US08556973B2
An intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises a left prosthesis component and a symmetric right prosthesis component positioned in an intervertebral space. Each prosthesis component includes a superior vertebra facing surface, an inferior vertebra facing surface, and a substantially spherical bearing surface. The bearing surface is positioned between the superior vertebra facing surface and the inferior vertebra facing surface. The superior vertebra facing surface is provided on a superior endplate and the inferior vertebra facing surface is provided on an inferior endplate. The superior endplate is operable to rotate relative to the inferior endplate upon the bearing surface. Each prosthesis component further comprises an elastic member positioned between an endplate and the bearing surface. The elastic member may be substantially cylindrical with a plurality of resilient ribs. Flexion/extension, lateral bending, and torsional movement are allowed by a combination of endplate rotation upon the bearing surface and compression of the elastic member.
US08556970B2
An instrument for placing a graft into a bone tunnel comprises an elongated shaft having a forked distal end comprising a pair of tines. A suture spans a space defined between the tines whereby the graft may be positioned between the tines and against the suture so as to be manipulated into the bone tunnel. The tendon folds about the suture, the suture having a releasable tension such that the instrument can be removed from the bone, leaving the tendon behind without the tendon hanging up on the suture.
US08556967B2
An interior bag for a capsular bag of an eye comprises a discriminatingly permeable interior bag that selectively reduces fluid flow volume through the interior bag. The interior bag is secured inside the capsular bag. A structure, adapted to hold a refractive device, is attached to the interior bag.
US08556966B2
Devices, systems, and methods associated with annuloplasty are described herein. One or more annuloplasty devices include a number of longitudinal filaments moveable between an introductory configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the number of longitudinal filaments are one or more lengths, and a shell, wherein the shell contains the number of longitudinal filaments and a curable polymer to maintain the annuloplasty device in a deployed configuration.
US08556965B2
An annuloplasty ring comprising an elongate tube of suturable material formed into a ring. A stiffener configured to prevent axial compression and radial deformation of the ring is received in the tube in a first circumferential segment of the ring. An axial support configured to prevent axial compression of the ring and to permit radial deformation of the ring is received in the tube in a second circumferential segment of the ring. The first circumferential segment of the ring may correspond to a posterior portion of a mitral valve annulus with the first circumferential portion configured to extend between the right and the left fibrous trigones of the mitral valve annulus upon installation. The second circumferential segment of the ring may correspond to an anterior portion of a mitral valve annulus and the second circumferential segment is configured to extend between the right and left fibrous trigones of the mitral valve annulus upon installation.
US08556960B2
Prosthetic valve devices, as well as systems and methods for the delivery thereof, are disclosed. A device includes one or more leaflets disposed within a frameless conduit, wherein the conduit is adapted for attachment to walls of a vascular vessel, and the leaflets are adapted for attachment to walls of the conduit. The leaflets are configured to selectively restrict blood flow through the conduit, and the conduit can include wall-engaging adaptations, for example, barbs or an adhesive. The conduit and the leaflets are formed with a flexible material, which may comprise a remodelable material and/or a synthetic polymer.
US08556951B2
The provision of phototherapy to a subject is titrated to adapt dynamically to the sleep of the subject. The titration is performed using real-time or near real-time EEG readings. This may enhance the comfort and/or efficacy of the phototherapy.
US08556947B2
A device and method for fixation of bone fractures has a bone screw comprising a shank with a threaded end portion, on the outer surface. The screw has a through bore with two bore portions differing in diameter. A step in the diameter is formed between these bore portions and is located within the end of the screw having the thread. This step in diameter can support a metal insert which in turn supports a polymer pin when the latter if pressurized with a sonotrode in the bone screw. Together with an applied ultrasonic vibration the pressure fluidizes the polymer pin and presses the material through holes configured in the wall of the bone screw and into surrounding bone.
US08556938B2
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. The upper portion expands a retaining member in the receiver cavity to capture the shank upper portion in the receiver. In some embodiment either the retaining member or an insert provide for a friction fit of the shank upper portion in the receiver resulting in non-floppy placement of the shank with respect to the receiver. Some retainers and inserts have a lock-and-release feature. Final locking of the polyaxial mechanism is provided by frictional engagement between the shank upper portion and the retaining member. A pre-assembled receiver, retaining member and optional insert may be popped-on or snapped-on to the shank upper portion prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra.
US08556937B2
Exemplary spinal fixation devices, systems, and method are provided for stabilizing vertebrae in a patient's spine. In one exemplary embodiment, methods and devices are provided for coupling one or more bone anchors, such as hooks, screws, etc., and/or one or more spinal fixation elements, such as spinal rods, cables, plates, etc. In certain exemplary embodiments, a cross connector is provided for connecting and stabilizing two bone anchors, a bone anchor and a spinal fixation element, or a bone anchor and bone.
US08556930B2
The present invention relates to closing an opening within a subcutaneous bodily vessel by using a spiral closure device to engage tissue around the opening. The spiral closure device is adapted to be threaded into the vessel wall surrounding the opening in the bodily vessel. A deployment mechanism may be used to rotate the spiral closure device. As the deployment mechanism is rotated the spiral closure device is rotated such that a tip of the spiral closure device engages the vessel wall around the opening in the bodily vessel. Continued rotation of the spiral closure device threads the closure device through the tissue around the opening. As the distal end is threaded through the vessel wall, the narrowing closure device pulls the vessel wall tissue together, thereby effectively closing the opening.
US08556915B2
A skin removal instrument that comprises first and second resilient arms. Each of the first and second arms includes a main body that has a middle, an attachment end and a nipping end opposite the attachment end. The attachment ends are attached to one another, thereby forming a spring area that allows the nipping ends to resiliently move toward and away from each other. Each of the first and second arms includes an outer gripping area disposed offset from the middle of the main body of the first and second arms, respectively. The outer gripping area has a substantially bulbous shape. Each of the nipping ends of the first and second arms includes an extension portion that extends from the main body and a nipping blade portion that extends from the extension portion. Each of the nipping blade portions has an angled surface angled downwardly from an inner surface of the extension portions, respectively, such that the nipping blade portions converge toward one another. Each of the nipping blade portions includes a nipping edge at an end of the respective angled surface, wherein the nipping blade portions meet when the first and second arms are compressed together to remove a section of skin.
US08556913B2
A method to allow an easy delivery of a fetus during a Cesarean Section when the fetal head is deeply wedged in the female pelvic cavity using a unique surgical device. The device consists of inflatable portion to lift the fetal head, the inflatable portion being attached to a foldable base plate that can be folded along with the inflatable portion for insertion of the device into the female vagina below the fetal head. The inflatable portion is inflated by injecting a biocompatible fluid with a pressurizing device such as a syringe, pressure bag, hand pump or powered pump. The device may also be utilized in other situations like abdominal delivery of a premature or small baby and when cord prolapse has occurred.
US08556912B2
A disassembly tool for disassembly of a first component of a prosthesis from a second component of the prosthesis for use in joint arthroplasty. The tool includes a body having an internal bore. At least a portion of the internal bore is threaded for engagement with a thread on the first component of the prosthesis. The tool further includes an expandable ring surrounding a portion of the body and adapted to engage the first component, such that when a radial force is applied to the body, the ring expands, applying an axial force against the first component.
US08556909B2
A system for inserting an augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, including a pin-inserter with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening. A pin-magazine with a pin-retainer for an augmentation pin in insertable in the lateral opening. The pin-magazine is placed in the lateral opening of the pin-inserter and an augmentation pin in the pin-retainer is aligned with the axial through-bore. The augmentation pin may be pushed by means of a pusher from the pin-magazine into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation screw is arranged in front of the pin-inserter.
US08556905B2
A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.
US08556900B2
A surgical instrument including a cutting instrument for shaping a bone as well as an impaction/extraction device for use with the cutting instrument is disclosed.
US08556898B2
The application relates to a method of orienting a bone-milling cutter and an impact instrument for a hip-prosthesis cup in an acetabulum. The method includes initially positioning a manipulation cup by a manipulation joint head and representing this position by at least one guide rod or fixation rod that is fixed in a bone. The method also includes removing the manipulation cup and adjusting a position of both the bone-milling cutter and the impact instrument with respect to either the guide rod itself or a guide rod that is attached to a holding device disposed on at least one fixation rod.
US08556895B2
An improved anterior cervical plating system and methods of cervical fusion using such a system are provided. The cervical plating system includes an interlocking mechanism that integrated into each of the plates such that any two plates may cooperatively engage through the interlocking mechanism such that a new cervical plate can be interconnected with a pre-existing plate during revision surgery without removal of the pre-existing plate.
US08556893B2
A catheter assembly comprises a deflectable catheter shaft comprising a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough. The catheter assembly further comprises least one pull wire comprising a distal portion comprising a side and a distal end, wherein the side comprises a first side portion and a second side portion. The catheter assembly further comprises a distal pull assembly operatively coupled to the at least one pull wire. The distal pull assembly comprises a longitudinal axis, a first surface, and a second surface. The first side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the first surface of the distal pull assembly, and the second side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the second surface of the distal pull assembly.
US08556884B2
Packaging including a coiled and optionally prelubricated catheter, its distal end insertable into the urethra, a slidable hygienic sheath, a proximal catheter end for voiding urine from the distal end through the assembly to the proximal end. Mutually rotatable elements providing for withdrawal of the catheter from its coiled state to an extended state, and refraction of the catheter back to its coiled state. Methods of extending the catheter, inserting it into the urethra, and voiding urine through the catheter, without requiring complete removal from the catheter packaging. A kit including automatic extrusion of the catheter's distal end upon package opening, and a water pouch for hydrophilic lubrication, and sanitary wipes for reducing the likelihood of infection. A catheter within a flexible and optionally coiled tube, a slidable hygienic sheath covering a catheter's distal end that can move along the length of the catheter during insertion.
US08556881B2
A method of treating a patient with a calcified aortic valve includes introducing a guide wire into a blood vessel. The guide wire is advanced through the aorta to the aortic valve and then through the aortic valve. A balloon dilatation catheter is introduced into the blood vessel over the guide wire. The balloon dilatation catheter includes an elongate body, a distal portion, a guide wire lumen, an inflation lumen, and a dilatation balloon. The balloon dilatation catheter further includes at least one deflection wire lumen, and at least one deflection wire residing in the at least one deflection wire lumen and having a distal end attached to the distal portion. The balloon dilatation catheter is advanced over the guide wire through the aorta, through the aortic valve, and the dilatation balloon is inflated.
US08556877B2
An absorbent pant garment including a pair of front and back side panels on opposite transverse sides of the garment, with a refastenable seam formed between the front and back side panels including a fastening component on the front side panel and a mating fastening component on the back side panel, with elasticity in the front and/or back side panel. Each of the front and back side panels includes a waist and a leg end edge, with a portion of the waist end edge and a portion of the leg end edge substantially parallel to one another adjacent a distal edge for a distance greater than a transverse width of the fastening component or mating fastening component bonded thereto. These parallel portions of the side panel edges space the fastening and mating fastening components away from major stress points of the garment, thereby reducing the likelihood of fastener pop-opens.
US08556876B2
A personal care article including a thermoplastic magnetic member. The thermoplastic magnetic member is formed of a thermoplastic material with magnetic particles dispersed therethrough. The thermoplastic material comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, thermoplastic elastomers, polyamides, polyacetals, polyethers, polyesters, polyurethanes, poly(meth)acrylates, and compatible mixtures thereof. The magnetic particles are selected from the group consisting of magnetoplumbite-structure ferrite particles, rare-earth magnet particles, and mixtures thereof. The thermoplastic material may be disposed on a surface of a fibrous substrate. A surface of the thermoplastic magnetic member may be profiled. A second thermoplastic magnetic member may have an opposite magnetic polarity and a complementary surface profile such that the two thermoplastic magnetic members may be magnetically joined and mechanically interlocked when in a mated configuration.
US08556869B2
An IV flow regulator includes a housing, a flow control disk, a screw, and a dial. The flow control disk establishes a rate of flow through the housing. The flow rate regulator further includes alignment features allowing for high volume manufacturing while also being assembled into an accurate and reliable flow rate regulator.
US08556868B2
Disclosed herein is a syringe comprising a syringe body with plunger and a multi-pronged actuator. The syringe can further include a male coupling member, an outer sheath, a valve member and a back plate.
US08556865B2
Various embodiments of a medical module are provided which includes a primary module housing, a secondary module housing, a dosage sensor, a power source, and a microcontroller. The module is configured to be attached to a disposable drug delivery pen or a reusable drug delivery pen so that the module may: determine dosage selected, injection of selected dosage, duration of injection, time of injection, whether the pen has been primed or shaken to thoroughly mix up insulin mixtures, transmit information relating to insulin dosage and injection to a data management unit, provide reminders, error warning or messages on improper usage or reusage of needles, track amount of drug remaining on board the pen or duration of usage of pen with respect to expiry of the drug on board, or provide an audible alarm for locating misplaced pen and module.
US08556864B2
A drive mechanism suitable for use in drug delivery devices is disclosed. The drive mechanism may be used with injector-type drug delivery devices, such as those permitting a user to set the delivery dose. The drive mechanism may include a housing, a dose dial sleeve, and a drive sleeve. A clutch is configured to permit rotation of the drive sleeve and the dose dial sleeve with respect to the housing when the dose dial sleeve and drive sleeve are coupled through the clutch. Conversely, when the dose dial sleeve and drive sleeve are in a de-coupled state, rotation of the dose dial sleeve with respect to the housing is permitted and rotation of the drive sleeve with respect to the housing is prevented. In the de-coupled state, axial movement of the drive sleeve transfers force in a longitudinal direction for actuation of a drug delivery device.
US08556860B2
The invention relates to a cap for use in neurosurgery. The cap may be applied to a bore hole in a patient's skull, allowing the entry and removal of neurosurgical instruments, while providing an openable seal over the bore hole.
US08556859B2
A securement device for retaining medical tubing, catheters, and other medical fixtures proximal a patient's skin. The device has a base, at least one channel formed in the base, a flexible strap for overlying the base, and a coupling assembly for coupling the strap to the base. Embodiments for use with Foley catheters include a plurality of channels of differing diameters. Embodiments for use with a peripheral catheter include a single channel for retaining a spin nut. The coupling assembly includes left and right tracks in left and right sides of the base, and left and right rails on an underside of the flexible strap at left and right ends of a body of the strap. The left rail is removably coupled and held within the left track on the base, and the right rail is removably coupled and held within the right track on the base.
US08556858B2
An anchor assembly is used with a medical device to engage the medical device against a body wall. The anchor assembly includes a pivotable anchor and a filament. The anchor is seated in a longitudinal orientation within a recessed channel located at the distal end of the medical device. Pulling on a proximal free end of the filament causes the anchor to pivot from a longitudinal orientation to a perpendicular orientation. The anchor in the perpendicular orientation engages against a body wall to immobilize the medical device.
US08556855B2
Embodiments of a retractable syringe assembly are provided that include a dual syringe barrel configuration. One or more embodiments include reuse prevention features and features that prevent premature activation of the retraction mechanism. Methods for aspirating and expelling liquid from medical devices are also provided.
US08556853B2
A needle guard is attached to a needle hub by a polyester film strip and a needle passes through longitudinally spaced apart apertures in the strip. The film strip is housed in the needle guard in a corrugated manner. When the needle guard is pulled over the needle, the needle moves into a housing of the needle guard and into abutment with the housing while the strip is stretched between the hub and the housing to retain the housing connected to the hub under a biasing force.
US08556849B2
Systems, devices and methods for eluting an agent at a treatment site are disclosed. The devices include an expandable frame and at least one membrane. The membrane may carry an agent to elute at the treatment site. The membrane may allow blood flow at the treatment site during agent delivery.
US08556846B2
A blood volume control method has been developed including: monitoring a condition of a patient (such as hematocrit (Hct)), wherein the condition is indicative of blood volume in the patient; automatically determining that the condition indicates a low blood volume in the patient; automatically infusing an infusion solution into the patient in response to the determination of a low blood volume, and automatically adjusting the infusion to maintain the monitored condition at a predetermined value.
US08556827B2
A lancing device is adapted for use in firing a lancet into the skin of a patient to acquire a blood sample and, subsequent thereto, calculating and displaying the concentration of glucose in the acquired sample. In one embodiment, the device comprises a lancet and a torsion spring coupled to the lancet through a lancet holder. The torsion spring includes inner, middle and outer rings which are concentrically configured, a plurality of activation spring arms which connect the middle and outer rings and a plurality of return spring arms which connect the inner and middle rings. In use, the plurality of activation and return spring arms can be independently transformed between energized and de-energized states using a single, button-shaped mechanism. Rotation of the mechanism is used to energize the activation and return spring arms. With the return spring arms maintained in their energized state, depression of the mechanism transforms the activation spring arms from their energized state to their de-energized state which drives the lancet from a retracted position to an extended position. Once the activation spring arms reach their de-energized state, the return spring arms transform from their energized state to their de-energized state which pulls the lancet back from its extended position to its retracted position.
US08556826B2
The present invention provides a fecal specimen collector. The fecal specimen collector consisting of a top cover, a bottle body, a specimen output end and a bottom cover, wherein a lower portion of the top cover forms a sampling end which may be inserted into the bottle body through an upper end of the bottle body, the top cover is connected with the upper end of the bottle body, the specimen output end is hermetically coupled with a lower portion of the bottle body, and the bottom cover surrounds the specimen output end and couples to the bottle body, wherein a convex is formed on the inner center of the bottom cover, and is inserted into a specimen output port of the specimen output end. The fecal specimen collector according to the present application has a small and delicate structure which has the advantages of easy operation, convenient portability and pollution free, etc.
US08556824B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing optical pulses of a desired wavelength. The apparatus includes an optical pulse source operable to generate input optical pulses at a first wavelength. The apparatus further includes a higher order mode (HOM) fiber module operable to receive the input optical pulses at the first wavelength, and thereafter to produce output optical pulses at the desired wavelength by soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS). The present invention also relates to a method of producing optical pulses having a desired wavelength. This method includes generating input optical pulses using an optical pulse source, where the input optical pulses have a first wavelength and a first spatial mode. The input optical pulses are delivered into an HOM fiber module to alter the wavelength of the input optical pulses from the first wavelength to a desired wavelength by soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) within the HOM fiber module, thereby producing output optical pulses having the desired wavelength.
US08556822B2
A blood pressure measuring device disclosed in the present invention comprises a base, a reel-type cuff and at least one stopper. The reel-type cuff is elastically and recoverably reeled in the base with one end, and is freely extended out from the base with the other end. The stopper, after being operated, can limit at least one determined length that the reel-type cuff is extended out from the base.
US08556821B2
A system for processing oscillometric data from a plurality of pressure steps to determine the blood pressure of a patient as disclosed herein. A heart rate monitor connected to the patient acquires the patient's heart rate. A time to frequency domain converter receives oscillometric data and converts the oscillometric data into the frequency domain. A harmonic frequency calculator is connected to the heart rate monitor and derives at least the heart rate fundamental frequency. A filter connected to the time to frequency domain converter and the harmonic frequency calculator that produces a filter frequency domain oscillometric signal. A reconstruction calculator receives the filtered frequency domain oscillometric signal and reconstructs a time domain oscillometric signal. A method of computing an oscillometric envelope for use in determining the blood pressure of a patient is also disclosed herein.
US08556805B2
A rotational force transmission mechanism has: a rotation-inputting member freely rotative and driven in a predetermined first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction by a predetermined operating member; a first rotation-transmitting member for receiving a rotational driving force supplied from the rotation-inputting member in the first direction; a second rotation-transmitting member, disposed to face the first rotation-transmitting member, for receiving a rotational driving force supplied from the rotation-inputting member in the second direction; a connection section disposed so that the rotational force acts in the direction in which the first rotation-transmitting member and the second rotation-transmitting member face each other, the connection section in the facing position transfers the rotational driving force received by the first rotation-transmitting member in the first direction to the second rotation-transmitting member and transfers the rotational driving force received by the second rotation-transmitting member in the second direction to the first rotation-transmitting member; and a rotation-outputting member rotated and driven by the first rotation-transmitting member in the second direction, and rotated and driven by the second rotation-transmitting member in the first direction.
US08556804B2
A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A vacuum-activated device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. A torque braid transmits torque from the proximal end toward the distal end. A method for transmitting torque and variably flexing the insertion device includes transmitting torque along the hollow body with the torque braid, applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body for placing the hollow body in the relatively stiff condition, and relieving the vacuum for placing the hollow body in the relatively flexible condition.
US08556802B2
An endoscope device is provided. The endoscope device includes a capsule sensor entering a human body for detection and sending a signal, a driving device movably disposed outside of the human body and moving and rotating the capsule sensor in the human body with non-contact force for omni-directional human body detection, a data receiving device disposed outside of the human body and receiving signals from the capsule sensor, and a power supply device providing power to the driving device and the data receiving device.
US08556800B2
A lubricant supplying device of an endoscope everting tube drive comprises a drive tube everted at least once to thus form an outer and an inner tube portion. Inside the inner tube portion an endoscope shaft is mounted in an axially displaceable manner. In addition a drive device is provided which encompasses the drive tube everted at least once or the inner tube portion thereof so as to apply a driving force for an advancing movement of the endoscope shaft onto the inner tube portion, the drive means being in fluid connection with a lubricant supplying line and a lubricant discharge line for introducing a lubricant via the drive device into the drive tube everted at least once and/or for discharging it. The lubricant supply line and the lubricant discharge are connected to the drive device in two locations thereof diametrically opposite with respect to the endoscope shaft.
US08556793B2
Blood separation systems and methods are provided for controlling the interface between separated blood components. The system includes a blood separation chamber configured to separate blood into first and second blood components and an outlet line for removing at least a portion of the first blood component from the blood separation chamber. A primary optical sensor assembly is associated with the blood separation chamber to directly monitor the interior of the blood separation chamber. A secondary optical sensor assembly is associated with the outlet line to monitor the first blood component in the outlet line. The system also includes a controller programmed to select between the primary optical sensor assembly and the secondary optical sensor assembly for monitoring contamination of the first blood component. The system is particularly advantageous for preventing contamination of separated plasma which is lipemic or hemolytic.
US08556788B2
A method for manufacturing an assembly of a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet by mechanical means, wherein a longitudinal edge of the first flexible sheet is folded over for forming a hem therein, characterized in that said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet are mechanically cut to mutually different lengths, with the width of the hem being determined by the difference in length between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet.
US08556787B2
A tilting inversion exerciser includes a carrier pivotally attached to a supporting stand for mounting a supporting table and for supporting a user, and a support member is engaged with the supporting table and curved upwardly from the supporting table for selectively engaging with a waist portion of the user and for supporting and massaging the waist portion of the user. The support member includes a latch element extended from each side for engaging with the supporting table and for anchoring and securing the support member to the supporting table, and the supporting table includes a number of slots and channels for engaging with the latch elements of the support member and for adjusting a curvature of the support member relative to the supporting table.
US08556786B2
A thigh exerciser includes a U-shaped frame having a space formed between two levers, a retaining member coupled between the levers for connecting and retaining the levers of the frame together, and a spring biasing member having two arms engaged with the levers and secured to the levers respectively for securing the spring biasing member to the levers of the frame. The frame includes a projection extended from each of the levers for engaging with the arms and for securing the arms of the spring biasing member to the levers of the frame. The spring biasing member includes a channel formed in each of the arms for slidably and adjustably engaging with the projection of the lever.
US08556785B1
Golf swing exercises are performed with left and right resistance devices proximate a person's left and right feet, respectively. Left and right flexible members extend from respective left and right resistance device housings to a lower portion of a golf club handle.
US08556784B2
A stance forcing device has a resistance band threaded through a hollow tubular member. Then a first cuff member has an end of the resistance band attached thereto. A second cuff member is attached to the other end of the resistance band. The system has a first padding device attached to the hollow tubular member as well as a second padding device attached to the hollow tubular member. The system has a first cuff member with Velcro material for attachment of the stance forcing device to a user's leg. The first cuff member has a metallic hoop attachment to thread a piece of material for leg attachment. The system has a second cuff member with Velcro material for attachment of the stance forcing device to a user's leg. The second cuff member has a metallic hoop attachment to thread a piece of material for a leg attachment.
US08556771B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system includes a shifting-point changing portion configured to change a shifting point at which a determination to perform a shifting action of a transmission portion is made, such that a shifting portion is changed according to a shifting response of the transmission portion. Alternatively, the control apparatus includes a shift-control start-point changing portion configured to change a shift-control start point at which the determination to perform the shifting action is made, such that the shift-control start point is changed according to the shifting response of the transmission portion, and a compulsory shift-control starting portion configured to make the determination when an operating point of a differential portion electric motor has reached the shift-control start point.
US08556767B2
An automatic transmission including a Ravigneaux planetary gear unit, an input member, an output member disposed on one side of the Ravigneaux planetary gear unit, five friction elements disposed on the other side of the Ravigneaux planetary gear unit, and a partition member cooperating with an automatic transmission case to define a transmission chamber in which the output member, the Ravigneaux planetary gear unit, and the respective friction elements are accommodated. The output member is supported on a cylindrical portion extending from the partition member toward the Ravigneaux planetary gear unit in an axial direction of the input member.
US08556766B2
A transmission includes an input and output member, four planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, five interconnecting members continuously interconnecting members of the four planetary gear sets and six torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first members, second members, and third members with at least one of another of the first members, second members, third members, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08556763B2
A vehicle final reduction gear unit includes a first friction brake positioned between a right case member which is a stationary body and a differential case which is a rotating body for applying a pressing force in an axial direction to generate a frictional force in order to put a brake on the differential case. A second friction brake occupies an area between the differential case and the right wheel and applies a pressing force in the axial direction to generate a frictional force in order to use a rotational difference to put the differential mechanism into a lock state. The second friction brake is placed within the radius of the first friction brake. A reduced size is accomplished and the final reduction gear unit can be reduced in length in the vehicle-transverse direction. Thus, a vehicle final reduction gear unit allowing a reduction in size can be provided.
US08556756B2
Game apparatus, e.g., a game racquet or a golf club, with selectively variable and maintainable weight distribution, e.g. by moving material (e.g., liquid and/or solid weight members) within or on the apparatus and selectively positioning the weight(s) and maintaining weight position in or on the apparatus; in one aspect, the game apparatus having dual opposed channels for weight members; and in one aspect a set of a plurality of weight members for connection to a game apparatus.
US08556749B2
A golf ball comprising a single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation, the inner core region has a first hardness (IC1h), the outer core region has a second hardness (OC2h), the intermediate core region has third and fourth hardnesses (IMC3h) and (IMC4h), respectively, such that the third hardness is less than the first and second hardnesses, represented by the relationships (IMC3h)<(IC1h) and (IMC3h)<(OC2h), and the fourth hardness is greater than the first and second hardnesses, represented by the relationships (IMC4h)>(IC1h) and (IMC4h)>(OC2h), and hardness of the outer surface (OSh) is greater than a hardness of the geometric center (GCh), represented by the relationship (OSh)>(GCh).
US08556745B2
The present invention relates to a sand wedge type golf club, including an elongated shaft, a metal club head, a face plate, and an attachment mechanism. The club head has a wedge body and a hosel. The wedge body has a generally U-shaped frame with a planar front face and a back face. The generally U-shaped frame forms a cavity on the front face of the wedge body. The faceplate includes a ball contact surface and a mounting surface engaging the cavity and having internally threaded female connectors. The ball contact surface is co-planar with front face of the wedge body and has a plurality of grooves formed thereon. The attachment mechanism extends through the generally U-shaped frame to connect the internally threaded female connectors to the wedge body.
US08556743B2
A putting practice device has a bottom support, side supports, a front plate, and a cover. The side supports are attached at opposed ends of the bottom support. Each side support has a top edge with a horizontally disposed sliding track. A front plate has a face that defines at least a portion of a desired travel path of a putter head. A cover has sliders that engage the sliding track of the side supports and the central support such that the top plate is slideably connected to each side support and to the central support. The cover has an extended portion that extends past the front plate and covers the at least a portion of the desired travel path. The position of the extended portion is adjustable by sliding the sliders along the sliding tracks.
US08556738B2
An apparatus including a shaft mounted for rotation and a balancing sleeve is provided. The balancing sleeve functions to balance the shaft during rotation and includes first and second ends. The first end is secured to the shaft so that the balancing sleeve is substantially concentric with the shaft and rotates with the shaft. The second end incorporates balancing weight to balance the shaft at lower speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is substantially no flexing of the shaft. The lengthwise stiffness of the balancing sleeve is matched to the lengthwise stiffness of the shaft to maintain balance of the shaft at higher speeds of rotation of the shaft where there is flexing of the shaft.
US08556733B2
A length-adjustable shaft comprises an outer sleeve-shaped axial part; an inner axial part which can be pushed into and deployed out of the outer axial part in a telescopic fashion and which encloses a buffer chamber; having a bearing which is arranged between the two axial parts and which can be lubricated with a lubricant; that end of the inner axial part which can be pushed into the outer axial part has an end wall; a ventilation opening is provided which connects, in a conducting fashion, the buffer chamber to the cavity which is enclosed by the outer axial part, and the ventilation opening comprises at least one bore which is offset with respect to the rotational axis of the shaft.
US08556730B2
A panel or reel strip of a gaming device that selectively enables light to shine through the panel or reel strip and enables the intensity of the light to be varied. The present invention also provides an efficient and productive method for developing and producing the panel or reel strip, and which provides a bright and rich color quality. In one embodiment, a transparent medium has a digital image produced on one side and has a layer of silk-screened ink placed on the opposite side. The non-inked areas enable back-lighting to make matching colors of the digital image appear to glow, that is, let a high amount of light pass through the medium. The inked areas enable outside light to reflect off the matching colors of the digital image, brightening such colors and making them appear rich and full of color.
