US08425401B2
An inflatable gastric band incorporates a fluid channel within an outer surface of the band and an inflatable bladder on a stomach-facing side of the band. The gastric band attaches to a double lumen catheter, which communicates with a dual infusion port. One lumen communicates with the fluid channel and one port, while the other lumen communicates with the inflatable bladder and a second port. Injection of fluid into one chamber of the infusion port expands inflatable bladder, allowing adjustment to the diameter of the stoma. Injection of drugs or therapeutic agents into the second chamber allows the infusion of drugs or agents directly into the abdominal cavity of a gastric band recipient. The inflatable bladder can be continuous or segmented. A segmented bladder reduces pinching and/or folding of the inner surface of the gastric band during expansion/contraction, thereby lessening stomach pinching and/or irritation.
US08425399B2
A focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment gives a comfortable feeling mentally or physically by visually getting rid of an oppressive feeling arisen when a patient is in a tunnel-like enclosed space such as MRI or CT for his/her medical examination.
US08425394B2
The invention relates to a centrifugal separator having a bearing device and a lubricating device comprising a rotatable pump device. The pump device comprises a lubricant inlet to receive lubricant from a lubricant reservoir, and a duct to convey lubricant to an outlet device for delivering at least part of said lubricant in the form of lubricant mist through at least one lubricant outlet. The pump device further comprises a gas inlet and the outlet device comprises a gas outlet, whereby during rotation of the pump device a gas flow is maintained from the gas inlet to the gas outlet bringing along lubricant present in the duct towards the outlet device. The centrifugal separator further comprises a housing which surrounds the bearing device and the lubricating device and which allows lubricant mist to pass from the lubricating device to the bearing device in order to lubricate the latter.
US08425391B2
A foldable package made from one sheet of material where the top portion folds into 3 or more layers. Cutouts in each of the layers line up in a way to make a J-shaped hook. The 3 or more layers fold longitudinally to form a flat tab with a J-shaped hook. The J-shaped hook is then used as a supportive apparatus which allows easy removal of items from a peg.
US08425378B2
An automatic transmission includes a control system for controlling a clutch of the transmission. The control system includes a first variable flow solenoid and a second variable flow solenoid, each in selective fluid communication with the clutch. The first variable force solenoid provides hydraulic fluid within a first pressure range of 0 and 1,000 kPa. The second variable force solenoid provides hydraulic fluid within a second pressure range of 0 and 2,000 kPa. A transmission controller sends an electrical signal having a current between the range of 0 and 1 amp to one of the first and second variable flow solenoids. The pressure output of each of the first and second variable force solenoids is a function of, within their respective first and second pressure ranges, the amplitude of the current of the electrical signal to provide two distinct power gains to the single clutch.
US08425375B2
A driving device for a hybrid vehicle including: an engine; an electric motor; a power combination/distribution mechanism which is disposed between both the engine and the electric motor and one pair of front wheels and rear wheels so as to combine and distribute power generated from the engine and the electric motor; and a transmission mechanism which is disposed between the engine and the other pair of the front wheels and the rear wheels, wherein the power combination/distribution mechanism is a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear; an output shaft of the electric motor is connected to the carrier; and wherein rotational driving ranges in the electric motor are set to each of a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction.
US08425371B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08425369B2
A transmission has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08425368B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, two planetary gear sets, a planetary gear set assembly, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The planetary gear set assembly includes first, second, third and fourth members The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08425351B2
A golf ball comprising a core comprising an inner core center and an outer core layer disposed over the inner core center. The inner core center has a deflection of greater than 0.210 inch under a load of 100 kilograms and the core has a deflection ranging from 0.120 inch to 0.095 inch under a load of 100 kilograms. A mantle layer is disposed over the core and a cover is disposed over them mantle.
US08425340B2
The presented invention relates to a method for determining the effectiveness of a golfer's swing without the requirement of the club head making contact with a golf ball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a measurement and analysis system comprising a first module that attaches to the club head and captures measurement receiver signal strength data during the entire swing time line and may capture motional data on same time line, further first module wirelessly communicates bi-directionally with a second module that is further connected to a user interface device and computational engine where feedback results are derived and conveyed to the golfer. The system provides comprehensive feedback for a swing characterization time line referenced to the spatial domain using receiver signal strength measurements that may be in combination with motional and dynamics orientation measurements.
US08425329B2
The present invention aims at facilitating reconstruction of a party after game over to avoid wastefulness in time required for party construction. Moreover, the present invention aims at hastening user to reconstruct a party thus to improve real thrill of an on-line game. The present invention essentially relates to an on-line game system in which user of the game performs display on a display part so that resurrection points of other characters included within the party can be selected. In the present invention, since resurrection points of other characters included within the party can be also selected and restored, wastefulness in time required for gathering with each other around one location for the purpose of reconstructing a party can be avoided. Thus, it is possible to hasten reconstruction of the party.
US08425317B2
To improve, in a game in which a moving object moves in a direction based on a position designated by a game player or a direction based on a direction designated by a game player, operability for a game player in carrying out an operation of designating a position or a direction so that the moving object moves to a predetermined area. A game screen image display control unit (76) shows a view field area in a game space in a game screen image. A game situation update unit (72) moves the ball object in a direction based on a position designated by a game player. A guide image display control unit (74) shows a guide image in a game screen image, the guide image for indicating an area between at least a part of a first line, extending from the position of the ball object to one of the goal posts, and at least a part of a second line extending from the position of the ball object to the other goal post, or an area between at least a part of an extended line of the first line and at least a part of an extended line of the second line.
US08425316B2
Methods and Systems for improving play of a bonus game on a gaming machine and improving security within a gaming establishment are described. The systems include a gaming machine, which includes an input device that receives an input from a user. The gaming machine further includes a first display device that displays a primary game upon receiving the input, and a second display device including a multilayer display that displays a secondary game. The multilayer display includes a foreground screen and a background screen, with at least a portion of the foreground screen or the background screen being curved and the foreground screen or the background screen displays an image of a wheel. The gaming machine further includes a controller configured to execute the primary and secondary games. The secondary game is played after playing the primary game.
US08425315B2
A gaming machine comprising a external storage device provided with a first game region in which a first game file containing a program and data to realize a first game is stored and a second game region in which a second game file containing a program and data to realize a second game is stored, in which the first game and the second game are selectively played, and an extended device connected to the gaming machine as a physically separate device from the external storage device, wherein the extended device is provided with a determination device that determines whether a predetermined condition is met and a switching device that switches a game played in the gaming machine between the first game and the second game when the predetermined condition is met based on a determination result of the determination device.
US08425314B2
Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device. A computer server having a player verification program and database may also be used.
US08425313B2
Gaming establishment patrons may be categorized and responsive services and features presented whether or not the patrons (or their companions) are known. Gaming and non-gaming activities of a patron may be identified and tracked. Information from various private and/or public databases accessible by a gaming establishment, may be used for patron ranking and to determine offers, goods and services that may be targeted to a patron.
US08425299B2
Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments are taught which include a game comprising, a digital processor, digital storage coupled to the digital processor for storing instructions, a display coupled to the digital processor displaying a first plurality of indicia arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that there are a plurality of paylines through a contiguous plurality of indicia, a user interface coupled to the digital processor to select a subset of the first plurality of indicia taken along at least one column and to initiate a display of a second plurality of indicia which includes the selected subset of the first plurality of indicia on the display, and an award dispenser providing an award which is at least as large as the largest award associated with the plurality of paylines.
US08425291B2
As described herein, mobile device games may be constructed via a website from customizable atomic rule-based units, and also supports the reuse and remixing of game components by a game creator, members of an online community, or by any other user. Once composed, the game can be played via player mobile devices, which send content to a server or a peer device that hosts the game rule statements, and can trigger distribution of new content, rules, or other information.
US08425288B1
A foundation vent assembly for a masonry foundation wall includes a metal frame mounted in an opening registering with a crawl space area. The frame orients and supports a series of spaced vertical grill blocks matching the foundation masonry and integrated with the surrounding mortar joints, thereby providing a continuous appealing exterior appearance. The spaces between the grill blocks register with ventilation slots in the rear of the frame. The ventilations slots are covered by a screen mesh to prevent pest infiltration, and optionally covered with a pivoting damper for selective opening and closing, having a rear wall covering the opening with spaced screen vents. The grill blocks are aligned by tabs on upper and lower flange walls between the vents and provide for extension of the foundation mortar joints thereby providing a consistent overall façade.
US08425285B2
A duct installation structure in which an air conditioning duct for sending warm air or cold air into a vehicle interior of an automobile is attached to a vehicle interior structure member and an outlet grill is attached to an outlet opening end portion of the air conditioning duct. A grill fixing portion to which the outlet grill is to be fixed is integrally molded with a duct main body portion at the outlet opening end portion of the air conditioning duct. The outlet grill is directly fixed to the grill fixing portion. The outlet opening end portion of the air conditioning duct including, at one point near its center in a width direction, a fastening fixing portion that is fastened and fixed to the vehicle interior structure member and including, at its opposite ends in the width direction, a pair of contact portions for coming in contact with the vehicle interior structure member.
US08425281B2
An electric abrasive sharpener for sharpening edges having pairs of interlocking abrasive wheels formed with opposite abrasive helical threads. Each end of the threads respectively has lead-in section and lead-out section having chamfer edge portion to eliminate kickback. The abrasive wheels of the sharpener is driven by a single phase AC motor connected to a motor drive that steps down the rotational speed of the output shaft of the motor to rotate the abrasive wheels with increased torque.
US08425271B2
A method of forming an LED lamp with a desired distribution of phosphor is disclosed. The method includes the steps of mixing a plurality of phosphor particles in an uncured polymer resin for which the viscosity can be controlled in response to temperature to form a substantially uniform suspension of the phosphor particles in the resin. The uncured resin is then placed into a defined position adjacent an LED chip and the temperature of the resin is increased to correspondingly decrease its viscosity but to less than the temperature at which the resin would cure unreasonably quickly. The phosphor particles are encouraged to settle in the lowered-viscosity resin to a desired position with respect to the LED chip, and the temperature of the resin is thereafter increased to the point at which it will cured and solidify.
US08425267B2
The disclosure concerns a self-propelled ship comprising a shipboard electric network, a main electrical supply bus, propulsion means, a motor for driving the propulsion means, and means for supplying electricity to them. According to the disclosure, the supply means comprise a set of electric capacitors having a capacitance sized to provide, at their nominal electrical charge, at least temporarily, both of the nominal supply of the shipboard network and of the electric motor through the bus, and electrical connection means arranged on board the ship for connecting the set of electric capacitors to another electric network located at an arrival and/or departure point of the ship, for the purpose of recharging the capacitors to their nominal charge and to supply the first network during a stop at the arrival and/or departure point.
US08425263B2
An electrical connector for electrically connecting a chip module to a circuit board includes: an insulating body, provided with a plurality of receiving holes; at least one raised portion, raised on an upper surface of the insulating body, for supporting the chip module at positions without contact pads in the chip module; a metal layer, plated on inner walls of the receiving holes and the upper surface of the insulating body; an insulating layer, disposed to cover the metal layer; and a plurality of terminals, respectively correspondingly received in the receiving holes, each terminal having a contact portion exposed above the receiving hole for conducting to the chip module. When the chip module presses the contact portions downwards, the raised portion urges against the chip module, so as to prevent the chip module from damaging the insulating layer and conducting to the metal layer to cause short circuit.
US08425262B1
Attachment structure for attachment of component to article and electric junction box having thereof
The attachment structure for attachment of a component to an article in two postures includes a case as the article and the component. The case includes a pair of guide portions, first locking arms and a second locking arm. The component includes a slide portion between the guide portions, a stopper arranged in an end of the slide portion and formed in a size which is not able to insert stopper between the guide portions. The first locking arm is engaged where the slide portion is inserted in a space between the guide portions from one end and slides toward an other end. The second locking arm is engaged where the slide portion is inserted in the space between the guide portions from the other end in a posture opposite to that in which the slide portion is inserted between the pair of the guide portions from the one end.
US08425250B2
A connector guide member is provided for guiding a connector attached on a circuit board to a mating connector attached on another circuit board when the connector is connected to the mating connector. The connector guide member includes a positioning member that sets a position of the connector relative to the mating connector; an engaging member that locks to the connector while the positioning member positions the connector, and a guiding member that guides a guided portion provided on the mating connector.
US08425247B2
A cassette assembly which holds at least two electrical plugs which typically are connected to digital signal carrying cables. In one example, six of these plugs are positioned within a cassette, and are arranged in two rows of three plugs each for ease in connecting the plugs simultaneously to similarly arranged switch port jacks. A lever pivotally connected to the housing, when rotated, causes the release latch of the plugs held within the cassette to move from a locked to an unlocked position to simultaneously remove all of the plugs from the jacks to which they are connected.
US08425246B1
Various circuit board sockets and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a socket operable to receive a first circuit board. The socket includes a housing and a cover slidedly coupled to the housing. The cover has an opening sized to enable the first circuit board to seat on the housing.
US08425242B2
An audio-visual (“A/V”) system includes a plurality of A/V components, each one of which can be attached to a wall using a bracket or support bar and each one of which wirelessly communicates control signals (including media data) with the other A/V components. Each support bar enables the transfer of power signals to each of the A/V components. Instead of wires, each A/V component includes one or more contact or conductive surfaces that abut corresponding surfaces on the support bar in order to receive power signals.
US08425238B2
The present invention is to provide an electric junction box having an enhanced watertight performance by easily winding a fixing member from a guide portion to a plurality of electric wires. The electric junction box includes a box main body and a tubular guide portion projecting from the box main body and guiding the electric wires to an outside of the box main body. A fixing member is continuously wound from the guide portion to the electric wires after the electric wires are passed through the inside of the guide portion. The guide portion includes a rib projected outward from the guide portion for preventing displacement of the fixing member. The rib is separated from the end portion of the guide portion away from the box main body.
US08425237B2
A socket receptive to insertion of an integrated circuit (IC) printed circuit board (PCB) includes a housing, conductors, and vents. The housing has first and second sides corresponding to a length of the IC PCB. The conductors are mounted within the housing to mate with corresponding conductors of the IC PCB upon insertion of the IC PCB into the housing, and have leads adapted to being soldered to corresponding conductors of a host PCB. The vents are within the housing and are adapted to dissipate heat resulting from soldering the leads to the host PCB to minimize warping of the housing during soldering. The vents are further adapted to compensate for a mismatch between a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the housing and a CTE of the host PCB during soldering, regardless of the CTE of the host PCB.
US08425235B2
A method and system are disclosed for computerized training, monitoring, certification or re-certification of human raters in clinical trials. The invention provides an interactive computerized interview that can be compared scores obtained by human raters to monitor and train clinical raters on a continuing basis in order to reduce rater drift and variance during clinical trials. Remediation can be automatically flagged or provided to improve a deviating rater's performance. Computerized assessment of symptom severity is provided without the need for human clinical raters. The system and method enable screening of prospective patients for inclusion or exclusion from a clinical trial by automatically obtaining computerized ratings of symptom severity.
US08425233B2
A tooth to be used in a jaw tooth model which allows students under dental training to experience oral works and therapeutic practices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tooth to be used for experiencing morphological studies in the formation of an anchor tooth, the formation of a cavity and so on, particularly a tooth to be used in a jaw tooth model provided with standards for evaluating tooth formation, a method of producing the same, and an apparatus for confirming tooth formation to be used in a jaw tooth model which is provided with standards for evaluating tooth formation.
US08425228B2
A dental wedge for use in the inter-proximal space between adjacent teeth is described. The wedge comprises a taper section ending at a tip, and a body section extending to the tapering section at one end. The body section has an inverted V-shaped cross-section, flexing of the sides of the V-shape allows the wedge to adapt to various contours of the inter-proximal space. The mid-portion of the body section is narrower than at least a portion of the wedge either end of the mid-portion.
US08425219B2
A clamping mechanism having: a drive; a shaft connected to the drive; an eccentric hub that is driven to rotate by the shaft; a fixed support structure that supports the eccentric hub such that the eccentric hub can rotate; and a moving support structure that is connected to the eccentric hub such that the moving support structure is driven substantially linearly based on rotational motion of the eccentric hub and serves to clamp an object between the moving support structure and a fixed structure adjacent to the moving support structure. A clamping system is provided having, a single drive; a shaft connected to the drive; and a plurality of clamping mechanisms.
US08425206B2
A pump insert of a vane-type pump having no dedicated housing, the insert being inserted in a gear housing.
US08425205B2
A centrifugal pump has a pump unit and a drive unit. The pump unit includes a volute and an impeller disposed in the volute. The drive unit has a stator and a rotor having a shaft. The volute includes an inlet, an outlet and a chamber in communication with the inlet and outlet. The inlet is coaxial with the chamber. The shaft of the rotor extends into the chamber of the volute and the impeller is attached to and driven by the shaft. The volute further includes a baffle installed in the inlet. The baffle includes a guide plate angled to the axis of the inlet.
US08425202B2
A universal controller (16) for an electric motorized pump (18) having a mechanical switch (19) for turning on and off electrical power to the pump, and method of operation of same. The controller controls output pressure of the pump based on controlling the speed of the pump (for example by applying voltage over a greater portion of a duty cycle), so as to provide an optimal operating pressure derived from an automatically determined value for the pressure at which the mechanical switch opens and disrupts electrical power to the pump. It is manufactured as a standalone assembly, not attached to a pump. It can be operated so as to automatically seek and determine a switch-opening pressure for the switch (19), at which the pump pressure switch opens and so interrupts electrical power to the motor, and to then choose an operating pressure below the switch-opening pressure.
US08425199B2
A paddlewheel apparatus including a paddlewheel axle, spaced apart annular wheel hubs locked in rotation with the axle, and a plurality of elongated paddles supported by the wheel hubs and spaced apart therefrom, the paddles being arranged in a zigzagging pattern around the circumference of the wheel hubs. A method for creating current in a bio-pond raceway using a paddlewheel.
US08425195B2
Apparatus and methods related to wind turbine blades and manufacturing of the blades.
US08425191B2
A propfan assembly includes a plurality of blades that each include an internal cavity containing a noise attenuation structure. Acoustic energy is communicated to the internal cavity through a plurality of openings in the blade surfaces. The cavities include features for attenuating noise energy to reduce generation of noise emitted from the propfan assembly.
US08425190B2
A pressure relief device includes a main body and at least two air control units. The main body has at least one passage therein and two outlets formed at upper and lower ends of the passage. A lid is pivotally connected to each of the outlets. The two air control units are each disposed in the passage close to the lid. An air control device drives the air control units to open/close the lid which is adapted to open/close the passage.
US08425188B2
A diffuser pipe (38) of a compressor diffuser assembly (28) for gas turbine engines defines a depressed local area (58) in the pipe wall of an upstream section of the diffuser pipe (38). The depressed local area (58) is bent into the diffuser pipe (38) to reduce the accumulation of fluid boundary layer and improve stall margin of the diffuser pipe (38).
US08425184B2
A turbine shroud ring sector for a turbomachine supported at the upstream end by a downstream support of a turbine casing with circular sliding including a first stop able to collaborate with a second stop borne by an element of the turbomachine adjacent to the shroud ring in order to immobilize the shroud ring circularly is disclosed. The sector includes, on an end facing the element, a recess able to allow the second stop to pass to come into contact with the first stop. The recess is cut substantially in the form of a rectangle having, at the bottom of the recess, corners that are rounded in a circular arc of radius r. The bottom of the recess has a convex shape tangential to the circular arcs of the rounded corners and with a curvature that evolves between a radius of curvature r where it meets the rounded corners and a radius of R, greater than the radius r, at a point situated between the two rounded corners.
US08425179B2
A power turbine employs a plurality of turbine blades which allows the turbine to regulate pressure and ventilate for a greater ability to generate power without back pressure of the power source. It also relieves much of the stress on the uni-body construction. The vent ports (30) work at various times to transfer pressure naturally from one compartment to another, greatly increasing the balance of pressure throughout the process within the turbine.
US08425174B2
This invention concerns an aircraft cargo loader for lifting cargo and freight onto and off an aircraft or plane by the loader comprises a longitudinal deck platform; a supporting assembly extending under the platform for supporting and moving the deck platform between a raised position and a lowered position; and an adjusting mechanism installed in connection with a front transverse shaft of the supporting assembly for transversally tilting the platform between a first tilt angular position where one of the longitudinal side of the platform is tilted with respect to the other longitudinal side; a neutral angular position; and a second tilt position where the other longitudinal side of the platform is tilted with respect to said one longitudinal side. The loader also comprises an actuator to actuate the rotational movement of the front transverse shaft.
US08425173B2
An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.
US08425165B2
A pallet apparatus includes a pallet base including a caster unit and a mounting plate for mounting a product having a first fastening unit; a fixing member disposed between the product and the mounting plate of the pallet base; and a second fastening unit fixing the fixing member onto the mounting plate. The product can be fixed to or released from the fixing member by fastening or unfastening the first fastening unit. The fixing member includes a slit at a position corresponding to the first fastening unit, the slit allowing the fixing member to be inserted between or detached from the product and the mounting plate without contacting the first fastening unit.
US08425160B2
A drill cuttings storage and conveying system is disclosed herein. The system includes a pressure vessel for containing drill cuttings and comprising a plurality of drill cuttings outlets. The system also includes a drill cuttings conveyor in communication with the outlets for carrying drill cuttings from the vessel. In an inventive method for practicing the invention, drill cuttings are passed into the pressure vessel having the plurality of outlets. The vessel is pressurized. A selected outlet is opened such that a volume of drill cuttings passes from the vessel to the conveyor. The drill cuttings with the conveyor from the outlet.
US08425159B2
A process for transporting a powder material, in which a device is fitted between a supply zone and a zone to be supplied, the device including at least one substantially horizontal conveyor which includes a lower duct and an upper duct being separated by a porous wall, the upper duct provided with a balancing column. The upper duct is filled with powder material and the lower duct is supplied with gas at a pressure that allows the potential fluidization of the powder material in the upper duct. The minimal bubbling speed, which corresponds to the maximum void fraction, is determined and the fluidization pressure is set to a value such that the fluidization speed of the gas is between 0.8 and 1.5 times the minimal bubbling speed, preferably between 0.9 and 1.3 times the minimal bubbling speed.
US08425158B2
A cellular confinement system for soil, sand or other filler material comprises a number of sub-assemblies each made up of a plurality of interconnected open cells of fabric material. The sub-assemblies are stackable one on top of the other to provide a structure having at least one generally vertical side or end wall. The system further comprises sealing means such as one or more skirt portion(s) which are arranged between vertically juxtaposed sub-assemblies in use. The skirt portions substantially prevent or minimize the escape of finer aggregate material from between the stacked sub-assemblies.
US08425154B1
A method of repairing a subsea pipeline has the steps of positioning a pile onto a subsea floor in a location adjacent to the subsea pipeline, cutting a section of pipeline from the subsea pipeline so that the subsea pipeline has a first cut end and a second cut end, moving a length of pipeline to the pile so as to hingedly connect the length of pipeline with the receptacle on the pile, pivoting the length of pipeline about the hinged connection so as to move the length of pipeline from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation, connecting the first end of the length of pipeline to the first cut end, and connecting the second end of the length of pipeline to the second cut end.
US08425132B2
A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.
US08425126B2
A multi-core optical fiber which has a plurality of core portions arranged separately from one another in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, and a cladding portion located around the core portions, the multi-core optical fiber comprises a cylindrical portion of which diameter is even, and a reverse-tapered portion gradually expanding toward at least one edge in the longitudinal direction, wherein a gap between each adjacent ones of the core portions in the reverse-tapered portion is greater than that in the cylindrical portion.
US08425124B2
In a vehicle bearing device hub spindle, annular first to third grinding undercut portions, each being a recess in sectional view, are formed in the same shape, through turning, at a large-rib-surface-side end portion of an inner raceway surface, a large-diameter-portion-side end portion of the inner raceway surface, and a large-diameter-portion-side end portion of an outer peripheral surface of an intermediate-diameter portion.
US08425123B2
A radial needle bearing unit for supporting a shaft, which has an outer sleeve with at least one radially inwardly directed rim, and a cage guiding hearing needles. For sealing purposes, a sealing element is disposed in an annular space delimited by the rim and the cage. The sealing element is an outwardly expanding sealing ring made of a polymer material resting radially outwardly against the inner lateral surface of the outer sleeve and radially inwardly against the lateral surface of the shaft, so that a radial/radial seal is formed. The outer sleeve has, at least in one peripheral location, a holding lug which is formed by stamping or cutting and protrudes the lateral surface of the outer sleeve in a spring-loaded manner.
US08425121B2
This ball (2) rolling bearing (1) comprises an outer ring (7) and an inner ring (8) between which the balls (2) roll around an axis of rolling (X1), spherical separators (3) for the balls (2), and a raceway (14) of revolution about the axis of rolling (X1) and along which the said spherical separators (3) roll. The raceway is a channel section (14) formed in an element (13; 23) secured to or forming part of one of the said rings (7; 8) and having a substantially semi-cyclic cross section of a diameter suited to that of the said spherical separators (3) so as to accommodate the said separators resting in positions in which they are retained laterally and free of contact with the other of the said rings (8; 7). A rolling bearing such as this is particularly well suited to use without lubrication, particularly in the space industry.
US08425119B2
A rotary gas bearing is described that comprises a first part rotatable relative to a second part. The first part comprises a support member and a first portion and a second portion attached to the support member. The first portion comprises a first bearing surface and the second portion comprising a second bearing surface. Both the first portion and the second portion are attached to the support member by screw thread connections. The second part may comprise complimentary bearing surfaces. Epoxy may be used to fix the first and/or second portions to the support member. A method of determining the bearing working gap by measuring gas flow through the bearing is also described.
US08425113B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for temperature measurement that includes performing a first ΔVbe measurement of a first temperature of a diode circuit comprising a transistor and, subsequently, performing a first Vbe measurement of a second temperature of the diode circuit. A temperature difference is calculated between the second temperature and the first temperature. If the temperature difference is not greater than a predetermined amount, a second Vbe measurement of a third temperature of the diode circuit is subsequently performed. If the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined amount, a second ΔVbe measurement of the second temperature of the diode circuit is performed.
US08425111B2
A bridge intelligent cable system with a built-in fiber grating sensor is provided, which is applied in a cable bearing structure such as a cable-stayed bridge, a suspension bridge, and an arch bridge. The system includes an anchor cup, a wire dividing plate, a connecting cylinder, a fiber grating sensor, and a cable body, in which the fiber grating sensor includes a fiber grating strain sensor and a fiber grating temperature sensor, tail fibers of the fiber grating strain sensor and the fiber grating temperature sensor are led out, the packaged fiber grating strain sensor is fixedly connected to an outer-layer steel wire of the connecting cylinder, the packaged fiber grating temperature sensor is suspended on the steel wire of the connecting cylinder, holes are punched in the wire dividing plate, and a preserved steel pipe is buried in advance in the connecting cylinder and the anchor cup.
US08425103B2
A backlight module having a light guide plate with prismatic structures and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a brightness enhancement film, and a light source module. The light guide plate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface has prismatic structures disposed side by side thereon. Each of the prismatic structures includes a first slope and a second slope being adjacent to each other and having an included angle with respect to the first surface, respectively. The included angles are equivalent. The brightness enhancement film includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to each other. The third surface faces the second surface. The fourth surface has prisms disposed side by side thereon along the extending direction of the prismatic structure. The brightness enhancement film has an optimum incident angle associated with an angle of the prism and corresponding to the included angles. The light source module is disposed beside the light guide plate along the extending direction of the prismatic structure.
US08425102B2
An ultra thin lighting element including at least one light source. A lightguide element includes one lightguide layer comprising a plurality of discrete fine optic surface relief structures on at least one portion of at least one surface. Each surface relief structure includes basic structural features on the order of about 10 microns or less in height, and on the order of about 10 microns or less in each lateral dimension. The number, arrangement and size of each surface relief structure and height and lateral dimensions of the structural features of the surface relief structures being varied to provide a desired degree of outcoupling modulation of light incoupled into the light guide element.
US08425084B2
An ornamental fixture having a support structure and a plurality of ornaments mounted to the support structure in a substantially completely spherical arrangement of ornaments. The ornaments may be glass crystal ornaments, for example, octagonal glass crystals, and a light may be mounted within the fixture. The support structure may include an upper support ring and at least one lower support ring vertically spaced from the upper support ring and a plurality of arcuate sector assemblies removably mounted to the upper support ring and the at least one lower support ring. The sector assemblies retain the ornaments to provide a substantially continuous 360-degree array of ornaments. The sector assemblies can also be disassembled from the support structure for maintenance, servicing, relamping, and cleaning of the fixture. For example, the disassembled components of the fixture may be washed in a dishwasher without damaging the ornaments or the support structure.
US08425074B2
A tool capable of turning on/off a light automatically comprises a body including a fitting area in response to a fitted tool and a receiving groove disposed therein to communicate with a font end thereof; a light module installed in the receiving groove and including at least one bulb and a cell set, a first electrode of the cell set connecting with a first connecting leg of the bulb, and a second electrode of the cell set connecting contacting with the fitting area of the body, and when the fitting area of the body is fitted to a fitted tool, a second connecting leg of the bulb conducting to the second electrode of the cell set.
US08425070B2
A light unit includes a bottom cover, a light source unit, an optical sheet unit on the bottom cover, and a reflective support member. The reflective support member includes a reflection plate for reflecting light and a guide pin for supporting the optical sheet unit in the bottom cover.
US08425037B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses for intraocular imaging system are disclosed comprising an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The OCT system has an imaging range that may enable substantial portions of an eye to be imaged. The OCT system may be coupled to an operation microscope, such that, for example, a surgeon can visualize ocular structures like the human crystalline lens and other ocular structures such as the cornea and/or vitreous while surgical instruments are in the field of view.
