclosed herein is an approach that validates the sensitivity of a working fluid parameter indicator in a system using centrifugal machines. In one aspect, a lead centrifugal machine and a lag centrifugal machine supply a working fluid to a distribution conduit. A working fluid parameter indicator measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine. A controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test performed on the centrifugal machines.
US08302624B2

There is provided an apparatus for measuring a position of a linear type valve which is open/shut by operation of a hydraulic cylinder. More particularly, the apparatus more accurately measures a valve position by outputting a rotation angle of a rotation sleeve which rotates by being operatively connected to a hydraulic cylinder which moves linearly, and by calculating a vertical movement distance of a valve gate which changes in proportion to the rotation angle. Further, since the structure of the apparatus is very simple, the cost of production is significantly reduced. In addition, for use, the apparatus is installed on the hydraulic cylinder by a simple method.
US08302623B1

An cylindrical hollow anti-backflow insert that can rapidly retrofit a fire hydrant to prevent a forced liquid inflow into the fire hydrant after simple insertion of the insert into the outflow nozzles of a fire hydrant. A curved anti-backflow flap having a hinge at one end and an inflow fin at an opposite end is positioned within the insert. Outflow of water from the fire hydrant will cause the flap to rotate upwards, at which point the inflow fin protrudes into the interior of the insert sufficiently to catch any forced liquid inflow stream which will force the flap downward towards a curved flap seal. The curved flap seal reversibly engages the perimeter of the flap, thereby reversibly closing the rear end of the insert and preventing the forced inflow of liquid into the fire hydrant.
US08302618B2

A liquid tank connector for preventing leakage of contents in a liquid tank when removing a socket from a plug fixed to the liquid tank is provided. The liquid tank connector which includes a plug to be fixed to a liquid tank where liquid is stored, a socket which is able to be connected and disconnected with respect to the plug, and a sleeve for releasing a connected state between the plug and the socket by a relative movement with respect to the socket, and in which a liquid flow channels and gas flow channels are formed in a liquid deliverable state in which the plug and the socket are connected, and which includes: a cock which forms a gas flow channel in the liquid deliverable state, and the relative movement of the sleeve is controlled by the position of the cock in the liquid deliverable state.
US08302616B2

The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper yoke is movable relative to a fixed lower yoke and the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.
US08302606B2

Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided.
US08302603B1

A rebreather system for aircrew that includes a double counter lung having a void between inner and outer bladders that allows selective pressurization of the inner bladder.
US08302593B2

A gas burner assembly for a cooking appliance that includes a cooktop surface includes a gas burner assembly having a first gas burner including a first burner body. The first burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface, and provide a cooking flame. The gas burner assembly also includes a second gas burner including a second burner body. The second burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface. The second burner also configured to be concentric with the first burner and separated from the first burner by a distance at all points along the burners. The second burner body including at least one air passage defined therethrough that is configured to allow air to flow through the second burner and to the cooking flame.
US08302592B2

The improved charcoal starter design has several improvements, one being that it utilizes either; readily combustible materials like wadded up paper or a removable or replaceable common electric heating element to heat charcoal to incandescent and safely deposit hot embers into the grill. The common electric heating element is held in place through a clip fixedly attached to the inside of the charcoal starter housing walls and opposite of the opening for the electric heating element. Yet another improvement to this unique charcoal starter designed is the perforated grate having at least one hinge on one side and at least one notch on the opposite side, a release mechanism consisting of a thermally insulated release handle and a release bar with at least one protrusion such that when the release mechanism is activated by pulling the release handle, the protrusion of the release bar aligns with the notch of the perforated hinged grate and the perforated hinged grate will then rotate about the hinge in a downward direction creating an opening and thus allowing the incandescent embers to be deposited safely into the grill where needed and without danger of hot embers and ash being splashed about and possibly injuring the user.
US08302589B2

A transmission method and a transmission mechanism for a toy gun are provided. The method comprises the steps of: moving a firing action backward by means of a gear assembly; moving the firing action forward by disengaging the gear assembly from the firing action and utilizing a spring to drive the firing action to move forward; controlling the movement of the gear assembly by means of a movement control assembly such that the gear assembly cannot mesh with the firing action; re-meshing the gear assembly with the firing action wherein after the firing action moves forward to a locating position, the gear assembly can mesh with the firing action again by the operation of the firing action and the movement control assembly; and repeating the step of moving the firing action backward to the step of re-meshing.
US08302582B2

A fuel supply device includes a relief valve, a pressure regulator, and a controller. The controller controls a first pump to send fuel into an engine through a first passage, and controls a second pump to send fuel into a second passage to communicate with the first passage. The relief valve discharges fuel from the second passage when a fuel pressure of the second passage is higher than a relief pressure. The pressure regulator discharges fuel when a fuel pressure of fuel chamber is higher than a regulation pressure higher than the relief pressure in a state that a fuel pressure of backpressure chamber is equal to the relief pressure.
US08302576B2

A variable intake system may include a single plenum that is connected to runners and that has a space formed therein, a first barrier that divides the space inside the plenum into a first space and a second space, a first variable valve that is mounted on the first barrier to connect or isolate the first space and the second space to/from each other, a variable pipe of which one side thereof is connected to the plenum and the other side is closed, a second barrier that divides the variable pipe into at least two spaces, and a second variable valve that is mounted on the second barrier to connect or isolate the at least two spaces to/from each other to improve intake efficiency.
US08302572B2

In an internal combustion engine with a variable valve gear, which comprises a first intake valve and a second intake valve for each cylinder, configured to be driven by a first intake cam and a second intake cam, respectively, and a cam phase change mechanism configured to vary at least the phase of the second intake cam, the second intake cam is set so that the open period of the second intake valve is longer than that of the first intake valve.
US08302567B2

A motor chain saw has a motor housing with a drive unit for driving a saw chain on a guide bar. The drive unit is an internal combustion engine with a cylinder and a crankshaft extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the motor chain saw. A drive pinion is mounted on a first end of the crankshaft. A cooling air blower with a blower wheel is mounted on the second end of the crankshaft. A cooling air stream of the blower flows transversely to the longitudinal axis of the motor chain saw about the cylinder and exits through a housing opening. A hand guard arranged between a handle and a front end of the guide bar is connected with one leg near the housing opening for the cooling air stream. In front of the housing opening a baffle element is supported on the leg of the hand guard.
US08302564B2

An aquaculture net for a circular raft and a polygonal bottom, preferably octagonal bottom is provided. The advantages are an increase in volume and an even load distribution.
US08302562B2

A pet bed is configured to transfer heat from a pet to a support structure. The pet bed may include at least one pad defining an internal chamber, and a batting secured within the at least one pad. The batting allows water within the internal chamber to easily flow therethrough so that heat is transferred away from the pet through convection and conduction.
US08302561B2

A teat cup shell for holding a milking liner includes a body being made from a first material. The body has an upper end, a lower end; and a middle portion with the upper end adapted to receive the teat of the animal being milked. One configuration of the body may have enlarged upper and lower ends to define a dog-bone shape. The middle portion of the body may define gripping features at its middle portion. The body of the shell has a first weight. An insert is carried by the body with the insert being heavier than the remaining portion of the body. The insert is disposed closer to the lower end of the body than the upper end of the body such that the center of mass of the shell is disposed in the lower two-thirds of the shell.
US08302559B2

A method for producing lithium ion secondary batteries includes the steps of: (A) preparing an electrode sheet with lead-forming parts, (B) intermittently forming porous insulating layers containing an inorganic oxide filler and a binder on a surface of the electrode sheet excluding the lead-forming parts, (C) connecting a lead to each of the lead-forming parts, and (D) fabricating batteries by using the electrode sheet to which the leads are connected. The step B includes: the step of applying a slurry containing the inorganic oxide filler and the binder to the outer surface of a gravure roll, and transferring the slurry applied to the outer surface of the gravure roll on a surface of the electrode sheet that is being transported by a plurality of guide rolls excluding the lead-forming part; and the step of moving at least one selected from the gravure roll and the guide rolls to make the electrode sheet away from the gravure roll in the lead-forming part.
US08302557B2

A device and a method which is capable of uniformly coating, without waste, any flow passages formed in a raw material with a slurry even if a slurry having high viscosity is fed thereto by an amount required for the use of coating without excess and shortage. When the slurry (S) fed to one end of the base material (M) in which a large number of flow passages (2 . . . ) are formed parallel with each other is forced into the flow passages (2 . . . ) by an air pressure to coat the inner walls (2w) of the flow passages, the slurry (S) is fed from a slurry feeding device (6) by a required amount to a slurry storage part (5) formed at the upper surface part of the base material (M) disposed so that both ends of the flow passages (2 . . . ) can be opened in the upper and bottom surfaces thereof. Then, before the slurry (S) is forced into the flow passages (2 . . . ), a centrifugal force and vibration are allowed to act on the slurry (S) by a liquid level uniformalizing mechanism (7) to uniformalize the level of the slurry.
US08302547B2

A thread cutting device is adapted to be mounted under a bed of a sewing machine, and includes a mount having a marginal region which confronts a thread fetching zone, and a guide slot which is elongated parallel to a stroke path, a fixed knife disposed on the marginal region and having a blade aligned with the stroke path, a movable knife having a shank body which extends along the stroke path to terminate at actuated and hook ends, a drive unit disposed under the mount and having a rotatable output shaft to deliver a rotational force, and a rotation/translation conversion mechanism disposed to convert the rotational force into a translational force that is transmitted through the guide slot to actuate a translation of the actuated end of the shank body to thereby move the shank body between fetching and thread cutting positions.
US08302542B2

A furniture frame includes an assembly of a front frame, a pair of side racks, and a rear board. The front frame includes a closed frame structure made of a tubular member and forms four fitting lugs at a rear side portion thereof in a symmetric manner. The two side racks are made of tubular members to each assume a lying U-shaped structure and each lying-U-shape has an open side at which free ends of limbs of the U-shape each form a bent section. The two side racks are of a symmetric arrangement and structure so that the bent sections are respectively fit into the fitting lugs to demonstrate an expanding resiliency between the connection sections of the two side racks. The rear board is a flat plate having opposite edges that are bent in an arc form to construct pawls thereon, and the pawls on the opposite edges of the rear board are sized and positioned to respectively receive and thus engage the connection sections of the side racks. With such a structural arrangement, the front frame, the side racks, and the rear board can be efficiently assembled together without use of tool to thereby provide a stable and firm furniture frame.
US08302541B2

A structure constructed from plastic may include one or more reinforcing portions that are sized and configured to prevent damage to the structure. For example, the structure may be a table top constructed from blow-molded plastic and the table top may include a body with one or more corners. The corners may include an interior portion and an exterior portion, and reinforcement portions may be sized and configured to help prevent damage to the corners of the table top. In addition, one or more depressions may be at least partially disposed within the reinforcement portions, if desired. The reinforcement portions, for example, may include one or more inwardly and/or outwardly extending portions.
US08302537B2

A cable transportation system includes a first cable suspended over a ground surface, a vehicle supported above the ground surface by the first cable, wherein the vehicle has one or more grooved wheels for riding along the first cable, a frame supported from above by the one or more grooved wheels, and at least one vehicle guide that extends below the grooved wheels, and a junction bracket that has a ramped section, a mid portion section connected to the ramp section, and a rail portion provided on both the ramped section and the mid portion section, wherein the junction bracket is connected to the first cable so that at least an end portion of the ramped section is parallel to and directly above the first cable and the grooved wheels transition from the first cable onto the rail portion when the vehicle engages the junction bracket.
US08302528B2

An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.
US08302527B2

A method and device for determining a variation with time of an amount of steam released from a food product during a cooking process in a cooking chamber of a baking oven. A heat sink is provided outside the cooking chamber or a vapor duct in fluid communication with the cooking chamber. A sensing head of a heat conducting body projects into the cooking chamber or vapor duct, and the heat conducting body is operable to transfer heat to the heat sink. The sensing head is protected from precipitation of condensate on its surface by its spatial positioning and/or the mode of operation of the baking oven. A variation with time of the temperatures of the sensing head and cooking chamber are measured with first and second temperature sensors, respectively. The variation with time of the amount of steam in the cooking chamber is determined using an evaluation circuit of a controller as a function of measurement signals generated by the first and second temperature sensors.
US08302521B2

A punch module includes a fixing plate, a clamping member, an engaging member, a number of latching members, and a punch. The fixing plate defines an assembly space. The clamping member detachably fixed to the fixing plate and received in the assembly space of the fixing plate defines a first receiving space. The engaging member received in the first receiving space of the clamping member defines a second receiving space. The latching members are movably received in the first receiving space of the clamping member and the second receiving space of the engaging member. The punch extends through the clamping member, the engaging member, and the fixing plate, and defines a latching slot engagable with the latching members.
US08302515B2

A support element is attachable to a tool receivable in a tool holder bore so as to strengthen a connection between the tool and a tool holder and provide increased rigidity and vibration damping. The support element has a first support element end adapted for disposition adjacent to a forwardly facing mounting surface of the tool holder and a second support element end adapted for disposition adjacent to a forward end of the tool. The support element is mountable on the tool so as to be disposed completely between the forwardly facing mounting surface and the forward end of the tool. In one configuration, the support element includes a base having an underside configured for abutment with the tool holder and an extension protruding in a longitudinal direction from the base. The base is adapted to receive at least one element operable to produce adjustable canting of the base with respect to the tool holder and corresponding adjustable frictional engagement between the support element and the tool.
US08302511B1

A tool for use with other tools to increase their leverage. The tool has a handle with a curved extension connected at an end and the handle has a projection pin. The extension has a slot which receives a projection that can slide along the extent of the slot.
US08302510B2

The present invention is a multi-socket wrench that includes an elongated main member with an upper area, a lower area, a first end, a second end, and a middle section. The present invention has at least two wrench units with two sockets positioned side by side thereon. One of the at least two wrench units is rotatably attached at the upper area, and the other of the at least two wrench units is rotatably attached at the lower area of the first end of the elongated main member. The present invention also includes an attachment means for attaching the wrench units to the elongated main member. The present invention also includes at least one pivoting means formed in the elongated main member so that the first end of the elongated main member may be pivotably moved relative to the second end of the elongated main member. In some embodiments, the present invention may have four wrench units with one attached at the upper area of the first end, one attached at the lower area of the first end, one attached at the upper area of the second end, and one attached at the lower area of the second end.
US08302509B2

A hydraulic bolt tensioning device has a cylinder supported on a machine part that is to be clamped by threaded bolt and nut. An exchangeable bushing has a first end screwed onto a free threaded end of the threaded bolt that projects past the nut. A tensioning piston is seal-tightly guided in the cylinder and supported on a second end of the exchangeable bushing. A pressure medium is supplied into an annular space between cylinder and piston. A control device is provided for setting a nominal pressure of the pressure medium corresponding to a nominal pretension of the threaded bolt. A yield limit detection device detects whether a yield limit of the threaded bolt is reached during tensioning. A controller acts on a pressure relief device for pressure relief of the bolt tensioning device when reaching, or shortly after reaching, the yield limit of the threaded bolt.
US08302501B2

A multistage transmission is provided that smoothly operates with a small force without the necessity of a shift clutch, that does not cause a loss of switching time during shifting, and that does not cause escape of a driving force as well as provides a small shift shock. When shift drive means executes upshift to a one-step-upper speed-change stage reduced in reduction ratio by one stage, normal rotation odd-numbered stage cam rods Cao and normal rotation even-numbered stage cam rods Cae alternately operate normal rotation odd-numbered stage engaging members Rao and the normal rotation odd-numbered stage engaging members Rae for shifting.
US08302498B2

A linear actuator unit has a slide plate which is allowed to freely move along the outer rail while causing a cover to retreat. The linear actuator unit includes: an outer rail, which is formed into a cylindrical shape, and includes the slit-opening portion formed along an axial direction thereof; the slide plate (3), which is coupled to an inner block in the hollow portion through the slit-opening portion; a cover belt, which is tensioned between both ends in a longitudinal direction of the outer rail so as to cover the slit-opening portion; a belt-guiding member, which separates the cover belt from the outer rail correspondingly to movement of the slide plate; and a seal member, which seals between the belt-guiding member and the cover belt and between the belt-guiding member and the outer rail.
US08302495B2

In the method, for collecting and diluting a gaseous sample disposed at a temperature substantially higher than the normal temperature from a sample space (2), a flow of sample is collected into a sampling tube (3); the flow of sample is introduced from the sampling tube into a sample channel (8) formed by a gas permeable first jacket (7); dilution gas is introduced into a dilution gas space (10) formed by a second jacket (9) enclosing the first jacket and connected by its end to the sampling tube, and further from it, through the first jacket into the sample channel; and heat is conducted from the sample space (2) into the dilution gas space (10) for warming up the dilution gas that comes into contact with the sampling tube (3). According to the invention, in the method, a substantially laminar protection flow, which encloses the flow of sample being released from the sampling tube (3) into the sample channel (8) and is disposed longitudinally to the sample channel, is formed from the warmed up dilution gas.
US08302490B2

A pair of electro-acoustic transducers, one functioning as a speaker and the other functioning as a microphone, are operatively coupled to a reference which in turn is in communication with a fluid. A regenerative frequency filtering loop is operatively coupled between the transducers and functions to apply amplified signal to the speaker and produce an acoustic signal which propagates through the medium. The acoustic signal is sensed by the microphone and coupled to the regenerative loop input. For certain frequencies, the spacing between the transducers together with the speed of propagation of sound through the fluid combine with the frequency filtering of the regenerative loop to cause the loop to regenerate at a frequency indicative of the relative speed between the reference and the fluid.
US08302483B2

In a pressure sensing element made of piezoresistors formed into a silicon substrate, thermally-induced stresses on the piezoresistors and thermally-induced voltage offsets can be reduced by thinning the substrate prior to forming the resistors and then forming the resistors into the thinned-out recess. Forming a circular or disk-shaped recess in the substrate and then forming the resistors therein is believed to cause thermally-induced stresses to be evenly distributed and/or cancelled out on all four piezoresistors of a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
US08302482B2

A pressure switch includes a piston accommodated for sliding movement in a chamber formed in the interior of a casing and which communicates with an introduction port, a coil spring for elastically applying a force to one surface of the piston, an adjustment screw which is capable of variably adjusting an elastic force applied to the one surface, a swivel plate engaged with the adjustment screw and on which the coil spring is seated, and a pointer formed from a resin material integrally with the swivel plate for indicating a pressure of air detected by a switch unit. The adjustment screw variably stretches and compresses the coil spring by movement of the swivel plate, while also maintaining the coil spring at a position at which a predetermined elastic force is obtained. The swivel plate is colored together with the pointer in a high saturation color.
US08302476B2

Disclosed herein is an angular velocity measuring device including: first and second oscillators elastically supported on a substrate; an elastic connecting beam elastically connecting the first and the second oscillator; and an oscillating means for oscillating the first and the second oscillator for differential oscillation, wherein a viscous force generating means for suppressing in-phase oscillation of the first and the second oscillator is incorporated into the elastic connecting beam.
US08302474B2

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a fuel tank assembly and fuel pump module for a vehicle. One embodiment disclosed herein comprises fuel pump module with a body portion having an outer surface and a fuel level sender located on the body portion. The fuel level sender comprises a float arm movable along a movement range between an empty position and a full position and a fuel level sender protector. The protector comprises a guard portion positioned at a predetermined distance from the float arm such that the float aim is positioned between the guard portion and the outer surface of the body portion and configured to maintain the predetermined distance.
US08302472B2

A fuel delivery unit for insertion into a fuel tank of a motor vehicle has a swirl pot, a flange for closing an opening in the fuel tank, and a support element arranged between the flange and the swirl pot that prestresses the swirl pot towards a bottom of the fuel tank. A filling level sensor is arranged on the swirl pot. The swirl pot has at least one receptacle. The receptacle extends to a bottom of the swirl pot and completely surrounds the periphery of the support element and has an opening in the bottom region through which fuel from the fuel tank can enter the receptacle. The filling level sensor comprises a transmission and receiving unit for ultrasonic waves arranged in the fuel delivery unit such that the ultrasonic waves run in the receptacle and the support element.
US08302470B2

A flow test device for diminishing and diverting the flow of a high pressure stream of water while testing a fire pump has a hollow diverter tank supported on a trailer for receiving a high pressure stream of water forced by the fire pump through one or more pipes and nozzle tips retained in a stable position adjacent the diverter tank. Diffusers within the tank divert the flow of water as it enters the tank with the water subsequently exiting through an open bottom of the diverter tank. One or more support panels maintain the pipes in a generally horizontal orientation in relation to the diverter tank. A valve and gauge board enables a user to control the testing and provides for easy positioning in the vicinity of the fire pump to be tested while avoiding splash and spray from the diverter tank discharge.
US08302467B2

A throttle opening detection apparatus can include a throttle pipe, a throttle sensor, a resisting force application unit, and a cancel switch. The throttle pipe is configured to partly project into a case fixed to a bar handle and is configured to support rotation at an end portion of the bar handle. The throttle sensor is configured to detect a rotating operation amount of a throttle grip, which is mounted against relative rotation on the throttle pipe, in response to the rotation of the throttle pipe. The throttle sensor is disposed at a fixed position in the case. The resisting force application unit is configured to apply a resisting force to the rotating operation of the throttle grip. The resisting force application unit is accommodated in the case. The cancel switch configured to cancel operation of an auto-cruise controlling apparatus. The cancel switch is accommodated in the case together with the throttle sensor and the resisting force application unit.
US08302465B2

A transducer assembly for connecting a transducer to a device, the transducer assembly having a transducer mount adapted to receive the transducer, and a clamp having first and second jaws, the first and second jaws being adapted to selectively clamp to a flange portion of the device. The transducer mount may include a housing, a resilient member, and first and second end walls. The first end wall may be operatively connected to the device. The transducer may be held within the housing and adjacent to the first end wall. The resilient member may be disposed between the transducer and the second end wall.
US08302463B2