US08556728B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed that documents and authenticates cap removal data. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus measures a parameter indicative of the number of times that a cap has been removed by a user. The apparatus also encodes at least the parameter indicative of the cap removal data, thereby deriving encoded cap removal data. The apparatus outputs the encoded cap removal data to a user. According to a second aspect of the present invention, another apparatus receives the encoded cap removal data and decodes it to authenticate the cap removal data. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a medicine container is operable to output a result of a game based on cap removal data associated with the medicine container.
US08556727B2
Provided are a method and system for detecting a bot in a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) online and in real time. By analyzing a communication pattern between a client and a server, the bot is detected based on parameters such as data length, inter-arrival time and data length auto correlation. Tests using respective parameters are combined to construct a global decision scheme, and thus more accurate detection results can be obtained. An integrated anti-bot defense system can be built by combining other tests such as a Turing test.
US08556717B2
A user can move the position of a pan flute in a horizontal direction on a screen by sliding a touch position in the horizontal direction on the screen while touching a touch panel with a stick. Moreover, when the user blows on a microphone hole, a musical sound of a pitch corresponding to a pipe of the pan flute which is displayed in an overlapping manner with a valid position display image at this time is outputted via a sound hole.
US08556712B2
The invention relates to an interactive system, comprising a presentation device for presenting interactive content. The system comprises an input device for controlling a presentation parameter of a content object of the interactive content. The system further comprises at least one token representing a content object, the system further comprising association means for associating said token with said input device, and means for selecting the content object represented by the token as the content object to be controlled by the input device in response to said association.
US08556706B2
A gaming system has at least one display adapted to display a wagering game including the display of a player's hand and a computer opponent's hand in a card-based wagering game, a player input device, and a controller. The controller is operative to award to a player an award from a pay table for a player's hand having a winning combination associated with the pay table, regardless of a rank of the computer's opponent hand relative to the player's hand.
US08556705B2
The system and methods of the present application comprise one or more computers for substantially removing the element of chance in a contest that would normally be on whose outcome would be determined by a mixture of chance and skill. The system comprises one or more computers that interact with a user in order to reduce or eliminate the elements of chance, thereby forcing the contest to obey the law of averages within a finite number of iterations of the contest, thereby reducing variance and increasing the success of skillful players.
US08556703B2
A method of gaming comprising: conducting a game requiring a player to make a choice between at least one optimal action and at least one sub-optimal action having a lower return to player than the optimal action such that the difference between the sub-optimal action and the optimal action represents a lost return to player; receiving a player choice of an action; and conducting a trial for an award in which the probability of success is controlled to provide an expected return to player from the trial that compensates the player for the lost return to player in response to determining that the choice is a sub-optimal action.
US08556693B2
Computer implemented gaming methods are provided that include the identifying a plurality of securities to participate in a race; computing odds at an open of the race for at least one type of bet for each of the plurality of the identified securities; publishing using at least one computing device details of the race; generating a visualization of the race, the visualization comprising a plurality of participants each representing an identified security; determining a price of each of the plurality of securities at a start of the race and at least once during a running of the race; and updating the visualization of the race to reflect a change in the price of at least one of the securities in the race.
US08556685B2
A device or tool setter has the purpose of setting the position of a support bar, adjustably connected to a grinding machine, in relation to a rotatable grindstone of the machine for obtaining a desired edge angle of a tool supported for grinding by the support bar. The device is provided with discs for defining two contact points with the grindstone and a hole for connection to the support bar.
US08556679B2
A polishing pad assembly for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a polishing pad having a polishing surface and a surface opposite the polishing surface for attachment to a platen, and a solid light-transmissive window formed in the polishing pad. The light-transmissive window is more transmissive to light than the polishing pad. The light-transmissive window has a light-diffusing bottom surface.
US08556675B2
A balloon toy includes a helium-filled balloon; a balloon string tethered to the balloon; and a balloon raising and lowering assembly including: a housing including a handle; a balloon string reel rotatably carried within the housing and carrying the balloon string; an electric motor carried within the housing; a power source carried within the housing for powering the electric motor; a gear assembly including a plurality of gears carried with the housing and operable coupling the electric motor to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a biasing member including a biasing force that urges the gear assembly together so that the plurality of gears are engaged for driving rotation of the balloon string reel for drawing in the balloon string and helium-field balloon and allows the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other if tension on the balloon string is too high.
US08556669B2
A cam lock that includes a cam body having a lobe-shaped working periphery and rotatable between a first locking position and a second unlocked position, a handle shaft mounted to the cam body for moving the cam body through a predetermined range of motion, and a cam shaft mounted to the cam body for pivotal movement relative to the cam body and having an end remote from the cam body for being fixed to a structure to be locked by a force applied against the structure. A bushing is mounted on the cam shaft and has an end proximate the cam body against which a locking force is applied when the cam body is rotated into its locking position.
US08556667B2
A space-saving terminal includes a depth that is short and a floor space that is small. The terminal further includes a fixing part for press-in pressed into and fixed to a base material, a support part projected upward so as to cross with the fixing part for press-in, two extension parts extended downward while meandering from a branch portion on a tip of the support part so as to form a meandering slit, and a movable contact part projected from a tip portion formed by integrating free ends of the extension parts so as to be capable of moving in and out of a contacting hole of the base material. The support part is curved outward in order to avoid contact with the tip portion of the extension part while the tip portion is displaced.
US08556662B2
A card connector includes an insulating housing defining a card recess, first electrical terminals and second electrical terminals disposed in the insulating housing. Each first electrical terminal has a base strip, a first fixing arm, a first elastic arm extending forward and inclining upward from the first fixing arm, a second elastic arm slantwise extending forward and upward from a substantial middle of the base strip and apart located under the first elastic arm, and a contact portion protruding upward from a front end of the base strip and apart located under the second elastic arm. A distal end of the first elastic arm elastically stretches upward into the card recess, and can be pressed downward to resist against the second elastic arm so as to make the second elastic arm further contact with the contact portion when an electronic card is inserted into the card recess.
US08556659B1
An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.
US08556658B2
A receptacle assembly is provided for a pluggable module. The receptacle assembly includes a cage having an internal compartment and a front end that is open to the internal compartment. The internal compartment is configured to receive the pluggable module therein through the front end. The cage includes an alignment spring extending into the internal compartment. An electrical connector is positioned within the internal compartment of the cage. The electrical connector is configured to mate with the pluggable module to electrically connect the electrical connector to the pluggable module. The alignment spring of the cage is configured to engage the pluggable module as the pluggable module is received within the internal compartment of the cage such that the alignment spring biases the pluggable module in an alignment direction as the pluggable module is received within the internal compartment.
US08556655B2
A coaxial connector for interconnection with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor by friction welding is provided with a monolithic connector body with a bore. A sidewall of the bore is provided with an inward annular projection angled toward a cable end of the bore. A sidewall of the inward annular projection and the sidewall of the bore form an annular friction groove open to a cable end of the bore. The annular friction groove is dimensioned with a taper at a connector end of the friction groove less than a thickness of a leading end of the outer conductor. The taper provides an annular material chamber between the leading end of the outer conductor, when seated in the friction groove, and the connector end of the friction groove.
US08556653B2
Embodiments of electronic accessories for digital music players are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08556652B2
A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) assembly including a plurality of FPCBs configured to be plugged into a single combination slot of a single connector, each of the FPCBs including a body, and a plug unit at an end portion of the body, wherein the plug units of the plurality of FPCBs are configured to be combinedly plugged together into the single combination slot.
US08556646B2
A plug element, in particular a QSFP plug element is configured for a lockable plug connection with a counter piece. The plug element contains a plug housing that extends in the longitudinal direction. In the housing an actuating element that is displaceabley mounted in the longitudinal direction being provided for unlocking. For locking, a wall section of the plug housing latches to a wall section of the counter piece in the plugged state. A flexible locking flap engages behind an edge of a recess. The recess is formed in a side wall of the plug housing and the locking flap is configured in a side wall of the counter piece. Unlocking is carried out by a displacement of the actuating element in the longitudinal direction, the element contains an unlocking element that pushes the locking flap perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction in the transverse direction out of the locking position.
US08556644B1
An electronic device includes a circuit board and a connector. The connector includes a first body, and a second body movably disposed on the first body. The first body includes a first plate, and a second plate connected to the first plate. The second body is located between the first plate and the second plate for clamping a reversible cable with the first body. The connector further includes a first connecting terminal disposed on the first body for contacting a first transmission terminal of the reversible cable, a second connecting terminal disposed on the second body for contacting a second transmission terminal of the reversible cable, a buckling structure disposed on the bodies, and a sheathing component. The sheathing component sheathes the first body and the second body for pressing the first body and the second body, to decrease a gap between the first body and the second body.
US08556642B2
A power supply structure includes a main body and a plug. The main body has a circular containing space, a cylinder and a plurality of conducting plates. The cylinder has a retaining plane and at least one annular groove. The plug has a plug seat and a first cylinder. The first cylinder has a protrusion and at least one elastic device on an inner side of the bottom of the first cylinder. The elastic device has a resilient arm and a pressing member. The annular groove has a stop block and a fixing space. The protrusion is provided and placed into the annular groove, so that the plug can be fixed into the main body.
US08556631B2
A higher education constituent relationship (CRM) system may provide an educational institution with a graphical display of a probability and desirability value for a person at a stage of a student life cycle. For example, the higher education CRM system may receive a history of interactions between the person and the institution. The higher education CRM system may use the history of interactions and information about the person to calculate the probability value, or measure of the likelihood that the person moves to another stage in the student life cycle, and the desirability value, or a measure of the appeal of the person to the educational institution at a stage of the student life cycle, for the person. The higher education CRM system may display the calculated values for the probability and desirability to a representative of the institution.
US08556630B2
A system and method for human physical and behavioral profiling. Provides profiles based on queries to at least one individual that include physical and behavioral questions. May suggest behavior modification for an individual or a compatibility assessment between two individuals may be generating using two individual's profiles. Embodiments of the invention break personality styles into six styles, “Saturn”, “Mars”, “Jovial”, “Lunar”, “Venusian”, “Mercury” and “Solar”. The styles may be determined by visual input or physical description queries of an individual and may be associated with the polarity values of “active”, “passive”, “+” or “−”. The system further yields an alchemy type of “Gold”, “Silver”, “Copper” and “Lead” which further allows for compatibility checking. Furthermore, the system quantifies a key feature and co-feature for an individual and provides an energy center designation of “moving”, “emotional”, “instinctive” or “intellectual” which are compared between individuals for compatibility.
US08556627B2
Apparatus is provided that includes a dental implant having a central longitudinal axis, a lateral external surface, and a distal implant portion that extends from a distal implant end along up to 50% of a longitudinal length of the implant. The implant being shaped so as to define a lumen therethrough having (a) at least one distal opening through a distal external surface of the distal implant portion, and (b) a lateral opening open to the lateral external surface. The implant is also shaped so as to define a recessed surface that (a) is recessed from the lateral external surface, (b) is outside of the lumen, and (c) completely surrounds the lateral opening. Other embodiments are also described.
US08556622B2
The pin mounting hole used to insert and mount the pin member having a pin-like shape is formed on, among the inner wall surfaces of the cavity, the second side-wall surface that is an inner wall surface other than the inner wall surfaces perpendicular to the mold-removal direction of the injection-molded article. On the second side-wall surface, the protruding portion protruding from the second side-wall surface is formed in the surface area located on the opposite side in the mold-removal direction with respect to the pin mounting hole.
US08556612B2
The present invention relates to an educational method and apparatus for the instruction of basic scientific principles relating to mining. The apparatus consists of a kit for science instruction that comprises a topographic mold, casting compound, and one or more components simulating materials found in nature beneath the surface of the earth. The kit may include a tool for obtaining core samples of the resulting topographic model and may include a topographic map. The components of the kit may be used in conjunction with weight measurement tools.
US08556609B2
An improved geared hydraulic apparatus, comprising a pair of meshing gearwheels, mounted to be reciprocally rotatable in a casing between an inlet side and an outlet side for a fluid having, in use, a substantially transverse flow with respect to the axes of rotation of the gearwheels. The meshing gearwheels create, during their reciprocal rotation, progressive meshing configurations between respective co-operating teeth. In at least one of said progressive meshing configurations is defined, in at least one cross-section of the gearwheels, at least one closed area between respective fluid entrapment teeth. The closed area decreases until it is substantially cancelled out at and around at least one other, separate progressive meshing configuration between the aforesaid respective co-operating teeth.
US08556596B2
A water pump for a vehicle includes a power transmission member driven and rotated by an external power, a driven shaft driven to be rotatable independently from the power transmission member, an impeller, an arm member which includes a pressing portion pressing the power transmission member and which is contactable to the power transmission member for transmitting a rotation of the power transmission member to the driven shaft, a control member controlling the arm member so that the arm member and the power transmission member come in contact with each other or come out of contact from each other and so that a contact state between the arm member and the power transmission member is variable, and a biasing member biasing the arm member toward the power transmission member.
US08556588B2
An article of manufacture is disclosed. The article may have a nominal profile generally in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y may correspond to distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the airfoil profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08556584B2
A rotating component of a turbine engine is provided and includes a wheel having a face to which fluid flow is provided and a plurality of impeller vanes forming a plurality of grooves along which the fluid flow is directed from an outer to an inner diameter of the wheel face, at least one of the plurality of the impeller vanes including a radially inwardly facing vane surface formed to define a cutaway portion.
US08556581B2
A stator vane assembly comprising inner and outer support rings connected by an annular array of stator vanes at locations around the supporting rings, at least one of said stator vanes in said array being a separate, pre-formed stator vane which is slidably connected to one or both of the supporting rings for radial movement relative to the respective support ring thereby to accommodate relative radial expansion of the support rings.
US08556577B2
A lube pump has a housing with a flange extending radially outwardly from a body of the housing. At least one rotor is received within the housing, and a shaft for powering the rotor extends away from the flange. A retention plate is positioned on an end of the flange closing the housing. A first set of bolts secure the flange to the retention plate. A second set of bolts secure the flange to the gearbox. The two sets of bolts extend in opposed directions. A gearbox including such a lube pump is also disclosed and claimed.
US08556576B2
A micro gas turbine engine in which the turbine rotor blades are formed as an integral bladed rotor with cooling air passages formed within the blades and the rotor disk by an EDM process. an adjacent stator vane includes an air riding seal with an air cushion supplied through the vanes to provide cooling, and where the air cushion is then passed into the turbine blades and rotor disk to provide cooling for the turbine blades. With cooling of the turbine blades, higher turbine inlet temperatures for micro gas turbine engines can be produced.
US08556575B2
A blade outer air seal for a gas turbine engine is provided. The blade outer air seal includes a body having an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, and a plurality of cooling air apertures. The body extends between a forward edge and an aft edge. The inner radial surface includes at least one first seal section, at least one second seal section, and a riser extending radially between the first seal section and the second seal section. Each of the plurality of cooling air apertures extends between the outer radial surface and the riser, and each cooling air aperture has an exit configured to direct cooling air substantially parallel to the second seal section of the inner radial surface.
US08556574B2
A fan array fan section in an air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array and positioned within an air-handling compartment. One preferred embodiment may include an array controller programmed to operate the plurality of fan units at peak efficiency. The plurality of fan units may be arranged in a true array configuration, a spaced pattern array configuration, a checker board array configuration, rows slightly offset array configuration, columns slightly offset array configuration, or a staggered array configuration.
US08556570B2
A fan assembly is adjustable between two suction modes by alternating the position of the fan assembly on a flat surface, such as a table top. The fan assembly has two separate suction openings, one smaller than the other, which are selectively sealed by the flat surface. The suction openings are bounded by planar edges of an air guide that protrudes outward from a fan casing of the assembly. In one position, a first suction opening is unobstructed by the flat surface while the second suction opening is either partially obstructed or substantially sealed by the flat surface. In another position, the second suction opening is unobstructed by the flat surface while the first suction opening is substantially sealed by the flat surface.
US08556563B2
An adhesive applicator is disclosed for the application of a hot melt adhesive to the spine of a book block so as to adhesively bind the book block to its respective cover so as to form a perfect bound book. The applicator has a heated head in which a small quantity of a hot melt adhesive sufficient to bind at least one book block to its cover is quickly heated to a temperature such that it may be applied to the spine. The head is brought into operative engagement with the spine and is moved with respect to the spine so that the melted adhesive forced (dispensed) out of the head onto the spine. This applicator is particularly well suited for use with print on demand book printing and binding apparatus. A method of applying the adhesive to the spine of a book block is also disclosed.
US08556561B2
A windage shield 2 for an array of fasteners 34, the shield 2 comprising a channel 4 for accommodating portions of the fasteners 34 extending into a fluid flow path. The windage shield 2 also comprises a closure flap 12 which extends between opposite side walls 8, 10 of the channel 4 to enclose the interior of the channel 4. The closure flap 12 is displaceable away from at least one of the side walls 8, 10 to provide access to at least one of the fastener portions 34.
US08556559B2
A connection assembly for connecting a first member to a second member includes a first threaded member extending through the first member and engages with a first engagement hole of the second member, and a second threaded member extending through extending through the first threaded member and engages with a second engagement hole of the second member communicating with the first engagement hole.
US08556557B2
A hydraulic nut for tensioning an assembly comprises a mechanical threaded locking collar to minimize load loss during transfer of hydraulic load to the locking collar, an annular piston, an annular pressure area to generate an axial load under hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic pressure port and preferably metallic seals to maintain the hydraulic pressure within the annular pressure area that operates in an elastic region and continues to actuate hydraulic pressure after repeated operating temperature cycles. The seals of the hydraulic nut have a ‘U’ or ‘C’ shaped cross-section.
US08556552B2
A metal cutting tool has a cutting head releasably mounted on a front end of a tool shank, in a self-clamping manner. The tool shank's forward end is provided with a pair of shank coupling portions, each having a forwardly facing shank support surface. A pocket recess is defined between the shank's coupling portions. Within the pocket recess are a plurality of shank fixation surfaces which are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool shank. The cutting head has a cap portion and a fixation portion extending in rearward direction therefrom. The cap portion includes a pair of head segments, each having a rearwardly facing head base surface. The cutting head's fixation portion has a plurality of head fixation surfaces which are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cutting head. In the assembled tool, the tool shank's forwardly facing shank support surfaces support the cutting head's rearwardly facing head base surfaces, while the plurality of head fixation surfaces abut the plurality of shank fixation surfaces.
US08556548B2
A clamp fastens a cutting insert to a tool holder. The clamp assembly includes a body portion provided with a screw hole, a forward protrusion formed at the front portion of the body and extending downward, a rear protrusion formed at the rear end portion of the body and extending downward, and a bridge connecting the forward protrusion and the central portion of the body. The clamp assembly also includes a pressing plate having upper and lower surfaces, a front nose portion, a rear end portion, and is provided with a keyhole shaped groove having an enlarged inner cavity open toward the rear end by a narrow neck extending thicknesswise. The forward protrusion is inserted into the enlarged inner cavity and the bridge is inserted into the narrow neck of the keyhole groove so that the pressing plate is coupled to the clamp.
US08556539B2
Replacement drainage structures and methods for replacing drainage structures are disclosed. An example method includes driving a plurality of sections of a replacement drainage structure around a buried drainage structure to be replaced. At least a portion of the drainage structure to be replaced is positioned within the interior of a section of the replacement drainage structure. Portions of the drainage structure to be replaced are removed.
US08556538B2
A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.
US08556534B2
An attachment coupler for heavy machinery, which detachably installs an attachment to an arm of the heavy machinery, includes a coupler body coupled to the arm of the heavy machinery, a fixed hook formed on the coupler body and coupled to the attachment via a first coupling pin, a movable hook rotatably coupled to the coupler body via a hinge axis and coupled to the attachment via a second coupling pin, a hydraulic cylinder that rotates the movable hook to be coupled to or disengaged from the second coupling pin, and a locking device that includes a locking hook and an engagement device. The locking hook is rotatably coupled to the coupler body via a hinge axis and closes an open end of the fixed hook while being coupled to the first coupling pin. The engagement device rotates in association with the rotation of the movable hook.
US08556531B1
A simple ceramic matrix composite fastening system that is utilized for attaching components of dissimilar materials, particularly, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and metallic engine components. The system is comprised of a detachable subassembly bracket fabricated from metal. The bracket has a metallic engine component attached to one end and a CMC component attached to the other end. The bracket releasably secures the CMC and the metallic component together using rivets or pins, which are inserted into holes through the CMC to securely fasten the adjoining parts.
US08556530B2
An oral care implement includes a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response when in contact with tissues or surfaces of a mouth of a user. In one embodiment, an element is provided that is visually indicative of the sensory response. The oral care implement may also include a soft tissue cleaner provided with the sensory material.
US08556528B2
An applicator system for applying a product to a surface includes an adjustable implement comprising an applicator that is selectively pivotable at least about ninety degrees. By virtue of having an applicator that is selectively pivotable ninety degrees, the adjustable implement is capable of applying various products in multiple positions.
US08556527B1
A lipstick case includes a case holder, a lid, and first and second positioning members. The case holder includes an upper end face and a surrounding wall with non-circular cross sections. The lid is removably covered on the upper end face of the case holder. The first positioning member is mounted on the upper end face of the case holder and includes several lower magnets. Each lower magnet has an upper end which is one of north and south seeking poles. The second positioning member is engaged on a lower end face of the lid and includes several upper magnets. Each upper magnet has a lower end which is the other of the north and south seeking poles. The lower end face of the lid over the case holder is able to attract and engage with the upper end face of the case holder by the upper and lower magnets.
US08556525B2
A protection sleeve includes a heat shrinkable tube and an adhesive tube and a reinforcing rod housed inside the heat shrinkable tube. The heat shrinkable tube, the adhesive tube, and the reinforcing rod are adhered together in a section spanning across a lengthwise section of the heat shrinkable tube. A protection sleeve manufacturing apparatus includes a jig for securing protection sleeves and a heating device. The jig is contrived to hold a plurality of protection sleeves (each including a heat shrinkable tube an adhesive tube and a reinforcing rod housed inside the heat shrinkable tube) in a parallel arrangement with spaces in-between. The heating device includes a plurality of hot air vents, means for setting a first distance between the jig and the hot air vents, and a means of setting the jig and the hot air vents to a second distance that is closer than the first distance.
US08556524B2
To reduce optical axis misalignment in an optical communication module, the optical communication module 1 includes a photoelectric conversion element package 10 to which a photoelectric conversion element 12 of either one of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is fitted so as to face one side 11a of a resin housing 11, and an optical fiber coupler 20 mounted on the one side 11a of the resin housing 11 so as to be coupled with an optical fiber, in which the optical fiber 20 coupler includes a metal lens-holding plate 22 holding a lens 23 arranged opposite to the photoelectric conversion element 12, and a resin lens-holding frame 21 that is mounted on the one side 11a of the resin housing 11 and that houses the lens 23 held on the metal lens-holding plate 22 in a light transmission hole 21a1 formed therein, so that the lens 23 is aligned with an optical axis K of the photoelectric conversion element 12.
US08556521B2
The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fiber optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical connector (20) for connecting optical fibers. The connector (20) comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an end (35) of an optical fiber (38), a cylindrical ferrule (32) within the housing (6) having opposite first and second ends (33, 35), and an optical fiber stub held axially (14) within the ferrule (32) and extending between said ferrule ends (33, 35). The connector (20) also has a lens (8) for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam (40) optically coupled with the optical fiber stub at the first ferrule end (33). A sleeve (34) surrounds the ferrule (32) and extends towards the port (48) axially away from the second ferrule end (35) to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule (36) of an optical fiber (38) inserted into the port. The connector (20) has a connector portion (2, 4, 5) for connecting the optical fiber connector (20) to another expanded beam optical fiber connector so that said expanded beam (40) traverses between the connectors. A channel (28) extends through the housing (6) from the port (48) towards the lens (8), the ferrule (32) being secured by means of a ring (80) within the channel (28), the ring having an outer surface (78) that makes an interference fit with an inner surface (25) of the channel and an inner surface (76) that makes an interference fit with an outer surface (74) of the ferrule towards the first ferrule end. (33).
US08556519B2
A radial roller bearing, in particular a single-track ball roller bearing, which has an outer bearing ring with an inner groove track, an inner bearing ring with an outer groove track and ball rollers, which are disposed parallel to one another and held in a peripheral direction at even distances from one another by a plastic bearing cage, that roll between the bearing rings in the groove tracks. Each roller has two lateral surfaces that are flattened symmetrically from a spherical base form and a defined axial tilting clearance. The cage has two axially separated, pocketed cage halves which can be assembled in a positive-fitted, form-locked or integral fashion by opposing connecting elements.
US08556517B1
A bushing for rotatably supporting a journal comprises a cylindrical wall having an inner bearing surface configured and dimensioned to surround the journal. Oil is supplied continuously to a lubricated zone between the journal and the bearing surface. The thus supplied oil escapes in opposite directions from inboard and outboard ends of the lubricated zone. A circular channel is positioned to capture oil escaping from the outboard end of the lubricated zone. A drain conveys oil captured in the channel back in the direction of oil escaping from the inboard end of the lubricated zone.
US08556516B2
A compressor bearing cooling inlet plate has a mount plate, and a boss extending forwardly from the mount plate. The boss includes a plurality of grooves extending axially into the boss to define flow passages for cooling air from an outer peripheral surface of the cooling inlet plate to an inner bore. The grooves extend for a width between side walls, at angles that are not directly radially inwardly toward a center axis of the cooling plate. There is a plurality of widths across the plurality of grooves. A compressor bearing assembly, a motor driven compressor for use in a nitrogen generation system, and a method of installing a compressor bearing cooling inlet plate are all also disclosed and claimed.
US08556514B2
A sliding support structure includes: a support member (12; 106) and a shaft member (10; 120) that relatively rotates with respect to the support member (12; 106) wherein lubricating oil is supplied to between a sliding surface of the shaft member and a sliding surface of the support member, the support member (12; 106) has a sliding surface portion (x) that corresponds to a load concentrating portion between the shaft member (10; 120) and the support member (12; 106), and sliding surface regions (Ya, Yb) that are higher in oil repellency than the sliding surface portion are respectively provided on upstream and downstream sides of the sliding surface portion in a flow direction of the lubricating oil.
US08556508B2
The bag (1) includes an elastic band (16) joined to the face (1a) of the bag by two joining areas (17; 2a) in such a manner that the useful length, when the elastic band is at rest (L2), corresponds to the space between the two joining areas on the bag or is less than the length (L1) of the longitudinal edge of the face. The elastic band extends over the entire width of the bag, from one lateral edge to the other, the elastic band being welded to two faces of the bag along these lateral edges, one of the at least two joining areas forming an intermediate joining area (17) located at a distance from the lateral edges.
US08556507B1
A holder for use in x-rays comprises a shaped object to be held by a person while undergoing an x-ray, the shaped object having an outer surface defining an enclosed space and filler matter in the enclosed space. At least a portion of the outer surface and filler matter is comprised of a radiolucent material. The invention is also for a method of taking x-rays of a human by placing a shaped object in the hands of the human receiving the x-ray, and then directing the human to hold the shaped object in a specified manner such that the position of the human when holding the object in the specified manner causes internal body components of the human to be located relative to each other in a preferred manner for the x-ray.
US08556506B2
A temperature-current transducer includes first and second voltage dividers, with the first voltage divider including a thermistor in an environment. An operational amplifier has a first input coupled to an intermediate node of the first voltage divider, and a second input coupled to an intermediate node of the second voltage divider. A cascode stage is configured to be biased in a conduction state and is controlled by the operational amplifier. The cascode stage includes a first current terminal coupled to the intermediate node of the second voltage divider. A current mirror is coupled to a second current terminal of the cascode stage, and is configured to mirror on an output line current flowing through the cascode stage that is representative of temperature differences between a temperature in an environment of the thermistor and a reference temperature.
US08556504B2
A micro-structured reference element for use in a sensor having a substrate and a dielectric membrane. The reference element has an electrical property which changes its value on the basis of temperature. The reference element is arranged with respect to the substrate so that the reference element is (i) electrically insulated from the substrate, and (ii) thermally coupled to the substrate. The reference element is arranged on the underside of the dielectric membrane. The reference element and side walls of the substrate define a circumferential cavern therebetween, which is also bounded by the dielectric membrane, arranged between them. The dielectric membrane is connected to the substrate. A surface area of the reference element which is covered by the dielectric membrane is greater than or equal to 10% and less than or equal to 100% of the possible coverable surface area. A surface of the cavern which is covered by the dielectric membrane is greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 100% of the possible coverable surface. An edge of the reference element which faces the dielectric membrane has greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 100% of its extent contacted by the dielectric membrane. Sections of the side walls of the cavern which face the dielectric membrane have greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 100% of the possible size contacted by the dielectric membrane.
US08556497B2
The present invention consists of a closed presterilized bag having a disposable mixing element within it, a drive mechanism outside of the bag for rotating the mixing element without voiding sterility and a vortex breaker in the torm of one or more plastic sheet materials that are attached to various inner surfaces of the bag and disrupt the formation of vortices within the bag. Preferably the sheet(s) are formed of the same material as the bag and are sealed to the bag surfaces. More preferably, the sheet(s) extend across a diameter of the bag. Most preferably, the sheet(s) are perforated with one or more slits or openings to allow for good flow and mixing without a vortex being formed.
US08556494B2
A system for manufacturing an emulsified/dispersed liquid has first and second emulsification/dispersion devices which produce the emulsified/dispersed liquid by emulsifying/dispersing emulsification/dispersion material in a liquid mixture into a medium liquid in the liquid mixture. A multistage pressure/temperature control device of a multistage type cools the emulsified/dispersed liquid discharged by the second emulsification/dispersion device while applying a backpressure which can prevent occurrence of bubbling to the first and second emulsification/dispersion devices. The multistage pressure/temperature control device reduces the pressure of the emulsified/dispersed liquid gradually or in stages, and finally lowers the pressure of the emulsified/dispersed liquid to a pressure that bubbling is not caused if the emulsification/dispersion liquid is released into an atmospheric condition. The system can apply sufficient shearing force to the liquid mixture so as to sufficiently atomize the emulsification/dispersion material.
