US08608787B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for irradiating tissue (G) with light pulses (L), comprising a housing (2), at least one light source (3) for emitting the light pulses (L) with a wavelength (λ) of from 600 nm to 660 run, a modulator (4) and a power stage (6) for generating the light pulses (L), and with an activating element (5). For creating a device (1) which is as small, as cost-efficient and as effective as possible, by which as good a therapy success as possible is achieved in various applications, the modulator (4) is designed for generating the light pulses (L) with a pulse frequency (f) of from 1 to 10 Hz, and the power stage (6) is designed for emitting the light pulses (L) with an energy which causes breaking up of the photosensitizer in the photodynamic therapy and evokes a frequency doubling or a two-photon absorption (TPA) in the tissue (G) when treating inflammations without a sensitizer.
US08608786B2
An apparatus for delivering multiple forms of electromagnetic radiation and methods for its use are disclosed. An example embodiment may comprise a radiation unit having one or more light emitting diodes that emit electromagnetic radiation in continuous wave form and one or more laser diodes that emit electromagnetic radiation in continuous wave form. The radiation unit may be connected to a frequency generator that provides a waveform. The waveform may convert the continuous wave output of the laser diodes to pulse wave output, while leaving the continuous wave output of the light emitting diodes unaffected. The frequency generator may cause the emission of an additional electromagnetic field proximate the radiation unit. Associated apparatuses and methods for their use are also provided.
US08608785B2
An implant for fusing adjacent bones is disclosed. The implant includes an elongate threaded member and a flexible portion extending from the elongate threaded member. The flexible portion includes a plurality of prongs configured to be reversibly compressed toward an axis defined by the elongate threaded member.
US08608782B1
The system includes multiple pedicle screws anchored to multiple vertebra, at least one of which needs to be de-rotated about a central spine axis relative to adjacent vertebrae. Elongate posts are attached to the pedicle screws and extend away from the pedicle screws. A holder, such as in the form of multiple clamps and bars and a de-rotation rod, hold the posts together after de-rotation of a mis-rotated vertebra. With the vertebra held where desired, a spine rod can then be attached to heads of the pedicle screws to hold the vertebrae in their desired positions. After spine rod attachment, the posts and associated portions of the system other than the pedicle screws and spine rods can then be removed, with the pedicle screws and spine rods typically remaining implanted to hold the vertebrae in their desired and de-rotated positions.
US08608777B2
A method for coupling soft tissue to bone including: positioning a first anchor in a first bone bore, the first anchor having a first self-locking adjustable suture construct including a first adjustable loop, a second adjustable loop, and a pair of first ends; positioning a second anchor in a second bone bore, the second anchor having a second self-locking adjustable suture construct including a third adjustable loop, a fourth adjustable loop, and a second end; positioning the first adjustable loop relative to the soft tissue; positioning the second adjustable loop about the third adjustable loop; and tensioning the pair of first ends and the second end to pull the first adjustable loop against the soft tissue, couple the second adjustable loop to the third adjustable loop, pull the second adjustable loop against the soft tissue, and pull the third adjustable loop against the soft tissue.
US08608774B1
The bifurcated forceps is a tweezers-like instrument having two elongate, flattened arms joined at their mutual proximal ends, and each arm extends to a distal end having two laterally separated tines extending therefrom. The mutually facing surfaces of the corresponding tines of each arm are provided with serrations or teeth along the majority of their lengths, the facing serrations meshing with one another. The bifurcated forceps may have laterally straight arms, or laterally curved arms. Reusable forceps may be formed of surgical steel, and disposable forceps may be formed of a suitable plastic. The laterally separated tines enable the bifurcated forceps to grip a portion of tissue or other matter simultaneously at two separate points, thereby holding a greater span of the tissue clear of the underlying structure to facilitate surgical procedures and the like.
US08608772B2
A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US08608765B1
A device and method for minimally invasive tendon sheath release is presented herein. The device and method enables a surgeon to cut (“open”) a pulley that is obstructing a nodule and keeping a tendon from sliding smoothly. A guide probe of the device is inserted through a small incision and is used to find the edge of the pulley. Once found, the probe is guided to an end of the pulley. After proper position is assured, a hemi-cannula is moved over the guide probe to isolate the pulley from the surrounding tissue. A cutting blade is then used to sever the pulley. A dilation device may be inserted prior to the insertion of the ball tipped guide probe to dilate the area.
US08608758B2
A soft tissue defect repair system for approximating defects, such as defects in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, includes a cannulated rod through which is disposed a suture retrieval device. A strand of suture includes a locking or ratcheting knot pre-tied around the outside of the cannulated rod and a free end that is guided in and out of the soft tissue. A knot pusher fits around the cannulated rod, which is used to push the knot off of the cannulated rod after the stitching of the tissue is accomplished. The defect is approximated by tensioning the free end. Various suturing methods or patterns are disclosed for defect approximation.
US08608753B2
A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe.
US08608751B2
An assembly system configured to seat a first orthopedic component having either a male taper or a female taper with a second orthopedic component having the other of a male taper or a female taper. In one embodiment, the assembly system includes a taper seating connector having a fastener and a bushing moveable retained on the fastener. The fastener may be connected to the first orthopedic component and the bushing may be positioned adjacent the second orthopedic component. The corresponding tapers on the first and second orthopedic components may be configured to secure the first and second orthopedic components together. Thus, by exerting a sufficient force on the bushing, the bushing will move along the fastener, transferring the force to the second orthopedic component. In this manner, the corresponding tapers of the first and second orthopedic components may be seated.
US08608749B2
A method for preparing a joint surface of a patient for an implant, such as, for example, an acetabular implant for a hip joint. According to the method, a patient-specific guide is attached to a complementary joint surface of the patient. The patient-specific guide includes a guiding element oriented along a patient-specific alignment axis. The alignment axis is determined during a preoperative plan of the patient for implant alignment. A shaft of a guiding tool is removably coupled to the guiding element of the guide. A three-dimensional orientation device is removably attached to the shaft of the guiding tool. A position of a bubble of the orientation device is marked with a mark on an outer transparent surface of the orientation device while the guiding tool is oriented along the alignment axis. The marked orientation device can be used for aligning other instruments during the procedure.
US08608747B2
The invention provides a guide for controlling a surgical instrument, that includes a cutting member configured to resect a portion of anatomy and a sheath. The sheath may have a circular connecting portion with an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the surgical instrument to receive the surgical instrument. The sheath may also include at least two distally extending arms connected to the circular connecting portion and a ring connected to the distal portion of the at least two distally extending arms. The sheath may also include a distally extending extension connected to the ring. The guide has a superiorly extending guard connected to the distal portion of the extension and a projection member positioned on a superior surface of the guard. The projection member includes a generally circular base and circular platform that has a diameter larger than the generally circular base.
US08608744B2
A method for performing an acetabular arthroplasty in an acetabulum of an ilium may include locating an iliac canal of the ilium. The iliac canal extends from the surface of the acetabulum generally toward a portion of the iliac ridge. An impacting step impacts a non-rotating bone removal tool aligned along the iliac canal such that the non-rotating bone removal tool removes bone within the iliac canal and forms a bone void. Another step secures a fixation implant within the canal void. An acetabular implant is installed within the acetabulum over the fixation implant.
US08608742B2
A surgical cable and crimp device is provided. The cable has an enlargement (bead) affixed to one of its ends. The crimp member includes two holes. One of the holes includes a slot and a cavity. The cavity is sized to accept the bead of the cable, and the slot is sized to receive the flexible cable but not allow the bead to pass through. The other hole is a simple through hole. The cable can be inserted to loop the bone isolated from the crimp member. After the beaded end of the surgical cable is fastened to the crimp, the cable is passed through the simple through hole. The cable is then tensioned by the application thereto of a tensioning tool with the tool applied to the cable and to an abutment face of the crimp member.
US08608740B2
A bolt is adapted to clamp a pin to an external fixator system. The bolt includes a shaft having a threaded section, a head section and a pin opening that is arranged opposite the threaded section and accommodates and clamps a pin or a wire to a plate or ring of an external fixator. The plate comprises at least one opening which accommodates the shaft and a surface against which the pin or the wire is clamped by the bolt. The pin opening comprises at least two edges extending essentially along the same direction as the pin opening such that the pin or wire to be clamped is contact with said edges.