The invention discloses a loss detection system to determine and monitor containment losses for open channel networks. One exemplary method comprises monitoring a flow of liquid from an open channel into a pool, the open channel comprising channel banks and a bed, controlling the flow of liquid such that a level of liquid within the pool is constant, and determining theft loss of liquid based on the monitored flow of liquid.
US08302462B2

An engine ECU executes operations including: extracting vibration intensities of a plurality of frequency bands from vibration detected by a knock sensor, multiplying the extracted vibration intensity of each frequency band by a weight coefficient and adding the results in correspondence with crank angles to calculate integrated values of every five degrees; calculating a coefficient of correlation based on a result of comparison between a vibration waveform of a frequency band and a knock waveform model prepared in advance; calculating a knock intensity; determining occurrence of knocking in accordance with the calculated coefficient of correlation and the knock intensity; and determining no occurrence of knocking in accordance with the calculated coefficient of correlation and the knock intensity.
US08302460B2

The present invention provides a mass loading monitor for measuring in real time the particulate, i.e., powder, dust and the like, content of air inside an industrial or commercial processing facility and providing a warning signal indicating the existence of a potentially explosive atmosphere in the facility. In a first embodiment, the mass loading monitor comprises two parallel cylinders, one of which is charged with clean, ambient air and the other of which is charged with air from within the facility containing dust, powder or other particulate matter. A piston resides within each cylinder and the pistons are commonly accelerated for a short distance during which time the pressure at each piston face is measured. The time integrals of the pressures from each of the piston faces are evaluated over the period: from rest to the time of discharge from the open end of the cylinders. The ratio of these integrals defines the difference in the densities within the cylinders. In a second embodiment, a single piston and cylinder assembly is first calibrated with clean air and subsequently filled with particulate laden air and the time integrals of the pressures on the piston face are similarly evaluated.
US08302455B2

A system and method for calibrating an ultrasonic flow meter. In one embodiment, a method includes disposing a fluid circulating device within a flow meter. Fluid is circulated in the flow meter by operation of the fluid circulating device. An acoustic signal transit time within the flow meter is measured during the circulating. Based on the measuring, a portion of the acoustic signal transit time caused by latency induced by components of the flow meter is determined.
US08302451B2

A can manufacturing device in which a tool supporting base has: a plurality of working tool units that support a plurality of working tools; a supporting member that supports a plurality of working tool units; and a linear driving mechanism that reciprocates the working tool units with respect to the supporting member in the axial direction of a workpiece. The linear driving mechanism has: a guide section that is fixed on the supporting member with a base plate therebetween; a slide rail that is fixed on the working tool unit and slides along the guide section; an electromagnetic coil provided on the base plate; a magnet plate that is provided on the working tool unit and generates, between the electromagnetic coil and itself, a thrust force for the guide section; and a supply pipe that is provided at the electromagnetic coil and supplies coolant to the inside of the electromagnetic coil.
US08302450B2

Any of various features of a workpiece are forged by a common set of tools. The feature is incrementally forged as the tool set is moved to successive forging locations on the surface of the workpiece. One of the tools is used to plasticize and extrude a portion of the workpiece while one or more of the other tools are used to form dams that contain and shape the extruded portions.
US08302438B2

A driving device for an electric lock latch, comprises a housing, a motor having a power output shaft connected to a drive shaft with an external thread on a part thereof, an unequal diameter coil spring having a cylindrical spiral in the middle thereof screwing with the drive shaft, and a first and second conical spiral on both end thereof not screwing with the drive shaft, and a lock latch secured to the second conical spiral. The drive shaft is driven and rotated by a motor to pass the rotation power to the cylindrical spiral, and a rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into a linear motion of the unequal diameter coil spring for moving the lock latch to change the locked and unlocked state of the lock device. Accordingly, the lock structure and the installation thereof may be simplified and the power-saving effect is achieved.
US08302434B2

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.
US08302426B2

An heat exchanger for use in a vapor compression system is disclosed and includes a shell, a first tube bundle, a hood and a distributor. The first tube bundle includes a plurality of tubes extending substantially horizontally in the shell. The hood covers the first tube bundle. The distributor is configured and positioned to distribute fluid onto at least one tube of the plurality of tubes.
US08302421B2

A personal air conditioning device cools and moistens environmentally hot and dry blower-forced air using water vaporization occurring on external surface of a hollow fiber micro-porous membrane while water or other liquid coolant is taken from a container by means of internal capillaries of hollow fiber tubes. The device is able to deliver the pre-cooled air flow over any desired body fragment, particularly under a protective vest.
US08302406B2

A fuel delivery and control system is provided including a dual pump fluid circuit configuration comprising a fixed positive displacement pump sized to supply the main engine burn flow ranging from above windmill through cruise, a positive displacement actuation pump including a variable pressure regulator, wherein the actuation pump is sized to supply fluid to engine actuators, valves and other hydraulically operated engine components and a pump flow sharing system interconnecting the two pumps. The combined flow from the two pumps is sufficient to meet the engine flow demand for windmill relight and maximum flow conditions. During cruise or normal operating conditions, the pumps operate in completely isolated flow circuits, minimizing recirculation and therefore heat input into the fuel supply system.
US08302403B2

A compressor-less micro gas turbine has a compressed working medium container for maintaining a gas turbine under pressure. A combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the compressed gas container for receiving a gas from the gas container and heating the gas within the combustion chamber to create an expanded gas. A heater heats the combustion chamber to expand the working gas therein. A turbine in fluid communication with the combustion chamber for receiving the expanded gas. The expanded gas drives the turbine. A generator is operatively coupled to the turbine. The turbine provides a mechanical input to the generator causing the generator to produce electricity.
US08302402B2

An air induction system for a power system is provided having a compressor operable to compress air directed into an engine. In addition, the air induction system has a throttle valve disposed between the compressor and the engine, the throttle valve being configured to selectively restrict the flow of compressed air into the engine. The air induction system also has a recirculation valve disposed between the compressor and the throttle valve, the recirculation valve being configured to selectively divert a portion of the flow of compressed air. Furthermore, the air induction system has a controller configured to actuate the recirculation valve in response to a pressure differential between air upstream of the throttle valve and air downstream of the throttle valve.
US08302397B2

A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a mode selection module, a feed-forward selection module, and a control loop module. The mode selection module generates a control mode signal based on an engine speed signal, an engine torque signal, and an engine mode signal. The control mode signal indicates one of an open-loop control mode and a closed-loop control mode. The feed-forward selection module determines a feed-forward value based on the control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and the engine torque signal. The control loop module determines a loop control value at least one of based on the feed-forward value, a variable geometry turbine (VGT) control signal, and an error signal; and based on a bypass valve (BPV) control signal and the error signal when the control mode signal transitions from the open-loop control mode to the closed-loop control mode.
US08302391B2

A mixing and/or evaporating device (7) is provided for an exhaust system (3) of an internal combustion engine (1), especially in a motor vehicle. The mixing and/or evaporating device (7) has a tubular body (8), at one axial end of which a plurality of blades (9) are arranged, which blades are located adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, project radially inwardly and have angles of incidence in relation to one another in the axial direction. For manufacture at a low cost, the tubular body (8) is manufactured together with the blades (9) from a single sheet metal body (11) by shaping.
US08302388B2

After adjusting an exhaust gas temperature at an exit of a heat recovery unit (11) of an exhaust gas treating apparatus to not more than a dew point temperature of sulfur trioxide (SO3), a heavy metal adsorbent is supplied from a heavy metal adsorbent supply unit (16) disposed in an exhaust gas at an entrance of a precipitator (4) or an intermediate position within the precipitator (4), and the exhaust gas containing the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the precipitator (4). Preferably at this stage, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the exhaust gas at the entrance of the precipitator (4) 0.1 seconds after the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit (11) has been adjusted to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Further preferably, in order to prevent acid corrosion of equipment, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied after spraying an alkali into the exhaust gas at the entrance or exit of the heat recovery unit (11) and adjusting the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Accordingly, even when coal with a high sulfur content is used as fuel, heavy metals in the exhaust gas can be removed effectively.
US08302387B2

A diesel exhaust after-treatment system (110, 210) for a vehicle includes a precious metal primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) and a precious metal secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2). The primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) is located on an exhaust pipe (116, 250) and in fluid communication with and between an engine (12) and an exhaust gas outlet (126, 226). The secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2) is disposed in fluid communication with the primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) on a second exhaust pipe (130, 230, 232) and in fluid communication with the engine (12). At least one valve (128, 228, 246) is disposed on the exhaust pipe (116, 216) for selectively permitting the continuous, positive flow of exhaust gas through the secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2). When the primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) has a pre-determined amount of sulfur saturation, the valve (128, 228, 246) is switched to permit the continuous, positive flow of exhaust gas through the secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2).
US08302383B2

The present invention relates to a device for introducing a liquid into a gas flow, more preferably for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a chamber, an injection device and a channel. The channel with a circumferential region of an inlet section protrudes into the chamber and there on an inner side facing the gas flow has a surface. Said surface is arranged offset to the inside with respect to a channel profile. The proposed design results in improved evaporation of the liquid introduced into the gas flow.
US08302382B2

During a rich spike control for an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, a base air-fuel ratio AFb is decreased in a range where a combustion variation ΔCC does not exceed a permissible limit ΔCCL (S108). When the combustion variation ΔCC exceeds the permissible limit ΔCCL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is increased (S213). When the torque decrease amount ΔTD is above the permissible value ΔTDL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is decreased (S215). When the combustion variation ΔCC is above the permissible limit ΔCCL, and the torque decrease amount ΔTD is above the permissible value ΔTDL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is increased, and a fuel discharge time number EN is increased (S216).
US08302381B2

A method for controlling temperature of a gas post-treatment system in an exhaust circuit of a thermal engine having a more or less rich combustion mode, in which at least a post-treatment member is periodically submitted to regeneration phase at a set-point temperature. The duration of each regeneration phase is divided into a series of fractioned periods for tuning the engine alternatively according to two combustion modes each having a different richness, respectively a mode hotter than necessary for reaching the set-point temperature and a mode that is not so hot, the duration of each period being controlled so that excess energy introduced during a hotter mode period is compensated by the lack of energy in the following period with the less hot mode, and conversely, to maintain at the output of the post-treatment member a mean temperature corresponding to the set-point temperature.
US08302380B2

A desulfation control system includes a desulfation control module and a spark control module. The desulfation control module initiates a desulfation process in an emission reduction device by increasing temperature of the emission reduction device. The spark control module retards a spark timing to increase the temperature of the emission reduction device in response to the desulfation control module initiating the desulfation process.
US08302377B2

An engine contains a compressor stage, a compressor plenum, an inlet valving stage, a PDC stage, a PDC exit nozzle stage, a transition stage, a high pressure turbine stage, a turbine plenum, and a low pressure turbine stage. The PDC stage contains at least one pulse detonation combustor and each of the compressor plenum, PDC exit nozzle stage and turbine plenum contain a volume used to reduce and/or widen pressure peaks generated by the operation of the PDC stage.
US08302374B2

Cut resistant yarns are provided which include filaments and/or staple fibers, the filaments and/or staple fibers containing a hard component to improve cut resistance of the yarn. The hard component is preferably a plurality of hard fibers having an average diameter of at most 25 microns. The yarns are made by melting or dissolving a polymer while mixing the polymer and the plurality of hard fibers followed by spinning the yarn from the mixture.
US08302373B2

Disclosed are a method of folding multiple filaments and a bundle of filament produced by the same. More particularly, the method of folding multiple filaments includes release-winding the filaments under a uniform release-winding tension, folding the released filaments in non-twisted states and winding the folded filaments to produce a bundle of filament, so as to effectively prevent some of the filaments in the bundle of filament from hanging down or becoming loose due to different tensions when the bundle of filament is release-wound for post processing. The bundle of filament includes a plurality of filaments folded together in non-twisted states and has a standard deviation in weight of the filaments per unit length of the bundle of filament ranging from 0.0001 to 0.01.
US08302359B2

An improved joint edge assembly, of the type used in the construction of concrete slabs, is disclosed. The assembly comprises a longitudinal joint rail, preferably of steel, which is supported off the ground by formwork. The joint rail comprises first and second joint edge members that are connected to each other by interference-type connectors with self-release elements. A plurality of studs extends downward and outward from each of the joint edge members into the concrete slabs provide a positive mechanical connection between the slab and the joint rail. As the concrete shrinks during hardening, the self-release elements of the interference-type connectors allow the joint to freely open. The joint edge assembly thus provides a self-releasing joint between adjacent slab sections, and protects the edges of the adjacent slab sections from damage. A dowel aligner may also be integrated into the assembly, to allow proper positioning of dowels within the slab.
US08302355B2

Simulated log siding is formed of an engineered cementitious composite. Single or dual flanges on each log piece is used to apply siding units to a surface. Some siding members are molded into a three dimensional configuration to appear as a structural wood log. Individual end pieces and molded tail clusters when used with the siding provide the appearance of the characteristic stacked or staggered corners of a log structure.
US08302351B2

A vibration damper comprises a first plate 11 that is fixed to one framework member 51, a second plate 13 that is fixed to another framework member 53, and an elastic material 15 that is filled in the interstices between the first plate 11 and the second plate 13. A first clearance W1 is formed between the another framework member 53 and a first fixing portion 21, and a second clearance W2 is formed between the first framework member 51 and a second fixing portion 29. The first plate 11 is made of a steel plate that is formed directing from the first fixing portion 21 to the second fixing portion 29, and the second plate 13 is made of a steel plate that is formed directing from the second fixing portion 29 to the first fixing portion 21. A space portion 50 constituted by the first clearance W1, the second clearance W2, the first plate 11, and the second plate 13 has a dimension which is at least sufficient for insertion of a joist 57 therein.
US08302345B2

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of interchanging inserts in a pest station. A lock mechanism interlocking a lid to a base of a pest station is unlocked and the lid is opened. A first insert including an entrance mechanism is removed from a cavity of the pest station and a second insert including at least one of a bait, an attractant, and a snap trap is placed within the cavity of the pest station. The lid is closed and the locking mechanism is secured to interlock the lid to the base.
US08302340B1

A bolt action for a firearm includes a receiver body having forward and rear apertures connected by a central bore therethrough, and having a plurality of forward and rear conical seat surfaces proximate the forward and rear apertures. The bolt action further includes a generally cylindrical bolt body having forward and rear ends, a plurality of locking lugs disposed on a forward end thereof for engaging the forward conical surfaces of the receiver body and a floating bolt handle for engaging the rear conical surfaces of the receiver body when the bolt handle is rotated.
US08302332B2

A removable spike or cleat assembly for footwear, including a sole, wherein the assembly includes a spike or cleat constructed from an elastically deformable material and including one or more leg members and mounting apparatus adapted to engage with the sole, wherein the spike or cleat is adapted to engage with a projection located on the mounting apparatus, the engagement between the spike or cleat and the projection being achieved by rotating the spike or cleat relative to the projection and at least partially inserting the one or more leg members into one or more apertures located on the mounting apparatus, and wherein the spike or cleat is disengaged from the mounting apparatus by producing an elastic deformation of the one or more leg members.
US08302330B2

In one embodiment, a slipper product line is provided comprising at least nine models of slippers, with at least three different sizes and at least three levels of firmness. Each of the slippers comprises a sole portion, an upper portion attached to the sole portion and configured for retaining the slipper on a wearer's foot, and a support portion located within the sole portion, wherein said models of slippers within the product line differ only in size and the cushioning properties of the support portion. In one embodiment, a slipper product line is provided comprising at least two different models of slippers, with at least two levels of firmness.
US08302325B2

The present disclosure provides methods, compositions and systems for drying coal fines.
US08302318B2

An aiming system is disclosed. The aiming system may be used with various slingshot and projectile-launching devices, but is particularly useful for use with “shoot-over” slingshots. The aiming system comprises a clip or other device with an integrated aiming or sighting system. In the preferred embodiment, the integrated aiming system comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands disposed within the clip and terminating at the rearward face of the clip. In this matter, the tips of the fiber optic strands provide a series of illuminated points allowing the user of a device to look forward while shooting and to align the points with the target. The points may be color coded to aid in the aiming process.
US08302315B2

An electric hair removal apparatus includes a housing adapted to be held in the hand, a guard cap mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control element with which a switch can be activated. The control element is arranged inside an at least locally circular recess of the guard cap. The pivot axis of the guard cap is constructed to be eccentric relative to the recess of the guard cap.
US08302311B2

A convertible top stack linkage is provided that is formed, in part, in a thixotropic magnesium molding process. Many structural parts of the convertible top stack linkage may be thixotropically molded. A pivot link of the top stack linkage is pivotally connected to two bows, for example, the three and four bows of the top stack. A five bow extends between and is attached to right and left pivot links by right and left pressure links, respectively. A pivot link is provided that has a triple pivot connection to a tensioning link, a center rail and a rear rail. A main spring is secured to a pivot pin and connected to a main pivot bracket on the vehicle to provide a counterbalancing force on the balance link that assists in lifting the top stack linkage as the convertible top is retracted and extended.
US08302308B2

A method of manufacturing a printhead includes providing a polymeric substrate having a surface; providing a patterned material layer on the surface of the polymeric substrate; and removing at least some of the polymeric substrate not covered by the patterned material layer using an etching process.
US08302306B2

An exhaust gas treatment device for internal combustion engines and the like includes inlet and outlet end caps, two catalyst substrates, and a two-piece housing. A first, cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the inlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially reduced section. A second cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which the other one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the outlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially enlarged section sized to receive therein the second end of the first housing member, whereby the reduced section of the first housing member and the enlarged section of the housing member are spaced radially apart a predetermined distance to define an annularly-shaped space or gap which thermally insulates the associated portion of the exhaust gas treatment device.
US08302303B2

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a contact piece, for use in a vacuum interrupter chamber, especially in a low, medium or high voltage vacuum interrupter chamber. The aim of the disclosure is to improve multi-layer contact systems in such a manner that even larger layer thicknesses can be used to improve the electrical properties. For this purpose, the contact piece is comprised of at least two layers of powder-metallurgical pressed green compacts with a solder film inserted thereinbetween, the layers being soldered together in a soldering furnace in a desired relative position to each other at the same time the layers are sintered.
US08302301B2

Methods of backdrilling printed circuit boards (PCBs) to remove via stubs and related apparatuses. The method may include removing a via stub through a combination of backdrilling and chemical etching. The backdrilling may remove a masking layer from the via stub. Portions of an underlying layer may remain in the region of the via stub after the backdrilling is completed. The remaining portions of the underlying layer may be removed in a subsequent etching process thereby removing the via stub from the PCB. As the backdrilling step may be used for the limited purpose of removing the outer layer and portions of the underlying layer remaining in the via can be tolerated, the diameter of the backdrilling need not be as large as traditional backdrilling where all layers within the via must be ensured of being completely removed.
US08302299B2

A method of manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board of a built-in electronic device provides a substrate having a copper clad laminate and a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is laminated onto the copper clad laminate and has a cavity for accommodating the electronic device. A second dielectric layer is laminated onto the substrate and electronic device to produce a base circuit board with an embedded electronic device. A build-up circuit layer is formed on the base circuit board. The first and second dielectric layers are made of a plastic material.
US08302297B2

Provided are a circuit board structure and a fabrication method thereof, including the steps of: forming a first circuit layer in a first dielectric layer and exposing the first circuit layer therefrom; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the first circuit layer, and forming a second circuit layer on the second dielectric layer; forming a plurality of first conductive vias in the second dielectric layer for electrically connecting to the first circuit layer to thereby dispense with a core board and electroplated holes and thus facilitate miniaturization. Further, the first dielectric layer is liquid before being hardened and is formed on the first dielectric layer that enhances the bonding between layers of the circuit board and the structure.
US08302293B2

In order to ensure reliable feeding in particular of a clinch nut (M) from a ready position (16) into a processing position, the processing tool designed as a press-in tool (2) has a guide element (14), through which the clinch nut (M) is pressed into the processing position by means of a punch (8) against an elastic holding force exerted by the guide element (14). The guide element (14) is designed in particular as a slotted bush and is arranged as an insert in a hold-down (12).
US08302286B2

A stator winding is manufactured by a forming step, a winding step, and a expanding step. In the forming step, an S-shaped offset shape is formed on a conductor part corresponding to a coil end part. Thereby, in a coil end part, it is possible to provide an expected shape stably at the coil end part. The conductor is wound around a bobbin in the winding step. In the winding step, a twisted shape is given to the conductor parts to be the inclined part of the coil end and the conductor part to be accommodated in a slot. In the expanding step, a preform product removed from the bobbin is expanded into a shape of the stator winding.
US08302284B2

An apparatus for securing an end cap including an end cap flange to a shell including a shell flange by forming a lip portion including the end cap flange and the shell flange into a lock seam portion in which the end cap flange and the shell flange are engaged with each other. The apparatus includes an elongate tool element rotatable about the central axis, for receiving the end cap thereon. The apparatus also includes a number of roller subassemblies for forming the lip portion into the lock seam portion. Each roller subassembly includes a forming roller engageable with the lip portion while the tool element rotates. Each roller subassembly also includes an arm on which the forming roller thereof is rotatably mounted, and a support mechanism for positioning the arm to engage the forming roller with the lip portion.
US08302281B2

A method and apparatus for providing motor vehicle sub-assemblies with unrestricted model mix and quick changeover between models. The apparatus includes a track; a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement along the track between first and second positions; and first and second turrets rotatably mounted on the carriage at longitudinally spaced locations and each including a plurality of circumferentially spaced individual faces and unique tooling fixtures on the respective faces for receiving unique work piece components corresponding to a plurality of motor vehicle body styles.
US08302269B2

A fastening device includes a first female component and a second male component, each component adapted for attachment to a back panel, wing or strap of a garment or the like, the first component includes a plastic first plate having an inner side and an outer side. The second component includes a second plastic plate having an inner side and an outer side adapted to at least partially overlie the outer side of the first plate in use. The first plate is formed with a plurality of connecting recesses and the inner side of the second plate is formed with at least one connecting protrusion adapted to be releasably received and retained selectively in any one of the connecting recesses. The second plate is formed with a resilient nose inclined downwardly in the direction from its outer side towards its inner side and is deflected upwardly when the components are coupled together to bear resiliently against the outer side of the first plate.
US08302265B1