US08556491B2
In a backlight assembly including a plurality of light guide plates, each light guide plate includes a light incident portion having a light incident surface facing a light source and a light facing portion having a light facing surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light facing portion of each light guide plate is overlapped with the light incident portion of an adjacent light guide plate in a plan view and fixed to the light incident portion of the adjacent light guide plate.
US08556486B2
A light source assembly mechanism includes two sets installed at two ends of an LED lamp tube. Each light source assembly mechanism includes a base, a lamp tube side cap, a turning module side cap and a turning rod. The lamp tube side cap has one side fastened to one end of the LED lamp tube and another side running through the base via a fastening portion to fasten to a coupling portion formed on the turning module side cap. The turning rod runs through the turning module side cap to fasten to the lamp tube side cap. With the same modular elements used at two sides of the LED lamp tube, mold development cost can be reduced, and assembly processes can be simplified. Through turning the turning rod, illumination angle of the LED lamp tube can be adjusted to meet illumination requirements.
US08556469B2
Optical elements having components made from high refractive index materials (RI≦1.6) and lamp assemblies incorporating such elements. Various optical elements, such as total internal reflection lenses, can be fabricated from materials having a higher index of refraction than materials typically used in such elements. The compact optical elements have at least one internal reflection surface that directs radiant energy (e.g., light) from a receiving end to a transmitting end. By using a high refractive index material, a lens can be fabricated that directs a greater portion of the light emitted from a source into the lens toward the transmitting end of the lens. Thus, less of the light spills out of the lens at a surface where emission is not intended, reducing the number of lossy bounces needed to direct the light in a particular direction.
US08556465B2
An illumination lamp comprises a lamp body, a light-emitting module, a power supply module, and a circuit module. The lamp body defines an inner space. The partitioning unit is disposed in the lamp body for dividing the inner space into a first space for receiving the power supply module, and a second space for receiving the circuit module. Due to the presence of the partitioning unit, thermal convection between the first and second spaces is prevented to reduce adverse influence of a high temperature of the circuit module on the power supply module.
US08556458B2
According to one embodiment, a power source unit includes a substrate and a reflective body. The substrate includes a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted thereon. The reflective body includes a plurality of incident openings each corresponding to one of the plurality of light-emitting elements, an output opening to which light that has passed through the incident opening is output, and a plurality of reflective surfaces that expand from the incident opening toward the output opening. Reflective surfaces included in the plurality of reflective surfaces and positioned on an outermost side are provided to be adjacent to one another, and an angle is set so as to prevent reflective light of light emitted from the light-emitting elements from traveling toward an outer side in a reflective surface formed on the outer side.
US08556450B2
A flashlight apparatus including a body portion formed from a woven material, the body portion having a longitudinal length and forming at least part of an adjustable cavity for containing at least one battery, and a head portion coupled to the body portion and having at least one of an illumination source for providing illumination and a connector for connecting the flashlight to another device. Accordingly, the flashlight can supply power to the another device. The body portion can adjust (e.g., its length and diameter—or area) to the size and number of battery cells contained therein.
US08556437B2
A semiconductor light source apparatus can emit various color lights having high brightness. The semiconductor light source apparatus can include a radiating substrate, at least one phosphor layer disposed on the radiating substrate and a semiconductor light source. The at least one phosphor layer can be composed of at least one of a glass phosphor and a phosphor ceramic and can include at least one of a red phosphor, a green phosphor and a blue phosphor. The light source can be located adjacent the phosphor layer so that light having high brightness emitted from the light source can be efficiently reflected on the radiating substrate via the at least one phosphor layer. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a semiconductor light source apparatus that can emit various color lights having high brightness and a lighting unit using the light source apparatus, which can be used for general lighting, etc.
US08556426B2
The present invention discloses methods of obtaining ophthalmic lens capable of reducing the aberrations of the eye comprising the steps of characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model, calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model, selecting the optical power of the intraocular lens. From this information, an ophthalmic lens is modeled so a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and corneal model obtains reduced aberrations in the eye. Also disclosed are ophthalmic lenses as obtained by the methods which are capable reducing aberrations of the eye.
US08556424B2
An image processing apparatus has an acquisition unit which acquires a second tomogram related to a first tomogram of an eye to be examined based on position information of an eye fundus of the eye to be examined according to a predetermined rule; and a display control unit which displays the first tomogram and the second tomogram on a display unit.
US08556423B2
A method for obtaining a tomographic image of a fundus by optical coherence tomography includes the steps of setting a line, based on which the fundus tomographic image is to be obtained, on a first front image of the fundus, the first front image being a still image, establishing a positional correspondence between a second front image of the fundus and the first front image by matching the first and second front images, specifying a line on the second front image based on positional information on the line set on the first front image, and the established positional correspondence, and obtaining the fundus tomographic image that corresponds to the lines on the first and second front images by scanning measurement light with the use of an optical scanner provided to an interference optical system.
US08556419B2
A method of preparing an ophthalmic lens for mounting in a surround of an eyeglass frame includes an acquisition step of acquiring a first longitudinal profile of the surround and an orientation parameter of the first longitudinal profile relative to a horizon line or a verticality line of the surround, and an edging step of edging the ophthalmic lens so as to form a generally profiled engagement ridge of desired section that extends along a second longitudinal profile (25) that is derived from the first longitudinal profile and of orientation that is derived from the orientation parameter. The method includes a determination step of determining at least one singular portion (Z1-Z12) of the second longitudinal profile as a function of the orientation parameter. During the edging step, the engagement ridge is locally pared away in the singular portion.
US08556414B2
A display apparatus includes: an eyeglass-type frame worn by a head of a viewer; and an image display apparatus attached to the frame, wherein the image display apparatus includes an image formation device, and an optical device on which light that exits from the image formation device is incident, through which the light is guided, and out of which the light exits, the frame is formed of a front portion, two temple portions extending from both ends of the front portion, a nose pad, and an attachment member, the attachment member is attached to a central section of the front portion, the optical device is attached to the attachment member, and the nose pad is so attached to the attachment member that the nose pad is movable upward and downward.
US08556411B2
The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printable article having an ink receiving layer bonded to a core substrate, the ink receiving layer including a blend of i) at least one self-crosslinkable polyurethane resin; ii) at least one self-crosslinkable styrene butadiene copolymer; and iii) at least one styrene acrylic copolymer, wherein the ink receiving layer is anionic or neutral, and wherein the core substrate includes a material selected from the group consisting of a woven material and a non-woven material.
US08556403B2
An aqueous ink for inkjet printing which includes a pigment-containing polymer particle and/or a self-dispersible pigment, a compound represented by formula (1): CH3—O—(CH2CH2O)n-R1 (1) wherein R1 is hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alicyclic group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and n is an average molar number of addition of 6 to 20, and water in a content of 50 to 65% by weight. The content of the compound represented by formula (1) is 10 to 30% by weight. The aqueous ink is excellent in the curl prevention after print, curl prevention after its storage and print density as well as in the storage stability and jetting stability. In a method of inkjet-printing images on plain paper by one-pass print, the water content in the aqueous ink which is jetted onto unit area of the plain paper is regulated within 0.2 to 1.0 mg/cm2.
US08556402B2
The disclosure provides an ink set containing an ink jettable ink and an ink jettable fixer ink having: an aqueous colorant containing ink jettable ink; and a fixer ink having: (i) a multivalent metal salt, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of divalent metal ions, trivalent metal ions, and mixtures thereof; and (ii) a salt stable, water soluble, predominantly non-ionic, polymeric binder selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane having an ethylene oxide unit, and a methoxylated carboxylated polyallylamine; wherein the polymeric binder is substantially non-reactive with the colorant. The colorant contains a dye, a self dispersed pigment or a pigment dispersion. These inks have enhanced coloristic and durability properties.
US08556399B2
A fluid interconnect for a fluid ejection system includes a fluid port having a fluid passage formed therethrough, and a filter provided at an end of the fluid port such that fluid passing through the fluid port passes through the filter to the fluid passage, wherein the filter is secured to an end surface and a peripheral surface of the fluid port.
US08556397B2
An ink container usable with an image forming apparatus having a carriage to transport the ink container in a reciprocating motion across a substrate and an ink ejector to eject the ink onto the substrate is included. The ink container includes a chamber configured to supply ink to the ink ejector of the image forming apparatus. The ink container also includes a separation member disposed within the chamber configured to separate unwanted particles from the ink in response to the reciprocating motion of the carriage and gravity, and to direct the ink downstream to the ink ejector.
US08556395B2
A liquid supply mechanism includes: a supply pathway that supplies liquid to a plurality of ejection sections each ejecting the liquid from nozzles; a branching path that is branched off from the supply pathway and through which the liquid circulates; a buffer unit that is disposed in the branching path and that lessens pressure fluctuations occurred in the liquid in the branching path; and a changing unit that changes a pathway to the buffer unit so that the changing unit shuts the pathway to the buffer unit during maintenance for discharging the liquid from the nozzles of the ejection sections. The liquid discharged during the maintenance is greater in quantity than the liquid discharged during normal operation.
US08556388B2
A printhead assembly that has a casing with a series of module mounting sites, printed circuit board mounting sites and busbar support formations. A printhead module is mounted to each module mounting site respectively. Each printhead module has a printhead integrated circuit (IC). A plurality of printed circuit boards control the printhead IC's, one of the printed circuit boards being fixed to each of the printed circuit board mounting sites respectively. Busbars are secured in the busbar support formations for receiving data and power from the printed circuit boards. The printhead modules are electrically connected to the busbars to provide the printhead integrated circuits with power and data.
US08556381B2
A droplet ejection apparatus includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a first liquid material and fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a second liquid material. The first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction so that nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are consecutive with a predetermined pitch via a first seam, a second seam and a third seam, respectively, when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third seam is arranged between the first seam and the second seam when viewed from the second direction.
US08556379B2
An image forming apparatus including a first carriage having a recording head that ejects black liquid droplets and is movable in a main scanning direction and a second carriage having a recording head that ejects color liquid droplets and is detachably attachable to the first carriage within a scanning range of the first carriage in the main scanning direction. The second carriage when attached to the first carriage is movable in the main scanning direction together with the first carriage. Attachment and detachment of the second carriage to and from the first carriage are performed based on a predetermined reference position of the first carriage in the main scanning direction.
US08556377B2
An image recording apparatus includes: a recording portion; a conveying member having a surface opposed to the recording portion and which conveys the recording medium in a conveying direction; a wiper having an end portion which is contactable with the surface of the conveying member and which removes a foreign matter on the surface of the conveying member; and a wiping operation executing portion which executes a wiping operation in which at least one of the wiper and the conveying member is driven such that, after the end portion of the wiper distant from the surface of the conveying member comes into contact with a clean area of the surface of the conveying member, the end portion of the wiper reaches outside of the clean area.
US08556363B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head with a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid to a medium; the liquid ejecting head has actuators (piezoelectric devices), each of which causes an ejection operation for ejecting the liquid from one of the nozzles and a protrusion operation for keeping the liquid protruded from a nozzle plane in which the nozzles are disposed. The liquid ejecting apparatus also includes a controller that identifies non-used nozzles from which not to eject the liquid to the medium to have the protrusion operation performed for the nozzles and also identifies nozzles from which to eject the liquid to have the ejection operation performed for the nozzles.
US08556357B2
A computer rack includes an upper frame, a lower frame, four parallel support legs, two horizontal struts, two mounting members, and two vertical struts. The support legs connect between the upper frame and the lower frame. The four support legs are parallel each other. Each horizontal strut is attached to two of the four support legs. The two horizontal struts is substantially perpendicular to the four support legs. Each horizontal strut is attached to two of the four support legs and is substantially perpendicular to the four support legs. Wherein, the mounting members are configured to be mounted in different positions to establish different distances between the two vertical struts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical strut.
US08556355B2
An adaptable furniture system includes at least one first article of furniture and at least one second article of furniture. The adaptable furniture system further includes a moving system for moving at least one of the at least one first article of furniture and the at least one second article of furniture, where a forward movement of the at least one second article of furniture is associated with a lowering movement of the at least one first article of furniture.
US08556354B2
A tensioning system for a tracked vehicle. The present invention provides for adjusting tension of a track by moving the sprocket relative to the rollers in a substantially vertical direction. The system comprises a sprocket assembly, a roller assembly, a track, and a tension adjustment assembly. The tension adjustment assembly includes a tension bolt threaded through a tension nut. The bolt threads through the nut and contacts the roller assembly. As the bolt is threaded or unthreaded, the sprocket assembly is moved relative to the roller assembly in a substantially vertical direction. As the assemblies move relative to each other, tension in the track is resultantly adjusted.
US08556340B2
A vehicle seat is provided with a pair of discontinuous reclining mechanisms on opposite sides of the seat that are connected by a connecting rod. A pair of torque transmission joints are provided on opposite ends of the connecting rod. The torque transmission joints connect the opposite ends of the connecting rod to the reclining mechanisms. The torque transmission joints permit torque to be transmitted by manipulation of a handle to adjust the vehicle seat. Loads applied from the rear to the vehicle seat back are prevented from transmitting torque to the connecting rod by a lost motion connection provided by the torque transmission joints.
US08556326B2
A tank flap module is provided for installation in a motor vehicle, having a recess body insertable into an opening of the vehicle body, which has a passage opening for receiving a fuel filler neck in the area of a base section, and which has a flange-like fastening edge protruding radially outward facing away from the base section. A flexibly deformable and peripheral axial sealing tab is provided extending along the fastening edge, which extends axially outward in relation to the passage opening and comes into contact on an interior of a tank flap, which is located in the closed position and is mounted so it is pivotable on the recess body.
US08556323B2
A folding seat arrangement comprising a first carrying structure (2) having a backrest (3) and guiding elements (11) for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) to a vehicle floor, a second carrying structure (5) pivotally mounted to the first carrying structure (2) and having a seat cushion (4), and a supporting structure (6; 31), on which in a first end region guiding elements (10) are provided for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) and which in a second region is mounted a carrying structure (2; 5) in an articulated manner such that the seat arrangement in the folded setting requires the least amount of space in the lower region of the expanded luggage compartment. This is achieved in that the guiding elements (11) on the first carrying structure (2) and the supporting structure (6; 31) can be moved relative to one another to pivot the supporting structure (6; 31).
US08556314B1
A log lifting facilitating assembly for includes a first member having a first end and a second end. A spike is attached to the first member adjacent to the first end and is orthogonal to the first member. The spike extends in a first direction relative to the first member. A second member is attached to the second end of the first member and extends in the first direction from the first member further than the spike. A strike plate is attached to the first member. The strike plate is positioned on the first member opposite of the spike. The spike is configured to be driven into an end of a log to facilitate moving of the log.
US08556313B2
A retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidentally to the deployed and retracted tines. A belt-attachable caddy houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet at the proximal end of the shaft can be wound.
US08556312B2
A container-lifting spreader includes locking pins insertable into seats formed at the corners of a container and upon rotation about their longitudinal axes are brought in locked engagement therewith. The locking pins are in pairs associated with a common drive effecting simultaneous rotation of the pins between locking and unlocking positions. The drive includes a reversible motor and a power transmission that includes two push rods respectively, each of which is hinged at one end to a locking pin, and at the other end to an operating lever included in the power transmission, such that a driven movement of the lever is transferred via the push rods to rotational movements of the pins. The lever acts as a pivoting arm supported on a rotatable shaft, the arm cooperating with fixed stops that mechanically limit the movement of the lever within an angular space determined by the e distance between the stops.
US08556311B1
A truck cab and bed lift tool for removing cab and bed bodies from pickup truck frames. The tool includes a horizontal main beam having adjustable and configurable end appendages. Those appendages provide adjustable contact elements that mate with suitable lifting points of a pickup truck bed, cab structure, or other major body element. The main beam includes a heavy-duty hook that enables the truck cab and bed lift tool to be lifted by an engine hoist, overhead winch, or other suitable lifting mechanism.
US08556310B1
A grill hook device for lifting a cooking surface grate from a charcoal grill or grill pit is provided. The cooking surface grate has a plurality of cross bars with the cross bars having a top surface and a bottom surface. The grill hook device comprises a center shaft having a first end and a second end. A handle is mounted to the first end of the center shaft. An anchor member extends from the center shaft between the first end and the second end of the center shaft. A hook mechanism is formed at the second end of the center shaft for receiving at least one of the cross bars for the cooking surface grate. Upon positioning at least one of the cross bars within the hook mechanism, the hook mechanism contacting the bottom surface of the at least one cross bar, and the anchor member against the top surface of the cross bars, the cooking surface grate is liftable from the grill.
US08556305B2
A locking/unlocking apparatus for a drawer is applicable to be assembled on a fixed slide rail and a slidable slide rail of a drawer or on a drawer body and a drawer cabinet. The locking/unlocking apparatus comprises a drive element disposed on the slidable slide rail or the drawer body, a main body fixed on the fixed slide rail or the drawer cabinet, a slide block slidably disposed on the main body, and a spring disposed between the main body and the slide block. By such arrangements, when the drawer is pulled by a large force, it can prevent the slide rails, the drawer body or the locking/unlocking apparatus from being damaged.
US08556297B2
To provide a vehicle fender liner configured to easily form a solid shape and exhibit superior sound-absorption performance and excellent anti-icing, a fender liner 10 serving as a sound-absorption member to be attached to a vehicle includes a base-material layer 11 having sound-absorption function. The base-material layer 11 is formed into a solid shape of a fender liner by producing a sheet of a fibrous web 14 obtained by interlocking main fibers 12 and binder fibers 13 having a melting point lower than that of the main fibers 12, integrally providing a waterproof protective film of an LDPE resin, and then performing hot press mold.
US08556295B2
A snowboard system and methods are disclosed adapted for board stabilization while a user attaches the snowboard binding and boot from a standing position. The system includes an anchoring stake, a retainer and retractable cord, and an anchoring line, or loop. A safety retainer line from the stake may also be provided.
US08556281B2
A bracket is provided to mount a shock absorber to a vehicle body. The bracket is configured to couple a distal end of a piston rod of the shock absorber to a vehicle body. The bracket is molded of a plastic material and includes a body having a recess formed thereon, the recess allowing a bush assembly to be inserted therein, and a flange extending from the body. The bracket is molded integrally with a metal insert.
US08556279B2
A handtruck or trolley (90) comprising: a handtruck frame (91) including a frame base (98) extending to an outward handle portion (97) of the handtruck frame, the handtruck frame generally lying in a first plane and having a front and a rear; a load support (95) mounted to the front of the handtruck frame and generally lying in a second plane inclined relative to the first plane; and a handtruck wheel assembly (60,80) mounted to the frame base, the handtruck wheel assembly comprising at least two sets of wheels (65a,60b,82a,82b), each set having a fixed main axis (6ba,106b) of rotation parallel to the first plane and capable of travel in a direction normal to the main axes, wherein the wheel or wheels of at least one of the sets of wheels is or are multidirectional and capable of travel in a lateral direction or in an angular direction having a vector component parallel to the main axes.
US08556276B2
The present invention is directed to an aid cart for storing and transporting emergency or other supplies. The aid cart serves as a transportable storage container and is convertible into various configurations that can be used to provide first responder aid and relief, and transforms into various tools to help clean-up and rebuild after a disaster has occurred. In this manner, the aid cart enables victims to quickly care for themselves, their families, and their neighbors, and encourages victims to immediately begin the clean-up and rebuilding process. The aid cart is convertible into different configurations using various tubes. Hub brackets on either side of the aid cart include adapters to which any of the tubes can be connected. The tubes can be connected to the adapters to form different configurations.
US08556264B2
My child educational board game, “Word Battle Junior”, embodies a configuration requiring players to approach the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy by simply calling out spaces in a competition of take away so that, once all prepositioned and hidden game elements on opponents' targeted regions are found, the last player with symbol marked blocks in his/her playing field wins.
US08556262B2
A table game system comprises a plurality of playing cards and a card shooter apparatus. The cards include an ultraviolet-ray reaction code comprising at least two sets of code elements that are arranged along one side of a face of the card. The code represents at least the number of a card. The card shooter apparatus includes a card housing for containing the cards, a card guide unit that guides cards pulled out one by one from the card housing, one or more card detecting sensors that detect the existence or non-existence of a card pulled out along a card guiding direction of the card guide unit, and one or more black light sensors that read the ultraviolet-ray reaction code from the card guided by the card guide unit.
US08556258B2
To provide a sheet storage apparatus for enabling a sheet to be aligned so that the length-direction position and width-direction position of the sheet coincide with correct reference positions in positioning and storing the sheet in a predetermined position on a tray, it is configured that a paper feed rotating member in a center portion of a sheet that is carried out onto the tray and a paper-pressing guide in the side portion are disposed swingably up and down in the sheet load direction, and that the paper-pressing guide moves upward integrally with the paper feed rotating member floating a predetermined amount or more from the sheet top surface on the tray corresponding to a curl of the sheet.
US08556257B2
A sheet loading device that includes a tray having a sheet loading surface, transports sheets one by one to the tray along a transport path, and loads the sheets one by one onto the sheet loading surface, comprising: a guide member for guiding a sheet to the tray along the transport path; a drive member; a restriction member; and a bias mechanism. Along a course of movement for pressing a loaded sheet against the sheet loading surface, the guide member engages with the restriction member, causes the restriction member to move to a position for restricting forming of a curl on the loaded sheet, and thereby prevents the transport path from being blocked by the curl. When the engagement between the guide member and the restriction member is released, the restriction member returns to an initial position by bias force applied by the bias mechanism.
US08556247B2
A vise provided with a movable jaw device having separated approaching and clamping steps in a bending machine die, the vise (4) having a fixed jaw portion (7) and a movable jaw device (10) including a body (6) having two abreast supporting walls (8, 9), on an external side of one of which an operation mechanism (20) of the movable jaw is mounted, and upper edges (31, 32) of the supporting walls acts as cams for opposite spindles (29, 30) laterally projecting from one hydraulic cylinder (28) that is swing mounted on the movable jaw (11). The upper edges (31, 32) have two respective notches (33, 34) designed to receive the projecting spindles in such a way that the extension of the rod (27) of the hydraulic cylinder (28), being locked in position by its projecting spindles.
US08556242B2
A roll-rod for a vehicle includes an inner pipe protruding from an end surface of a roll-rod body which penetrates an insulator engaged to a bracket and an end plate may be coupled to a rear side of the inner pipe, a fastening bolt being mounted to fasten the end plate to the inner pipe, wherein the insulator has a supporter inserted into a through-hole formed in the bracket and having a pipe shape, and a first front stopper extended from the supporter and protruding to the front of the bracket, and a first rear stopper extended from the supporter and protruding to the rear of the bracket, wherein the first front stopper, the first rear stopper and the supporter may be integrally molded to be fixedly coupled to the bracket.
US08556240B2
A fluid-filled vibration damping device wherein a partition member is formed by fitting an inner orifice member inside an outer orifice member with the members relatively displaceable. An orifice-defining window is provided on either one of an inside peripheral face of the outer orifice member and an outside peripheral face of the inner orifice member. An orifice passage is defined utilizing a zone being produced through partial covering of the orifice-defining window by the other of the outer orifice member and the inner orifice member. The covered zone of the orifice-defining window changes through relative displacement of the inner orifice member and the outer orifice member, so that a passage length along the orifice passage changes in association with change of the covered zone of the orifice-defining window.
US08556238B2
Disclosed is a diffuser installation structure capable of improving uniformity of air bubbles discharged from air bubble discharge holes, restricting the formation of dead zone air bubble discharge holes, and having the tolerance against design deviation. In the installation structure for a diffuser including at least one air feeding port and an air bubble discharge wall having a plurality of air bubble discharge holes, the air bubble discharge wall is inclined upward in the direction of increasing distance relative to the air feeding port.
US08556229B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic expansion valve, including a magnetic rotor and a screw rod, and further including an output shaft. The magnetic rotor is surroundingly provided on the output shaft, and the output shaft is slidably connected to the screw rod in an axial direction and drivably connected to the screw rod in a circumferential direction. Since the output shaft is slidably connected to the screw rod in an axial direction and drivably connected to the screw rod in a circumferential direction, the magnetic rotor does not subject to an axial force transmitted by the screw rod and rotates flexibly.
US08556215B1
A wave form tile in the form of a natural wave is provided to replace traditionally smooth surfaces to aid in more efficient shedding of a fluid medium. The wave form tile is also applied to proportionally spherical fractal surfaces defined for the surface of a vehicle.
US08556208B2
The invention relates to a component (1) for a bicycle frame having a wing profile front side portion (2) and a back side portion (3) that is convex at least in certain portions. The invention further relates to a bottle holder (10) which is attachable to the component (1) or is configured in one piece with the component (1).
US08556200B2
A system for processing material has a power supply and a machine having a hopper for receiving and passing material to an auger. The auger has a shaft with an axis about which it rotates, a helical flighting mounted to the shaft, pins mounted to the helical flighting, and paddles mounted to the shaft. The radial outer edge of the helical flighting is crenelated with periodic notches that form rectangular blades on the helical flighting. The pins are rotationally and angularly aligned with leading edges of the rectangular blades. The system may include a vehicle, such as a trailer, having first and second compartments separated by a partition. The power supply is located in the first compartment and has a power supply member extending though the partition. The machine is located in the second compartment and coupled to the power supply member.
US08556199B2
A system for dosing coffee beans, comprising a coffee bean package provided with at least one wall which at least partly encloses an inner space for multiple dosages of coffee beans, and a coffee bean outlet for delivering coffee beans, and an apparatus provided with a coffee bean grinder, a coffee bean inlet for supplying coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, a connecting device for connecting the coffee bean package to the apparatus, so that the coffee bean outlet can be connected to the coffee bean inlet, and a dosing device provided with a dosing space which is arranged for feeding-through one predetermined dose of coffee beans from the coffee bean outlet to the coffee bean inlet.
US08556195B1
The present invention provides an attachment for emitting water from a water source. The attachment comprises an inlet end, a transitional section connected to the inlet end an outlet end connected to the transitional section opposite from the inlet end, and a reinforcement member attached to the transitional sectional and the outlet end to support the transitional section. The inlet end includes an external cover and an internal sleeve disposed within and spaced from the external cover.
US08556179B2
A 2D bar code reader with improved motion tolerance is presented. The 2D bar code reader includes a lens configuration that enhances chromatic aberration to separate the focal planes on which bar code images from two different color components of a light will be focused. An imager interprets one of the focal planes as the image and the other one as noise to be ignored. In addition, the increased depth of field generated by the chromatic aberration allows for a larger aperture stop setting and quicker shutter speed, thereby improving motion tolerance.
US08556178B2
A radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag can comprise an RFID chip, an antenna, and a feed line electrically coupling the RFID chip to the antenna. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, a communication interface, and an EIR device provided by a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, or a card reading device. The RFID reading device can further comprise an antenna and a feed line. The antenna for the RFID tag or for the RFID reading device can be provided by a patch cell, a patch cell array comprising two or more patch cells, or by a patch cell stack comprising two or more patch cells. An equivalent circuit for the patch can comprise at least two inductances and a shunt capacitance. An equivalent circuit for the patch cell array can comprise two or more inductance groups connected via a series capacitance and two or more shunt capacitances. An equivalent circuit for the patch cell stack can comprises two or more capacitances connected via a series inductance and two or more shunt inductances. The antenna can have a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) structure.
US08556173B1
An apparatus and system for allowing accurate navigation to a target regardless of GPS jamming levels. An apparatus and system can be used to update the navigation solution based upon seeker measurements in at least one of three electromagnetic frequency domains: infrared, visible, and radio frequency (RF).
US08556169B2
A financial transaction system includes a computer readable storage medium and a processor in communication with the computer readable storage medium. The processor is configured to receive a financial transaction request message from a payment device reader, and parse the financial transaction request message. The financial transaction request message includes a cardholder response to an offer to enroll in a loyalty program of a commercial entity. The processor is further configured to store the cardholder response in the computer readable storage medium.
US08556155B2
A solder paste mounting tool is provided, and includes a base, a positioning plate, a screen plate, and a pushing element. The base includes a first surface, a second surface, a through hole extending through the first surface and the second surface, a first chip accommodating portion, and positioning pillars. The first chip accommodating portion and the positioning pillars are located on the first surface, and the position of the first chip accommodating portion is corresponding to the position of the through hole. The positioning plate includes a second chip accommodating portion and first positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pillars. The screen plate includes a mesh region and second positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pillars. The pushing element is movably disposed in the through hole and includes a first end portion and a second end portion.
US08556152B2
A retraction mechanism allows the full distal retraction of the firing drive from various positions. The retraction mechanism has been developed for use with a hand held surgical apparatus. An embodiment of the retraction mechanism includes a drive member, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a firing drive. The drive mechanism is configured to be driven by a motor. The first pulley is configured to rotate when the motor drives the drive mechanism. The second pulley is movable relative to the first pulley between a proximal position and a distal position. The firing drive is movable relative to the first pulley between proximal and distal positions. In operation, the first pulley rotates in a first direction in response to a distal translation of the firing drive and wherein the firing drive moves proximally upon rotation of the first pulley in a second direction.
US08556147B2
A backpack from has a forwardly facing side and a back side. The frame comprises a base having a generally flat midsection with forwardly curved end sections. A pair of mutually spaced arms project from the end sections of the base. The arms have a degree of twist that gradually diminishes from the end sections of the base to the upper distal ends of the arms.
US08556144B2
A carrying device (3) includes a first support rack (30), a second support rack (32) pivotally connected with the first support rack, and a connecting member (31) secured on the first support rack and pivotally connected with the second support rack to connect the first support rack and the second support rack. Thus, the first support rack is used to carry an elongate object (9), such as a surf board, a boat, a ladder and the like, and the second support rack is used to carry a bicycle (8).