US08425030B2
An image forming method includes: applying an ink composition including a pigment having a volume average particle diameter of 70 nm to 130 nm, a polymerizable compound, and water, onto a recording medium using an inkjet under a condition that a maximum application amount of the ink composition is 15 ml/m2 or less; applying, onto the recording medium, a treatment liquid including an aggregating agent that is capable of aggregating components in the ink composition; removing at least a part of the water contained in the ink composition that has been applied onto the recording medium, under a drying condition such that 60% by mass to 80% by mass of the water contained in the ink composition applied at the maximum application amount is removed, thereby performing drying; and irradiating, with an active energy ray, the ink composition from which water has been removed, thereby performing polymerization.
US08425026B2
A method for manufacturing an electromechanical transducer film including a lower electrode and plural layers of a sol-gel solution film formed on the lower electrode by an inkjet method, the method including the steps of a) modifying a surface of the lower electrode, b) forming a first sol-gel solution film on the surface of the lower electrode by ejecting droplets of a sol-gel solution to the surface of the lower electrode, and c) forming a second sol-gel solution film on the first sol-gel solution film by ejecting droplets of the sol-gel solution to a surface of the first sol-gel solution film. Adjacent dots formed on the surface of the lower electrode by the droplets ejected in step b) overlap each other. Adjacent dots formed on the surface of the first sol-gel solution film by the droplets ejected in step c) do not overlap each other.
US08425023B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a driving signal generating section, a drive control section, and a sealing section. The liquid ejecting head includes a continuous liquid path and a pressure generating section. The liquid path contains a pressure space and a nozzle opening. The driving signal generating section generates a driving signal containing a driving pulse that drives the pressure generating section. The driving pulse includes a first pulse for causing discharge of droplets and a second pulse that is generated to the pressure generating section at a generation interval T set in a range represented by the following expression: (n−1/4)Tc
US08425022B2
An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, includes an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.
US08425009B2
A liquid ejecting head unit includes a head body which discharges liquid droplets; a wiring substrate which stands in a predetermined direction different from the discharging direction of the liquid from the head body in order to supply a driving signal, which drives the head body, to the head body; and a liquid flow channel unit which is disposed at a position overlapping with the wiring substrate in the predetermined direction, is integrally combined with the head body so that the flow channel is in direct communication with the head body, and includes a pressure chamber having a damper function of which at least a portion of wall surface is formed of a film member.
US08424999B2
A recording apparatus includes: a recording head which conducts recording onto a printing medium; a supporter which supports the recording head at a recording position; and a vibration damper interposed between the recording head and the supporter. The recording head includes a recording surface facing a printing medium and a gradient inclined relative to the recording surface. The gradient is provided at an end of the recording surface. The vibration damper abuts: at least one of the recording surface and a surface parallel to the recording surface of the recording head; and the gradient.
US08424990B2
An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to perform printing on a printing sheet by use of ink. The inkjet printer includes: a heater configured to heat the ink; a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the ink; and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power to be supplied to the heater and to control the inkjet head. In a case where the measured value of the ink temperature measured by the thermometer is in a range of a first reference temperature inclusive to a second reference temperature exclusive, the controller calculates a coverage rate of a page to be printed, and accordingly changes the amount of electric power to be supplied to the heater depending on the coverage rate thus calculated.
US08424986B2
An ink delivery system for a printer. In one embodiment, the system includes an ink supply that contains ink to be delivered to a printhead of the printer and an ink buffer having a capacity that is smaller than a capacity of the ink supply, the ink buffer being configured to be repeatedly filled with ink from the ink supply and to deliver that ink to the printhead.
US08424981B1
The additional traction accessory for use with a continuous track includes a U-shaped member in which one side is more elevated than the opposing side. The U-shaped member has an overall length greater than the overall width of the continuous track that the accessory is installed upon. The accessory acts as a larger cleat when compared to a cleat of a stuck continuous track. A first embodiment employs a pair of hooks and a ratcheting means that are designed to attach the accessory onto the continuous track between two cleats on a temporary basis in order to improve the traction of a continuous track by the addition of a larger cleat onto a continuous track that is stuck in a muddy area or area having loose soil. A second embodiment employs a slideable hook that locks at different lengths via bolting means to accommodate different continuous track widths.
US08424980B2
A track shoe for a track-type vehicle. The track shoe includes a base plate and a grouser projecting away from the base plate. A capping surface structure of substantially horseshoe shaped cross-section is disposed across a distal portion of the grouser. The capping surface structure covers portions of a distal edge surface and adjacent lateral surfaces. The capping surface structure is formed from an material characterized by enhanced wear resistance relative to portions of the grouser underlying the capping surface structure.
US08424970B2
A vehicle seat reclining device comprises an internal gear formed on a gear plate secured to a lower arm, an external gear formed on an upper arm to be meshed with the internal gear and being fewer by at least one tooth than the internal gear, wedge members frictionally engageable with, and disengageable therefrom, the gear plate or the upper arm, a spring arranged between the wedge members and urging the wedge members in a direction for friction engagement with either the gear plate or the upper arm, a drive shaft for pushing and rotating either one of the wedge members in a direction to release the friction engagement, and a ring member arranged between either one of the gear plate and the upper arm and the wedge members for rotating together with the wedge members relative to the other of the gear plate and the upper arm during rotation of the drive shaft.
US08424965B2
A clutch mechanism in which a pressure receiving member is attached to two side frames of a seat back of a vehicle seat so as to be rotatable about rotation axes extending in a widthwise direction and in which when the pressure receiving member is rotated by a pressing load of an passenger sitting on the vehicle seat, the pressing load is selectively transmitted to an operation bracket pivotally connected to the rotation axes such that the operation bracket is rotated in the same direction as the pressure receiving member. When the pressure receiving member receives a quick pressing load, the operation bracket rotates while being mechanically integrated with the pressure receiving member, so that the pressing load can be transmitted to the operation bracket. When the pressure receiving member receives a slow pressing load, the operation bracket does not rotate, and only the pressure receiving member rotates, so that the transmission of the pressing load can be blocked.
US08424964B2
A child safety seat includes a base, a seat body, a dampening member, and a non-planar impactor. The seat body is slidably secured to the base and is movable between a pre-collision position and a post-collision position. The dampening member is positioned between the base and the seat body. The non-planar impactor is secured to the seat body and is positioned to engage the dampening member. The non-planar impactor and the dampening member together provide a progressive dampening force against movement of the seat body from the pre-collision position to the post-collision position.
US08424963B2
An angle adjusting device for a bicycle saddle is disclosed. The device includes a frame coupling block, which is coupled at a lower end thereof to an upper portion of a height adjustment unit. A saddle coupling post is coupled at a lower end thereof to an upper end of the frame coupling block and is coupled at an upper end thereof to the saddle, with a through hole formed in the upper portion of the saddle coupling post. An angle fixing unit includes a pair of fan-shaped plates attached to left and right sides of the frame coupling block, and a pair of rectangular plates coupling front and rear edges of the fan-shaped plates to each other. An angle adjusting unit is coupled to the saddle coupling post, and is detachable from holes in the angle fixing unit to control the rotation of the saddle coupling post.
US08424956B2
A wheel cover or panel assembly for use on a long haul truck is provided. These wheel covers can provide enhanced aerodynamic effects to a truck or other vehicle thereby reducing wind drag and enhancing fuel efficiency. Still further, the wheel covers can articulate or turn along with the steering by design.
US08424955B2
A sliding door for a vehicle comprises a guide rail and a sliding carriage which is longitudinally movably mounted on the guide rail and which is connected with the vehicle body by a multiple joint. The sliding door furthermore comprises a centering element at its end facing away from the multiple joint. To improve such sliding door, the centering element includes a centering surface which rests against the counter surface integral with the body, when the sliding door is closed.
US08424946B2
An automotive vehicle including a removable table and chair set is described. The set is constructed from a removable front passenger seat configured to releasably engage a seat mounting member secured to the vehicle and includes at least two legs configured to support the front passenger seat when positioned on a surface outside of the vehicle. A removable structural component of the vehicle is configured to releasably engage the vehicle and includes at least two extendable leg elements configured to support the structural component as a table when positioned on a surface outside of the vehicle. A removable rear passenger seat is configured to releasably engage a seat mounting member secured to the vehicle and includes at least two legs configured to support the rear passenger seat when positioned on a surface outside of the vehicle.
US08424945B2
The connecting structure of a center filler and a quarter member of a vehicle may include a lateral junction portion formed at a front end of the quarter member, the lateral junction portion coupling with one side surface of the center filler in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The connection structure may further include a longitudinal coupling portion formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle coupled with an outer quarter member of the quarter member, a trim coupling portion substantially the same length as the longitudinal coupling portion coupled with trim, and a connection portion connecting the longitudinal coupling portion and the trim coupling portion to each other, wherein the lateral junction portion extends at a front end of the longitudinal coupling portion, and the lateral junction portion is bent substantially perpendicular to contact to the center filler.
US08424943B2
A magnetic retrieval device includes a magnet and a helical thread fixed relative to the magnet. The helical thread is screwed onto a proximal end of a grip of a golf club. The golf club can be used by a golfer to retrieve a laying golf club already on a playing surface without the need for the golfer to bend over or bend down. The helical thread may include a pointed distal end and a cutting slot or a drill distal end. A body may surround the magnet, where the body includes a base and a top. The top may include an elastomeric material such as rubber. A metallic ball marker may be magnetically attached to the body.
US08424934B2
An electromechanically actuated safety lock mechanism particularly suited for elevator hall doors, dumb waiters, and similar lift mechanisms and other applications. A door lock and switch comprises a fixed contact member that is attached to a movable door and a movable locking mechanism attached to a door jamb or second moving door. The locking mechanism may include an involute gear and star wheel, a pawl constrained by a torsion spring and an electromechanical device for actuating the pawl.
US08424929B2
A sliding panic bar is provided with a case which includes a configuration for electrical installation and rails for the frames of the self-locking latch, the release of which is produced by acting on a locking lever that centralizes different actuation situations. The activation by pressure of the movable half-bar causes the tilting of operating lever rocker arms which displace the shuttles, synchronous shaft and retaining springs. The system includes a mechanism for adjusting the width of the door, adjustment for use by physically handicapped people, as well as for vertical spagnolette systems, with both vertical and horizontal latch. The locks of the system are adjustable for absorbing possible expansions.
US08424928B2
A door handle assembly includes a lock casing having an inner cam and an outer cam and a latch bolt, an indoor handle device attached to an inner portion of the lock casing with an actuating device and having a handgrip for being depressed to actuate an actuating bolt and the inner cam to operate the latch bolt, and an outdoor handle device attached to an outer portion of the lock casing with another actuating device and having another handgrip for being pulled to actuate another actuating bolt and the outer cam to operate the latch bolt, the outdoor handle device and indoor handle device are replaceable with each other when the actuating devices are disposed up-side-down.
US08424927B2
A coupling structure couples first and second casing parts together. The first casing part is formed with a detachment hole. The coupling structure includes one resilient engaging hook projecting from the first casing part and a coupling member disposed between the first and second casing parts and formed with first and second engaging grooves. The resilient engaging hook hooks the first engaging groove in a right direction. The coupling member has a pushing element tending toward the detachment hole. One rigid engaging hook projects from the second casing part and engaging the second engaging groove in a left direction. Manually leftwise movement of the pushing element in the left direction results in simultaneous bending of the resilient engaging hook in the left direction so as to disengage the rigid engaging hook from the second engaging groove, thereby permitting removal of the second casing part from the first casing part.
US08424924B2
A thermoplastic pipe distribution system is assembled by electromagnetic bond welding of a thermoplastic pipe to a thermoplastic fusion pipe joint assembly comprising a threaded fusion pipe ring, a threaded fusion pipe socket, and a susceptor layer between the fusion pipe ring and the fusion pipe socket. The fusion pipe ring is screwed into the fusion pipe socket, and the pipe is inserted into the fusion pipe ring. An induction coil is placed around the fusion pipe socket. Radiated electromagnetic energy heats the susceptor layer to melt at least a portion of the susceptor layer, at least a portion of the fusion pipe ring, at least a portion of the fusion pipe socket, and at least a portion of the pipe. The fusion pipe ring is further screwed in to compress the molten material. The joint is then cooled to solidify the molten material.
US08424919B2
A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.
US08424916B2
Methods for creating customized children's storybooks with fingerprint art using fingerprint-ready image templates stored in association with a software application running on a standard home computer system. The systems and methods include the use of preconfigured templates and prompted discussions that elicit responses from the child to create the text for the storybook. Initially, the appropriate size of the child's fingerprint is determined and the storybook scenes are scaled to fit that size. Fingerprint-ready image templates are used to facilitate the creation of fingerprint art. An image template is formed by including within it at least one fingerprint-sized area. A completed image is formed by inserting a fingerprint into the fingerprint-sized area, and if desired, coloring the image or drawing a scene around the image. In one technique, an entire scene is produced including one or more fingerprint-ready image template(s). When the storybook scenes are completed the software application compiles the book pages and prints the same. The child then personalizes the scene images with their fingerprint and the storybook is bound for repeated reading.
US08424906B2
Disclosed is a passenger protection device provided with a side curtain airbag which expands in the form of a curtain, along the inner surface of a side portion of a vehicle. A side curtain airbag (31) is comprised of a gas introduction chamber (40) which introduces gas; and lower expansion portions (51, 52) which are expanded in the lower portion of the gas introduction chamber by the gas introduced from the gas introduction chamber. The gas introduction chamber has a plurality of large upper expansion portions (42, 43, 44) which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, so as to be respectively positioned in a plurality of pillars (15, 16, 17). The large upper expansion portions expand more widely than small expansion portions (45, 46), i.e., other portions of the gas introduction chamber, in the width direction of a vehicle.
US08424905B2
The interior trim assembly for a motor vehicle is of the type comprising a framework and a panel for concealing an airbag comprising a flap a peripheral region surrounding the flap and attached to the framework, a hinge-forming strip having a flap portion attached to the flap, a framework portion attached to the framework, and a hinge portion extending between the flap portion and the framework portion. The region of the hinge portion adjacent to the framework portion may be covered by a protecting element and the region of the hinge portion adjacent to the flap region is exposed.
US08424900B2
Stroller trays and methods of mounting the same on strollers are disclosed. An example stroller tray mates with a tray mount mounted to the stroller frame proximate a seat. The example tray includes a tray portion and an arm. The tray portion is cantilevered on the arm to extend in front of or over a portion of the seat. When mounted to the stroller, the stroller tray does not extend completely from one side of the stroller frame to the other to facilitate egress to the stroller seat.
US08424895B1
A portable auxiliary jackstand for a two-wheeled vehicle which provides the vehicle with additional stability when parked is disclosed. The stand comprises a ratchet or detent mechanism which provides a means for adjusting and locking its length. An upper end accommodates various interchangeable adapters intended to engage the frame, foot peg or other structural member of the vehicle. A lower end accommodates various interchangeable feet designed to provide the necessary friction against the prevailing texture of the ground surface. The stand can be applied to either side of the vehicle and is designed to allow the user to select the configuration which is best suited to the conditions of the parking space ground.
US08424893B2
A shock absorption system for a bicycle that is simple, flexible and compatible with the many sections of a bicycle where adequate shock absorption is sought. The shock absorption properties are provided through a C-shaped compliant structure. C-shaped compliant structure may be removable such that it may be installed and removed as per the desire of the end user of the bicycle for post market modification and personalization purposes.
US08424888B2
Systems and methods for weight transfer in a vehicle are provided. One system includes a plurality of springs and a plurality of movable spring seats configured to adjust a length of the plurality of springs. Additionally, an electromechanical actuator is provide that is connected to the plurality of movable springs and configured to move the movable spring seats to adjust the length of the plurality of springs. Further, a controller is provided that is coupled to the electromechanical actuator to control the electromechanical actuator to adjust the length of the plurality of springs.
US08424887B1
A height-adjustable industrial caster wheel includes a mounting plate, a swivel assembly that swivels relative to the mounting plate, and a spring housing that is movable relative to the swivel assembly. The mounting plate or the spring housing is secured to the swivel assembly, such that the relative position of the swivel assembly and either the mounting plate or the spring housing can be controllably altered to change the overall height of the height-adjustable industrial caster wheel. If needed, a locking mechanism can be used to maintain the relative position between the swivel assembly and the mounting plate or the spring housing. The height-adjustable industrial caster wheel can be adjusted by accessing the height-adjustable industrial caster wheel from above, eliminating the need to raise the pallet truck away from the floor to be able to access and adjust the height-adjustable industrial caster wheel.
US08424884B1
A device for transporting, lifting and positioning a panel upon a wall comprises a main frame and a movable carriage which slides up and down the main frame. The carriage is pulled along the main frame by a cable which runs from the bottom of the movable carriage through a pulley at the top of the main frame and to a winch mounted to the main frame. A construction panel is placed on a frontal lip of the movable carriage at a floor level. The construction panel is then moved to a desired location by tilting the main frame onto wheels supported on an axle framework at the bottom of the main frame. The main frame may then be tilted toward a vertical surface lifting the wheels free of the ground and the device rested on rollers supported on spindles affixed to the lower cross members of the mainframe. The panel may then be moved laterally along the vertical surface and/or lifted into an elevated position while the device remains biased against the vertical surface as the center of gravity of the device shifts forward of the rollers when leaned against the vertical surface.
US08424882B2
A truck according to the present invention includes a hanger dimensioned for insertion of axles upon which wheels are attached. The truck may be configured for attachment to a skateboard. The hanger includes a cutout portion including a key cavity into which a key is positioned. Bushings and a kingpin are also installed onto the hanger. The key when positioned within the key cavity of the hanger confines the pivot of the hanger on a centerline which bisects the hanger. The key may include extending cylindrical tabs which may allow for the hanger to freely swivel about the kingpin passing therethrough without the use of bearing surfaces. The bushings are positioned on the kingpin and on opposite sides of the key and key cavity of the hanger so as to urge the hanger to its center position.
US08424873B2
An improved rotator/translator apparatus includes a set of drive rolls driven by a pair of rotator discs. Idler rolls are positioned above each drive roll and spring loaded to provide the required normal force to drive sheets in any direction required. A pair of magnetic couplings couple the drive rolls with the idler rolls. The magnetic couplings are spaced with about a 5 mm gap to allow sheets to pass therethrough. The couplings allow the idlers and the drive rolls to stay aligned. Thus, driving media, registering media and rotating media in a transport is obtained, but with no relative motion or slip between the drive rolls/idler rolls and the media and a larger nip surface area, thereby eliminating marking of certain media.
US08424871B2
A medium mounting device includes a medium mounting portion for placing a medium in a stacked state in a first direction, and a medium regulating portion arranged to be rotatable relative to the medium mounting portion. The medium regulating portion is arranged to regulate an edge portion of the medium when the medium regulating portion is in a rising state relative to the medium mounting portion. The medium regulating portion in the rising state is arranged to abut against the medium to rotate and retreat when the medium is taken out in a second direction different from the first direction.
US08424864B2
A method and apparatus are provided for processing sets of sheets. The apparatus includes a frame, a hopper for moving a stack of sheets, a pre-singulator for separating a portion of a sheet from the stack, a sheet peeler for peeling part of a pre-singulated sheet from the stack, a sheet picker for gathering peeled sheets into a set, and a sheet discharger for clearing the set of sheets. The sheet peeler may include at least one rotating drum. The sheet picker may include one or more augers.
US08424859B2
A creasing apparatus forming a crease on sheets one by one includes: a first member having a linear convex blade formed in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; a second member having a concave blade being paired with the convex blade; and a drive unit that moves the first and second members so as to cause the convex blade and the concave blade to form a crease on a sheet stopped at a predetermined position. The first member forms the convex blade with first comb and second comb and the second member forms the concave blade with third comb and fourth comb that advance and retract relative to each other. The drive unit selects advanced and retracted positions of the first comb and second comb and advanced and retracted positions of the third comb and fourth comb so as to perform a creasing process or a perforating process.
US08424858B2
A flexible fixture system for a CNC machine is coupled to a base fixture. The flexible fixture includes quick connects that connect with the base fixture in order to allow hydraulic fluid, air, and water to be communicated from the base fixture to the flexible fixture system. The flexible fixture system includes features operable to hold a workpiece within the CNC machine. The flexible fixture system is modular and may be swapped out for a different flexible fixture in order to allow other operations to be performed on the workpiece.
US08424840B2
The invention relates to a valve cartridge for a solenoid valve having a capsule, a magnetic armature that is movably guided within the capsule, a valve insert inserted into the capsule at a first end, and a valve body, which is pressed into a second end of the valve insert, and having a main valve seat. The magnetic armature, moved by a generated magnetic force, moves a tappet that is guided within the valve insert. The tappet has a locking element which includes a sealing element which plunges into the main valve seat of the valve body in a sealing manner for carrying out a sealing function, and an associated solenoid valve. According to the invention, the valve insert is configured as a slotted bushing, having a collar integrated onto the second end of the valve insert in order to increase an outer diameter and a shape stability of the valve insert.
US08424838B2
The present invention utilizes operation of a valve actuator to generate electrical power. A portion of the mechanical energy generated by operation of a valve actuator is converted to electrical energy. The mechanical energy may be converted to electrical energy at the same time as the valve actuator is operating or the mechanical energy may be stored for later conversion. A valve actuator may be operated manually, electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. Generated electrical energy may also be stored.
US08424837B2
Shut-off valve of a fluid having a valve body (20), an obturator (5) housed in the valve body and rotatable around a rotation axis (X), and a command organ (2) connected to the obturator (5) by means of a command stem (12) which extends in an aperture made in a cylindrical projection (21) of the valve body (20).
US08424816B1
A bag rack and packing system for a plastic grocery bag having a pair of handles has a base to which is connected (1) a wire-arm rack having a reservoir bag holder for plastic bags and two wire-arms and (2) a three-sided support having two side supports connected to an intermediate back support, with each of the side supports having a forward upper tab close to the wire-arm rack, an intermediate top and then a rearward edge. The wire-arm rack and three-sided support have open faces that face each other so that the three-sided support temporarily creates a defined physical frame for a first plastic grocery bag when its handles are secured over the forward upper tabs of the two side supports. The forward upper tabs help separate an individual bag from a reservoir of bags and the individual bag may remain attached to, or be detached from, the reservoir of bags as it is being filled. A rearward edge of the sides of the three-sided support is beveled to make removal of a filled bag quick and efficient.
US08424815B2
A bag support is provided for supporting a pliable bag. The bag support includes a first bar extending along a first axis and a second bar extending along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis. A first support has a first end operatively connected to the first bar and a second end operatively connected to the second bar. A first bag retainer extends from the first bar. The first bag retainer has first and second ends. A second bag retainer extends from the second bar. The second bag retainer has first and second ends.
US08424810B1
Concepts and technologies described herein provide for a low noise aircraft wing slat system. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, a cove-filled wing slat is used in conjunction with a moveable panel rotatably attached to the wing slat to provide a high lift system. The moveable panel rotates upward against the rear surface of the slat during deployment of the slat, and rotates downward to bridge a gap width between the stowed slat and the lower wing surface, completing the continuous outer mold line shape of the wing, when the cove-filled slat is retracted to the stowed position.
US08424807B2
An aircraft wing assembly comprising: a spar; a fuel tank; a track container which is attached to the spar and extends into the fuel tank; a track which extends through the spar and into the track container; and a high-lift device, such as a slat or flap, carried by the track. The track container comprises a stiffening element encased in an elastomeric sheath. The track container is manufactured by placing a stiffening element and elastomeric material together in a mould; and compressing and heating them to cure and shape the elastomeric material.
US08424803B2
The present invention provides an aircraft floor of an aircraft consisting of a number of base plates and a number of longitudinal supports and provides an aircraft with a floor of this type. The aircraft floor has transverse joints for partitioning the floor into a plurality of segments transversely to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, the respective segment consisting of a number of longitudinal support elements, partitioned by the transverse joints, of the longitudinal supports and of a number of base plate elements partitioned by the transverse joints, of the base plates and the segments being coupled together such that they have exclusively a translatory degree of freedom with respect to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.
US08424801B2
A support assembly for deployment and retraction of an aero surface from an aircraft is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide track, a primary support arm having one end coupled to a carriage mounted on the track such that the primary support arm is rotatable relative to the carriage about multiple axes, and a control arm having one end coupled to the primary support arm and a second end pivotably attachable to a fixed support forming part of the structure of the aircraft. The assembly being configured such that, when the carriage is driven along the guide track, the control arm causes the primary support arm to pivot about said multiple axes to deploy and/or retract an aero surface pivotally attached to an opposite end of the primary support member along an arcuate path.
US08424791B2
A reel assembly comprises a spool member configured to rotate about a spooling axis to wind or unwind a linear material. The spool member is also configured to rotate about a reciprocation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the spooling axis. A housing substantially encloses the spool member and comprises first and second housing portions that are rotatable with respect to one another about the reciprocation axis. The first housing portion defines an aperture configured to receive the linear material therethrough. A rotating member is configured to rotate when the spool member rotates about the spooling axis. The rotating member is mechanically linked with respect to the first housing portion via one or more intervening components, such that each revolution of the rotating member produces one cycle of relative reciprocating rotation between the spool member and the first housing portion about the reciprocation axis.
US08424784B1
Methods for creating a proppant of a specific size from a slurry extracted from a fractured hydrocarbon well is provided, including the steps of separating water from the slurry, resulting in a solid stream and a liquid stream; mixing the slurry stream with particulate, resulting in a feed material; fusing proppant material in the feed material; quenching the fused proppant material; breaking the fused proppant material; sizing the broken material for the specific size; and mixing broken material that is not of the specific size with the feed material. A system for performing the method is also described.
US08424783B2
The present invention provides a wall mounted shower head including a casing body set, a water conduit set and a water outlet plate. The water conduit set is disposed inside the casing body set, wherein upper section of the water conduit set is joined to a first joining base of the water outlet plate and bottom section of the water conduit set is joined to a second joining base of the casing body set. With a two-stage press control button disposed on the water outlet plate, users can control shower water by controlling actuation of an upper control shaft, a lower control shaft and a spring of the water conduit set. The structure provides a convenient water control operation for users in shower.
US08424782B1
An aerosol transport system. The aerosol transport system comprising a tube and having a plurality of windings that permit the flow of aerosols, including particles, there-through so as to compensate for gravity and/or centrifugal forces and reduce the settling of particles within said tube.
US08424780B2
A spray gun is disclosed, including components and kits of components thereof, comprising a body comprising an attachment point for a compatible liquid reservoir and an adapter. The adapter comprises, at a first end, a non-threaded connection for attachment to a connector of a compatible liquid reservoir, the adapter being attached at a second end to the attachment point on the body such that the adapter remains attached to the body upon removal of a compatible liquid reservoir from the non-threaded connection.
US08424775B2
A two-dimensional code having a rectangular region is provided. In the rectangular region, there are code blocks composed of a plurality of cells, a first specific pattern specifying the positions of the cells, and a second specific pattern separating the code blocks from a background of the code. The first specific pattern is located at a specified corner of the rectangular region. The second specific pattern is located along one or more of first borders along which the first specific pattern is located, the first borders being part of the borders of the rectangular region. The code blocks include error-correction code blocks, which are located along second borders which are different from a border of the borders along which the second specific pattern is located. The second borders are part of the borders. Compressed data code blocks are also arranged in the same way as the error-correction code blocks.
US08424765B2
This invention relates to a novel wireless barcode MEMS canary which can be embedded in electronic systems and periodically monitored to measure degradation over a period of time. The material used to print the bars of the barcode is selected such that it is capable of changing one or more of its properties in response to a change in ambient conditions. Means are provided for reading out said change in properties such that when an interrogator is brought into proximity to the sensor, the change in properties can be detected. By establishing the relationship between the healthy state of the barcode and its degradation to that of the electronic system and the components, the residual life of the system can be established and preventive measures taken before failure.
US08424763B2
A method of forming and using an auto-calibration circuit or label on a test sensor includes providing a label or circuit. The label or circuit includes a first layer, a second layer and a lamination portion. The second layer is located between the first layer and the lamination portion. The first layer includes polymeric material. The second layer includes conductive material. The label or circuit is applied to the test sensor via the lamination portion. After applying the label or circuit to the test sensor, portions of the second layer are ablated using a laser to form an auto-calibration pattern on the label or circuit.
US08424757B2
A contactless transaction adaptor for use with a mobile communicator, including a thin SIM card signal interceptor portion arranged for insertion intermediate an existing SIM card, having SIM card-based contacts, and communicator based SIM card contacts located in a SIM card recess formed in the communicator, the interceptor portion having contacts for communication with the communicator-based SIM card contacts and contacts for communication with the SIM card-based contacts, a contactless communication circuit bearing portion arranged for insertion in the communicator, a contactless antenna and a contactless communication circuit both mounted onto the circuit bearing portion, a flexible connector portion interconnecting the interceptor portion and the circuit bearing portion, an electrical path extending along the connector portion between the contacts of the interceptor portion and the contactless communication circuit, and an electrical path extending along the circuit bearing portion between the antenna and the contactless communication circuit.
US08424755B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records in the form of user cards. The machine includes a printer for printing paper records of transactions conducted at the machine. The printer receives paper from a shared paper path. The shared paper path can be supplied by a first paper supply and a second paper supply. A controller is operative to switch between the paper supplies in providing paper to the printer. Based on signals received from paper sensors in the machine, the controller can determine whether the first paper supply has reached a predetermined low level. In response to a low level determination, the controller acts to cause a paper drive to begin moving paper from the second paper supply to the shared paper path and then to the printer.
US08424747B2
A method for joining two ceramic parts, or a ceramic part and a metal part, and the joint formed thereby. The method provides two or more parts, a braze consisting of a mixture of copper oxide and silver, a diffusion barrier, and then heats the braze for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form the braze into a bond holding the two or more parts together. The diffusion barrier is an oxidizable metal that forms either a homogeneous component of the braze, a heterogeneous component of the braze, a separate layer bordering the braze, or combinations thereof. The oxidizable metal is selected from the group Al, Mg, Cr, Si, Ni, Co, Mn, Ti, Zr, Hf, Pt, Pd, Au, lanthanides, and combinations thereof.