A wire gripper for positively locking a wire in place between an overhead support and a suspended load such that it can support the suspended load and maintain tension on the wire. The wire gripper includes an elongated body with a through bore and a threaded bore intersecting the through bore. Two open channels extend through the body parallel with and on either side of the threaded bore. A threaded fastener extends into the threaded bore. A U-shaped clip member with two legs is carried by the threaded fastener. By passing one or more wires through the through bore and tightening the fastener, six points of contact can be brought to bear against the inserted wires and thereby lock the wires with respect to the wire gripper.
US08302261B2

A hinge comprises a rotatable bracket, a fixed bracket, a torsion spring, a locknut element and a shaft penetrating through the rotatable bracket, the fixed bracket, the spring and the locknut element. The rotatable bracket forms a through hole therein. The hinge further comprises an elastic hook and a driving element. The elastic hook is inserted into the through hole of the rotatable bracket to lock the electronic device when the electronic device is closed. A driving element mounted in the main body receives an operation of the user to push the elastic hook out of the through hole in order to open the electronic device.
US08302244B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices and methods for cleaning, disinfecting, or sanitizing a toilet bowl surface or other surface. The device features a sheath having a first surface and second surface. The sheath is capable of assuming two positions. In said first position the first surface faces inward toward itself defining a first opening and a first chamber. In the second position the second surface faces inward towards itself defining a second opening and a second chamber and the first surface faces outward. The sheath is moved from the first position into the second position by inverting it over a flexible head attached to a hollow wand. A roughening agent is affixed to the first surface for cleaning toilet bowl surfaces and other surfaces. A cleaning, disinfecting or sanitizing agent can also be applied to the first surface of the sheath.
US08302239B2

An electric toothbrush with improved brush head motion is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a head comprising a fixed base having a concave portion, and a brush head having a convex portion. The convex brush head nests within the concave base to allow for rotational and tilting movement of the brush head relative to the base. The brush head movement may be driven by a motor housed within the toothbrush.
US08302236B2

A mobile boarding bridge (101) is equipped with climate control facilities. The mobile boarding bridge is furnished with multiple collapsible tunnels (110, 120). A heating/cooling device (160) comprising a climate controller (161) generates hot or cold air and is furnished on the outside of the first tunnel (110) of said tunnels. A connection pipe (163) that connects to ducts (164) within the tunnel is attached to said climate controller (161). A duct (164) connected to said connection pipe (163) directs air that has been heated/cooled by the heating-cooling device (160) to the interior of the first tunnel (110). An aspirator comprises an air intake (171) which intakes air from the interior of the tunnel and an intake pipe (172) which leads air taken in at said air intake (171) to the interior of the climate controller (161).
US08302226B2

A negative pressure care bed, including at least a worktable, an armrest, a rocking bed having an upper bed surface and a lower bed surface, a mattress, a body including an upper part and a lower part, multiple excretion holes, a pair of trousers, a bed pan, a waste container having an inlet and an outlet, and a noise reduction oven. The upper part is connected to the lower part via a hinge. A first lifter is disposed on the upper part. A groove is disposed at the bottom of the negative pressure care bed and formed via the worktable and the armrest. The rocking bed is disposed on the groove via multiple bearing supports. The excretion holes are disposed on the mattress and on the lower bed surface of the rocking bed. The trousers are disposed on the excretion hole. The bed pan is disposed in the excretion hole and on the trousers.
US08307460B2

A method and apparatus which can reduce the communication time that occurs due to transmission of an encrypted content, when a Digital Rights Management (DRM) agent and a rendering application are implemented in different devices respectively, is provided. A method of obtaining content information in an environment where a DRM agent and a rendering application are separated from each other, includes transmitting, by a consumer electronics (CE) device comprising the rendering application, first N bytes of the content to a portable Digital Rights Management (PDRM) device comprising the DRM agent, and obtaining, by the PDRM device, information about the content by using a cryptographic hash with respect to the first N bytes, and transmitting the obtained information to the CE device.
US08307456B2

An embodiment relates generally to a method of creating a secure environment in a computer device. The method includes providing a secure guest account in a multi-user operating system and enforcing a policy on the secure account to allow a user to log-in to the secure guest account while preventing access at least one network port of the computer device. The method also includes enforcing a rule to allow the secure guest account access to an application and the at least one network port.
US08307450B2

A system, article of manufacture and method is provided for transferring secret information from a first location to a second location. The secret information is encoded and stalls in executable code are located. The executable code is configured to perform a predetermined function when executed on a pipeline processor. The encoded information is inserted into a plurality of instructions and the instructions are inserted into the executable code at the stalls. There is no net effect of all of the inserted instructions on the predetermined function of the executable code. The executable code is transferred to the second location. The location of the stalls in the transferred code is identified. The encoded information is extracted from the instructions located at the stalls. The encoded information may then be decoding information to generate the information at the second location.
US08307449B2

An image processing apparatus which is capable of managing security information on electronic documents before and after merging at a low cost. A CPU circuit causes input electronic documents with attribute information added thereto to be stored in a HDD. The CPU circuit causes selected ones of the electronic documents to be merged while updating attribute information on the merged electronic document.
US08307440B1

A system includes a plurality of deep packet inspection engines for performing deep packet inspection on packets in a network. The deep packet inspection engines share at least some state. One of the deep packet inspection engines is assigned responsibility for writing data to the shared state. For one of the deep packet inspection engines to write data to the shared state, the deep packet inspection write provides a write request to the assigned “writer” deep packet inspection engine, which queues the request on a write queue. The writer deep packet inspection engine may queue multiple write requests from multiple deep packet inspection engines. The writer deep packet inspection engine dequeues the write requests and processes them serially, thereby avoiding the need to manage contention using locks.
US08307437B2

A method and system for the classification of software in networked systems, includes: determining a software received by a sensor is attempting to execute on a computer system of the sensor; classifying the software as authorized or unauthorized to execute, and gathering information on the software by the sensor if the software is classified as unauthorized to execute. The sensor sends the information on the software to one or more actuators, which determine whether or not to act on one or more targets based on the information. If so, then the actuator sends a directive to the target(s). The target(s) updates its responses according to the directive. The classification of the software is definitive and is not based on heuristics or rules or policies and without any need to rely on any a priori information about the software.
US08307435B1

The execution of a software application is diverted to detect software object corruption in the software application. Software objects used by the software application are identified and their pointers are inspected. One or more tests are applied to pointers pointing to the virtual method tables of the software objects, addresses (or pointers) in the virtual method tables, and memory attributes or content of the memory buffer identified by the addresses for inconsistencies that indicate corruption. A determination of whether the software objects are corrupted is made based on the outcome of the tests. If software object corruption is detected, proper corrective actions are applied to prevent malicious exploitation of the corruption.
US08307430B1

A system and method is provided to identify UDP attacks. A processor determines a spectral density of packet timing intervals, a natural distance between the spectral density and a uniform distribution, and a non-linear amplifier applying a non-linear amplification to the natural distance to detect a denial-of-service attack. It uses the concept of traffic statistics analysis, i.e., spectral densities of arrived-packet timing intervals, calculates the KL-distance measurement and makes decision based on the output of a non-linear Gaussian amplifier, with which one can easily adjust the amplifier via selecting different parameters of mean and variance to satisfy system requirements of false-positive and false-negative UDP attack detections.
US08307428B1

A scanning system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, portions of data are scanned. Further, access to a scanned portion of the data is allowed during scanning of another portion of the data.
US08307419B2

The flow of information to or from an application on a host machine is regulated by a trusted agent operating in conjunction with at least one security element, such as a firewall or a policy server. When a communication to or from the application is detected by the trusted agent, the trusted agent gathers information about the attempted communication, and formulates and sends a message based upon the gathered information to at least one security element. The security element makes a decision to permit or block at least part of the attempted communication based upon the message received from the trusted agent.
US08307416B2

A system-on-chip (SOC) that includes a plurality of initiator components, and a target memory component coupled to the initiator components and having a target firewall, wherein the target firewall is configured to be programmed with a data structure which indicates, for at least one portion of the target memory component, access conditions for each initiator component.
US08307407B2

A system for displaying a set of selectable CAPTCHAs produces a first set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the first set is associated with a CAPTCHA property. The system also produces a second set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the second set is not associated with a CAPTCHA property. Next, the system displays the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs. Finally, the system makes respective CAPTCHAs in the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs selectable, thereby allowing a user to pass a CAPTCHA challenge by distinguishing the first set of CAPTCHAs from the second set of CAPTCHAs without typing the words associated with the images.
US08307404B2

Described herein are one or more implementations of a policy-management infrastructure that provides a universal policy-based solution across a spectrum of scenarios in a computing environment. At least one implementation of the policy-management infrastructure defines how policy-based data is structured or layered relative towards the data in other layers. Furthermore, a described implementation provides a mechanism for determining “overlap” and “conflicts” in policies.
US08307393B2

A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver, which receives and processes a service being transmitted in non-real time, and a broadcast receiver are disclosed. Herein, the method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium, wherein a list of recordings screen displaying the list of recordings includes at least one of a content name, a channel name, a date of recording, and a content size.
US08307388B2

A method of detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of at least one device that includes a source device. An instruction is received from a user to present program content from the source device. A set of one or more sink devices missing from the home entertainment system for a presentation of the program content based on an assessment by the wireless home entertainment hub of presentation capabilities of the home entertainment system using the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub is determined. The set of one or more sink devices is presented to the user.
US08307379B2

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for determining an extension to use to process an input object to a call in a program. An association of parameter definitions is indicated with extensions, where each extension comprises a program capable of being selected to process at least one input object as part of an operation. A call is received for an extension point including at least one input object to determine one extension to use to process the at least one object, wherein requirements are defined for the extension point. A determination is made of a set of candidate extensions capable of processing the at least one input object based on a first criteria determining extensions whose parameter definitions are capable of satisfying the requirements defined for the extension point. A selection is made from the set of candidate extensions of one extension to use to process the at least one object using a second criteria.
US08307363B2

A virtual machine system includes a first operating system for operating a virtual machine, a first manager for controlling to divide a physical resource into a plurality of virtual resources and assign at least one of the plurality of virtual resources as a unit to the virtual machine, the physical resource including at least a central processing unit and a memory, and a second operating system for controlling the first operating system, the second operating system being connected to a storage unit.
US08307361B2

Systems and methods provide an operation of digital content assemblages such as video games with a digital processor so as to control platform dependent replacement of digital asset components. In a video game package operated on a first platform, the video game includes one or more first digital asset components such musical and/or graphical works. Platform association data is accessed to evaluate an association between the first digital asset component and the first platform. The platform association data is checked for a concurrence between the platform association data and platform data. A second digital asset component is substituted for the first digital asset component in accordance with the check of the platform association data to permit the operating of the digital content assemblage with the second digital asset component as a replacement for the first digital asset component.
US08307354B2

A program generation apparatus generates an obfuscated program difficult to analyze from outside and a program execution apparatus executes the program. The program generation apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a 1st program including one or more instructions, the 1st program causing a process by executing the instructions in a predetermined order to obtain a result; a generation unit that generates a 2nd program based on the 1st program; and an output unit that outputs the 2nd program. The 2nd program causes a process that is different from the process caused by the 1st program and varies according to current information determined at execution of the 2nd program in order to obtain a result identical to the result of the 1st program.
US08307352B2

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program are provided by the aspects of the present invention. Aspects of the present invention identify required classes of a software program in the import statements in the source code. Next, the aspects of the present invention identify an element in a classpath environment variable that contain only the required classes and generate a new classpath environment variable with the identified element. Aspects of the present invention then store the new classpath environment variable in a classpath file that is specific to the software program for subsequent invocation.
US08307349B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products internationalize a user interface (UI) control layout for an application by extracting a translatable text resource comprising a pattern of a message for performing the control layout from a source code of the application. Language information is received that is indicative of one or more languages for the UI control layout. Based upon the received language information, the pattern is constructed and dynamically laid out at run time for graphical presentation to one or more users. The graphical presentation is used to implement the UI control layout in accordance with the one or more languages.
US08307341B2

A system and method for creating customized documentation is disclosed. The method comprises storing one or more documents such that each of the one or more documents corresponds to one of a plurality of versions of a software product. The version of the software product which is installed in an installation environment is detected. The configuration of the installation environment is also detected. At least one document from the one or more documents that corresponds to the version of the software product installed in the installation environment is selected. A subset of the selected document that includes the version of the software product installed in the installation environment and the configuration of the installation environment is then determined. A customized document is composed, based on one or more subsets of the selected document.
US08307327B2

A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a customizable visual configuration (VC) template to retrieve and display a working set of system configuration objects. The computer-implementable method includes selecting a current system configuration object. Once a system configuration object is selected, a VC utility examines all available VC templates. The VC utility displays available VC templates whose starting configuration object matches the selected current system configuration object. In response to a selected VC template, the VC utility retrieves and displays system configuration objects defined by the selected VC template.
US08307322B2

A wiring design apparatus includes a first acquirer that acquires a first wiring block whose region has a maximum number of crossings with regions of other wiring blocks from printed circuit board data of a printed circuit board having a plurality of wiring blocks with a specific region on a wiring layer, a second acquirer that acquires second wiring blocks whose region does not cross the first wiring block from the printed circuit board data, and a wiring execution requester that causes a wiring processor to perform wiring processing on the first wiring block and the second wiring blocks in parallel.
US08307302B2

A remote control handset 10 is provided for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset 10 has a button 40 on its upper surface 20, and a button 120 on its lower surface 80. The button 40 on its upper surface 20 is used to navigate deeper into the hierarchical menu structure, and the button 120 on its lower surface 80 is used to navigate in the other direction (i.e. higher) in the menu structure. The remote control handset 10 is thus configured to make navigation of a graphical interface having hierarchical menu structure more intuitive, logical, and efficient.
US08307291B2

A security application for granting different access rights to web pages and objects on each web page is disclosed. A data table assigns one or more function identifiers (FIDs) to users. A second data table assigns a different object identifier (OID) to each web page, and to assign a different OID for each object on each web page. A third data table assigns an FID to each OID. When a user attempts to access a web page or an object on the web page, a web server compares each of the user's FIDs to the FID assigned to the web page or object. The web server grants access to the web page or object if one of the user's FIDs matches the FID assigned to the web page or object, the user is granted access to the web page or object according to the function of the matched FID.
US08307289B2

System and method for configuring a client system, e.g., a measurement system. First input is received from a client system over a network requesting access to a plurality of configuration diagrams comprising respective solutions to respective tasks. At least a subset of the plurality of configuration diagrams is displayed on a display device of the client system for viewing by a user. Second input is received from the client system selecting one of the displayed configuration diagrams indicating a solution for a task to be performed by the client system. The solution is provided to the client system over the network, and may include the selected configuration diagram and/or pricing information for proposed products. The configuration diagrams are stored in a configuration diagram database. The stored configuration diagrams may be pre-defined solutions for pre-defined tasks, generated in response to received user requirements, and/or received from client systems and/or vendors.
US08307284B2

An audio and video production system and method, including a video production control switcher; and one or more computers connected through a network and configured for controlling the video production control switcher. The system is further configured for at least one of defining looks, including shot templates, that correspond to particular settings on the production control switcher or settings of parts of the production control switcher; defining sequences of the looks or assigning individual looks to control elements on a computer of the computers; transmitting the looks across the network; and translating of a single look into one or more standard editor commands, and transmitting the commands to the production control switcher.
US08307283B1

A feature of a computing device application may be selected by user or other input and then demonstrated using a demonstration application. The demonstration application may select simulated user inputs from a script or other source that, when input to the computing device application, drive it to demonstrate the selected feature. The demonstration application may then begin to input the one or more simulated user inputs to the computing device application. Before all of the simulated user inputs have been input, the demonstration application may determine that the user has interrupted the demonstration. In response to the determination, the demonstration application may cease inputting the simulated inputs, leaving the computing device application in the state it was in at the time of interruption, thereby enabling the user to explore the application or feature of the application being demonstrated at a time and in a manner of the user's choosing.
US08307278B1

In many websites, there are multiple pages that a user may wish to view simultaneously. A system and method are provided that allow a user to divide a web browser screen to manage multiple documents, views of documents, and web services which are provided for and managed using inline frames.
US08307275B2

The present invention enables users to dynamically manage historical data within documents bearing one or more links, and retain the relationships defined by the links. The present invention tracks the links not just from source documents to destination documents, but also from destination documents back to the source documents, organizes the links in a hierarchical manner based on the content/naming of the links, and displays the link information to the user in a real-time and meaningful way.
US08307272B2

A network device and a method for controlling the same. The device and method each performed the operations of transforming an input signal so as to allow the input signal to be divided according to frequency bands and resolutions, comparing the transformed input signal with abnormal signal information stored in an abnormal signal database (DB), and determining whether the input signal is a normal signal. When the input signal is a normal signal, the network and method each perform the operation of delivering the transformed input signal to a codec.
US08307259B2

This application relates to hardware based memory scrubbing. One disclosed embodiment may comprise a system that includes an engine, implemented in hardware, configured to initiate a request for data residing in associated memory. An error system is configured to detect errors in data that has been read from associated memory in response to the request for the data, the error system maintaining a log of entries corresponding to errors detected by the error system. An identifier is associated with each of the entries in the log that result from the request initiated by the engine to differentiate from other entries in the log.
US08307258B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reconfiguring an array of solid-state storage elements protected using parity data. The storage element error module determines that one or more storage elements are unavailable to store data (“unavailable storage elements”). The storage element resides in an array with N number of storage elements storing a first ECC chunk and P number of storage elements storing first parity data. The reconfigure data read module reads data from storage elements other than the unavailable storage elements. The data regeneration module uses the first parity data to regenerate missing data from the first ECC chunk. The data reconfiguration module creates a second ECC chunk. The new configuration storage module stores a portion of the second ECC chunk and associated second parity data on (N+P)−Z number of storage elements, wherein 1≦Z≦P.
US08307243B2

A method and apparatus is described for parallel debugging on the data nodes of a parallel computer system. A data template associated with the debugger can be used as a reference to the common data on the nodes. The application or data contained on the compute nodes diverges from the data template at the service node during the course of program execution, so that pieces of the data are different at each of the nodes at some time of interest. For debugging, the compute nodes search their own memory image for checksum matches with the template and produces new data blocks with checksums that didn't exist in the data template, and a template of references to the original data blocks in the template. Examples herein include an application of the rsync protocol, compression and network broadcast to improve debugging in a massively parallel computer environment.
US08307229B2

A method of measuring power consumption of an electric appliance is provided. The method may include determining an operation mode of the electric appliance, extracting power consumption data corresponding to the determined operation mode of the electric appliance, and calculating an integrated power consumption based on the extracted power consumption data and the operation time of the electric appliance.
US08307227B2

A data communication system includes one or more data processing units and includes a central control unit. The decentralized data processing units are connected to the central control unit by data connection. The central control unit includes a synchronisation unit for outputting via the data connection an synchronisation signal to the data processing unit. The data processing unit includes a data generator for generating data and transmitting, after the synchronisation signal, data to the central control unit.
US08307225B2

A system, which includes a system controller and client devices, manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Electric power flow to the consuming devices is controlled by controllable devices, which are controlled by the client devices. The controller includes an event manager, a database, and a client device manager. The event manager generates event instructions, including instructions requiring a reduction of consumed electric power. The database stores, on a per client device basis and/or a per electric utility basis, information relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. The client device manager selects, based on the database information and responsive to a power reduction event instruction, at least one client device to which to communicate a message indicating a power reduction amount and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable power flow to associated consuming devices.
US08307219B2

A system to enable an enterprise to obtain an insight into the functioning and behavior of a data center that hosts the enterprise's IT infrastructure through the alerts raised by the system is provided. These alerts are based on the exhibited abnormal behavior while processing transactions of the data center and are raised by analyzing exhibited behavior with respect to the expected behavior. The system depicts the expected behaviors in the form of model sequences related to the transactions and elaborates an approach for determining these model sequences.
US08307214B2

A method for restricting access to media data generated by a camera comprising: setting a non-public initial user key, KICU, in the camera, providing a user client with the initial user key, KICU, establishing an authenticated relation between the user client and the camera by sending an authentication message including information based on the initial user key, KICU, from the user client to the camera, checking if an operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, and performing, in response to the act of checking if the operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, the acts a)-d) only if the operational user key (KOCU) is not set: a) acquiring an operational user key (KOCU), b) setting the operational user key (KOCU) in the camera, c) sending the operational user key (KOCU) to the user client, and d) indicating in the camera that the operational user key (KOCU) is set.
US08307203B2

A local network traffic processor and an application are resident on a common computer system. The application is configured to trust a server certificate issued by a local network traffic processor, the local network traffic processor operatively being paired with a remote network traffic processor. A proxy server certificate, generated using identification information of a server associated with the remote network traffic processor and signed by the local certification authority, is used to establish a secure session between a local network traffic processor and the application.
US08307200B2

An authentication apparatus includes a first storage unit that stores proxy information containing a proxy ID and capability data, an acquiring unit that acquires the proxy information from the first storage unit, a first transmitting unit that transmits a second message containing the acquired proxy information to a terminal, a receiving unit that receives a third message and authentication data, the third message containing a first proxy ID and setting data from the terminal, and an authentication unit that performs an authentication process based on the authentication data, and a second transmitting unit that transmits the setting data to a server to which a proxy of the first proxy ID relays data communication.
US08307194B1