US08556143B2
A mounting assembly for interconnecting a first object and a second object has a link assembly having a first end that couples the first object, and a second end that couples the second object, and a top plate assembly pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The top plate assembly includes an upper plate having a plurality of holes for attachment to a receiving device, and a lower plate pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The lower plate is connected to the upper plate only through a plurality of shock and vibration absorption members, thereby improving the shock and vibration absorption effect.
US08556142B2
A light bulb carrying device is provided for transporting light bulbs to a fixture for installation. Locations for attachment of light bulbs allow the bulbs to be worn on the user's body for access to a light fixture without the need for occupying the user's hands in carrying the light bulbs during transportation.
US08556138B2
A crown-type sizer is suitable for mounting on a hanger having a body and a hook extending from a mid-point of the body and includes a peripheral wall having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side. The sizer includes a quantity of bosses that have at least one boss in a first set and at least one boss in a second set. The first set is disposed on the first side and the second set is disposed on the second side. Each of the bosses engages onto the hanger and block the sizer onto the hanger in a stable manner. The first set of bosses is offset to the second set of bosses with respect to a plane bisecting the first and the second side.
US08556130B2
A pump dispenser in which the associated container interior reduces its volume progressively as product is dispensed to avoid air contact with the product. An air trap member having a downwardly-convex dish form is provided below a floor of the associated dispenser module around an inlet to guide any such air away from the inlet. A peripheral portion forms a retaining lip for flexible wiping contact with the container wall interior, allowing air passage on assembly of the dispenser. A central tubular formation of the trap member separates the trapped air from the inlet and can be used to plug the trap member into the inlet.
US08556124B2
A bag in box packaging including an outer box, an inner bag and a tap. The outer box has a bottom wall and a front wall. A tap articulating assembly includes a tap wall and at least two spaced apart hinge assemblies. The tap wall has an opening to receive the tap. The hinge assemblies each have a first hinge panel and a second hinge panel. Each first and second hinge panel are joined to each other at an intermediate hinge fold, with the first hinge panel joined to the tap wall at a fold and the front wall or a respective side wall at a fold. The hinge assembly provides for a shipping orientation wherein the tap wall is recessed to substantially retain the tap within a footprint of the outer box to an dispensing orientation wherein the tap extends beyond the footprint.
US08556119B2
A system and method for discharging a selected product into a dispensing chamber of a vending machine are provided. In the system and method of this disclosure, a selected product from a vending machine is received in a product delivery cup. The product delivery cup is moved to a dispensing chamber of the vending machine. Near the dispensing chamber, the product delivery cup moves in a horizontal direction which causes or activates a delivery cup sleeve within the product delivery cup to pivot or move from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The dispensing position of the delivery cup sleeve releases the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber where a consumer is able to access the selected product.
US08556118B2
The moving mechanism has a first stationary-side gear part and a second stationary-side gear part provided on a support body side; a movable-side gear part and a pinion gear provided on a supported part of a movable body; and a guide device positioned so that the movable-side gear part engages with the first stationary-side gear part and the pinion gear engages with the second stationary-side gear part. The first stationary-side gear part is formed along an arc of a virtual circle, and has teeth oriented toward a center side of this virtual circle; the second stationary-side gear part is provided adjacent to this first stationary-side gear part on the center side of the aforementioned virtual circle, is formed along an arc of a separate virtual circle from this virtual circle, and has teeth oriented toward a center side of this separate virtual circle.
US08556115B2
A surgical instrument container assembly includes a container and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes at least one wire handle pivotally coupled with the container. A handle grip has a longitudinally extending opening. A portion of the wire handle is positioned radially within the opening. The handle grip has an outer surface with an elliptical cross sectional shape, and a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending ribs on the outer surface. The handle grip is preferably formed of an elastomeric material.
US08556112B2
A storage module adapter assembly includes adapter base plates that are two-person portable, can be installed/removed by hand, and cooperate with existing structures of existing modular cargo containers. Each adapter base plate includes various longitudinal and transverse frame members, as well as first and second longitudinal frame members on opposed sides thereof. The first longitudinal frame member has a first height, and the second longitudinal frame member has a second height, which is greater than the first height. Each of the first and second longitudinal frame members also include generally horizontal flange members extending from a top side thereof, such that when two adapter base plates are appropriately positioned side by side, the generally horizontal flange members on the adjacent sides of the two adapter base plates overlap due to the difference between the first and second heights. The adapter base plates can then be connected together by appropriate mechanisms.
US08556104B2
A container closing device suitable for cans of drink, having an opening tab provided in a container wall, and an opening element suitable for pressing in the opening tab and a fixing device, whereby the opening tab can be detachably fixed to the container wall.
US08556103B2
With an eye towards achieving the objective of configuring and refining a closure in such a way that an available space defined by the support element is effectively utilized while the volume of the chamber is maximized, a closure to be screwed onto a container, comprises a closure cap and a screw cap that can be twisted together with each other as well as relative to each other, whereby the closure cap has a support element that can be screwed to the screw cap, whereby the closure cap and the screw cap delimit a chamber that holds a substance and that can be opened by twisting the screw cap relative to the closure cap, thereby opening up at least one passage, and whereby the screw cap has a chamber wall whose free end surrounds a chamber bottom that is formed in the closure cap, wherein the screw cap has a lid section onto which the chamber wall is formed.
US08556098B2
A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.
US08556096B2
A container lid intended to be used as a lid for any kind of container/bottle, and comprising an upper lid (1) and a bottom part (2) connected by a connecting part (5). The container lid is processed by multi-injection of multi-colors plastic technology to produce a container lid made of multi-materials. The connecting part (5) extends around the container lid and is adapted to be broken up to a stopper part (7) when a pulling part (4) is pulled. The container lid is intended for plastic bottles including bottled drinking water and/or flavored beverage bottles to prevent counterfeiting or imitating.
US08556094B2
A baby formula delivery assembly includes a container that has a bottom wall, a top wall, and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom walls. A housing has an upper wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly from the upper wall. The peripheral wall extends downwardly around the container adjacent to the top wall and is rotatably and non-removably coupled to the container. A lower wall is attached to the peripheral and is spaced from the upper wall and defines an interior space of the housing. The lower wall has a second powder aperture extending therethrough. A nipple is attached to the upper wall and is in fluid communication with the interior space of the housing. A quantity of water is positioned within the container. A quantity of baby formula is positioned within the housing.
US08556092B2
A stand alone divider for a shelf is provided. The stand alone divider includes a first and a second retainer arranged to grip a first and a second edge of a shelf. The stand alone divider may be installed on and removed from a shelf without the use of tools. The stand alone divider may have an adjustable length.
US08556091B2
An updated version of the tradition shower caddy according to the present invention is designed to use retractable cords and removable clips as an aide to assist in storage of bathing/shower products instead of plastic racks or wire trays as used in traditional shower caddies. The device according to the present invention comprises an adjustable over-the-door hanger for the device to mount on a shower enclosure panel or door, at least one retractable reel and noncorrosive retractable cord attached to the over-the-door hanger, at least one removable clip attached to the retractable cord for securely holding shower articles such as shampoo, conditioner, body soap and the like, at least one hook for robe, body scrubber, and towels, and a soap dish. The present invention is also capable of hanging from the shower head pipe by repositioning the vertical strip which is attached to the “exterior hook” into a horizontal position, bringing the hook into an upright position, allowing the entire unit to suspend securely by the “Exterior Hook” from the common shower head pipe.
US08556084B1
A system for holding one or more bags. The system includes a cart, a first chute disposed on the cart, and a second chute also disposed on the cart. The first chute includes a first edging along each side of the first chute. The second chute includes a second edging along each side of the second chute. The second chute is intertwined with the first chute. The system may further include a third chute and a fourth chute disposed on the cart. The third chute may include a third edging along each side of the third chute, and the fourth chute may include a fourth edging along each side of the fourth chute. The top and bottom of the first chute and the top and bottom of the second chute are positioned on opposite ends of the cart at about 180 degrees apart, while the top and bottom of the third chute and the top and bottom of the fourth chute are positioned on opposite ends of the cart at about 180 degrees apart.
US08556078B1
A tray comprises a flexible floor comprising a first surface and a second surface, at least one pocket in the first surface dimensioned to hold a medicine and a flexible wall extending upward from the first surface and surrounding every at least one pocket most proximal to edges of the first surface, the flexible wall configured to deform elastically when the second surface of the flexible floor is bent.
US08556075B1
A hangtag for tools includes a suspension element, a positioning element, and a limitation element having a blocker. The positioning element includes a main body and a positioning portion having a base, an elastic piece, and a protrusion disposed on the elastic piece. The base encloses a through slot which penetrates a top and a bottom of the base and extends through a side face of the main body to reach inside of the main body. The elastic piece laterally extends into the through slot from the main body, and a shifting room is defined by the elastic piece and the through slot. When the blocker is in the shifting room and leans against the elastic piece, the protrusion is at a first position, and security is provided by the elastic piece. When the blocker doesn't lean against the elastic piece, sockets can be easily removed.
US08556074B2
A tag for tracking inventory levels and uses of an implant. The tag has a first component having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a second component having a proximal portion and distal portion. Additionally, the tag has an implant receiving cavity formed by the distal portion of the first component and the distal portion of the second component, in which the implant receiving cavity includes an encapsulating extension to substantially encapsulate an implant. Furthermore, the tag has a planar surface formed by the proximal portion of the first component and the proximal portion of the second component. The planar surface extending from the implant receiving cavity is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the implant received within the implant receiving cavity. In addition, the tag has a tamper evident locking mechanism configured for locking the first component to the second component.
US08556067B2
The conveyor system for planar products (60), in particular print shop products, features a feeder device (50) as well as a gripper conveyor (10) with a plurality of grippers (12) that move along an orbital track (U), wherein the grippers (12) each include two gripper parts (14, 16) that can be pivoted relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. The relative position of the gripper parts (14, 16) to one another and/or the orientation of the whole gripper (12) in space is a function of its position along the orbital track and is set by at least one control guide (28, 30, 40, 80, 80′) that interacts with the grippers such that the gripper parts (14, 16) can be moved from an open position to a closed position while moving through a transfer area (A) of the orbital track (U) for the transfer of products (60) from the feeder device (50).
US08556066B2
A bulk material leveling and volumetric measuring and feeding apparatus includes a conveyor for transporting bulk material from a hopper to a leveling assembly. The leveling assembly includes a pair of augers located perpendicular to the conveyor and with the auger terminal ends at a desired height from the conveyor. Side walls are provided parallel to the conveyor direction of travel and extend up to the auger terminal ends. Each auger is positioned within a semicircular longitudinal channel of a trough. Bulk material being transported and which is located above the augers terminal ends is lifted by the augers and thrown back towards the hopper. Thus, bulk material being transported under and beyond the leveling assembly is maintained at a desired depth. By monitoring and/or controlling the conveyor speed and the depth of the transported bulk material, the volumetric feed rate and total volume of transported material can be determined and/or controlled. The height of the leveling assembly above the conveyor is selectively adjustable. A shutoff gate is provided downstream of the leveling assembly.
US08556065B2
Systems and methods for displaying content in a conveyor system are provided. A content displaying conveyor plate includes a base plate and an upper plate that is configured to be releasably coupled to the base plate. The upper plate can be configured to display content, for example content that is integral to the base plate, content that is disposed between the upper plate and the base plate, or any combination thereof. The upper plate can be coupled to the base plate via one or more connection members defined on the upper plate and/or the base plate. Any, number, such as all of the base plates of an existing conveyor system can be replaced with respective content displaying conveyor plates. The base plate of the content displaying conveyor plate can define one or more recesses, the recesses configured to receive an attachment member and/or other components of a carousel therein.
US08556064B2
A reversible belt scraper blade provides two opposed scraping surfaces on an integrally constructed body. Each scraping surface has an elastomeric wear region transitioning to an elastomeric central region. Two integral frame members are integrally joined into the central region. Each integral frame member runs the length of the belt scraper blade and is at least partially exposed at their ends. End mounts attach to the exposed integral frame members and the reversible belt scraper blade is reversible about the end mounts. The wear regions may have sub-regions of different hardness to provide good scraping qualities combined with improved structural rigidity. The central region may also have sub-regions of different hardness to improve structural rigidity.
US08556062B2
A gripper unit for transport systems for supporting and transporting articles. A gripper unit that includes a gripper head with at least two gripper arms which can be opened and closed against each other. The top of the article to be gripped and to be transported is supported in the opening formed between the gripper arms. A shifting unit is supported in a flexible manner via a fastener directly supported at the transport system. Furthermore, the gripper unit is provided with a device for interchangeable support, adjustment and spatial determination of the gripper head in a first transport direction at the gripper unit. The device provides for the vertical movement of the gripper head contrary to the gripper unit and/or contrary to the transport system, which are arranged between the gripper head and the shifting unit or between the gripper head and the transport system.
US08556061B2
A coin/bill acceptor includes a face panel defining a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot and a coin return slot, a first housing fastened to the back side of the face panel and defining a bill passageway in communication with the bill insertion slot and accommodating therein a transmission unit for transferring the inserted bill from the bill insertion slot into the bill passageway and a bill validator module for sensing the authenticity and value of the inserted bill, a second housing hinged to the first housing at one lateral side, a spacer board being attached to the inner lateral side of the second housing and defining a coin passageway in communication with the coin insertion slot and a coin return passageway in communication with the coin return slot, a coin validator module being arranged in the for sensing the authenticity and value of the inserted.
US08556052B2
A spring leaf and an overrunning clutch provided with the same are provided. The spring leaf is made up of a support strip (3-1), a clamping strip (3-2), and a connection beam (3-3). The support strip (3-1) supports a needle roller in suspension. The connection beam (3-3) connects the support strip (3-1) with the clamping strip (3-2). The main body of the clamping strip (3-2) is a straight strip (3-2-1), either end of which is provided with a V-shaped bended part (3-2-2). The overrunning clutch is provided with a retainer, multiple needle rollers, and multiple spring leaves. Mounting grooves for the spring leaves are respectively disposed at positions, corresponding to each crossbeam, on outer end surfaces of a first and a second annular end edge at both ends of a window hole of the retainer. The bottom of the mounting groove for the spring leaf is V-shaped when cut along an axial direction of the retainer. An inner surface of the straight strip (3-2-1) of the clamping strip (3-2) of the spring leaf is matched with an outer surface of the crossbeam. An inner surface of the V-shaped bended part (3-2-2) of the clamping strip (3-2) is matched with a bottom surface of the mounting groove for the spring leaf. The technical problem of the potential displacement and detachment of the spring leaf during the reciprocation of the existing overrunning clutch at a high rotational speed and high frequency is solved by the invention.
US08556049B2
A damping force controlling valve assembly for a shock absorber is provided. The damping force controlling valve assembly includes: a main body part of a retainer having an inlet passage connected to a high pressure side of the shock absorber; a main valve generating a damping force while resisting a working fluid flowing in through the inlet passage; a spool rod part interacting with a spool inserted thereinto and supplying a working fluid through a connection port to a back-pressure chamber provided at the rear of the main valve; a solenoid part controlling a position of the spool to adjust a pressure of the back-pressure chamber; and an auxiliary valve disposed at an upstream of the main valve to generate a damping force in an extremely low speed section in advance of the main valve.
US08556037B2
A lubricating nipple (1) to be pressed into a bore (5) of a bearing bush (7) of a universal joint has a housing with a flow-through channel (22) to receive a lubricant. A check valve (25, 26, 27) is arranged in the through-flow channel (22). A seat portion (3) positions the lubricating nipple (1) in the bore (5) in the mounted condition. A coupling portion (2) couples the lubricating nipple (1) to a lubricating device. The coupling portion (2) has a first abutment face (10) that faces the seat portion (3). The mounted lubricating nipple (1), in the pressing-in direction, is axially supported by the first abutment face (10) against the thin-walled component (7). A collar portion (4) has a second abutment face (12). The second abutment face (12) is arranged opposite to the first abutment face (10). The mounted lubricant nipple (1) can be axially supported by the second abutment face (12) against the thin-walled component (7).
US08556034B2
The present invention is a paint chip and drip catching ladder accessory, which is used to prevent stray paint particles from hitting the surrounding area while painting. The present invention comprises a trough and two ladder attachments. The trough is used to catch both wet paint drops and dry paint chips from hitting the ground. The trough is also used to carry the stray paint particles to a wastebasket. Each of the ladder attachments have an insert that can be pushed into the outer side of a ladder, which allows the ladder attachments to be properly positioned along the ladder. The two ladder attachments extend away from the ladder in order to support the trough from the bottom. A plurality of grooves, which is located on the two ladder attachments, allows the trough to be adequately situated on the two ladder attachments.
US08556021B2
A hybrid vehicle in which an electric motor is disposed in the vicinity of a center of a vehicle body to reduce lateral expansion. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power of the engine and the motor to a rear wheel. The engine is suspended on the vehicle body in a non-swingable manner with a cylinder extending in a substantially horizontal direction and a crankshaft provided to be oriented in a vehicle width direction. The electric motor is located in front of and above the crankshaft of the engine.
US08556020B2
This object is attained by the combination of a motor-vehicle safety belt formed as a flexible longitudinally extending band and formed with a longitudinally extending and laterally substantially closed passage with an insert fittable into the passage and comprised of a flexible and elongated support strip and at least one electrical or electronic element usable by a motor-vehicle passenger employing the belt secured to the strip.
US08556016B2
A hybrid vehicle includes a rear floor panel, a cross beam, a rear seat, a battery pack and a fuel tank. The rear floor panel is formed with a raised portion located behind the rear seat. The cross beam is disposed in a region located below the raised portion. The battery pack is disposed between the rear seat and the rear floor panel. The fuel tank is disposed in the region located below the raised portion, and is composed of a body located behind the cross beam and a projecting portion projecting forward from upper side surfaces of the body to extend into the space located between a second rear cross member and the cross beam.
US08556015B2
A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may comprise a vehicle body frame; a dash panel having a first duct port in a substantially center portion widthwise; a hood located in front of the dash panel; a driving power source mounted to a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise and positioned behind the dash panel; a transmission joined to the driving power source; and a first air-intake duct provided in a substantially center portion of the vehicle body frame widthwise such that it extends in a substantially forward and rearward direction and passes through the first duct port. Further, an outlet provided at a downstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is coupled to the transmission; and an inlet provided at an upstream end portion of the first air-intake duct is positioned in an upper rear portion of the space above the first duct port.
US08556014B2
A skid steer machine includes an operator cage supported on a skid steer machine frame, a pair of lift arms pivotably attached to the skid steer machine frame behind the operator cage and extending longitudinally on both sides of the operator cage, and a rear mounted engine compartment supported on the skid steer machine frame. The rear mounted engine compartment includes an internal combustion engine, a diesel particulate filter fluidly connected to the internal combustion engine and positioned between the internal combustion engine and the operator cage, and a cooling package having a predominantly horizontal orientation. The cooling package is at a higher location within the rear mounted engine compartment than the diesel particulate filter.
US08556012B2
Disclosed herein is an in-wheel motor vehicle to increase design freedom of an electric motor mounted in a wheel, dynamic performance of the vehicle, and cooling performance of a brake device. The in-wheel motor vehicle includes a wheel rotatably mounted to a vehicle body, an electric motor mounted in the wheel to drive the wheel, an axle extending from the wheel to the vehicle body so as to be rotated together with the wheel, and a brake device mounted to the vehicle body at a position spaced apart from the wheel for braking of the axle.
US08555999B2
A power tool with first and second housing portions, a powertrain, a mounting hub and a lock bar. The powertrain has an output member that extends from the second housing portion and which is movable relative to an output member axis. The mounting hub is fixedly coupled to one of the first and second housing portions. The lock bar is movably mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions between a locked position and a first unlocked position. The lock bar cooperates with the mounting hub in the locked position to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions. Placement of the lock bar in the first unlocked position permits relative rotation between the first and second housing portions.
US08555998B2
A drill includes a housing and a motor coupled to an output member by a transmission. The transmission can selectively couple the output member to an output spindle through a low speed output gear or a high speed output gear for rotating the output spindle at a first speed or a second speed, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, a low speed mode can be provided by actuating an electronic switch that limits the speed of the motor. A rotatably fixed hammer member and a rotatable hammer member can be mounted around the output spindle. A mode collar can be rotatably mounted on the housing and around the output member for movement to positions that correspond to various mode of operation, including a low speed mode, a high speed mode, and a hammer-drilling mode. In the hammer-drilling mode, the transmission operates in the high speed mode.
US08555993B2
A multi-purpose dual blade tool with a hitch pin system that allows the operator to adjust the tool to serve as a sod cutter, scuffle hoe, or lightweight pick-ax which allows the operator to use the tool in an upright standing position. This tool is comprised of a base structure or assembly having points of attachment for a wheel or wheels, a cutting blade, an additional kick blade which mounts on a handle directly above the base structure or can be used independently as a lightweight pick ax, and a wooden handle with composite grip and multiple attachment holes.
US08555990B2
A fire-fighting pumper vehicle that includes a cab configured to transport a crew of firefighters, a water tank disposed to the rear of the cab, and a chassis configured to support the cab, the water tank, and one or more fire pump systems disposed on the chassis proximate to, and forward of, the rear wheels. In some embodiments, the fire pump system includes a power take-off pump, which is configured to operate a water only system or a compressed-air foam system from a gear case of the fire pump. The fire pump system includes nested components and is located and configured to occupy less space than conventional fire pump systems.
US08555982B2
A method includes the positioning of a rising column (22) in a vertical configuration and the total immersion of a buoy for retaining the rising column (22).The method includes the insertion of a male connecting member (62) borne by the buoy in a female connecting member (64) borne by the rising column (22) and the immobilization of the male connecting member (62) in a receiving passage (92) defined by the female connecting member (64).The female connecting member (64) includes at least one surface (98) for guiding the male connecting member (62) towards the receiving passage (92). The insertion step including the guiding of the male connecting member (62) towards the receiving passage (92) by contact with a guiding surface (98) of the female connecting member (64) which has a vertical section diverging away from the receiving passage (92) towards the male connecting member (62).
US08555967B2
Disclosed are spacer fluids and methods of use in subterranean formations. Embodiments may include use of consolidating spacer fluids in displacement of drilling fluids from a well bore annulus. Embodiments may include determining the boundary between a cement composition and a consolidating spacer fluid based on presence of tagging material in the well bore.
US08555959B2
A compression assembly (500) for actuating packing elements of a through tubing bridge plug in a casing string of a wellbore. The compression assembly (500) includes a support assembly (502) and an anti extrusion assembly (504). The support assembly (502) has a running configuration in which link arm assemblies are substantially longitudinally oriented and an operating configuration in which short arms (514) are pivoted relative to long arms (520) of link arm assemblies such that the short arms (514) form a support platform. The anti extrusion assembly (504) is operably associated with the support assembly (502). The anti extrusion assembly (504) has a running configuration in which petals (536) are substantially perpendicular to a base member (534) and nested relative to one another and an operating configuration in which the petals (536) are radially outwardly disposed substantially filling gaps between the short arms (514).
US08555940B2
A pneumatic tire having on-snow performance improved by increasing traction performance on snow-covered road with maintaining dry grip performance high, and comprising tread surface 2 having at least one circumferential main groove 3 in an outer region 2o facing outward of a vehicle, the circumferential main groove 3 being a straight groove wherein ridge lines 21 at which groove wall surfaces 20 intersect with the tread surface 2 extend straight, each groove wall surface 20 comprising a gently-inclined upper wall surface 20U extending from the ridge line 21 at an angle θ1 of 40 to 60° with respect to a normal line to tread surface 2 and a steeply-inclined lower wall surface 20L extending to groove bottom 22 at an angle θ2 smaller than the angle θ1, and the lower wall surface 20L including projections 23 which are disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction and have a triangular cross section with slope surface 23S extending from lower end Ue of the upper wall surface 20U to groove bottom 22 at an angle θ3 which is not greater than the angle θ1 but is greater than the angle θ2.
US08555939B2
A pneumatic tire 1 having excellent on-snow performances improved with maintaining steering stability and uneven wear resistance and including tread portion 2 having a pair of crown circumferential grooves 3 which extend continuously in the tire circumferential direction on both sides of tire equator C and have groove edges, one edge 3m extending in such a zigzag form that italic L-shaped groove edge segments 3s are continuously connected to each other in the circumferential direction, and the other edge 3n extending in such a wavy form that circular arc groove edge segments 3o each having a circular arc shape convex toward a groove center are continuously connected to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein each of the italic L-shaped groove edge segments 3s comprises long side part 3c inclined at an angle of 1 to 20° with respect to the circumferential direction, and short side part 3t having a circumferential length smaller than that of the long side part 3c and inclined in the opposite direction to the long side part 3c with respect to the circumferential direction.
US08555935B2
A system for filling a package of the collapsible type with a product in the form of a powder or liquid having a package, which has a chamber defined by flexible walls, and an arrangement for filling a package of the collapsible type with a product in the form of a powder or liquid.
US08555924B2
A vortex flow control device is manufactured by forming a template unit having end walls of which the wall has an outlet opening, and a partial outer wall. The partial outer wall has an opening. A plate is subsequently secured to the template unit to partially close the opening, to leave an inlet. The size of the plate is selected so as to result in an inlet 30 sized to achieve required flow characteristics for the finished device. The plate his inclined to a planar portion on the opposite side of the inlet at an angle in the range 85° to 95°, so as to induce turbulence in the region of the inlet.
US08555921B2
A component for a faucet includes a substrate including alumina and a first material provided over at least a portion of the substrate. The first material includes titanium and carbon. The component also includes a second material provided over the first material, the second material including carbon and having carbon sp3 bonding of at least 40 percent.
US08555920B2
A flow rate ratio variable type fluid supply apparatus includes a flow rate control system supplying gas of flow rate Q that is diverted to first flow diverting pipe passage and second flow diverting pipe passage with prescribed flow rates Q1/Q0 so gas is supplied to a chamber, and a first orifice having opening area S1 is installed on the first flow diverting passage, and the second flow diverting passage is connected to a plurality of branch pipe passages connected in parallel, orifices having opening area installed on the branch passages, and open/close valves installed on all, or some of, the branch passages so gas is diverted to flow diverting passages with flow rate ratio Q1/Q0 equivalent to the ratio of the first orifice and the total opening area S2o of flow passable orifices of the second flow diverting passage by regulating total opening area of the flow passable orifices.
US08555917B2
A motor operated valve diagnostic data acquisition system including: a motor operated valve assembly; a transmitter, the transmitter being permanently connected in a housing of a motor operated valve assembly; a receiver, the transmitter transmitting signals to the receiver via motor operated valve cables, the cables being existing motor operated valve cables; and electronic circuitry connected to the receiver, the electronic circuitry processing the signals received by the receiver.
US08555915B2
A Dual Action, Low Head Isolation Valve is a plumbing fitting that will isolate the interior pipes of a house from the exterior temperatures of summer and winter while allowing the passage of gasses through the system for venting. This valve would be installed at the top of the household plumbing drainage system, or the top vent, in the attic or above the roof. This valve will allow for the system to draw in air and exhaust the septic gasses, or respirate in both directions with very low head or resistance.
US08555914B2
A control program for a positive displacement metering system measures the time required for the travel of a free piston in a cylinder of known volume to determine an average flow rate during a full stroke of the piston. The system may also measure and record the inlet and outlet pressures or the differential pressure between the fluid inlet and outlet. The control program positions a four-way valve which may function as an adjustable metering orifice in response to the measured average flow rate and/or changes in the inlet and outlet pressures to achieve the desired flow rate. At the end of each stroke, the four-way valve is repositioned to reverse fluid flow through the metering cylinder. The system may revise the valve position settings for both forward and reverse strokes based on the measured time required for a full stroke at a certain valve position. In this way, the system automatically and iteratively compensates for changes in fluid properties and fluid pressure. A cleaning cycle which progressively opens the valve stepwise and may culminate in full open valve travel in both fluid flow directions is provided in the event of an obstruction of the valve orifice.
US08555906B2
A shade structure is provided, such as an umbrella, particularly a large free-standing umbrella, which can have a variable geometry. In some embodiments, the umbrella can comprise multiple sets of ribs supporting a canopy structure and having a mechanism associated with each set of ribs for influencing the angle or elevation of the rib sets.
US08555895B2
Methods of selectively reducing constituents in tobacco as well as the tobacco obtained by such methods are disclosed. Subcritical fluids, e.g., liquid carbon dioxide, serve as the reduction media.
US08555890B2
Described herein are exemplary embodiments of improved surgical positioners that not only help position a patient during surgery, but also help maintain the patient's body temperature during surgery. Some exemplary surgical positioning devices disclosed herein comprise a flexible shell defining a deflatable air-tight internal region partially filled with beads and an electrical warming fabric coupled to an internal surface of the shell that is adjacent to the patient. The warming fabric is configured to convert electrical current into heat for warming the patient during surgery.
US08555884B2
A system designed to increase diver safety in high-risk environments containing one or more hazardous materials. The system comprises one or more retrofittable kits enabling the upgrading of contaminate-vulnerable materials of an existing dive helmet to provide full environment isolation for the diver. The system preferably utilizes fluoroelastomeric replacement materials and components to convert an open circuit dive system to a closed circuit dive system. Methods of system development are also disclosed.
US08555878B2
A delivery device (20, 22) for and a method of delivering a substance to the nasal airway (1) of a subject, in particular the posterior region of the nasal airway, the delivery device comprising: a closure unit for causing the closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering a gas flow entraining a substance to one of the nostrils of the subject at such a driving pressure as to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of the other nostril of the subject, wherein the delivery unit comprises a nosepiece (30, 40, 58, 82, 102, 132) which includes an outlet through which the gas flow is in use delivered to the one nostril and a sealing member for sealing the one nostril to the outlet such as in use to prevent the escape of the gas flow through the one nostril.
US08555875B2
An inhalation device for administering one or more sedatives via pulmonary delivery for treating a sleep disturbance.