US08424743B2
A solder return apparatus for a wave solder machine that collects solder exiting a nozzle and returns the solder to a solder reservoir while limiting solder from splashing onto electronic substrates (e.g., printed circuit boards), components of the wave solder machine, and/or the like. The apparatus includes a mounting section that may be placed over an upper surface of the nozzle and a collection section that collects the solder and returns the solder to the solder reservoir. The collection section includes a trough having an opening in a bottom wall of the trough and a flow control member that can adjust a quantity of solder exiting the trough as well as the velocity of the solder exiting the trough. One or more deflection plates can be mounted to extend from the trough into solder in the solder reservoir to further limit splashing solder from reaching unintended locations.
US08424739B2
A surgical stapling device is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, an endoscopic body portion and a tool assembly. The tool assembly is rotatably and pivotally supported on a distal end of the endoscopic body portion. A tool assembly rotation mechanism is provided which includes a rotation knob, a substantially rigid tube and a flexible member interconnecting the rigid tube to the tool assembly. The substantially rigid tube translates rotation of the rotation knob to rotation of the flexible member and provides a channel for passage of other components of the surgical stapling device.
US08424731B2
A child carrier for carrying a child in a standing position on the back of the wearer is disclosed. The child carrier may have a shoulder harness having a first loop of material adapted to encircle a left shoulder area of a child carrier wearer, and a second loop of material adapted to encircle a right shoulder area of the wearer. The first loop of material and the second loop of material may be connected in an upper back region of the wearer. First and second handholds may be provided at the shoulder area of the first and second loops of material. The child carrier may have positions to attach accessories such as a water bottle, small enclosure for storage, and the like. In a first embodiment, a rigid or semi-rigid elongated platform having a width adapted to permit a child to stand on the platform may be suspended from the back of the shoulder harness by flexible straps, where the platform may be compact folding to allow the entire child carrier to be stored in a small pouch. In a second embodiment, individual stirrups for the child's feet may be suspended from the back of the shoulder harness.
US08424730B2
A pack with an integrated seat, including a base member comprising oppositely disposed first and second edges, a fixed leg member connected to the first edge, a hinged leg member pivotally connected to the second edge, a rigid seat member pivotally connected to the fixed leg member and arranged to be supported by the fixed leg member and the hinged leg member when the pack is arranged in a seating position, a shell arranged to at least partially enclose a volume defined by the fixed leg member, the hinged leg member, and the base member.
US08424727B2
A material dispensing assembly (100) and method of operation is disclosed for converting a portable cartridge dispensing tool to a bag-type dispensing tool. The assembly comprises a single piece piston (110) for advancing material though a material housing (104), the single piece piston (110) includes a substantially square-shaped receptacle (140). The assembly further comprises a square shaped drive rack (112) for attaching to the piston (110) at the substantially square-shaped receptacle (140) at a connection end (128). The drive rack (112) further comprises a plurality of teeth (142) located thereon. The assembly (100) further has a support (127) with a substantially square profile for receiving and supporting the drive rack (112) during operation such that the construct of the drive rack and piston (110) are prevented from rotating during operation.
US08424720B2
A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber, and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.
US08424710B2
A crate includes a bottom, two end walls, and two side walls. At least one of the end and side walls comprises an inlet having a dimension allowing to introduce a predefined amount of cooling liquid into the interior of the crate.
US08424709B2
The invention relates to a bottom of a mould for producing thermoplastic containers, and to a container thus produced. The container (1) produced comprises: a base (4) having a concave peripheral wall (6) extending essentially coaxially to the X-X′ axis, this concavity defining a non null curvature all along the wall (6); an annular region (7) forming a tubular peripheral wall (8) extending essentially coaxially to the X-X′ axis, the transversal radial distance between the X-X′ axis and said wall (8) being longer than the transversal radial distance between the X-X′ axis and any point along the concave peripheral wall (6) of said base (4); and a shoulder (9) forming a connecting region between the base (4) and the annular region (7). The depth of said annular region is between 0.5 and 2%, preferably between 1 and 1.5%, especially 1.2% of the diameter of the annular region (7), and the height of the base (4) is between 5 and 15 mm.
US08424708B2
An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; and a cooler wall extending between said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler. The cooler wall includes inner and outer collapsible walls that extend from the upper rim and a common bottom wall. Each collapsible wall includes a flexible elastomeric membrane having hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between collapsed and expanded configurations. The membrane preferably is formed from silicone rubber.
US08424706B2
A closure (1) having a shell (10) and a polymer insert (20). The polymer material of the insert (20) is selected to be sufficiently soft to provide an adequate sealing surface (21) and yet sufficiently stiff to define legs (22), which clip behind the internal curl (11) of the closure shell (10).
US08424697B2
A pressure cap comprises a closing part associable with an opening of a container, engaging means associable with a neck of said container, said engaging means being provided with retaining means for engaging in a projection of said container, a line of intended opening in said engaging means interposed between a side body of said engaging means and said closing part, said line of intended opening being defined by fracturable means, said line of intended opening and said closing part being positioned in relation to one another so that said fracturable means breaks along said line of intended opening when said closing part is induced to detach itself from said side body.
US08424694B2
A lightweight cross-beam for a storage rack made of a single sheet of steel with a Z-style cross sectional configuration includes a generally vertical upper wall with upper and lower edges; a generally horizontal support wall extending inwardly from the lower edge of the upper wall; an angled intermediate wall extending downwardly and outwardly from the inner edge of the generally horizontal wall; and a generally vertical lower wall that extends downwardly from the outer edge of the angled wall. The angle between the generally horizontal support wall and the angled wall is about 60°. The upper and lower walls are generally in the same vertical plane. Upper and lower rivets extend outwardly from the upper and lower walls at each end of the cross-beam. The vertical distance between the upper and lower rivets is 3 inches. The length of the cross-beam is at least about 96 inches.
US08424690B2
Some embodiments disclose a corral configured to hold one or more shopping carts and display one or more advertisements. The corral can include: (a) an enclosure having an opening configured to receive the one or more shopping carts, the enclosure having a first side; and (b) at least one first panel located at the first side and configured to display at least a first advertisement of the one or more advertisements. The advertising panels can be configured to be coupled adjacent the opening of the corral to facilitate better visibility.
US08424689B2
A modular racking system for storing, displaying and dispensing optical contact lenses. The system includes a reconfigurable, vertically-stacked array of modules. Each module is assembled from standard panels and includes a number of tray positions. Removable trays are slidably mounted in the modules, are vertically repositionable within the modules, and are provided in differing product configurations for different types of products or packaging. A contact lens dispensing matrix is defined by various positional indicia within the racking system, to designate various contact lens characteristics.
US08424686B2
A method and apparatus for reinforcing a tubular-shaped sealing collar, extending from a filter cartridge are provided, by embedding, or substantially encapsulating, a reinforcement element within the tubular-shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular-shaped collar. The collar may be formed from a resiliently compressible foam material, and the reinforcement element may be formed from a substantially non-compressible material.
US08424682B2
A container for transport and storage of liquids comprises a pallet and a metal cage of standard dimensions. The container comprises also an inner bag made of plastic material, an outer envelope disposed between the inner bag and the metal cage, and fastened to the metal cage. The inner bag is not fastened to the outer envelope and is configured to be filled to unfold from an empty condition, in which the inner bag is in a flattened and folded configuration to a filled condition, in which the inner bag is in a parallelepipedal and unfolded configuration, having a volume corresponding substantially to the volume of the housing of the cage and being surrounded by the outer envelope and the metal cage.
US08424676B2
A compound sprocket having at least one rotatable member including an outer sprocket element and an inner sprocket element symmetrically disposed relative to a central axis of rotation of the at least one rotatable member. The outer sprocket element includes a plurality of spaced, uniformly radially-oriented protrusions on an outer cylindrical surface thereof for engaging a conveyor belt, the outer sprocket element further includes a plurality of pockets formed on an inner cylindrical surface thereof. The inner sprocket element has a plurality of protrusions corresponding in number and position to the pockets formed on the inner cylindrical surface of the outer sprocket element and received therein. A resilient connecting element is disposed in each pocket biased between a wall of the pocket of the outer sprocket element and one of the protrusions of the inner sprocket element.
US08424674B2
Movable conveyor slats (12) have side parts (74, 76) which rest on top parts of bearings (92). The bearings (92) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (52, 54, 54′) which extend outwardly and slope upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (10, 10′). Fixed conveyor slats (10, 10′) have base portions (18, 18′) and upper insert portions (20, 20′). The inserts (20, 20′) have downwardly extending ribs (62, 64) on their sides which extend into upwardly opening grooves (48, 50) in the base portions (18). The movable slats (12) have web (80, 82) and lower flange portions (84, 86) which with the side parts (74, 76) of the slats (12) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (52, 54, 54′) and the bearings (92) are received within the channels (88, 90).
US08424657B2
A cylinder assembly includes a piston rod connected to a piston which is movably received in a cylinder and the interior of the cylinder is defined into a first room and a second room by the piston. A first groove and a second groove are respectively defined in the inside and the outside of the piston, and the two grooves are longitudinally aligned with each other. Two seal rings are respectively engaged with the first and second grooves. The first groove includes a first inner surface and the second groove includes a second inner surface. A distance is defined between two respective extension lines of the first and second grooves. Each of the two respective extension lines is defined by extending a line from the first/second inner surface of the first/second groove. The outer diameter of the piston is reduced for being used with a smaller cylinder.
US08424655B2
A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes includes a spring brake section for parking brake actions and a service brake section for service brake actions combined in one housing. The housing is subdivided by a piston into two compartments, one compartment being used as the pressure compartment for the service brake, and the brake spring of the spring section being arranged in the other compartment on the opposite end of the piston. The brake spring acts upon an additional spring piston, which can be locked and released relative to the piston by a pneumatic locking mechanism. The spring piston is connected to a piston rod directly or via additional elements to actuate the brake. Once the locking mechanism is released, the brake spring displaces the pistons relative each other during a parking brake action. At least one pneumatic valve for controlling the brake cylinder are integrated into the brake cylinder.
US08424653B2
An elevator load bearing member (30) monitoring device includes a controller (42) that applies a selected electrical signal to tension members (32) of the load bearing member (30). In one example, connectors (40) are associated with ends of the load bearing member (30) to establish an electrical interface between the controller (42) and the tension members (32). The connectors (40) facilitate establishing electrical circuit loops along the tension members (32) such that only non-adjacent tension members are energized at a selected time. A variety of circuit configurations are disclosed. The applied electrical signal in one example has a potential that is negative compared to a ground potential of a hoistway in which the elevator belt is used. In another example, the electrical signal comprises a plurality of pulses and has a duty cycle that is on the order of about one percent.
US08424649B2
A bearing assembly for lift chain rollers in a multiple lift mast for high-lift fork trucks which mast has a fixed mast, a middle mast, and an inner telescoping mast, each of which has two parallel-distanced mast profiles, wherein at an upper end of each the mast profiles of the middle mast, a lift chain roller is mounted for each of at least one lift chain for lifting the inner mast, wherein the lift chain roller is disposed in front of the inner mast crosswise to a web of the middle mast profile, wherein a separate bearing component for the lift chain roller is placed onto the mast profile or onto a cross-beam joining the tops of the mast profiles from top, and welded thereto.
US08424628B1
A SEGWAY adapted with a mechanism to manually override the rider detection mechanical sensors to allow a golfer to choose to ride or not ride the SEGWAY while playing golf. A handle attachment extends outwardly enabling the golfer to manually steer and thus control the speed and direction of the SEGWAY while not riding the SEGWAY. The golfer can ride, walk, or run as desired in unison with the improved SEGWAY. A wireless controller and steering mechanism allow the golfer to remotely operate and control the speed and direction of the SEGWAY.
US08424615B2
The invention relates to a system for a hand-held machine tool, particularly a pistol-shaped hand-held machine tool, which includes at least one first auxiliary unit, and a coupling mechanism that is used for coupling the first auxiliary unit and the hand-held machine tool. An example of the invention includes a suction unit as the first auxiliary unit for collecting debris from a hand-held drilling tool. The system also provides for at least one additional auxiliary unit to be coupled to the held-held power tool by the coupling mechanism. An example of the invention includes an illuminating element as an additional auxiliary unit which can be coupled to the tool with the coupling mechanism so as to be interchangeable with the first auxiliary unit.
US08424608B1
A system for remediating hydrates has a heat storage box with an interior volume, a heater for heating fluid flowing into the hot fluid inlet of the heat storage box, a heat exchanger positioned in the interior volume of the heat storage box so as to be in heat exchange relationship with heated water from the interior volume of the heat storage box, and a line connected to a heated water outlet of the heat exchanger so as to be manipulated toward a location of the hydrates for the purpose of delivering the heated water toward the hydrates. The heat exchanger is piping extends in a serpentine pattern within an upper portion of the heat storage box. The line can be connected to a hot stab suitable for a manipulation by an ROV.
US08424602B2
A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir comprising a carbonate mineral solid matrix comprising injection or co-injection of a gas other than carbon dioxide, injection or co-injection of a carbon containing gas containing a relatively low amount of carbon dioxide, injection of steam providing bicarbonate/alkalinity, or increasing the subterranean reservoir pressure, such that the dissolution and re-precipitation of carbonates is suppressed thereby.
US08424596B2
A high efficiency fluid pumping apparatus and methods having of an electronic motor controller controlling at least one electric motor that is directly coupled to the input of a hollow helical mechanism. The output of the hollow helical mechanism is directly coupled to the shaft of a reciprocating piston pump. Each moving component of the apparatus is designed with a hollow central bore, so that the apparatus assembly will accept a continuous, stationary, hollow conduit containing electrical through wiring and or fiber optics for power and communication to devices physically positioned below the apparatus.
US08424590B2
A geothermal sleeve for a building structure keeps air at a moderate temperature by passing through a geothermal heat exchanger (e.g., pipes) located underground. The moderate air is drawn up from the underground pipes and pumped into existing spaces between the interior and exterior walls (or surfaces) of a dwelling. The moderate air fills in the spaces between the interior and exterior walls to create a geothermal sleeve to supplement climate control inside the building structure.
US08424588B2
The present invention provides a casting die that can achieve the improved fluidity of molten metal and the improved ease release of castings from die. The casting die 10 comprises area of dimples D where a plurality of first dimples are formed in semispherical shape on the surface of the cavity 11 with no particular indication of direction and in a dispersed manner and where the ratio of communication is 80% or more, which ratio of communication is defined by the ratio of the number of the first dimples 12 that constitute the bound dimples 12b, which each comprise one or more of the dimples, to the total number of the first dimples 12. So, in the area of dimples D a number of bound dimples 12b that work as short flow-channels that have no particular indication of direction are randomly formed, thus improving the fluidity of the molten metal.
US08424585B2
A method and apparatus for creating a pattern of an item of manufacture, the method and apparatus including the use of a mold frame, mold, mold core, injection frame and injection core to create patterns of items of manufacture for investment casting.
US08424581B2
An air conveyor is positioned on a tabbing machine and includes a housing having an air chamber and a web entry and web exit and air port communicating with the air chamber. An air nozzle assembly is positioned within the air chamber and includes upper and lower nozzle plates that extend across the air chamber and spaced from each other to form a web delivery channel that is aligned with the web entry and web exit. Each of the nozzle plates includes a plurality of air nozzles extending through the nozzle plate and configured to pass pressurized air from the air chamber into the web delivery channel such that a web of material entering the web entry is drawn, for example, by venturi pressure, from the web entry through the web delivery channel and out the web exit.
US08424580B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for preparing a cassette spool. The apparatus includes: a supply reel for supplying and unrolling tape material on original backing paper; at least one cutting member for cutting unrolled tape material while on original backing paper; a cutting surface defined in a plane; a pivoting path member adapted to move from a first position aligned in the plane to a second position aligned at least partially out of the plane; at least one removing member for removing uncut unrolled tape material from original backing paper; and a cassette spool for rolling up unrolled cut tape material on original backing paper. In further embodiments, methods are provided for preparing a cassette spool with cut tape material on original backing paper.
US08424579B2
A pneumatic tire has an annular bead core, a bead filler, a carcass ply rolled up in such a manner as to pinch the bead core and the bead filler, and a white rubber arranged in an outer side of the carcass ply of the side wall portion. The white rubber has an inner peripheral end positioned in an outer side of the bead filler. The bead filler has a main body rubber portion running into the bead core from a leading end, and a soft rubber portion constructing a part of an outer surface of the bead filler and positioned in an inner side of the inner peripheral end of the white rubber. The soft rubber portion is harder than the white rubber and softer than the main body rubber portion.
US08424568B2
The application relates to a control device comprising a control element that can be rotated on a first functional level, an electronic controller, an electric power supply, and a base for mounting the control device. Said control device is designed to control plumbing appliances comprising a water discharge point and an electronically controlled mixing valve that has a cold water connection and a hot water connection. The flow or the temperature of the water discharged from the water discharge point can be changed by rotating the control element. The control device according to the invention is characterized in that the control element can be moved onto a second functional level by performing a lifting movement, said second functional level extending parallel to and at a distance from the first functional level. Furthermore, the control device comprises a spring element which elastically retains the control element on the first functional level, the control element being movable onto the second functional level against the resistance of the spring element. The temperature or the flow of the water discharged from the water discharge point can be changed by rotating the control element on the second functional level.
US08424567B2
A valve operable to control flow between two adjacent pipe sections and having a system for relieving pressure from an enclosed cavity within the valve. The valve includes a first pressure port, a second pressure port, and a seal. When the valve is closed, the first pressure port is in fluid communication with one pipe section and the second pressure port in fluid communication with the enclosed cavity. The seal isolates the second pressure port from the first pressure port when fluid pressure within the enclosed cavity is less than a pre-selected valve and is displaceable to enable fluid communication between the second pressure port and the first pressure port when fluid pressure in the enclosed cavity is equal to or greater than the pre-selected value.
US08424565B2
A fuel module for a vehicle has a fuel tank opening cover pivotably coupled to a module housing that holds multiple components including a fuel pump, filter, etc. The housing can be advanced lengthwise through the opening of a shallow fuel tank then turned horizontally to rest on the bottom of the tank, with the cover remaining parallel to the opening such that when the housing is in place in the tank the cover blocks the opening.
US08424558B2
A faucet includes a faucet body, a connecting member mounted in the faucet body, a control valve mounted between the faucet body and the connecting member, a plurality of elastic plates each connected between the faucet body and the connecting member, a first connector selectively connected with the connecting member, and a second connector selectively connected with the connecting member. Thus, the connecting member is connected with a water supply line by the first connector or the second connector so that the faucet is available for water supply lines of different types and sizes.
US08424536B2
A volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
US08424532B2
A drape for use in cranial surgical procedures including a sterile sheet and a plurality of fluid-collection reservoirs surrounding a cranial region fenestration. The drape further can include a thoracic region fenestration for concurrent or directly subsequent thoracic surgical procedures. Advantageously, the drape allows for a superior aseptic surgical field and superior drainage facilitated by a multi-pouch configuration.
US08424524B2
A method and apparatus for providing an average signal characteristic profile derived from signals obtained from different cycles of a cyclically recurring physiological phenomenon. A signal produced from first and second cycles of the physiological phenomenon is sampled at a series of data points to obtain second physiological property values at the data points. The change in the second physiological property values for the first cycle signal between a pair of successive data points and the change in the second physiological property values for the second cycle signal between the same pair of successive data points are determined and averaged. The average change amount is applied to a value of the average signal characteristic profile at one of the pair of successive data points to produce a new second physiological property value for the average signal characteristic profile at the other of the data points of the pair.
US08424514B2
A flow generator for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a processor coupled with operation sensors and a user interface. The processor is programmed to generate at least one of time-based or event-based messages relating to at least one of flow generator operation, flow generator service, flow generator use, patient health, peripheral devices and services, patient treatment, and reminders. Time-based messages are generated at predetermined time intervals based on either time of use or elapsed time. The event-based messages are generated based on signals from the operation sensors. The user interface is configured to deliver the messages to at least one of a display, a flow generator service provider, the patient and a physician. By this system, operation of the flow generator is facilitated and enhanced.
US08424508B2
A fuel pressure regulating system for an internal combustion engine has a pressure accumulator which is used to store fuel under pressure and to feed the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine by fuel-supplying injectors, a high-pressure pump which supplies a fuel mass flux to the pressure accumulator, a first valve via which the fuel can be guided out of the pressure accumulator, and a second valve for restricting the fuel mass flux. The system is provided with a first control loop having the first valve as an actuator for regulating the pressure in the pressure accumulator, and a second control loop having the second valve as an actuator for regulating the pressure in the pressure accumulator, and the two control loops are embodied as cascade regulators, the first control loop being a master regulator and the second control loop being a follower regulator.
US08424503B1
An improved hemi engine rocker arm cover assembly having an enclosed, dry upper coil chamber and an open bottom, lower, wet rocker arm chamber that includes special seal and flange members to seal it to the engine head. The fully enclosed upper coil chamber includes a plurality of pairs of staggered coil mounting bosses, one pair per coil, and paired igniter boot apertures, one pair per coil. For performance engines, dual boot coils are mounted on the bosses with the boots extending into the wet chamber for sealingly engaging the igniters. For standard engines, single boot coils are used, and one of each pair of boot apertures is sealed with a special plug.
US08424502B2
The present invention provides an intake manifold that improves the intake performance and has a reduced weight. The intake manifold includes a surge tank and intake pipes. Each intake pipe has an inlet port that is connected to the surge tank. The inlet ports are arranged along a flow direction of air drawn into the surge tank from the opening of the surge tank, and project into the surge tank along direction that intersects the flow direction. Each adjacent pair of the inlet ports are separated only by a single common pipe wall.
US08424492B2
An aquarium including a tank; a stirrer having one end extending upwardly from within the tan and an opposite end rotatably mounted in a bearing at a bottom of the tank; a substrate in the tank; and a sediment drain hole formed in a sidewall or a bottom of the tank.
US08424490B2
An animal litter mixture comprising pine wood and silica gel is provided. The pinewood is preferably a sawdust form, although the pinewood may be in the form of fine shavings or compressed pellets. The silica gel may have one porosity or a mixture of porosity. In one embodiment of the animal litter mixture, the silica gel may be an indicator gel that changes colors when the silica is saturated with water.
US08424489B2
The device comprises a first food-receiving portion provided within an upper side of a main body The first portion comprises independent first food compartments disposed in axisymmetrical positions with reference to a central vertical axis A first cover having at least one access aperture is positioned over the first portion and is supported for free rotation upon actuation by the animal being fed Independent second food-receiving portions, each comprising two second food compartments separated from one another by a transversal wall, are provided adjacent to the first portion Each second portion has a corresponding second cover that is in sliding engagement therewith and freely movable upon actuation by the animal being fed The combination of rotating and sliding covers create stimulating challenges for the animal.
US08424488B2
A system for managing the supply of consumable matter to be consumed by milk producing animals includes a supply arrangement (24, 26, 28, 34, 36, 38) for supplying consumable matter to a feeding trough (14) from which the animal (12) can eat and/or drink, and a control unit (30) which controls the supply of the consumable matter to the feeding trough (14). The system also has an analysis device (40) adapted to analyse the milk from an individual milked animal (12) with regard to at least one property of the milk. The control unit (30) is arranged to receive information from the analysis device (40) and to automatically control the composition of the consumable matter supplied to the feeding trough (14) in dependence on the information received from the analysis device (40).
US08424485B2
The invention aims to provide substrate treatment equipment that can automatically collect a substrate in a normal condition without needing manual operation. The equipment includes a substrate holder 26 for holding substrates 12 in a multistage manner and a substrate transfer unit 34 for transferring the substrates 12 into the substrate holder 26, wherein a substrate holding condition of the substrate holder 26 is sensed by a sensing section 60. The sensing section 60 has photo-sensors 64a, 64b, and sensing waveforms sensed by the photo-sensors 64a, 64b are compared with a normal waveform. A control section 66 is provided, which controls a substrate transfer unit 34 such that substrates 12 other than at least a substrate 12 that was determined to be abnormal are transferred by the unit.
US08424479B1
A universal launch and recovery system that may be used to launch or recover/receive water vessels. The launch and recovery system includes a deployable ramp having adjustable soft end guides and adjustable tire arrangements for guiding and cushioning vessels of different geometries.
US08424476B2
A combination boat and travel trailer system having a main body portion and a bow portion. The bow portion movable between a raised position relative to the main body portion to facilitate towing of the boat and travel trailer and a lowered position to facilitate in-water use as a boat.
US08424475B2
An air ejecting unit is configured to eject air into water from an air ejecting outlet provided in a ship bottom of a ship body. An air recovery device is configured to recover the air into the ship body from first to third air recovery inlets provided in the ship bottom. The first air recovery inlet is provided to cross the center line. The second air recovery inlet is provided to project on a port side from the first air recovery inlet. The third air recovery inlet is provided to project on a starboard side from the first air recovery inlet. The second and third air recovery inlets are arranged on a bow side from the first air recovery inlet. Each of the first to third air recovery inlets includes a plurality of air recovery holes.
US08424471B2
A foldable table includes a tabletop made of U-PVC material with a solid structure, a table reinforcing frame, and two leg frames. The table reinforcing frame is encirclingly mounted at a peripheral edge of the tabletop for forming an edge protector of the tabletop and for evenly distributing and supporting a downward loading force on the tabletop. The two leg frames are foldably supported at the bottom side of the tabletop to fold between an unfolded position and a fold position. Each leg frame includes a folding leg pivotally coupled with the table reinforcing frame and a folding frame pivotally extended from the bottom side of the tabletop to the folding leg. At the unfolded position, the folding leg is pivotally and outwardly folded to downwardly extend from the tabletop. At the folded position, the folding leg is pivotally and inwardly folded to rest under the tabletop.
US08424469B2
A reinforced plastic pallet comprises a twin sheet deck structure and three twin sheet runner structures which are fused to the underside of the deck to create three parallel spaced-apart footprints, the spacing between them forming one set of forklift openings. The deck is fabricated from two thermoformed plastic sheets which are peripherally joined together. The lower sheet is formed with upwardly extending spacer knobs which are fused to the under surface of the top sheet to further join the two sheets together. A frame of reinforcing beams is encapsulated into the interior space of the upper deck. The runner structures are also of twin sheet construction and some of them contain reinforcing rods. The runner structures, although they have flat footprints, are generally “W” shaped to provide two additional forklift openings at 90° from the primary forklift openings between the runner structures.
US08424459B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a rotating structure. An outer ring is placed on a first surface of a trench in a foundation having a ground surface. An inner ring is positioned inside the outer ring on the first surface. A bar assembly is positioned between the outer ring and the inner ring. A plurality of rollers supports the bar assembly. A plurality of motors engages to the bar assembly to cause the bar assembly to rotate when activated.
US08424456B2
A training cartridge projectile for use in either a plastic cartridge case or a conventional metal cartridge case is disclosed that contains no explosive material. The projectile has an insert having a body portion and a front end, a container overmolded onto the body portion of the insert, a frangible ogive fastened to the front end of the tubular insert; and a payload module within the ogive in front of the container carrying a non-explosive signature material for providing a visual indication of projectile impact to an observer upon projectile impact with an object. The module includes a hollow frangible ampoule containing the signature material, and a generally disc shaped base member engaging the insert and closing the ampoule. The base member preferably has a set of axially extending vanes engaging the signature material during spin-up as the projectile is accelerated through the bore of the weapon firing the projectile.
US08424451B2
The invention is related to an apparatus and method for controlling a steam flaking operation. In an embodiment, the invention is a steam flaking system including at least one sensor to measure the flow of material in the steam flaking system, a steam chest, a peg feeder, disposed at the bottom of the steam chest, and an automatic control unit, wherein the automatic control unit receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the peg feeder. In an embodiment, the invention is a steam flaking system including a steam chest, at least one sensor to measure the flow of material in the steam chest, a peg feeder, and an automatic control unit, wherein the automatic control unit receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the peg feeder. In an embodiment, the invention is a method for automatically controlling the residence time of a product in a steam chest including the steps of calculating a residence time (Tr) of a product, calculating a desired peg feeder RPM based on a calibration curve relating RPM and residence time, and adjusting the RPM of the peg feeder to the desired amount.
US08424442B2
An armor component includes a plurality of tiles disposed on a rigid support. At least one spacer is disposed between the adjacent edges of the tiles to establish a minimum gap between the adjacent edges. The gap is filled with a gap filling material, which optionally includes a reinforcement additive. The spacers can be in the form of a spacer tray having a plurality of spacer segments and a plurality of tile cut-outs, with the tile cut-outs separated from adjacent tile cut-outs by a spacer segment, and tiles disposed one to each tile cut-out in the spacer tray. The armor component is in some embodiments placed between two fabric layers and fed into a pultruder, where it is impregnated with resin and heated to cure the resin to form a laminate armor.
US08424433B2
A cutting tool has a table for placing a workpiece thereon. A cutting unit is mounted to the table. A support leg device includes a support leg, an operation member and a motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism is coupled between the support leg and the operation member, so that the movement of the operation member is converted into the movement of the support leg.
US08424431B1
A spring is utilized to exert variable tensional forces on a toweling support drum of a paper toweling dispenser. The spring is connected between a drum and a sliding spring mount which enables a long toweling tail to be presented externally of the dispenser.
US08424429B1
A saw includes a surface defining an opening therein, a plate structure configured to be attached to the saw below the surface, and an arm attached to the plate structure about a first shaft. A blade is configured to be engaged with the arm at a location spaced from the first shaft. The blade extends through the opening when the saw is in a normal operating position. The saw includes a firing mechanism including a barrel end portion having a bore defined therein and an extendable piston at least partially positioned within the bore. The barrel end portion is attached to the plate structure. The extendable piston engages the arm during its extension and causes the arm to pivot about the first shaft when the firing mechanism is activated by an activation signal. The pivoting of the arm causes the blade to be moved downwardly below the surface.