A method and apparatus to provide specifiable ordering between and among vector and scalar operations within a single streaming processor (SSP) via a local synchronization (Lsync) instruction that operates within a relaxed memory consistency model. Various aspects of that relaxed memory consistency model are described. Further, a combined memory synchronization and barrier synchronization (Msync) for a multistreaming processor (MSP) system is described. Also, a global synchronization (Gsync) instruction provides synchronization even outside a single MSP system is described. Advantageously, the pipeline or queue of pending memory requests does not need to be drained before the synchronization operation, nor is it required to refrain from determining addresses for and inserting subsequent memory accesses into the pipeline.
US08307184B1

A method and corresponding apparatus for enhancing the capacity of communication and memory devices, said method comprising the representation of information by lattice points confined to a cubic region of an n-dimensional space, by means of which for example capacity gains of 50% or 100% and more may be achieved, relative to ‘conventional’ communication and storage methods.
US08307176B1

A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers.
US08307175B2

Methods and systems to access data in a computer system independent of an operating environment of the computer system, including to recover data to a remote system, to overwrite data, and to copy data to a hidden partition. A management system may directly access a storage device of the computer system and communicate with the remote system over a data channel that is secure from an operating environment of the computer system. The management system may access the storage device on a block basis, using a device driver associated with a storage device controller, and may include a virtualization engine to access the storage device. The remote system may include logic to request meta-data, to identify disk blocks corresponding to files of interest from the meta-data, and to construct the files of interest from the disk blocks.
US08307172B2

A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a memory space of logical addresses which is formatted from outside by an additional-write type file system, and a memory controller controlling the nonvolatile memory, the memory controller transmitting n error to the outside of the system if the memory controller is instructed to write data in a logical address which is equal to or smaller than a logical address of previously written data in an address area of the memory space. The memory controller controls the logical address and a physical address of the nonvolatile memory, and in conjunction with the additional-write type file system makes it possible to avoid “copy-involving write” each time file data in the nonvolatile memory is updated, thereby to promote high-speed operation by prevention of decrease in file update speed.
US08307161B2

A method for data integrity protection includes storing items of data in a plurality of data blocks in a storage medium. Respective block signatures are stored in an integrity structure in the storage medium. A block signature of the given data block is computed in response to a first request to read a first data item from a given data block, and the computed signature is verified against a stored signature read from the integrity structure. The verified block signature is saved in a secure cache. The block signature is recomputed upon receiving a second request to read a second data item, subsequent to the first request, and is verified against the verified block signature in the secure cache. The data item is output from the storage medium in response to verifying the recomputed block signature.
US08307144B2

A method and system of relaxing the ordering of a read completion by setting an ordering attribute in the read completion. The relaxed ordering allows the read completion to bypass pending writes.
US08307139B1

A communication system including a resource and an arbiter. The resource is shared among a plurality of requestors such that, at any given time, only one of the plurality of requestors has access to the resource. The arbiter is configured to receive a request from each of the plurality of requestors to access the resource, in which each request has a priority level associated with the request. The arbiter is further configured to age each request at a different rate relative to that associated with another request, and grant each requestor access to the resource based on i) the priority level and/or ii) the age of the request corresponding to the requestor.
US08307138B2

Transaction requests requesting a service from the slave device are received from a master device at a transaction interface. The transaction requests are selectively issued to the bus system under control of an issue control circuit. A target outstanding transaction value N.x is received at a control interface. The target outstanding transaction value has an integer portion N and a fractional portion x. The issue control circuit controls the transaction interface to issue the transaction requests to the bus system in dependence upon the target outstanding transaction value so that a time averaged number of outstanding transaction requests corresponds to the target outstanding transaction value.
US08307134B2

A method and apparatus of a portable storage device that provides a tethering and portable storage service to a host is described. In an exemplary method, the portable storage device configures a tethering and a portable storage service interface for the host. The portable storage device provides the tethering service to a network for the host through the tethering interface. In addition, the portable storage device shares files stored on the portable storage device through the portable storage interface.
US08307129B2

Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for swapping PPRC secondary device definitions from a subchannel set other than zero to subchannel set zero. The method comprises identifying a PPRC primary and secondary device, wherein the PPRC primary device definitions reside at subchannel set zero and the PPRC secondary device definitions reside at a subchannel set other than subchannel set zero, initiating a PPRC device definition substitution operation to substitute the PPRC primary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC secondary device definition resides and substitute the PPRC secondary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC primary device definitions resides, storing the control block information for each PPRC device whose device definitions are to be substituted, and storing the PPRC primary device definitions within the subchannel set where the PPRC secondary device definition resides and storing the PPRC secondary device definitions within subchannel set zero.
US08307125B2

A field instrument management apparatus, which manages a field instrument by communicating with the field instrument via a field bus, transfers a request for an instrument address to the field instrument, and provides the instrument address to an outside when the instrument address is acquired from the field instrument.
US08307122B2

A close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor is provided in the close-coupling shared storage architecture with p processors scale, the close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor comprises: j processor modules PMs; wherein, each processor module is formed by coupling and cross-jointing i processors Cs, and each processor is directly connected with a node controller NC through only one link; each processor module PM comprises 2 pairing node controllers NCs, and each node controller NC is connected with the processors through m links and is connected with an interconnect network through n links; the interconnect network comprises two groups, and each group comprises k cross switch route chips NRs, each of which has q ports. By adopting the connection method above, the close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor is formed. On the premise that the processor scale is kept expandable, the balance between the processor bandwidth and the network bandwidth is achieved, and the lower average delay of the interconnect network is kept simultaneously.
US08307110B1

A method comprises a server receiving a message from a device requesting content. The server reads a first time record for the previous receipt of content. The server compares the first time record with a second time record for the content stored in cache. When the second time record is newer than the first time record, the server sends the requested content. When time records match, the device is advised of refresh time and to request later. When the message lacks a time record, the requested content is sent. When cache does not contain requested content, a data loader obtains content from a server. A message to the device advises the time to obtain the content and to request again later. When cache does not contain the content and the server is unavailable, the data loader determines the time of network availability. A message sent to the device advises of availability time and to request again later.
US08307105B2

A network protocol unit interface is described that uses a message engine to transfer contents of received network protocol units in message segments to a destination message engine. The network protocol unit interface uses a message engine to receive messages whose content is to be transmitted in network protocol units. A message engine transmits message segments to a destination message engine without the message engine transmitter and receiver sharing memory space. In addition, the transmitter message engine can transmit message segments to a receiver message engine by use of a virtual address associated with the receiver message and a queue identifier, as opposed to a memory address.
US08307097B2

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for monitoring a telecommunications network that comprises a plurality of Mobility Management Entity (MME) nodes and a plurality of evolved UTRAN NodeB (eNodeB) nodes coupled by S1-MME interfaces. A Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) association identifier is assigned to an SCTP association between interconnected MME and eNodeB nodes. Specific S1-MME messages allow discovering the MME nodes and the eNodeB nodes with their network identifiers, identifying the connections between them and populating proper tables for this topology information.
US08307095B2

In one embodiment, a device firmware upgrade scheme is disclosed for upgrading a device image of a mobile communications device. A device management session is established between the mobile communications device and a first server using a first protocol. Upon obtaining identity information of a second server operable to compute or otherwise determine a customized upgrade process, a device inventory is transmitted to the second server using a second protocol. Upon receiving the customized upgrade process, the mobile communications device downloads one or more upgrade files from one or more resources. Thereafter, the mobile communications device is operable to provide a status indication to the first server using the first protocol.
US08307085B2

Architecture that applies to a collection of nodes (e.g., a federation) and manages membership of the nodes to the collection via an external datastore. The storage of node state and collection state is stored in the external and highly available datastore. New nodes can now join the collection through the external store. The machines (nodes) in the collection create a lease with the external store that allows the external store to maintain precise knowledge of the set of machines alive in the collection. The external store thus allows the new machines to join the collection while ensuring that there exists only one ring in the collection. In other words, the disclosed architecture protocol ensures that any given point of time there is just one ring for the collection. Moreover, this can be in addition to a current join protocol, which ensures that consistent routing is available.
US08307082B2

A system architecture for communication between devices connected through a network including a hierarchy. Each device has at least one service for controlling and/or monitoring the device. At least one communication module enables a first device service to detect a second device, to detect a second device service, to retrieve information about functions of the second device service, arrange with the first device services and second device services into the hierarchy, wherein one of the devices is the parent of the other, generate messages with at least one device and transmit the messages to another device, wherein the information about functions and messages are received only by devices that have a same parent as one of the devices and by the parent of the devices, and to invoke a function of the second device service, wherein the devices are interchangeable at least to detect, to retrieve information and to invoke.
US08307067B2

An improved system and approaches for protecting secured files when being used by an application (e.g., network browser) that potentially transmits the files over a network to unknown external locations are disclosed. According to one aspect, access to secured files is restricted so that unsecured versions of the secured files are not able to be transmitted over a network (e.g., the Internet) to unauthorized destinations. In one embodiment, processes operating on a computer system are monitored to determine destination locations, if any, of said processes, and then using such destination locations to determine whether to permit the processes to open files in a secure or unsecured manner.
US08307058B2

Port numbers allocated to each HTTP server are registered in association with identification information of the corresponding HTTP server in a port managing table. A worker HTTP server refers to the port managing table and determines unique port numbers as internal ports thereof that do not overlap with port numbers allocated to other HTTP servers.
US08307053B1

A packet processing system includes multiple processors and a set of code partitions that implement a feature set for packet processing. Each of the processors is capable of loading and executing one or more of the code partitions. A context manager enables packet processing operations to migrate between code partitions executing on one or more of the processors.
US08307047B2

A virtual network resource infrastructure for hosting and managing a plurality of e-malls and each e-mall uses the virtual network resource infrastructure for offering e-commerce solution and the hosting of: e-shops, e-distributors and web sites. Also, on-line foreign language interface translation and interface exchange. Further having satellite e-malls with e-services and e-mall using satellite e-malls' e-services; user surfing tracking means and multiple sales channel where e-shops, e-malls, satellite e-malls and e-distributors sell their products directly or cross-sell each others products.
US08307040B2

The claimed subject matter comprises a technology to scan a document for file attachments, generate alternative file names corresponding to a particular attachment, determine whether or not the particular file attachment is the latest version of a file or has a name and/or file path that could be confused with the name and/or path of another file. In the event one of the above conditions are met, the technology provides the means for a user to verify that the file attachment is the desired file and, if necessary, to select an alternative file for attachment.
US08307029B2

The disclosure describes systems and methods delivering communications associated with delivery conditions in which the occurrence of the delivery condition is determined by monitoring information received from a plurality of sources via multiple communication channels. The message delivery systems allow messages to be delivered to any “Who, What, When, Where” from any “Who, What, When, Where” upon the detection of an occurrence of one or more “Who, What, When, Where” delivery conditions. A message (which may be any data object including text-based messages, audio-based message such as voicemail or other audio such as music or video-based prerecorded messages) is delivered in accordance with delivery conditions based on any available data, including topical, spatial, temporal, and/or social data. Furthermore, because the systems coordinate delivery of messages via multiple communication channels and through multiple devices, the communication channel for delivery of a message may be dynamically determined based on the delivery conditions.
US08307021B1

A matrix decomposition circuit is described. In one implementation, the matrix decomposition circuit includes a memory, one or more memory counters to track one or more memory counter values regarding data stored in the memory, a processing unit that calculates elements of an output matrix, and a scheduler that determines an order for calculating the elements of the output matrix, where the scheduler uses one or more memory counter values to determine whether data needed for processing an element of the output matrix is available in the memory. In one specific implementation, the scheduler schedules processing of a diagonal element of the output matrix to occur as soon as the scheduler determines that each element of the output matrix needed for calculating the diagonal element is available in the memory.
US08307017B1

Methods, computer programs, and database systems for protecting one or more database objects are disclosed. The methods include designating one or more database objects for protection and characterizing one or more data storage units by a set of dimensions. The method include, for one or more database objects designated for protection: selecting one or more data storage units to store protection information for the database object based on one or more dimensions, and storing protection information in the one or more selected data storage units.
US08307015B2

A computer-executable application is provided with access to resources generated using a principal model. A decoration model associated with said principal model is instantiated for use by the application. The application is provided with access to an object of the decoration model responsive to a request by the application to access an object of the principal model. The decoration model object corresponds to the principal model object.
US08307008B2

Creation and management of electronic files for a localization project. The electronic files are based on a data structure that defines the format and content of the electronic files and includes a first data structure portion that contains data that represents a plurality of references to localization project files. Moreover, the data structure includes a second data structure portion that is associated with the first data structure portion that contains data that represents a plurality of references to standard files.
US08307001B2

An approach that tracks curation history of sensitive information is described. In one embodiment, there is a database that contains a plurality of sensitive information. The database comprises a plurality of base tables and backlog tables for each of the base tables. A curation audit query generator is configured to receive a curation audit expression that specifies sensitive information to be audited and generates a curation audit query from the curation audit expression to run against the database. The curation audit expression contains syntax clauses that specify a time period for the audit, stipulate a specific base table in the database as source of the audit and examine whom is responsible for making changes to the specified sensitive information.
US08306999B2

Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing row-level security. A system can be configured to receive a request for data that is contained in tables and to use one or more row-level security policies to augment the received request with one or more row-level security query-related clauses.
US08306996B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for processing model based commands for distributed applications. Embodiments facilitate execution of model-based commands, including software lifecycle commands, using model-based workflow instances. Data related to command execution is stored in a shared repository such that command processors can understand their status in relationship to workflow instances. Further, since the repository is shared, command execution can be distributed and balanced across a plurality of different executive services. Embodiments also include model-based error handling and error recovery mechanisms.
US08306995B2

Mechanisms are provided for collaborating between two or more operating system image repository systems. A first operating system image (OSI) repository system is associated with a second OSI repository system. Each of the first and second OSI repository systems store one or more OSIs for use either natively or virtually by client computing devices. One or more collaboration rules are defined that define a manner by which OSI information in the first OSI repository system is shared with the second OSI repository system. A collaborative operation is performed between the first OSI repository system and the second OSI repository system. An extent of the collaborative operation is circumscribed by application of the one or more collaboration rules.
US08306968B2

Name retrieval methods and name retrieval apparatuses that detect retrieval-target names that are representable as character strings including a ligature taking arbitrary property of a ligature into consideration in both a case where the ligature is input, and a case where the series of characters corresponding to the ligature is input, are provided so that convenience and reliability of name retrieval are improved. When a specific ligature is input, the specific ligature is converted into the series of characters corresponding to the specific ligature in accordance with the corresponding relationship TB stored in a storage device M, and specific retrieval-target names that include the series of characters obtained by the conversion in an input position of the specific ligature and an arrangement position of the series of characters corresponding to the number of coupled characters are retrieved from a database DB by character-string matching.
US08306962B1

In particular embodiments, constructing a classifier based on a plurality of training keywords. Each training keyword comprises one or more words and has a corresponding training keyword document. Constructing the classifier comprises: for each training keyword of the plurality of training keywords, annotating the training keyword with one or more labels of a plurality of labels, each label having a corresponding label document; and for each label annotating the training keyword, determining a correctness of the label; calculating a first index-wise product between a word count vector of the training keyword document corresponding to the training keyword and a word count vector of the label document corresponding to the label; and forming a pair of the correctness and the first index-wise product; and training the classifier using one or more pairs of the correctness and the first index-wise product.
US08306961B2

The disclosure provides a system and method for a client connected to a server in a computer network to access a resource, such as an application, database (either local, server, or web-based), service and/or a file, stored in the network. The system comprises: the client in the network; the server in the network; an instance of the resource stored in at least one of the server and the client; a file associated with the application stored in at least one of the server and the client; and an access module operating to provide the client with access to the server. In the system at the client, a first icon associated with a said resource is provided and if the instance of the resource is stored at the server, the application is automatically accessed when the icon at the client is activated.
US08306958B2

A current key is received at a current arrival time at a computer. An index in an array corresponding to the current key is determined using a hash function. A previous key and a previous arrival time are retrieved from the array at the index. The array is transformed by replacing the previous key and the previous arrival time with the current key and the current arrival time in the array at the index. The previous key and the previous arrival time are inserted into a nearest eligible sequential index in the array.
US08306957B2

An information managing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a condition setting unit, a condition judging unit and a correlating unit. The acquiring unit acquires information from storage unit which stores information therein. The condition setting unit sets a condition on at least one layer of a file system. Information to be correlated with the at least one layer satisfies the condition as the information locates under the at least one layer. The condition is referred along with an attribute value of one or a plurality of lower layers provided under the at least one layer. The correlating unit correlates the acquired information with a lower layer if the condition judging unit judges that the acquired information satisfies the set condition when the attribute value of the lower layer is referred to. The lower layer corresponds to the condition judged to be satisfied by the condition judging unit.
US08306956B2

A configuration management system that uses a data compression method to compress entries in a data set. An entry is selected as a prefix value and prefix compression of the data set is performed. The entry to serve as the prefix value is quickly selected using an iterative approach. In each iteration, subgroups of entries are formed from groups formed in prior iterations based on the values of characters at successive positions in the entries. The approach is readily implemented using data structures represented as lists.
US08306940B2

A real-time visual feedback ensemble classifier generator and method for interactively generating an optimal ensemble classifier using a user interface. Embodiments of the real-time visual feedback ensemble classifier generator and method use a weight adjustment operation and a partitioning operation in the interactive generation process. In addition, the generator and method include a user interface that provides real-time visual feedback to a user so that the user can see how the weight adjustment and partitioning operation affect the overall accuracy of the ensemble classifier. Using the user interface and the interactive controls available on the user interface, a user can iteratively use one or both of the weigh adjustment operation and partitioning operation to generate an optimized ensemble classifier.
US08306930B2

A learning device, learning method, and program for learning a pattern are disclosed. A learning device includes: a plurality of learning modules, each of which performs update learning to update a plurality of model parameters of a pattern learning model that learns a pattern using input data; model parameter sharing means for causing two or more learning modules from among the plurality of learning modules to share the model parameters; and sharing strength updating means for updating sharing strengths between the learning modules so as to minimize learning errors when the plurality of model parameters are updated by the update learning.
US08306924B2

A method and system is provided for facilitating exchange and review of electronically submitted construction submittals. The method and system also provide for management and review of construction submittals associated with a construction project. The method and system provides convenience and reduces expenses for architects, contractors and consultants involved in a construction process. The method includes providing an application adapted to provide a first level of access to a contractor to submit construction submittals, a second level of access to an architect to review and manage construction submittals, a third level of access to consultants to review construction submittals, and a fourth level of access to facilities owners, construction managers, and other parties to monitor the submittal process. The application is adapted to display the status, review dates, actions, and other relevant information of all project submittals, whether electronic, paper, or physical samples, in a linear log format.
US08306920B1

A system and method for securely storing sensitive customer data in a network-based commerce system such that encryption keys are not exposed to the system is described. Sensitive customer data is received via a network connection through an application interface. A symmetric key is generated, and the sensitive customer data is encoded with the symmetric key. The symmetric key is encoded with an asymmetric key and the encoded sensitive customer data and the encoded symmetric key are placed in a self-describing data-structure. The encoded sensitive customer data and the encoded symmetric key are stored in a database.
US08306909B2

Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for analyzing credit and tax form data and determining a collections treatment type to collect revenue. A collections model is constructed to determine a collections score that is based on raw credit data and tax form data and is indicative of a debtor's propensity to pay an owed amount. The collections model includes score bands, each score band being associated with a range of credit scores. A collections score is determined from a scoring expression that is associated with a score band and that typically includes a subset of available raw credit data and tax form data. A collections treatment type is determined from a collections score. Each treatment type corresponds to a treatment action that is directed to the debtor. A collections model is constructed from historical tax data, in which score bands and scoring expressions are constructed for the collections model.
US08306906B2

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining neutrality while trading a list of securities using an algorithmic trading facility coupled with at least one destination. This destination includes at least one alternative trading system (ATS). This facility is coupled, via an electronic data network, to a plurality of trading clients, and configured to receive a trade request to trade a list of securities from a trading client. This request includes user defined trading constraints that are used to generate and transmit trade orders to at least one ATS. The orders are transmitted based on trading data related to the destinations, the trade list, and the trading constraints. The facility can identify each executed trade corresponding to the trade orders and calculate a trade imbalance. The facility can determine whether the trade imbalance exceeds the trading constraints, and reallocate one or more of said submitted orders based on this determination.
US08306904B1

One exemplary aspect comprises a method comprising: (a) receiving data indicating that one or more orders for a specific security in one or more trading systems are available for aggregation into a potential block of at least a specific size; (b) transmitting data sufficient to enable a trading interface in communication with a first trading system to display an indication of the existence of the potential block and that at least some orders in the block originated from a second trading system in the one or more trading systems, the second trading system being separate from the first trading system; and (c) receiving from the trading interface a contra order in the first trading system that crosses the potential block. Other aspects comprise related computer system, components, and software.
US08306893B2

The CapStratix System operates on a plurality of existing loans (a “designated portfolio”), held by a regulated Lender, using a pool of capital which is available from unregulated Investors, to dynamically re-compute loan packages. The CapStratix System arranges for the disaggregation of a Lender's designated portfolio of Mortgage Loans, each into discrete note amounts, including an A Note and a “RenuNote”, both (or all) secured by the same mortgage lien. This process facilitates the extension of the maturity dates of the loans, at new market pricing, and the restatement of other terms and conditions required for a successful sale of the RenuNote to an Investor, reducing Lender's assets and risk profile, thereby having a positive effect on a Lender's regulatory capital ratios, without requiring a change to the Borrower's ownership structure or risk exposure.
US08306884B2

A billing system for supply contrasts in an industrial network is disclosed. In the case of a pipeline, a process flow computer installed at each customer site may each receive instantaneous flow readings from a flow meter. The process flow computer may be configured to accumulate product volumes in different volume groups, where each volume group corresponds to a range of instantaneous flow rates. Different volume groups may be associated with different rates ultimately charged to a customer. The volume groups may be assigned by a computing system running a billing application at a pipeline operations control center. Volume groups may be set for individual customers based on a contract summary of an agreement between a given customer and the operator of an industrial network.
US08306876B2