US08555873B2
A system and a method for studying or predicting the interaction between a lung and an aerosolized agent. The system comprises an aerosol generator (10) sealingly connected to an exposure arrangement adapted to provide a transport aerosol flow from an aerosol holding chamber of the aerosol generator (10) to a flow junction; and an exposure aerosol flow from the flow junction for distribution to an exposure organ with breathing capacity thereby a providing a residual aerosol flow transported away from the flow junction. The exposure arrangement further comprises a flow rate monitoring device located upstream the flow junction for monitoring the transport aerosol flow, a device for measuring the aerosol particle concentration located downstream the flow rate monitoring device, and optionally a flow control function for controlling the transport aerosol flow. Using the system for predicting the interaction between a lung and an aerosolized agent minimizes the loss of the agent.
US08555862B2
A system provides reliable tank ventilation, particularly in the case of supercharged internal combustion engines, while also assuring efficient operation of the internal combustion engine. A tank is connected with an adsorption filter by way of a first tank ventilation line. The adsorption filter is connected with the intake line of the internal combustion engine by way of a second tank ventilation line. A drive apparatus includes a turbine wheel and a pump wheel coupled with one another. The pump wheel is disposed in the second tank ventilation line. The turbine wheel is disposed in a bridging line branching off from the intake line and flowing into the intake line. The bridging line branches off from the intake line downstream from a compressor disposed in the intake line.
US08555852B2
In a gaseous-fuelled stoichiometric compression ignition internal combustion engine, a pilot fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber to help initiate a multi-point ignition. The engine provides performance improvements approaching those of high pressure direct injection engines but with less complexity because the gaseous fuel is introduced into the intake air subsystem at relatively low pressure and as a result of the stoichiometric combustion, the low oxygen content in the combustion products exiting the combustion chamber allows the use of a three-way catalyst instead of other after treatment arrangements normally associated with conventional compression ignition engines that require the addition of a reductant.
US08555851B2
A combustion engine is provided that includes at least one oil distribution mechanism for distributing lubrication oil to the engine.
US08555843B2
The present invention provides an engine start system in a vehicle. The engine start system includes an engine and a charge system. The vehicle also includes an engine speed sensor for measuring a speed of the engine. The charge system is coupled to the engine and includes a charge pump. The vehicle further includes a control unit and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of fluid in the charge system. The temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the control unit. A bypass system is fluidly coupled to the charge system and includes a valve and a solenoid. The solenoid is electrically coupled to the control unit such that the control unit energizes the solenoid to control the valve in response to the speed measured by the speed sensor and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
US08555841B2
A coupler plate for a multi-valve system of an internal combustion engine. The coupler plate includes an elongated planar body and through holes on opposite ends. The through holes may be either closed or open ended, and of sufficient size to insert valve stems of valves for an internal combustion engine valve system.
US08555824B2
A system includes a shipping container having air inlets at each end and an air outlet at a top and approximate center. The system includes two engines positioned one on each side of a center region, with two generators—each positioned between one of the engines and an end of the container. The center region includes a fuel tank and an air director. An air flow path on each side flows air in the air inlet, over the generator, over the engine, through an engine radiator, mixes the air with exhaust from the engine, and flows out the air outlet. The system maximizes an exhaust flow path length back to the air inlet to prevent exhaust gas recirculation. The system further configures the exhaust air to be heated and released at a higher location than the inlet to minimize potential exhaust gas recirculation.
US08555788B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a table comprising a tabletop and at least first and second legs, at least the first leg of which is a moving leg, said table further comprising a connecting strut connected to the tabletop via a first horizontal axis and to the first leg via a second horizontal axis, so that, starting from a first position in which its first end and its second end face respectively towards the tabletop and towards the floor, the first leg is suitable for being turned over by pivoting about the second axis of the connecting strut so as to take up a second position in which its first end and its second end face respectively towards the floor and towards the tabletop.
US08555781B1
The garbage processing recycler includes a series of top compartments aligned above a series of bottom compartments. A hydraulic cylinder is concentrically aligned with the top compartments to provide a compressor function attributed with opposing compressor plates that can descend into opposing top compartments to compress recyclable materials contained therein. After compression, a support base is removed and the recyclables are shredded upon passing through a screen via the same hydraulic cylinder and compressor plate, and thereafter the compressed and shredded recyclable material descends below to the respective bottom compartment.
US08555771B2
In methods and apparatuses, a weapon includes a trigger module for sensing trigger input from a shooter and generating a trigger signal, and a firing module for controlling firing of a projectile responsive to a fire control signal. The weapon also includes an image sensor configured for mounting on the weapon and sensing a series of images over a time period of interest while the trigger signal is in a motion-estimation state. A controller is configured for determining when to fire the weapon by receiving the images from the image sensor and generating a motion-estimation history over the time period of interest responsive to changes in the images. The controller is also configured for determining a centroid of the motion-estimation history and asserting the fire control signal when the trigger signal is in a fire-enable state and a current image is within an offset threshold from the centroid.
US08555769B2
An offset ballistic protection device protecting a wall provided with a hatch (200), wherein said device comprises at least a first grid (1) offset with respect to the wall and comprising a first series of bars (1a) parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis (400) of a hinge (300) of the hatch (200). This ballistic protection device (101) comprises a second grid (2) offset with respect to the hatch (200) and comprising a second series of bars (2a) substantially parallel to the first series of bars (1a), wherein the second grid (2) is positioned with respect to the first grid (1) so that the bars (2a) thereof are spatially offset in the plane of the second grid (2) with respect to the bars (1a) of the first grid (1), wherein the bars (2a) of the second grid (2) are therefore able to pass between the bars (1a) of the first grid (1) during pivoting of the leaf (200).
US08555763B2
A sectioning device including a frame having a cutter deck with an opening disposed therethrough; a removable insert having an opening disposed therethrough, the removable insert positioned above the opening of the cutter deck such that the opening of the removable insert and the opening of the cutter deck are concentrically aligned; a cutter removably positioned on the removable insert; a press assembly positioned on the frame for pushing an item against and through the cutter; and an activator moving at least one of the cutter and the press assembly between a neutral position and a sectioning position in a single continuous motion, the press assembly and the cutter configured such that the item is sectioned upon movement from the neutral position to the sectioning position.
US08555749B2
An apparatus including an extendable (e.g., telescoping) pole with a handle at a first end and a light-bulb gripping unit at a second end. The gripping unit may include an adhesive member including a series of removal, disposable adhesive sheets having a “tacky” surface for controlling a light bulb during removal and installation. Different gripping units are configured for different light bulb types.
US08555748B2
An electric motor and a vehicle drive device having the same are provided. The electric motor includes a core unit having plural core assemblies fixed to a case, an annular bus ring attached to the core unit, plural supporting members attached the plural core assemblies, respectively, an attachment member holding a first sensor and fixed to a portion of a terminal accommodating portion such that the first sensor is soaked in an oil stored in the case, and an attachment member holding a second sensor and fixed to a portion of a terminal accommodating portion such that the second sensor is positioned at a second position for measuring a temperature of the coils between adjacent terminal accommodating portions which are not soaked in the oil.
US08555747B2
A spur-gear mechanism, especially a bevel spur-gear mechanism, having one or more transmission stages is provided. The transmission stages are accommodated in a gear mechanism housing having two side surfaces and two base surfaces. Guided out of the gear mechanism housing is a drive shaft on which is fixedly secured, beyond a housing, an axial fan wheel. A spacer flange for connection to a motor spacer is formed on the gear mechanism housing. The spacer flange is provided with central openings in an extension of the base surfaces and with lateral openings in an extension of the side surfaces.
US08555746B2
A linkage arrangement is disclosed to provide an articulated machine with an arrangement that allows two frame structures to both articulate and oscillate relative to one another. The linkage arrangement includes a three point pivot arrangement with an angled link. Two of the pivots provide for articulation while two of the pivots provide for oscillation. The two pivots involved for oscillation are of lower overall height than the overall height for the two pivots providing the articulation, thereby reducing overall machine height while maintaining structural integrity.
US08555745B2
A structure for a tilt-telescopic steering device, without requiring particularly high accuracy effectively prevents a steering wheel from being positionally displaced in a secondary collision. When an adjustment lever 18a is turned, tilt-locking serrated sections 54 of a pair of tilt-locking eccentric cams 23a and 23b are pressed against curved edges 53 of support plates 40. Moreover, a telescoping locking serrated section 62 of a telescoping locking eccentric cam 58 is pressed against the lower surface of an inner column. In a secondary collision, each of the serrated sections 54 and 62 engage with a mating surface thereof, to thereby prevent a steering wheel 1 from being displaced and moved.
US08555741B2
The invention provides for a power steering apparatus comprising of a housing that extends along a longitudinal axis. A rack is disposed within the housing and supported for movement along the longitudinal axis by a bearing. A pinion supported by the housing is in meshing engagement with the rack. The bearing disposed around the rack includes a wall of a continuous varying radial thickness that circumferentially surrounds the rack. An adjustment device supported by the housing is connected to the bearing and rotatably adjusts the bearing relative to the longitudinal axis. The continuous varying radial thickness of the wall positions the rack as the bearing is rotated by the adjustment device relative to the pinion ensuring proper meshing engagement between the rack and the pinion.
US08555739B2
A shift control device in a saddle-ride-type vehicle includes a lost motion mechanism and a locking mechanism. The lost motion mechanism is disposed between a shift spindle and a shift drum and engages a shifter-side rotary member on a shift spindle side and a drum-side rotary member on a shift drum side, in a relatively rotatable manner while accumulating a force. The locking mechanism is engaged with the shifter-side rotary member and the drum-side rotary member, respectively, so as to restrict the rotation of the shifter-side rotary member and the rotation of the drum-side rotary member, individually.
US08555731B1
Self-contained tubular compressed-flow generation device for use in making differential measurements
A device used in making differential measurements of a flow includes an open-ended tubular flow obstruction and a support arm. The flow obstruction has an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall. The support arm has a first end coupled to an exterior wall of a conduit and a second end coupled to the flow obstruction. The support arm positions the flow obstruction in the conduit such that a first flow region is defined around the flow obstruction's outer annular wall and a second flow region is defined by the flow obstruction's inner annular wall. The support arm's first end and second end are separated from one another with respect to a length dimension of the conduit. Measurement ports provided in the flow obstruction are coupled to points at the exterior wall of the conduit by manifolds extending through the flow obstruction and support arm.
US08555726B2
The systems and methods described herein include an acoustic sensor having piezoelectric material housed in a cartridge and sealed with a solid nonporous stainless steel cover. The systems include additional elements to tune the performance of the acoustic sensor for measuring shockwaves on the surface of an aircraft, such as a helicopter. In particular, the system includes several vibration isolating elements including foam pads and O-rings disposed between the cartridge and the cover for isolating the piezoelectric material from aircraft vibration and turbulence. Additionally, the systems and methods include circuitry for converting analog electrical signals generated by the piezoelectric material, in response to acoustic signals, to digital electrical signals.
US08555725B2
A portable non-contact sensor system including a laser generator subsystem, a laser detector subsystem, an an analysis subsystem. The laser generator subsystem is configured to project a plurality of laser pulses at a surface of an object that is to be characterized. The laser detector subsystem is configured to receive return laser pulses from the object. The analysis subsystem is configured to analyze the received return pulses and characterize the object.
US08555724B2
A single element of an ultrasonic transducer includes at least one combination of an equivalent series capacitor C1, an equivalent series inductor L1, and an equivalent series resistance R1. The ultrasonic transducer further includes an equivalent parallel capacitor C0. An inductor L2 is connected in series between the ultrasonic transducer and the drive circuit. A first resonance frequency of the equivalent series capacitor C1 and the equivalent series inductor L1 is F0. A second resonance frequency determined by at least the equivalent parallel capacitor C0 and the inductor L2 is Fp. A drive circuit drives the ultrasonic transducer while switching the driving frequency of the ultrasonic transducer to one of the resonance frequency F0 and the resonance frequency Fp.
US08555717B2
An exemplary vibrating structure gyroscope includes a ring structure, an external frame and a flexible support including a pair of symmetrical compliant legs arranged to retain the ring structure within the external frame. A metal track is provided on an upper surface of the ring structure, the compliant legs and the external frame, over an insulating surface oxide layer. Each flexible support is arranged to carry a metal track associated with a single drive or pick-off transducer. The metal track is repeated for eight circuits, one circuit for each transducer. Each circuit of metal track associated with a transducer begins at a first bond-pad on the external frame, runs along a first compliant leg, across an eighth segment of the ring structure and back along the other compliant leg to a second bond-pad on the external frame.
US08555715B2
A method of sensing ground contact with a lower limb prosthetic or orthotic device is provided. A first translational displacement between a frame and a connector can be sensed and then processed to identify an axial load caused by heel-ground contact. Additionally, a second translational displacement between the frame and the connector can be sensed and then processed to identify a torsional load caused by toe-ground contact.
US08555704B2
Tracer gas leak detection is provided by a calibration system with a gas leak detector having a test port for receiving a sample containing a tracer gas and coupled to a vacuum pump; a calibrated leak for a calibration sample containing the tracer gas; a mass filter coupled to the test port for receiving the test sample in an operating mode, coupled to the calibrated leak through a calibrated leak valve for receiving the calibration sample in a calibration mode, having controllable transmission of the tracer gas and providing a filtered sample; detector detecting the tracer gas in the filtered sample; a programmable gain element providing a measured value of leak rate in response to the detector signal; and a controller configured, in response to a mode control signal, to operate the leak detector in the calibration mode over two or more working ranges using the calibrated leak.
US08555694B2
A bending apparatus for performing accurate non-destructive bending of material includes first and second jigs that are rotatable about a rotary shaft and that bend the material attached to the jigs as they rotate relative to each other. The first jig includes a bending section that is arranged offset from a rotary center to a rotating side of the material and that has a partially cylindrical surface with a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of an inner peripheral surface of the material. Each of the first and second jigs has a suppressing section for suppressing displacement of the material, and a bending center of the material is arranged such that the material is not displaced relative to the first and second jigs when the material is bent.
US08555692B2
The present invention provides an expansion die for manufacturing containers including a work surface including a progressively expanding portion and a land portion; and an undercut portion positioned following the land portion of the work surface. The present invention further provides a process for manufacturing shaped containers including providing a container stock having a first diameter; expanding at least a portion of the container stock to a second diameter with at least one expansion die; and forming an end of the container stock to accept a container lid.
US08555687B2
The present disclosure relates to a hot rolling apparatus for manufacturing a metal plate by hot-rolling-treating a metal material including copper. The apparatus includes: a rough rolling device for rolling-treating the metal material, which has been heating-treated, a plurality of times with a back-and-forth movement of the metal material, to mold the metal material into a metal plate; a heat retention/application treatment device for retaining heat of or applying heat to the metal plate molded by the rough rolling device at lower temperatures than in the heating treatment, without applying bending; a finish rolling device for further rolling-treating the metal plate that has been heat-treated by the heat retention/application treatment device; a cooling device for cooling the metal plate that has been rolling-treated by the finish rolling device; and a support table for movably supporting the metal plate from below before and after the rough rolling device while the metal material is moved back and forth by the rough rolling device. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the quality of the metal plate manufactured in the hot rolling apparatus, and also to improve the speed of the process required for rolling.
US08555684B1
An electronic lock contains a housing including a receiving room, an electronic control device, a connecting portion, a hole, a first touch portion and a second touch portion; a rotary knob including a grip, a shaft, a cross orifice; a C-shaped seat fixed in the receiving room and including an upper extension and a lower extension, the upper extension having a clutch unit, and the clutch unit having a first clutch element and a second clutch element, the first clutch element having a first clutching portion, and the second clutch element having a second clutching portion for retaining with the first clutching portion, the first clutch element having a peg, the lower extension having an aperture; a dual axis motor including two ends having a first pillar and a second pillar; a helical transmitting gear including a stem portion, a helical face, and a protrusion.
US08555674B2
A quartz glass crucible for silicon single crystal pulling operation that by a simple arrangement, attains prevention of any collapse onto the inside at a superior edge of straight trunk part; and a process for manufacturing the same. The quartz glass crucible for silicon single crystal pulling operation having a straight trunk part and a bottom part, is characterized in that at least the straight trunk part is provided with a gradient of fictive temperature so that the fictive temperature on the outermost side thereof is 25° C. or more lower than the fictive temperature on the innermost side thereof.
US08555670B2
A power consumption economizer for refrigerating machines of the chiller type, comprising, on a same line, a pump for a heat transfer fluid, an evaporator of an associated refrigeration system for refrigerating the heat transfer fluid, sensors for detecting the flow and temperature of the heat transfer fluid and flow-rate adjustment means being associated with the pumping means. The system comprises bypass elements adapted to exclude reversibly the evaporator from the line.
US08555666B1
Heating and cooling system that uses basement air as a thermal supply for efficient operation of a single-package heat pump, providing means to: (a) channel heat pump exhaust as to promote thermal transfer between said exhaust and the basement slab, using the slab as a geothermal source for sustained heat pump operation, and, (b) enable reconfiguration between heating and air-conditioning modes by modification of air ducting or air routing, with no alteration of the refrigerant cycle internal to the heat pump. The system also provides means allowing the heat pump function to be provided by a low-cost, mass-produced, window air conditioner. The window air conditioner technology leveraged by this invention has, in recent decades, become more efficient and reliable, with more convenient controls, but otherwise, has not substantially changed in form, function, or basic operating technology.
US08555656B2
A thermally conductive cup and holder for maintaining a temperature of a cold or hot beverage in the cup includes a thermally conductive cup or mug having an open or closed top, a closed bottom and an upper and lower portion between the top and bottom. The lower portion and bottom of the cup are made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum while the upper portion includes a ceramic layer or coating. The cup holder includes a heat conductive liner engaging the bottom and lower portion of the cup and an on/off switch and a polarity switch to select heat or refrigeration. A thermal electric device maintains a hot or cold beverage at a pre-selected temperature and is connected to a computer or other source of electric power.
US08555655B2
A turbomachine with at least one combustion chamber and at least one turbine which lies downstream of it. The turbine has at least one support element and a lining element connected to the support element and formed as a heat shield. A gap sealed by means of a seal, is formed between the at least one combustion chamber and the turbine, an exchangeable insert is arranged in the gap on the end face on the support element and protects at least the support element against hot gases which penetrate into the gap, and against oxidation which is associated with it.
US08555640B2
The present invention relates to a waste heat auxiliary power unit. In one embodiment, the present invention is a heat exchange unit for an automobile including a core unit configured to be connected to a catalytic converter of the automobile, the core unit generating vapor, and a first energy generation module connected to the core unit, the first energy generation module receiving the vapor from the core unit and generating energy from the vapor.
US08555638B2
An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of combustion cylinders, at least one turbocharger, an air supply line, an exhaust gas line and an exhaust gas recirculation system. An exhaust manifold of the exhaust gas line may have both non-direction specific and modular pulse exhaust manifold elements. If the internal combustion engine has dual cylinder banks, an exhaust gas balance tube may extend between exhaust gas lines of the cylinder banks and be fluidly connected to an exhaust manifold between the ends thereof.
US08555634B2
An electric booster in which a rotation of an electric motor is converted into linear motion and transmitted to an output member by a rotation-linear motion mechanism. The output member pushes a piston of a master cylinder to generate brake fluid pressure in a pressure chamber in the master cylinder. An ECU casing containing boards is coupled to the top of a motor casing constituting the electric motor. The ECU casing is offset in one direction in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing an axis of the master cylinder. A male connector is provided at a side surface of the ECU casing on the opposite side from the offset direction side, and a space between the male connector and an interference area of the ECU casing is utilized as a space for attachment/detachment of the male connector.
US08555628B2
A variable displacement pump including a drive shaft, a cam ring eccentrically moveable with respect to an axis of the drive shaft, and a solenoid drivingly controlled on the basis of variation in electric current amount to be supplied to the solenoid which is controlled in accordance with an operating condition of a vehicle. The solenoid is configured such that a rate of change in the specific discharge amount relative to the electric current amount to be supplied to the solenoid under a condition that the specific discharge amount is smaller is reduced as compared to a rate of change in the specific discharge amount relative to the electric current amount to be supplied to the solenoid under a condition that the specific discharge amount is larger.
US08555626B2
The present invention provides an exhaust cooler mounted to a tailpipe for receiving exhaust gas. The exhaust cooler includes a jet pump connectable to the tailpipe and a nozzle connectable to the tailpipe. The nozzle defines a nozzle opening between the tailpipe and the jet pump for communicating the exhaust gas from the tailpipe to the jet pump. A first throttle member is included that is moveable between a closed position and an open position, the open position defining a first opening between the tailpipe and the jet pump for communicating the exhaust gas from the tailpipe to the jet pump.
US08555620B2
An exhaust gas aftertreatment method may include a regenerating a diesel particulate filter normally, accumulating a time from a point that the diesel particulate filter starts to be regenerated, determining whether the diesel particulate filter enters into an abnormal regeneration condition or not according to a predetermined condition of an engine, and regenerating the diesel particulate filter according to the abnormal regeneration logic, if the accumulated time is within a predetermined time in a condition that the abnormal regeneration condition is satisfied and regenerating the diesel particulate filter according to the normal regeneration logic, if the accumulated time is out of the predetermined time. Accordingly, if the time elapses a predetermined time from a point that that the diesel particulate filter starts to be regenerated, although the vehicle enters into the idle condition or the over-run condition, the abnormal regeneration logic is not performed such that the fuel consumption is saved and the diesel particulate filter is safely regenerated.
US08555616B2
A system includes a sampling module, a correlation determination module, and an injector control module. The sampling module samples first and second signals that indicate an amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) upstream and downstream from a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, respectively. The second signal further indicates an amount of ammonia downstream from the SCR catalyst when ammonia is released from the SCR catalyst. The correlation determination module determines an amount of correlation between the first and second signals, wherein the amount of correlation indicates a probability that ammonia is released from the SCR catalyst. The injector control module controls an amount of reducing agent injected into the exhaust gas upstream from the SCR catalyst based on the amount of correlation.
US08555611B2
A combustion engine, which is highly efficient, noiseless and lightweight, includes a combustion chamber without pistons. The combusted and expanded air exiting the combustion chamber flows into a displacement pump, such as a gear pump or radial vane pump. The displacement pump drives the load, and, in addition, another smaller displacement pump, which pressurizes fresh air and introduces same, via a feedback loop, into the combustion chamber. Gas or other burnable fuels are introduced in the combustion chamber, so that a continuous fuel burning will occur, after being ignited. The ratio of bigger to the smaller pump is influenced by the percentage of expansion of the air in the combustion chamber. Additional features could be implemented for optimization of performance of the combustion chamber, such as: spring loaded adjustable baffles within the chamber to create desired compression, meandering walls and protrusions in the feedback loop, and heating the air in the smaller pump prior to entry into the feedback loop.
US08555603B1
A device with a base member with a tubular socket attached orthogonal to a first attachment beam and the first attachment beam has a generally rectangular cross section shape. An insert member of an attachment member is inserted in the tubular socket and a second attachment beam is attached orthogonal to the insert member for each beam to be positioned opposed and spaced apart to abut opposite sides of a pole when the socket is positioned on the top of a pole. The first and second attachment beams may have fastening loops attached for attaching cables diagonally between a loop at one of the lower ends of each attachment beam and a loop adjacent the socket or the insert member. Cable adjustment brackets with tightening bolts may be attached to the outside surface of each attachment beam for each cable end attachment for use to tension the cables.
US08555598B2
A method of making thermal insulation includes, forming a thermal insulation product precursor having randomly distributed inorganic fibers and about 5-500 wt. % heat-expandable hollow microspheres in dry or slurry form and having a polymeric shell and having disposed therein a blowing agent or gas, and calcium acetate or cupric carbonate, or a combination of calcium acetate and cupric carbonate, and heating the precursor to expand the microspheres.
US08555593B2
This invention relates to a fire protection of structural columns and beams but more particularly to a fire protection system of wide flange steel columns and beams by means of a plurality of gypsum boards be secured to a full length slip-on encasement frames attached to a wide flange column or beams.
US08555581B2
A finishing arrangement for an exterior wall of a building includes a weather or water barrier against at least the exterior of the wall; an outer hardboard panel; an insulating foam panel between the weather or water barrier and the outer hardboard panel, the insulating foam panel attached to the outer hardboard panel and having drainage channels therein; and a drainage guide that extends from the weather or water barrier to at least the outer hardboard panel, for guiding moisture away from the wall.
US08555576B2
A profile system for fastening of facade elements on a building frame, a building frame including the a profile system and a multi-storey building. The profile system includes a profile of a first kind and a profile of a second kind. The facade elements are arranged in the profile of the first kind and are squeezed in place with the profile of the second kind. The profile of the second kind has a groove that is wider than the thickness of the facade element, so that the facade element can be moved in the groove in the profile of the second kind.
US08555575B2
For use in a building having a roof and a wall each formed of hollow logs, wherein the wall has an uppermost horizontal log, a device is provided for connecting the roof to the wall. The device has a connector for connection to an end of a roof log, a saddle for mounting on the wall log and spreading the roof load over a wide area of the wall log, and a plate for securing the connector to the saddle.
US08555570B2
A concealed fastener is formed in situ during attachment of a first grooved sheathing member to an underlying support member. The concealed fastener rigidly attaches the first sheathing member, and permits subsequent installation of an adjoining sheathing member while providing for proper spacing between adjacent sheathing members.
US08555566B2
A fire-rated receiver channel includes at least one intumescent or other fire-resistant material strip. The receiver channel can nest with a framing member, such as metal tracks, headers, header tracks, sill plates, bottom tracks, metal studs, wood studs or wall partitions, and placed at a perimeter of a wall assembly to create a fire block arrangement. In other arrangements, a track assembly includes two nested tracks, an inner track and outer track. The assembly is designed so that the outside width of the outer track is equal to or less than the outside width of the inner track to present a substantially flush external surface for attachment of exterior sheathing elements when the assembly is used in an external wall.
US08555562B2
A window well cover jack is disclosed. The window well cover jack has three arms: a base arm, a support arm and an actuator handle, all connected to aid in the lifting of a window well cover and to allow egress. In one embodiment, the jack is lockable in a stowed position. It is also possible to add a spring assist to aid in the lifting of a window well cover. Ideally, the window well cover jack is also lockable in a deployed position to aid in holding an ajar window well cover so as to facilitate escape. A simple link, which is easily broken by emergency crews with the proper tools but secure against intruders without said tools, connects the window well cover jack to a window well cover.
US08555561B2
A headstone support system includes a pole having a first auger attached to the pole proximate a first end thereof, the first auger configured to drill through soil upon rotation of the pole, and a headstone support attached to a second end of the pole.
US08555560B2
A soffit enclosure for building roofs and the like of the type having at least one eave with a soffit thereunder. A first mounting member is attached to an adjacent exterior wall of the building and a second mounting member is disposed on a roof fascia of the building. The first and second mounting members support a plurality of soffit panels thereon. A decorative corbel member has a generally flat upper mounting portion with opposite end edges, a decorative lower portion shaped to enhance the appearance of the eave of the building, and first and second rigid hanger tabs disposed above and generally parallel with the mounting portion. The hanger tabs project longitudinally from the opposite end edges of the upper mounting portion and are configured for sequentially inserting into the first and second mounting members. The corbel member overlies adjacent soffit panel to conceal a joint disposed therebetween.
US08555553B2
A suicide prevention door kit has a movable upper segment having a top surface and a mechanism. The movable upper segment is supported by the mechanism. The mechanism is configured to transition between a loaded state and a triggered state. The top surface is approximately horizontal in the loaded state and sloped in the triggered state. The suicide prevention door kit further comprises a switch in communication with the mechanism. The switch is configured to cause the mechanism to transition from the loaded state to the triggered state.
US08555549B2
A window regulator cable tensioner includes a screw and nut assembly having an irreversible thread lead angle, a first spring to absorb reversible slack in the cable, and a second spring to actuate movement of the screw and nut assembly. The stiffness of the first spring is greater than the stiffness of the second spring. The cable tensioner absorbs the reversible slack in the cable differently from irreversible slack in the cable.
US08555546B2
A modular planting system for roof applications includes a plurality of green roof planter modules each comprising a planter including a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with the bottom wall to form an interior space, and a biodegradable insert including a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with the bottom wall to form an interior space, wherein the insert is adapted to retain a plant matter in the interior space of the insert, the plurality of sidewalls of the insert extend above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter, and wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the insert are adapted to retain a plant matter that extends above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter.
US08555544B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a visual attenuation composition is provided to be applicable to a landscape to visually attenuate or camouflage the landscape to approximate color characteristics of the surrounding terrain. The visual attenuation composition includes a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof, and optionally an additive selected from the group consisting of a flocculent, a tackifier, a stabilizer, and combinations thereof. The visual attenuation composition can be formulated to impart colorfastness as applied for a period of up to 6 weeks or longer. The visual attenuation composition described herein can be premixed with an erosion control medium or a blended mulch product described herein to impart desirable color and colorfastness. Alternatively, the erosion control medium and the blended mulch product can be applied to a ground surface prior to coloring and or color reinforcement with the visual attenuation composition.
US08555543B2
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus for killing a soft tissue organism in a salt water environment. The apparatus includes an elongate tubular housing, a probe and a conductive element. The elongate tubular housing reaches from outside a salt water environment to at least a portion of a soft tissue organism disposed within the salt water environment. The elongate tubular housing includes a proximal end and a distal end. The probe targets the soft tissue organism, The probe protrudes from the distal end of the housing, wherein the probe is exposed to the salt water environment when the distal end is submerged therein. The conductive element is rigidly supported by the housing between the distal end and the proximal end. The conductive element is exposed to the salt water environment when the housing distal end is submerged therein. The probe and the conductive element being operatively coupled to a source of electric current, such that the salt water environment provides a circuit coupling between the probe and the conductive element for killing the soft tissue organism.