US08608734B2
An array advancing device that attaches to a tissue ablation probe comprises a housing sized for receiving the handle and reciprocating plunger of the ablation probe, the housing having a proximal section configured to engage the plunger, and a distal section configured to engage the handle, the proximal housing section being controllably moveable relative to the distal housing section to thereby controllably move the plunger relative to the handle.
US08608730B2
A thermal treatment medical system including an umbilical having a first portion and a second portion, and a connector including a male coupling body connected to the first portion, the male coupling body having a central shank defining first and second lumens, a female coupling body connected to the second portion, the female coupling body, matable with the male coupling body and defining third and fourth lumens matable to be in fluid communication with the first and second lumens, respectively, to define first and second fluid flow pathways, respectively, through the connector when the male coupling body is mated with the female coupling body. The second fluid flow pathway is co-axially disposed about a central axis coincident with the first fluid flow pathway. The connector includes a mating mechanism for spatially locking the male and female coupling bodies with respect to each other. Additionally, the thermal treatment medical system includes a multiple lumen co-axial connector for connecting the catheter flow pathways with a fluid source and control console.
US08608726B2
A controller for use with a guidewire, such as a vascular guidewire, provides a mechanism for gripping and applying a torque to the guidewire without the need to thread the guidewire axially through the controller and at a location close to a point of access of the guidewire. In one embodiment, the controller includes a side-access, multi-part assembly including a collet or other gripping element that applies a uniform radially inward force on the guidewire. In another embodiment, for use with guidewires having active electrically controllable elements, the controller integrally or removably incorporates a switch or other mechanism to initiate an energized state. The controller thereby permits ergonomic, single-handed control of an electronically steerable guidewire, including axially displacing, torquing and steering the guidewire.
US08608717B2
A urine collection apparatus includes a urine cover, a buffer member, and a pipe. The urine cover has an edge, a room therein, and an opening and an aperture communicated with the room, and a user's penis enters into the room via the opening. The buffer is connected to the edge of the urine cover with a connecting surface thereon to be in touch with the user's skin. The pipe is connected to the aperture of the urine cover to direct urine to a desired location.
US08608712B2
A venous access port assembly having a housing with a discharge port, and a needle-penetrable septum. An interior reservoir is defined in the assembly, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge port. The needle access area of the septum includes a tactilely identifiable differentiation along the top surface thereof, such as a ridge, a recess, an X-shaped protrusion, a V-shaped groove, or a bipartite dome.
US08608704B2
A securement device includes a simply-structured retention mechanism that permits a portion of a catheter hub or a similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base defining a locator mechanism. The locator mechanism interacts with a fitting of the medical device so as to position the medical device relative to the retainer. The locator mechanism also desirably guides the medical device fitting into contact with an adhesive member mounted on an outer surface of the retainer. In one form, the locator mechanism includes one or more posts that engage mating holes defined in the medical device fitting. In other forms, the locator mechanism includes a cradle defining an arcuate channel to receive a convex surface of the medical device, or a recess shaped to matingly receive the fitting. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad that includes an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. In use, a health care provider positions the medical device fitting on the retainer in a position established and guided by the locator mechanism, and attaches the fitting to the retainer via the adhesive member.
US08608702B2
An introducer for providing intravascular access to a patient is disclosed, and includes a dilator and sheath that are configured to prevent peelback, or “fishmouthing,” of the sheath during introducer advancement. In one embodiment, the introducer comprises a dilator including a distal tapered region, and a sheath including an inner bore that receives the dilator such that a portion of the tapered region of the dilator extends from the sheath distal end. A distal outer surface of the sheath includes a first curved portion defined by a first radius and extending proximally from the distal end of the sheath to a first end point, and a second curved portion defined by a second radius and extending proximally from the first end point to a second end point. Additionally, an interference fit is established between the dilator tapered region and the sheath distal end to further prevent sheath end deformation.
US08608698B2
An apparatus includes a housing, a needle, a first energy storage member and a second energy storage member. The needle is movably disposed within the housing and is configured to be to be placed in fluid communication with a medicament container. The needle is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In its first position, the needle is contained within the housing. In its second position, at least a portion of the needle extends from the housing. The first energy storage member is disposed within the housing, and is configured to produce a first force when actuated. The second energy storage member is disposed within the housing, and is configured to be actuated in response to the first force to produce a second force to move the needle from the first needle position to the second needle position.
US08608693B2
A medicine injection device comprises a cartridge having a cartridge barrel and a plunger having a plunger shaft slidable within the cartridge barrel. The cartridge may have, e.g., a pre-filled medicine. The medicine injection device farther comprises a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity in which the cartridge barrel is disposed. The proximal end of the body may optionally form a finger grip. The medicine injection device further comprises a plunger locking mechanism attached to the proximal end of the body. The plunger locking mechanism comprises a member with an aperture slidably engaged with the plunger shaft. The locking mechanism is configured for preventing the plunger from being removed from the cartridge barrel. For example, the plunger shaft may include a locking stop, e.g., a flange, that engages with the aperture in an interference arrangement.
US08608683B2
A device for infusing of at least one medicament includes at least two actuators configured to cause at least two medicaments to be infused; at least one sensor configured to measure a value of at least two parameters; and a controller configured to control the at least two actuators, wherein the controller is programmed to activate the at least two actuators depending on the values of each of the at least two parameters, and wherein the controller is arranged so as to consider a dependency of the at least two medicaments.
US08608682B2
A pressure and a vision regulation method and device for irrigation of a body cavity (1), in which method an inflow liquid pump (2) pressurizes the irrigation liquid in a feed line (13) and in which an outflow device (3) or an external suction source (20) drains the irrigation liquid from the body cavity (1) through a tubing (16) into a waste container (17) and in which a control unit (4) controls either the inflow liquid pump (2) only or both the inflow liquid pump (2) and the outflow device (3) depending on an inflow irrigation liquid pressure from a pressure sensor (5), where the first control unit (4) compares the inflow irrigation liquid pressure and flow with pressures calculated to correspond to pressure in the body cavity for the respective flow for a nominal surgical site and that a matching between the calculated values and the inflow irrigation liquid pressures is made by altering the effect of either the inflow liquid pump (2) only or the inflow liquid pump (2) and/or the outflow device (3) and/or the shut off valve. The above-mentioned pressure registration method and the device for irrigation of a body cavity is combined with an method for detecting blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin and/or debris in liquid coming from a surgical site so an automatically control and rinsing system is achieved keeping a clear vision in the viewing area of the operational site.
US08608672B2
A focused ultrasound system comprises a transducer having a multiplicity of transducer elements, drive circuitry that generates and outputs a plurality of drive signals, each offset by a respective phase difference, and a controller for selectively coupling the drive signals to respective transducer elements, the controller including a plurality of first tier switching modules and second tier switching modules. Each first tier module receives as an input the plurality of drive signals and outputs one of the drive signals in response to a drive signal selection signal. Each second tier module is coupled to a respective grouping of transducer elements and selectively couples a respective selected drive signal output from a first tier switching module to one or more of the transducer elements in response to a transducer element selection signal.
US08608669B2
Lancets comprising a piercing element for puncturing the skin of a patient, a test region containing detection reagents for determining an analyte concentration of a body fluid sample, a capillary structure arranged in the piercing element for transporting a body fluid sample to the test region, and a sterile protection element, which encloses the tip of the piercing element. The capillary structure is blocked in a section surrounded by the sterile protection element. Also provided are methods for producing a lancet, comprising: producing a piercing element, which on the upper side has an upwardly open capillary structure; covering a section of the upper side of the piercing element and blocking the capillary channel in this section using a first material; covering a section of the underside using a second material; sterilizing the piercing element; and attaching a test region containing detection reagents to the piercing element.
US08608668B2
A unique technique for maintaining the sterility and integrity of a lancet tip. One or more lancet tips are sandwiched between a first web and a second web of material to protect the sterility of the lancet tips. The first and second webs are heat fused together to form a structure that covers and encapsulates the lancet tips to protect the integrity of the lancet tips. The structure is cut to form individual protective caps to detachably cover each of the lancet tips.