When a potential consumer finds a product catalog on the monitor of the consumer's PC showing digital images of products, the potential consumer orders a desired product from a vendor, at least after selecting a desired product from the digital image of the product catalog in a recognized condition by naked eye observation that the color of the digital image of a basic color reference involved in the product catalog is substantially identical to a color reference owned by the potential consumer.
US08306875B2

A user interface being configured to display a plurality of icons representing physical items, display a drag region, provide an option for the user to select items for storage in a storage unit by dragging and dropping the icons onto the drag region, display an estimated amount of storage space to store the selected items, display an estimated cost to store the selected items, provide at least one or an option for the user to self-deliver the selected items, provide an option for the user to select options associated with the storage of the selected items, receive identify information from the user, receive payment information from the user, and provide a confirmation to the user.
US08306874B2

A selling method and system that allows individuals or groups to interactively select associate products and services with their online presence in exchange for the online service, as part of an online service, or for some reward, monetary or otherwise. Individuals or groups select products and services from a pool of partner e-commerce retailers or import them from their purchasing histories based on personal preference and may use them as a means of expression for their online audience as part of an online service. This provides e-commerce retailers with self-selected targeted marketing and referral selling to affinity groups, the online version of word of mouth selling. E-commerce retailers share revenue and pay for referrals that occur via this word of mouth selling framework. Online services that have any form of user identity within the context of a larger audience may utilize this form of user based referral selling as a revenue generating tool.
US08306866B2

A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
US08306865B2

A provider of remote information technology infrastructure monitoring services obtains, from a customer, via a remote managed infrastructure services web site, a choice of at least one remote managed information technology infrastructure monitoring service for an information technology infrastructure of the customer, and corresponding data necessary to provide the at least one service. Based on the choice and the necessary data, the provider determines at least two different options for providing the at least one monitoring service, including at least price and service coverage. The provider obtains from the customer, via the remote managed infrastructure services web site, a selection of one of the at least two options. While providing the at least one monitoring service for the information technology infrastructure of the customer in accordance with the selection and the necessary data, during a predetermined period of time, monitoring data is collected and analyzed to develop a revised price for future provision of the at least one monitoring service by the provider to the customer.
US08306864B2

The present invention provides a control system interface for accessing a plurality of functions relating to a flexible order transaction system.
US08306857B2

A system for selecting and delivering content items includes a primary system and a secondary system. Each system includes a server and a datastore of content items that is accessible by the server. The primary system receives a request for a content item, selects an appropriate content item from the primary datastore, and sends a query containing information regarding the selected content item to the secondary system. The secondary system receives the query, searches the secondary datastore, and determines whether to deliver the content item contained in the query, another content item, a default content item, or a pass-back to the requester.
US08306855B2

Systems and methods relate to frequency of advertisement viewing on the Internet, and more specifically to controlling advertisement viewings by a person during an advertising cycle. A probability of return for a customer is evaluated and an advertisement is shown to the customer based on a function of at least the probability of return and a value for the return. Once the customer has seen the advertisement a target number of times, the customer is no longer shown the advertisement.
US08306848B1

A method of estimating a transit demand graph includes collecting conditional information that includes at least one condition that when satisfied converts at least one non-rider into a rider, generating a non-rider transit demand graph by satisfying one of the conditions, and generating a normalized transit demand graph from the non-rider transit demand graph and a rider transit demand graph. The riders use public transit and the non-riders do not use public transit. The non-rider transit demand graph shows the demand of the non-riders for a public transit route. The rider transit demand graph shows the demand of riders for the same public transit route.
US08306841B2

A project management system uses a work breakdown structure to define the project tasks. The work breakdown structure is organized as set of hierarchical related project tasks. The work breakdown structure can be loaded in part from a template. A calendar breakdown structure defines events associated with project resources. The calendar breakdown structure is defined on departmental basis. A resource breakdown structure defines available resources. The resource breakdown structure includes personnel and tools. The allocation of available resources to the project tasks is optimized within the constraints of the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure. A histogram of project demand versus available resources is generated. The histogram of project demand versus available resources is used to optimize resource allocation.
US08306836B2

A computer implemented method and computer system for management of materials on a construction site. In one embodiment, at least one cost scenario is defined for moving at least one material with a vehicle pool. A status of a project which uses the material is then determined. A report is generated which identifies a vehicle of the vehicle pool and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle from a first location to a second location.
US08306820B2

A is recognized using a predefinable vocabulary that is partitioned in sections of phonetically similar words. In a recognition process, first oral input is associated with one of the sections, then the oral input is determined from the vocabulary of the associated section.
US08306818B2

Methods are disclosed for estimating language models such that the conditional likelihood of a class given a word string, which is very well correlated with classification accuracy, is maximized. The methods comprise tuning statistical language model parameters jointly for all classes such that a classifier discriminates between the correct class and the incorrect ones for a given training sentence or utterance. Specific embodiments of the present invention pertain to implementation of the rational function growth transform in the context of a discriminative training technique for n-gram classifiers.
US08306807B2

An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine a category for a group of isolated noun phrases in a structured or semi-structured data source stored in the memory. The group of isolated noun phrases includes one or more isolated noun phrases. The processor is also configured to translate the group of isolated noun phrases from a source language to a target language using a category-driven isolated noun phrase translation. The determination of the category and the category-driven isolated noun phrase translation are performed based on context derived from the group of isolated noun phrases.
US08306806B2

Embodiments for the adaptive mining of bilingual lexicon are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the adaptive mining of bilingual lexicon includes retrieving one or more bilingual web pages, wherein each of the bilingual web page including a search term and one or more additional terms. The adaptive mining also includes forming a plurality of candidate translation pairs for each of the terms and extracting one or more translation layout patterns from the plurality of candidate translation pairs. The adaptive mining further includes deriving a term translation in a second language for the search term. The term translation being derived based on a hidden conditional random field (HCRF) model that includes the one or more candidate translations, the one or more translation layout patterns, and one or more additional features. The term translation is further stored in a lexicon repository.
US08306797B2

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.
US08306790B2

An acoustic characteristics optimization model analysis apparatus includes a finite element model generation unit; a boundary element model generation unit; an acoustic transfer function calculation unit; a nodal point association unit; and a sound pressure calculation unit that incorporates the plurality of nodal points of the finite element model correlated with the plurality of nodal points of the boundary element model by the nodal point association unit into the acoustic transfer function calculated by the acoustic transfer function calculation unit to calculate a sound pressure transmitted from the finite element model to the predetermined position.
US08306789B2

A method of designing a composite laminate including a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of plies of composite material, each ply having a respective ply orientation angle. A global stacking sequence of stacking sequence elements is determined for the laminate. A local laminate thickness is determined for each zone. A local stacking sequence is then determined for each zone by extracting a subsequence of stacking sequence elements from the global stacking sequence. The global stacking sequence and the laminate thicknesses are determined together in an optimization process in which multiple sub-ply selection variables are assigned to each stacking sequence element. Optimal values are determined for the sub-ply selection variables and the laminate thicknesses. A single one of the sub-ply selection variables is assigned to each stacking sequence element thereby forcing a discrete choice of global ply orientation angle for each stacking sequence element.
US08306787B2

Method of evaluating precision of output data using error propagation includes performing numerical differentiation using input data in data processing, and thereby obtaining a Jacobian matrix J of the data processing; estimating variance-covariance of errors of the input data, and thereby obtaining an error matrix D of the input data; and calculating an error matrix from the Jacobian matrix J and the error matrix D of the input data, the error matrix R representing variance-covariance of errors of output data.
US08306786B1

A compressive sensor for sensing energy including a plurality of detectors for detecting a plurality of electromagnetic modes, wherein each detector has an output and detects at least one electromagnetic mode of the energy, a summer coupled to the plurality of detectors for forming a composite sum of the outputs of the plurality of detectors, and a plurality of switches, each respective switch coupled to a respective detector, wherein the respective switch may be switched to remove the respective detector from the composite sum.
US08306776B2

In a method of calculating misalignment of a rotational body, radial displacement values are measured using a displacement gauge. A calculation part performs the steps of deriving radial displacement amounts of the rotational body for at least four or more measurement points along an outer surface while rotating the rotational body, selecting three arbitrary points to calculate a circle, calculating circle values for all the measurement points, calculating differences between the calculated circle values and the radial displacement amounts as error amounts, summing the error amounts to derive a total error amount, repeating circle calculation for different combinations and calculating a total error amount for each calculated circle, selecting a circle with a minimum total error amount as a most probable circle, and calculating deviation between the center of the most probable circle and the center of rotation of the rotational body.
US08306774B2

A thermometer for determining the temperature of an animal's ear drum. The thermometer includes a probe, an infrared-radiation detector adapted to receive infrared radiation emitted by the ear drum, and devices that help insure that the probe is disposed in a desired position in the ear canal so as to optimize the infrared radiation received from the ear drum, and to minimize the infrared radiation received from other ear parts. A method of using the thermometer is also disclosed.
US08306773B2

The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature of each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode.
US08306772B2

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed to estimate temperature at one or more critical points in a data processing system comprising modeling a steady state temperature portion of a thermal model at the one or more critical points using regression analysis; modeling the transient temperature portion of the thermal model at the one or more critical points using a filtering algorithm; and generating a thermal model at the one or more critical points by combining the steady state temperature portion of the thermal model with the transient temperature portion of the thermal model. The thermal model may then be used to estimate an instantaneous temperature at the one or more critical points or to predict a future temperature at the one or more critical points.
US08306763B1

Systems and methods are provided for determining information about particle geometry are provided. As such, an ultrasonic transducer acts as both a transmitter and a receiver. The transducer insonifies a particle and scattered waves are then received by the transducer—now acting as a receiver. A small flat target moving relative to a stationary receiver will lead to the same radiated field as waves propagating through an equivalent moving aperture. Based on the Doppler distribution of the scattered or radiated waves resulting from relative motion between the particles and a receiver, the acoustic pressure field in the plane of the equivalent two-dimensional aperture can be inferred. The equivalent aperture geometry can be obtained from the inferred field. Hence, the particle geometry can be determined.
US08306762B2

Systems and methods for analysis of data associated with fluid flow through a conduit and potential control of the fluid flow. In one embodiment, a method includes a data processing unit obtaining from a sensor a signal representing a series of measurements of a physical parameter associated with fluid flow through the conduit. The data processing unit performs singular spectral analysis of this signal and thereby identifies recurring, possibly non-sinusoidal patterns in the signal. The data processing unit may construct a second signal from some or all of the recurring patterns identified in the first signal. Alternatively, the data processing unit may identify recurring patterns in the signal which are indicative of corresponding conditions associated with the fluid flow through the conduit. The data processing unit may then initiate control functions responsive to the recurring patterns and associated conditions.
US08306759B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for calculating a fatigue usage factor with respect to fatigue generated in the material of a mechanical device depending upon changes of an operation environment during operation of the mechanical device. A fatigue usage factor UOP.cyc,transient n, which is based on the operation-transient state n, is calculated by multiplying a fatigue usage factor based on a design-transient state UDSGN.cyc,transient n by the value of a characteristic fatigue usage factor F (k) as shown in the following equation: UOP.cyc,transient n=F(k)×UDSGN.cyc,transient n Since a characteristic fatigue usage factor curve devised in accordance the present invention uses the characteristic fatigue usage factor curve obtained on the basis of the operation-transient state when calculating a transient-based fatigue usage factor, it is possible to much more accurately calculate the fatigue usage factor with respect to any operation-transient state of the mechanical device compared with the prior art.
US08306744B2

Vehicle-mounted equipment includes a storage unit 12 for storing data for a plurality of destinations, a vehicle-mounted network connecting unit 11 for receiving destination data indicating a destination via a vehicle-mounted network, a destination determining unit 21 for determining the destination on the basis of destination data received by the vehicle-mounted network connecting unit, and a data deleting unit 22 for deleting data other than data for the destination determined by the destination determining unit from the storage unit.
US08306739B2

In at least one embodiment a system and a method for tracking locations for one of a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The apparatus comprises a communication module configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to detect the presence of a memory map device that provides map data for one or more locations capable of being visited by the secondary driver and to receive a location signal having coordinate data that corresponds to one or more locations visited by the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to store the coordinate data when the memory map device is not detected so that the coordinate data is available for transmission with the map data when the memory map device is detected.
US08306738B2

An apparatus and method for building a map are provided. According to the apparatus and method, a path is generated on the basis of the degrees of uncertainty of features extracted from an image obtained while a mobile robot explores unknown surroundings, and the mobile robot travels along the generated path. The path based on the degrees of uncertainty of the features is generated and this may increase the accuracy of a feature map of the mobile robot or accuracy in self localization.
US08306731B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for assessing the productivity of workers employing vehicles at worksites. Devices are provided for characterizing vehicle usage into a variety of vehicle status categories. The time spent by the vehicle in the various status categories may be compared against relevant standards in order to provide useful measures of the vehicle's productivity. This productivity information may be further provided to a interface device on a continuous or periodic basis so as to allow the operator, construction managers and clients to easily access the information. These measures of productivity may be further combined with geographical information systems (GIS) in order to provide reports of productivity having a geographical context which yield further insights. From this information, appropriate incentives and sanctions may be provided to vehicle operators in order to reward or change behaviors, helping to maintain and enhance productivity.
US08306720B2

In a power output apparatus, when the fuel vapor concentration is high and the target purge rate is high, an operating point on a purge priority operating line is selected as a target operating point of an engine. As a result, the intake manifold negative pressure greater than that when an operating point on an optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected, so that the flow rate of purge gas released from a canister is increased. When the fuel vapor concentration does not fall within a high-concentration range, the necessity to immediately purge fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake pipe is low, and thus an operating point on the optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected to keep the engine operating at high fuel efficiency.
US08306714B2

A start permission decision section issues a start permission when an engine speed and a throttle valve opening become higher than predetermined values. A clutch-torque capacity storage section stores a clutch-torque capacity reference map in which a clutch-torque capacity is set as a function of at least the engine speed or as a function of the engine speed and the throttle valve opening. A clutch-torque capacity correction section corrects the clutch-torque capacity reference map so that the clutch-torque capacity is proportionally reduced in response to the difference between the engine speed and a start permission speed when a start permission is issued. An oil pressure controlling section connects the clutch with the clutch-torque capacity obtained in accordance with the corrected clutch-torque capacity map to start the vehicle.
US08306702B2

A steering wheel return compensation component is calculated based on an integrated value obtained by integrating a basic control amount in such a manner that the basic control amount has a property to rotate a steering wheel with a specific steering angle by a greater amount to its neutral position as the absolute value of the steering angle becomes greater. Alternatively, a steering wheel return compensation component is calculated in such a manner that the steering wheel return compensation component has a property to rotate the steering wheel by a greater amount to the neutral position as the absolute value of an integrated value obtained by integrating the steering angle becomes greater.
US08306701B2

It is possible to drive a motor (7) with a high output during a low-speed travel and perform steering with a high resolution during a high-speed travel. An electric power steering device (1) causes the motor (7) to generate an auxiliary torque based on the steering torque specified by a driver for operating steering wheels (9), thereby reducing the steering torque specified by the driver. A control device (10) uses the vehicle speed signal (Vs) from a vehicle speed sensor (11) so as to drive the motor (7) with a high output during a low-speed travel and perform steering with a high resolution during a high-speed travel without increasing the motor output. Moreover, during a low-speed travel, a large steering torque is required and during a high-speed travel, steering should be performed with a high resolution. Thus, the driver's feeling in steering is not affected.
US08306699B2

A construction vehicle including methods and apparatus for operator directed electronic tracking adjustment.
US08306695B2

A vehicle for transporting a wind turbine blade. The vehicle comprises a blade connection device for connecting a first end of the blade to the vehicle, wherein the blade connection device comprise a tilting device for elevating an opposite end of the blade and wherein a tip end of the blade is orientated in a forward direction of the vehicle. A control system for controlling the tilting device of a vehicle and a method for transporting a wind turbine blade are also disclosed.
US08306688B2

An electronic control unit performs a process that stores into a buffer selected diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) currently in a volatile trouble code storage by selecting, from among multiple codes, a code that is to be saved in an EEPROM, when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned off. Further, the DTC stored in the buffer is written in the EEPROM. If the electronic control unit receives, from a scan tool, a command that instructs erasure of the DTC in the volatile trouble code storage, the above-described process is performed before erasing the DTC from the volatile trouble code storage.
US08306687B2

Provided is a method of diagnosing a vehicle having diagnostic data. The method includes providing an automotive diagnostic tool sold to a user by a selling retailer. The automotive diagnostic tool is configured to download diagnostic data from the vehicle and upload the diagnostic data to a computer. The computer is configured to communicate the diagnostic data to a diagnostic database associated with the selling retailer (such as a private label website) upon establishing a communication link between the automotive diagnostic tool and the computer. A communication link is then established between the automotive diagnostic tool and the computer. In response thereto, a communication link is then established between the computer and the diagnostic database. The diagnostic data is thereafter communicated from the automotive diagnostic tool to the diagnostic database via the computer. The diagnostic database is arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a most likely vehicle fix.
US08306681B2

When curve determine signal from a navigation apparatus is activated, a learning portion learns driver's characteristics based on an accelerator pedal opening degree signal, and outputs the result of learning in association with a user ID from the navigation apparatus to a storage portion. A threshold value changing portion reads a learned value corresponding to the user ID from the storage portion, and based on the learned value, changes a threshold value for switching that is used by a traveling control portion. The traveling control portion switches between traveling modes based on a result of comparison between traveling power and the threshold value for switching.
US08306675B2

A system for converting audible air traffic control instructions for pilots operating from an air facility to textual format. The system may comprise a processor connected to a jack of the standard pilot headset and a separate portable display screen connected to the processor. The processor may have a language converting functionality which can recognize traffic control nomenclature and display messages accordingly. Displayed text may be limited to information intended for a specific aircraft. The display may show hazardous discrepancies between authorized altitudes and headings and actual altitudes and headings. The display may be capable of correction by the user, and may utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to obtain appropriate corrections. The system may date and time stamp communications and hold the same in memory. The system may have computer style user functions such as scrollability and operating prompts.
US08306666B2

The present invention provides an interactive patient system comprising: apparatus; sensing means associated with the apparatus, the sensing means adapted to send, receive or identify a location signal; presence identification means associated with a region of a patient, the presence identification means adapted to send, receive or identify a location signal; and altering means adapted to alter a property of the apparatus in proximity to the presence identification means upon identification of an activity signal, thereby effecting an activity in the vicinity of the region of the patient, wherein the activity signal is associated with transmission or identification of at least one location signal as between the sensing means and the presence identification means. Also provided is a method for providing a directed response to a region of a patient.
US08306665B2

The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result. Various sensing elements and response elements are therefore distributed throughout the controlled system and used to acquire various process, reactant and/or product characteristics, compare these characteristics to suitable ranges of such characteristics conducive to achieving the desired result, and respond by implementing changes to in one or more of the ongoing processes via one or more controllable process devices.
US08306664B1

Mobile self-balancing robots for telepresence are provided. The robots comprise a base, a head, and a shaft therebetween. The shaft can be telescoping to allow the head to be extended above the base to about the height of a normal sized person, or can be retracted to make the robot more compact for easier storage and transportation. The head includes components for telepresence such as cameras, a speaker, a microphone, a laser pointer, and a display screen, as well as protection from impacts and falls. The base provides locomotion and balance, and a narrow shaft between the head and base minimizes the robot's weight and reduces the likelihood of collisions with protrusions like table edges.
US08306663B2

A robotic harvester has a mobile platform. A programmable multi-axis robot arm is connected to the platform. The robot arm is mounted to a computer controller. A stereovision camera connected to the computer is mounted on the mobile platform. The camera views the area under the mobile platform and identifies objects in geometric coordinates. The robot arm is directed to the location of the object and a gripper on the robot arm grasps the object. The stem is separated from the object and the object is deposited on a sorting conveyor. The harvester is incrementally moved. A method of harvesting is disclosed.
US08306658B2

A field device for data- and parameter-processing in a decentralized automation system, wherein other connected fieldbus components of the decentralized automation system communicate with one another via a fieldbus connected to the field device, and wherein a unified automation system is formed from a plurality of encapsulated function blocks, which run decentralized in the individual fieldbus components of the fieldbus and communicate with one another. An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a function block for field devices of process automation technology, which enables a simple, controlled storage of data and/or parameters from the various function blocks of the decentralized units of the automation system and which permits an autonomous re-parametering of the function blocks of the relevant field device.
US08306653B2

A uniform turnover apparatus comprises a turnover body, a linear advance device, and a fixed base. The linear advance device has a fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is turnably provided on the fixed base by a first fulcrum. The turnover body is movably connected with the movable end of the linear advance device by a second fulcrum. The turnover body is turnably provided on the fixed base by a third fulcrum. The first, the second, and the third fulcra form a triangle. The uniform turnover apparatus comprises a control device connected with the linear advance device. The control device acquires an actual angular velocity at which the turnover body is turned, and compares the actual angular velocity with a set angular velocity, and according to the comparison, adjusts the linear velocity of the linear advance device in real time, so that the actual angular velocity of the turnover body approximates or equals to the set angular velocity. The apparatus can make the turnover body turn placidly and effectively reduce the impact force during turning over.
US08306638B2

One aspect of this disclosure relates to locating at least one position of at least one mote device; and affecting at least one presentation based at least in part on the at least one position of the at least one mote device. Another aspect of this disclosure relates to sensing at least one position of an item at least partially using at least one mote device; and affecting at least one indication of the at least one position at least partially using the at least one mote device based at least in part on the sensing the at least one position of the item. Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to causing the at least one mobile mote device to displace itself; and affecting at least one presentation with the at least one mobile mote device based at least in part on the causing at least one mobile mote device to displace itself.
US08306630B2