US08555539B2
In a trigger system (100) comprising a hammer (110) for firing a cartridge, a striker (120) adapted to accelerate the hammer (110), and a sear (130) for releasably locking the striker (120), which sear (130) can be unlocked by means of a release device (140) capable of being actuated by means of a trigger bar (160) that can be moved by a trigger (150), wherein a front surface (121) of the striker rests against an end face (111) of the hammer for the purpose of accelerating the hammer (110) to initiate firing, protection of the cocked hammer (110) from external mechanical influences is made possible by mounting the hammer (110), the striker (120), the release device (140), and also a main spring (170) adapted to accelerate the striker (120) for rotation about a common principal axis (180).
US08555529B2
The invention relates to a shoe having a sole element. The sole element includes a sole area extending below a wearer's foot and a heel cup three-dimensionally encompassing a heel of the wearer's foot. The heel cup alone forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the shoe.
US08555520B2
A covered sample plate with wells holding samples to be dried. The cover has through holes that communicate with only a portion of each well. The covered plate is inserted into a cradle of an assembly of cradles that is rotated. The cradle assembly fits into a tub and when rotated the cradles present a sold wall that functions as a centrifugal fan that drives air out through an opening in the tub. The air is dried of solvent and re-circulated back through the through holes in the cover to the sample wells.
US08555517B2
A hand saw that includes a frame, a lever, and a rod movable in a first direction to increase a distance between a first blade support and a second blade support and the rod is movable in a second direction to decrease the distance between the first blade support and the second blade support. The rod is coupled to the lever and the frame such that the rod is movable in the first direction and with the lever when the lever moves from a release position toward a tension position in order to tension the blade. The rod is coupled to the lever and the frame such that the rod is movable with respect to the frame in the first direction and the second direction and movable in the first direction and the second direction independent of the lever when the lever is in the release position.
US08555511B2
A lubricated hair clipper drive system includes a clipper frame with a pair of opposed arms separated by a drive space, a drive shaft reciprocating laterally between the arms at high speed, a drive member receiving motive power from a power source and secured to the shaft for common reciprocation within the drive space, and a lubricant reservoir and applicator disposed on the shaft between the drive member and a corresponding one of the arms.
US08555510B2
The invention relates to an electrically driven razor and an associated charging station, wherein at least one drivable cutting or shearing part is supported on a shearing head disposed on the razor housing and wherein at least one active thermocouple that can be electrically actuated is thermally coupled to a passive cooling element on the side that can be cooled relative to the ambient temperature. The passive cooing element in this arrangement is disposed having at least one free end section on or in the region of the shearing head, such that it contacts the skin of a user in shaving mode.
US08555498B2
A method for hermetically sealing electronic circuitry within a housing of an implantable medical device is provided. The method comprises assembling the housing having an interior cavity, joining a feed-through assembly to the housing, and joining a back-fill member to the feed-through housing. The back fill member has an opening there through communicating with the interior cavity of the housing. The housing is back-filled with an inert gas through the opening in the back-fill member, and the interior cavity is hermetically sealed by closing the opening through the back-fill member with a sealing element. The sealing element and back-fill member are formed of different first and second materials, respectively.
US08555495B2
A method for packaging integrated circuit chips (die) is described that includes providing a base substrate with package level contacts, coating a base substrate with adhesive, placing dies on the adhesive, electrically connecting the die to the package level contacts, and removing the backside of the base substrate to expose the backside of the package level contacts. Accordingly, an essentially true chip scale package is formed. Multi-chip modules are formed by filling gaps between the chips with an encapsulant. In an embodiment, chips are interconnected by electrical connections between package level contacts in the base substrate. In an embodiment, substrates each having chips are adhered back-to-back with through vias formed in aligned saw streets to interconnect the back-to-back chip assembly.
US08555494B2
Disclosed are a coreless substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The coreless substrate includes a solder resist layer capable of being formed on each of on a first side and a second side of a metal panel. The solder resist layer includes at least one opening. A copper layer may be plated in the at least one opening such that a height of the copper layer exceeds a height of the solder resist layer. Further, at least one dielectric layer is deposited above the copper layer, and at least one microvia drilled in the dielectric layer. The at least one microvia enables an electrical connection between at least one of the first side and the second side of the metal panel and a lower surface of the coreless substrate.
US08555487B2
Provided are an imaging device production system, an imaging device inspection system, and an imaging device inspection method. The imaging device production system includes a assembling process for assembling each components constituting an imaging device, an inspection process in which the imaging device assembled in he assembling process is continuously transferred without being stopped except for emergency when two inspection tasks adjacent to and different from each other are performed, and a packaging for packaging the imaging device which passes through the inspection tasks to confirm quality of the imaging device.
US08555481B2
According to a preferred embodiment, a multi-piece fastener with self-indexing nut is disclosed. The multi-piece fastener is designed for use in low clearance areas such as aircraft wing side-of-body joint locations. The multi-piece fastener comprises a stud comprising an elongated part extending between a first end face and a second end face, a threaded head fastener, a threaded tail fastener, and a wrenching feature. A self-indexing feature is provided on the stud and head fastener which allows automatic orientation of the head fastener with respect to the stud.
US08555480B2
A coupling formed of a tubular body defining an internal channel. The body is formed of a first part for connecting the channel to a circuit element and a second part defining a housing for a pipe end, the first and second parts including mutually engaged end portions, wherein the housing extends into the end portion of the second part and the end portions include facing openings for receiving a clip element for securing the parts to each other. The opening of the second part opens into the housing and the clip element has a locking portion that is elastically deformable from a retaining state to a free state for extracting the clip element. The clip element projects into the housing such that the pipe end prevents the locking portion from deforming to its free state and being extracted.
US08555476B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for depositing a metal coil (200) on two support points (110-1; 110-2). In order to avoid risks, in particular instability, while depositing metal coils having high residual stress, according to the invention the risk of an unstable position of equilibrium is checked, if a change in the relative position of the two support points (110-1; 110-2) with respect to one another is foreseeable, it is carried out such that the metal coil (200) comes to rest on both support points at least approximately in a stable position of equilibrium.
US08555474B2
A method of manufacturing a capacitor includes: anodizing a metal substrate in two stages by applying two different voltage so as to make first and second holes having different pitches, distributed randomly in an oxide substance; filling the first and second holes with an electrode material, respectively, to form first and second electrodes; connecting the first electrodes to a conductive layer formed on one surface of the oxide substance; and connecting the second electrodes to another conductive layer formed on another surface of the oxide substance.
US08555468B2
A magnet fastener includes a carrier connectable to a first component and a magnet for attachment to a second, metal component. The carrier includes structures for holding a magnet assembly including the magnet in a manner that reduces rattle caused by vibration but provides flex so the magnet can articulate and adjust to a surface of the metal component.
US08555448B2
This relates generally to devices used in the removal of excess spray-applied insulation from building components, and more particularly to an improved roller for rotary scrubbers used in the removal of such excess insulation. A rotary scrubber generally comprises a hand-held device having a roller assembly rotatably associated with a forward end of an arm or a pair of arms of the device. The roller assembly, comprised of one or more rollers and adapted for driven, rotatable association with the scrubber, is driven to rotate by a motor and one or more associated drive belts located on the device. The improved roller comprises a cylindrical body having an at least an outer surface defining a plurality of longitudinal ribs, with each rib defining at least one longitudinal edge to enhance the removal of excess spray-applied insulation. The ribs may be machined or cut into the outer surface of each roller, or the ribs may be formed by a molding or extrusion process. The cylindrical body, to include the ribs, is preferably comprised of a polyurethane material having a hardness that resists wear incurred by the roller when contacting framing members during scrubbing operations. Each rib may have a triangular cross-section, a cross-section defining at least two right angles, or a cross-section defining a blade, to define the at least one longitudinal edge.
US08555439B2
A padded head support for use during surgery includes a head wrap and a chin wrap. The head wrap includes a headrest pad adapted to cover the back of a patient's head and a forehead band having a first portion and a second portion extending from the headrest pad to form a first closed loop around a patient's head. The chin wrap includes a chin pad adapted to cover the bottom of a patient's chin and a chin band having a first portion and a second portion extending from the chin pad to form a second closed loop around a patient's head.
US08555433B2
A device for the assisted loading of a stretcher (2) provided with a chassis (3), comprises at least one driving wheel (4) circumferentially connected to a driving member (5) fed by connectivity member (6) and controlled by controller (7) to activate the at least one driving wheel (4) at least during the loading of the stretcher into the ambulance.
US08555431B2
A linear actuator device for pieces of furniture, e.g. beds, is described which include an adjustable section (2, 3) pivotally embedded in a frame (1). The section (2, 3) is raised and lowered by at least one rod (23, 24) mounted on a pivot shaft (4, 6). The actuator comprises a housing (8) with a bushing (10) receiving the pivot shaft (4, 6), and a spindle (14) driven by a low-voltage DC motor (11). The spindle (14) carries a spindle nut (12) fixed against rotation which in one direction of motion operates an arm (5, 7) mounted on the pivot shaft (4, 6) for adjusting the section within the piece of furniture. By designing the arm (5, 7) such that, when it engages the spindle nut (12), it will rest against an area (17) of the nut's end which faces farthest away from the shaft, an expedient moment curve for pivoting the section is obtained, as a large moment occurs at the beginning and the end of the section's movement just when needed. In the initial horizontal position of the section, a large moment is needed, and so is in the end position, when for instance a mattress is folded which requires a large moment. The area, which the end of the arm (5, 7) rests against is expediently equipped with a roller (17) which reduces friction and wear on the spindle nut.
US08555423B2
Goggles, protective wear, and methods attaching and detaching a goggle are disclosed. In a described example, protective wear includes a goggle and a helmet. The goggle include first and second strap attachments coupled to a strap. The first strap attachment is pivotally connected to a goggle assembly and the second strap attachment has a post. The helmet includes an anchor positioned in an opening in the helmet and is oriented to position an anchor channel to be in line with a recess formed on an exterior of the helmet. The anchor is configured to receive the post and pivotally secure the post therein to attach the goggle to the helmet. The anchor is further configured to release the post responsive to the second strap attachment pulled in a direction substantially parallel with the anchor channel of the anchor.
US08555422B2
A male undergarment, including at least one enclosing panel, a cover panel, disposed substantially at the front of the undergarment, and a separation panel disposed interiorly of the cover panel, wherein the cover panel has a portion thereof selectively attachable to a portion of the undergarment, and a portion thereof coupled to the at least one enclosing panel, and the separation panel has an opening defined therein.
US08555418B2
A combination hat/face covering which comprises a hat for covering the entire head and an attachment for covering parts of the face.
US08555417B2
A sleeping cap for lifting the face of a person away from a sleeping surface to prevent facial wrinkles comprises a U-shaped basic form covered with a fabric and having first and second extensions, each of the extensions being flexibly positioned within the fabric adjacent to each leg end of the U-shaped basic form, and the fabric covering the end of first extension is attached to the fabric at the end of the second extension to form the sleeping cap. Straps from each side of the sleeping cap secure the cap on the person's head. An alternate embodiment provides an elastic encased in the sleeping cap not having straps, and including a one piece foam rubber basic form enclosed within two stitched pieces of fabric, a lace ring with a ribbon at the top edge of the lace ring, and the lace ring is tacked to a portion of the basic form, to form a gathered top of the sleeping cap.
US08561200B2
A system for controlling access of a mobile terminal to a communication network including a set of terminals, wherein said mobile terminal obtains access to the network as a result of a successful authentication procedure. The system includes an authenticator module for performing the authentication procedure of the mobile terminal and a communication mechanism configured for making the successful outcome of the authentication procedure known to the terminals in the set. The mobile terminal is thus permitted to access the network via any of the terminals in the set based on the authentication procedure.
US08561196B1
A method, system and apparatus for assembling and publishing frequent malware signature definition updates through the use of additive or “streaming” definition packages is provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide such functionality by publishing not only full malware signature definition updates on a long periodicity but also streaming malware signature definition updates containing newly certified signature definitions on a short periodicity. As newly-certified malware signature definitions are received, those newly-certified signature definitions are incorporated not only in the full signature definition file but also in a streaming signature definition update that contains only newly-certified signature definitions received during a streaming update period. At the end of the streaming update period, a streaming signature definition file is made available by publication to anti-malware clients. A streaming signature definition file only contains those signature definitions received during the assembly period for that streaming definition file.
US08561193B1
A computer-implemented method for analyzing malware may include: 1) identifying a set of malware samples, 2) identifying, for each malware sample in the set of malware samples, a set of static strings present in the malware sample, and then 3) clustering the set of malware samples based on the set of static strings present in each malware sample. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08561189B2
A method for providing security to a network having a data stream with a plurality of portions of data, each having differing levels of sensitivity. The data stream is interrogated to determine the presence of predetermined characteristics associated with at least one of the portions of data within the data stream. At least one of the portions of data is then characterized, based upon the portion of data exhibiting a predetermined combination of characteristics, wherein the predetermined combination of characteristics is related to the sensitivity of the portion of data. The portions of the data stream are then distributed into a plurality of different channels, each of the channels associated with different level of sensitivity.
US08561188B1
Detection and prevention of botnet behavior is accomplished by monitoring access request in a network. Each request includes a domain of content to access and a path of content to access, and each path includes a file name and query string. Once obtained, the query strings for each of these requests are normalized. A signature is then created for each of the normalized query strings. The obtained requests can then be grouped by signature. Once the requests have been grouped by signature, each grouping is examined to identify suspicious signatures based on common botnet behavior. Suspicious requests are used in back-end and front-end defenses against botnets.
US08561185B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for privacy protection. In one aspect, a method includes accessing personally identifiable information (PII) type definitions that characterize PII types; identifying PII type information included in content of a web page, the PII type information being information matching at least one PII type definition; identifying secondary information included in the content of the web page, the secondary information being information that is predefined as being associated with PII type information; determining a risk score from the PII type information and the secondary information; and classifying the web page as a personal information exposure risk if the risk score meets a confidentiality threshold, wherein the personal information exposure risk is indicative of the web page including personally identifiable information.
US08561184B1
Embodiments disclosed herein seamlessly integrate several components into a comprehensive collusion detection and traffic quality prediction system, including a strong modeling module for processing historical click data and transforming potential collusions hidden therein into solvable graph partitioning (network) and/or vector space clustering (pattern) models, a scalable and robust toolkit comprising a plurality of graph partitioning and clustering heuristics for analyzing and generating high density subgraphs and high dimensional clusters or groups, and a post processing module for extracting entities from the subgraphs and clusters and placing them on global block lists. Entities thus listed can be blocked from client networks in real time. As such, high traffic quality can be predicted. A job scheduler may schedule individual jobs from the modeling module based on the number of available resources in a distributed computing environment to minimize completion time while balancing load.
US08561172B2
A client includes a card selector, and receives a security policy from a relying party. If the client does not have an information card that can satisfy the security policy, the client can define a virtual information card, either from the security policy or by augmenting an existing information card. The client can also use a local security policy that controls how and when a virtual information card is defined. The virtual information card can then be used to generate a security token to satisfy the security policy.
US08561161B2
A method is presented in which federated domains interact within a federated environment. Domains within a federation can initiate federated single-sign-on operations for a user at other federated domains. A point-of-contact server within a domain relies upon a trust proxy within the domain to manage trust relationships between the domain and the federation. Trust proxies interpret assertions from other federated domains as necessary. Trust proxies may have a trust relationship with one or more trust brokers, and a trust proxy may rely upon a trust broker for assistance in interpreting assertions.
US08561157B2
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are provided. Embodiments of the invention include receiving notification of a log-in event associated with a first login session wherein a user is authorized to access a resource of a computing system based on a credential. During the first login session and in response to determining the credential is valid, a second login session is established by granting the user access to a resource of an application associated with the computing system. During the first login session and in response to receiving information indicating an event has occurred, the second login session is terminated such that the user does not have access to the resource of the application. And during the first login session and in response to determining again that the credential is valid, a third login session is established by granting the user access to a resource of the application.
US08561151B2
A mobile entitlements manager implemented on a mobile device stores the software entitlements belonging to a user of the mobile device. The mobile device communicates with client computers on which the user wishes to run software applications. Messages are exchanged between the client and the mobile device to enable activation, continued running, and to deactivate client applications in accordance with the entitlements available to the user. The mobile entitlements manager updates its entitlement information by communicating with a remote entitlements server, and informs the entitlement server of the status of programs running on clients in communication with the device. The entitlements manager handles entitlements for multiple applications and for multiple licensed entities, such as individual users, sites, client computers, or organizations.
US08561149B2
A method of managing communications services begins with a communications platform receiving a request for a communications service to be provided to a communications device by a source other than the communications platform. The communications platform determines an authorization of the communications device to receive the communications service. The authorization comprises a permission of the communications device to receive the communications service during a lifetime of a communications session maintained with the communications device. The communications network authorizes delivery of the communications service to the communications device during the lifetime of the communications session, in accordance with the authorization.
US08561147B2
The present invention is to ensure security of a local network, e.g., a home network from remote access while allowing remote access. In a method of the present invention, if a device on the local network is to be accessed remotely, user identifying information (and/or device identifying information) and connection information of a target device, that are accompanied by the access, are compared with information of registered allowance entries and whether to allow the access is determined based on the comparison result. According to the method, remote access to a device invoked by a user (and/or a remote device) whose remote access is not set to allowance is blocked while remote access invoked by a user (and/or a remote device) whose remote access is set to allowance is admitted.
US08561145B2
A service providing method using profile information and a system thereof is provided. According to the invention, in order to provide profile information for serving a user to a service provider at a place other than a home, a user device, an external device, an authentication server and a profile server are provided and interconnected through a network such as the Internet. Accordingly, the service provider can provide the best services to users, and users can be provided with services that are the same as those provided at home.
US08561140B2
A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.
US08561137B2
Techniques for identity authentication of Virtual Machines (VM's) are provided. A VM is authenticated and once authenticated, each device interfaced to or accessible to the VM is also authenticated. When both the VM and each device are authenticated, the VM is granted access to a machine for installation thereon.
US08561133B1
A method and system for preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity. Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded. The pre-processed dataset can be stored in a filtered database on a physical storage device at a storage location coupled to the networked privacy system.
US08561131B1
A computing device configured for allocating products to licenses is described. The computing device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device obtains license data that identifies a plurality of licenses. The computing device also obtains product data that identifies a plurality of products. The computing device determines a degree of constraint for each of the plurality of products. The computing device also allocates at least one of the plurality of products to at least one of the plurality of licenses based on the degree of constraint. The computing device further performs an operation based on the allocation.
US08561128B2
A document management system configured to manage an access to a file includes a selection unit configured to select a virtual security policy for setting on the file, which is previously provided for each device, an acquisition unit configured to acquire access authority information for defining an authority for accessing the file based on the virtual security policy selected by the selection unit and authentication information about a user who has set the virtual security policy, a conversion unit configured to convert the virtual security policy into a real security policy that can be commonly interpreted by the document management system based on the access authority information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a management unit configured to set the real security policy converted by the conversion unit on the file to manage an access to the file.
US08561118B2
A system for implementing a content-centered chat room operates to display messages received from one or more invitees of a subscriber on the subscriber's TV as program content is displayed on the subscriber's TV. The subscriber and the invitees all watch television, either a common TV program or different TV programs. Participants may be located in the same or in several different locations, and if the invitee-participants are also subscribers, the chat room may also appear on their TV screens. A subscriber invites friends to participate in the chat session for a specific TV program using the set top box (STB) of his television to send invitations, and a dedicated subscriber server coordinates notification of the invitees and directs their message-comments to a chat session displayed with the program content. In one embodiment, participants or the participants who are not also subscribers of the TVChat service or whose televisions are otherwise not chat-enabled, may receive other participants' chat messages by mobile phone.
US08561116B2
Methods and apparatus for selectively caching (and de-caching) video content in network so as to reduce content transformation requirements and also cache storage requirements. In one embodiment, a content caching controller associated with a content server differentiates content requests based on content attributes such as the requested codec format (e.g., MPEG or Windows Media), resolution, bitrate, and/or encryption type or security environment. If the content requested by a user is not available with the requested attribute(s), the content server transfers to content to the user by first transforming it. The content server also speculatively caches the transformed content locally, so that a future request for the same content with the same attributes can be filled by transferring without the intermediate transformation step. The controller allows the network operator to optimize use of available storage and transcoding resources.
US08561110B2
In certain embodiments, a digital television receiver method for receiving non-real time (NRT) program content involves receiving a transport stream containing an Internet Protocol (IP) stream of packets containing non-real time program content, NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT program content, NRT service metadata, and NRT content metadata; an NRT metadata parser that produces NRT service metadata and NRT content metadata; and where the NRT service metadata contains an indication whether or not a particular NRT service is to be offered on a subscription basis. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08561100B2
An embodiment defines access control allowing the expression of access control rules using ontology based semantics and references an ontology subset using XPath as the ontological expression. The access control rules or access criteria are defined by an access control statement and may be expressed using classification criteria and ontology classes. The access control statement comprises a structural description that is used to define an asset and a logical expression that may be used to express the classification criteria. The access control statement defines access policy for various assets.
US08561097B2
Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for confirming that a viewer viewed multimedia content on a client device. A multimedia content owner uploads multimedia content on a server. The client device receives the multimedia content from the server and plays the multimedia content on a display screen of the client device. A random challenge is presented to the viewer by overlaying the random challenge on the multimedia content. A response for the presented random challenge is invoked from the viewer. A correct or partially correct response from the viewer confirms that the multimedia content has been viewed by the viewer. A response report is generated based on the response from the viewer. The viewer is credited with an item of value and the multimedia content owner is debited a fee, if the response report confirms the multimedia content was viewed by the viewer.
US08561094B2
A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings. The cable provider anonymizes and encrypts the information for all households as the cable provider does not know which households are sampled households.
US08561089B2
A method, system and computer program product for flexible service configuration. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a procedure request to perform a procedure at a target server, detecting by the target server at least one deficient parameter in the procedure request, suspending processing of the procedure request, sending a request by the target server for additional information from a middleware system to correct the at least one deficient parameter in the procedure request, and resuming the procedure request upon receiving the additional information.
US08561085B2
A system includes a queuing module coupled to a first database and a delivery module coupled to a second database and the queuing module. The queuing module is operable to receive a plurality of communications from a plurality of applications and store the plurality of communications in the first database. The delivery module is operable to receive the stored plurality of communications from the queuing module, access end-user subscription information stored in the second database, determine, based on the end-user subscription information, one or more devices to receive the plurality of communications, and deliver the plurality of communications to the determined one or more devices on behalf of the plurality of applications. The end-user subscription information indicates one or more devices to receive the plurality of communications.
US08561081B1
A system provides dynamic brokering of digital content requests. The system includes a conditional scheduler configured for appropriating location data and metadata, both pertaining to the digital content, via a communicative coupling with a content management system. The conditional scheduler produces schedule data and delivery rules pertaining to the digital content. The system further includes a plurality of content broker servers. The content broker server receives content data, such as content location data, the schedule data and the delivery rules, from the conditional scheduler. The content broker server receives a digital content request from a client player. The content broker server dynamically assembles a set of content retrieval instructions based upon the content data when a digital content request is received from the client player.
US08561078B2
The invention provides hardware based techniques for switching processing tasks of software programs for execution on a multi-core processor. Invented techniques involve a hardware logic based controller for assigning, adaptive to program processing loads, tasks for processing by cores of a multi-core fabric as well as configuring a set of multiplexers to appropriately interconnect cores of the fabric and program task specific segments at fabric memories, to arrange efficient inter-task communication as well as transferring of activating and de-activating task memory images among the multi-core fabric. The invention thereby provides an efficient, hardware-automated runtime operating system for multi-core processors, minimizing any need to use processing capacity of the cores for traditional operating system software functions. Additionally, such low overhead hardware based operating system for multi-core processors provides significant cost-efficiency and performance advantages, including data processing throughput maximization across all programs dynamically sharing a given multi-core processor, and hardware based security.
US08561076B1
Coordinating media requests from a plurality of sources that share a shared media resource is disclosed. One or more media requests requiring action by the shared media resource is received from one or more of the plurality of sources. Each received media request is placed in a queue of requests requiring action by the shared media resource. Media requests in the queue are serviced based at least in part on their relative importance.
US08561075B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for load balancing servers are provided. Embodiments include determining, by a balance module, for each server within a rack comprising a plurality of servers, a vertical position of the server relative to the other servers within the rack; selecting from the plurality of servers, by the balance module, based on the determined vertical positions of the servers, a particular server to assign a workload; and assigning, by the balance module, the workload to the selected server.
US08561072B2
A scheduler in a process of a computer system includes a respective scheduling collection for each scheduling node in the scheduler. The scheduling collections are mapped into at least a partial search order based on one or more execution metrics. When a processing resource in a scheduling node becomes available, the processing resource first attempts to locate a task to execute in a scheduling collection corresponding to the scheduling node before searching other scheduling collections in an order specified by the search order.
US08561071B2
Method and system for serializing access to datasets, suitable for use in a workflow management system which executes multiple business processes, wherein a single process instance is enabled to invoke web services which may update datasets of different storages holding redundant information. Business Process Execution Language for Web Services allows defining business processes that make use of web services and business processes that externalize their functionality as web services. As the business process has no knowledge about data that is accessed by invoked web services, concurrent process instances may update the same pieces of information within a database. Unless access to the data is carried out as a transaction, parallel execution of the process instances may cause data inconsistencies, which may be avoided by serializing the execution of process in stances based on correlation information associated with messages consumed by the process instances.
US08561060B2
In one embodiment, a processor comprises one or more registers coupled to an execution core. The registers are configured to store an intercept configuration that identifies which of a plurality of intercept events are enabled for intercept during guest execution. Additionally, the intercept configuration identifies, for each enabled intercept event, which of at least two exit mechanisms are to be used in response to detection of the enabled intercept event. The execution core is configured to detect one of the enabled intercept events during execution of a guest and to exit the guest using the exit mechanism identified in the intercept configuration for that detected, enabled intercept event.
US08561059B2
A system and storage medium for providing a full service oriented architecture environment solution for enterprises. The system and storage medium include backend systems, enabling technology modules or components, specific domain services adapted for the domain, applications relevant for the domains, development tools, exemplary business content, and optionally also demo programs. All components and applications are pre-configured to work in coordination with no further configuration requirements, or installation or additional components. The system and storage medium optionally comprise exemplary data for the environment.
US08561053B2
A method and system for managing a plurality of computers, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is associated with a user having a user characteristic. The method comprises inputting selection information including the user characteristic, inputting management information, selecting at least one of the plurality of computers based on the selection information, and modifying the at least one selected computer based on the management information.
US08561050B2
The patching of applications is achieved by performing application updates in one file system view, while the application is running in another view. A patch user copies any files that are to be modified, performs the modification on the copies, and switches all users to the patch view once all modifications are complete.
US08561044B2
Mechanisms for optimized code generation targeting a high locality software cache are provided. Original computer code is parsed to identify memory references in the original computer code. Memory references are classified as either regular memory references or irregular memory references. Regular memory references are controlled by a high locality cache mechanism. Original computer code is transformed, by a compiler, to generate transformed computer code in which the regular memory references are grouped into one or more memory reference streams, each memory reference stream having a leading memory reference, a trailing memory reference, and one or more middle memory references. Transforming of the original computer code comprises inserting, into the original computer code, instructions to execute initialization, lookup, and cleanup operations associated with the leading memory reference and trailing memory reference in a different manner from initialization, lookup, and cleanup operations for the one or more middle memory references.
US08561040B2
In embodiments, prior to compilation into machine code, a preprocessor generates directives by processing a source code and/or bytecode representation of a program and/or selecting default directives. The preprocessor embeds the directives in a bytecode representation of the program or a separate stream associated with the bytecode representation of the program. A just-in-time compiler may compile the bytecode representation into machine code directed by the embedded directives in one pass and/or a bytecode interpreter may interpret the bytecode representation of the program. In some embodiments, a computing device generates bytecodes during execution of a program, selects default directives, and embeds the default directives in the bytecodes or a separate stream associated with the bytecodes prior to compilation of the bytecodes into machine code. Subsequently, the bytecodes may be compiled into machine code with a just-in-time compiler directed by the embedded default directives in one pass and/or interpreted with an interpreter.
US08561038B1
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for accessing a native application programming interface (API) of a computing device including receiving on the computing device one or more control objects from a first application written in a device-independent programming language. The control objects define a context for accessing the native API and the control objects include at least one control script. The method further includes compiling the control script on the computing device into a second application that is native to the operating system of the computing device. The method further includes executing the second application on the computing device. The executed second application accesses the native API of the computing device to generate an output through a hardware interface of the computing device based on the context.
US08561019B2
A system, method and software product retrieve a formatted data value from a data layer to a business logic layer by invoking a formatted variable abstraction procedure from the business logic layer, passing at least one parameter to the formatted variable abstraction procedure (the at least one parameter identifying a formatted system variable), and building a dynamic statement based upon the formatted system variable such that execution of the dynamic statement: accesses a formatted variable table based upon the formatted system variable to locate information relating to the formatted system variable; retrieves one or more data items based upon the information; formats the data items to form the formatted data value based upon the information; and returns the formatted data value to the business logic layer.
US08561018B2
A method specifies a group of segmented functions of a plurality of segmented functions obtained by dividing a function of a module to be generated. The specified segmented functions commonalize a structural component of the module. The method classifies the input instructions into a select-input instruction non-inputted depending on an environment and a basic input instruction except for the select-input instruction. The method eliminates a combination of segmented functions in the group, the combination of the segmented functions corresponding to a combination of only the select input instruction non-inputted to the module. The method generates a combination component shared by a combination of the remaining segmented functions in the group, and generates a single component implementing a segmented function unclassified into the group. The method generates the module by linking the combination component and the single component with each other.