US08608665B2
A device may include a first locking mechanism configured to connect a first end of the device to a needle, a second locking mechanism configured to connect a second end of the device to a syringe, a pressure transducer, a microprocessor and a light emitting diode. The pressure transducer may be configured to measure a first pressure at a first time and a second pressure at a second time. The microprocessor may be configured to receive the first pressure and the second pressure from the pressure transducer, determine a pressure difference between the first pressure and the second pressure, and determine a time difference between the first time and the second time. The light emitting diode may be configured to signal when the needle is properly situated based on the pressure difference and the time difference.
US08608649B2
Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.
US08608642B2
An environmentally sensitive hydrogel material swells or collapses in response to a parameter such as pH level associated with consumption of food by a patient. This swelling or collapsing is harnessed to treat morbid obesity or some other condition of the patient. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may be used to tighten a gastric band or gastric valve when the patient starts eating; then loosen the band or valve when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to increase the size of a space occupying device in the patient's stomach when the patient starts eating; then decrease the size of the space occupying device when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to selectively restrict the absorption of nutrients within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, such as in the duodenum.
US08608641B2
Articles and procedures for preventing or treating vaginal prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other disorders of the pelvic floor.
US08608627B2
Adjustable-weight exercise devices are disclosed. An example adjustable-weight exercise device may include an exercise device body; a generally cylindrical cavity extending into the exercise device body and comprising at least one engagement feature; and a generally cylindrical weight insert configured to be slidably received the cavity and comprising a corresponding engagement feature. The engagement feature and the corresponding engagement feature may be configured to releasably engage each other to selectively retain the generally cylindrical weight insert within the generally cylindrical cavity.
US08608626B2
One aspect is a rowing machine with a longitudinally extending beam and a seat mounted to said beam and slidable therealong. A frame is mounted to said beam and slidably movable therealong independently of said seat. A pair of foot rests are mounted to a user end of said frame. A flywheel is rotatably mounted by a flywheel shaft to said frame, said flywheel shaft mounted to said frame a height less than a radius of said flywheel above said beam. The flywheel is drivable by a cable through a transmission mechanism mounted to said frame such that one end of said cable remote from said flywheel is connected to a handgrip and the other end of said cable connected to a cable take up mechanism.
US08608625B2
Vibrational ergometer comprising a seat unit (20), a bottom bracket/crank unit (1) connected to a braking unit (4) as well as a vibrational unit, the latter consisting of a plate vibrator (2), a vibrational stand (18) and vibrational motors (3), wherein the plate vibrator (2) is connected to the bottom bracket/crank unit (1) and the bottom bracket/crank unit (1) is mechanically decoupled from the seat unit.
US08608617B2
A method and drive train for performing a gearshift from a first gear to a second gear in a vehicle provided with a manual or automated manual transmission is provided. A drivetrain incorporating the automated manual transmission includes an engine, connected via a clutch to an electric motor/generator, which in turn is connected to the manual or automated manual transmission and wherein the electric motor/generator is connected to a battery, other energy storing devices or a heating element. The method includes controlling the motor/generator to absorb a torque equalling the torque provided by the engine, such that the manual or automated manual transmission transfers a only minor, or no, torque, disengaging the first gear, controlling the torques absorbed by the motor/generator and provided by the engine such that an engine speed correlates to the engine speed necessary for propelling the vehicle at the second gear, and engaging the second gear.
US08608615B2
A drive system has a dual clutch transmission with two component transmissions, a dual clutch and an output shaft. The two component transmissions have a common main shaft and each has one component transmission input shaft that can be connected operatively to the main shaft. The main shaft and the output shaft are connected operatively to one another. A combustion engine selectively can be connected operatively to one of the component transmissions via the dual clutch and one of the component transmission input shafts to drive the output shaft via the main shaft. An electric machine can be connected positively and operatively to one of the component transmission input shafts and/or to the output shaft, or can be connected positively and operatively to one of the component transmission input shafts and/or to the main shaft.
US08608607B2
An infinitely variable gear transmission system for vehicles includes a differential gear unit for input, a planetary gear unit, an automatic gear coupling, a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic pump rotating with the first output shaft of the differential gear unit and one of the three gear elements of the planetary gear unit, the hydraulic motor rotating with one of the two remaining gear elements, the automatic gear coupling for coupling the two output shafts of the differential gear unit, and a Microprocessor unit to selectively control the fluid pressure in the hydraulic circuit by adjusting the flow control valve, and control the speed of the third gear element connected to the vehicle.
US08608602B2
An improved belt clutch engages to couple one shaft to at least one other shaft and disengaged to decouple the shafts. Known belt clutches fail to smoothly and completely disengage the belt from traction pulleys on the shafts and drag results. The improved belt clutch includes rollers outlining the engaged belt and constrain the disengaged belt to smoothly and completely disengage the belt from the traction pulleys. The new improved belt clutch provides, among other things, higher efficiency when driven in either direction and smoother operation when engaged or disengaged at high speed than prior art belt clutches.
US08608586B2
A golf club with a club head comprising a body defining a volume, a shaft coupled to the club head, and a balance point established above the sole and no further away from the sole than five inches is provided. A method for creating a club head with enhanced balance point placement can also be provided. The method can include, in a golf club formed from a club head coupled to a shaft, moving a balance point from a position between no less than seven inches and no more than eighteen inches measured from the sole along a longitudinal axis of the shaft between a butt of the shaft and a sole of the club head to a position no further away from the sole than five inches measured from the sole along a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
US08608584B1
A golf swing training device including a mat having a contact plate disposed therein over which the golf club passes during correct ball contact and a plurality of apertures disposed at predetermined locations in the mat in which pegs are inserted to arrange a desired swing path for a right-handed or left-handed golfer's club swing for either the woods and the driver or the irons. An alignment tube, which is fixed and alternately telescopic, attached to a cylindrical female connector on either of the mat right and left sides and a T-shaped tube connector to which a pair of alignment rods is attached align the golfer's feet in a position parallel to the mat sides. An alignment arrow on the mat top surface provides a visual cue for a correct forward follow through. Stakes driven through holes in the mat secure the mat to a ground surface for outdoor use.
US08608580B2
A slide assembly for indoor/outdoor use which may be adapted to mount to a stairway or furniture piece, such as a couch or chair. The slide assembly includes two or more mounting apparatuses which pivotally mount the slide to a vertical wall adjacent to a stairway such that the slide assembly is capable of being moved from an in-use position to a folded or stowed away position. The ability to pivot the slide assembly allows the stairway to be left unobstructed and free for regular use while the slide is not being used. Similarly, the slide assembly may be mounted to a couch or chair and may be easily disassembled such that the couch may be left unobstructed and free for regular use when the slide is not being used.
US08608577B2
A damper device includes a first rotation member coupled to an engine; a second rotation member coupled to a drive member driven by power generated from the engine and capable of rotating relative to the first rotation member; and a coil spring configured to transmit the power between the first rotation member and the second rotation member, and absorb a torque variation between the first rotation member and the second rotation member, wherein the coil spring has a hollow portion that is an internal area and an outline portion that is an outer area on a cross-sectional shape on a plane including a centerline of the coil spring, the hollow portion having lower rigidity and lower density than those of the outline portion. Accordingly, the damper device can reduce the influence caused by the centrifugal force.
US08608572B1
A game processing server apparatus, to which plural terminal devices each being operated by a player are connected via a network, configured to provide a game service to the plural terminal devices, includes a player management unit which manages an association of a target player with other plural players; and an event management unit which controls a generation of a predetermined event, manages an event generation status for each of the target player and the players associated with the target player, determines whether a specific event is already generated for the target player and the players associated with the target player by referring to the event generation status for each of the target player and the players associated with the target player, determines, based on the determined result, an event to be generated for the target player.
US08608557B2
Provided is a betting ticket purchase system capable of avoiding a time lag between the reception of a purchase request that changes the odds greatly and the reflection of the specifics of the purchase request on a change in the odds . A betting request receiving unit (26) receives a purchase request for a betting ticket. An odds outputting unit (24) outputs odds which are calculated based on specifics of the purchase request. The betting request receiving unit (26) identifies a level of impact of the purchase request on the odds based on the specifics of the purchase request. The betting request receiving unit (26) sets a processing order of the purchase request so that the purchase request is processed before a purchase request that is identified as being smaller in impact on the odds than the purchase request.
US08608554B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices having a delayed bonus win determination and methods of operating gaming systems and gaming devices to provide delayed bonus win determinations. Here, contributions to a linked jackpot may be separated from the chance to win the linked jackpot, where the chance to win the linked jackpot can be stored and used at a later time.