A medical device lead includes an insulative lead body, outer and inner conductive coils, and a flexible core assembly. The outer conductive coil extends through the lead body and is coupled to a first electrode at a distal end of the outer conductive coil. The inner conductive coil extends coaxially with the outer conductive coil, is coupled to a second electrode at a distal end of the inner conductive coil, and includes a central lumen. The flexible core assembly is disposed in the central lumen and is comprised of a material that has a saturation magnetization of at least about 1.5 T and a relative permeability of greater than one. The flexible core assembly includes a positioning interface configured for manipulation of the flexible core assembly such that the flexible core assembly translates through the central lumen during insertion and extraction of the flexible core assembly.
US08306624B2

The disclosure is directed to techniques for providing a patient-individualized efficacy rating. Different stimulation parameters impact efficacy. For example, efficacy may be a function of parameters such as electrode combination, stimulation amplitude, pulse width, and pulse rate. Efficacy may vary from patient-to-patient. For example, efficacy may vary according to age, gender, physiology, disease state, activity level, or activity profile. Comparable stimulation programs may provide different efficacy levels for different patients, according to patient characteristics or desires. Patients may rank efficacy parameters differently. The efficacy parameters may include desirable therapeutic effects and undesirable side effects. For one patient, optimization of a particular efficacy parameter may be the paramount concern. Other patients may be willing to compromise the outcome of the same parameter in favor of better outcomes with other efficacy parameters. A patient-individualized efficacy rating permits a patient and clinician to customize efficacy evaluation according to the patient's condition or needs.
US08306615B2

An implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device delivers a chronic therapy while detecting an ischemic state. When the ischemic state indicates the occurrence of an ischemic event, the implantable CRM device delivers a post-ischemia therapy. The post-ischemia therapy and the chronic therapy are adjusted using feedback control with the ischemic state and parameters indicative of the effectiveness of the post-ischemic therapy and the effectiveness of the chronic therapy as inputs.
US08306612B2

Guidance to an operator to more accurately position electrodes upon a segmented heart model (SGM). The SGM is included in a map panel on a display screen. A catheter advanced into a beating heart supports one or more electrodes. During a single beat of the heart, an image is obtained with darkened portions corresponding to locations of the electrodes. The image is presented in the same map panel as the SGM. The current location of the electrodes is confirmed relative to the SGM, either manually or through automated software algorithms. EP data is captured that represents electrophysiological signals of the beating heart at the current location for each of the electrodes. A signal processing algorithm is applied to the captured EP data in view of the confirmed current location of the electrodes to result in a calculation that is mapped at the confirmed location of the electrodes.
US08306609B2

A vein imaging apparatus includes a lens array including a plurality of photo-receiving lenses arranged in an array, a plurality of near-infrared illumination sources placed along opposed ends of the lens array to illuminate a part of a living body with near-infrared light, an image pickup device to create a picked-up image of a vein based on the near-infrared light scattered inside the living body, transmitted through the vein and gathered by the lens array, where a plurality of photoreceptors are allocated to one photo-receiving lens, and a thumbnail image creation unit to acquire information about the near-infrared light received by one photoreceptor among the plurality of photoreceptors allocated to one photo-receiving lens as pixel information corresponding to one photo-receiving lens, acquire the pixel information for all the photo-receiving lenses included in the lens array and create a thumbnail image based on the acquired pixel information.
US08306602B2

These are site marking devices for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient. More particularly, the devices include an elongated body of gel and a metallic band disposed at least partially surrounding the body of gel. The body of gel is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or x-ray imaging. Therefore, it is readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site.
US08306600B2

A filter set for observing fluorescent radiation in biological tissue includes at least one illumination filter and at least one observation filter. The at least one illumination filter is arrangeable in an illumination system of an optical system. The at least one least one observation filter is arrangeable in an imaging system of the optical system.
US08306595B2

A blood constituent concentration detector includes: a detection portion having an optical window for measuring a blood constituent concentration of a part of a living body in an optical manner when the part of the living body is pressed on the detection portion; a load determination element for determining whether a load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and smaller than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold; and a measurement element for measuring the blood constituent concentration when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold.
US08306594B2

This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for noninvasive, non-destructive fluorescent measurement. More specifically, the disclosure provides a non-invasive metrology system and method to monitor levels of fluorescent chemicals in the blood. A major application for the invention is field-based non-invasive blood testing for micro-nutrient deficiency and diseases resulting from it, such as Iron deficient anemia. The invention may help reduce or eliminate the need for blood drawing, sending the sample to a blood lab and having to wait for a result.
US08306587B2

There are provided an antenna element and a portable radio that enable miniaturization, acquisition of a high gain, and broadening of a band and that copies compatible with multiple bands. A rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped antenna element is formed by folding two or more faces of a board-shaped monopole element having an rectangular shape so that the antenna element has a substantially rectangular first conductor plate 51 disposed in proximity to a hinge 4 while arranged at a predetermined space S from a lower circuit board (ground plate) 21, a substantially rectangular second conductor plate 52 that shares a widthwise one side of the first conductor plate 51 and that is arranged while bent to an angle of about 90° with respect to the first conductor plate, and a substantially rectangular third conductor plate 53 that shares another widthwise side of the second conductor plate 52 opposing the side shared by the first conductor plate 51 and the second conductor plate 52 and that is arranged at an angle of about 90° so as to oppose the first conductor plate 51.
US08306582B2

Swivel clip (200) provides independently adjustable hinge point location (500), adjustable clip length (210) and rotational position for user-configurable attachment. Swivel clip (200) is formed of a two piece paddle (216/218) and a two piece swivel plate (246, 248) coupled via a hinge pin (502). The two piece paddle (216/218) provides adjustable clip length. The two piece swivel plate provides linear adjustment and rotational adjustment of the hinge point location (500) through the use of a hinge plate (246) and swivel plate (248).
US08306577B1

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the volume on a mobile station earpiece based on reverse frame data rate. In an embodiment of the invention, a mobile station transmits a plurality of reverse frames over a specified period of time. For each frame in the plurality of reverse frames, the mobile station measures a reverse frame data rate. The mobile station then uses the measured reverse frame data rates to calculate an average reverse frame data rate for the reverse frames transmitted over the specified period of time. Next, the mobile station adjusts the volume level of an earpiece based at least in part on the average reverse frame data rate.
US08306569B2

An integrated circuit (IC) includes an RF section, a DSP, and a plurality of processors. The RF section and the DSP process an inbound RF signal to produce inbound data and process outbound data to produce an outbound RF signal. In addition, the DSP converts an outbound analog audio signal into an outbound digital audio signal and converts an inbound digital audio signal into an inbound analog audio signal. A first processor converts the inbound data into the inbound digital audio signal and converts the outbound digital audio signal into the outbound data. A second processor performs a user application that includes at least one of generation of the inbound analog audio signal and generation of the outbound analog audio signal and performs an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of the user application.
US08306565B2

In a PC card communication terminal that operates supplied with power from a host device, problems such as malfunctions due to a supply voltage drop at the time of high transmission output are prevented from occurring. A baseband processor (1106) selects a transmission-power upper-limit measurement mode when a PC card terminal (1103) is to be controlled for the first time. A supply voltage drop is measured by a voltage measurement circuit (1114) while a load value of a load circuit (1112) is being changed. The load value of the load circuit (1112) when the supply voltage decreases to a permissible lowest supply voltage is obtained. Using a conversion table stored in a memory (1107), the load value is converted into a transmission output and is set as a transmission-output upper limit. In a normal communication mode, a maximum transmission output is restricted based on this transmission-output upper limit.
US08306561B2

A method, wireless device, and information processing system dynamically update spectrum sensing groups in a wireless communication system. A set of wireless devices (114) currently allocated to a spectrum sensing group is identified. Each wireless device (114, 116, 118) in the set performs spectrum sensing on one or more wireless communication channels. Spectrum sensing performance data (144) is analyzed for each such wireless device (114) in the set. The spectrum sensing performance data (144) indicates wireless communication performance of a wireless device (114) associated with the spectrum sensing performance data with respect to detecting a transmitted signal on the one or more communication channels. Wireless device membership of the set of wireless devices (114, 116, 118) allocated to the spectrum sensing group is dynamically adjusted based on the analysis.
US08306558B1

Exemplary methods and systems for paging a mobile station are disclosed herein. Exemplary embodiments may help to improve the paging success rate for pages such as data-service pages and/or intersystem pages. An exemplary method involves: (i) before transmission of a page to a mobile station by an access network, the access network determining a page-type of the page; (ii) based at least in part of the page-type, determining a page-transmission power for the page; and (iii) the access network transmitting the page at the selected transmission-power level. To determine the page-type, an access network may determine whether the page is a voice-service page or a data-service page and/or determine whether or not the page is an intersystem page. In an exemplary embodiment, the page transmission for data-service pages is preferably greater than that for voice-service pages. Furthermore, the page-transmission power(s) selected for intersystem pages (for both data-service and/or voice-service) may be greater than that selected for non-intersystem voice-service and/or data-service pages.
US08306551B2

Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for limiting the functionality of a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, a position determining component disposed within the mobile electronic device is used to determine the speed of the mobile electronic device. It is then determined that the speed of the mobile electronic device exceeds a speed threshold. Based upon determining that the speed of the mobile electronic device exceeds the speed threshold, the functionality of said mobile electronic device is restricted.
US08306548B2

The present invention provides a navigation device which performs communication with an information-providing server device. The navigation device (3) includes a communication section (11) which transmits a message to the server device for a response confirmation, and receives a response message with respect to the message from the server device; a response value obtaining section (12) which determines a time duration from a time when the message is transmitted to another time when the response message is received, and obtains a response value indicating a communication state in relation to a communication time on the basis of the determined time duration; and a communication-parameter setting section (13) which determines an optimal communication parameter on the basis of the response value obtained by the response value obtaining device, and sets the optimal communication parameter in a communication parameter in relation to a communication disconnection condition used in the navigation device (3).
US08306540B2

A system and a method for connecting macro cellular base stations into mini type base stations are applicable to a mobile communication apparatus having a covering range provided by macro cell base stations upon entering into a range provided by mini type base stations for automatic switching. The method includes establishing a database stored with information related to a geographic distribution for mini type base stations and a listing of authorized admission for allowing mobile communication apparatus to enter; acquiring the geographic area of the mobile communication equipment in order to search the database for at least one mini type base station based on International Mobile Subscriber Identity of the mobile communication apparatus for allowing the mobile communication apparatus to enter into the searched mini type base station from the macro cell base stations for communication.
US08306538B2

A method and apparatus of performing measurements logging in a mobile communications system is provided. A user equipment receives a first measurement request message from a first cell and receives a handover command message. Upon receiving the handover command message, the user equipment stops a transmission of a response to the first measurement request message.
US08306534B2

A method of indicating the availability of a communication service begins by receiving, at a handheld communication device, a service indication of an availability of one of a plurality of communication services, via a wireless communication mode, to the communication device. The handheld communication device receives the service indication from a provider of the one communication service via a wireless non-traffic channel of the wireless communication mode. The communication device then provides a user-indication of the communication service availabilities in accordance with the received service indication.
US08306532B2

The techniques disclosed here enable a mobile station device having a plurality of subscriber identities to select an identity for registration with a network for wireless communications in a way that takes advantage of the most favorable roaming agreements between operators. The identity selection algorithm, for example, provides the flexibility to select amongst mobile station subscriber identities of 3GPP2 (1×RTT, EVDO) access technologies and 3GPP (LTE/GSM/UMTS) access technologies as well as specific operators' networks for domestic and international roaming. The exemplary algorithms allow the operator to optimize roaming agreements in different markets and maximize revenue from the roaming of its customers.
US08306531B2

The present invention provides a system and apparatus for a mobile CS user to access an IMS network and a registration method for accessing. The network under the present invention comprises an IMS network for providing IMS services and a CS access network. The network contains a Register Proxy Function (RPF) entity, which comprises a first interface for communicating with the IMS network and a second interface for communicating with the CS access network. The RPF entity is adapted to map a CS registration event which is originated by the mobile CS user through the second interface to an IMS registration event, and initiate registration to the IMS network through the first interface on behalf of the mobile CS user. The technical solution under the present invention enables a mobile CS user to be registered to an IMS network practicably so that the CS user can enjoy rich IMS services.
US08306516B2

A communication system includes logic to detect a second communication device in proximity to a first communication device engaged in a call, and to provide a substantially uninterrupted transfer of selected parties to the call to the second communication device. A proximate device may be identified as one capable of rendering a particular data type, and a substantially uninterrupted transfer may be performed to the proximate device of data of the communications having the data type. An application associated with communication data may be identified, as well as a proximate device capable of providing the application, and a substantially uninterrupted transfer may be performed to the proximate device of data associated with the application.
US08306510B2

A person to person cash transfer transaction method using mobile phones comprising the steps of: —sender sends a transfer command to the recipient containing the transfer amount, sender's PIN and the recipient's mobile number; —telco verifies if the sender's mobile phone cash account has sufficient balance to effect the transfer of the amount of virtual cash being transferred; —telco deducts the sender's mobile phone cash account with the amount of virtual cash to e transferred and credits the same amount of recipient's mobile phone cash account; —sender and recipient receive SMS acknowledgment with confirmation number from telco; —recipient if registered may not use the virtual cash for any financial transaction.
US08306506B1

Provided are wireless and standalone handheld devices, such as PDAs and wireless telephones, that are configured for inputting a unique contact identifier that uniquely identifies a desired contact record, querying a central database of contact information to obtain the desired contact record, receiving the record and storing it. In various embodiments, such requests can be made directly over a wireless network or indirectly when synchronizing the handheld device with a computer connected to the Internet or to another network.
US08306485B2

A radiocommunications terminal includes a send circuit and a receive circuit connected to a send/receive antenna of the terminal and respectively defining, when in operation, a send mode and a receive mode. The terminal also includes a circuit in a common part of the connection of the send and receive circuits to the antenna for matching the send and receive circuits to the antenna. A device for controlling and monitoring the power of signals sent/received by the terminal decenters the impedance matching of the antenna of the terminal only when the device is in send mode. Applications include reducing the energy impinging on the user of a mobile radio communications terminal.
US08306481B2

A single pole multi throw switch comprises a first switching unit, a second switching unit coupled to a common port and comprising a parasitic off state capacitance, and a matching unit. The matching unit may be coupled between the first switching unit and the common port, wherein the matching unit is configured to contribute, in conjunction with the parasitic off state capacitance of the second switching unit, to an impedance match if the first switching unit is active and the second switching unit is inactive.
US08306471B2

An image-forming device includes: a tension applying unit that applies tension to a recording medium; an image carrier that holds a toner image; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image held by the image carrier to the recording medium while tension is applied to the recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium; and a retreat unit that causes the recording medium to move away from the fixing unit while tension is not applied to the recording medium, wherein rotation of the image carrier is suspended after the toner image is transferred from the image carrier to the recording medium, and after the suspension of rotation of the image carrier, application of tension to the recording medium is suspended, and the recording medium is caused to move away from the fixing unit by the retreat unit.
US08306465B2

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical scanning units to scan light modulated according to an image signal, a plurality of photoconductive drums to form a plurality of electrostatic latent images by the light scanned from the plurality of optical scanning units, a plurality of developing units to develop the plurality of electrostatic latent images formed on the plurality of photoconductive drums into a plurality of toner images, an intermediate transfer unit to transfer the plurality of toner images developed by the plurality of developing units, a plurality of first transfer rollers installed in the intermediate transfer unit to correspond to the plurality of photoconductive drums, respectively, and to apply transfer voltages that is used to transfer the plurality of toner images onto the intermediate transfer unit, a second transfer roller to transfer the plurality of toner images formed on the intermediate transfer unit onto a paper, and a fixing unit to fix the plurality of toner images transferred onto the paper, wherein the plurality of first transfer rollers includes the first transfer rollers of a first group in which distances between the first transfer rollers of the first group and the plurality of photoconductive drums, respectively, are sequentially reduced downstream along a direction that the intermediate transfer unit travels, and the first transfer roller of a second group is independent from the distances between the first transfer rollers of the first group and the plurality of photoconductive drums.
US08306463B2

A toner cartridge includes a housing having a first mouth and a second mouth, a rotator having a first opening and a second opening and being rotatably mounted on the housing in such a manner that the first and second mouths are accessible through the first and second openings respectively, and a sliding cover having a through hole and being slidably disposed on the housing in such a manner that the second mouth is closeable by the sliding cover. When the rotator is erroneously forced to rotate relative to the housing, the first mouth of the housing exposes outside through the first opening of the rotator and the second mouth of the housing will be covered by the sliding cover. Therefore, the leakage of the toner caused by a user's erroneous operation of the toner cartridge of the present invention can be effectively reduced.
US08306460B2

A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes first and second rotatable main assembly drive transmission members. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the drum, for engaging the first m transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and a shaft coupler provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second transmission member and an axis of the developing roller. The shaft coupler includes an engaging portion for engaging the second transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the cartridge is mounted to the main.
US08306459B2

An aspect of the invention is an opening-and-closing mechanism including: an opening-and-closing member that open-and-closes an body; a holding member rotatably coupled to the body; a sliding member disposed slidable to the holding member along a longitudinal-direction of the holding member, whose end portion is coupled to the opening-and-closing member, and sliding to the holding member in accompaniment with rotation of the opening-and-closing member; a braking member of an elastic material whose coefficient of friction with one of the sliding member or the holding member is larger than that between the other of the sliding member or the holding member and the one, the braking member sliding to the one in accompaniment with the sliding member sliding to the holding member to generate a braking-force by a frictional-force; and a pressing member disposed on the other, the braking member being mounted thereat, pressing the braking member against the one.
US08306448B2

A printing system fuser is presented with an AC-AC power circuit using a pair of high speed pulse width modulated switches and low speed switching devices for flyback current conduction for powering a fuser heating element, and power factor control system and techniques are presented for adapting AC-AC converter control for powering one fuser heating element at least partially according to angle control switching of another fuser heating element to control fuser power factor.
US08306440B2

The present disclosure relates to polarization diversity receiver systems and methods with polarization mode dispersion mitigation through processing. Specifically, the present invention includes a direct-detection receiver system that removes the requirement for a LO and an ADC thereby improving power, size, and cost over existing solutions, while at the same time allowing sufficient electronic processing to mitigate PMD impairment. The present invention can be realized in a processing block in CMOS technology front-ended with a polarization diversity receiver utilizing a 90 deg. optical hybrid.
US08306439B2

A communication apparatus in accordance with an embodiment comprises a reception unit configured to demodulate a received signal to output a first demodulated signal in dependence on a reception condition. The communication apparatus further comprises a pattern detection unit configured to detect a characteristic pattern in the first demodulated signal to output a pattern detection signal, and a pitch detection unit configured to detect a pitch of the characteristic pattern based on the pattern detection signal to output a first signal detection signal indicating that the first demodulated signal is one of an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal, or an inverted version of the one of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal.
US08306435B2

A receiver for recovering transmitted information carried by a received optical signal that has been affected by dispersion includes an optical splitter having an input port arranged to receive the received optical signal, and a plurality of output ports. A proportion of optical power at the input port is transmitted to each of the output ports. A plurality of optical detectors is operably connected to respective output ports of the optical splitter, for generating a corresponding plurality of electrical signals. Optical phase shifters are disposed between the output ports of the optical splitter and respective optical detectors. As a result, each optical phase shifter applies a frequency dependent phase shift to an optical signal passing therethrough. An electronic processor includes analog and/or digital electronic components configured to combine two or more of the plurality of electrical signals, or information recovered separately therefrom, in order to provide improved accuracy or reliability of information recovery as compared with detecting and processing only the received optical signal. The receiver is advantageously able to mitigate the effects of frequency-dependent fading which may occur in intensity modulation/direct detection optical transmission systems due to dispersion in optical transmission paths.
US08306430B2

In a dispersion compensating apparatus, a reference identifying unit identifies a reference (X dB down) that makes a penalty lower than a predetermined value in accordance with optical signal information and a reference identifying table, and a VIPA plate temperature adjusting unit adjusts a refractive index of a VIPA plate by modifying a temperature of the VIPA plate so that a transmission center wavelength derived from the reference matches the wavelength defined by an ITU-T Grid. If a dispersion compensation value setting unit performs an optimal residual dispersion value search, the VIPA plate temperature adjusting unit determines if a filtering penalty is lower than a predetermined value in accordance with a penalty management table. If the filtering penalty is lower than the predetermined value, temperature adjustment of the VIPA plate is not performed.
US08306429B2

An optical ultrasonic microphone includes an acoustic waveguide that transmits a sound wave received from an opening, an optical acoustic propagation medium that forms at least one portion of a wall face of the acoustic waveguide and an LDV head, and a sound wave proceeding through the acoustic waveguide is received by the optical acoustic propagation medium so that a change in the refractive index caused by the proceeding sound wave inside the optical acoustic propagation medium is generated with high efficiency, and by detecting this as an optical modulation by the LDV head, the optical ultrasonic microphone is allowed to have a very wide band.
US08306428B2

An optoelectronic switch using millimeter wavelength (MMW) is provided. An r voltage pulse is applied to a device under test (DUT) for switching the photo-generated MMW power The DUT is operated under reverse bias. An optical light source with modulated MMW envelop is injected on to DUT for MMW power generation. Thus, based on change of the reverse bias, speed is violently changed and the MMW optoelectronic switch is thus obtained.
US08306425B2

The present disclosure provides high-degree reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexing (ROADM) systems using bi-directional wavelength selective switches (WSSs) and optical circulators. A single WSS is utilized on each degree of a node in a bi-directional manner, i.e. both ingress and egress share the same WSS. Advantageously, the present invention eliminates conventional splitters/combiners thereby capping intra-node insertion loss to a certain value regardless of the number of degrees. More importantly, the present invention reduces noise penalty associated with high-degree nodes while minimizing cost.
US08306422B2

A Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Network (WDM-PON) includes an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) including a first Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) MUX/DEMUX, and a remote node including a second AWG MUX/DEMUX. Each AWG MUX/DEMUX has at least two input ports for receiving a respective wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, and a plurality of output ports. Each output port of the Optical Line Terminal AWG MUX/DEMUX is coupled to a respective transceiver of the OLT. Each output port of the remote node AWG MUX/DEMUX is coupled to a respective PON having at least one optical network terminal (ONT). Respective first and second optical paths are coupled between corresponding input ports of the first and second AWG MUX/DEMUXs. Means are provided for sourcing seed light of the WDM-PON into a selected one the first and second optical paths.
US08306420B2