US08424428B2
The invention concerns a tool head with a housing (11), in which at least one thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) is provided, able to move back and forth in the longitudinal direction (L) in a first toothed guide, which is coordinated with a support (21, 22, 23) in the housing (11), able to move in a second toothed guide in a transverse direction (R1, R2, R3) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), and the thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) and the coordinated support (21, 22, 23) are in sliding contact with each other via a slanted contact surface (51, 52, 53) and a movement of the thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) in the longitudinal direction (L) brings about a transverse movement of the coordinated support (21, 22, 23) via the slanted contact surface (51, 52, 53) and a cutting tool (161, 162, 163) can be fastened on the support (21, 22, 23) and the support (21, 22, 23) has a support arm (101, 102, 103) extending in the transverse direction (R1, R2, R3).
US08424425B2
A locking system for a multitool where multiple discrete lock members are attached to a handle and the lock members can be individually engaged to lock and unlock tool members from a retained to an extended position and vice versa within the handle of a multitool.
US08424417B1
A gripper having a pair of straps for safely opening a narrow cylindrical article, by wrapping a closure on a narrow cylindrical article with a first strap and wrapping the narrow cylindrical article with a second strap, grasping each and rotating each in opposing directions, releasing the friction holding the closure on the article. The gripper is made from a sterilizable elastomeric material for use in a medical setting such as a hospital or a laboratory. The pair of identical straps are connected by a band attached to a middle portion on each strap. The gripper opens a connector on a central venous catheter (CVC) lumen, a pair of clasps on CVC stabilization device, a connector on a urine collection bag to a Foley catheter, and a cap on a laboratory sample vial as non-limiting examples.
US08424416B2
An apparatus is provided and includes a rotatable shaft on which a first bevel gearbox is disposed, a layshaft on which a second bevel gearbox is disposed, the first and second bevel gearboxes being coupled to transmit shaft rotation to the layshaft, an accessory gearbox to which the layshaft and one or more accessories are coupled and a generator operably disposed on the layshaft between the second bevel gearbox and the accessory gearbox.
US08424415B2
A hybrid transmission includes a transmission housing and a motor/generator stator configured to be attached to the transmission housing. A clutch housing is configured to be attached to the motor/generator stator, such that the clutch housing is not directly attached to the transmission housing but is statically fixed. An axis of rotation defines a coordinate system having axial, radial, and clocking rotations. A first piloting feature may be formed on the clutch housing and a second piloting feature on the transmission housing. The first and second piloting features cooperate to axially and radially orient, but not attach, the clutch housing relative to the transmission housing. Third and fourth piloting features cooperate to orient the clocking rotation of the clutch housing. Stator bolts may permanently locate and attach the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing, and clutch bolts permanently locate and attach the clutch housing to the motor/generator stator.
US08424414B2
The integrated control device (1) for driving the control cable (20) of the derailleur and the brake cable (16) of a bicycle is provided. The device having a support body (4) connectable to the handlebar (2) and that can be gripped by the cyclist's hand, a cable-winding bush (19) about which the control cable (20) of the derailleur is wound/unwound and a first lever (9) rotatable with respect to the support body (4) about a first axis (X1) for actuating the brake cable (16) and rotatable about a second axis (X2) to drive the cable-winding bush (19) into rotation in a first direction of rotation (R2). An indexing mechanism (12) connected to the first lever (9) cooperates with the cable-winding bush (19) to define predetermined angular positions therefor. The support body (4) having a recess (25) for the passage of the control cable (20) of the derailleur.
US08424411B2
A parallel robot includes a base, a movable platform, an actuator, and four control arms. The actuator is positioned on the movable platform. The control arms are interconnected between the base and the movable platform. Each control arm includes a driving member connected to the base, an action pole driven by the driving member, and a four-rod linkage assembly interconnected between the action pole and the movable platform. One end of the four-rod linkage assembly is connected to the action pole via a first rotary joint, and the other end of the four-rod linkage assembly is connected to the movable platform via a second rotary joint. An axis of the first rotary joint is substantially parallel to an axis of the second rotary joint.
US08424408B2
The invention relates to the gearing of a gearwheel having a plurality of teeth. The gearwheel has a useful area and a base area of the particular tooth flank form. Viewed in normal section, the tooth base area extends from a base circle up to a useful circle. The tooth flanks of adjacent teeth in normal section are each implemented as symmetrical to one another, the axis of symmetry intersecting the base circle in the base point. According to the invention, the tooth flanks are implemented in the tooth base area as a tangent function from a relevant diameter. The tangent function merges at the relevant diameter in a constant tangent into the tooth flank form of the useful area. The tangent function merges in the tooth base area in a constant tangent into an orbit, which is tangentially applied in the base point to the base circle. Significant increases of the tooth base strength may thus be achieved.
US08424406B2
An actuator is described with a prestressed reduction gear, which acts via a drive organ, particularly in the form of a drive segment, of a linear drive or a drive spindle upon an actuator for regulating a gas or fluid flow, particularly in the fields of heating ventilation, air-conditioning and fire and smoke protection. Actuating movement is limited by end stops. At least one inner end stop on the housing side limits the rotational freedom of an end wheel, which is in a positive fit with the drive organ, up to more than a full rotation. In a prestressed reduction gear, a switching device g can comprise two spur gears which have identical diameter and can be driven in the opposite direction for changing the M direction of movement of the drive organ, each of which have a pinion which can be displaced in the axial direction. The pinions are in each axial position in a positive fit with the drive organ. One of the two pinions, respectively, can be locked in a torque fixed manner with one of the two pinions having the same diameter.
US08424405B2
A mainshaft assembly for a gearbox includes a mainshaft (44) and drive gears (31, 36) carried for rotation about the mainshaft. First and second hubs (50, 50′) are associated with respective drive gears, each hub being operable to selectively couple or uncouple with the drive gear causing it to rotate with the hub or with respect to the hub. A drive connection mechanism (42, 64, 66) associated with each hub selectively connects the hub to the mainshaft. Upon connection of the hubs to the drive gears, the drive connection operates to connect one or other of the hubs to the mainshaft when torque is applied to the mainshaft in a first direction or an opposite direction. This enables a gear ratio to be selected by reversing the torque being handled by the gearbox.
US08424382B2
A microelectromechanical sensor and operating method therefor. The sensor has at least one movable electrode. An electrode arrangement is spaced apart from the movable electrode with a plurality of electrodes that can be driven separately and to which corresponding electrode signals can be applied that can be used to electrostatically set/change the application of force, the spring constant and the read-out factor of the movable electrode. An electrode signal generation unit is connected to the electrode arrangement and can be supplied with a force application signal, a spring constant signal and a read-out factor signal, which define the settings/changes to be brought about with regard to the application of force, spring constant and read-out factor of the movable electrode. The electrode signal generation unit generates each electrode signal in a manner dependent on the force application signal, the spring constant signal and the read-out factor signal and matches the electrode signals to one another so that the application of force, the spring constant and the read-out factor of the movable electrode can be set/changed to specific desired values independently of one another.
US08424381B1
A device (15) for measuring the level of a fluid (24) in a container (17) comprising a frame assembly having a first arm (18) and a second arm (19), the first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position (20) to a second expanded position (21), a probe element (22) supported between the first arm and the second arm, the probe element having a sensing portion (34, 35) between the arms when the arms are in the second expanded position, the sensing portion configured to have a length (25) in contact with the fluid, an electrical circuit (26, 29) connected to the probe element, the probe element and the circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of the length of the probe that is in contact with the fluid, and the circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of the capacitance.
US08424376B2
A container includes a chamber for containing fluid. At least one sensor is disposed within the chamber for sensing a property of fluid in the container. A unit that receives a signal from the sensor communicates with a device that displays the property of the fluid in the container. The container may include first and second chambers. A first sensor is disposed within the first chamber. The first sensor is in contact with fluid in the first chamber. The first sensor senses a volume of fluid in the first chamber. A second sensor is disposed within the second chamber. The second sensor is in contact with fluid in the second chamber. The second sensor senses a volume of fluid in the second chamber. A diverter may direct fluid from an inlet to a bottom portion of the chamber and prevents the fluid from contacting the sensor. A releasable device may prevent fluid from flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. The releasable device permits fluid to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber upon release of the releasable device. An element of the sensor may have a first portion with an electrical resistance per unit length greater than an electrical resistance per unit length of a second portion of the element. A shunt resistor extending between lower portions of first and second elements of the sensor may have a resistance equal to approximately 0.08 times a resistance of the sensor when the chamber is empty.
US08424375B2
A method for operating a sensor on or in a vehicle tire, in particular an acceleration sensor and in particular for detecting a tire rotation period and/or a tire contact period is provided, the sensor being operated in a first time interval of a tire rotation using a first query rate and in a second time interval of the tire rotation using a second query rate.
US08424364B2
An active scanner bow compensator for use with a scanner is described. The scanner includes a moveable scanning platform supported within a frame. The active scanner bow compensator supports the scanner and includes a frame of reference, sensors, and an actuator. The sensors detect out-of-plane motion of the scanning platform relative to the frame of reference, and the actuators compensate for the out-of-plane motion by adjusting the orientation of the frame relative to the frame of reference. The active scanner bow compensator may be used in atomic force microscopy applications.
US08424356B2
A deep drawing apparatus is provided in which a sheet material is subjected to optimal heating and cooling, whereby the limiting draw ratio is increased and a product can be worked more deeply, and uniformity of the sheet thickness of the product can be controlled. This apparatus includes: a punch 2 for subjecting a sheet material 9 to deep drawing; a die 3, used along with the punch, for forming the sheet material and subject the same to deep drawing; an anti-wrinkling component 4 for preventing wrinkling around the periphery of the forming portion in the sheet material; an induction heating coil 5 for directly heating the sheet material at a portion supported by the anti-wrinkling component; a heating controller 6 for controlling the amount of heating of the sheet material by the induction heating coil; and cooling means 21 to 23 for cooling the sheet material at the portion formed by the punch.
US08424351B2
A system for monitoring clinched joints performed by an apparatus that moves a punch relative to a die. The system determines acceptability of a clinched joint by correlating the amount of punch advancement toward the die in the formation of the joint and the diameter of a button formed by the joint.
US08424349B2
A recodeable lock includes a housing, a cylinder plug, a plurality of wafer tumblers, and a sidebar coupled with the cylinder plug. The sidebar is assembled with a plurality of code blocks and a codebar releasably securing the code blocks to the sidebar. A liftbar is disposed in the housing radially outward of the cylinder plug and is configured to selectively engage a radially outward extending appendage of the codebar when the cylinder plug and sidebar are rotated to a recoding orientation, to release the code blocks from the sidebar. The housing includes a circumferential track axially positioned to receive the appendage of the codebar to permit greater than 180 degree rotation of the cylinder plug and sidebar with respect to the housing.
US08424348B2
An actuation device for a steering lock is operable to selectively lock a rotary steering member against rotation. A lockbolt is movable along a first axis between a steering member-locking position and a steering member-unlocking position. A shuttle is movable between a non-blocking position in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position and a blocking position in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position. An actuator is coupled to the shuttle and operable to move the shuttle from at least one of the non-blocking position and the blocking position to the other of the non-blocking position and the blocking position. The actuator has an output defining a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
US08424342B2
A method for melting inorganic materials, preferably glasses and glass-ceramics, in a melting unit with cooled walls is provided. The method includes selecting the temperature of at least one region of the melt is selected in such a way as to be in a range from Teff−20% to Teff+20%, where the temperature Teff is given by the temperature at which the energy consumption per unit weight of the material to be melted is at a minimum, with the throughput having been selected in such a way as to be suitably adapted to the required residence time.
US08424339B2
A motor coolant method and system is used to cool a compressor motor (36) in a refrigeration system having a multi-stage compressor (38). The compressor includes a first compressor stage (42) and a second compressor stage (44), the first compressor stage providing compressed refrigerant to an input of the second compressor stage. The motor coolant system has a first connection with the refrigerant loop to receive refrigerant into the motor cavity for cooling, the received refrigerant provided from a system component having a high pressure, and a second connection with the refrigerant loop to return refrigerant to an intermediate pressure greater than an evaporator operating pressure. The pressure inside the motor cavity may be approximately the pressure within the first stage discharge and second stage suction to minimized seal leakage between the motor cavity and the internal pressures of the first and second stage compressors.
US08424330B2
A method and apparatus for temporarily refrigerating perishable items contained in a refrigerated truck or trailer whose refrigeration unit is not functioning properly or at all. The apparatus comprises a portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit adapted to be transported to the refrigerated truck or trailer and includes a sealing element configured and adapted for placement in or adjacent a door opening of the refrigerated truck or trailer to provide at least a partial seal thereat. A chilled air duct is provided for delivering chilled air through/across the sealing element to the perishable items inside the refrigerated truck or trailer and the portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit is operable to deliver chilled air through the chilled air duct and into the interior of the refrigerated truck or trailer.
US08424329B2
The invention is an apparatus and method of creating and preserving an outdoor frozen surface by covering a defined outdoor ground surface with a layer of white base paper after clearing debris, litter, and other objects from the defined surface which may present a hazardous condition on an ice surface. The layer of white base paper is saturated with water at near freezing or under freezing conditions to allow the water to freeze and hold the white base paper to the defined outdoor ground surface. Thereafter, water is continuously dispensed under freezing conditions to build up a predefined thickness ice layer on the defined outdoor ground surface.
US08424328B2
A refrigerant system is provided with a suction pulse width modulation valve, and a pulse width modulation control for controlling this valve. System pressures, such as the pressure on the evaporator and the condenser are monitored. The measured system pressures are maintained within a band of acceptable lower and upper limits. As the pulse width modulation control cycles the valve, the refrigerant pressures in the evaporator and the condenser tend to fluctuate. The control ensures those fluctuations are within the limits by controlling the duty cycle of the valve.
US08424327B2
A compressor includes a casing accommodating a refrigerant passageway, a compression mechanism and a pipe. The compression mechanism is disposed in the interior of the casing to discharge compressed refrigerant into the refrigerant passageway. The pipe extends from inside of the casing to outside of the casing. The pipe includes two ends. One end is a closed end disposed in a predetermined position inside the refrigerant passageway. The other end of the pipe is an opened end disposed outside the casing. The pipe is preferably sized so that a measuring instrument can be inserted into the pipe through the opened end.
US08424325B2
Disclosed is an air conditioner includes a cabinet that is configured to mount on an indoor ceiling. The air conditioner also include a front panel that is coupled to the cabinet and having an air inlet and outlet. The air conditioner further include a suction panel that is coupled to the front panel and configured to move between an open positione in which air is able to circulate through the air conditioner and a closed position in which air is blocked from circulating through the air conditioner. The air conditioner further include a sensor unit that is mounted on the suction panel, that is configured to move together with the suction panel and that is configured to detect a position of a person in the indoor place. In addition, the air conditioner also include a controller adjusting a direction of air flow from the outlet based on the deteded position of the person.
US08424322B2
An air conditioner that can present information on a predicted value of stored energy usage per unit time, a predicted value of the electricity charge per unit time, and a predicted value of the amount of CO2 emission per unit time, at the start of operation. The air conditioner includes a predicted electricity efficiency speculating unit that speculates on electricity efficiency, which is stored energy usage per unit time predicted from a set parameter set by the user at the present time, based on a stored value of the recent stored energy usage storing unit, a calculated result of the actual usage electricity efficiency calculating unit, and a compared result of the setting comparing unit, a predicted electricity efficiency calculating unit that calculates an electricity charge per unit time or a predicted amount of CO2 emission efficiency calculating unit that calculates an amount of CO2 emission per unit time, and a displaying unit that displays the calculated information stored energy usage at the start of air conditioner operation.
US08424300B1
Sea Electrical Energy Production (SEEP”) unit (12) is disclosed for using the rise and fall of ocean waves to drive a hydraulic pump (18) which draws water through a turbine (14) to drive an electric generator (16). The crests and troughs of the ocean waves drive the hydraulic pump (18) which both draws suction on and pressurizes a reservoir (50) that receives water discharged from the turbine (14). A suction stroke of the hydraulic pump (18) draws water from the ocean through the turbine (14), through a first one-way valve (54) and into a pressure reservoir (50). A pressure stroke of the hydraulic pump (18) pushes water from the pressure reservoir (50), through the second one-way valve (56) and back into the sea. The turbine (14) is preferably directly connected to the electric generator (16) by gears to increases the rate of rotation of applied to the electric generator (16) when low pressure heads are applied across the turbine (12).
US08424294B2
Procedure for regenerating an exhaust gas after treatment system, especially a particle filter, of a combustion engine that is arranged in a motor vehicle, with regeneration cycles that are controlled by a control unit, whereby the control unit is provided with information data regarding the route and whereby the regeneration cycles are controlled with regard to the information data, is thereby characterized, in that the information data that regards the route contains driver specific information data.
US08424293B2
A method of regenerating a diesel particulate filter (DPF) may include operating a vehicle including a diesel engine at an idle condition and applying a load to the diesel engine during the idle condition to increase an exhaust temperature of the diesel engine relative to a nominal idle condition. The increased exhaust temperature may regenerate a diesel particulate filter of the diesel engine during the idle condition.
US08424291B2
The present invention relates to a flame glow plug having a combustion chamber which has an outlet opening for the flame, a fuel supply, in particular a blockable fuel supply, for the provision of a fuel flow to the combustion chamber, an air supply for the provision of an air flow to the combustion chamber and an ignition device, in particular an electrically operated heating element, which is arranged in the combustion chamber or which extends into the combustion chamber and which is made to ignite the air/fuel mixture arising from the provided fuel flow and the provided air flow. The air supply is made controllable in quantity to selectively operate the flame glow plug as a torch or as a secondary fuel injection apparatus. The invention furthermore relates to a regeneration apparatus for a particulate filter of an exhaust gas system, to an exhaust gas system for a combustion engine as well as to a method for the operation of a regeneration apparatus.
US08424284B2
Devices and methods for moving a working fluid through a controlled thermodynamic cycle in a positive displacement fluid-handling device (20, 20′, 20″) with minimal energy input include continuously varying the relative compression and expansion ratios of the working fluid in respective compressor and expander sections without diminishing volumetric efficiency. In one embodiment, a rotating valve plate arrangement (40, 42, 44, 46) is provided with moveable apertures or windows (48, 50, 56, 58) for conducting the passage of the working fluid in a manner which enables on-the-fly management of the thermodynamic efficiency of the device (20) under varying conditions in order to maximize the amount of mechanical work needed to move the target quantity of heat absorbed and released by the working fluid. When operated in refrigeration modes, the work required to move the heat is minimized. In power modes, the work extracted for the given input heat is maximized.
US08424276B2
A product multi-pack is provided with a plurality of elongate product containers. The containers each include a bottom, an open top that is closed by a cap and a wall extending there between. The wall includes a label having a front portion extending about a limited section of the wall circumference. A carton is provided that is sized to display the plurality of product containers. A locator web is provided that is formed of a thin sheet of plastic having a plurality of spaced apart apertures. The apertures are sized to be at least partially elastically deformed when installed over the caps of the product containers. Additionally, the locator web provides frictional resistance to rotation of the product containers, which enables the containers to be positioned and held in place relative to the carton open face so that the label front portions are visible.
US08424274B2
A packaging apparatus and method for depositing pills into a series of containers is provided. A cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a first axis and comprises radially inward and outward portions, the radially outward portion defining pill apertures for receiving pills therein at a first angular position. A negative pressure system is configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures to retain the pills therein. An ejection device is in communication with the pill apertures at a second angular position of the rotary slat to eject the respective pills outwardly from the pill apertures. A collection mechanism is disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion about the second angular position, and is configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein.
US08424270B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing pattern or indicia onto a gelatin ribbon. It comprises a transfer station with a print roll and a motor-driven casting roll provided for forming a gelatin ribbon. The transfer station is positioned in relation to the casting roll in such a way that the gelatin ribbon is sandwiched between the casting roll and the transfer station; elastic tackiness of a passing gelatin ribbon causes the rotation of the print roll. The apparatus further comprises an adjustment means, wherein the adjustment means are adapted to provide finely-tuned positioning of the transfer station in relation to the casting drum, and balance pressure exerted by the transfer station on the passing gelatin ribbon thus facilitating on optimal printing result.
US08424266B2
A metal building stud having two supplemental flanges extending from at least one slot in the stud web yielding a stud with increased strength, both in compression (longitudinally) and in shear (transverse). The slotted stud also includes a plurality of indents that also enhance the stud strength both in compression and in shear. The slotted web further presents a reduced web area through which heat or sound may be conducted and slots in which insulation is received, both increasing resistance to heat and sound transfer. Slots and supplemental flanges may also be provided in the stud primary flanges. The primary flanges may include a fold back portion under a line of flexure presenting two layers through which an attaching screw must pass under that line of flexure that retains the screw in the primary flanges.
US08424257B2
A modular tile configured to interlock with multiple tiles to form a modular floor covering over a floor. The tile includes a top surface having a periphery defining side walls extending downward from the top surface, the side walls having a coupling portion configured to couple with other tiles adjacent thereto to form the modular floor covering. The tile also includes a bottom side, opposite the top surface, having a support grid including an array of downward extending polymeric post structures, at least some of the post structures including at least one resilient end portion with a radial end surface configured to be positioned against the floor to facilitate controlled deflection of the post structures. The post structures may comprise primary and secondary post structures, with the secondary post structures limiting the deflection of the primary post structures.
US08424256B2
A roof integrated photovoltaic roofing panel and flashing system that allows photovoltaic roof panels to be installed into standard asphalt roofing. Without re-engineering rafters for extra roof loads. Providing all structural strengths, fire prevention and weather proofing required by building codes. The panels are easily removed for maintaining PV system. The PV roof panel is a structural roof panel.
US08424252B2
A buckling restrained brace includes an axial member and a restraining unit. The axial member extends along an axial direction, and has two coupling sections for connecting respectively to two connecting plates of a framework of a building, and a middle section connected between the coupling sections. Each coupling section has a supplying plate portion coplanar with an elongated plate body of the middle section, and a contacting plate portion extending perpendicularly from the supporting plate portion. An outer end of the supplying plate portion of each coupling section has a groove formed therethrough along a transverse direction of the axial member, extending along the axial direction, and permitting a respective one of the connecting plates to engage fittingly therewith and contact the corresponding contacting plate portion.
US08424235B1
Methods and devices for recharging glow-in-the-dark fishing lures. Devices can include an internal cavity, an external opening into the cavity and a light source projecting into the cavity. Some cavities have an opaque, reflective wall and a light source projecting directly into the cavity. Other cavities have a translucent cavity wall and a light source shining in from outside of the cavity, through the cavity wall, and into the cavity. The light may be activated using a manual switch or an automatic switch which triggers upon detecting the passage of a lure into the cavity or the presence of a lure within the cavity. One such lure detector includes a weight sensitive electrical switch. Devices may resemble hand held mugs with handles or may be flange mounted into through-holes in boats decks.
US08424211B2
A pivoting hand tool is provided including handle structures which control the relative angular position of pivotable arms to allow disassembly and reassembly and to prevent accidental disassembly during use. Handle structures includes an elastic interference portion which provides a first interference between the first arm and second arm at the predetermined angle to prevent angular displacement of the arms from exceeding a first predetermined angle until a disassembly pivoting force is applied to the first arm and the second arm.
US08424210B2
A shaving apparatus and method of shaving incorporate a novel, segmented, shaving head comprising multiple razors. In addition, embodiments of the shaving apparatus include an applicator head which provides lubrication and/or hydration while shaving.
US08424189B2
A method for assembling rotors which is applicable to a large axial gap type permanent magnet rotating machine. A permanent magnet rotating machine comprising: a rotating shaft; at least two rotors comprising a table-like structure and permanent magnets attached thereto, the table-like structures being connected to the rotating shaft and being disposed in an axial direction of the rotating shaft; and a stator comprising a table-like structure and stator coils around which a copper wire is wound, said stator being disposed in a gap formed by the rotors so that the stator being separated from the rotating shaft, is manufactured by the following steps of assembling the two rotors such that a predetermined gap is formed therebetween; and mounting the magnets on the table-like structures by inserting the magnet from the radially outer side of the table-like structures towards the center of the rotation.
US08424188B2
Method of manufacturing an end ring over pre-formed conductor bars of a rotor for an electric device
A method of manufacturing a rotor assembly includes positioning a laminated stack of electric steel sheets with a plurality of conductor bars positioned within longitudinal grooves defined by the laminated stack in a mold, and casting an end ring in place over ends of the conductor bars. In order to cast the end ring in place, heated liquid aluminum is injected into a cavity defining the end ring, and circulated within the cavity and around the ends of the conductor bars to create relative movement between the liquid aluminum and the ends of the conductor bars to heat the conductor bars and flush oxides away from an outer surface of the conductor bars.
US08424176B2
The present invention relates to methods of making and using tunable capacitors and devices. Using the methods described, one or more secondary tunable capacitors can be connected to a primary capacitor by printing a connector conducting layer or feature to obtain a desired net capacitance. Digitally printing the connector conducting layer allows the number of secondary capacitors connected into the circuit to be determined during the integrated circuit fabrication process, without the need for individual masks connecting the appropriate number of secondary capacitors. This provides an in-process or post-process trimming method to obtain the desired precision and accuracy for capacitors. Various sizes and combinations of secondary capacitors can be connected to obtain high precision capacitors and/or improved matching of capacitance values.
US08424175B2
A process for fabricating a piezoactuated storage device having a tip array and a memory media, which includes but is not limited to: etching the regions on the surface of the silicon wafer to produce substantially pyramidal etch pits by anisotropic etching or chemical etching with potassium hydroxide (KOH); growing an oxide layer on a top surface of the silicon wafer and in the substantially pyramidal etch pits to produce oxidation sharpening of the substantially pyramidal etch pits; forming an array of conductive tips of a nanocarbon film of nanostructured carbon material by deposition, wherein the nanostructured carbon material is ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD), ta-C, or diamond-like carbon films; and forming an oxygen diffusion barrier layer by deposition of a TiAl, TaAl, or any other oxygen diffusion barrier layer material on the nanocarbon film.
US08424172B2
A touch fastener has a base and an array of discrete fastener elements each extending from the base and together forming with the base a contiguous mass of resin. Each discrete fastener element includes a stem rising from the base, and a head overhanging the base from a front side of the stem to a distal edge, the front side of the stem, an underside of the head, and an upper surface of the base together forming, in side profile, a generally curved retention space boundary surface such that the boundary surface forms, at its innermost extent, a retention cavity defined between curvature discontinuities spaced from both the base and the distal edge.
US08424170B2
A plastic hinged trim clip is described. The trim clip may secure two or more components together. The trim clip may include a body and a locking feature. The body may include a first end and a second end located on either side of a fold area. The locking feature may include a first hook located on the first end, and a second hook and first opening located on the second end. The first hook may engage with the second hook and the first opening. The locking feature may engage around one of the components. Each end may include an insertion portion to engage with another component. The locking feature may also include a third hook and a second opening that may engage with one another. The locking feature may increase the ratio of insertion to retention within the components to be greater than 1:2 or 1:3.
US08424169B2
A cord lock assembly is configured to selectively tighten and loosen a draw cord of an article. The cord lock assembly may include a shell, a piston and a spring member. The shell defines an interior chamber and includes aligned shell cord passages. The piston is slidably retained within the interior chamber. The piston includes a piston cord passage formed therethrough. The spring member exerts a force into the piston within the shell so that the piston cord passage is misaligned with respect to the shell cord passages in a locked position. A cord may be operatively secured to the piston and may be configured to be pulled to move the piston to align the piston cord passage with the shell cord passages in an unlocked position so that a draw cord may freely pass therethrough.
US08424164B2
A flexible molded grip for an implement handle having a pattern on the surface of portions raised above adjacent areas, with the surfaces of the raised portions textured. The raised textured portions may extend in the range of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm above the intermediate smooth portions. The area of each of the raised portions may be in the range of about 100-200 percent (%) of the area of the intermediate spaces. The pattern of raised portions may include patterns such as polygonal, circular, oval and elliptical patterns. The method includes forming raised portions in a mold and forming textured surfaces on the raised portions after removal from the mold.
US08424161B2
A furniture hinge includes a fitting part and a hinge cup that is pivotably connected thereto by way of at least one articulated lever. The articulated lever is connected to the hinge cup by way of an articulated axis (A). A cushioning apparatus can be actuated by an actuating element and is provided to cushion a relative movement between the fitting part and the hinge cup. The actuating element is mounted inside the hinge cup rotatably about a rotational axis (S) extending substantially parallel to the articulated axis (A) of the hinge cup, and the cushioning apparatus includes at least one linear cushioning member having at least one linearly displaceable plunger. A transmission mechanism converts a rotary movement of the actuating element into a linear movement of the plunger of the linear cushioning member.
US08424159B2
A door retaining device having a housing and a retaining rod which traverses it, the device including a brake housed in the housing having a brake body stressed by a corresponding compression spring towards the retaining rod. The housing is formed by several parts assembled to one another, including a guide body molded in plastic for guiding the rod, provided with a through hole which is traversed by the rod and with at least one side hole in communication with the through hole; and a receptacle, detachably plugged to the side hole of the guide body, which houses and guides the movement of the brake body towards the retaining rod through the side hole, and in which the compression spring is supported to exert its thrusting action on the brake body.
US08424157B2
A tool for a surface treating appliance includes a main body connected to a conduit. The main body includes a first suction channel and a second suction channel in fluid communication with the first suction channel and located between the first suction channel and an outlet from the main body. In use, a relatively low vacuum is generated in the first suction channel which draws a first dirt-bearing fluid flow into the main body, and a relatively high vacuum is generated in the second suction channel, which draws a second dirt-bearing fluid flow into the main body and receives the first dirt-bearing fluid flow from the first suction channel. To maintain the pressure differences between the suction channels, the main body includes flexible surface engaging members located about the suction channels, and between the first suction channel and the second suction channel.