US08608552B2
Systems and methods are provided for providing a service to a player using a player device. A indication of a player identifier which corresponds to a player of a gaming device is received. A player device is provided to the player. A service to provide the player is determined based on a gaming activity of the player, and the service is then provided to the player using the player device.
US08608543B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming device which enables a player to purchase the game in stages or increments. The gaming device enables the player to place a first wager for a play of the game. After receiving the first wager, the gaming device randomly generates and displays a first outcome. The gaming device evaluates the displayed first outcome to determine whether the displayed outcome includes any winning symbol combinations. The gaming device provides the player with any awards associated with any determined winning symbol combinations. After providing the player with any awards based on the displayed first outcome, the gaming device offers the player the opportunity to make a second wager for the play of the game. If the second wager is placed, the gaming device generates and displays the second outcome, while the first outcome remains displayed. The gaming device evaluates the displayed second outcome in combination with the displayed first outcome to determine whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed. The gaming device provides the player with any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations. If the player chooses not to make the second wager for the play of the game, the play of the game terminates. In this manner, the present disclosure enables a player to decide when to continue building on an outcome that is good and when to stop the play of the game.
US08608539B2
A gaming machine is provided which is capable of providing a rendering in such a manner that a story gradually extends together with a bonus game in a case where rendering processing is executed in parallel with the bonus game. The routine transfers to a free game, as triggered by establishment of a condition for rearranging a specific symbol in a base game. Next, the routine transfers to a bonus game, as triggered by establishment of a first transfer condition in the free game. Then, the routine transfers to another free game, as triggered by establishment of a second transfer condition in the bonus game. In this manner, an extended game loop in which the free game and the bonus game enter extended games is formed.
US08608533B2
A roof ventilation system operable based on environmental parameters is disclosed. The system includes a vent, a fan, a solar panel, a battery and a controller. The vent is positioned within a field of a roof, and includes a first opening configured to allow airflow between regions above and below the roof. The fan is positioned to generate an air flow through the vent. The solar panel is positioned on the roof in a location such that the solar panel receives solar radiation. The battery is electrically connected to the solar panel. The controller is in communication with the fan, and is configured to drive the fan based on at least one environmental parameter.
US08608524B2
Provided is a water shoe facilitating walking on a water surface. The water shoe of the present invention includes: a foot fixing portion to fix a foot; a supporting bar coupled with the foot fixing portion; a floating membrane foldable toward and unfoldable from the supporting bar with the supporting bar functioning as a pivot shaft to provide buoyancy to the water shoe when the floating membrane comes into contact with a water surface; and a folding hinge portion coupled with the floating membrane to fold and unfold the floating membrane. The water shoe of the present invention has a simple structure, and may be put to use in water leisure sports at an inexpensive cost. Further, the water shoe may be used even in a narrow area, without a motor boat, and almost unencumbered by weather conditions.
US08608523B2
A lightweight watercraft device designed for use by general consumers and those without means or desire for a traditional, larger boat. The device comprises a pilot seat, an outboard electric motor and steering means mounted to a lightweight foam hull wrapped in a composite shell. The hull comprises a central region bounded by two forward sweeping sides that form the bow of the vessel. The sides taper from bow to stern, terminating at the rear of the boat in a squared configuration. The hull is a unitary foam structure, wrapped in plys of composite material for structural reinforcement. A plank board is bonded between plys along the central axis of the boat, and provides support for the seat, a rear transom board and an area for carrying supplies. Mounted on the transom board is the outboard electric motor, which provides motive power for the vessel.
US08608522B2
A jet propulsion unit has a water inlet, a pump body, an impeller, and a valve assembly fluidly. The valve assembly has a valve housing having an inlet fluidly connected to the pump body, a first outlet and a second outlet. A valve body is disposed in the valve housing and is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, water from a body of water flows consecutively through the water inlet, the pump body, the inlet of the valve housing, the valve housing and the first outlet of the valve housing. In the second position, water from the body of water flows consecutively through the water inlet, the pump body, the inlet of the valve housing, the valve housing, and the second outlet of the valve housing. A watercraft having the jet propulsion unit is also disclosed.
US08608521B1
Systems and methods of operating a marine propulsion system utilize an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that is powered by a battery, wherein the internal combustion engine and the electric motor each selectively power a marine propulsor to propel a marine vessel. A control circuit is operated to control operation of the system according to a plurality of modes including at least an electric mode wherein the electric motor powers the marine propulsor and a hybrid mode wherein the internal combustion engine powers the marine propulsor and provides power for recharging the battery. An operator-desired future performance capability of the hybrid marine propulsion system is input to the control circuit, which selects and executes the plurality of modes so as to provide the operator-desired desired future performance capability.
US08608517B2
A wedge connector assembly for forming an electrical connection with an elongate electrical conductor includes a resilient spring member and a cam wedge member. The spring member defines a spring member channel. The spring member channel has a spring member channel axis and is configured to receive the electrical conductor such that the electrical conductor extends along the spring member channel axis. The cam wedge member is mounted on the spring member such that the cam wedge member is rotatable relative to the spring member about a pivot axis to a locking position wherein the cam wedge member captures the electrical conductor in the spring member channel and elastically deflects the spring member.
US08608515B2
A terminal block in which a plurality of conductive plates (10) connected to device-side busbars provided in a motor are made integral by a connector housing (50) made of synthetic resin includes a plurality of cores (65) in which the conductive plates (10) are made integral to a primary molded portion (61); a metal plate (30) to be attached and fixed to a motor case; and a secondary molded portion (70) integrally forming the plurality of cores (65) held in contact side by side and the metal plate (30). A contact portion (66) is provided between a pair of adjacent cores (65, 65) and the pair of adjacent cores (65, 65) are held in contact via the contact portion (66).
US08608509B2
An electrical connector having a housing provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing for contacting with connecting terminals on the flat circuit device in the housing, and a shell member mounted on the housing and provided therein with a holding portion for holding the flat circuit device in the housing and a manipulatable releasing portion for releasing the flat circuit device from holding by the holding portion, wherein the holding portion is constituted to extend from a portion of the shell member provided for covering one of opposite plate-shaped portions of the housing into an inside of the housing and to have an engaging projection formed thereon for selectively engaging with and disengaging from the flat circuit device.
US08608507B2
An electrical connector interface has a male portion and a female portion. The male portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting connector tabs and a conical outer diameter seat surface at an interface end. A releasable retainer seats upon the male portion. The female portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting base tabs and an annular groove open to the interface end with an outer sidewall dimensioned to mate with the conical outer diameter seat surface. the releasable retainer dimensioned to engage the base tabs, upon rotation of the releasable retainer, retaining the outer diameter seat surface against the outer sidewall. A handle projection of the releasable retainer and/or visual engagement indicia may be applied for ease of tool-less interconnection and/or verification of engagement.
US08608503B2
A connector guide member is provided for guiding a connector attached on a circuit board to a mating connector attached on another circuit board when the connector is connected to the mating connector. The connector guide member includes a positioning member that sets a position of the connector relative to the mating connector; an engaging member that locks to the connector while the positioning member positions the connector, and a guiding member that guides a guided portion provided on the mating connector.
US08608497B2
A connector assembly for a modular device that connects to a host device, including a receptacle forming part of a host electronic device, and a connector plug mounted on one side of a modular electronic device, for use with two operational modes of the modular device, including a first connector for engagement with the receptacle in a first operational mode in which the modular device is connected with the host device, and a second connector for engagement with a cable external to the modular device in a second operational mode in which the modular device is not connected with the host device, the second connector being covered by the host device but not engaged therewith when the first connector is engaged with the receptacle, thus enabling the modular device to be used with a host or alternatively removed from the host and connected to a cable for external use.
US08608491B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing with a number of passageways extending therethrough, a number of electrical contacts secured in the passageways respectively, and a number of solder balls contacting with the electrical contacts. The passageways each includes a solder ball receiving slot and a pre-setting slot below the solder ball receiving slot and expanded therefrom. The electrical contacts each have a solder tail at a lower end thereof and a contact section at an upper end thereof. The solder balls and the solder tails are disposed in the solder ball receiving slot and the pre-setting slot. The pre-setting slot restricts the solder ball at a first position and the solder ball receiving slot restricts the solder ball at a second position.