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for real-time, in-service latency measurements over optical links that may be further integrated within various optical control planes. The present invention may utilize minimal unused overhead to calculate latency of an optical line through a transport network. The present invention utilizes timers at two end-point nodes associated with the optical line, and includes a mechanism to filter out frame skew between the nodes. Advantageously, the present invention provides a highly accurate latency measurement that may calculate latency on links as small as one meter, an in-service algorithm operable without network impact, and may be integrated with an optical control plane to automatically provide administrative weight variables associated with link costs.
US08306406B2

The video and audio reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is a video and audio reproduction apparatus that decodes a video and audio stream and reproduces the decoded video and audio stream and that includes a reconstructing unit which reconstructs a packet in an inputted video and audio stream; a decoding unit which decodes the video and audio stream having the reconstructed packet, the video and audio stream being received from the reconstructing unit; and an output unit which outputs the decoded video and audio stream, wherein, when the packet to be reconstructed contains a plurality of payloads in the inputted video and audio stream, the reconstructing unit reconstructs the packet in the video and audio stream so that each packet contains one payload.
US08306403B2

Metadata of the type for instance associated with television or video Electronic Programming Guides (EPG) or Interactive Programming Guides (IPG), is transported via a digital delivery network such as the Internet to a video receiving device such as a personal video recorder (PVR). The receiving device extracts the metadata for a purpose such as determining from the metadata programming of control signals. The PVR thereby reads or interprets control signals derived from the metadata provided via the digital delivery network so as to control subsequent video recording.
US08306402B2

A display device switches a broadcast channel which is being received by a tuner unit based on a broadcast channel switching instruction input from a user operating unit and transmits broadcast channel switching information to a recording and reproduction device. The recording and reproduction device sets a channel of a tuner unit to the same channel as the display device based on the broadcast channel switching information. A content is recorded and reproduced by a recording and reproduction unit based on a time shift viewing/listening instruction, a switch unit of the display device is switched from the tuner unit to the recording and reproduction device, and the reproduction output from the recording and reproduction device is displayed on a display unit.
US08306398B2

A randomly accessible storage medium stores unit data including a data body portion including data units, and a management information portion. New data is additionally recorded in the unit data from a predetermined position within the data body portion so that a beginning portion of the new data is additionally recorded in a leading additional recording area extending from the additional recording start position to an end position within a data unit including the additional recording start position. A subsequent portion of the new data is recorded in a physical storage area on the storage medium. The management information portion is updated according to the additionally recorded new data and recorded in the storage medium. The resulting unit data includes a new data body portion starting from the beginning of the previous data body portion and ending in the end of the new data, and the updated managing information portion.
US08306380B2

Disclosed are fiber-optic-cable insertion tools and related methods for inserting fiber optic cables into latched-duct conduit systems.
US08306373B2

A fiber Bragg grating multi-point temperature sensing system comprises a fiber sensing cable package and a plurality of clamping devices distributed along an inner surface of a wall in a circumferential direction for securing the fiber sensing cable package. The fiber sensing cable package comprises a fiber Bragg grating based sensing cable comprising at least one optical fiber, a plurality of Bragg gratings inscribed in the optical fiber, and a fabric layer and a sheath tube surrounding the optical fiber. The multi-point fiber temperature sensing system comprises a light source for transmitting light to the Bragg gratings based sensing cable package, and a detector module receiving reflected signal. Each clamping device comprises a radiation tee and defines at least one mounting hole for securing the fiber sensing cable.
US08306366B2

An apparatus and method for extracting feature points from an image in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors, the method including: dividing an original image into a plurality of regions so as to be allocated to a plurality of processors of the multiprocessor system; performing, by the plurality of processors, blurring operations by levels; dividing the images blurred by levels into a plurality of regions to be allocated to the processors and calculating, by the plurality of processors, differences of Gaussian (DoGs); and generating feature point data according to the calculated DoGs. Because a plurality of processors performs the operations of the method, the total time to extract the feature points from the image is significantly reduced.
US08306357B2

An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program, visually remove low-frequency noise contained in image data. Image data containing low-frequency noise is input from an input terminal. A window unit designates a window made up of a pixel of interest, and its surrounding pixels. A pixel selector selects a selected pixel to be compared with the pixel of interest from the window, and a pixel value determination unit determines a new pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of the pixel values of the selected pixel and pixel of interest. New image data is generated by substituting the pixel value of the pixel of interest by the new pixel value.
US08306345B2

A method for processing image data includes using advantages of both a three-layer MRC model and an N-layer MRC model to create a new 3+N layer MRC model and to generate a 3+N layer MRC image. The method includes providing input image data; segmenting the input image data to generate: (i) a background layer representing the background and the pictorial attributes of the image data, (ii) one or more binary foreground layers, (iii) a selector layer, and (iv) a contone foreground layer representing the foreground attributes of the image data on the background layer; and integrating the background layer, the selector layer, the contone foreground layer, and the one or more binary foreground layers into a data structure having machine-readable information for storage in a memory device. Each binary foreground layer includes one or more pixel clusters representing text pixels of a particular color in the input image data.
US08306344B2

An image processor includes an encoding unit encoding inputted data. The encoding unit includes a first processing unit splitting the data into a first partial data in a first digit range on an upper side and a second partial data in a second digit range on a lower side, a second processing unit encoding only the first partial data between the first partial data and the second partial data, and a third processing unit performing correction to set a value of the first partial data at “0”.
US08306341B2

An image data compression apparatus includes: a filter coefficient calculation unit to perform a filter process to separate pixels extracted in accordance with a one-dimensional subband coding into low- and high-frequency components, and to calculate coefficient values of respective filter coefficients; prediction units to perform different predictions respectively for the calculated coefficient values; a predicted coefficient value calculation unit to calculate predicted coefficient values to be used for posterior predictions by calculating each from at least one of predicted values and from corresponding at least one of the calculated coefficient values; a memory unit to hold the predicted coefficient values calculated by the predicted coefficient value calculation unit; and a compression coding unit to calculate a difference between each predicted value and corresponding each coefficient value, and to perform coding after quantizing the difference, or to perform coding on the basis of the difference.
US08306337B2

Systems and methods are provided for detecting objects of an object class, such as faces, in an image sensor. In some embodiments, the image sensor can include a detector with an image buffer. The image buffer can store image data in raster order. The detector can read the data out in Z order to perform object detection. The image data can then compute feature responses using the Z-ordered image data and determine whether any objects of the object class are present based on the feature responses. In some embodiments, the detector can downscale the image data while the object detection is performed and use the downscaled image data to continue the detection process. In some embodiments, the image data can perform detection even if the image is rotated.
US08306324B2

This invention relates to an image processing method and image processing apparatus for improving the image quality of the boundary part of an image cut-out or deletion area. According to this method, an area specified by a user as a cut-out or deletion target area is slightly reduced or enlarged to eliminate an undesirable background area. In image cut-out, the cut-out image side is shaded off. In image deletion, the background image side is shaded off. This increases the image quality at the joint between the boundary part of the cut-out image and an image to be composited. The image quality between the remaining background image and the deletion part also improves.
US08306323B2

An apparatus and method for correcting a depth image of an object based on a table, the table being formed according to color identification information of a target color, and a first measurement error in which a difference between a ground truth depth value of a base color and a measured depth value of the target color is reflected.
US08306316B2

The image processing apparatus and method, and the program and the recording medium according to the present invention can make the coefficient vector into high precision by noise elimination or correction utilizing the mutual correlation of the divided image areas in the intermediate eigenspace, and allows relaxation of the input condition and robustness. The high correlation in the divided image areas in the intermediate eigenspace can reduce the divided image areas to be processed, and actualize reduction in processing load and enhancement of the processing speed.
US08306305B2

A method of automatically identifying bone components in a medical image data set of voxels, the method comprising: a) applying a first set of one or more tests to accept voxels as belonging to seeds, b) applying a second set of one or more tests to accept seeds as bone seeds, and c) expanding the bone seeds into bone components by progressively identifying candidate bone voxels, adjacent to the bone seeds or to other previously identified bone voxels, as bone voxels, responsive to predetermined criteria which distinguish bone voxels from voxels of other body tissue.
US08306296B2

Embodiments for setting eigenvectors for clutter signal filtering from Doppler signals in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system includes: a Doppler signal acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire first Doppler signals; and a processing unit configured to compute a plurality of eigenvectors by using the first Doppler signals and form second Doppler signals corresponding to directions of the computed eigenvectors, the processing unit being further configured to compute component values of the second Doppler signals and set eigenvectors for clutter signal filtering among the plurality of eigenvectors by using the computed component values.
US08306289B1

In MR imaging using a multi-coil device, multifrequency interpolation is combined with a convolution such as BOSCO to achieve simultaneous parallel reconstruction and off-resonance correction. The unaliased and deblurred image is calculated for each coil, and the final image is formed from the images for all of the coils.
US08306280B2

An electronic camera includes an image pickup device, a memory, a face detecting section, a face recognizing section, and an object specifying section. The image pickup device photo-electrically converts an image of an object into an electric signal and generates an image signal as the electric signal. The memory has recorded registration data representing characterizing points of faces as recognizing targets. The face detecting section detects face areas in a shooting image plane based on the image signal and extracts characterizing points of faces of objects from the face areas. The face recognizing section determines whether or not the face areas are the recognizing targets based on data of the characterizing points corresponding to the face areas and on the registration data. The object specifying section specifies as a main object an object present on nearest side of the electronic camera of objects as the recognizing targets.
US08306278B2

In a detecting device for detecting a fake test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that another testee different from an actual driver takes on behalf of the actual driver of a vehicle using an alcohol measurement device, the face image of the testee taking the BAC test is shot during measurement of the BAC and the face image of the driver of the vehicle is shot within a predetermined period of time before or after the measurement of the BAC. The testee and the driver are checked whether they are the same person based on the face images of the testee and the driver.
US08306276B2

The present invention discloses a bridge structural safety monitoring system and a bridge structural safety monitoring method. The method includes the steps of capturing an image of a monitoring area of a bridge to create a standard image of the bridge operated at normal conditions, capturing images of the monitoring area of the bridge continuously to obtain monitoring images, comparing the standard image with the monitoring image to obtain a displacement correlation coefficient of the monitoring area of the bridge, and transmitting the displacement correlation coefficient to a central console, such that the central console can determine the using condition of the bridge according to the displacement correlation coefficient.
US08306273B1

The present invention pertains to the identification of a set of measurement data, using an a priori model database, which is then used in the determination of a pose solution using LADAR data. In particular, a model database of a target scene is created. The model database includes location information for a plurality of points within the target scene, and separation distances between sets of those points defining triangles. LADAR data obtained from a target scene is processed to extract features. Location information and separation distances between sets of extracted features defining triangles are placed in a measurement database. Separation distances contained in the measurement database are compared to separation distances contained in the model database. If a match is found, a rotation quaternion and translation vector are calculated, to transform the data in the measurement database into the frame of reference of the data in the model database. The rotation quaternion and translation vector can be applied to additional sets of data defining additional triangles, to verify that the target scene has been correctly identified. A pose solution and range can then be output.
US08306259B2

A method for processing a document, including performing one or more processing steps with the document, such as printing, franking, assembling mail pieces, or opening received mail pieces. The method further includes defining a first possible location of a marking on a document; and searching a first part of a document for the marking, the first part corresponding to the first possible location. When the marking is not found in the first part a further possible location of a marking on a document is defined and a further part of the document for the marking is searched. The further part corresponds to the further possible location. The location of the marking with respect to the document is stored in the memory in case the marking is found in the first part or the further part. Information about the document is derived from the found marking. The derived information is presented at an output, for further processing of the information.
US08306239B2

[Object]To downsize a power amplifier, while keeping isolation between a transmission line and ground potential.[Means to Realize Object]Two terminals (2a, 2b) of an audio signal source (2) are connected to an input of an isolation input circuit (6). An audio signal developed, being isolated from the input-side, between two output-side terminals (6a, 6b) of the isolation input circuit (6) are inputted to a power amplifying stage (12). The power amplifying stage (12) amplifies the audio signal and outputs it at a high voltage from two output terminals (12c, 12d) to a plurality of loudspeakers (22) without using an insulation transformer. Operating power is supplies to the power amplifying stage (12) from two power supply terminals (20c, 20d) of a DC power supply (14). One (6d) of the terminals of the insulation input circuit (6), one (12d) of the output terminals of the power amplifying stage (12) and one (20d) of the power supply terminals of the DC power supply (14) are connected together to provide a common potential point different from the ground potential.
US08306238B2

A method and a control circuit for controlling an output of an audio signal of a battery-powered device are described.
US08306234B2

Improving the acoustical communication between interlocutors in at least two positions in a room includes generating electrical signals representative of acoustical signals present at the respective interlocutor positions, amplifying each of the electrical signals and converting the amplified electrical signals into acoustical signals. A time delay is applied to the electrical signals such that the acoustical signal arriving first at one of the interlocutor positions originates from the direction of the other interlocutor position.
US08306232B2

An apparatus and a method for controlling, during playback, the composition of a pair of stereo separated audio signals in a stereo sound entertainment system by changing the stereo image width are disclosed. A digital mixer combines a portion of a first digital audio signal with a portion of a second digital audio signal to create a first mixed signal and a portion of the second digital audio signal with a portion of the first digital audio signal to create a second mixed signal. A listener controller independently controls, in accordance with a listener input, the portion of the first digital audio signal combined with the portion of the second digital audio signal and the portion of the second digital audio signal combined with the portion of the first digital audio signal.
US08306228B2

An anonymous secure messaging method and system for securely exchanging information between a host computer system and a functionally connected cryptographic module. The invention comprises a Host Security Manager application in processing communications with a security executive program installed inside the cryptographic module. An SSL-like communications pathway is established between the host computer system and the cryptographic module. The initial session keys are generated by the host and securely exchanged using a PKI key pair associated with the cryptographic module. The secure communications pathway allows presentation of critical security parameter (CSP) without clear text disclosure of the CSP and further allows use of the generated session keys as temporary substitutes of the CSP for the session in which the session keys were created.
US08306226B2

A transmitting apparatus includes a transaction transmitting unit configured to transmit to a receiving apparatus a content to be moved to the receiving apparatus, by using a first transaction established with the receiving apparatus, a counter unit configured to count a progress quantity representing a degree of progress of the transmission of the content from a given point of time with respect to the transmission of the content corresponding to the first transaction to obtain a count value, and a transaction switching unit configured to switch the first transaction used for the transmission of the content to a second transaction, if the count value of the counter unit reaches a predetermined value and the transmission of the content is not completed.
US08306215B2

In an echo canceller, a specific frequency component eliminator eliminates a specific frequency component of a specific frequency from a receiver signal to output a resultant signal to an echo path. A specific frequency component detector detects a frequency component of the same frequency as the specific frequency eliminated by the specific frequency component eliminator from the transmitter signal. A noise calculator finds noise power on the basis of power of the specific frequency component detected by the specific frequency component detector, and finds total power including noise and an echo component on the basis of power of a frequency component including the echo component. A control parameter calculator uses the noise power and the total power found by the noise calculator to find a control parameter of the echo canceller.
US08306209B2

A method is provided for customizing a call control rule by a subscriber at a graphical user interface. The method includes providing a first display, including multiple conditions relating to identifying calls involving the at least one telephone number, and receiving a first selection of at least one identifying condition. The method further includes providing a second display, including multiple call dispositions relating to processing the calls based on the at least one selected condition, and receiving a second selection of at least one call disposition. The identifying condition and the call disposition are stored as the call control rule in association with the telephone number, and calls involving the telephone number are processed in accordance with the stored call control rule. The method may also include providing a third display describing the call control rule contemporaneously with receiving the first and second selections.
US08306203B1

When an ad hoc group call is initiated, or at a subsequent time but before the group call is terminated, a call originator may set a parameter to establish a time limit. The time limit is invoked when the call originator drops from the group call. The time limit may be set to zero time indicating that all participants will be disconnected and the group call will be terminated immediately upon exit of the call originator. The time limit may also be set to a predetermined amount of time, which indicates that the group call may remain up until the predetermined amount of time expires. If no parameter to establish a time limit is selected, the group call may remain indefinitely even after the originator exits the group call.
US08306191B2

Voice analysis of a subscribers' greeting is used to assist with determining a true identity of a caller. When a greeting is recorded by the subscriber (e.g., the subscriber speaks their voice as part of their default greeting, or a custom greeting for a voice mail system), the system can analyze the greeting and create a voice signature or voiceprint of the greeting. This voiceprint information can be saved in the system and associated with the subscriber. When a subscriber changes their greeting that was previously analyzed to create a voiceprint, the messaging system can optionally analyze the newly recorded greeting to create a new voiceprint for the subscriber, with the system saving the new voiceprint in the system for future recognition tasks. This voiceprint is then used to identify the true identity of a caller that leaves a voice message.
US08306187B2

A method for determining the density of a fluid that includes disposing a gamma-ray source proximate to a vessel containing the fluid is provided. The optimal position of a gamma-ray detector with respect to the gamma-ray source is determined. A gamma-ray detector is position at the optimal position, and the density of the fluid is measured.
US08306174B2

Transmission of information between user equipment (UE) and base stations in a wireless network occurs using a stream of periodic data. A modem in the UE operates synchronized to a first clock source to produce the stream of periodic data at a chip rate. Transceiver circuitry is synchronized to a variable clock source to receive the stream of data from the first circuitry at a rate according to the variable clock source. A fixed phase relationship is maintained between the variable clock source and the first clock source while the data period is uniform by adjusting the variable clock in response to detected phase errors. Occasionally, one period of the periodic data is changed by a defined amount. The fixed phase relationship is restored over a number of periods in a gradual manner by changing the frequency of the variable clock by an amount. By restoring the phase relationship gradually, quality degradation of the transmitted signal is reduced.
US08306170B2

A method of decoding a bit stream having an embedded clock, where the clock reference data is recovered from the bit stream. The clock reference data is used to create an adjusting value to control a local clock frequency. The adjustment is calculated such that the local clock frequency and the local clock value match the frequency and values in the clock reference data. The adjustment value is input to pulse generator to form a pulse train, which is used to generate the input to an adjustable oscillator.
US08306166B1

A system and method for detecting burst noise during quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) communications are provided. A QAM signal is acquired at a receiver in communication with a network. The QAM signal is demodulated at the receiver to identify a plurality of symbols. Amplitudes for each of the plurality of symbols are determined, and are compared to a predetermined threshold. For each amplitude that is greater than the predetermined threshold, information is recorded at the receiver relating to a burst noise event. The magnitude of the burst noise can be determined by measuring a difference between a received constellation point and a perimeter constellation point closest to the received constellation point. The information about the burst noise event can be transmitted to an error correction module for reducing future burst noise in the network. Equalizer coefficients and tracking loop performance can be adjusted/enhanced using the burst noise information.
US08306165B2

A method for estimating a traffic-to-pilot ratio (TPR) for a received signal is disclosed. The received signal is despatialized to obtain a despatialized received signal. A channel matrix is despatialized to obtain a despatialized channel matrix. The despatialized received signal is whitened to obtain a pre-whitened despatialized received signal. The despatialized channel matrix is whitened to obtain a pre-whitened despatialized channel matrix. The estimated TPR for the received signal is determined using the pre-whitened despatialized received signal and one or more pre-whitened despatialized channel estimation coefficients.
US08306163B1

Aspects of the disclosure provide a receiver that can include a robust automatic gain control (AGC) mechanism. The receiver can include at least a first processing stage and a second processing stage. Each of at least the first processing stage and the second processing stage can include a controllable parameter. Further, the receiver can include a detector module. The detector module can switchably detect an output parameter of each of at least the first processing stage and the second processing stage. In addition, the receiver can include a controller module. The controller module can be configured to control the controllable parameters of at least the first processing stage and the second processing stage based on the detected output parameters of at least the first processing stage and the second processing stage.
US08306160B2

A synchronizing circuit comprising: a coarse synchronizing circuit which determines temporary reception timing using a preamble consisting of a repetition of known training signals added to a reception packet; a synchronization candidate timing control section which sets up multiple synchronization candidates based on the temporary reception timing and controls synchronization of received signal s in each of the multiple synchronization candidates; a signal quality monitoring section which monitors signal quality of the received signal s synchronized in each of the multiple synchronization candidates; and a synchronization candidate selecting section which selects one of the synchronization candidates as a final reception timing based on a monitoring result of the signal quality in the signal quality monitoring section.
US08306152B2

This mobile radio communication device comprises pilot symbol number determination unit 102 for determining the number of pilot symbol blocks necessary to determine a channel estimate in response to phasing variation, storage unit 104 for storing said determined number of pilot symbol blocks, and unit 103 for using said stored number of pilot symbol blocks to determine a channel estimate when said determined number of pilot symbol blocks exceeds the predetermined number of pilot symbol blocks.
US08306151B2

The present invention aims to provide a method for mapping signals to subcarriers in a sending means of a MIMO-based wireless telecommunication network and an apparatus for the same. It is characterized in that, controlling the mapping of the signals in an input signal sequence to the subcarriers, so that the signals sent by different antennas at the same time correspond to nonadjacent signals in the input signal sequence. With the aid of the present invention, burst error due to deep fading channel can be effectively avoided, and diversity gains can be also improved.
US08306150B2

Systems and methods for identifying a transmission channel response and a feedback channel response from a plurality of composite system responses are disclosed. A plurality of shifted feedback signals are created by shifting a feedback signal frequency by a plurality of first offset values and/or by shifting a transmission signal frequency by a plurality of second offset values. The feedback signals are compared to an input signal to identify the transmission channel response and/or a feedback channel response. A control signal is generated for a pre-distortion circuit to modify the input signal by an inverse of the transmission channel response. The composite system response is measured at a plurality of operating frequencies and at the plurality of offset values. The measurements are stored in a matrix and singular value decomposition is applied to the matrix of measurements to calculate the transmission channel response and feedback channel response.
US08306148B2