US08424144B2
A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. The activation device can include two contact members fixed in a non-contact position on an outside of the handle. A method can include causing conduction between the contact members to activate the illumination circuit. The toothbrush can be an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush can have an illumination member positioned such that light from the illumination member can be seen by a user in a mirror facing the user.
US08424136B2
A mobile treatment table having a central support operably connected with a wheel assembly. A support member is pivotally connected with the central support and operable between a vertical position and a horizontal position. At least one support leg is disposed at a distal end of the support member and operable between a deployed position substantially orthogonal to the support member and a non-deployed position substantially parallel with the support member. A handle extends from a proximal end of the support member and forms a portion of the support member when the support member is in the horizontal position.
US08424135B2
An adjustable bed system includes first and second end boards. A first height adjustment mechanism is secured to the first end board via a first mounting member and a second height adjustment mechanism is secured to the second end board via a second mounting member. The second height adjustment mechanism is independent of the first height adjustment mechanism. An external housing member is engagable with one of the first and second mounting members. A transition box is operatively engagable with one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms. The transition box is positioned within the external housing such that the transition box is substantially inhibited from rotation during height adjustment of the bed system. A drive shaft interconnects the transition box, at a first end thereof, and the other of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms, at a second end thereof.
US08424129B2
A bath spout cover is provided that includes a body structure having an upper portion, two opposing side portions, and a front portion; a receiving area defined between the upper portion, the two opposing side portions, and the front portion; a strap spanning the two opposing side portions, said strap being adjustable on at least one of the side portions of the body structure; and at least one aperture defined by one of the side portions of the body structure, said aperture for receiving an end of the strap. Further provided are methods for securing a bath spout cover to a bath spout.
US08424128B2
A drawer is disclosed which is installed in a cabinet structure containing plumbing comprising water lines and a waste line. The drawer comprises a sink which is disposed in the drawer proximate the top of the drawer near one side of the drawer and the sink comprises a fold-down faucet, valves and a drain. The drawer also comprises a plumbing mount plate for connection to the water and a waste line in the cabinet structure. Flexible tubing connects the valves and drain of the sink to the plumbing mount plate.
US08424125B2
A urinal attachment for a toilet bowl has a flow diverter with a receptacle bowl at a top end of the flow diverter. The receptacle bowl leads to a receptacle neck which leads to a receptacle elbow which leads to a first vertical tube in telescopic connection with a second vertical tube. The second vertical tube leads to an outlet. A bowl connector portion includes a front shield bracket connecting the flow diverter to a rim of the toilet bowl. The bracket includes a rim connector having a vertical rim member, a horizontal rim member and a rim scoop. The rim scoop has a select convex shape and a front shield with a bottom rim. The front shield has a convex shape.
US08424119B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to body gear having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to methods and apparatuses that utilize an array of heat managing elements coupled to a base material to direct body heat while also maintaining the desired transfer properties of the base material. In some embodiments, the heat managing material elements include heat management elements that reflect heat or conduct heat, and may be directed towards the body of a user or away from the body of the user.
US08424115B2
A bending yielding feature for use along an edge of any flexible wristband design provides a cushioning effect to a wearer's wrist or ankle as the wristband is worn, thereby helping to prevent injury to the wearer's wrist or ankle as he flexes his wrist or ankle against the wristband. The bending yielding feature can include many edge designs such as a scalloped edge, a curved edge, an edge with a series of extending flaps, and other such shapes.
US08424112B2
This invention concerns improved protective rib and lower back pads (2) for protecting an individual wearing the protective rib and lower back pads (2) against impact to the ribs and/or lower back region of the human body. The improvement comprises protective rib and lower back pads (2) with release mechanism (1) that allows the protective rib and lower back pads (2) to be safely and easily detached from its corresponding pair of protective shoulder pads (4) while the individual wearing the protective rib and lower back pads (2) is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of a secondary injury to the individual wearing the protective rib and lower back pads (2) as the protective rib and lower back pads (2) and associated protective shoulder pads (4) are removed.
US08429758B2
A risk assessment system and method includes an information system configured to disclose information to a third party. A risk determination model is configured to compute identifiability risk for on one or more records in storage. The identifiability risk is compared to a threshold prior to being disclosed wherein the information system is informed of the identifiability risk exceeding the threshold prior to disclosure to the third party.
US08429749B2
A network system by the present invention can quickly detect viruses and does not easily become a new cause of vulnerability. A packet data comparator branches inputted packet data into three branches, and includes an additional pattern matching unit which compares the branched data with the stored data and performs matching with collation patterns stored in a rewritable storage area, a fixed pattern matching unit which compares the branched data with the stored data and performs the matching with a logical operation configured with known collation patterns, a notification packet matching unit which compares the branched data with the stored data and finds a notification packet, and an identity detection aggregation unit which aggregates results from the respective matching units. Moreover, a virus filter, a virus checker, and a secure network system are realized by using the present invention.
US08429745B1
A computer-implemented method for data loss prevention on mobile computing systems may include (1) identifying a mobile computing system configured to execute only one application at a time as a foreground application, (2) determining that the mobile computing system has begun executing a sensitive application as the foreground application, (3) identifying a first enumeration of screenshots stored on the mobile computing system when the mobile computing system began executing the sensitive application as the foreground application, (4) identifying a second enumeration of screenshots stored on the mobile computing system, (5) determining that at least one new screenshot was taken on the mobile computing system while the sensitive application was the foreground application by detecting a difference between the first enumeration and the second enumeration, and (6) performing a security action upon detecting the difference. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08429736B2
A proxy device such as a firewall uses an internal socket namespace such as a text string such that connection requests must be explicitly redirected to a listening socket in the alternate namespace in order to connect to a service. Because external connections cannot directly address the listening socket or service, greater security is provided than with traditional firewall or proxy devices. To receive a redirected proxy connection, a service process creates a listening socket and binds a name in an alternate namespace to the socket before listening for connections.
US08429733B2
To provide an authentication system allowing stable determination as to whether a user is a registered user while saving user's trouble, an information processing device capable of data communication with a plurality of image forming apparatuses extracts an image forming apparatus connected to an IC card reader from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, based on reply signals transmitted from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and transmits user account information of registered users to the extracted image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus connectable to the IC card reader performs, if it is determined that the IC card reader is connected to the image forming apparatus, the authentication process based on the user account information of registered users received from the information processing device and on the information read by the IC card reader.
US08429712B2
An identification module receives a password request for a specified user and communicates an encrypted password field in response thereto, wherein the encrypted password field references a directory object corresponding to the specified user. The present invention also teaches an authentication module that communicates the password request to the identification module and receives the encrypted password field therefrom. Upon receiving the encrypted password field, the authentication module authenticates the specified user against the referenced directory object. In some embodiments, the encrypted password field is stored in an identification data store of an identification server and the directory object is stored in an authentication data store of an authentication server.
US08429711B2
A mechanism for running interactive applications with a minimal set of privileges is disclosed. The privileges form a subset of the privileges afforded to the user requesting the application and are allocated consistent with the principle of least privilege. The application runs with the minimal amount of permissions necessary to accomplish its assigned tasks. A new user account is created and provisioned or identified for each application to which a user requests access. The accounts have a subset or superset of the access rights and operating system privileges that the user who is logged on to the system and requesting access to the application ordinarily enjoys. The subset/superset of the user's privileges is determined by a policy-based decision system. The policy-based decision system makes its determination based on an analysis of the application requirements, an analysis of the data security and privacy concerns associated with the execution of the application, the identity of the user and user's role and any other policy considerations previously specified by an administrator. Once the determination as to the appropriate set of privileges to be afforded in the execution environment has been made, the execution environment is created and provisioned or a pre-existing execution environment possessing the requisite privileges is identified and the remote user is logged into the server-side account. The application-specific accounts may be audited by audit trail tools that provide evidence of policy enforcement.
US08429707B2
An approach is provided for controlling a set-top box based on sensor triggered events on a user device. A set-top box receives a control message from a user device, wherein the control message specifies an event corresponding to one or more sensors of the user device. The set-top box maps the event to an activity associated with an application that is executed by the set-top box. Also, the set-top box presents media content provided by the application according to the mapped activity.
US08429704B2
The present invention contemplates providing an experience platform within a CDN, as well as sentio or experience codecs, and experience agents for supporting the experience platform. The experience platform may be provided by a service provider to enable an experience provider to compose and direct a participant experience. The service provider monetizes the experience by charging the experience provider and/or the participants for services. Alternatively, the experience platform may be provided by the CDN, either as an integrated component of the CDN, or a supplemental complimentary aspect. The participant experience can involve one or more experience participants. The experience provider can create an experience with a variety of dimensions and features. As will be appreciated, the following description provides one paradigm for understanding the multi-dimensional experience available to the participants. There are many suitable ways of describing, characterizing and implementing the experience platform contemplated herein.
US08429691B2
A computational recommendation engine is described. In embodiment(s), identifiers of ranked programs can be distributed to television client devices, and then a viewing vector from each of the television client devices can be received where the viewing vectors indicate which of the ranked programs have been displayed for viewing at different ones of the television client devices. A client devices group can be created that includes a subset of the television client devices based on the viewing vectors that are received from respective ones of the television client devices. A ranked program can be determined that has not been displayed for viewing by some of the television client devices in the client devices group, and a recommendation of the ranked program can be communicated to the television client devices in the client devices group that have not had the ranked program displayed for viewing.
US08429684B2
A broadcast system, method and apparatus providing content on demand. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses for rating content to be broadcast or to be broadcast potentially from a server. Additional aspects of particular embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for automatically managing storage resources of client systems. For one embodiment of the present invention, a user consumes a number of data files each having an associated temporal metadata table (TMDT). Each TMDT contains a plurality of time-indexed entries, each entry containing metadata describing a segment of the corresponding data file. The TMDT and user interaction during consumption of a one or more data files are used to create a preference profile table (PPT) for the user. The PPT is stored at the client system and is used to evaluate subsequent content. Such evaluation is used to determine broadcast schedules or automatically manage storage resources.
US08429683B2
A method may include tracking program viewing information via a set-top box and storing the tracked program viewing information.
US08429681B2
An optical member driving apparatus comprising: a holding member configured to have an optical member mounted thereon; a driving unit assembly configured to be capable of driving the holding member; a connecting member configured to connect the holding member and the driving unit assembly; and a jointing member configured to joint the connecting member and either or both of the holding member and the driving unit assembly.
US08429675B1
Two or more virtual machines may be co-located on a same physical machine, and the virtual machines may communicate with each other. To establish efficient communication, memory mapping information for respective virtual machines can be exchanged between the respective virtual machines. An instance of a virtualized network interface can be established, and a direct communications channel can be mapped between respective virtualized network interfaces. Data packet routing information can be updated, such that data packets transferred between two of more co-located virtual machines can be transferred using the virtualized network interface communications channel.
US08429673B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a systems and methods of accessing information across distributed computing components. In one embodiment, a first software component has associated information and references to information associated with other software components that provide inputs to the first software component. Information about downstream software components may be accessed through the references. In one embodiment, a first software service such as a web service may include metadata that describes the service and pointers to other services consumed by the first software service. Embodiments of the invention provide automated auditing and searching across related software components.
US08429672B2
For implementation of a transfer of data between two program elements, a buffer object is provided between and linking the program elements. One of the program elements writes data into the buffer and the other program element reads data from the buffer, thus driving data transfer. The program element writing the data causes the buffer to call the reading program element. The program element reading the data causes the buffer object to call the writing program element.
US08429666B2
Various techniques are described for resource management on a computing platform. A computing platform can receive a query message that specifies an amount of a resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can select a selected recommendation level from a plurality of recommendation levels, based on an evaluation of a request for the amount of the resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can generate a resource allocation recommendation that includes the selected recommendation level with respect to the amount of the resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can send the resource allocation recommendation.
US08429661B1
Systems and methods storing data for multi-threaded processing permit multiple execution threads to store data in a single first-in first-out (FIFO) memory. Threads are assigned to classes, with each class including one or more threads. Each class may be allocated dedicated entries in the FIFO memory. A class may also be allocated shared entries in the FIFO memory. The shared entries may be used by any thread. Data for a first thread may be stored in the FIFO memory while data for a second thread is read from the FIFO memory, even when the first thread and the second thread are not in the same class. The FIFO memory is shared between the threads to conserve die area, however each thread may be executed independently, as if each thread has a dedicated FIFO memory.
US08429654B2
A controller controls one or more process elements in a process control system. The controller also generates and buffers multiple events associated with operation of the controller. Each event is associated with a unique identifier, such as a numerical identifier. A supervisory device receives at least some of the events from the controller. The supervisory device determines if any of the events have not been received from the controller based on the unique identifiers. The supervisory device also initiates an event recovery if at least one of the events has not been received from the controller. During the event recovery, the controller recovers at least one event, such as any event having a numerical identifier greater than a numerical identifier identified by the supervisory device. The controller communicates the at least one recovered event to the supervisory device during the event recovery.
US08429653B2
Activations of a plurality of incoming branches may be detected at a synchronization point having a plurality of outgoing branches. A first synchronization may be executed after a first number of activations is detected, and at least one of a plurality of outgoing branches from the synchronization point may be activated, based on the first synchronization. A second synchronization may be executed after a second number of activations is detected, and at least a second one of the plurality of outgoing branches from the synchronization point may be activated, based on the second synchronization.
US08429644B2
A web application processing method, the web application processing method including: receiving web application information regarding a web application; accessing a web page for the web application using the web application information; reading contents from the web page; generating a virtual application corresponding to the web application using the read contents; and installing the generated virtual application in an image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is possible for a user to easily install a web application using uniform resource locator (URL) information, thereby increasing user convenience.
US08429642B1
A computer-implemented method for virally updating software in a networked computer including performing neighbor computer discovery using the networked computer to ascertain neighbor computers and ascertaining, using the networked computer, whether any of the neighbor computers possesses an update package configured for updating the software. If a neighbor computer of the neighbor computers possesses the update package, the method includes retrieving the update package to the networked computer and updating the software in the networked computer using the update package.
US08429629B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an architecture for efficiently loading and executing byte code generated from a general programming language. In particular, a byte code interpreter implements a virtual machine that executes the byte code and is divided into a kernel component and one or more user components. The kernel component of the virtual machine is integrated into the operating system kernel. The user component runs in the same virtual address space as the applet, provides support for executing an applet and couples the applet to the operating system. In addition, the kernel component of the virtual machine may share code with multiple user components.
US08429624B2
An application programming interface (API) implementation that can interface between an application and a programming library. The implementation includes a Function Router Wrapper that receives a formatted string from the application. The formatted string includes a function name element filled with a function name, an input element filled with function input parameters, and an unfilled output element. The Function Router Wrapper converts the formatted string and passes it to a Function Router, which parses the converted formatted string to access the function name and the function input parameters. The Function Router calls a library function based on the accessed information. When the called library function is completed, the Function Router collects generated function outputs and embeds them into the formatted string output element. The Function Router passes the formatted string back up to the Function Router Wrapper, which converts the formatted string and passes it back up to the application.
US08429623B2
A mechanism is disclosed for enabling a set of code intended to be executed on a first platform (intended platform) to be executed on another platform (target platform). In one implementation, this mechanism takes a significantly different approach than that taken by current techniques. Rather than duplicating, augmenting, or changing a platform to accommodate the set of code, this mechanism alters the set of code to accommodate the platform. By altering the set of code, the mechanism causes the set of code to compensate for the difference(s) between the intended platform and the target platform. By compensating for the difference(s) in the two platforms, the set of code, when executed on the target platform, is able to produce the same result or results as it would have produced had it been executed on the intended platform. Thus, the set of code is able to execute properly on the target platform.
US08429618B2
A system and method for creating abstract descriptions of general applications includes creating a library of code primitives and expressing skeletal code structures in terms of parametric regular tree types including parameterized declarations of the code primitives. Parametric values are generated using set comprehensions. The set comprehensions are applied to the skeletal code structures to generate a working application such that a parametric, regular object type system is combined with a comprehension syntax for creating abstract descriptions of a general application.
US08429611B2
A method for the generation of a source code for a computer program for the execution or simulation of a complex process in which a multiplicity of subjects communicate with one another. In this method, the processes are described, the description of the processes is stored in a process file, and with the aid of the process file a source code for a computer program is generated, with a separate source code file being generated for each subject. Through the provision of a source code file for each subject, a complex process may be easily and therefore automatically split into several sub-programs, the source code files, which may be generated automatically. In this way it is possible to generate automatically a computer program for a very complex process. A further benefit of the method according to the invention is that it may be executed after automatic generation, i.e. it may be validated by an execution immediately after generation.
US08429606B2
A computing device receives an object at runtime of a compiled application, wherein the object is a component of the application. The computing device generates a transactional proxy for the object, the transactional proxy including transactional logic, a transactional marker and a pointer to the object. The transactional proxy is passed to the application, wherein the application to make calls on the transactional proxy instead of on the object.
US08429604B1
Systems and methods for extracting behavioral code from a software code file are disclosed. A behavioral code extractor logic accesses an existing software code file that comprises structural code and behavioral code. The behavioral code extractor logic extracts, from the software code file, at least a portion of the behavioral code into a separate file. And, the behavioral code extractor logic generates binding code for referencing the extracted behavioral code to maintain run-time behavior of the software code file consistent with its run-time behavior before the extracting. In certain embodiments, the software code file is a source file for a web page, and the structural code comprises markup language code. The behavioral code may comprise scripting language code and/or event attributes code defined by markup language.
US08429600B2
A system and method for generating a reusable virtual environment item to be integrated into a visual computer simulation using data gathered from a plurality of developers, comprising a centralized knowledge management module, a plurality of distributed workspaces, a content repository, and a content production tool.
US08429599B2
A computer method and system preserves derived union constraints and enforces the same in generated target code. The method includes (a) providing a model element having one or more derived union properties, (b) tracking derived union constraints from the derived union properties of the model element, and (c) interpreting the tracked derived union constraints and generating therefrom an implementation that enforces the derived union constraint. Tracking may be by annotating the model element accordingly.
US08429597B2
This disclosure provides various embodiments of software for providing a user interface (UI) model. In one aspect, the software identifies one or more components associated with a particular work center. The software then collects modeling information from the one or more components identified as being associated with the particular work center, and integrates the collected modeling information into a UI model associated with the particular work center. In some instances, the particular work center may be associated with or defined by a corresponding work center model illustrating the particular work center's UI layout, including at least a portion of components associated with the particular work center.
US08429593B1
A method is provided to evaluate whether one or more test patterns is power safe for use during manufacturing testing of an integrated circuit that includes a nonuniform power grid and that includes a scan chain, the method comprising: assigning respective toggle count thresholds for respective power grid regions of the non-uniform power grid; and determining whether respective numbers of toggles by scan elements of the scan chain within one or more respective power grid regions meet respective toggle count thresholds for the one or more respective regions during at least one scan-shift cycle in the course of scan-in of a test pattern to the scan chain.
US08429584B2
A method for creating a layout for design representation of an electronic circuit with at least one port. The method includes segmenting the at least one port in the design representation into different regions, classifying the different regions of the at least one port according to timing and/or electronic and/or layout characteristics, assigning a priority for each classified region of the at least one port according to rules based on the timing and/or electronic and/or layout characteristics, and routing the design representation by accessing at least one of the classified regions of the port according to an order of the assigned priorities.
US08429583B2
Methods and apparatuses to hierarchically retime a circuit. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a module of a circuit is designed with a plurality of different latencies to have a plurality of different minimum clock periods (e.g., through retiming at the module level). In one example, the minimum clock periods are determined from detailed timing analyses after the placement and routing for the module; and, in retiming the circuit that contains the module, a data flow graph representation of the module is constructed based on the target clock period of the circuit and the correlation between the latencies and the minimum clock periods. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, hierarchical retiming is performed in which portions of the circuit is retimed to generate results (e.g., for different latencies), which are selectively used for the retiming of the entire circuit based on the target clock period.
US08429574B2
A hierarchical schematic design editor displays mask layers for each shape as mask specific colors and alerts a user to mask layer conflicts during the design and editing process. According to an embodiment, mask colors may be assigned at the time the shapes or geometries and cells are placed in a circuit design layout, or when a mask layer condition indicating that two or more shapes should be set to different mask layers is detected. In an embodiment, if the distance between two shapes is less than a predetermined threshold, those shapes may cause a mask layer condition. Shapes may be grouped to facilitate mask layer condition detection and mask layer assignment.
US08429571B2
Provided is an etch proximity correction method in which an accurate etch bias value is calculated. The etch proximity correction method includes creating an etch bias value from a project area corresponding to an area blocked by a pattern region within a linear distance projected from a target position selected in a target layout to an outermost portion of the proximity region and a non-project area corresponding to an area projected into an edge linear distance from an edge of the pattern region blocked in the linear distance to the outermost portion of the proximity region and correcting the target position in the layout using the etch bias value. Since an etch bias model includes the project area and the non-project area, the accurate etch bias value may be calculated.
US08429563B2
It is difficult appropriately to select only a favorite image in a list display screen of small images such as a thumbnail image. An image processing apparatus is provided that has, in various embodiments, one or more of the features of an indicator for indicating a reduced image to be subjected to a specific image processing among displayed reduced images; a display controller for displaying an image in a size larger than the size of the reduced image indicated by the indicator; and an executor for executing the specific image processing on the stored image after the mentioned display controller displays the image in the size larger than the size of the reduced image.
US08429562B2
A computer user interface is provided which allows a user to adjust the size of icons based upon a user's preference or based upon a characteristic of the objects that the icons represent. When the icon sizing is performed according to a user preference, a relative sizing scheme or an arbitrary icon sizing scheme can be employed to variably size icons. Providing the ability to size icons in such a manner allows users to represent a user's categorization of object importance, for example.
US08429546B2
Various embodiments provide a mechanism to allow end users to install web applications and websites onto their desktop. In accordance with one or more embodiments, client-side code can be utilized to allow developers associated with a website to define boundaries associated with user interaction, and have those boundaries enforced by a run-time engine. In at least some embodiments, developers can provide, through JavaScript code and/or HTML markup, various configurations for the creation of a start menu shortcut, navigation, and so-called jumplist integration.
US08429543B2
An interface enables perception of information regarding e-mail communications. The interface includes an e-mail application user interface that enables perception of e-mail message information for one or more e-mails received by an e-mail participant and that enables active display of one or more of the received e-mails selected by the e-mail participant, The interface also includes a mechanism that determines a request for e-mail message information for one of the e-mails from within a desired e-mail message that is not actively displayed. The interface further includes an informational tool tip that provides a temporary perceivable indication to the e-mail participant of at least a portion of the requested information for the desired e-mail message while maintaining active display of the one or more selected e-mails.
US08429538B2
An automated method for generating Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's) is illustrated in the context of a system for processing financial applications. In one embodiment, the GUI generator converts domain data representing over one thousand application types into an equal number of corresponding user screens. The interface may also be bi-directional, operating on user inputs to validate data or check for double keying.
US08429536B2
A method and corresponding apparatus provide a tiled map and display object layer over a network. The method includes receiving at an application server a request for a map and a request for display objects from at least one data stream available over the network, the display objects to be displayed on the map on a user computerized device, sending a request for the requested map from the application server over the network to a mapping server, receiving at the application server the requested map as a tiled map layer, sending over the network a request to the one or more data streams for the requested display objects, receiving at the application server locations of the requested display objects, combining the tiled map layer and the requested display objects into a tiled map and display object layer, and sending the tiled map and display object layer to the user computerized device.
US08429531B2
In an object selecting apparatus for allowing a user to select an object in a video image: when the object sought to be selected by the user moves, the user selects the desired object intuitively and without feeling uncomfortable; an input operation from the user is received and anticipated paths of the respective objects are estimated based on path information occurring during the certain period of time prior to a point in time which is the start of a predetermined period of time before a time of receipt; and an appropriate object is determined as the object selected by the user when the anticipated position on the anticipated path, which corresponds to the time of receipt, is close to an inputted position.
US08429527B1
Merging data for use in a workflow application may include providing a user interface that facilitates collecting information from a user such as an indication of a first document and a second document that each include multiple records, a selection of a key indicator field common to both documents, and some indication of which of the two documents is a controlling document. Without the need for the user providing programming instructions, the workflow application joins information from both documents by identifying whether any of the records from the non-controlling document has a key indicator value that matches the key value of a select record from the controlling document. Based on this identifying, the workflow application dynamically generates a merged document which it can then use to perform one or more actions.
US08429521B2
A computer-implemented method of presenting an electronic document via a web browser includes maintaining on a computing device a client data model of the electronic document, the client data model comprising data that defines content of the electronic document and formatting of the content of the electronic document, and rendering a first sub-portion of content of the electronic document from the client data model to a document object model (DOM) for the web browser. The method also includes providing the DOM to the web browser, for the web browser to display a view of the electronic document from the DOM.
US08429520B2
A citation record extraction system is provided for extracting citation records from publication list pages having different layouts and contents. An HTML rendering engine receives a publication list web page, parses the publication list web page to obtain layout information of the web page. A web page sequence builder generates a web page characteristic sequence for the web page according to the layout information. A web page repeated pattern analyzer analyzes repeated patterns presented in the web page characteristic sequence, screens out non-citation records therefrom, and obtains a citation record of the publication list web page.
US08429514B1
A parity pattern defines a repeated distribution of parity blocks within a distributed parity disk array (“DPDA”). The parity pattern identifies on which disks the parity block or blocks for a stripe are located. When a new disk is added to the DPDA, the parity pattern is modified so that the distribution of parity blocks within the parity pattern is even. Parity blocks within the DPDA are then redistributed to conform with the modified parity pattern.
US08429510B2
An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to store a block of data values arranged in a first order. The first circuit may be further configured to present a plurality of the data values in parallel in response to a plurality of address signals, where the data values are presented in a second order. The second circuit may be configured to generate the plurality of address signals in response to a first signal, a second signal and a third signal. The second circuit generally includes an even number of address generators configured to generate the plurality of address signals in parallel.
US08429508B2
According to one embodiment, an encoder/decoder apparatus includes an encoder module, a decoder module, and a transposing module. The encoder module is configured to generate a Hamming code from the input data, in accordance with a check matrix having a specific regularity. The decoder module is configured to detect an error position in the output data composed of the Hamming code, in accordance with the check matrix. The transposing module is configured to perform a transposing process of transposing some of the columns of the check matrix, while maintaining the regularity of the check matrix, and to change the error position in accordance with the transposing process, during the decoding process.
US08429507B1
A device for detecting and correcting errors in a data stream. For example, a device for detecting and correcting errors in a data stream including identifiers for a track address or identifiers for encoded words in a wireless transmission. The devices employ a class of error correction codes to, for instance, encode track addresses on a surface of a data storage medium. The encoding modifies natural track addresses so that the difference between bit sequences in adjacent track addresses is constant while simultaneously enabling both error detection and error correction, thereby enabling more accurate head positioning in a data storage device, in one embodiment.
US08429501B2
A memory storage device, a memory controller, and a log likelihood ratio (LLR) generation method are provided. A read data corresponding to a first storage state is obtained from memory cells of a flash memory chip in the memory storage device by using bit data read voltages. An error checking and correcting procedure is performed on the read data to obtain a second storage state corresponding to the read data when the read data is written. An amount of storage error is obtained in storage states satisfying a statistic number, and a storage error means that data is in the second storage state when being written and is in the first storage state when being read. A logarithmic operation is executed according to the statistic number, an amount of the storage states, and the amount of storage error to generate a first LLR of the read data.
US08429484B2
The present invention relates to a real time radar data transmission system and process for transmitting forward error correctable data to a plurality of parallel communication channels.
US08429481B2
A base station receives an uplink data packet from a user equipment based on a synchronous hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol, and transmits a first information element and a second information element in parallel to the user equipment. The first information element indicates whether to perform a retransmission of the uplink data packet, and the second information element indicates modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the retransmission. The base station receives the retransmission from the user equipment according to the modulation and coding scheme. The first information element is for example an ACK/NACK feedback message.
US08429480B2
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method and apparatus to detect with a hybrid automatic repeat request function a collision between an uplink packet re-transmission and a new uplink packet transmission within a hybrid automatic repeat request process, and in response, to dynamically allocating resources for transmitting the new uplink packet transmission in a different hybrid automatic repeat request process that does not collide with the uplink packet re-transmission. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the invention, there is a method and apparatus to transmit a packet re-transmission in a hybrid automatic repeat request process using a semi-persistently scheduled uplink resource, and responsive to receiving a dynamic allocation of a different hybrid automatic repeat request process, to transmit a new packet using the dynamically allocated different hybrid automatic repeat request process.
US08429471B2
An apparatus for precluding the use of extended JTAG operations, including a JTAG control chain, a feature fuse, a level sensor, an access controller, and a blow controller. The JTAG control chain enables/disables the extended JTAG operations. The feature fuse indicates whether the extended JTAG features are to be disabled. The level sensor monitors an external voltage signal, and indicates that the external voltage signal is at a legal level. The access controller determines if the feature fuse is blown, and directs the JTAG control chain to disable the extended JTAG operations if the feature fuse is blown, and directs the JTAG control chain to disable the extended JTAG operations if the external voltage signal is at an illegal level regardless of whether the feature fuse is blown. The blow controller receives a voltage, and blows a selected fuse within a fuse array responsive to a valve of the voltage.
US08429467B2
An infrastructure is provided for gathering diagnostic data that is relevant to an error or other conditions detected in a monitored system. A diagnosability framework is provided that automates the gathering of relevant diagnostic data upon occurrence of the condition in the monitored system. In one embodiment, context data is determined for the condition detected in the monitored system. A rule-based engine is provided that is configured to automatically determine one or more actions to be performed for the condition detected in the monitored system based on the determined context data. The actions may include performing tasks that gather diagnostic data that is relevant to the detected condition, store the gathered diagnostic data in a repository, recommend one or more diagnostic actions to a user, and other diagnostic related actions.