US08608488B2
A portable electronic device includes a base material, a fixing-cover and conductive terminals. The base material has first contact-pads and second contact-pads. The fixing-cover is disposed on a first surface and exposes the first contact-pads. The fixing-cover has a clamp portion. The terminals are disposed on the second contact-pads, wherein a first end of each the terminal extends out of the fixing-cover. A second end leans against the fixing-cover. A central portion is located between the two ends, wherein the bottom of the central portion bulges and contacts the corresponding second contact-pad, and the two ends can swing relatively to the base material around the bottom of the central portion as the pivot. The central portion has a positioning portion formed in direction facing the opening and the positioning portion is embedded in the opening.
US08608478B2
An electronic clipboard with an optional associated remote personal unit worn by a player. The clipboard can include a flat electronic unit with an optionally writeable flat display. The associated unit can be a wrist or other unit with a small display worn by a player. A protective cover can be pulled over the display to protect it during play. Plays from a library of plays, or plays written on the electronic clipboard, can be transmitted by radio to the remote personal unit and displayed. The electronic coach's clipboard that could store and recall images of plays that the coach could carry or have immediately available. Optionally real-time game photographs can be displayed on the coach's electronic clipboard.
US08608472B2
The invention relates to a dental suction apparatus for suctioning fluids and debris from the mouth cavity of a patient during a treatment. The apparatus has a hollow base body with a longitudinal axis X-X that includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a suction port. A mirrored surface is disposed on the inner surface of the suction port so that at least parts of the mouth cavity can be viewed through the suction port.
US08608470B2
A holding member can be made to move up and down with long strokes by means of short vertical strokes so that the overall arrangement can be downsized and lightweight. Additionally, the holding member can be held to a constant attitude and the overall arrangement can be simplified to reduce the cost. A swing arm is adapted to be swung between the metal mold of a resin molding machine and the outside of the resin molding machine by means of a rotary shaft rotating in response to a vertical motion of an elevating body relative to a vertical frame and, at the same time, a fitting member is adapted to be driven to rotate in response to the swinging motion of the swing arm in order to control the attitude of a vertical arm so as to make its axial line aligned with the vertical direction.
US08608465B2
Positive-displacement auxiliary pumping systems for use in pump apparatus of different configurations are disclosed. The positive-displacement auxiliary pumping systems are included in positive-displacement rotary pumps having a casing defining a pumping cavity, an inlet port connected to the pumping cavity, a discharge port connected to the pumping cavity, and a positive-displacement auxiliary pumping port connected to the pumping cavity. Pumping elements move within the pumping cavity of the casing and define a collapsing pocket that maintains fluid communication with the positive-displacement auxiliary pumping port after the collapsing pocket is no longer in fluid communication with the discharge port.
US08608463B2
A micro cooling fan comprises a housing and a main circuit board. The housing has an accommodation space, a first inner surface, and a gap. The gap is in communication with the accommodation space, and two opposite side edges of the gap have a groove respectively. The main circuit board comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The first circuit board has a stator, the second circuit board has a driving circuit, and the stator is electrically connected to the driving circuit. The first circuit board is disposed on the first inner surface, and the second circuit board is embedded into the grooves and blocks the gap.
US08608460B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
US08608457B2
A device for driving a drum (1) about the axis thereof, including a motor (2) which is mounted at least partially inside the drum (1) and a transmission (7) disposed between the motor (2) and the drum (1), characterized in that it further includes a device (10) enabling a forced current of cooling air to be created in a space (13,14) between the motor (2) and an inner wall of the drum (1).
US08608454B2
In a swash-plate type hydrostatic piston engine, a drive unit (10) and a swash plate (17) are received by a pot-shaped housing (1b). According to the invention, the pot-shaped housing (1b) is configured such that it is able to receive drive units (10a, 10b) of at least two rated quantities of a specific product series of the hydrostatic piston engine.
US08608453B2
The invention relates to a feed pump for supplying lubricant to at least one lubricating point, with at least one driving module and at least one pump module. Each driving module and each pump module is selected from a modular system which comprises a plurality of driving modules and/or a plurality of pump modules which each have at least one connecting region. In this case, the connecting regions are matched to one another in such a manner that the at least one driving module can be exchanged for at least one further driving module and/or the at least one pump module can be exchanged for at least one further pump module.
US08608448B2
A shroudless blade for use in a compressor or fan of an axial flow gas turbine engine includes a treatment to the tips of the blades to improve the surge margin of the compressor. A series of cross bleed holes are formed at the tip of the blade, which may be a stator or rotor component, extending between the pressure and suction sides of the blades. Notches are provided at the tip of the blades to provide initiation sites for any fatigue cracks such that the cracks propagate from the base of these slots or notches and radially inwards into the body of the blades. The present invention provides an arrangement, which by provision of the cross bleed holes the propagation of the cracks is arrested. A preferred placement and orientation for the holes for best mechanical and aerodynamic performance is described.
US08608446B2
A compressor disk for a turbine engine includes a plurality of blades mounted about the circumference. To assemble the blades onto the disk a lock assembly is inserted within a blade slot on the disk. A blade is assembled into the blade slot and slider seals are inserted between the blade and the disk to limit air from entering the blade slot. Additional blades are assembled until the end of the slider seals are reached. The process is repeated until all the blades have been assembled onto the disk. After the last blade has been assembled a spacer seal is placed at each lock assembly to take up the slack. Once all the blades and spacer seals are assembled the lock assemblies can be moved to a locked position.
US08608444B2
A single-bearing structure, in particular for use in a wind power plant, which has a low friction operating characteristic. The single-bearing structure for mounting a rotor in the wind power plant has two first rows of rolling bodies, which are arranged in the single-bearing structure such that their pressure lines intersect with one another and with a radial plane of a rotation axis of the single-bearing structure. The rolling bodies of the two first rows of rolling bodies are designed as cylindrical rollers.
US08608441B2
The lengths and/or chords and/or pitches of wind turbine or propeller blades are individually established, so that a first blade can have a length/chord/pitch that is different at a given time to the length/chord/pitch of a second blade to optimize performance and/or to equalize stresses on the system.
US08608435B2
A turbomachine, especially a gas turbine, includes a rotor having rotating blades and a stator having a housing and guide blades. The rotating blades form at least one rotating blade ring, which at one radially outward lying end adjoins an inner ring or casing ring of the housing, thereby defining a gap therebetween. The casing ring is connected to a support ring via curved walls, which together with the casing ring and the support ring bound a cavity and form a bellowslike structure. By changing the pressure prevailing in the cavity of the respective bellowslike structure, the gap between the casing ring and the radially outward lying ends of the respective rotating blade ring can be pneumatically adjusted.
US08608433B2
The invention relates to a turbine (1) for a turbocharger, comprising a turbine wheel (2) and a turbine housing (5) forming a passage (6) for guiding a fluid flow to the turbine wheel (2), said passage (6) comprising a variable throat providing a throat area (8) as a smallest cross section of the fluid flow, wherein the variable throat is always defined by a annular member (7) surrounding the turbine wheel (2) and being movable in the axial direction of the turbine wheel (2).
US08608431B2
A dustproof axial-flow fan device includes an axial-flow fan and a mount body. The axial-flow fan has a frame body and a fan propeller rotatably mounted in the frame body. The mount body has an inlet and an outlet. At least one shutter slat is disposed at the inlet. A filter mesh is disposed at the outlet. An opening is formed at a bottom of the mount body. When the fan propeller forward rotates, air flows from the inlet into the mount body and filters through the filter mesh to flow out of the outlet. When the fan propeller reversely rotates, the shutter slat is closed to block the inlet. In this case, the air flows from the outlet into the mount body to blow off the dust from the filter mesh. The shutter slat will stop and make the dust drop out from the opening to remove the dust.
US08608423B2
A device, used for clamping and rotating the object, includes two first rods, one ends of which are respectively connected to one ends of the first plate and the second plate through a linked unit; another ends of the first rods are connected to the third rod that is used for balancing the rotating angles of the first rod and two linked units, such that the heights of two ends of the first rods and the second rods can be kept in step. Two second rods are connected to the first plate and the second plate respectively, as well as, another ends of second rods are connected to the fourth rod respectively. Accordingly, the fourth rod can be rotated to drive the second rod, such that the first plate and the second plate can be rotated. Therefore, due to two plates are used for clamping and rotating synchronously, users can take the advantages while the device is used.