Provided is a method for performing channel estimation in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal. The method includes performing the channel estimation based upon use of reserved tone channel carriers.
US08306142B2

Aspects of a method and system for transmitter beamforming for reduced complexity multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transceivers are presented. Aspects of the system may include a MIMO transmitter that computes a channel estimate matrix and decomposes the computed channel estimate matrix based on singular value decomposition (SVD). Singular values in a singular value matrix may be rearranged and grouped to generate a plurality of submatrices. In one aspect, each of the submatrices may be decomposed based on GMD at a MIMO transmitter, while a MIMO receiver may utilize a vertical layered space time (VLST) method. In another aspect, the MIMO transmitter may utilize Givens rotation matrices corresponding to each of the submatrices, while the MIMO receiver may utilize maximum likelihood (ML) detection.
US08306140B2

A method in a first node for adapting a multi-antenna transmission to a second node over a wireless channel is provided. The wireless channel has at least three inputs and at least one output. The first node and the second node are comprised in a wireless communication system. The method comprising the steps of: Obtaining (401) at least one symbol stream; Determining (403) a precoding matrix having a product structure created by a block diagonal matrix being multiplied from the left with a block diagonalizing unitary matrix; Precoding (404) the at least one symbol stream with the determined precoding matrix; And Transmitting (405) the precoded at least one symbol stream over a wireless channel to the second node.
US08306131B2

In a multi user communication system, subcarriers are allocated to subchannels using a quality measurement for each subchannel. An initial sub carrier is allocated to each subchannel, and a quality metric measured. Subsequent subcarriers are allocated in dependence upon the quality measurement for each subchannel. The subchannel with the lowest quality measurement receives the first allocation, and the subchannel with the highest quality measurement receives the last allocation. The subsequent allocation is repeated, following a re-sort of the subchannel quality measurements, until all of the subcarriers are allocated.
US08306127B2

A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TRS encoder for to TRS-encode a MPEG-2 transmission stream having null data for inserting a Known data and a TRS parity at predetermined positions, randomizer to input and randomize data stream from the TRS encoder, a null packet exchanger to replace the null data for inserting the Known data to the known data, and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the Known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization and further uses the TRS parity for correcting error of the received signal, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08306123B2

A method and apparatus for motion estimation of at least a first and a second image frame by estimating at least one motion vector correlating a portion of pixels of the at least first and second image frame, the first and second image frame being part of an image frame sequence. The at least one motion vector is obtained by a predominant motion detection generating at least one global motion vector based on at least one previously determined motion vector, the previously determined motion vector correlating a portion of pixels of earlier image frames of the image frame sequence, and an estimation estimating the at least one motion vector based on the at least one global motion vector.
US08306110B2

In a moving image coding apparatus, when a first picture is entropy-coded, if an occupancy of a virtual buffer is below a predetermined position, the first picture is replaced with a copy picture. Further, among succeeding pictures that refer to a reference image corresponding to the first picture for inter picture prediction, a second picture whose quantization has been started or completed is also replaced with the copy picture.
US08306101B2

In an equalizer system with a plurality of equalizers, the variation and setting of various equalizer parameters (gains, center frequencies, Q factors) may be automated by an adjustment circuit that may utilize a procedure, for example, a nonlinear curve fitting. Upon each variation, a figure of merit (e.g., cost function) may be formed and the parameter variation may continue in the direction in which the cost function decreases until it reaches a predetermined level. After each new setting of the equalizers, the procedure can be performed and the desired parameter set can be passed on to an equalizer implementing routine. External control signals may be provided to the adjustment circuit which then generates corresponding internal control signals for setting the gains of the equalizers at the respective center frequencies, the internal control signals being modified relative to the associated external control signals in such a way that the interferences occurring between the equalizers are at least reduced. Additional external control signals may be provided to the adjustment circuit for setting the center frequency and Q factor of each of the equalizers. The adjustment circuit may generate corresponding internal control signals for changing the center frequencies and Q factors of the equalizers.
US08306097B2

A method includes maintaining temporally parallel DSL data communication sessions with DSL modems of a group via a set of lines. The method includes, in response to substantially stopping to receive DSL communications from one of the DSL modems via one of the lines, transmitting a substantially reduced average power to the one of the lines and monitoring the one of the lines to determine whether DSL communications have restarted being received from the one of the DSL modems. The method also includes resuming the maintaining of the temporally parallel DSL communication sessions in response to the monitoring determining that DSL communications have restarted being received from the one of the DSL modems.
US08306082B2

A group-III nitride semiconductor laser device comprises a laser structure including a support base and a semiconductor region, and an electrode provided on the semiconductor region of the laser structure. The support base comprises a hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor and has a semipolar primary surface, and the semiconductor region is provided on the semipolar primary surface of the support base. The semiconductor region includes a first cladding layer of a first conductivity type gallium nitride-based semiconductor, a second cladding layer of a second conductivity type gallium nitride-based semiconductor, and an active layer. The first cladding layer, the second cladding layer, and the active layer are arranged along a normal axis to the semipolar primary surface. The active layer comprises a gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer. The c-axis of the hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor of the support base tilts at a finite angle ALPHA with respect to a normal axis toward an a-axis of the hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor. The laser structure includes first and second fractured faces intersecting with an a-n plane defined by the normal axis and the a-axis of the hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor. The laser cavity of the group-III nitride semiconductor laser device includes the first and second fractured faces. The laser structure includes first and second surfaces and the first surface is opposite to the second surface, and each of the first and second fractured faces extends from an edge of the first surface to an edge of the second surface.
US08306080B2

A surface emitting laser apparatus includes an arithmetic processing unit including an I/O unit for externally inputting an instruction and a core unit that performs an operation based on the instruction and outputs a differential voltage signal modulated with a predetermined amplitude according to a result of the operation, capacitors respectively arranged on output paths of the differential voltage signal, and a surface emitting laser device that is directly connected to the arithmetic processing unit via the capacitors. An I/O voltage and a core voltage are externally supplied to the I/O unit and the core unit, respectively. The arithmetic processing unit generates a driving voltage signal by superimposing the differential voltage signal with the core voltage commonly supplied as a bias voltage without stepping up or down the core voltage and without amplifying the differential voltage signal and supplies the driving voltage signal to the surface emitting laser device.
US08306077B2

A laser source assembly (10) for providing an assembly output beam (12) includes a first MIR laser source (352A), a second MIR laser source (352B), and a beam combiner (244). The first MIR laser source (352A) emits a first MIR beam (356A) that is in the MIR range and the second MIR laser source (352B) emits a second MIR beam (356B) that is in the MIR range. Further, the beam combiner (244) spatially combines the first MIR beam (356A) and the second MIR beam (356B) to provide the assembly output beam (12). With this design, a plurality MIR laser sources (352A) (352B) can be packaged in a portable, common module, each of the MIR laser sources (352A) (352B) generates a narrow linewidth, accurately settable MIR beam (356A) (356B), and the MIR beams (356A) (356B) are combined to create a multiple watt assembly output beam (12) having the desired power. The beam combiner (244) can includes a combiner lens (364) and an output optical fiber (366). In this embodiment, the MIR beams (356A) (356B) are directed at the combiner lens (364) and the combiner lens (364) focuses the MIR beams (356A) (356B) onto a fiber facet (366A) of the output optical fiber (366). Moreover, the output optical fiber (366) can include an AR coating (366B) on the fiber facet (366A).
US08306076B2

An LD driver is disclosed where the power dissipation is reduced without enlarging the circuit scale. The LD driver, which drives a tunable LD including a SG-DGB region, a CSG-DBR region, and an SOA region, includes a DC/DC converter connected to current sources or voltage sources each coupled with at least two regions of the SG-DFB, CSG-DBR and SOA regions, and a voltage controller to control the output of the DC/DC converter which is commonly provided to the current sources or the voltage sources. The voltage controller independently monitors the bias conditions of the at least two regions above, and sets the output of the DC/DC converter so as to exceed a largest voltage among voltages currently provided to respective regions by a preset margin to operate the current sources or the voltage sources normally.
US08306075B2

A system and method for optical frequency conversion having asymmetric output include a coherent light apparatus. The coherent light apparatus includes a coherent light source that produces a first coherent light, a frequency converter optically coupled to the coherent light source, and a coupling optic optically coupled between the coherent light source and the frequency converter. The frequency converter converts the first coherent light to a second coherent light at a second frequency and includes an asymmetric frequency converter (AFC) that nonlinearly converts the first coherent light to the second coherent light with the frequency conversion being more efficient in a first direction than in a second direction. A resonant cavity formed about the AFC circulates the first coherent light and transmits the second coherent light propagating in the first direction.
US08306042B1

Aspects of the invention pertain to deterministic packet routing systems and methods in multiprocessor computing architectures. Packets are analyzed to determine whether they are memory request packets or memory reply packets. Depending upon the packet, it is routed through nodes in the multiprocessor computer architecture in either an XY or YX path. Request and reply packets are sent in opposing routes according to a deterministic routing scheme. Multiport routers are placed at nodes in the architecture to pass the packets, using independent request and response virtual channels to avoid deadlock conditions.
US08306040B2

Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment a method is provided for steering incoming network packets. Each network packet processing resource of a network routing/switching device is dynamically assigned to one or more network interfaces of the network routing/switching device. Each of the network packet processing resources includes one or more processing elements and a memory. Incoming network packets received by the network interfaces are steered to an appropriate network packet processing resource based on the dynamic assignment.
US08306024B2

This invention includes tools that prevent forwarding of a packet to a control plane of a packet switch. The tools receive a packet comprising indicia suggesting that the packet be forwarded to a control plane of a packet switch. After receiving the packet, the tools may modify the packet to prevent the packet from being forwarded to the control plane, intercept the packet before it is received by the control plane, or otherwise prevent the packet from being forwarded to the control plane. The tools may also forward the packet from a source port of a packet switch to a destination port of the packet switch without forwarding the packet to the control plane of the packet switch.
US08306020B2

A system for routing voice telephone calls over IP networks as opposed to traditional switched circuit networks. The voice communications during the telephone call are packaged as digital data and access the Internet through gateways. The system supports the linking of a source gateway in a first clearinghouse to a destination gateway in a second clearinghouse. The system further supports the selection of a destination gateway based on factors such as cost, speed of routing, and transmission quality of the voice data. The components of the system are arranged so as to minimize the number of signals sent between clearinghouses in identifying the optimal destination gateway.
US08306018B2

A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications system, a method of managing a communications network in such a system and a program product therefore. The system/network includes an ENERGY STAR (E-star) aware softswitch and E-star compliant communications devices at system endpoints. The E-star aware softswitch allows E-star compliant communications devices to enter and remain in power saving mode. The E-star aware softswitch spools messages and forwards only selected messages (e.g., calls) to the devices in power saving mode. When the E-star compliant communications devices exit power saving mode, the E-star aware softswitch forwards spooled messages.
US08306017B2

In at least one embodiment, an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller for a UMA mobile network is provided. The UMA network controller includes a circuit switched core network with at least one mobile switching center and a media gateway, and a packet switched core network with at least one serving GPRS serving node. The UMA network controller forwards messages relative to a control plan for both the circuit switched core network and the packet switched core network between mobile stations and at least one circuit switched part. The UMA network controller further forwards messages relative to a user plan for the circuit switched core network between mobile stations and the media gateway. The UMA network controller further forwards messages relative to a user plan for the packet switched core network between mobile stations and at least one packet switched part.
US08306009B2

A method of selecting suitable frequency bands for data transmission between a network node and a user equipment within a mobile communications network. A method selects suitable frequency bands for data transmission between a network node and user equipment within a mobile communications network. A scheduler on the network node side selects data transmission mode depending on the user equipment capability of receiving data from at least two frequency bands simultaneously. The scheduler preferably selects the data transmission mode in the following way: simultaneous data transmission over at least two frequency with or without splitting traffic data or data transmission over only one available frequency band. For data transmission, a radio frame structure (Big MAC element) is dynamically established in the so-called medium access control layer, shortened so-called MAC-layer, by using concurrent radio resources from other frequency bands or other radio access technologies.
US08306008B1

In a communication system, a first base station transceiver receives first wireless signals in a code division multiplex format using a first code assigned to the first transceiver. The first transceiver determines a first noise indicator corresponding to the reception of the wireless signals and transfers the first noise indicator. A second base station transceiver receives second wireless signals in the code division multiplex format using a second code assigned to the second transceiver. The second transceiver determines a second noise indicator corresponding to the reception of the wireless signals. The second transceiver receives the first noise indicator. The second transceiver processes the first and second noise indicators to determine if it should receive third wireless signals using the first code assigned to the first transceiver. If so, the second transceiver receives the third wireless signals using the first code assigned to the first transceiver.
US08306004B2

A communication network system has a host network and low-ranking networks connected with the host network through respective interchange terminals. Terminals containing the interchange terminals in the host network perform communication based on FlexRay. FlexRay sets a static segment and a dynamic segment every communication period. Communication zones are fixedly allocated to the respective terminals in each static segment. Communication zones are changeably allocated to the respective terminals in each dynamic segment. Terminals of each low-ranking network perform communication based on LIN or CAN protocol. The interchange terminals connect a transmission line of the host network with transmission lines of the low-ranking networks during the transmission period of each dynamic segment, so that each terminal of each low-ranking network can perform communication based on LIN or CAN protocol with the terminals of the other low-ranking networks through the high-ranking network without any protocol conversion.
US08306000B2

An estimator of the throughput of a channel equalizer in a wireless receiver, wherein the estimator is dependent on a number of NACK messages transmitted by the receiver.
US08305999B2

Techniques for allocating and mapping resources in a wireless communication system are described. The system may use hop-ports to facilitate allocation and use of subcarriers. In one aspect, the hop-ports may be partitioned into multiple subzones, with each subzone including a configurable number of hop-ports. The hop-ports within each subzone may be permuted or shuffled based on a permutation function. After permutation, the hop-ports in all subzones may be mapped to the subcarriers based on local or global hopping. In another aspect, a set of hop-ports may be mapped to a set of subcarriers. A hop-port may be mapped to an unavailable subcarrier and may then be remapped to another available subcarrier. In yet another aspect, a set of hop-ports may be mapped to a set of subcarriers distributed (e.g., evenly) across all subcarriers but avoiding subcarriers in a reserved zone.
US08305995B2

Method and apparatus for controlling data transmission rate in a wireless communication system during handoff comprises a terminal recognizing an active set comprising a serving base station and at least one non-serving base station with respect to the terminal communicating with the network at a first data transmission rate, receiving a first rate control parameter from the serving base station and a second rate control parameter from the at least one non-serving base station, wherein the first and second rate control parameters are associated with determination of a second data transmission rate of the terminal during the handoff and determining the second data transmission rate in response to the first and the second rate control parameters, wherein the second data transmission rate is one of increased rate, decreased rate and same rate from the first data transmission rate.
US08305984B2

When characters are allocated to a keyboard, a plurality of consonants are divided into a plurality of groups according to pronunciation position in the oral cavity, and the groups are allocated to corresponding columns on the keyboard of 3 rows and 10 columns. A plurality of vowels are allocated to the corresponding columns according to the pronunciation position in the oral cavity. In this instance, the consonants and the vowels of which the pronunciation position are near the lips are allocated to the middle area of the area of 3 rows and 10 columns, and the consonants and the vowels of which the pronunciation position are near the vocal chords are allocated to the outer part of the area of 3 rows and 10 columns. The consonants and the vowels are allocated to the corresponding rows of the area of 3 rows and 10 columns according to usage frequency.
US08305981B2

A band adaptive modulation and coding method sharing resources with neighboring base stations and a mobile station supporting the same are disclosed. The mobile station identifies a channel status for each band by periodically scanning a neighboring base station, and requests a service base station to convert a current mode to a band sharing AMC mode if the identified channel stats satisfies a predetermined condition. The mobile station can use CQICH of 4 bits or 6 bits to request mode conversion. Selectively, the service base station can request the mobile station of channel status information of a neighboring base station to determine mode conversion.
US08305978B2

Methods of allocating data to a plurality of subcarriers in a wireless communication system are disclosed. More specifically, one of the methods includes receiving feedback information from a receiver, calculating a level of mobility of the receiver using the feedback information, determining a resource allocation scheme to use based on the calculated level of mobility, and allocating the data to the plurality of subcarriers based on the determined resource allocation scheme.
US08305974B2

M physical resource blocks PRBs are allocated for localized resource allocation LRA and N−M PRBs are allocated for distributed resource allocation DRA. Each PRB has U subcarriers. Subcarriers of the N PRBs are permuted to result in N subchannels. Serially for each mth one of the M PRBs allocated for LRA, the subcarriers for an mth one of the M PRBs allocated for LRA are punctured from the permuted subchannels. After puncturing, subcarriers of one of the subchannels are filled with subcarriers of all other subchannels which were punctured in the mth one of the M PRBs. The result after puncturing and filling for all M PRBs allocated for LRA is N−M PRBs each having U subcarriers and M PRBs each having U subcarriers. Then there is a wireless communication using at least one of a LRA on the resulting M PRBs or a DRA on the resulting N−M PRBs.
US08305973B2

A base station device (10) performs communications with multiple mobile station devices (20) by the OFDMA scheme. The base station device (10) includes an intra-frame region specifying unit (16) configured to specify a region in a downlink frame to be specified by at least the sub-channel and a transmitter (13) configured to transmit MAP region information indicating the specified downlink intra-frame region. The intra-frame region specifying unit (16) specifies a region in a frame that is to contain communication data. The base station device (10) further includes a MAP generator (121) configured to generate MAP indicating the specified intra-frame region, and the transmitter (13) transmits a downlink frame containing the generated MAP in all or a part of the downlink intra-frame region specified by the MAP region information.
US08305971B2

In an example embodiment, an apparatus selects radio channels based on persistent interference device information. The apparatus comprises a wireless transceiver operable to communicate over a plurality of channels and channel selection logic in communication with the wireless transceiver and operable to select a channel for the wireless transceiver. The channel selection logic is operable to acquire data representative of intensity, duration and rate of occurrence for at least one persistent interference device detected by the wireless transceiver operating on at least one of the plurality of channels. The channel selection logic is operable to select a channel for the wireless transceiver based on the data representative of intensity, duration and rate of occurrence for the at least one persistent interference device.
US08305968B2

A method and a system opens a network connection using solicitation triggers. A terminal device that is connecting to a communication network sends a network connection request to a mobile network communication device and forms a connection between the terminal device and the mobile network communication device. The terminal device sends a network initialization signal in order to connect to the desired network. The mobile network communication device uses a pre-configured network connection for forwarding the network initialization signal to the desired network. The desired network will respond by returning necessary network information that is forwarded to the terminal device.
US08305966B2

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for monitoring a backhaul channel associated with a femto access point (FAP) are disclosed. There is disclosed a method comprising: transmitting, by an FAP over a backhaul channel to a gateway associated with a first network, a plurality of requests, wherein individual requests of the plurality of requests are transmitted periodically and the backhaul channel comprises a second network that is different from the first network; and receiving, by the FAP from the gateway over the backhaul channel, one or more responses indicating an operational state of the backhaul channel, wherein the one or more responses are received in response to a corresponding one or more requests of the plurality of requests. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.
US08305965B2

This invention is a method for extending the coverage and/or improving the capacity of wireless communication networks comprising inserting a Relay Node (RN) in the Radio Access Network (RAN). The relay node relays the signal between the Base Station node (eNB) and the User Equipment (UE). The relay node is wirelessly connected to the base station. The base station uses the same radio access technology (RAT) for the base station to user equipment link and the base station to relay node link. The relay node uses the same radio access technology for the base station to relay node link and the relay node to user equipment link. The relay node is non-transparent and seen as base station by the user equipment.
US08305951B1

A system is provided comprising processor, memory, radio transceiver, and an application. The transceiver receives a first message containing a first source media access control address and a first destination address and associated with a first application type and receives a second message containing a second source address and second destination address and associated with the first application type, wherein the first and second destination addresses are associated with first and second members, respectively, of a physical wireless local area network. The application receives the first message, determines that the first message is associated with the first application type, confirms that the first source address is associated with the first application type, and based on the confirmation sends the first message to the first destination. The application receives the second message, determines the second address is not associated with the first application type, and does not forward the second message.
US08305943B2

Systems and methodologies are described that provide half-duplex communication in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system. Communications in an FDD system may be divided into half-duplex interlaces, wherein a terminal may receive at one time period and transmit at another time period. An access network in an FDD system may then utilize half-duplex communication to communicate with an access terminal that is not capable of transmitting and receiving simultaneously by using a half-duplex interlace. Further, an access network may also utilize full-duplex communication to communicate with an access terminal that is capable of transmitting and receiving simultaneously.
US08305936B2

A method and system for dynamic information exchange on a mesh network in a vehicle. The dynamic information exchange includes determining if a vehicle needs immediate repair. And if so, automatically determining a nearest repair facility and sending a message to the nearest repair facility indicating the vehicle will be arriving shortly. The message also includes a list of parts required to repair the vehicle. The dynamic information exchange on the mesh network also includes information about vehicle movement, including, an accident impact, theft or illness or injury to an operator of the vehicle.
US08305935B2

A method and system for dynamic information exchange on mesh network devices. The dynamic information exchange includes allowing a mesh network device to communicate location information with a network device at pre-determined physical location and invite social contacts of the mesh network device to come to the pre-determined physical location. The network device sends various types of electronic messages (e.g., text message, e-mail, etc.) on a mesh network and/or a non-mesh communications network (e.g., the Internet, etc.) and to social networking sites. The dynamic information exchange also includes exchanging plural activity messages including a security identification authorization message for allowing access to a secure area, a building management message for automatically and dynamically managing heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (HVAC) and/or an emergency location message for providing three-dimensional (3D) emergency location information.
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