US08429466B2
The testing of services techniques include a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments of these techniques, the method includes receiving a first payload generated by a first service. The first service transmits the first payload to a system. The method further includes receiving a second payload from a second service. The second payload is generated based on data received from the first service. The method further includes receiving a schema associated with the second payload. The schema is configured to define the structure of the second payload. The method further includes determining one or more discrepancies between the second payload and the first payload using the schema associated with the second payload. The method further includes determining a testing result based on the one or more discrepancies.This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08429464B2
Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
US08429460B2
An embodiment relates generally to an apparatus for debugging. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store data and an arithmetic logic unit configured to perform logical and arithmetic operations. The apparatus also includes a control unit configured to interface with the memory and arithmetic logic unit and to decode instructions. The control unit is configured to write a data state designated to be overwritten by a currently executing instruction to a buffer allocated in the memory in response to a trace debug flag being set.
US08429455B2
There is provided a failure analysis function capable of reducing the time required to resolve a failure in a piece of equipment to be monitored. When the failure analysis function senses that the status of a piece of equipment which had been abnormal has returned to normal, it displays, of failure analysis results, one based on an equipment abnormality which has been resolved in a GUI separately from the other analysis results. If a failure analysis result is derived based on a plurality of failure events, the failure analysis function displays the failure analysis result in the GUI separately from the other failure analysis results when all of the failure events are confirmed to be resolved (see FIG. 16).
US08429453B2
A management server includes a meta rule for identifying an event to be a root cause and a failure recovery method that corresponds to the meta rule for an event capable of occurring in a plurality of node apparatuses, and also displays a cause event to be a root cause of an event detected by the management server, and a method for recovering from this cause event.
US08429450B2
Hyperclusters are a cluster of clusters. Each cluster has associated with it one or more resource groups, and independent node failures within the clusters are handled by platform specific clustering software. The management of coordinated failovers across dependent or independent resources running on heterogeneous platforms is contemplated. A hypercluster manager running on all of the nodes in a cluster communicates with platform specific clustering software regarding any failure conditions, and utilizing a rule-based decision making system, determines actions to take on the node. A plug-in extends exit points definable in non-hypercluster clustering technologies. The failure notification is passed to other affected resource groups in the hypercluster.
US08429446B2
A storage system is configured to create and manage virtual ports on physical ports. The storage system can transfer associations between virtual ports and physical ports when a failure occurs in a physical port or a link connected to the physical port so that a host can access volumes under the virtual ports through another physical port. The storage system can also change associations between virtual ports and physical ports by taking into account the relative loads on the physical ports. When a virtual machine is migrated from one host computer to another, the loads on the physical ports in the storage system can be used to determine whether load balancing should take place. Additionally, the storage system can transfer virtual ports to a remote storage system that will take over the virtual ports, so that a virtual machine can be migrated to remote location.
US08429435B1
Automation devices, systems, architectures, and methods for energy management and other applications
An automation system including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to perform at least one function relating to energy consumption in a facility and an automation controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and providing for the control of the performance of the function by each device, wherein the automation controller includes a compiler configured to take high level rules and information about the peripheral devices and produce at least one program that will respond to data from the peripheral devices and to timer, calendar, clock, and preprogrammed events and a server component that provides the data as input to the at least one program and takes actions based on the output of the program.
US08429434B2
Arrangements reducing power consumption of an air conditioner and a storage device. A control method with a management server apparatus for a plurality of storage devices and an air conditioner includes calculating plural combinations of allocating the work amount to the plurality of storage devices, calculating the heating value of each storage device included in the plurality of storage devices for each of the plural combinations, calculating the quantity of heat conducted to the air conditioner, based on the heating value and positional information of the plurality of storage devices and the air conditioner, calculating the power consumption to cool the quantity of heat conducted to the air conditioner, selecting a combination included in the plural combinations based on the power consumption of the air conditioner, and issuing a move of the data stored in a first storage device to a second storage device, based on the selected combination.
US08429431B2
A system and method of increasing the efficiency of overall power utilization in data centers by integrating a power management approach based on a comprehensive, dynamic model of the data center created with integrated environmental and computational power monitoring to correlate power usage with different configurations of business services utilization, with the techniques of CPU level power management.
US08429415B1
Computer login may comprise any user-determined submission. A user may select among different devices for input, select the signal content, and as well select the types of signals used for a login signature. Account identification may be inferred by signature rather than explicitly stated. A plurality of discontiguous data blocks in a plurality of files may be employed for validation. The paths to data used in validation may be multifarious, regardless of the prospects for successful authorization.
US08429402B2
In a method and arrangement for authenticating a data processing system, first information is generated by a first data processing system and delivered to a second data processing system for a control unit. First data are transmitted from the second data processing system to the first data processing system over a data line, the first data being generated by the second data processing system with aid of the first information and additional information contained in the second data processing system. Second data are generated by the first data processing system depending on the first data and transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system. Authentication information for authenticating the second data processing system is generated by the second data processing system with aid of the second data.
US08429401B2
A storage device capable of selectively rendering certain data irretrievable is disclosed. The storage device includes Write Once Read Many (WORM) storage medium, a key generator, an encrypted write component, an erasable storage medium and a key deleter. The WORM storage medium is capable of storing data, and the data stored in the WORM data storage medium are unerasable and unrewritable. The key generator provides a generated key that can be stored in the erasable storage medium. The encrypted write component writes a set of sensitive data encrypted by using the generated key to the WORM storage medium. In response to a request for deleting the set of sensitive data from the WORM storage medium, the key deleter deletes the generated key from the erasable storage medium.
US08429400B2
In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) sending a request to join a group to a service broker; (ii) receiving from the service broker a list of key servers servicing the group; and (iii) sending registration information to a selected one of the key servers in the list.
US08429389B2
There is disclosed a device, system, and method for a ROM BIOS based trusted encrypted operating system for use in a gaming environment. The gaming device includes a ROM storing a BIOS, a secure loader, an encrypted operating system, and a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted operating system. The decryption key is partitioned and scattered about the secure loader. The method includes initializing the BIOS, locating the decryption key, decrypting the encrypted operating system with the encryption key, verifying a plurality of check codes, and transferring control to the operating system. The check codes are verified responsive to decrypting the encrypted operating system. The check codes are dispersed about the operating system and are unrelated to the operating system. Control is transferred to the operating system responsive to verifying the check codes.
US08429369B2
In a computer executing processes based on a storage management program, an attribute collection unit collects attributes of storage nodes. A group creation unit creates at least two groups that include the storage nodes, in accordance with the attributes of the storage nodes collected by the attribute collection unit. A data allocation unit allocates distributed data and redundant distributed data to the groups created by the group creation unit in such a manner that the distributed data and the redundant distributed data having the same content as the distributed data are placed in different groups.
US08429364B1
A computer-implemented method for identifying the presence of sensitive data in a backup may comprise identifying a backup, identifying sensitive data in the backup, creating metadata that identifies the presence of the sensitive data in the backup, and associating the metadata with the backup. In addition, a method for preventing sensitive data from being placed in a backup may comprise identifying a file, identifying sensitive data in the file, and preventing the file from being placed in a backup. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08429359B1
A method and apparatus for backing up a storage system, e.g., one or more disk drives. In one embodiment, an apparatus utilizes a volume snapshot service (VSS) to create a snapshot image file of a computer's storage system and then subsequently reads the data blocks contained in the snapshot image file. A determination of the number of modified data blocks, i.e., the data blocks that have changed since a last backup operation, is made. The apparatus estimates a backup size from the number of modified data blocks and subsequently determines if the estimated backup size exceeds a predetermined threshold. In the event the predetermined threshold is exceeded, a backup operation is conducted.
US08429353B2
A method and a system for processor nodes configurable to operate in various distributed shared memory topologies. The processor node may be coupled to a first local memory. The first processor node may include a first local arbiter, which may be configured to perform one or more of a memory node decode or a coherency check on the first local memory. The processor node may also include a switch coupled to the first local arbiter for enabling and/or disabling the first local arbiter. Thus one or more processor nodes may be coupled together in various distributed shared memory configurations, depending on the configuration of their respective switches.
US08429352B2
A method and system for flushing physical memory blocks in a memory device is disclosed. The method includes detecting a quantity of available memory, background flushing partially obsolete memory blocks if the quantity decreases to a background activation threshold, disabling the background flushing if the quantity increases to a background deactivation threshold, foreground flushing the partially obsolete memory blocks if the quantity decreases to a foreground activation threshold, and disabling the foreground flushing if the quantity increases to a foreground deactivation threshold. The thresholds may be adaptively defined. The background flushing may occur when the host interface is idle. The foreground flushing may interleave writing operations with flushing operations while a write command is unfinished. The system includes a memory for receiving data with a host write command, and a controller for detecting a quantity of available memory and enabling and disabling background and foreground flushing depending on adaptive thresholds.
US08429351B1
Described are techniques for processing a data operation in a data storage system. A front-end component receives the data operation to read a data portion. In response to receiving the data operation, the front-end component performs first processing. The first processing includes determining whether the data operation is a read operation resulting in a cache hit to a prefetched data portion of a sequential stream, and if said determining determines that said data operation results in a cache hit to a prefetched data portion, performing processing in connection with prefetching additional data for said sequential stream. The processing includes determining whether to prefetch additional data for said sequential stream and, if so, an amount of additional data to prefetch. The processing uses one or more criteria to determine one or more of an amount of data to prefetch in a single prefetch request and a track ahead parameter.
US08429341B2
A system and method for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed. The system and method also include D disk elements, where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer, a switching fabric connected to the D disk elements to route requests to a corresponding disk element, and N network elements connected to the switching fabric. Each network element has a mapping function that for every value of V, specifies one or more elements from the set D that store the data specified by volume V, where N is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 3.
US08429326B2
A method and system for identifying a NAND-Flash without reading a device ID. The method includes: executing an identification flow for setting a first page of a block as a target block, utilizing a combinations table to query a target block, evaluating a result by comparing a identifying information in the target block with the combinations table, trying all combinations in the combinations table until correctly identifying the NAND-Flash by having a positive match result or returning an error if none of the combinations match.
US08429318B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a memory apparatus for improved write performance is disclosed. The memory apparatus includes a base printed circuit board (PCB) having an edge connector for plugging into a host server system; a card level power source to provide card level power during a power failure; a memory controller coupled to the card level power source and having one or more memory channels; and one or more non-volatile memory devices (NVMDs) coupled to the card level power source and organized to respectively couple to the memory channels controlled by the memory controller. Each memory controller provides queuing and scheduling of memory operations on a channel for each NVMD in the memory channels. Responsive to power failure, the memory controller receives card level power and changes the scheduling of memory operations to the NVMDs in each memory channel.
US08429315B1
In a system-on-chip (SoC) including a processor, a method is provided for stashing packet information that prevents cache thrashing. In operation, an Ethernet subsystem accepts a plurality of packets and sends the packets to an external memory for storage. A packet descriptor is derived for each accepted packet and is added to an ingress queue. Packet descriptors are transferred from the ingress queue to an egress queue supplying the packet descriptors to a processor. A context manager monitors the fill level of packet descriptors in the egress queue. In response to monitoring the fill level, the context manager stashes packets from the external memory into a cache, where each stashed packet is associated with a packet descriptor in the egress queue. Packet descriptors are transferred from the ingress queue to the egress queue in response to a number of packet descriptors in the egress queue falling below the fill level.
US08429308B2
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for migrating data from a storage device includes accessing data on a storage device. The method also includes providing at least one interface that allows for selecting a first operating system stored on the storage device. The interface further allows for selecting one or more settings stored on the storage device. The method further includes initiating a migration of the one or more settings from the storage device. The method further includes storing the one or more settings.
US08429303B2
A first database implemented on a remote device such as a handheld computer may be reconciled with a corresponding second database implemented on a host computer during execution of an application program on the handheld device. In addition, the application program may be executed according to program instructions stored in an application program file located in the remote device. The databases may be reconciled by first commencing execution of the application program. Then, during the course of program execution, a synchronization instruction located in said application program file is retrieved. The synchronization instruction is executed by establishing a communications link between the handheld computer and the host computer. Subsequently, any differences between the first database and the second database are reconciled. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention contemplate that in addition to reconciling all of the databases located on the handheld and host computers, less than all of the databases may be reconciled to reduce the amount of time required to execute the reconciliation process. In addition, after reconciliation control may be returned to the calling application program, or to another application, as determined by the application designer.
US08429299B2
A method of distributing audio and video processing tasks among devices interconnected to a display device via a local network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display device offloads some processing tasks to a computing device on the local network to achieve improved processing performance. The computing device receives audiovisual data, decodes, processes, encodes and transmits the encoded data to the display device in a suitable data format. The processing in the computing device is complementary to any processing to be performed in the display device. In another embodiment, the display device utilizes a plurality of devices on the local network to perform particular signal processing tasks. The other devices in network perform the processing tasks indicated by the display, and send processed data back to the display device for presentation, which helps improve the overall audiovisual data processing performance.
US08429291B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor for mapping packets associated with network flows to policy profiles independent of congestion level at the apparatus, and enforcing the policy profiles for the packets based on a congestion state. Packets associated with the same network flow are mapped to the same policy profile and at least some of the network flows are protected during network congestion. The apparatus further includes memory for storing the policy profiles. A method for protecting network flows during network congestion is also disclosed.
US08429288B2
The present invention relates to IPTV technical field, and discloses a method and system for implementing access of a large number of terminals to a streaming media server to solve the technical problems of the streaming media server having low processing efficiency and not supporting the access of a large number of terminals by TCP short connections when there are a large number of terminals accessing to the streaming media server in the prior art. The present invention uses EPOLL/POLL event polling interface to poll the events in the established link, thereby improving the capability of the system to accept the access of a large number of terminals. A socket file descriptor is used as an index entry of the polling list in the present invention such that the link retrieval efficiency is improved when there are a large number of terminals accessing.
US08429287B2
Audio content distribution from audio sources to client terminals through a network. An audio source interface receives raw audio from an audio source, and converts it into a digital audio clip in a digital audio packet, containing a timestamp and a channel identity corresponding to the audio source. A network audio server formats the digital audio packet into a network compliant digital audio file, which is stored at a network address. The network audio server generates a directory packet including the address of the digital audio file, the channel identity, and the timestamp, and, couples the directory packet to a directory server located on the network. The directory server outputs a directory stream to a client terminal on the network, which selects a directory packet and sends an audio file request through the network for the digital audio file. The audio file is then sent to the client terminal.
US08429275B2
A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for creating a social network map using non-voice communications are disclosed. For example, the method registers employment data of an employee, monitors non-voice communications of the employee, generates a social network map of the non-voice communications of the employee and analyzes the social network map to provide at least one correlation.
US08429272B2
An indicator for a device may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for a network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated.
US08429264B2
Methods, systems and apparatuses for managing computer processes in a computing environment may be described. An exemplary method may include the defining of a plurality of computer processes; the defining of a sequence that dictates the starting and stopping of the plurality of computer processes; the Defining of any process dependencies for the plurality of computer processes; the defining of a first networked environment where the plurality of computer processes run; the determining of an action to take following a system event; and the executing of the action.
US08429250B2
Systems and methods for enabling dynamic advertisement insertion into media files without transcoding are disclosed. The techniques disclosed involve retrieving files of the media and advertisement(s) and converting the files to an MPEG-2 transport stream (MPEG-2 TS) format. The MPEG-2 TS streams are then joined to insert the advertisement at a desired point in the media file. The resulting MPEG-2 TS stream is then converted back to a media file, which can be provided for downloading, or optionally reindexed. Because it does not require transcoding, this process can be performed on-the-fly to provide dynamic insertion of advertisements into media files. Other media file manipulation, including the insertion of non-advertisement media, is contemplated.
US08429244B2
Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.
US08429242B1
One embodiment of the invention relates to the transfer of content between a host computer that issues OAS access requests and a block I/O storage system. Specifically, a host computer may issue an access request for a content unit that identifies the content unit is an object identifier. The request may be received by a second server, which may determine the block address(es) on the block I/O storage system at which the content unit is stored. A request may then be sent to the block I/O storage system to retrieve the content stored at the requested block address(es) and the block I/O storage system may return the content.
US08429230B2
A method for transmitting an invitation to a communication relating to a medical image in a DICOM data record from a person who has access to the image to a partner is proposed. The invitation is stored as information in the DICOM data record of the image. The DICOM data record is transmitted to a server. With reference to the invitation, the server determines a message channel which leads to the partner. The server transmits the invitation to the partner via the message channel.
US08429227B2
In an image display device, a method of communicating over a network an invitation to use the image display device to at least one image source connected to the network is provided. The method may include forming an invitation message, wherein the invitation message contains an invitation for an image source to connect to the image display device to use a service on the image display device, and sending the invitation message to a multicasting address on the network.
US08429214B2
A programmable system is disclosed having multiple configurable floating point units (“FPU”) that are coupled to multiple programmable logic and routing blocks and multiple memories. Each floating point unit has static configuration blocks and dynamic configuration blocks, where the dynamic configuration blocks can be reconfigured to perform a different floating point unit function. A floating point unit includes a pre-normalization for shifting an exponent calculation as well as shifting and aligning a mantissa, and a post-normalization for normalizing and rounding a received input. The post-normalization receives an input Z and realigns the input, normalizes the input and rounds the input Z.
US08429205B2
A reference to auxiliary data is steganographically encoded within a media signal. The auxiliary data is stored in a metadata database that maps the reference encoded in the media signal to its corresponding metadata. Various application programs and devices can access the metadata by extracting the reference from the media signal, and querying the database for metadata corresponding to the reference. The metadata database may be implemented in a network server to make metadata readily available to devices and applications distributed throughout a network. This steganographic link to metadata may be used to retrieve metadata across media management systems. In one configuration, for example, media management systems have metadata servers that maintain metadata for a collection of media signals. The metadata server is responsible for responding to requests for metadata associated with media titles in its collection. In the event that a metadata server does not have metadata associated with a particular media title, it forwards the reference extracted from the media signal to a metadata router, which in turn, re-directs the request to the appropriate metadata server.
US08429199B2
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with load on demand network analysis are described. One method embodiment includes accessing a network analysis request and data associated with a set of network partitions associated with a network. The request describes a function to be performed on the network. A set of partitions subdivides the network and a data model stores data describing the network and its partitions. Thus, the example method may include identifying a member of the set of network partitions associated with the network analysis request and selectively loading data associated that member. The method may then perform the network analysis function on the data associated with the member rather than on data describing the entire network.
US08429197B1
A method for maintaining group membership records includes 1) maintaining a record of group memberships for a membership hierarchy, the membership record identifying a direct relationship between a first object and a second object in the membership hierarchy, 2) receiving a membership update indicating that, as of a first point in time, a direct relationship between the second object and a third object changed, 3) updating the record of group memberships to reflect the change in the relationship between the second object and the third object, 4) deducing, based on the membership update and the record of group memberships, a change in an indirect relationship between the first object and the third object as of the first point in time, and 5) providing a view of object relationships within the membership hierarchy as the object relationships exist at the first point in time and a historical record of object relationships.
US08429194B2
A workflow application allows users to store, manage, and perform tasks related to workflows comprised of ordered sets of documents. The application provides an interface for creating and managing a workflow. Each document added to the workflow is assigned to a particular position in the workflow. Via the interface, the user saves data defining the workflow. In this manner, the workflow may be shared or preserved for subsequent re-use. The application allows a user to perform various tasks with respect to the workflow. Via an interface control presented by the application, the user instigates such tasks. In response, the application causes the task to be performed for each document in the workflow in an order corresponding to the arrangement of the documents within the workflow. For example, the application may render and print each document in the workflow. Or, the application may generate a combined workflow report.
US08429188B2
Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on context sensitive user preferences
A method of selecting and presenting content based on context-sensitive learned user preferences is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having descriptive terms. The method includes receiving user input for identifying items and, in response thereto, presenting a subset of items. The method includes receiving user selections of said items and analyzing the descriptive terms of those items to learn the user's content preferences. The method includes determining the context in which the user performed the selections and associating those contexts with the user content preferences learned from the corresponding user selections. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, determining a context of said subsequent input and selecting and ordering a collection of items based on comparing those items' descriptive terms with the user's learned content preferences associated with the determined context in which the user entered the subsequent input.
US08429185B2
Various embodiments utilize structured data contained within a resource, such as a web page, to enable a user to define collections of data. Individual constituent parts of a collection or “links” are collected within a collection. In one or more embodiments, a full page viewing experience can be provided which enables users to not only view more details for a given link, but to view multiple different links at a time. Other viewing options and collection interactions are provided.
US08429180B1
A computer, computer program product, and method identify potentially malicious remote objects using client cooperation. A remote object access module detects client device access of a remote object instance, and an object analysis system identifies an associated location, creates a content identification value for the instance, compares it to stored content identification values for previous instances, and if anomalous, analyzes the stored content identification values to determine whether malicious. The remote object access module monitors actual traffic received by the client, and stores the information across multiple clients for comparison, allowing more accurate detection of malicious remote objects than traditional web crawling.
US08429176B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for extending media annotations using collective knowledge. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving a plurality of content items and associated annotations. The method further normalizes the plurality of associated annotations and calculates pair frequencies for the plurality of associated annotations. The method then retrieves a plurality of alternative annotations and provides the plurality of alternative annotations.
US08429174B2
Techniques are provided for searching on three dimensional (3D) objects across large, distributed repositories of 3D models. 3D shapes are created for input to a search system; optionally user-defined similarity criterion is used, and search results are interactively navigated and feedback received for modifying the accuracy of the search results. Search input can also be given by picking 3D models from a cluster map or by providing the orthographic views for the 3D model. Feedback can be given by a searcher as to which models are similar and which are not. Various techniques adjust the search results according to the feedback given by the searcher and present the new search results to the searcher.
US08429163B1
A method of presenting a plurality of content includes receiving measurements of similarity distances between content of the plurality of content; mapping the content to a two-dimensional surface based on the similarity distances; and partitioning the content of the two-dimensional surface into k levels of a similarity pyramid, wherein each of the k levels includes 4^k−1 cells, and wherein each content of the plurality of content is separately mapped to one of the cells on one of the k levels of the similarity pyramid.
US08429155B2
A method of selecting and presenting content based on detecting an increased level of activity associated with the content is presented. The method includes providing a set of content items with associated descriptive terms. The method includes receiving user search input for identifying desired content items and, in response to the incremental input entered by the user, presenting a subset of content items to the user. The method further includes receiving actions from the user selecting content items from the subset and analyzing the descriptive terms associated with the selected content items to detect an increased level of activity for descriptive terms associated with the content items selected by the users. The method includes, in response to receiving subsequent user search input, selecting and ordering a collection of content items based on promoting the ranking of content items associated with descriptive terms that have an increased level of recent activity.
US08429149B2
Systems, methods and computer program products include job bots that are configured to periodically visit network sites that have stored therein one or more job postings. During each visit, the one or more job postings are analyzed and a searchable job post database is updated to add new job postings, modify changed job postings and delete any removed job postings. A search engine is provided for job seekers to search the searchable job post database where a consolidate list of job postings from the network sites is stored.
US08429147B1
A search engine can be configured to improve search times by implementing a parallel computing architecture. The index is split across a plurality of independent search nodes. A query is communicated to each of the parallel nodes and the query is searched in each independent node. The results from each node are routed to a federator that is configured to aggregate the results to a result set. The federator is configured to determine a subset of intermediate results to retrieve and aggregate from each of the independent nodes. The federator determines a number of results to retrieve from each of the nodes based at least in part on the number of nodes and the number of search results desired in the results set.
US08429146B2
A system, media, and method for selecting future queries are provided. The selected future queries are used to transmit appropriate online advertising to a user that issues queries to a search engine. The search engine is coupled to a prediction component that predicts what subject the user is going to be interested in and when the user will be interested in the subject. The prediction component returns a future query using statistical language models representing a query history of the user and aggregate query histories for a community of users.
US08429142B2
Mechanisms to support object-oriented version control operations are provided. A user manipulates and views a project from an object viewpoint and within an object module. The user performs version control operations using object handles. The object handles are resolved to specific file references and the specific file references are used to process legacy version control commands utilizing a legacy version control system in a manner that is transparent to the user.
US08429123B2
Synchronization architectures, methods, systems, and computer readable media are described. In one embodiment, a synchronization session is initiated between a first data processing system and a second data processing system. First data, representing changes to a first data class, is transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system. Second data, representing changes to a second data class, is transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system. Transmission of the second data begins before transmission of the first data is complete. The first data may comprise structured data such as contacts information, to do information, calendar information, or web browsing bookmarks.
US08429114B2
An apparatus for providing pattern recognition may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive an indication of sensor data descriptive of movement of a user terminal, provide for expansion of the sensor data in a predetermined manner to define outcome values, apply a logical mask to the outcome values to generate selected outcome values for provision to a finite state machine, and utilize a pattern recognition algorithm associated with the finite state machine to determine whether the sensor data corresponds to a pattern identified by proceeding through defined transitions to a final state of the finite state machine. A corresponding computer program product and method are also provided.
US08429113B2
The invention is a method and a system for discovering collusion among a network of interacting entities. Collusion is defined as a conspiracy among two or more interacting entities to use deception or an unfair advantage for private gain above their peers or other stakeholders in their network. The invention comprises a mathematical framework for measuring the collusion propensity of two or more entities in a network.
US08429108B2
Two methods and systems for fast construction of poset isomorphism certificates are provided. Posets (partially-ordered sets) generalize graphs. The invented certificates are number sequences such that two posets are isomorphic if and only if their corresponding certificates coincide. The first method yields the (Omicron,Iota) poset isomorphism certificate. The minimal Phi-isomorphism certificate can be constructed by partitioning vertices of the graphs into Phi-ranked symmetry clusters and constructing a topological Phi-vertex ranking. Thus, symmetries in posets are detectable at low cost. In addition, the Phi-vertex ranking and a poset isomorphism certificate provide a pair of separate one-dimensional keys for poset encoding. Data objects representable as posets, which are commonly used in automated design, safety and security applications, biocomputing, management of semi-structured data, and other fields, can be stored, analyzed, indexed, and accessed using the isomorphism certificates requiring much less storage and computation time.
US08429103B1
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing machine-learning services. A machine-learning service executing on a mobile platform can receive data related to a plurality of features. In some cases, the received data can include data related to features received from an application and data related to features received from the mobile platform. The machine-learning service can determine at least one feature based on the received data. The machine-learning service can generate an output by performing a machine-learning operation on the at least one feature. The machine-learning operation can be selected from among an operation of ranking the at least one feature, an operation of classifying the at least one feature, an operation of predicting the at least one feature, and an operation of clustering the at least one feature. The machine-learning service can send the output.
US08429100B2
The invention discloses a method for building adaptive soft sensor. The method comprises the following steps. The input and schedule vectors are constructed, and a novel learning algorithm that uses online subtractive clustering is used to recursively update the structure and parameters of a local model network. Three rules are proposed for updating centers and local model coefficients of existing clusters, for generating new clusters and new models as well as for merging existing clusters and their corresponding models. Once verified, the online inferential model can be created to generate the predicted value of process. Thus, it does not need much memory space to process the method and can be easily applied to any other machine.
US08429099B1
An entity recognition model is trained to use gazetteers to recognize entities referenced in documents. When a document associated with a user is received for recognizing entities referenced therein, a gazetteer is selected based on user contexts associated with the user. The document is analyzed using the gazetteer according to the entity recognition model to recognize an entity referenced therein. Additional facts associated with the recognized entities and actions applicable to the recognized entities are provided to enable the user to perform the applicable actions against the recognized entity.
US08429098B1
Disclosed is a tool that assesses and classifies data in a data set to and compares those assessments with nominal attributes and text attributes of data present in a new record to assign a classification to the new record. The classification assigned to the new record is provided a confidence level based on both a qualitative factor and a quantitative factor. The qualitative factor may be calculated by forming of a list of important words for each class and comparing the list to data in the new record and converting the comparison into a confidence level; the quantitative factor may be calculated by estimating the importance or weight of several factors, ratios of certain probabilities related to the most likely class and to the second most likely class, and using the importance of the factors and matchfactors to scale the resulting ratio, then transforming the resulting ratio into a confidence level.
US08429089B2
A technology valuation and transaction system and related method are proposed for connecting to at least one terminal device via a network unit. The method allows members to login to the system and provides related technology for conducting technology valuation and transaction online. The system at least includes a web server having installed therein a technology valuation and transaction interface for users to store technology related data and conduct technology valuation and transaction online, an expert database for storing related data of experts providing services of technology valuation in all fields, a technology supply database for allowing a supplier to store technology supply data, a technology demand database for a demander to store related data of a required technology, and at least one terminal device having installed therein a browser for allowing users to execute the technology valuation and transaction interface for technology valuation, matches and transaction.
US08429081B1
Techniques are provided for securely delivering media data. A requestor is directed to a secure streaming portal after being authenticated. A requesting application contacts the secure streaming portal and requests media data. A configuration header having a key for decrypting the media data is sent to the requesting application using secure communications. The media data is dynamically encrypted using the key and streamed to the requesting application. The requesting application uses the key and decrypts the encrypted media data for consumption.
US08429080B1
Systems and methods for reordering checks for a plurality of accounts of a financial institution. For each of the plurality of accounts, an order for a first quantity of checks for the account may be generated. The order may comprise an account number and contact information. For each of the plurality of accounts, a portion of the first quantity of checks for the account that has been processed may be monitored. Also, an indication of a threshold quantity of checks may be received. Further, it may be determined when the portion of the first quantity of checks that has been processed exceeds the threshold quantity of the first quantity of checks. For each of the plurality of accounts, when the portion of the first quantity of checks that has been processed exceeds the threshold quantity, an order for a second quantity of checks for the account may be generated.