US08608420B2
A self-attaching nut for attachment to a panel includes a central pilot portion having a bore therethrough, and having a substantially cylindrical outer surface. A flange portion surrounds the outer surface of the pilot portion, and the flange portion includes an annular groove surrounding the pilot portion. The annular groove has a substantially V-shaped axial cross section. The self-attaching nut further includes a plurality of spaced raised buttons formed on a surface of the annular groove. The spaced raised buttons are configured to substantially prevent relative rotation between the nut and the panel, and configured to aid in preventing pull-out of the nut from the panel.
US08608412B2
A boring bar feed mechanism comprising a boring bar and a rotation mechanism for rotating the boring bar, a feed shaft, a feed coupling the feed shaft with the boring bar for axially translating the boring bar, and the boring bar is rotationally mounted with respect to but axially fixed to a second end of the feed coupler. A cam is rotationally fixed to the boring bar for rotating with the boring bar and a cam follower interacts with the cam. A plunger housing is supported by an extension of the cam follower and the plunger housing accommodates at least one feed plunger. A converter gear is supported by the feed shaft and the feed plunger interacts with the converter gear to facilitate indexing of the converter gear. The plunger housing is pivotally supported by the extension of the cam follower to permit the plunger housing and the feed plunger to have a limited pivoted motion, relative to the cam follower, as the cam follower oscillates back and forth and indexes the feed shaft.
US08608404B2
An agricultural/aquacultural system for use with a plurality of growth reservoirs containing a fluid. The system involves a main control unit for receiving feedback and providing control, at least one pump control unit in electronic communication with the main control unit, and at least one gate control unit in electronic communication with the main control unit.
US08608398B2
The spherical joint with internal brake has a controlled actuator that selectively brakes relative motion between interior members and an outer shell of the spherical ball joint. A shaft extending from the internal members can be stopped at any rotational position relative to the shell. The internal members may include a central spherical sectioned member sandwiched by a pair of symmetrically opposed peripheral spherical sectioned members, which selectively act as brakes when an actuator in the central member is energized. The energized actuator has a dual piston that pushes outwardly on the pair of opposed peripheral segments, which increases friction between the peripheral segments and an interior wall of the spherical shell to brake the system. The shaft extends from the central spherical sectioned member through an aperture in the shell. The size of the shell aperture determines the range of rotational motion of the shaft.
US08608388B2
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes: a circuit substrate; an optical semiconductor element provided on the circuit substrate; and a sealing resin provided on the circuit substrate, with which the optical semiconductor element is sealed, the sealing resin having a cuboid shape or a cubic shape, the sealing resin having an outer shape having at least one cutout part, in a case where a single cutout part is formed, the cutout part being provided in an area other than a center area of a top surface of the sealing resin, in a case where a plurality of cutout parts are provided, the cutout parts are formed so as not to be symmetric with respect to the central point on the top surface. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device which can secure prevention of a sealing resin from being, in an erroneous direction, fitted into a connector.
US08608387B2
A tapered roller bearing comprises an outer ring (32), an inner ring (33), a plurality of tapered rollers (34) arranged between the outer ring (32) and the inner ring (33), and a plurality of retainer segments (11a) having pockets for holding the tapered rollers (34) and arranged so as to be continuously lined with each other in a circumferential direction between the outer ring (32) and the inner ring (33). Here, the tapered roller (34) is arranged between two adjacent retainer segments (11b) and (11c) except for between the first retainer segment (11a) and the last retainer segment lined continuously with each other in the circumferential direction.
US08608379B2
In a reclosable bag (20) a zipper (Z) is provided on the inner surfaces (50) of the plastic film and the two parts of the zipper (Z) are fixed on the opposite inner surfaces (50) of the bag (20), wherein the zipper (Z) is connected to the inner surface (50) of the plastic film in such a manner that between the welded regions (12, 14) between the zipper (Z) and the inner surface (50) of the plastic film, recesses (15, 13) are left free in the longitudinal direction of the zipper (Z) to form a seal-free longitudinal channel and in the transverse direction of the zipper (Z) to produce free air or steam passage openings at defined distances between the zipper (Z) and the inner surface (50), through which openings a passage of steam is possible, wherein ends of the openings facing the interior (60) of the bag (20) are larger than ends of the openings facing the exterior (70) of the bag (20).
US08608373B2
In a local softening point measuring apparatus and thermal conductivity measuring apparatus using a probe microscope as a base, environment of the prob˜ and a sample surface is set to 1/100 atmospheric pressure (103 Pa) or lower. Otherwise, a side surface of the probe is coated with a thermal insulation material having a thickness that enables thermal dissipation to be reduced to 1/100 or lower, to thereby reduce the thermal dissipation from the side surface of the probe, and exchange heat substantially only at the contacting portion between the probe and the sample surface.
US08608370B1
Apparatus for, and method of, containing, transferring and electromagnetically stirring an electrically conductive fluid is provided. A vessel is formed from spaced-apart annular structural elements, or hoops, that are bound together by a high-temperature electrical insulating material, which also forms the interior surface of the vessel. Reinforcing members are embedded in the high-temperature electrical insulating material and passed through the hoops. The vessel is disposed within an electrical stator having multiple electrical poles. Each pole is wound with a separate coil. Current can be supplied to each coil winding, with a suitable phase shift between currents to all coil windings, to achieve an electromagnetically induced stirring and heating of the electrically conductive fluid. The vessel may be removably disposed in the electrical stator so that the vessel can be transported to and from the electrical stator for induced stirring.
US08608367B2
A screw extruder is presented including a feed hopper for receiving materials and a body member having at least one supply port and at least one outlet port. The screw extruder also includes a screw positioned within the body member and movable along a channel defining a longitudinal axis. The screw extruder further includes a drive shaft for rotatably driving the screw along the channel. The screw extruder may be configured to mix the materials received via the feed hopper with a series of one or more forward, neutral, and reverse kneading elements.
US08608365B2
A backlight fixing device includes a base plate, a first slidable unit and a second slidable unit. The base plate includes an L-shaped bar formed on an upper surface of the base plate protruding from edges of two adjacent sides of the base plate. A first guiding groove and a second guiding groove are defined in the upper surface of the base plate and extended perpendicularly from the other two adjacent sides of the base plate towards a central area of the base plate correspondingly. The first slidable unit is movably attached to base plate to be movable along the first guiding groove. The second slidable unit is movably attached to base plate to be movable along the second guiding groove. The first slidable unit, the second slidable unit and the L-shaped bar form a receiving space for accommodating a backlight module.
US08608363B2
A hollow light-recycling backlight has a “semi-specular” component providing a balance of specularly and diffusely reflected light improving the uniformity of the light output. The component may be arranged on the reflectors (1021), (1014) or inside the cavity (1016). This balance is achieved by designing the component's “transport ratio” defined by (F−B)/(F+B), (F and B are the amounts of incident light scattered forwards and backwards respectively by the component in the plane of the cavity) to lie in a certain range. Furthermore, the product of the front and back reflector “hemispherical” reflectivities should also lie in a given range. Alternatively, the “cavity transport value”, a measure of how well the cavity can spread injected light from the injection point to distant points in the cavity should lie in a further range and the “hemispherical” reflectivity of the back reflector should be >0.7.
US08608358B2
A light module for a vehicle lighting device comprises a semiconductor light source mounted on a carrier element designed. on/including a first printed-circuit board. A control module is electrically connected to and structurally spaced from the light source and designed on/includes a second printed-circuit board and includes an electric circuit constructed upon the second board and a connection element adapted w be connected to a higher-level controller and/or vehicle power supply. The control module is an electronic component of the light source such that a cable does not connect the control module and light source to each other. A highly thermally conductive carrier module is arranged between the light source and control module and directly attached to the carrier element, second printed-circuit board, and electric circuit. An electrical connection is located on the carrier module between the fight source or carrier element and electric circuit or second printed-circuit board.
US08608356B1
The present invention may be used for illuminating the terrain in the proximity of the axles, differential, wheels and tires for off-road vehicles. An access cover of differential gear axle housing may have lateral ribs formed as part of the cover outside surface. A recess may be formed by recess walls as an element of the lateral ribs. A light emitting device may be mounted in the recess and may be electrically connected through a port in the recess walls to an electrical power source controllable from an off-road vehicle.