US08561015B2
The present disclosure describes an apparatus and a method for contemporaneously viewing code structure in a diagram as well as source code facilitated by a semantic zoom and pan feature and enabled via use of advanced rendering engines. The apparatus and method support in-place editing where edits are represented on the diagram in real-time. One example system includes a diagramming surface, an advanced rendering engine, viewers with controls and data retrieval modules, a data store with data loaded from source code well as external sources, and workers possibly implemented as background threads to monitor changes. One example method enables layers where a subset of data is viewed and a corresponding control is used to manipulate the data. An advanced rendering engine enables a wide range of user interface techniques, including but not limited to semantic zoom and pan and in-place editing.
US08561003B2
A finFET block architecture includes a first set of semiconductor fins having a first conductivity type, and a second set of semiconductor fins having a second conductivity type. An inter-block insulator is placed between outer fins of the first and second sets. A patterned gate conductor layer includes a first plurality of gate traces extending across the set of fins in the first block without crossing the inter-block insulator, and a second plurality of gate traces extending across the set of fins in the second block without crossing the inter-block insulator. Patterned conductor layers over the gate conductor layer are arranged in orthogonal layout patterns, and include an inter-block connector arranged to connect gate traces in the first and second blocks.
US08561002B2
Multiple level spine routing is disclosed. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a specification of a net comprising a set of pins, a first wire for routing the net is generated, the set of pins comprising the net is partitioned into one or more groups based at least in part on a cost function, a second wire that connects to the first wire is generated for each group of the net, and a third wire that connects each pin to the second wire of its group is generated for each pin of each group of the net.
US08560998B1
Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and computer program product to implement routing for double patterning lithography. A three-phase routing scheme is employed, comprising a global router, a C-router, and a detail router. The C-router provides double patterning color seeding for shapes on routing tracks in the electronic design. The detail router employs space-tiles to perform double-patterning based routing for wires in the electronic design.
US08560995B2
Roughly described, a method for approximating stress-induced mobility enhancement in a channel region in an integrated circuit layout, including approximating the stress at each of a plurality of sample points in the channel, converting the stress approximation at each of the sample points to a respective mobility enhancement value, and averaging the mobility enhancement values at all the sample points. The method enables integrated circuit stress analysis that takes into account stresses contributed by multiple stress generation mechanisms, stresses having vector components other than along the length of the channel, and stress contributions (including mitigations) due to the presence of other structures in the neighborhood of the channel region under study, other than the nearest STI interfaces. The method also enables stress analysis of large layout regions and even full-chip layouts, without incurring the computation costs of a full TCAD simulation.
US08560994B1
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for variation enabling statistical testing using deterministic multi-corner timing analysis. One embodiment of a method for obtaining statistical timing data for an integrated circuit chip includes obtaining deterministic multi-corner timing data for the integrated circuit chip and constructing the statistical timing data from the deterministic multi-corner timing data.
US08560991B1
Embodiments provide systems, devices, methods, and machine-readable medium for automated debugging of a design under test in a verification environment as part of electronic design automation. Embodiments may automatically identify inputs that are relevant to a bug for a device under test. A failing test run may be taken and rerun several times with small changes in the inputs. If the test is passing, the mutated inputs may be important to reproduce the bug and may be marked as “suspicious”. The result of this process may be a list of suspicious inputs and a shorter and simpler test that still fails. The shorter test may be rerun and fields of the inputs recorded. New tests may be created with mutated fields. Mutated fields that result in passing tests may be considered suspicious fields. Suspicious inputs and fields may be presented to a user as part of an electronic design process.
US08560990B2
A method of designing an integrated circuit includes modifying a design attribute-variable electromigration (EM) limit for each pre-defined circuit based on at least one reliability constraint in order to avoid EM violations of an integrated circuit. The method further includes synthesizing the integrated circuit from a high level description to at least a subset of the pre-defined circuit devices using the modified design-variable EM limit of each pre-defined circuit.
US08560982B2
A method of integrated circuit design using through silicon vias (TSVs) can include determining that a stress field to which a first active circuit element of a circuit block is exposed and a stress field to which a second active circuit element of the circuit block is exposed are mismatched. Mismatch between the stress field of the first active circuit element and the stress field of the second active circuit element can be reduced by modifying a layout of the die for a TSV.
US08560965B2
Provided are a display device and a display method for displaying a setup screen with a screen navigation path. In various examples, provided are a user-friendly display device and a user-friendly display method that enable a user to understand in advance what information will be displayed in a setup screen when a reverse transition operation (e.g., a return or cancel operation) is performed.
US08560955B2
A system includes a gateway operative to couple the system to a user. The system further includes a first infolet coupled to the gateway, and operative to couple the system to a first virtual world application, a second infolet coupled to the gateway and to the first infolet, and operative to couple the system to a real world application. The system is operable to obtain first information requested by the user from the second infolet and send the first information to the virtual world application through the first infolet.
US08560949B2
A method in a power transmission or distribution system, an operator terminal in such a system as well as to a computer program product from such an operator terminal, wherein the operator terminal presents graphical objects representing electrical power transmission control stations together with graphical objects representing power lines on a display, and changes the degree of abstraction of the presentation based on an operator selection or an own selection. A change from a lower to a higher degree involves moving a group of graphical objects including control stations closer to a condensation center point on a power line that is common for this group, and a change from a higher to a lower condensation degree involves moving the group away from the condensation center point.
US08560944B2
A document having a number of components is modeled as a concurrent hierarchical state machine derived from a number of secondary state machines. The concurrent hierarchical state machine hierarchically encompasses the secondary state machines and corresponds to the document as a whole. The secondary state machines are concurrent to one another. Each secondary state machine corresponds to one of the components of the document.
US08560940B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present may generate a DOM-tree and generate a signal based on the DOM-tree and a node list. The signal may be analyzed and nodes may be selected within the signal to form a periodic wave. Repeat patterns may be detected using the periodic wave and the nodes.
US08560938B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for customizing aspects of a metadata-driven software application. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide (1) a self-contained metadata engine for generating customized metadata documents from base metadata documents and customizations; (2) a customization syntax for defining customizations; (3) a customization creation/update component for creating and updating customizations; (4) a customization restriction mechanism for restricting the creation of new customizations by specific users or groups of users; and (5) memory and caching optimizations for optimizing the storage and lookup of customized metadata documents.
US08560935B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates completing multiple electronic document applications. An interface component can receive two or more electronic documents, wherein each electronic document includes at least two or more questions with respective fill-in fields to be completed by a user input. A master field component can create a master field list that includes a first subset of questions and a second subset of questions and the first subset of questions is targeted toward a first user to answer and the second subset of questions are targeted toward second user to answer. A user segregation manager component can ensure an independent and secure log in to the master field list for each user to provide information. A form aggregation component can leverage the master field list to populate or update the electronic document.
US08560929B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. A data processing circuit is disclosed that includes: a data detector circuit, a first symbol constrained arrangement circuit, and a second symbol constrained arrangement circuit. The data detector circuit is operable to apply a data detection algorithm to a combination of a first input data set and a decoded data set to yield a detected output that includes a number of non-binary symbols. The first symbol constrained arrangement circuit is operable to receive the detected output and to re-arrange the detected output in accordance with a first arrangement algorithm to yield a re-arranged output. The bits for at least one non-binary symbol from the detected output are maintained together in the re-arranged output. The second symbol constrained arrangement circuit is operable to receive a second input data set and to re-arrange the second data input in accordance with a second arrangement algorithm to yield the decoded data set. The bits for at least one non-binary symbol from the second input data set are maintained together in the decoded data set output.
US08560928B2
A diversity method using an error correcting code. The diversity method includes creating a mother code by performing error correction coding on an input bit string to be coded, puncturing the created mother code and acquiring an error correcting code including systematic information and partial parity information, and space-time encoding the acquired error correcting code corresponding to each frequency.
US08560916B2
A method for enhancing error correction capability of a controller of a memory device without increasing an Error Correction Code (ECC) engine encoding/decoding bit count includes: regarding a plurality of rows of a data bit array, respectively calculating a plurality of first parity codes; regarding a plurality of sets of columns of the data bit array, respectively calculating a plurality of second parity codes, wherein each set of the sets includes two or more of the columns, and the sets do not overlap; and performing encoding/decoding corresponding to the first and the second parity codes. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are further provided.
US08560914B2
A method and device for indicating an uncorrectable data block. The method includes: if a forward error correction decoding fails, setting synchronization character of at least one of the corresponding data blocks to a first character; and performing line decoding on the data block with the set first character, and outputting decoded data. With the invention, indicating the uncorrectable data block Simple and effective to a line decoding module can be implemented in case of a failure of FEC decoding.
US08560911B2
A low density parity check (LDPC) family of codes is constructed by: determining a protograph for a mother code for the LDPC family of codes. The protograph is lifted by a lifting factor to design code specific protograph for a code. The method also includes constructing a base matrix for the code. The base matrix is constructed by replacing each zero in the code specific protograph with a ‘−1’; and replacing each one in the code specific protograph with a corresponding value from the mother matrix. The LDPC code includes a codeword size of at least 1344, a plurality of information bits, and a plurality of parity bits. The LDPC code is based on a mother code of code length 672.
US08560910B2
There is provided a wireless communication device capable of improving a decoding performance by using an optimal selection criterion for a start address and a read direction in a circular buffer. An interlacer (13) writes an interleaved and interlaced bit sequence into a circular buffer (14). An RV decision unit (109) decides the read start address and read direction of the circular buffer (14) based on the number of non-transmitted systematic bits, the number of non-transmitted important parity bits, and/or the number of non-transmitted unimportant parity bits. A read control unit (110) controls the read start address and read end address of the circular buffer (14). A read unit (15) is controlled by the read control unit (110) to continuously read encoded bits from the circular buffer (14).
US08560906B2
Disclosed herein are exemplary methods, apparatus, and systems for performing timing-aware automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) that can be used, for example, to improve the quality of a test set generated for detecting delay defects or holding time defects. In certain embodiments, timing information derived from various sources (e.g. from Standard Delay Format (SDF) files) is integrated into an ATPG tool. The timing information can be used to guide the test generator to detect the faults through certain paths (e.g., paths having a selected length, or range of lengths, such as the longest or shortest paths). To avoid propagating the faults through similar paths repeatedly, a weighted random method can be used to improve the path coverage during test generation. Experimental results show that significant test quality improvement can be achieved when applying embodiments of timing-aware ATPG to industrial designs.
US08560901B2
An error correction apparatus, a method thereof, and a memory device including the apparatus are provided. The error correction apparatus may include: a determination unit configured to determine whether a number of errors in a read word being read and extracted from a multi-level cell (MLC) exists in an error correcting capability range; a read voltage control unit configured to either increase or decrease a read voltage applied to the MLC when the number of errors in the read word is outside the error correcting capability range; and a codeword determination unit configured to analyze a bit error based on the increase or decrease of the read voltage, and to select a codeword corresponding to the analyzed bit error based on a selected read error pattern. Through this, it may be possible to efficiently correct a read error that occurs when the data of the memory device is maintained for a long time.
US08560890B2
The present invention is aimed to provide means and methods for recovery of an IP Multimedia Subsystem ‘IMS’ where a Home Subscriber Server ‘HSS’ holding subscriber data for subscribers of the IMS has suffered a restart. A first method of recovery is applied after detecting a HSS restart, and as receiving a registration from a given subscriber or an invitation to communicate with a given subscriber from another subscriber. A second method of recovery is applied after detecting a HSS restart, and as receiving a request from a given subscriber at a S-CSCF previously assigned for serving the given subscriber in the IMS. Both first and second methods may be applied in the IMS separately, or in cooperation, following a best effort to ensure that, whatever event occurs first, receiving a registration from a given subscriber, or an invitation to communicate with a given subscriber, or receiving a request from a given subscriber at a S-CSCF previously assigned, the actions triggered by the first method or by the second method achieve the recovery of the IMS without further actions not applied yet from said second or first methods.
US08560885B1
The different advantageous embodiments comprise a system for redundancy management of a computing system comprising a number of processors, a number of service managers executable on the number of processors, and a configuration module. The number of processors is associated with a number of processor groups. Each service manager is capable of being configured as a primary service manager adapted to manage a number of commands. Each command is operative to execute a program on one or more of the number of processors. The configuration module is in communication with the number of service managers to control operational redundancies of the computing system. Each primary service manager executes one or more programs on the one or more processors included in different processor groups of the number of processor groups.
US08560882B2
A method begins by identifying a data slice requiring rebuilding to produce an identified data slice, wherein the identified data slice is one of a plurality of data slices that constitute a data segment and wherein each of the plurality of data slices is assigned for storage by a corresponding one of a plurality of data slice servers. The method continues by retrieving at least m number of data slices from at least m number of the plurality of data slice servers, wherein m data slices of the plurality of data slices enable reconstruction of the data segment, and wherein the at least m number of data slices does not include the identified data slice. The method continues by reconstructing the identified data slice from the at least m number of data slices to produce a rebuilt data slice. The method continues by writing the rebuilt data slice to the corresponding one of the plurality of data slice servers or to a new slice server.
US08560879B1
Some aspects of the disclosure relate to a data storage system that includes multiple memory device storage devices. If a memory device of a memory device array fails within a first data storage device, some portions of the lost or corrupted data from the failed memory device are recovered by reading them from a second data storage device. Other portions of the lost or corrupted data from the failed memory device are recovered from parity information in the first data storage device.
US08560867B2
A method for processing power-off suitable for a server system is provided. The server system includes a first node, a second node, and a power supply. The first and second nodes share the power supply. The method includes the following steps. A power-off process is performed by the first and second nodes respectively according to a power-off signal. An interception process is activated to intercept a completion signal generated in the power-off process, and an interrupt is triggered. The interrupt is performed by an interrupt handler, so as to detect whether the first and second nodes complete a power-off process. When the first and second nodes already complete the power-off process, the interception process is inactivated and the generated completion signal is recovered and transferred to the power supply for turning off a power.
US08560865B2
A cable for providing electric power from a power source to a mobile device, the cable having a first connector at a first end of the cable for connecting the cable to a mobile device and with a second connector at a second end for connecting the cable to the power source, wherein the cable comprises a memory module for backup and bidirectional transfer of data to and from the mobile device.
US08560859B2
A storage controller and program product is provided for performing double authentication for controlling disruptive operations on storage resources generated by a system administrator. A first request is received from a first user for generation of a first key. A first key is generated, provided to the first user and associated with the storage resource. An input is received from the administrator, the input comprises a second key and a command for performing the disruptive operation. The second key and the first key are compared. It is verified that the administrator is authorized as an administrator of the storage resource. The disruptive operation is performed on the storage resource if the second key and the first key match and the administrator is authorized. Otherwise, the performance of the disruptive operation is denied.
US08560852B2
A secure portable electronic device for providing secure services when used in conjunction with a host computer having a central processing unit use two hardware device protocols readily supported by computer operating systems. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
US08560845B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for booting a computing device having an encrypted storage medium using full disk encryption, referred to as tamper-resistant boot. The system retrieves a kernel cache and a kernel cache digest from an unencrypted storage medium and verifies the authenticity of the kernel cache based on the credentials and the kernel cache digest. Initiation and execution of the operating system is performed if the kernel cache is authentic. In one embodiment, the system verifies the authenticity of a request to disable tamper-resistant booting by utilizing a password verifier and a password proof.
US08560840B2
A system and computer implemented method for providing a widget are described. The widget is portable, embeddable and for dynamically displaying multimedia content. The method and system include receiving a request corresponding to the widget and performing an authentication corresponding to the request. The method and system also include fulfilling the request if the authentication is successful.
US08560838B2
A document disposal certification apparatus is installed in a document generation apparatus for generating a document, a document disposal apparatus for disposing of the document, or a server that are used with being connected to the document generation apparatus and the document disposal apparatus. The document disposal certification apparatus includes a generation information acquisition section, a disposal information acquisition section and an information management section. The generation information acquisition section acquires information concerning document generation in the document generation apparatus, as document presence certification information. The disposal information acquisition section acquires information concerning document disposal in the document disposal apparatus, as document disposal certification information. The information management section stores and manages the document presence certification information and the document disposal certification information in association with each other for the same document. Each of the document presence certification information and the document disposal certification information contains digital certification information.
US08560835B2
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of at least partly delegating processing of data in a machine-to-machine system to reduce computational load on a broker entity 11 while maintaining security of the data to be processed, the broker entity 11 serving as a link between a node 13 of a sensor network providing the data and an application node 12 requesting the data. In the method, at the broker entity 11, following receipt of a request for processed data from the application node 12, determining the node to provide the data to be processed, generating a data key for the data-providing node 13, generating a data-processing algorithm for processing the data in dependence upon the request, sending the data key to the data-providing node 13, and sending the data key and data-processing algorithm to a remote data-processing entity 15. At the data-providing node 13, encrypting the data using the data key and sending the encrypted data to the data-processing entity 15. At the data-processing entity 15, decrypting the data using the data key, processing the data using the data-processing algorithm, and sending the processed data to the application node 12.
US08560834B2
A system and method for client-side authentication for secure Internet communications is disclosed. In one embodiment, an intermediate device receives a web browser secure socket layer certificate from a web browser, authenticates the web browser using the secure socket layer certificate, and then re-signs the secure socket layer certificate with an intermediate device public key and an intermediate device certificate authority signature. The intermediate device sends the re-signed secure socket layer certificate to a web server and the web server authenticates the intermediate device using the re-signed secure socket layer certificate. In another embodiment, an intermediate device receives a web browser secure socket layer certificate from a web browser, inserts the web browser secure socket layer certificate into a HTTP header of a packet, and sends the packet to a web server.
US08560824B2
Methods and systems for executing a decompressed portion of an option memory in a shadow memory. An area of system memory is allocated and a portion of the option memory is decompressed using the allocated area. The decompressed portion is stored in the shadow memory so the decompressed portion can be executed in shadow memory.
US08560820B2
A method and apparatus for securely booting software components in an electronic device to establish an operating environment are described herein. According to an aspect of the invention, software components are to be executed in sequence in order to establish an operating environment of a device. For each software component, a security code is executed to authenticate and verify an executable code image associated with each software component using one or more keys embedded within a secure ROM (read-only memory) of the device and one or more hardware configuration settings of the device. The security code for each software component includes a common functionality to authenticate and verify the executable code image associated with each software component. In response to successfully authenticating and verifying the executable code image, the executable code image is then executed in a main memory of the device to launch the associated software component.
US08560818B2
Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for automatic retrieval, parsing and application of configuration for a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image with a write-filter while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the local client and while allowing persistent configuration change across a reboot. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the local client configured to, each time the local client boots up, automatically locate a remote repository server containing a configuration file and automatically obtain the configuration file from the repository server over a network. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the local client configured to, each time the local client boots up, automatically load the configuration file, automatically parse at least a portion of the configuration file, and automatically apply, to the embedded image, a configuration change based on the at least a portion of the configuration file.
US08560815B2
Embodiments of a system and a method in which a processor may execute instructions that cause the processor to receive an input vector and a control vector are disclosed. The executed instructions may also cause the processor to perform a Boolean operation on another input vector dependent upon the input vector and the control vector.
US08560800B2
An electronic device comprises: a mounting unit in which a first storage medium to be mounted; an acquiring unit configured to acquire attribute information of a mounted storage medium; a first determining unit configured to determine whether or not the mounted storage medium is a storage medium having a function other than a storage function based on the attribute information; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a command that can be used in a function other than a storage function to the mounted storage medium, in a case where it is determined that the storage medium is not a storage medium having the function other than the storage function; and a second determining unit configured to determine whether or not the mounted storage medium has the function other than the storage function based on whether or not there is a response to the transmitted command.
US08560796B2
A data processing system employs an improved arbitration process in selecting pending memory access requests received from the one or more processor cores for servicing by the memory. The arbitration process uses memory timing and state information pertaining both to memory access requests already submitted to the memory for servicing and to the pending memory access requests which have not yet been selected for servicing by the memory. The memory timing and state information may be predicted memory timing and state information; that is, the component of the data processing system that implements the improved scheduling algorithm may not be able to determine the exact point in time at which a memory controller initiates a memory access for a corresponding memory access request and thus the component maintains information that estimates or otherwise predicts the particular state of the memory at any given time.
US08560790B2
A flashcopy of a source storage volume to a target storage volume is initiated. The content of the source storage volume is stored on the target storage volume in a space efficient manner. The space requirement of the stored content on the target storage volume is monitored. The flashcopy is terminated when the space requirement reaches a predetermined level. The stored content on the target storage volume is copied to a backup storage medium. A new flashcopy of the source storage volume is initiated.
US08560789B2
A disk apparatus includes a second volume to which data of a first volume is copied, a third volume which stores a snapshot of the first volume, and an I/O processing unit which reads out data from the third volume when data of an area in which difference data exists in the third volume is read out, when data of an address in which the difference data does not exist in the third volume is read out, reads out data from the first volume if data copying from the first volume to the second volume has not been completed, and reads out data from the second volume if the data copying has been completed.
US08560788B1
A method, system, and a computer program product for performing backups using multiple streams. An aspect of the present invention performs the backups based on the size of the data sets sought to be backed up. In particular, the backups of bigger data sets (in terms of size) are performed before the backups of smaller data sets. It is accordingly observed that the backup window is reduced (without increasing the number of streams).
US08560786B2
Memory is used, including by receiving at a processor an indication that a first piece of metadata associated with a set of backup data is required during a block based backup and/or restore. The processor is used to retrieve from a metadata store a set of metadata that includes the first piece of metadata and one or more additional pieces of metadata included in the metadata store in an adjacent location that is adjacent to a first location in which the first piece of metadata is stored in the metadata store, without first determining whether the one or more additional pieces of metadata are currently required. The retrieved set of metadata is stored in a cache.
US08560774B2
A first interconnect card is configured, wherein a first controller is included in the first interconnect card. A second interconnect card coupled to the first interconnect card is configured, wherein a second controller is included in the second interconnect card. In response to a failure of the first controller included in the first interconnect card, the first interconnect card is controlled via the second controller included in the second interconnect card. In response to a failure of the second controller included in the second interconnect card, the second interconnect card is controlled via the first controller included in the first interconnect card.
US08560772B1
A data migration system between computing architectures and disk drives includes an intermediate data migration handling system having an intermediate data storage module coupled to the computer architecture, and a data controller module including data management software supporting the data transfers between the intermediate data storage module and the disk drives independent of the random I/O activity of the computer architecture. RAID calculations are performed on the data prior to storage in the intermediate storage module, as well as when read therefrom for assuring data integrity, and reconstruction of corrupted data. The data transfer to the disk drives is actuated in a sequence determined by the data management software based on predetermined criteria. The RAID capability is complimented with a real time adaptive RAID stripe size selection depending on the overall capacity of “healthy” components capable of supporting data striping both for RAID 5 and RAID 6 configurations.
US08560765B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and circuits for use of a memory system. As one example, an electronics system is disclosed that includes a memory bank, a memory access controller circuit, and an encoding circuit. The memory bank includes a plurality of multi-bit memory cells that each is operable to hold at least two bits. The memory access controller circuit is operable to determine a use frequency of a data set maintained in the memory bank. The encoding circuit is operable to encode the data set to yield an encoded output for writing to the memory bank. The encoding level for the data set is selected based at least in part on the use frequency of the data set.
US08560764B2
A system and method of controlling a flash memory device such as a NAND memory device may involve receiving a command to execute an operation. A Ready/Busy contact of the memory device may be pulsed low in response to determining that execution of the operation has completed.
US08560759B1
A hybrid drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data sectors, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). A read frequency of a first logical block address (LBA) is maintained, and when the read frequency of the first LBA exceeds a threshold and a corresponding PBA is assigned to a data sector of the disk, first data stored in the data sector is copied to a memory segment of the NVSM. When the read frequency of the first LBA exceeds a threshold and the PBA is assigned to a memory segment of the NVSM, first data stored in the memory segment is copied to a data sector of the disk. When a read command is received to read the first LBA, a decision is made to read the first data from one of the NVSM and the disk.
US08560753B1
A method and system for providing computer input/output (I/O) functionality within a remote computing environment. The system comprises a host audio controller and a remote audio controller for bridging audio data between a host computing system and at least one remote audio device, a host USB controller and a remote USB controller for bridging USB data between the host computing system and at least one remote USB device, and an encoder module and a remote display decoder for bridging a digital video signal from the host computing system to a remote display, wherein the host audio controller, the host USB controller, and the encoder module are communicatively coupled to the remote audio controller, the remote USB controller, and the remote display decoder, respectively, via a computer network.
US08560746B2
An access control apparatus which establishes a connection based on connection establishment requests from connected devices and controls accesses to a connection target device. The access control apparatus includes a connection information managing unit which manages connect wait conditions to the connection target device of the connected devices based on criterion information in a connection request transmitted from the connected devices and determination for selecting one connected device from the connected devices. The access control apparatus includes a selecting unit which selects one of the connected devices which has a delay tendency related to connection based on adjustment information which is set in accordance with the connect wait conditions of the connected devices and increases a delay tendency in connection of the connected device, and a determining unit which determines the connected device selected by the selecting unit as one to be connected to the connection target device.
US08560743B2
A method to interact with a local USB device is disclosed. A message is received from the local USB device. Predetermined information is extracted from a proper subset of the message. The extracted information is transmitted to a local process.
US08560737B2
A facility is provided to enable operator message commands from multiple, distinct sources to be provided to a coupling facility of a computing environment for processing. These commands are used, for instance, to perform actions on the coupling facility, and may be received from consoles coupled to the coupling facility, as well as logical partitions or other systems coupled thereto. Responsive to performing the commands, responses are returned to the initiators of the commands.
US08560732B2
Methods and systems for distributing objects over a network. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one primary network device, and multiple secondary network devices coupled to the primary network device via a network. The primary network device may receive, from a server, objects for the devices managed by the server. The secondary network devices may receive an identifier of the primary network device from the server and may request updates for objects deployed at individual secondary network devices from the primary network device.
US08560729B2
An apparatus for adapting media content in one or more networks includes a controller module, one or more network interface modules, and one or more protocol interface modules coupled to the controller module. The apparatus also includes a script interpretation module coupled to the controller module and one or more media adaptation modules coupled to the controller module. The one or more media adaptation modules may support audio, video, or meta data. The apparatus further includes a management interface module coupled to the controller module. Media may be received at the apparatus as streaming media and be provided from the apparatus as a download or a progressive download. Additionally, media may be received at the apparatus as a download or progressive download and be provided from the apparatus as streaming media.
US08560726B2
Techniques are disclosed for overloading, at one or more nodes, an output of data streams containing data tuples. A first plurality of tuples is received via a first data stream and a second plurality of tuples is received via a second data stream. A first value associated with the first data stream and a second value associated with the second data stream are established based on a specified metric. A third plurality of tuples is output based on the first value and the second value, wherein the third plurality of tuples is a subset of the first plurality of tuples and the second plurality of tuples.
US08560721B2
Disclosed is a method for receiving playable media stored in a server by user equipment having a motion sensor and playing the media according to the motion of the user equipment. The method includes the steps of (a) designating a part of the media as a first receiving area by the server and transmitting it to the user equipment; (b) changing a playback area, in which the media are played, according to the motion of the user equipment and playing a part of the media; and (c) requesting by the user equipment that the server provide a second receiving area, which is a part of the media including the playback area, when the playback area is outside the first receiving area of the media, receiving the second receiving area, and playing the media. When media stored in the server are to be played initially, it is unnecessary to download the entire media, so that the user equipment can play the media more efficiently.
US08560715B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for flagging a network flow as at least potentially unwanted. In use, a network flow is identified as utilizing an unknown protocol. Further, the network flow is flagged as at least potentially unwanted.
US08560714B2
A communication server, including a partial parser module, a storage module and a lookup module, is provided. The partial parser module parses some, but not all, strings of a message and generates partial parsed data. The storage module stores pre-parsed data which represents a complete parsing of a message. The lookup module looks for the corresponding pre-parsed data from the storage module, using the partial parsed data. The server sends the message according to at least the corresponding pre-parsed data.
US08560698B2
A plurality of subgroups of identifiers are identified including at least a first subgroup of identifiers and a second subgroup of identifiers within an identifier range. A first set of identifiers is selected in the first subgroup. The first set of identifiers in the first subgroup is compared with a second set of identifiers in the second subgroup and a first set of common identifiers is identified using metadata of the second set of identifiers. A third set of identifiers is generated by eliminating the first set of common identifiers from the first set of identifiers. The third set of identifiers is compared with a fourth set of identifiers in a repository of stored identifiers, to identify a second set of common identifiers. A fifth set of identifiers is generated by eliminating the second set of common identifiers from the third set of identifiers.
US08560692B1
Cache storage area for caching data for URL filtering is reserved for each user in a multi-user computing environment. The cache storage area may include a user-specific cache with user cache areas allocated for each particular user. The user cache areas may include entries for data pertaining to URL filtering. For example, the entries may include URL filtering results or references to URL filtering results stored in a general cache. Cache data may include a reference count to indicate the number of users for which the data is being cached. The reference count may be taken into account in the maintenance of the general and user-specific cache areas.
US08560689B2
Administering incident pools including creating a pool of incidents, the pool having a predetermined initial period of time; assigning each received incident to the pool; assigning, by the incident analyzer, to each incident a predetermined minimum time for inclusion in a pool; extending for one or more of the incidents the predetermined initial period of time of the pool by a particular period of time assigned to the incident; determining whether conditions have been met to close the pool; and if conditions have been met to close the pool determining for each incident in the pool whether the incident has been in the pool for its predetermined minimum time for inclusion in a pool; and if the incident has not been in the pool for its predetermined minimum time, evicting the incident from the closed pool and including the incident in a next pool.
US08560685B1
Configurations providing a probabilistic ownership protocol for managing respective web property IDs (WPID) associated with incoming event tracking data communications are described. A server can determine whether an event tracking data communication with an associated WPID has an owner by checking a master ownership table. The server can register an intent to become an owner of the event tracking data communication if a minimum number of owner(s) is not met. The server then waits for a random period of time. After the random period of time, the server can check the master ownership table to determine whether the event tracking data communication has an owner or enough owners. The server can then register for ownership of the event tracking data communication by modifying the master ownership table if the event tracking data communication does not have an owner or enough owners.