US08429075B2
In a method for instantly issuing a personalized financial transaction card to a customer a bank employee receives customer information and card information from the customer at a branch location. The card information may include a card personal identification number (PIN) selected by the customer. The operator inputs the customer information and at least some the card information into a data processing terminal at the branch. The customer information and the card information are communicated from the branch across a network to a card services provider. At the card services provider, the PIN is entered into a PIN database and a reference number associated with the customer and a PIN offset is generated. The reference number and at least some of the customer data and card data may be stored in a card file associated with the customer. The reference number is used to retrieve the PIN from the PIN database. The retrieved PIN is then used to apply calculations to the card file. The card file is securely sent from the card services provider across the network to the branch location. Using information from the card file, the financial transaction card is printed for the customer at the branch location. In a preferred embodiment, the personalized card is instantly issued while the customer is present at the branch location.
US08429074B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a private label promotion card as a bank product, being issued and managed by the bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. A bank computer processes activation information for a promotion card and receives funds into an account at the bank on behalf of a retailer for payment for the promotion card, perhaps at a discount to a customer value of the promotion card. The bank computer authorizes purchase requests to use one or more activated promotion cards as payment for a consumer purchase from the retailer via an open payment network and transfers funds to the open payment network to satisfy the authorized consumer purchase. Upon expiration, the bank computer sweeps the account of the remaining value for expired promotion cards to thereby establish a credit for the bank.
US08429065B2
Determination of a margin requirement associated with a plurality of financial instruments within a portfolio is disclosed for analyzing the portfolio including determining a first and second time-series of returns for the financial instruments, where the second time-series occurs after the first, and calculating the correlation between the first and second time-series of returns. The system and method further implement calculating residuals and volatilities for the financial instruments within the portfolio as a function of the first time-series of returns, calculating a correlation matrix and degrees-of-freedom utilized to simulate standardized residuals for each of the financial instruments within the portfolio, generating simulated returns as a function of the simulated standardized residuals and the returns, generating a spread distribution for the portfolio, wherein the portfolio is repriced as a function of the simulated returns, and calculating a margin risk based on a risk percentile associated with the spread distribution.
US08429059B2
A method and system for providing electronic option trading bandwidth reduction and risk management and assessment for multi-market electronic trading. Data streams including electronic option trading information are split into plural individual data streams by a server network device and/or one or more network interface cards (NICs). The individual data streams are made available to target network devices using less network bandwidth and fewer processing cycles that would be required to process the whole data including the electronic option trading information. The option trading risk assessment and management information includes an “integrated viewpoint” that aggregates an option trader's activities across all their electronic option trading accounts, their current and historical option trades and option trade locations on all option trading exchanges.
US08429047B2
A method and system for merging mobile gift cards is described. One embodiment transmits to a mobile device associated with a user a list of a plurality of mobile gift cards associated with a particular merchant that belong to the user, receives from the user via the mobile device a selection of a particular mobile gift card, receives from the user via the mobile device a selection of one or more other mobile gift cards associated with the particular merchant to be merged with the particular mobile gift card, and moves to the particular mobile gift card the remaining monetary balance of each of the other mobile gift cards selected by the user. In some embodiments, the merging operation is automated in the mobile-commerce platform.
US08429043B2
Financial data processor system and method for implementing equity-credit linked investment vehicles
A novel investment vehicle comprises a synthetic corporate exchangeable note linked to the equity return and credit of select third parties. A computer system creates, tracks and implements the investment vehicle in accord with program-controlled processing. A highly flexible, cost-efficient security is created having enhanced risk/return characteristics.
US08429041B2
Systems and methods are configured to manage data sets associated with a financial transaction instrument. For example, a method is provided for facilitating the management of data sets on a financial transaction instrument that is issued by an issuer. The method includes the steps of: adding, by a first owner, a first data set to the financial transaction instrument, wherein the first data set is owned by a first owner; adding, by a second owner, a second data set to the financial transaction instrument, wherein the second data set is owned by a second owner; and storing the first data set and the second data set on the financial transaction instrument. The first and second data sets may each be stored as a Block of Binary. Furthermore, the first data set may be updated and/or deleted from the financial transaction instrument. In another example, a financial transaction instrument comprises a data set management system for facilitating the management of more than one data set, the financial transaction instrument comprising at least one data storage area configured to store a first data set and a second data set. The first and second data sets are associated with first and second owners, respectively, and are configured to be stored by their owners independent of each other.
US08429037B2
Techniques for performing an accounts payable process may include receiving transaction data including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verifying a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional criteria to the transaction data. An accounts payable system may include a host system in communication with one or more client systems. The host system may include a matching database configured to receive an accounts payable file including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verify a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional records to attributes of the accounts payable file.
US08429018B2
Prior ordering history of a product is examined to determine an historical ordering quantity distribution for a product. A customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of a product is then compared against the determined historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution for the product. When the customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of the product falls below a certain probability threshold determined using the historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution, or is otherwise suspicious, the customer is notified of a suspected error in the provided product order quantity and/or asked to verify if the provided product quantity is correct.
US08429015B2
The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for varying the amount of received advertising content. A content editor provides a portion of a plurality of levels of advertising to a user, wherein the portion of the plurality of levels indicates an amount of advertising content to be received by the user. Responsive to receiving a user input selecting the portion of the plurality of levels, the content editor inserts the amount of advertising content into a media content to form a modified media content, wherein the amount of advertising content corresponds to the portion of the plurality of levels selected by the user. The content editor then transmits the modified media content to the user.
US08429014B2
Methods and systems for providing advertising content over the Internet through a hierarchical content-specific node structure and pricing advertising delivery over each node independently. Independent delivery and pricing allows an advertiser to pay more for advertisements delivered to a narrowly targeted audience likely to be interested in the goods or services offered by the advertising entity and to pay less for advertisements directed at a more general audience who may or may not have an interest in the goods or services offered. The less content specific the node is, the less targeted the advertisement will be, and therefore, the less valuable the advertisement will be to the advertising entity. Targeted advertising to multiple levels of content specific nodes is enabled.
US08429011B2
A targeted advertising system and method based on memes contained in content sources are disclosed. Content matching keywords-defining topics are identified from content sources and are further processed to extract the memes. Ad networks servicing the content are also identified and their reach for each meme determined. The system and method extract also viral dynamics of the content associated to a meme and use the aggregation of the viral dynamics as a measure of engagement level for the meme. The system and method allow a Marketer to select a meme based on the engagement level and to run an ad campaign against the meme. The advertisements are delivered through an Ad network and inserted at the meme page level when the content hosting the meme is accessed, the Ad network being selected based on its reach.
US08429010B2
A pay-program transmission/reception system provides a pay program at low viewing fee by inserting CMs. A viewer who wants a program without CMs does not newly receive a CM-deleted program. A CM data management apparatus transmits, to a pay-program reception terminal, (a) a CM-inserted program constituted from video/audio and CM data, and (b) a CM-inserted program schedule showing reproduction orders thereof, when receiving a program request by a program name designated in the pay-program reception terminal. The pay-program reception terminal, when its input reception unit receives the CM deletion request from the viewer after its video/audio processing unit reproduces the CM-inserted program, passes the request to the CM data management apparatus, obtains a CM-deleted program schedule, and reproduces the pay program without CMs.
US08428999B1
A method and system for providing an accurate count of total households and seasonal households within a defined geographic area is disclosed. The invention has application in, for example, the identification of potential sites for retail business locations. The invention utilizes additional data sources beyond census data in order to provide more accurate household counts, particularly in high-growth areas when census data has become stale. Seasonal households may be counted by the use of household data containing spatially inconsistent records (SIRs), that is, records for which the best address does not match the location where the telephone service is provided. Households for which an exact address is not known are allocated within the geographic area of interest according to various spreading models.
US08428993B2
Method and apparatus for shift work scheduling based upon an optimization of analyzing and managing fatigue primarily in but not limited to aviation occupations. The invention matches workers to shifts in a manner that minimizes fatigue while on shift and maximizes shift worker effectiveness. The invention is adaptable to other occupations where assuring shift work crew rest is critical. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) allow for the insertion of sleep into crew shift work schedules. Alternative sleep models are used for different modes of sleep. The invention produces as an output an optimized shift work/sleep schedules with an associated effectiveness determination.
US08428986B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modeling and projecting future storage requirements and analyzing the associated storage system costs including storage system costs associated with multi-tier storage systems. Storage environment data corresponding to a first storage environment is received, where the first storage environment data includes one or more variables associated with a cost of the first storage environment. Target storage environment data corresponding to a target storage environment is also received. Target storage environment data includes one or more variables associated with a cost of the target storage environment. A cost associated with the first storage environment based on the received first storage environment data and a cost associated with the target storage environment is determined based on the received target storage environment data. The determined cost of the first storage environment is compared to the determined cost of the target storage environment. The results are displayed.
US08428984B2
Described herein are methods and systems for SOA to SOI transformation. The transformation is performed by a transformation engine, driven by a transformation algorithm. A “used case database”, to provide the current know-how information for such transformations, and a “performance database”, to describe new hardware parts with more powerful metrics are incorporated into the transformation algorithm. In addition, a business engine supports the transformation engine with business analyzing features using a “business value database”.
US08428979B1
A digital data processing method, machine, and article for an entity holding insurance. The machine is configured to transform, by digital processing, data into an accounting for an entity and allocations among parties contributing permanent life insurance to the entity in producing digital output which includes the accounting and at least one of the allocations.
US08428978B1
Systems and methods for providing enhanced service using public records are described. A financial institution may obtain property data from public records regarding a property associated with a customer. The retrieved property data may be compared with existing customer data. The customer may be alerted and financial data associated with the customer may be modified based on the retrieved property data. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08428976B1
A method of determining a renewal deductible for an insurance policy includes providing a computer having a processor, determining that a default deductible is less than a current deductible, and determining that a new deductible indicator is negative. The method includes retrieving, using the processor and an available deductible key reference, a plurality of available deductibles from a third table and determining, using the processor, that the plurality of available deductibles does not include the current deductible. The method further includes setting the renewal deductible equal to the available deductible of the plurality of available deductibles higher than and closest to the current deductible if the next higher deductible indicator is in a positive state and setting the renewal deductible equal to the available deductible of the plurality of available deductibles less than and closest to the current deductible if the next higher deductible indicator is in a negative state.
US08428971B2
An improved insurance coverage analysis method, system, and computer program. All insurance policies owned by a particular business and its alternate entities are processed. Key data from the policies is input into specialized templates. The insurance policy data can be input manually or automatically. The specialized templates are interconnected to automatically generate an overall summary of the business' insurance current coverage. Policy recommendations can also be input and become visible in the summary as well. An overall USA summary graphic is generated to make the obscure data more easily comprehended by a layperson. All insurance coverage information, both detailed and summarized, is presented in a final packet to the business owner. Alternate embodiments include a Web site for automatically conducting the analysis upon upload of the insured's coverage documents.
US08428970B1
A information record management system for providing record owner controlled access to medical records by authorized users and owners through secure communications channels. The information record management system includes a database having a plurality of user records from a plurality of record owners, an authentication channel to limit access to authorized users utilizing multiple authentication techniques including physical and biometric aspects, and providing streaming video representations of each user record for added security.
US08428968B2
A programmable rules-based interface between a patient and an electronic medical record EMR allows controlled patient access to the EMR allowing increased patient participation in the healthcare process.
US08428961B2
A system and method for providing information about resource availability, especially during an emergency such as a natural disaster, is herein proposed. The system stores resource information about multiple facilities, across cities, counties, states and even countries. Such information can be provided to designated users based on specified access levels for the user and the resource information. Further, the system is able to exchange the resource availability information with external systems and databases. The resource information is also automatically updated to reflect the most current information. The system is useful in directing resources to participate in an emergency. Further the system aggregates resource information based on one or more attributes, such as region, hospital, city, state, etcetera, that is associated with the resource information.
US08428946B1
An architecture and framework for speech/noise classification of an audio signal using multiple features with multiple input channels (e.g., microphones) are provided. The architecture may be implemented with noise suppression in a multi-channel environment where noise suppression is based on an estimation of the noise spectrum. The noise spectrum is estimated using a model that classifies each time/frame and frequency component of a signal as speech or noise by applying a speech/noise probability function. The speech/noise probability function estimates a speech/noise probability for each frequency and time bin. A speech/noise classification estimate is obtained by fusing (e.g., combining) data across different input channels using a layered network model. Individual feature data acquired at each channel and/or from a beam-formed signal is mapped to a speech probability, which is combined through layers of the model into a final speech/noise classification for use in noise estimation and filtering processes for noise suppression.
US08428940B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a mobile device, determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device, identifying a set of geotagged audio signals that correspond to environmental audio associated with the geographic location, weighting each geotagged audio signal of the set of geotagged audio signals based on metadata associated with the respective geotagged audio signal, and using the set of weighted geotagged audio signals to perform noise compensation on the audio signal that corresponds to the utterance.
US08428936B2
A method for decoding audio frames includes producing a first frame of coded audio samples, producing at least a portion of a second frame of coded audio samples, generating audio gap filler samples based on parameters representative of a weighted segment of the first frame of coded audio samples or a weighted segment of the portion of the second frame of coded audio samples, and forming a sequence including the audio gap filler samples and the portion of the second frame of coded audio samples.
US08428935B2
A speech and textual analysis device and method for forming a search and/or classification catalog. The device is based on a linguistic database and includes a taxonomy table containing variable taxon nodes. The speech and textual analysis device includes a weighting module, a weighting parameter being additionally assigned to each stored taxon node to register recurrence frequency of terms in the linguistic and/or textual data that is to be classified and/or sorted. The speech and/or textual analysis device includes an integration module for determining a predefinable number of agglomerates based on the weighting parameters of the taxon nodes in the taxonomy table and at least one neuronal network module for classifying and/or sorting the speech and/or textual data based on the agglomerates in the taxonomy table.
US08428932B2
A connected text data system for efficiently and accurately translating connected text. The connected text data system includes inputting or receiving connected text, transmitting the connected text to a text iterator, scanning the connected text, identifying a plurality of words in the connected text comprising a coordinate logic to help parse connected text matches into separated text by invalidating words with overlapping coordinates, and translating the connected text to separated text by adding a space between each of the plurality of words.
US08428925B2
Method for reducing the time needed to perform geophysical inversion by using simultaneous encoded sources in the simulation steps of the inversion process. The geophysical survey data are prepared by encoding (3) a group of source gathers (1), using for each gather a different encoding signature selected from a set (2) of non-equivalent encoding signatures. Then, the encoded gathers are summed (4) by summing all traces corresponding to the same receiver from each gather, resulting in a simultaneous encoded gather. (Alternatively, the geophysical data are acquired from simultaneously encoded sources.) The simulation steps needed for inversion are then calculated using a particular assumed velocity (or other physical property) model (5) and simultaneously activated encoded sources using the same encoding scheme used on the measured data. The result is an updated physical properties model (6) that may be further updated (7) by additional iterations.
US08428924B2
A method is disclosed having application notably towards ranking earth models responsive to dynamic heterogeneity. A plurality of earth models representing a subsurface reservoir are provided. Streamline analysis for each of the plurality of earth models is conducted. Flow Capacity (F) vs. Storage Capacity (Φ) curves are constructed for each of the plurality of earth models based on the streamline analysis. Dynamic heterogeneity for each of the plurality of earth models is computed from the Flow Capacity (F) vs. Storage Capacity (Φ) curves constructed for each of the plurality of earth models. The plurality of earth models are ranked responsive to dynamic heterogeneity.
US08428923B2
A method is disclosed including simulating a hydraulic fracture in an Earth formation, the formation including a multilayered reservoir, wherein a mesh overlays the hydraulic fracture thereby defining a plurality of fracture elements. The method further includes calculating and determining an influence coefficient matrix having spatially related indices, wherein the spatially related indices relate influence coefficient matrix elements to corresponding fracture elements. The mesh overlays the hydraulic fracture in more than one layer of the multilayered reservoir. In one embodiment, the method is executed on a program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable to perform the method.
US08428919B2
A method for constructing a velocity vector field from a grid and a set of fluxes for each face of the grid cells. The cells are first subdivided and internal fluxes are calculated for each cell subject to the constraints of the flux for each cell and to achieve the minimum energy state for the each cell. The minimum energy state is computed efficiently using a divergence-free correction method without introducing a pressure variable. Then, the velocity vector field is constructed from the subcell fluxes using mixed finite element interpolation.
US08428912B2
A test stand sensor apparatus includes a sensor for acquiring data from the item under test and/or the environment, a power supply unit for converting electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy, and a unit for the wire-free transmission of sensor data and of a code which is characteristic of the sensor.
US08428901B2
A mobile communication device includes a communication unit for communicating with other communication devices, a processor unit connected to the communication unit, and a sensor unit connected to the processor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one of a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. The humidity sensor senses ambient moisture and generates an electronic signal corresponding to the ambient moisture, and the temperature sensor measures ambient temperature and generates an electric signal corresponding to the ambient temperature. The processor unit calculates at least one of the ambient humidity and ambient temperature according to the electric signals and transmits associated data of the sensor unit to the communication unit. The communication unit sends the data to other communication devices capable of communicating with the mobile communication device.
US08428887B2
A method and system for automated quantitation of tissue micro-array image (TMA) digital analysis. The method and system automatically analyze a digital image of a TMA with plural TMA cores created using a needle to biopsy or other techniques to create standard histologic sections and placing the resulting needle cores into TMA. The automated analysis allows a medical conclusion such as a medical diagnosis or medical prognosis (e.g., for a human cancer) to be automatically determined. The method and system provides reliable automatic TMA core gridding and automated TMA core boundary detection including detection of overlapping or touching TMA cores on a grid.
US08428881B2
Methods for processing hyphenated chromatographic data to delineate components of a sample are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes obtaining hyphenated chromatographic data points for a sample, each data point comprising at least three dimensions, one of the dimensions being a continuous dimension, and subjecting at least a portion of the data points to an algorithm that organizes the data points into discrete clusters according to the data points' continuous dimension values by starting at either a smallest or largest value and delineating at a largest gap between adjacent values within a predetermined resolution window, wherein the resulting clusters are of varying width of less than or equal to the width of the resolution window and wherein at least some of the clusters are indicative of components of the sample.
US08428878B2
A lightning strike simulation apparatus includes a storage device for storing lightning strike data, a setting unit for setting a simulation target in a simulation space, a downward leader advancing unit for advancing a downward leader from a lightning strike start position set by the setting unit, an upward leader advancing unit for advancing upward leaders from lightning strike-receiving candidate points set in the simulation space when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a reference point is within a first threshold value, and a lightning strike point determination unit for, when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a leading edge of any one of the upward leaders is within a second threshold value, determining that the lightning strike-receiving candidate point corresponding to the any one of the upward leaders is a lightning strike point.
US08428876B2
The present invention features a navigation system for partly updating a map layer, and a method for the same, in which, by dividing a map into locally small data areas considering connectivity with adjacent areas, and updating only areas updated among the divided areas, the navigation system is able to minimize a size of the updated data, and delete unnecessary procedures for post-processing in a user terminal.
US08428873B2
Embodiments of the present invention enable displaying a plurality of driving direction steps that form a driving directions path between a start address and a destination address; receiving input selecting a driving direction step of said plurality of driving direction steps; and displaying a panoramic image of a geographic area where a driving action associated with said selected driving direction step would be performed by a driver. In other embodiments, the panoramic image is replaced and/or complemented with one or more of 3D models, full-motion video, full-motion video of 360 degrees images, and live feeds from video cameras to provide enhanced driving directions.
US08428861B1
The Wrong Way Detection System includes detection stations deployed at each egress point along a tollway in addition to various locations along the tollway's mainline. The detection hardware communicates preferably via fiber optic network to a customized software platform housed at a centrally located Incident Management Center (IMC) of the system, where each site is monitored 24/7 in real time for wrong way vehicles. Once a vehicle is detected, operators at the IMC are able to immediately dispatch law enforcement officers and monitor the vehicle's whereabouts via CCTV cameras.
US08428859B2
A route can be generated through utilization of a conventional manner, such as a portable electronic device accessing a database with roads, traffic information, weather data, and the like. As a user approaches a private area, the route can be augmented with travel information concerning the private area. Artificial intelligence techniques can be used to determine if a route should be augmented, to infer what augmentations to make, etc.
US08428858B2
Systems, methods, and programs obtain probe information, the probe information comprising an average speed of probe cars traveling on each of a plurality of links in a predetermined area. The systems, methods, and programs detect, for each of the plurality of links, a first degree of a traffic jam corresponding to the link for each of a plurality of different thresholds by comparing the average speed with each of the thresholds. The systems, methods, and programs obtain traffic-jam information concerning the plurality of links, the obtained traffic information comprising a second degree of the traffic jam corresponding to each of the plurality of links. The systems, methods, and programs compare, for each of the plurality of links, the second degree of the traffic jam with the first degree of the traffic jam for each of the thresholds. The systems, methods, and programs select, for the predetermined area, a threshold from the plurality of thresholds for which the first degree of the traffic jam most matches the second degree of the traffic jam and utilize the selected threshold to determine a severity of the traffic jam for each of the plurality of links.
US08428857B2
A roadway information system is disclosed with components generating and using vehicle signatures for vehicles passing near sensor pods located on or near lanes. Means and/or processors for matching incoming and outgoing vehicle signatures are disclosed creating an in-out vehicle match table used to generate a vehicle movement estimate or its components including a travel time and/or vehicle count.
US08428852B2
An apparatus includes a parallel computation unit including an input port and an output port and a one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model. The input port is configured to sample at a time t1 a boundary condition signal for the one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model and the output port is configured to provide an output signal before the boundary condition signal is sampled at a time t2.
US08428850B2
In one embodiment, a total fuel injection amount is calculated from a torque required by an engine. A division ratio of a pre-injection amount that achieves both suppression of ignition delay of fuel from a main injection and suppression of a peak value of a heat production ratio of combustion from the main injection is calculated. Upper and lower limit guards are given to the obtained divided amount, and the divided injection amount is calculated. The injection amount of the main injection is obtained by subtracting the divided injection amount from the total fuel injection amount.
US08428849B2
Setting values of a fuel injection quantity for an engine having an exhaust gas recirculator (EGR) and variable nozzle turbo (VNT), and an engine speed, and measurement values of a manifold air pressure (MAP) and a mass air flow (MAF) are obtained. According to a combination of the reference values of an EGR valve opening degree and a VNT nozzle opening degree, which correspond to the setting values, or a combination of a control value of the EGR valve opening degree by a MAF controller and a control value of the VNT nozzle opening degree by a MAP controller, which correspond to the measurement values, a mode that the MAF and MAP controllers, a first interference compensator from the MAF controller to the MAP controller and a second interference compensator for the reverse direction are enabled and a mode that the MAF or MAP controller is enable are dynamically switched.
US08428843B2
A vehicle includes a vehicle monitoring system for estimating vehicle motion states, a spatial monitoring system, an adaptive cruise control system for vehicle speed and acceleration control, a steering controller for vehicle lateral motion control, a roadway estimator, and an autonomic control system. Commanded vehicle operation is adjusted to achieve a preferred travel path based upon a predicted travel path and an estimated roadway. The preferred travel path is adapted responsive to the estimated roadway.
US08428842B2
A speed control device for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed obtaining means obtaining a vehicle speed, a shape obtaining means obtaining a curve shape, a position obtaining means obtaining a positional relationship between a curve and the vehicle, a target vehicle speed determining means determining a target vehicle speed based on the curve shape and the positional relationship, a vehicle speed controlling means controlling the vehicle speed based on the target vehicle speed and the vehicle speed, and an acceleration operation quantity obtaining means obtaining an operation quantity of an acceleration operating member operated by a driver, wherein the target vehicle speed determining means includes a modification means modifying the target vehicle speed based on the operation quantity so that the target vehicle speed obtained when the operation variable is greater than zero becomes a greater value than the target vehicle speed obtained when the operation quantity is zero.
US08428834B2
A control system of an automatic transmission including a stepwise variable transmission section and a continuously variable transmission section makes a speed change control of the continuously variable transmission section cooperate with a change of an input rotation speed of the stepwise variable transmission section and is configured to judge, during the shift change of the stepwise variable transmission section, whether a delivery of a torque from one of a plurality of disengaging side frictional elements to one of a plurality of engaging side frictional elements is completed, and to start the speed change control of the continuously variable transmission section upon judgment that the delivery of the torque is completed and that an inertial phase has started.
US08428827B2
An apparatus for controlling rotational movement of a turret of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first communication port that is adapted to receive input signals from a first input device for controlling rotation of the turret. A second communication port is adapted to receive input signals from a second input device for controlling rotation of the turret. A controller generates control signals for operational control of the vehicle turret in response to receipt of an input signal from at least one of the first and second input devices.
US08428823B2
A stationary steering operation determination means determines whether or not stationary steering operation is being performed repeatedly at a determination cycle period that is set to be longer than a cycle period at which a certain signal is detected. And a stationary steering operation determination means makes a decision as to whether or not stationary steering operation is being performed, on the basis of vehicle speed as detected by a vehicle speed detection means and steering angle as detected by a steering angle detection means. If it has been determined that stationary steering operation is being performed, a steering sensitivity alteration means decreases the steering sensitivity by reducing a pilot pressure or the like. And a notification means notifies the operator that stationary steering operation is being performed.
US08428818B2
When the drive of a lubricant pump (46) is stopped to prevent the lubricant pump (46) from assuming an idling state, a determination is made as to whether or not a temperature difference (ΔT) between the temperature (T) of a lubricant oil detected earlier by a temperature sensor (51) and a warning temperature (Toh) is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value (α). When the temperature difference (ΔT) is within the threshold value (α), an “overheat” warning is issued to an operator of a dump truck (1). In consequence, even in a case where a temperature sensor (51) is provided on the output side of the lubricant pump (46) by being located on an outer side of a wheel mounting case (19), planetary gear reduction mechanisms (23), (31) inside the wheel mounting case (19) can be prevented from overheating by warning the operator of the vehicle.
US08428815B2
A method for managing vehicle data of a motor vehicle includes storing the vehicle data in an on-board memory. The stored vehicle data is associated with the vehicle using a vehicle identifier. The stored data is transmitted via a telecommunications connection to a data processing center of a telecommunications network. The transmitted data is made available at the data processing center for retrieval by third parties.
US08428810B2
A system for on-site collection of evaluation data at a vehicle repair installation site is disclosed. Generally the system includes a computing tool connected to a database, a workflow operations guiding module that runs on the computing tool, an evaluation module, a comparison module, a data-mining module, a certification module, a legal compliance module, and a repair procedure compliance module. As a vehicle is repaired, the workflow operations guiding module prompts a coach with questions. The evaluation module performs a quantitative analysis of the answers provided by the coach and the comparison module compares the result of the quantitative analysis against aggregated or averaged information. The certification module compares information from the comparison module against predetermined certification criteria and the data mining module identifies correlations, trends or patterns in collected data by the system.
US08428805B2
An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine (202) driving an electrical power generator (204) that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (210). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed (920) signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed (712) signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors (210) such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine (202).
US08428798B2
A train control system includes a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a first train; and a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a second train. At least one of the control units of the first train and the second train is configured to receive, at the associated communication device, an authority signal including data sufficient to identify one of the first train and the second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train, establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication devices of the lead train and the follower train, and exchange train data between the lead train and the follower train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link. An on-board control unit is also disclosed.
US08428791B2
Control system for a remote-controlled working machine provided with tracks, the control system including a remote control, the remote control being connected wirelessly or by a cable to at least one electronic unit in the machine, and having at least one control stick or joystick and a number of buttons, levers and/or knobs for operating the different travel and working functions of the machine. The machine furthermore has one or more different setting modes or positions, wherein its control sticks and/or certain buttons have different functions in different modes.
US08428790B2
Systems and methods for controlling a machine comprise receiving information indicative of an occurrence of a prospective event and providing an event initiation signal to one or more machines. The event initiation signal may be configured to cause a controller of the one or more machines to control movement of the one or more machines based at least on a location of the machine relative to a designated area surrounding a location at which the prospective event is to occur.
US08428787B2
The present invention discloses an electronic device having a power management module and a power management method thereof. Within the power management method is used for an electronic device, which has a first power module, a second power module and the loads. The power management method comprises the following step: (1) monitoring the first power module and the second power module; (2) if the first power module and the second power module are activated at the same time, sequentially stopping a supply of electric power to at least one of the loads until the electronic device has total load current smaller than a reference value.
US08428784B2
The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant (11) with a rotor (10) and a rotating apparatus (20, 22, 24) connected with the rotor (10), wherein a rotor speed (nR) and a rotating apparatus speed (n) are interrelated via a specifiable transmission ratio, wherein the rotating apparatus speed (n) is determined, and wherein a rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is captured for the determination of the rotating apparatus speed (n). The method according to the invention is characterized in that the rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is corrected with an intermittently variable correction value (rpmi,c) so that the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) results, and wherein the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) is fed as the actual value into a regulation apparatus (36) of the wind power plant (11).
US08428775B2
Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a two-dimensional array of moveable bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the array is operated to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved.
US08428769B2
A method for injection molding an imaging optical element to be used in an optical scanning apparatus for guiding a light ray in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. In the imaging optical element, the light ray passes through at least one optical functional surface and does not pass over the meridional line including the optical axis. The imaging optical element is injection-molded through an initial molding step and other various measurement and correction steps.
US08428754B2
A system, method and apparatus for controlling an electrical device are provided. At least one image of at least one moving entity is processed to determine when the moving entity (or entities) is at least one of entering and exiting a monitored area, and to determine when the moving entity (or entities) comprises at least one triggering shape. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, is at least one of entering and exiting the monitored area, control of the electrical device is triggered and a counter for counting triggering shapes present in the monitored area is triggered. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, exits the monitored area, the counter decrements by the number of triggering shapes and the electrical device is triggered to a state different from a present state when the counter falls below a threshold number.