US08608354B2
A remote control for bicycle headlight and rear light is provided a dome including an opening; an actuation member including a resilient button disposed through the opening, and a flange extending outwardly from the button to engage an inner surface of the dome; a controller including a control unit, a switch on the control unit and engaging the button, and a transmitter within the control unit; a battery engaging the control unit; and a bracket including a clamp and a seat at one end of the clamp, the seat releasably secured to the dome together to receive the actuation member, the controller, and the battery. The bracket is mounted on a handlebar by threadedly securing the clamp to a brake lever. A pressing of the button electrically connects the battery to the control unit so as to activate the transmitter to send out an IR light pulse.
US08608344B2
An LED lighting structure includes a main body and a filling body. The main body has a first side and a second side. The first side has multiple raised sections. The second side has multiple light incidence sections corresponding to the raised sections respectively. At least one recessed channel section is formed on the second side around the light incidence sections. The filling body is disposed in the channel section. The filling body provides waterproof effect to prevent humidity and alien particles from infiltrating into the channel section. Also, multiple main bodies can be quickly serially connected.
US08608343B2
Embodiments of collapsible and adjustable support frames hold sockets of light strings at an equal distance and orientation to each other. Each frame can include, for example, a scissor frame with a locking slide arm on both ends to facilitate connection of the scissor frame of other scissor frames. Removable hooks that can be used from a vertical to a horizontal orientation from a gutter or any means that supports said hooks and adjustable light socket clips that can be rotated so as to be used in any orientation. This device can be adjusted and equipped with lights on the ground, thereby facilitating a reduction in the time need to install the light string. After use, the frames can be collapsed with the light string installed thereon to facilitate storage.
US08608331B2
A backlight module includes a first optical film with high light reflection characteristics, a second optical film with polarization light selection transmission characteristics and light reflection characteristics, a plurality of lampshades, and a plurality of line light sources. Each lampshade has high light reflection characteristics and is disposed between optical films so that any two spaced-apart adjacent lampshades define a light mixing chamber between optical films. Each line light source is disposed in a corresponding light mixing chamber and is mounted to a corresponding lampshade for emitting light.
US08608321B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.
US08608320B2
There is provided a projector that uses a laser light source and is safe and realizes high brightness. The projector applies a laser beam emitted from a laser light source (101) to an image modulation device (105) and magnifies and projects an image formed in the image modulation device (105) by a zoom lens (106). The projector includes a control mechanism (108) for controlling the amount of energy of the light beam in response to a change in a focal distance of the zoom lens (106) in such a way that an energy density of the laser beam developed on a light emitting surface of the zoom lens (106) is kept at a specified value or smaller than the specified value. The specified value is the energy density of the laser beam in a case where the focal distance of the zoom lens (106) is set to the shortest value and is an accessible emission limit value (AEL value) that satisfies the laser safety class of the projector.
US08608309B2
An eyeglass system having interchangeable components. The eyeglass system includes right and left temples that are connected to a front frame via a decorative pin. The pin is easily removed to allow one to replace the temples with those having another style, or use the temples with another frame. A front cover can also be connected to the frame via the pin to further change the style or design of the eyeglasses.
US08608306B2
An inkjet recording ink including at least a pigment, fine resin particles, a water soluble organic solvent, and water, wherein a polymer chain is grafted onto a surface of the pigment, and the polymer chain is composed of at least one monomer unit, which is selected from the monomers represented by the following Chemical Formulas (1) to (4): Chemical Formula (1) where R1 represents H or CH3, and “n” represents the number of carbon atoms; Chemical Formula (2) where R2 and R3 each represent H or CH3, and “m” represents the number of units repeated; Chemical Formula (3) where R4 and R5 each represent H or CH3, and “p” is the number of units repeated; and Chemical Formula (4) where R6 and R7 each represent H or CH3, and “k” and “l” each represent the number of units repeated.
US08608304B2
A process for forming an image by using an inkjet recording apparatus including printing by using two or more kinds of inks each containing a pigment dispersion containing a pigment and a resin, an organic solvent and water, wherein the printing is conducted by ejecting the inks each having a particle size-change constant within a prescribed range from recording heads in the increasing order of the particle size-change constants, wherein each particle size-change constant is obtained by a prescribed process from the average particle diameters of the pigment included in each ink at mass drying rates in the range of 10 to 40%.
US08608301B2
There is disclosed a liquid ejecting head having a configuration in which a cross-sectional area of an intermediate passage is smaller than that of an upstream passage and a downstream passage to cause a flow speed of ink to be faster in the intermediate passage when the ink flows toward the downstream passage via the intermediate passage without passing through a filter, thereby making it possible to flow air bubbles staying on a face of the filter together with the ink.
US08608299B1
An ink cartridge with replaceable ink bag is provided, including a cartridge body, an ink bag and a lid body. The lid body is removably engaged to the cartridge body to house the ink bag. The wall on long side of the cartridge includes at least a retention block. The ink bag includes a trigger based on amount of remaining ink, a bag body and a positioning element. The bag body is partially glued to the positioning element. The surroundings of the positioning element are disposed with at least a retention element. The retention element can be inserted between the retention block and the bottom of the cartridge body for fixing the ink bag inside the cartridge. As such, the cartridge body and the lid body of the present invention can be reused to save the cost as well as resources to reduce the environmental waste.
US08608297B2
A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer consisting a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing bismuth and iron and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The complex oxide further contains a first dopant element that is at least one of magnesium and zinc and a second dopant element that is cerium.
US08608280B2
A recording apparatus includes: a recording head that discharges a recording ink and an undercoating ink on a recording medium; a driving section that drives at least one of the recording medium and the recording head so that the recording medium and the recording head are relatively scanned several times in one direction; and a control section that causes an undercoating layer with the undercoating ink on a predetermined area of the recording medium and a recording layer with the recording ink to be laminated by the recording head and the driving section, and simultaneously allows that the number of the scannings in a case where the undercoating ink is discharged with respect to the predetermined area is larger than the number of the scannings in a case where the recording ink is discharged with respect to the predetermined area.
US08608263B2
A storage/dispensing compartment includes a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, a bottom wall portion and opposing side wall portions that collectively define a storage zone. The storage/dispensing compartment further includes a mounting element that is arranged on an underside of the bottom wall portion. The mounting element cooperates with a mounting member to position and secure the storage compartment in a storage cavity of a chiller compartment arranged on a refrigerator door. The storage/dispensing compartment, constructed in accordance with one embodiment, includes first and second, laterally arranged storage zones, each having respective inlet and outlet portions and a plurality of divider walls. The divider walls establish a serpentine path that extends from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.
US08608262B1
An expandable drawer adaptable to various size openings comprises a pair of locking tracks and expanding wall and floor portions. The expanding drawer assembly comprises a conventional drawer with width adjustment features along front, back, and bottom surfaces. The drawer's width is adjustable to correspond to the width of the opening, allowing the device to fully occupy the prescribed space.
US08608258B2
A cabinet rack for housing a piece of electronic equipment secured to a mounting member, the cabinet rack includes a plurality of vertically extending support posts; a first supporting member secured to one of the support posts, the first supporting member including a guide vertically extending along the one of the support posts, the guide with the one of the support posts forming a guide groove therebetween; a second supporting member including a fixing portion for fixing the mounting member, and a slider portion provided in the guide groove so as to slide along the guide to a mounting position in the cabinet rack; and a third supporting member including a pressing portion provided between the slider portion and the one of the support posts to secure the second supporting member to the first supporting member by pressing the slider portion against the guide.
US08608251B2
A method of manufacturing a brush head is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a bristle carrier on which at least a bristle tuft including a plurality of bristles is mounted; providing a cover structure having at least an aperture; constraining the free ends of the plurality of bristles of the bristle tuft into a defined cross sectional geometry such that it fits within the cross sectional area of the aperture; moving the cover structure and the bristle carrier relative to each other until the constrained bristle tuft and the aperture are positioned in spatial alignment; and releasing the constraint while moving the cover structure into a destination position in which the bristle tuft extends through the aperture.