US08560681B2
The present disclosure relates generally to methods for characterizing communication networks, and more particularly to methods of characterizing the propagation of information throughout communications in such networks.
US08560678B2
A social networking system provides relevant third-party content objects to users by matching user location, interests, and other social information with the content, location, and timing associated with the content objects. Content objects are provided based on relevance scores specific to a user. Relevance scores may be calculated based on the user's previous interactions with content object notifications, or based on interests that are common between the user and his or her connections in the social network. Context search is also provided for a user, wherein a list of search of results is ranked according to the relevance score of content object associated with the search results. Notifications may also be priced and distributed to users based on their relevance. In this way, the system can provide notifications that are relevant to user's interests and current circumstances, increasing the likelihood that they will find content objects of interest.
US08560668B2
Network applications rely on ever-increasing diverse and complex transport service mechanisms. A transport service between points in a network often traverses multiple technologies involving numerous containments and adaptations. A network event affecting the transport service may occur in any number of elements supporting the transport service, resulting in a myriad of alarms. Prior techniques for suppressing alarms involving complex network information models and coding logic to reduce the number of alarms presented, but require additional steps before the network event can be troubleshot and resolved. In contrast, the provided alarm correlation technique presents a highly structured and comprehensive visual presentation depicting the network event affecting the transport service in terms of the supporting elements affected by the network event. The provided visual presentation enables a viewer to visually correlate the network event affecting the transport service with the transport service affected by the network event directly.
US08560667B2
An analysis method for carrying out an analysis for responses of a computer system including a plurality of servers, includes: obtaining data concerning a CPU utilization ratio of each of the plurality of servers from the computer system, and storing the data concerning the CPU utilization ratio into a CPU utilization ratio storage; obtaining processing history data generated in the computer system, generating data of a request frequency by users of the computer system, and storing the processing history data into a request frequency data storage; and estimating an average delay time in each server by using the CPU utilization ratio of each server, which is stored in the CPU utilization ratio storage, and the request frequency stored in the request frequency data storage, and storing the estimated average delay time into a server delay time storage. By carrying out such a processing, the analysis can be carried out without changing the computer system to be analyzed and any additional cost.
US08560665B2
The present invention provides a method for an Entrepreneur to start an Internet business by creating an Entrepreneur's web site using tools provided at a Facilitator's web site. The method allows the Entrepreneur to access the Facilitator's web site, register a desired available domain name, trademark the domain name, design an Entrepreneur's web site accessible via the domain name, design a similar appearing store front web site to handle commercial transactions, copyright the Entrepreneur's web site, offer hosting services for the Entrepreneur's web site and submit the Entrepreneur's web site to one or more search engines. Tremendous synergies may be achieved and serious pitfalls avoided in creating the Internet business by receiving overall guidance and assistance from one web site, i.e. a Facilitator's web site, in performing these processes.
US08560661B2
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products that enable deployment of an antivirus application on a computer system in a manner that reduce interference of the antivirus application with activities of system users. In particular, the computers system is provided with a plurality of detection devices that may be used to detect when the computers system is being used by the user or when it is in downtime mode. The detection devices may include data input device, such as a mouse or keyboard, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, digital camera, sound wave source and sound wave receiver or other detection devices. The computer system also includes a software agent associated with an antivirus application. The software agent collects and analyses data from the detection devices, determines when the computer system is in a downtime mode, and then launches various antivirus application tasks.
US08560653B2
Described are a method and system for mobilizing a management service platform. A connection between a mobile unit (“MU”) and a mobile service platform (“MSP”) appliance is established within an operating environment. A user of the MU is authenticated as an administrator. If the user is authenticated as the administrator, a mobile management interface (“MMI”) is launched on the MU, thereby changing a status of the MU to a managing device. A management instruction is generated via the MMI of the MU serving as the management device. At least one other MU is managed in accordance with the management instruction.
US08560651B2
Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for a service provider to stream user-customized information. In an embodiment, the user-customized information includes tickers, advertisements and other types of user-specific information. Users can register for categories that interest them, from an available set of categories. The service provider can then stream the user-customized information on the basis of registration information. A parent service provider streams a main event and gives the service provider control of streaming the user-customized information during still periods of the main event. The service provider can also stream tickers, based on the registered categories, during the main event.
US08560641B2
The present invention relates to video conferencing and multimedia messaging, and takes advantage of the capabilities of the communication system to which the audio participants are connected, in order to increase the performance of all the participants in a mixed conference. In a preferred embodiment, the audio participants are provided with a MMS device, and a MMS Engine captures periodically, or at certain events, video conference data attached to MMS messages and addressed to the MMS device. In the opposite direction, the MMS device provides multimedia data to the conventional video conference participants by attaching the multimedia data to MMS messages, which are sent to the IP-addressable MMS Engine. The MMS Engine separates the multimedia data and converts it to a format compatible with the video conference. The converted multimedia data is then provided to video conference participants, and treated like any other multimedia stream included in the video conference.
US08560639B2
The claimed subject matter relates to systems and/or methodologies that facilitate distributed storage of data. A distributed file system can be implemented on storage nodes such that the system places multiple copies of data (e.g., replicas) on a variety of disparate storage nodes to guarantee availability of the data and minimize loss of the data. Storage nodes are dynamically evaluated to identify respective characteristics. In one example, the characteristics can include availability of a storage node, capacity of a storage node, data storage cost associated with a storage node, data transfer costs associated with a storage node, locality of a storage node, network topology, or user preferences associated with a storage node. The characteristics can be employed to generate optimal placements decisions.
US08560638B2
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of reconfiguring a network interface. In some embodiments, this method includes the following steps: receiving information indicating that an operator desires to remove a first network address from the network interface and assign a second network address to the network interface; and in response to receiving the information, providing a notification to at least one computer program executing in the node such that the computer programs can take a necessary measure (e.g., close a connection that uses the first network address).
US08560634B2
An electronic device configured for electronic communications utilizing virtual dispersive networking includes: a network interface for communicating over a network; an application loaded onto the electronic device programmed to communicate over a network; and virtual dispersive networking software configured to create, for such application, a virtual machine comprising a virtual interface for the network interface of the electronic device; select a network protocol out of a plurality of available network protocols based on current communication requirements of the application; and cause network communications of the application to occur via the virtual network interface of the electronic device using the determined network protocol.
US08560631B2
When a logical volume in a first storage box is transferred to a second storage box, information of an access object such as a network communication protocol possessed by a host which communicates with the first storage box is changed to change a network route for accessing the transferred logical volume. Logical volume transfer is notified from the first storage box to the host by using an ICMP Redirection Error message or the ARP protocol.
US08560626B2
Selecting a master node in a group of computing nodes. Computing nodes exchange suitability messages, candidate messages, and master messages to indicate the state of each node. A deterministic algorithm based on scores and timings is executed by each computing node to encourage each node to select the same master node.
US08560625B1
Embodiments generally relate to facilitating photo sharing among users of a social network system. In one embodiment, a method includes recognizing one or more people in a photo captured by a user. The method also includes sending a copy of the photo to at least one person recognized in the photo. The method also includes receiving, from the at least one person recognized in the photo, an indication of whether the at least one person approves the photo.
US08560623B2
A method, system and computer program product for supporting email message size reduction. Example operations may include identifying a first email recipient that is to receive a full version of an email message (full email message), identifying a second email recipient representing a new class of email recipient that is to receive a summary version of the email message (summary email message), and performing an action to facilitate the full email message being sent to the first email recipient and the summary email message being automatically generated from the full email message and sent to the second email recipient. The foregoing operations may be performed in one way by an email client and in another way by an email server. The email client and the email server may share responsibility for reducing email message size. Alternatively, the email client (or another implementing entity) may act alone.
US08560610B2
A stub tag in source code of a webpage allows for collection of numerous data elements according to tracking tags of various data receiver parties and for distribution of the collected data elements to those parties. The stub tag references a remotely cached script that enables a user device, e.g. a computer running a web browser, to retrieve a tag code for collecting the data elements. The tag code is constructed according to data collection settings, data distribution settings, data receiver settings, and/or user privacy settings. The tag code results in a single variable, common to all data receiver parties, for each data element. The common variable is transmitted to data receivers through the user device or through a server-to-server API.
US08560603B2
A computerized collaboration system includes a core corpus of community-communication modules. Each of the community-communication modules may be propagated to a syndicate of portals that subscribe to that community-communication module. Further, upon receiving an update to a community-communication module from a portal of a syndicate subscribing to the community-communication module, the community-communication module may be modified according to the update and an updated version of the community-communication module may be propagated to all portals of the syndicate of portals subscribing to that community-communication module.
US08560597B2
A cache server for providing content includes a processor configured to receive a first datagram from a client system sent to an anycast address, send a response datagram to the client system in response to the first datagram, receive a request datagram from the client system sent to the anycast address, and send a batch of content datagrams to the client system. The first datagram includes a universal resource locator corresponding to the content. The response datagram includes a content identifier for the content. The request datagram includes the content identifier, an offset, and a bandwidth indicator. The batch of content datagrams includes a portion of the content starting at the offset.
US08560596B2
Remote site connections are screened based on assessments performed by members of a trust community. Data based on a plurality of-end user assessments of particular remote websites are received at a server from a plurality of end-users. Each end-user is associated with a specific client machine which is in communication with the server. The server generates assessment scores based on the data. The server transmits the assessment scores to the client machines. The client machine selectively takes protective action against ones of the particular remote websites that have an undesirable assessment score generated by the server.
US08560594B2
A mechanism is provided for managing a process-to-process communication request. A call is received in an operating system from an application in the data processing system. The operating system passes the call to a host fabric interface controller in the data processing system without processing the call. The host fabric interface controller processes the call using state information associated with the call. The call is processed by the host fabric interface controller without intervention by the operating system.
US08560591B2
Detection of whether a result of a floating point operation is safe. Characteristics of the result are examined to determine whether the result is safe or potentially unsafe, as defined by the user. An instruction is provided to facilitate detection of safe or potentially unsafe results.
US08560584B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive a request to move at least a portion of a database table stored on a tangible medium from a current partition to a history partition, wherein the database table is partitioned into physical partitions according to a selected mapping update frequency. In response to receiving the request, activities may include modifying a logical partitioning of the database table by updating a mapping of the physical partitions to logical partitions. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08560582B2
A method for analyzing records in a data base which collects predetermined data and creates or appends a record, assigns individual conditions to homogeneous groups, retrieves rules, applies the rules to the data, reviews results generated from applying the rules to the data and generates at least one message.
US08560579B1
Systems and methods for generating files in a virtual file system in the memory of a network system are discussed. The network system receives a filename including at least one file metadata. The file metadata includes a file size of the file, a random seed for generating content of the file, and modification information of the file. File content for the file may be generated based on the filename. The file content may then be provided to the network system.
US08560576B2
A data entry template can be associated with each of a plurality of data records that are distributed across a plurality of heterogeneous or homogeneous data sources which can optionally be data bases. The data entry template can be modified to reflect a change to a business process that was previously represented by the template. The change to the business process can be propagated to at least part of the plurality of data records associated with the template. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08560562B2
Methods, systems, an apparatus, and computer program products, for pre-caching query suggestions. In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a client device a request for a search resource; providing to the client device in response to the request the search resource, the search resource including: first instructions that cause the client device to generate a search interface that includes a first query input field; initial query suggestions; second instructions that cause the client device to: store the initial query suggestions in a suggestion store on the client device; compare query characters input in the first query input field to the query suggestions stored in the suggestion store; select query suggestions that match the query characters input in the first query input field based on the comparison; and display the selected query suggestions as query suggestions for the query characters input into the first query input field.
US08560553B2
A multimedia device and a method embodied in the multimedia device for providing access to media content from a plurality of media content are provided. The multimedia device includes a user interface (UI) with one or more UI controls, a processor, and an output device. The UI controls receive a first set of parameter values from the user, in order to select media content. The processor creates a first list of media content based on a first probabilistic distribution over the plurality of media content. The output device provides access to the media content of the first list of media content to the user. Further, the UI may receive a second set of parameter values, and a second list of media content is then created, based on a second probabilistic distribution. The output device provides access to the media content of the second list of media content to the user.
US08560552B2
The present application describes methods and systems for compressing and/or decompressing data. As blocks of data are processed, the processed blocks are placed into a circular buffer at a compressor and indexed based on patterns of data present in the processed blocks. A circular buffer is maintained at the decompressor so that the decompressor circular buffer is consistent with the compressor circular buffer. When a new block of data is processed, the compressor checks the index to the circular buffer to determine whether the new block of data contains a pattern that is redundant with a pattern in one or more blocks of data that have already been processed. If a redundancy is detected, the compressor informs the decompressor of the redundancy and provides information allowing the decompressor to reconstruct the redundant pattern from the decompressor's circular buffer. In this way, redundant data need not be retransmitted or stored.
US08560535B2
XML Schema design often involves repeating work already done by others. Schema designers benefit from a system that helps designers choose from a set of candidate XML tags already in use by others. Mechanisms are described for providing decision support in the selection of candidate XML tags based on tags that are in use within a collection of XML documents. The approaches presented include a static analysis of tags which reflects the use of such tags in documents considered to be of high quality. A real-time analysis of tags considers the shared context of candidate XML tags with the set of tags already selected for use in the schema under design. Measure values resulting from the static analysis and/or the real-time analysis are used to derive an overall ranking measure for each candidate tag, and the candidate tags may be displayed in rank order of their measure values.
US08560533B1
Methods and systems to locate related digital content items in a content access log. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting user events from a content access log, tagging each event as positive or negative, determining if a content item is positively interacted and processing the tagged items in a sliding window to determine positive interactions between a pair of content items.
US08560531B2
A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations can begin with the creation of metadata records corresponding to datasets that represent scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool. The metadata records can conform to a standardized structural definition, and may be hierarchical. Values for the data elements of the metadata records can be contained within the datasets. Metadata records with a value that is proximate to a user-entered search parameter can be identified. A proximity score can be calculated for each identified metadata record. The proximity score can express a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters. The identified metadata records can be arranged in descending order by the calculated proximity rating, creating a list of proximate dataset results. The proximate dataset results can be presented within a user interface.
US08560526B2
Techniques are disclosed for evaluating tuples for processing by a stream application having a plurality of process elements. In one embodiment, at least one tuple to be processed by at least one processing element of the stream application is identified. A maximum duration for which the at least one processing element is allowed to process the at least one tuple is determined. A duration for which the at least one processing element is likely to process the at least one tuple is also estimated. Processing of the at least one tuple is managed based on a comparison between the maximum duration and the estimated duration.
US08560523B2
A materialized XML view matching system and method for processing of SQLXML queries using view matching of materialized XML views. The view matching process of the embodiments of the system and method use a multi-path tree (MPT) data structure. Embodiments of the materialized XML view matching system and method construct an MPT data structure for each input query and view expression. View matching is performed on the MPT data structures to generate a set of partial matches, which then are cleaned to generate a set of candidate matches. A valid match definition is generated by testing each candidate match for different forms of compliance. Using the valid match definition, a set of valid matches is identified and extracted. For each valid match, a substitute query expression is constructed that can serve as a replacement for the original query. These substitute queries can be used to evaluate the original query.
US08560508B2
Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for real-time column compression of data are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a data structure is estimated for an initially unknown structured data. The estimated data structure is placed in a stream. A columnar compression operation is applied to the stream to generate an achieved compression ratio. The stream is compressed. Feedback of the achieved compression ratio is analyzed from the stream to determine if an optimal one of the columnar compression operations has been applied. If the optimal one of the columnar compression operations has been applied, the actual data structure of the initially unknown structured data is determined.
US08560507B2
Data to be processed through deduplication product testing is arranged into a single, continuous stream. At least one of a plurality of random modifications are applied to the arranged data in a self-similar pattern exhibiting scale invariance. A plurality of randomly sized subsets of the arranged data modified with the self-similar pattern is mapped into each of a plurality of randomly sized deduplication test files.
US08560498B2
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system for propagating object fields associated with an event to a client application. A software module gets an event having an event identifier, wherein the event identifier is associated with a business object. The software module analyzes the business object and the application specific metadata to determine the delta component used for the event. The software module builds the delta business object based on the delta content. The software module determines if the business object has a child object. The software module sets the business object to be the child object in response to a determination that the business object has the child object. The software module propagates the delta business object to the client application.
US08560497B2
An inter-home content sharing apparatus and method are provided. The inter-home content sharing apparatus includes a home network protocol stack which communicates with the home network devices according to a home network protocol; a remote storage controller which receives a request for sharing content from the home network devices through the home network protocol, connects to a remote storage to upload the content, and controls the remote storage to extract metadata of the content; and a message controller which controls transception of notification messages including sharing information on the uploaded content.
US08560496B2
Indexes for predefined search orders of items in a database are generated and stored. When a client issues a database query a responsive pre-generated index list is retrieved and provided to the client for use in, e.g., populating a U/I view for a user. Only those items that a client needs, e.g., for populating a current U/I view, are retrieved from the database and output to the client. When a change is rendered to the database, e.g., an item is added or deleted or an existing item is altered, only the change is output to the client, rather than the entire modified index or altered item. In this manner clients can more quickly and efficiently respond to user data query requests by performing some processing upfront and by limiting communications traffic to communications relevant to the client's current processing.
US08560488B2
A pattern determination device has probability computation means and dissimilarity decision means. The probability computation means computes an internal probability that is a probability in which a value of a predetermined component of a pattern that takes place according to a probability density distribution in a domain of an input pattern falls in a range between the value of said predetermined component of a pattern X (1) and the value of said predetermined component of a pattern X(2). The dissimilarity decision means decides a dissimilarity between said pattern X (1) and said pattern X (2) based on said internal probability computed by said probability computation means.
US08560484B2
In some embodiments a controller is adapted to receive textual representation of content experienced by a user, to receive information about an interaction by the user with the content, and to determine a user model in response to the textual representation and the interaction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08560473B2
An operating ability monitoring system that includes a person-dependent acceleration sensor, a telemetry unit, and an evaluation unit, wherein the person-dependent acceleration sensor and the telemetry unit may be worn by and/or implanted in a machine operator and connected to the evaluation unit, and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to receive acceleration values originating from the person-dependent acceleration sensor and sensor values originating from a further sensor that reflects the movements and/or acceleration of a vehicle or moving machine and to evaluate them by comparing the acceleration values from the person-dependent acceleration sensor to the sensor values associated with the vehicle or moving machine.
US08560472B2
Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for supporting restricted search capabilities in high-dimensional spaces. These example restricted search capabilities may allow for an unbiased search that is simply restricted to those regions of interest to a decision maker. It will be appreciated that a restricted search does not mean that additional constraints, such as preference or biasing information, are utilized to reduce the search space into some feasible sub-space of the original optimization problem. Instead, the example restricted search may limit the search to a certain sub-space of the full multi-dimensional tradeoff space.
US08560467B2
A data processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit for obtaining time-series data, an activity model learning unit for learning an activity model representing a user activity state as a stochastic state transition model from the obtained time-series data, a recognition unit for recognizing a current user activity state by using the learned activity model, and a prediction unit for predicting a user activity state after a predetermined time elapses from a current time from the recognized current user activity state, wherein the prediction unit predicts the user activity state as an occurrence probability, and calculates the occurrence probabilities of the respective states on the basis of the state transition probability of the stochastic state transition model to predict the user activity state, while it is presumed that observation probabilities of the respective states at the respective times of the stochastic state transition model are an equal probability.
US08560466B2
The invention relates, in an embodiment, to a method for handling a received document. The method includes receiving a plurality of text document samples. The method includes training, using a plurality of text document samples, to obtain a set of machine learning models. Training includes generating fundamental units from the plurality of text document samples for charsets of the plurality of text document samples. Training includes extracting a subset of said fundamental units as feature lists and converting the feature lists into a set of feature vectors. Training further includes generating the set of machine learning models from the set of feature vectors. The method includes applying the set of machine learning models against a set of target document feature vectors converted from the received document. The method includes decoding the received document to obtain decoded content of the received document based on at least the first encoding scheme.
US08560462B2
A method for managing a usage cost of an asset. A user component of a business entity may access the asset after the asset has been developed by a development component of the business entity, wherein the user component receives compensation from a compensator in response to the user component having incurred a usage burden from using the asset, and wherein the compensator may have contributed to the usage burden. Alternatively, a user component of a second business entity may access an asset after the asset is developed by a development component of a first business entity, wherein second business entity receives compensation from the first business entity in response to the user component having incurred a usage burden from using the asset. The compensation has a magnitude that is a function of the usage burden. The asset may be a software application.
US08560455B1
A system and method for an all-inclusive, high speed and convenient delivery of digital content to a user is described. The system and method include software, firmware and communications technology for providing digital content to a user, monitoring and controlling an interface between the user and the system to provide for purchase or lease of digital content by the user as well as communicating and archiving all data necessary to accommodate accounting, billing and reporting functions. The system and method also provide for management of the assignment of digital rights management so as to allow rendering of the digital content on more than one device, and to allow the content to be rendered on a device that is not connected to a digital rights license management server.
US08560451B2
An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.
US08560447B1
Systems, method and articles of manufacture for identifying an account of an account holder, user or payor to be utilized for an electronic bill payment to a payee. An online bill payment system or separate program receives account data of the payor from payor accounts at financial institution that will process the electronic bill payment and from another financial institution at which the payor has an account. Data of accounts hosted by the other financial institution is received from a financial management system. Data such as account balances and transactions is analyzed to determine estimated balances of the accounts on a payment data and to generate account rankings or scores. Account selection is based at least in part upon the scores, and the selected account is presented to the payor and may then be used for the electronic bill payment, or the payor may select a different account.
US08560443B2
Systems and methods are provided for communicating and processing market data. The market data may comprise quotes, orders, trades and/or statistics. A messaging structure allows for adding, re-ordering and/or expanding data, within the printable character set of any language. One or more delimiters are defined and used to delimit data elements within the message structure. The data is interpreted based on templates which may be disseminated prior to the sending of messages and used as an abstraction so that the meaning of data need not be conveyed in the message.
US08560441B2
Managing foreign payments in an International ACH. An originating depository financial institution (“ODFI”) can create an ACH item designating a fixed amount of foreign currency to be credited to, or a fixed amount of domestic currency to be debited from, a receiving depository financial institution. In a variable to fixed payment, a conversion module of the ODFI or a gateway operator can determine a foreign exchange (“FX”) conversion rate. Using the FX conversion rate, the conversion module can calculate a domestic currency amount or a foreign currency amount corresponding to the desired foreign/domestic currency payment. The conversion module can enter the FX conversion rate and/or the determined domestic/foreign currency amount into the ACH item for processing via the International ACH. In a fixed to fixed payment, the ODFI can transmit information about the foreign currency payment via the International ACH and settle the payment via ACH or non-ACH means.
US08560439B2
Transaction processing for distributor-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of aspects of a transaction between contracting parties using transaction rules associated with an administrator and at least one distributor sponsoring the transaction. In some applications, the administrator finances the transaction. Fees are assessed as a function of the transaction processing on behalf of the administrator and, in come instances, the distributor.
US08560437B2
Aspects of the invention relate to creating virtual data of an effective obligor number N based on setting information, determining ratings after transition of the virtual data for a plurality of scenarios according to rating transition data representing transition of each rating, calculating a risk amount for each of the scenarios based on the rating after transition of the virtual data and specifying a risk amount corresponding to a confidence level as a predicted risk amount of the virtual data, setting a minimum effective obligor number N among the effective obligor numbers N when predicted risk amounts smaller than an allowable risk amount are specified, as a diversification object number, and calculating a credit limit based on the set diversification object number and a total credit.
US08560431B2
A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described.
US08560429B2
A data feed is monitored to determine whether a condition is satisfied. If the condition is satisfied, an alert is initiated to attract a user's attention. Thereafter, playback mode is entered causing the example system to playback a short period of time-compressed data that occurred just prior to the event occurring to set context for the user. Once the playback signal has caught up with the real-time data feed, the data is output at normal levels. Other configurations, which are described herein, are also possible.
US08560421B1
Disclosed is a system and method for the real-time evaluation of financial instruments such as contracts. When a financial instrument is created, all risks associated with the instrument are entered into the system and updated as necessary. This way, any participant in the system has the same access to the risk factors and valuation of the instrument. This increases liquidity and tracks risks and associated values even as derivative instruments are created.
US08560410B2
A location mapping service (“LMS”) that allows the integrations of an IMS core with the location-based billing methods of a legacy core network. The LMS uses the estimated location of a mobile device during an IMS session in order to determine a Cell Global Identification (“CGI”) to associate with the session. The LMS then provides the determined CGI to the legacy core network, so that a billing gateway may determine the billing region to associate with the IMS session. The LMS thereby facilitates location-based billing for IMS sessions in the absence of actual CGI information.
US08560404B2
Program data and information associated with at least one consumer commodity that appears in a program of the program data are synchronously transmitted. The program data and the associated information are received, and the program is reproduced and displayed on a display. One of a plurality of displayed consumer commodities is selected, and at least part of information associated with the selected consumer commodity is extracted and displayed. The extracted information associated with the selected consumer commodity is stored and is accessible after the program is displayed.
US08560399B2
A host computing device conducts scheduled repetitive searches for a resource to be purchased and delivery according to a specified delivery schedule. A customer provides the host with a description of the resource and provides a specified delivery schedule. The host computing device conducts automated scheduled repetitive searches for the resource, selects a vendor offering the resource based on a criterion (e.g., lowest price), and conducts the respective purchases such that the resources are delivered in accordance with the specified delivery schedule. Here, the resource may be purchased from a first vendor in a first purchase and a second, different vendor in a subsequent second purchase for the resource.
US08560398B1
Method and systems for providing item recommendations, displays categories (or tags) of recommended items where the categories are displayed using a quantity identifier indicative of the number of recommended items in that category. When a category is selected, a slide show viewer displays a number of items from the selected category.
US08560396B2
A system for electronic commerce (10) having personal agents (12 and 13) that represent consumers and providers in a virtual marketplace (28). Consumer personal agents conceal the identity of the consumer and are capable of creating decision agents (14) that shop for products and assist consumers in comparing and ranking products. Provider personal agents are capable of creating demand agents (16) that quantify demand and target specific consumers without learning the identity of the consumers. Based on data generated by the activities of the decision agents and on preference data maintained by consumer personal agents, provider personal agents can quantify current, historical, and future demand, simulate demand, and target specific consumers for advertising and other messages. Provider personal agents can cooperate with consumer personal agents to collect data about reasons for sales and lost sales and to offer consideration payments to consumers. Consumer personal agents can automatically reject unsolicited messages that do not satisfy the consumer's preferences.
US08560392B2
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a point of sale transaction business object.
US08560391B1
A way to modify a media file to include an advertisement is described herein. A media includes, but is not limited to, broadcast television, video, or music. The content of the media is analyzed to determine an appropriate advertisement to be inserted into the media content. For example, the advertisement may be a pizza commercial inserted into media that is popular among college age individuals. The content of the media may be further analyzed to determine an appropriate position within the media to insert the advertisement. For example, the pizza commercial may be inserted after a scene in which the characters are eating. Another example may be the insertion of a dating service commercial in a movie immediately following a dating scene in the movie.
US08560382B2
A system and method for processing product marketing rebate claims submitted by a consumer in satisfaction of a rebate offer, the consumer having purchased designated products in a qualified transaction recorded by a point-of-sale data processing and storage system that issues a receipt containing a corresponding transaction serial number. The method comprises providing a designated site of a computer information network and accessible by the consumer, and receiving a rebate claim on the designated site. The rebate claim comprises (i) the transaction serial number corresponding to the qualified transaction, and (ii) identifying information corresponding to the consumer. The transaction serial number and the identifying information is stored as a stored data record. An electronic file transfer is received from the point-of-sale data processing and storage system comprising purchase data records, each record comprising the list of products purchased and the transaction serial number for a qualified transaction in which at least one designated product was purchased. Each stored data record is associated with a purchase data record having an identical serial number, and the records are processed to validate the rebate claim. Finally, the value of the rebate offer is then transferred to the consumer. Consumer access by the designated site may be via the global computer information network or by telephone, and may also optionally integrate paper-based and smart/credit/debit-card-based rebate claims. A system for performing the above method is also claimed.
US08560379B2
An implementation for estimating the costs attributable to software failures brought on by defects, i.e. estimating that portion of the cost of owning software products that is attributable to potential damage to the software owner resulting from potential defects in the software provided by particular software suppliers. Calculating the cost of ownership of a software product obtained from a proposed supplier, including a cost of software failure factor that is estimated as follows: predetermining the quality level of an ideal supplier of the software product and then determining the deviation in quality level of the proposed software supplier from the ideal supplier level. Then, estimating the difference in product defect rate at the quality level of the proposed supplier from the defect rate of the ideal supplier, after which the cost to compensate for the damage resulting from each defect based upon the intended use of the software product is estimated. Finally, a cost of software failure factor for each unit of the software product obtained from the proposed supplier is calculated by multiplying said difference in defect rate by the cost to compensate for damage resulting from each defect.
US08560360B2
The invention relates to a system and a method for analysing with a temporal resolution below 160 milliseconds at least one response of a test person to at least one input stimulus. At least one input stimulus is provided to the test person and data representing the test person's response to this provided at least one input stimulus is obtained. From these data, at least one induced response pattern is determined in an automatic manner and at least one induced response pattern is identified. Optionally, the response pattern is interpreted and at least one induced response indicator is identified. The identified at least one induced response pattern and/or and at least one induced response indicator are synchronized to the presented at least one input stimulus. The synchronized at least one input stimulus and the determined at least one response pattern and/or at least one response indicator are presented in the same display and/or stored on the same means for storing. A database unit allowing the at least one input stimulus and/or the identified at least one induced response pattern to be stored and/or retrieved and/or compared to input stimuli and/or identified induced response patterns from analyses performed on the same test person and/or other test persons. The means for automatically determining comprises means for automatically analyzing the obtained data to identify at least one induced response pattern, or at least one feature thereof.