US08428750B2
A medical, implantable electrode device, in particular a cardiological electrode device, comprises an elongate electrode body (2) having a proximal and a distal end (1) for insertion into the body of the patient and multiple strut-like anchoring elements (4), which are attached laterally to the electrode body (2) before the distal end (1) for fixing the electrode device in the patient and are distributed around the circumference, which each project having their longitudinal axis (SL) at an acute angle (W1) opening in the direction of the proximal end in relation to the electrode body axis (KL). The anchoring elements have a preferred direction around the circumference in such a way that upon engagement of the anchoring elements (4) in a body part of the patient, a rotation of the electrode body (2) is opposed by a greater resistance in one rotational direction than in the opposite direction.
US08428744B2
This disclosure describes techniques for reducing, and possibly eliminating, adverse effects caused by signals induced on an inductive antenna of an implanted medical device by varying magnetic fields from a source of interference, such as the gradient magnetic fields applied during an MRI procedure. For example, the implantable medical device includes an inductive antenna that receives signals via inductive coupling, a filter circuit that attenuates signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated from a source of interference and substantially passes signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated by an expected source and a telemetry module that processes the signals from the filter circuit.
US08428741B2
A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.
US08428732B2
In one embodiment, a neural interface system includes an implantable neural probe having a flexible substrate, electrodes that extend from the substrate that are adapted to contact neural tissue of the brain, a signal processing circuit configured to process neural signals collected with the electrodes, and a wireless transmission circuit configured to wirelessly transmit the processed neural signals, and a backend computing device configured to wirelessly receive the processed neural signals, to process the received signals to reconstruct the collected neural signals, and to analyze the collected neural signals.
US08428731B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises (a) implementing a first therapy in an implantable medical device (IMD) from a programmed sequence of therapies for a first time period, (b) implementing a second therapy from the sequence in the IMD for a second time period following the first time period, and repeating (a) and (b).
US08428729B2
A method that electrically stimulates a heart muscle to alter the ejection profile of the heart, to control the mechanical function of the heart and reduce the observed blood pressure of the patient. The therapy may be invoked by an implantable blood pressure sensor associated with a pacemaker like device. In some cases, where a measured pretreatment blood pressure exceeds a treatment threshold, a patient's heart may be stimulated with an electrical stimulus timed relative to the patient's cardiac ejection cycle. This is done to cause dyssynchrony between at least two cardiac chambers or within a cardiac chamber, which alters the patient's cardiac ejection profile from a pretreatment cardiac ejection profile. This has the effect of reducing the patient's blood pressure from the measured pretreatment blood pressure.
US08428728B2
An implantable medical device for treating the back of a patient. Stimulation energy is delivered to muscles or joint capsules or ligaments or nerve fibers to improve the heath of the back.
US08428715B2
Treating the physiological electric conduction of the heart includes methods that involve guiding an electrode to a location, near the His bundle of the heart, that is determined by pacing the heart and sensing signals in response thereto, and electrically bypassing a conduction abnormality of the heart by presenting extrinsic pacing signals to the location near the His bundle of the heart. The pacing electrode may then be fixed at the location, near the His bundle, to provide subsequent pacing of the heart such that the subsequent pacing exhibits electrical bypassing of the conduction abnormality.
US08428711B2
A system and method for treating and/or preventing is described for treating periodic breathing characterized by cyclical hyperventilation and hypoventilation, examples of which include Cheyne-Stokes respiration and central sleep apnea. The system could also be used in the treatment of other conditions involving an impairment of respiratory drive.
US08428700B2
This invention relates to the determination and/or representation of physiological information relating to a heart surface.
US08428699B2
An apparatus measures properties of an object such as a heart in a patient (2). The apparatus includes an antenna (3, 4) for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic waves to and/or from the object (2) for measuring a property of the object. The antenna (3, 4) includes an electrically conductive element for functioning as an electrode for measuring a further property of the object. The electromagnetic waves are reflected by the object, causing a Doppler shift. The apparatus uses this shift to provide mechanical information about the object and uses the electrode to provide electrical information about the object, such as an electrocardiogram.
US08428694B2
Methods of determining at least one parameter for an injection procedure to be performed in combination with an imaging procedure may include injecting a test bolus of a contrast enhancement fluid having a contrast enhancing agent, scanning regions of interest with an imaging system as the test bolus flows therethrough to obtain therefrom a contrast time enhancement curve for each region of interest, extracting at least one discrete data point from each of the contrast time enhancement curves such that each of the discrete data points constitutes a pair of measurements on the contrast time enhancement curve corresponding thereto, substituting into a model the discrete data points extracted from the contrast time enhancement curves to obtain an estimate of values of physiological variables, and using the estimate to determine via the model the at least one parameter for the injection procedure to be performed in combination with the imaging procedure.
US08428671B2
An article including a substrate and a layer of a homogeneous metal-oxyfluoride intermediate film disposed on the substrate, the intermediate film containing a rare earth metal, an alkaline earth metal, and a transition metal. The intermediate film has a defect density less than 20 percent and, upon thermal treatment, is capable of converting to a homogeneous rare earth metal-alkaline earth metal-transition metal-oxide superconductor film with a stoichiometric thickness greater than 1 μm and up to 5 μm. Also disclosed is another article including a substrate and the homogeneous superconductor film with a stoichiometric thickness greater than 1 μm and up to 5 μm. Further, methods of making these two articles are described.
US08428658B2
A method for displaying items in mobile terminal and a mobile terminal using the same, the method comprising: storing a plurality of items in a memory of the mobile terminal; receiving a grouping command by a proximity touch on the plurality of items through a proximity sensor of the mobile terminal; and generating and displaying a classification menu including classified items with classifying the plurality of items by the grouping command and storing the classified items in the classification menu.
US08428657B2
An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability.
US08428651B2
A shared transmission/reception apparatus (OF-TRX) includes: a transmission/reception processor section (TRX-B) for a mobile communication system B configured to perform frequency conversion processing on a transmission baseband signal for the mobile communication system B outputted from a signal converter section (E/O), and to output a transmission radio frequency signal for the mobile communication system B; a power level adjuster section (VA) configured to adjust a power level of a transmission radio frequency signal for a mobile communication system A inputted from a transmission/reception processor section (TRX-A) for the mobile communication system A; a combiner section (COM) configured to generate a transmission radio frequency signal by combining the transmission radio frequency signal for the mobile communication system A outputted from the power level adjuster section (VA) and the transmission radio frequency signal for the mobile communication system B outputted from the transmission/reception processor section (TRX-B) for the mobile communication system B; and a common amplifier section (PA) configured to amplify a power level of the transmission radio frequency signal outputted from the combiner section (COM) at a predetermined amplification rate, and to output the resultant signal.
US08428650B2
A reconfigurable RF transceiver for use in either a base station or a mobile station Of a wireless network. The reconfigurable RF transceiver comprises a first receive path that down-converts an incoming RF signal to analog and digital baseband signals. The first receive path in a first mode down-converts the incoming RF signal in a receive frequency band for the base station and in a second mode down-converts the incoming RF signal in a receive frequency band for the mobile station. The reconfigurable RF transceiver further comprises a transmit path for up-converting an outgoing baseband signal to an outgoing RF signal. The transmit path in the first mode up-converts the outgoing baseband signal in a transmit frequency band for the base station and in the second mode up-converts the outgoing baseband signal in a transmit frequency band for the mobile station.
US08428648B2
A compact removable voice handset for an integrated palmtop computer system/mobile phone is presented. The present invention is used in conjunction with a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA comprises electronics for wireless communications and a contact information database and a means for coupling the handset to the PDA. The present invention is compact such that when coupled to the PDA, there is minimal increase to the overall size and weight of the PDA. The present invention comprises a microphone and a speaker, and is communicatively coupled, via either a wireless connection or a wired connection, to the PDA. The handset comprises control elements such that the handset can be operated independent of the PDA. In one embodiment, the handset comprises a display and control elements configured for accessing the contact information database of the PDA, adjusting the volume of the handset, and for initiating or ending wireless communications.
US08428643B2
A sign language recognition system includes a menu generating module, an image processing module, and text processing module. The image processing module controls an image capturing unit to capture a gesture image of a target person when an image recognition icon is selected, extracts sign language data from the gesture image, and transmits the sign data packet to a server for analyzing the sign language data to generate sign recognition information. The text processing module packs text data to be sent to a reception device, and a reception language and a phone number of the reception device to generate a text data packet when a text recognition icon is selected, and sends the text data packet to the server for analyzing the text data to generate a sign recognition image recognizable by the reception device.
US08428641B2
A transmission power control is disclosed, where the transmission power control includes transferring, from a second radio base station to a first radio base station, a second uplink signal received from a mobile station in a second cell, synthesizing, at the first radio base station, a first uplink signal received from the mobile station in a first cell with the second uplink signal transferred from the second radio base station, and generating and transmitting a transmission power control signal for controlling a transmission power of an uplink signal at the mobile station based on a reception quality of an uplink signal obtained by synthesizing the first uplink signal with the second uplink signal.
US08428640B2
A method for allocating a downlink control channel in a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) system, includes: dividing a service frequency band of the system into a plurality of frequency partitions including a first frequency partition corresponding to a first frequency reuse factor, a second frequency partition corresponding Kth frequency reuse factor, and a third frequency partition; setting a transmission power level for each of the plurality of divided frequency partitions; allocating a downlink common control channel including non-user specific (NUS) control information common to every user to a particular frequency partition corresponding to the highest transmission power level among the set transmission power levels; and transmitting the NUS control information through the particular frequency partition.
US08428637B2
The method and apparatus as described are directed toward techniques and mechanisms to improve access terminal battery life through search rate control. Controlling the rate at which access terminals search for alternate networks in a cell, and more particularly reducing unnecessary attempts, significantly increases the battery life of the access terminal.
US08428629B2
Methods and apparatus for determining a mode of wireless communications to be used by a wireless terminal, e.g., a direct communications mode or an infrastructure communications mode are described. In some embodiments, the mode to be used is determined by a control node based on interference which will be caused to the system taking into consideration at least an area, e.g., cell, in which the wireless terminal seeking to communicate is not located. System interference cost estimates for each mode under consideration are generated and compared. Interference cost estimates may, and do, correspond to different frequency bands when the direct mode uses a different frequency band than the infrastructure communications mode. Separate interference cost estimates and mode determinations are made for different communications directions in some embodiments. The determined mode to be used is communicated to the devices seeking to communicate, e.g., via one or more base stations.
US08428627B2
The present invention discloses a method and system for media modification, which is used for solving the problem that it is not considered during media modification whether the user confirmation or precondition of media modification is required, thereby resulting in technical defects, such as possible bearing resource embezzlement, producing redundancy, etc. The present invention regards the 200OK message of Re-INVITE as the confirmed time point of the media addition and/or modification; in the case that there is a precondition and the user confirmation is not required, the time point when the precondition is satisfied is regarded as the confirmed time point of the media component addition and/or existing media component modification; in the case that there is a precondition and the user confirmation is required, the 200OK response message of the Re-INVITE message is regarded as the confirmed time point of the media component addition and/or existing media component modification.
US08428623B2
A computer-implemented method of rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations is provided. The method includes receiving from a first user and storing an indication of one or more geographic areas. Mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a second user is received from the user mobile device or a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device. The mobile device location information is compared with the indication of the one or more geographic areas. An indication of a reward is transmitted to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the one or more geographic areas. Systems for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations are also provided.
US08428620B2
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing location information for a mobile device associated with a passenger of a mass transportation vehicle. For example, in some embodiments, the location information of a mobile device of a passenger may be utilized to provide location-based services, such as, but not limited to, providing the passenger with updated information regarding a travel arrangement, enabling an airline crew to determine the whereabouts of a passenger, and enabling automatic check-in. In addition, certain ones of the disclosed embodiments provide a method for maintaining location-based services associated with a mobile device while the device is in transit on a mass transportation vehicle, such as, but not limited to, an airplane.
US08428614B2
A system for providing a mobile phone based treasure hunt game including a system server including puzzle data pertaining to a plurality of geographic sites, at least one mobile phone, a plurality of geographically diverse mobile phone location identifiers, software executing on the system server for receiving location data pertaining to the at least one mobile phone, the location data indicative of a location of the at least one mobile phone relative to at least one of the location identifiers, software executing on the system server for determining at least one of the geographic sites within a predetermined distance of the location, and software executing on the system server for providing at least a portion of the puzzle data pertaining to the at least one geographic site to the at least one mobile phone.
US08428612B2
A mobile communication device for prioritized load balancing is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module receives data communication services and a broadcast message from a first service network. Also, a controller determines whether the broadcast message has load balancing information for the first service network and a second service network, and in response to the broadcast message having the load balancing information, generates a random number and determines whether the random number belongs to a restricted priority level according to the load balancing information. The controller further suspends a reselection from the first service network to the second service network, in response to the random number belonging to the restricted priority level.
US08428606B1
Within a wireless network, a control segment is communicated between a base station and a mobile station, where the control segment is for assigning resources for communication of data in the wireless network. The control segment includes an index that maps to information to enable determination of the assigned resources.
US08428605B2
A subscriber platform for broadband communication, according to various aspects of the present invention, includes an antenna, a plurality of transceivers, and a processor. The antenna supports communication via a plurality of directional beams. The plurality of frequency agile transceivers operate simultaneously, each transceiver being coupled to the antenna for communication via a respective directional beam. The processor is coupled to the plurality of transceivers. And, the transceivers are coupled to the antenna to communicate data among the directional beams as directed by the processor, communication including directional diversity and frequency diversity.
US08428594B2
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band.
US08428587B2
A mobile communication system provided with a home address holding function unit storing one home address, as a representative home address, from among a plurality of home addresses and the rest as subordinate home addresses, a position registration request function unit creating a representative address set and subordinate address sets with the representative home address and subordinate home addresses, acquired from the holding function unit, and a corresponding representative care-of address and subordinate care-of addresses and further sending a position registration request by only the representative address set, and a position registration function unit receiving the representative home address and subordinate home addresses acquired from the holding function unit, creating subordinate address sets from the representative address set relating to the position registration request, and registering the position of the representative address set simultaneously with the registration of the positions of the subordinate address sets.
US08428586B2
A scheme for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless UE device includes means for manipulating a search sequence order relating to a system acquisition database structure that is associated with the wireless UE device, the manipulation based at least in part upon how long the wireless UE device was in power off condition. Also included is means for locating a network via scanning based upon the acquisition database responsive to the manipulation.
US08428577B2
A data processing apparatus is disclosed which includes a reproducing element for reproducing each of a plurality of content data items a reproduction status detecting element for detecting status of each content data item being reproduced by the reproducing element a selecting element for selecting the content data item being reproduced by the reproducing element depending on the reproduction status of the content data item detected by the reproduction status detecting element a content identification data generating element for generating content identification data for identifying the content data item selected by the selecting element from the plurality of content data items and a transmitting element for transmitting to a second data processing apparatus the content identification data generated by the content identification data generating element.
US08428576B2
A method for verifying compliance of a communication device with one or more requirement specifications is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a link between a test system and the communication device, wherein the establishing comprises configuring one or more bearers and one or more control channels; closing a test loop comprising the test system and the communication device, wherein the closing comprises activating a test loop function of the communication device; sending data in a downlink of the test loop from the test system to the communication device; receiving the data at the communication device; transferring at least some of the data to an uplink transmission arrangement of the communication device after a specific event has occurred; and verifying, at the test system, transmission in an uplink of the test loop from the communication device to the test system. Corresponding test system and test loop function arrangement are also disclosed.
US08428570B2
Systems and methods for activating a mobile device for use with a service provider are described. In one exemplary method, a mobile device having a currently inserted SIM card may be prepared for activation using a signing process in which an activation server generates a signed activation ticket that uniquely corresponds to the combination of the device and SIM card, and that is securely stored on the mobile device. In another exemplary method the mobile device may be activated in an activation process in which the device verifies an activation ticket against information specific to the device and SIM card, and initiates activation when the verification of the activation ticket is successful.
US08428566B2
Network entity, method and system for invocation of supplementary services across different networks
A network entity, method and system for providing supplementary services to a mobile device while roaming. The network entity comprises a receiver, a converter and an output. The receiver is for receiving a first message from a mobile device being provided roaming service by a first network, the first message being in a transport protocol supported by the first network and having embedded therein an invocation message based on for invocation of at least one supplementary service offered by a second network. The converter is for extracting the invocation message from the first message. The output is for sending the invocation message to the second network using a protocol used by the second network to invoke supplementary services.
US08428550B2
A system for determining the location of a wireless mobile device with respect to an interconnected network of wireless transmission waveguides is disclosed. The interconnected network could be interconnected ducts of an HVAC system in a building. Multiple wireless probes are placed at multiple locations within the HVAC duct system (or similar interconnected network of waveguides). Each probe may detect a common signal from a wireless mobile device and independently preserve arrival time information of the detected signal, wherein the signal propagates to probes by way of a free-space path to an opening in one or another duct, and thereafter to the probes via one or another path through the interconnected ducts, which act as wireless transmission waveguides. By correlating timing information of a signal received at three or more probes, a location of the mobile wireless device may be determined by one or another form of triangulation.
US08428543B2
A receiver arrangement with AC coupling is specified in which a filter arrangement (3) is provided in a baseband signal processing chain in a homodyne receiver and can be switched between at least two high-pass filter cut-off frequencies. In this case, a brief changeover is made to a higher cut-off frequency when varying the gain of a low-noise baseband amplifier (2), for example when the received field strength changes, during the reception mode. The described arrangement allows changes to be carried out to the gain in baseband during the normal reception mode. The present receiver is accordingly suitable for code division multiple access methods, such as those which are provided in the UMTS Standard.
US08428542B2
A multi-path signal interference cancellation system cancels multiple time delayed signal components of a multi-path interference signal received by a receive antenna and carried on a receiver transmission line of a radio receiver system. The interference cancellation system includes a plurality of adaptive interference canceller circuits, each of which has a synchronous detector, a signal controller and an integrator as essential parts of closed control loops defined by the canceller circuits. The integrator has gain and bandwidth characteristics associated therewith which are adjustable to adjust the gain and bandwidth of each closed control loop. An intensity profile of the multi-path interference signal is generated and stored in a memory. An intensity profile signal from the memory is provided to the integrator of each adaptive interference canceller circuit to adjust the gain and bandwidth of the integrator and the loop in which it is situated to maximize the error detection residual signal-to-noise ratio of each adaptive interference canceller circuit. Each adaptive interference canceller circuit generates a cancellation signal from which a synthesized cancellation signal is generated and effectively injected onto the receiver transmission line to cancel the multiple time delayed signal components of the multi-path interference signal carried thereon so that the radio receiver of the radio receiver system only receives a desired signal.
US08428532B2
In the receive subsystem, the analogue-to-digital converter (40) works on the output of the low-noise amplifier (33), at a chosen rate (F), which corresponds to a bandwidth sampling. The processing stages comprise a custom circuit (5), with * an input memory (510) arranged to contain N successive digital samples, renewed at the chosen rate in blocks of M samples, * a complex digital low-pass filtering function (511, 512), of chosen cut-off frequency, operating on the input memory to supply N filtered digital samples (515), * an M-periodic summing function (531) on the N filtered digital samples, supplying M filtered and summed digital samples (533), * an M′M discrete Fourier transform stage (55), operating on these M filtered and summed digital samples, the digital signals on the M outputs (559) of the Fourier transform representing M separate channels, of width defined by the cut-off frequency of the abovementioned low-pass filter.
US08428531B2
A radio wave receiver including an antenna for receiving a radio wave; a tuning unit that can discretely changing a frequency characteristic of the antenna; an oscillation generator that can oscillate the antenna and a circuit portion of the tuning unit; a reception processing section for extracting a signal of a desired wave out of a reception signal received from the antenna; a controller for generating an oscillation signal at the circuit portion by the oscillation generator, and switching a setting of the tuning unit to search a setting state of the tuning unit under which the oscillation signal is extracted by the reception processing section; and a compensator for applying a variation to a frequency characteristic of the oscillation signal or a frequency characteristic associated with signal extraction of the reception processing section when the controller searches the setting state.
US08428529B2
A wireless transceiver, comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a plurality of antennas, determines transmit phase relationship between at least two of antennas based on radio frequency (RF) signals received via the at least two antennas from one or more antennas of a base station. RF signals are transmitted via the at least two antennas utilizing the determined transmit phase relationship. The receiver is calibrated based on receiver performance determined from the received RF signals for subsequent reception of RF signals. The transmit phase relationship is dynamically adjusted based on the transmit RF measurements and the determined receiver performance. Transmit channel qualities are determined for each transmit antenna based on the transmit RF measurements and the dynamically adjusted transmit phase relationship. Transmit antennas are dynamically selected based on the adjusted transmit phase relationship, the characterized transmit channel qualities and the determined receiver performance for subsequent transmission to the base station.
US08428523B2
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes computer instructions to determine a translation function based on a transmit frequency of a transmit mode and a receive frequency of a receive mode of a transceiver for a communication device, and adjust a variable reactance component of an impedance matching circuit for the receive mode based on the translation function, where the impedance matching circuit is operably coupled with an antenna of the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08428517B2
A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device includes a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, a memory coupled to the processor and a program stored in the memory and running on the processor. The program provides automatic transitioning between a wireless infrastructure communication mode to an ad-hoc communication mode. The infrastructure mode is used when a request from a mobile device is received to access a communications network. The ad-hoc mode is used when a request from the mobile device is received to access resources on the portable electronic device.
US08428513B2
An embodiment relates generally to a method of selecting applications. The method includes positioning a powered-down mobile device into a close proximity of a near field communication device and selecting an application from a plurality of applications stored on the powered-down mobile device. The method also includes executing the application in the powered-down mobile device to interact with the near field communication device.
US08428502B2
A fixing device includes an endless flexible fixing member, a supporting member having a pipe shape disposed inside a loop formed by the fixing member to support the fixing member, a pressing member disposed opposite the supporting member via the fixing member, and a nip formation member disposed opposite the pressing member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. The fixing member contacts an outer circumferential face of the supporting member at a side opposite a side at which the fixing member contacts the nip formation member at the fixing nip. The fixing member has slack portions formed upstream and downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of a recording medium. The slack portions extend toward the pressing member over the fixing nip without contacting either the supporting member or the pressing member.
US08428491B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for forming a toner image on the image bearing member while carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, wherein the developing device is mountable and demountable relative to a main assembly of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel with a radial direction of the image bearing member; an urging mechanism for urging the developing device toward the surface of the image bearing member; and a moving mechanism, movable in a movement path of the developing device, for moving the developing device between a developing position in which development can be effected and a retracted position retracted from the developing position in a state in which the developing device is urged by the urging mechanism. The moving mechanism is temporarily retracted from an inside of the movement path of the developing device to an outside of the movement path of the developing device by a mounting and demounting operation of the developing device.
US08428489B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent-image forming device; a developing device; a latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism; and a developing device contacting/separating mechanism, and the latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism allows the latent-image forming device to be movable to the latent-image forming device contacting position in a state where the developing device is moved to the developing device contacting position.
US08428472B2
A method and apparatus for transmission of data on bandwidth limited fiber optic channels. A multilevel signaling alphabet having multiple levels of optical intensity are used to transmit signals on optical channels. In order to counteract the decrease in signal to noise ratio resulting from the use of a multilevel signaling alphabet over a bilevel signaling alphabet trellis encoding of the data to be transmitted is employed. To counteract intersymbol interference due to signaling faster than the Nyquist Rate, equalization methods such as Tomlinson-Harashima preceding and decision feedback equalization are employed.
US08428462B2
A device may include a component, a first switch, a repeater, and a second switch. The component may configure optical paths between ports. The component may comprise a first pair of optical ports connected to a first pair of optical fibers, and a second pair of optical ports connected to a second pair of optical fibers. The first switch may be configured to output one of two optical signals received by the first pair of optical ports from the first pair of optical fibers. The repeater may reshape or amplify the outputted optical signal. The second switch may be configured to direct the reshaped or amplified signal to one of the second pair of optical ports.
US08428460B2
Various methods and apparatuses are described for a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) that performs bi-directional communication. The WDM-PON may include two or more remote distribution nodes in between a central office and the most distant optical network unit. Each remote distribution node is located in a physically separate location. A first remote distribution node has two or more optical network units connected to the first remote distribution node. Each remote node separates one or more wavelength channels from a composite optical signal distributed through that remote distribution node.
US08428456B2
The present invention discloses a passive optical network (PON) protection method, a switchover control device, and a PON protection system. In embodiments of the present invention, a protection optical line terminal (OLT) is connected to optical links of at least two working OLTs through the switchover control device; when a working OLT or working optical link fails, the switchover control device replaces the working OLT through the protection optical link, thus ensuring smooth communication. In addition, by using the networking mode of multiple working OLTs and one protection OLT, the embodiments of the present invention greatly saves the networking cost and facilitates the application of the PON technology.
US08428454B2
A method and associated system for imaging high density biochemical arrays comprises one or more imaging channels that share a common objective lens and a corresponding one or more time delay integration-type imaging cameras with optical alignment mechanisms that permit independent inter-channel and intra-channel adjustment of each of four degrees: X, Y, rotation and scale. The imaging channels are configured to independently examine different spectra of the image of the biochemical arrays.
US08428452B2
A driving mechanism includes plural driving members arranged in a circumferential shape around a reference shaft, a base member holding the plural driving members with each interposed in the circumferential direction, first piezoelectric elements vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, and second piezoelectric elements vibrating in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction. Each driving member includes a first member and a second member. The base member supports one driving member of two driving members adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction on a first support face and supports the other driving member on a second support face. The base member is formed so that the angle formed by the first support face and the second support face is equal to or greater than 60°.
US08428449B2
A flow-through heating system (1) is described, comprising: a flow tube (11); a plurality of at least two heating elements (12A, 12B, 12C), each heating element being connected in series with a corresponding controllable switch (23 A, 23B, 23C); a control unit (30) having control outputs (33A, 33B, 33C) coupled to said controllable switches; the control unit (30) being designed to generate control signals (Sa, Sb, Sc) for opening and closing the controllable switches such that said heating system is operated at a required power (Pr) less than the power capacity (Ptot) of said heating system by operating precisely one of said heating elements at reduced power while the remaining heating elements are either operated at full power or at zero power.
US08428443B2
A method of providing modified media content is disclosed that includes providing media content to a destination device via a network, where the media content comprises video data and audio data have a first viewing rate. The method further includes receiving data indicating a selection of a second viewing rate via the network and modifying the media content to produce modified media content having approximately the second viewing rate. The modified media content includes modified video data and modified audio data synchronized at approximately the second viewing rate.
US08428439B2
A broadcast program recording/reproducing device is provided that is capable of continuously reproducing a program recorded so as to be distributed between a plurality of devices. A reception level detection unit (105) detects the reception level of the received broadcast electric wave. When the reception level is equal to or lower than a predetermined reception level, a recording request transmission unit (106) generates a recording start request packet, and transmits it to a server (20). A management information write unit (107) writes management information into a terminal storage unit (104). A continuous reproduction control unit (108) determines whether the program is recorded so as to be distributed between storing means and an external device based on the management information. When the program is recorded so as to be distributed, the continuous reproduction control unit (108) obtains an appropriate part of the program from the terminal storage unit (104) and a server (20) based on the management information and continuously reproduces it, and when the program is not recorded so as to be distributed, the continuous reproduction control unit (108) obtains the program from the terminal storage unit (104) and reproduces it.
US08428437B2
A playback device for updating a character string in synchronization with a moving image displays a gradation character using an available index in a color lookup table. The playback device includes a pre-analysis unit that pre-analyzes character-string display instruction information in a text subtitle stream, thereby recognizing in advance the available index in the color lookup table and displaying the gradation character using the available index.
US08428427B2
An apparatus and methods are described for receiving, storing, and recovering from storage one or more television program while maintaining proper audio to video synchronization or lip sync when the program is displayed. Preferably the audio and video portions are in digital form and may be compressed or uncompressed. The audio and video may be recorded on a physical storage medium such as tape, an optical or magnetic computer disk, or solid state memory or other such device providing user control functions including start, stop, record, play and search, with increased reproduction capability of such stored programs being facilitated by the present invention. Timing information is recovered from the audio and video to be displayed utilized to alter the time duration of a contiguous signal block (the alpha length) of the audio and/or video to correct for any timing errors therebetween. Correction of frequency artifacts such as pitch errors which may be created with the alteration of alpha length is also taught.
US08428416B2
A device for transmitting light signals includes two electrode plates, a spacing structure, a cladding fluid, and a core fluid. The spacing structure, the cladding and core fluids are disposed between the electrode plates. The refractive index of the core fluid is higher than that of the cladding fluid. The core fluid is located on an electrode of one of the electrode plates, and its shape corresponds to the shape of that electrode. The shape and position is changeable and programmable by the electrodes of one of the electrode plates. The core fluid is further surrounded by the cladding fluid, forming an optical waveguide. Via these arrangements, the interface between the core and cladding fluids is much smoother than that between a fluid and a solid, so that the light signals are less likely to scatter while transmitted, in the core fluid. Therefore, the attenuation and reduction of the intensity of the light signals can be decreased. A method for transmitting light signals is also provided.
US08428408B2
Regarding an optical pulse reshaping device of CPF type, there are subjects to reduce the number of stages by enhancing a compression efficiency as extremely higher for one stage of the CPF with maintaining a quality of an output pulse as high, and to be able to improve a degree of multiplexing by obtaining an output pulse having a Gaussian function for both of a time waveform therefor and a frequency waveform therefor. By using a normal dispersion HNLF in place of a zero dispersion HNLF, which configures the conventional CPF, it becomes able to overcome the above mentioned subjects. Moreover, it becomes able to reduce the number of fusion splice for a fiber, and to reduce a propagation loss of the CPF, by enhancing the compression efficiency as higher.
US08428407B2
A fiber optic jumper cable having a central axis includes a bend-resistant multimode optical fiber generally arranged along the central axis. A tensile-strength layer surrounds the bend-resistant optical fiber. A protective cover surrounds the tensile-strength layer and has an outside diameter DO in the range 1.6 mm≦DO≦4 mm.