US08608246B1
A safety belt holder for holding a safety belt out of a seat associated with the safety belt, the safety belt holder comprising a first part and a second part. The first part comprises an attachment device for attaching the first part to a structure adjacent the seat, a body attached to the attachment device, and a connector first side attached to or embedded within the body. The second part is attachable to the safety belt and comprises a connector second side, which is removably attachable to the connector first side. In particular, the safety belt holder is suitable for use with an infant car seat with a five-point harness and a retractable handle.
US08608244B2
A vehicle seat having a seat part and a backrest that can be inclined relative to the seat part to allow transfer between an in-use position and a stowed position includes structure that causes the length of the backrest to change during the transfer. In a particular embodiment, the length of the backrest is greater in the in-use position than in the stowed position to provide satisfactory comfort and safety to an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when it is in the in-use position and to provide a compact arrangement in the stowed position.
US08608243B2
A vehicle seat includes: a holder assembled to a back frame, the holder configured to receive a backrest load of a seated person via a pad member; a vibration device assembled to a rear side of the holder, the vibration device configured to give a local stimulus to a seated person's waist; an air massage device disposed in a through hole formed in a thickness direction of the pad member, the air massage device configured to locally press a seated person's back; and a lumbar support device configured to change a projecting amount of a receiving surface of a seat back, wherein the lumbar support device has a rod configured to be movable between an advancing position and a retreating position to change the projecting amount of the receiving surface of the seat back, and wherein the rod is disposed between the holder and the vibration device.
US08608237B2
A center floor panel assembly for a vehicle may include a first center floor panel and a second center floor panel mutually engaged to form a tunnel portion of a closed section in which a center muffler unit that may be provided in a vertical direction of a vehicle body may be accommodated, and provided in a continuous shape along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a support member provided in the tunnel portion between the first center floor panel and the second center floor panel and enclosing the center muffler unit to support the center muffler unit against the tunnel portion.
US08608235B2
Disclosed is a vehicle body structure of an automobile in which a front edge portion of a front windshield glass is supported by an air box including a vertical wall surface portion facing an inner side of a vehicle compartment. In the vehicle structure, the front edge portion of the glass is connected to the air box in such a way that when glass membrane vibrations of the glass in surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, and when the glass membrane vibrations of the glass in the surface inward-outward directions are in a phase shifting in an outward direction from the vehicle compartment, the vertical wall surface portion of the air box shifts in an inward direction to the vehicle compartment.
US08608203B2
A device for preventing spray from emerging from the wheels of vehicles comprises a panel (4) that is adapted to be mounted substantially vertically behind a vehicle wheel (3) for receiving on a first side water released by the wheel (3) as it rotates. The panel (4) includes at least one passage (6) which leads from the first side to a rear second side of the panel (4). The or each passage (6) is other than normal to the plane of the panel (4). There is at least one water-collecting pocket (7A, 7B, 7C) along the side of the or each passage (6). In use, air and water enter the or each passage (6) and are separated so that air passes through the or each passage (6) and mixes with ambient air and water collects in the at least one water-collecting pocket (7A, 7B, 7C).
US08608202B2
A tank module is provided for a motor vehicle comprises at least two fuel tanks and a carrier body having concave flanks formed of sheet material and arranged between the fuel tanks and facing the fuel tanks.
US08608201B2
A combination tray rack and trailer device attaches to a vehicle, such as an ATV. The device may be used in a first mode as a tray rack and may be used to help load game or equipment into the tray rack. The device may also be used in a second mode, as a two wheel cart or trailer. The device may plug into the ATV receiver. In still another embodiment, the device may be removed from the ATV and may be used as a two-wheeled cart.
US08608199B2
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a front panel (102) and a rear panel (122) that are interconnected to at least partially define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. The rear panel (122) has a conical configuration resulting from portions of the rear panel being interconnected with each other.
US08608195B2
An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wrapping member that wraps up an airbag in a folded-up configuration. The wrapping member includes a joint portion that is secured to an airbag housing or its vicinity together with the airbag, a main body that extends forward from the joint portion and a cover portion that extends rearward from the joint portion for deployment between the airbag and an out-of-position object in an initial phase of airbag deployment. During a folding process of the airbag, the cover portion is wrapped around a front-rear contracted bag, and a leading end of the cover portion is tucked down between an upper folded portion and a lower folded portion of the front-rear contracted bag.
US08608193B1
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The protection device (14) includes an inflatable main portion (62) having at least one inflatable primary chamber (110) and an inflatable secondary chamber (112). An inflation fluid source (30) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). The inflation fluid source (30) when actuated directs inflation fluid into the main portion (62) to inflate the main portion (62). Inflation fluid inlets (152) of the primary chambers (110) direct inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (30) into the primary chambers (110). Inflation fluid outlets (154, 156) of the primary chambers (110) direct inflation fluid from the primary chambers (110) into the secondary chamber (112) to inflate the secondary chamber (112).
US08608188B2
The foldable frame cart carries items and doubles as a table. A main-frame has a pivotally attached upper framework, a lower frame stand and wheels attached to the main-frame. A panel attaches to the cart space defining members. The cart is a table when the main-frame is positioned horizontally on the ground. The upper and lower framework are fully extended. The cart has swivel locks. A lower swing arm safety latch system maintains the first frame stand in a fully extended position with respect to the main-frame. An off center swing hinge lock system pivotally attaches the upper framework to the main-frame. The hinge lock systems prohibits unintentional closure or collapse of the framework from its fully extended position with respect to the plane of the main-frame.
US08608187B2
A drawbar assembly includes a mounting member adapted to couple to a vehicle and that includes a body portion having a first passage, an eye portion extending outwardly from the mounting body portion, wherein the eye portion includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a second passage extending therethrough adapted to receive a pintle hook therein, and a wedge member slidably received within the first passage of the body portion. The wedge member is slidably movable between a first portion, wherein the wedge member is withdrawn into the first passage of the body portion, and a second position, where the wedge member extends into the second passage of the eye portion. The wedge member is located between the top surface and the bottom surface of the eye portion, and does not extend above the top surface or the bottom surface.
US08608186B2
An active roll control system that may be adapted to actively control roll stiffness of a vehicle by adjusting a mounting position of a stabilizer link connecting a suspension arm with a stabilizer bar of the vehicle on the suspension arm according to a driving condition of vehicle may include a driving unit which including a housing connected with a side of the suspension arm, a rail plate disposed within the housing, and a connector movable along the rail plate, and a stabilizer link of which one end may be connected with an end of the stabilizer bar and the other end may be connected with the connector through a first joint.
US08608181B2
An active roll control system may include a sliding unit which includes a housing disposed on a suspension, a slide rail disposed within the housing along vehicle width direction, and a connector movably disposed on the slide rail, wherein the connector may be pivotally connected with a lower end of the stabilizer link, the connector guided along the vehicle width direction according to vehicle driving condition, and a driving unit connected with the connector so as to drive the connector, wherein the connector may be movable at inward of an imaginary line connecting the first connecting point connected with the knuckle and the second connecting point connected with the outward portion of the sub frame.
US08608178B2
A cylinder head gasket includes a plurality of seal plates 1 to 4 so that a combustion gas that leaks through a gap between the respective seal plates is reliably sealed. The cylinder head gasket includes the plurality of seal plates 1 to 4, which are held between a cylinder head and a cylinder block having a cylinder bore. The plurality of seal plates 1 to 4 are adhered to each other in a circumferentially continuous manner around combustion chamber holes 1a to 4a, and the combustion gas that leaks through the gap between the respective seal plates is reliably sealed within an adhered portion 5 of the respective seal plates.
US08608175B2
A mechanical face seal arrangement includes a seal member having an annular seal element for sealing against a rotatable seal surface. The seal member includes guide slots that cooperate with the guide member to establish a direction of seal member movement. The guide member includes stops to establish a range of movement of the seal member along the direction of seal member movement.
US08608170B2
A target stand is disclosed that comprises a target frame supported on a shelf having a pair of legs mounted in spaced relation. The legs pivotal and adjustable between a storage position and a shooting position. The storage position having the target frame intermediate to and parallel to the legs. The shooting position having the legs in a generally non-parallel configuration to support the target frame in a predetermined shooting position. The target frame supporting a target either above or below the pivotal connection between the legs and the target frame. The legs adapted to be secured to the target frame thus resisting pivoting and adjusting to hold the legs in a non-symmetrical orientation to accommodate rough terrain.
US08608167B2
A game apparatus which allows for a target disposed on the top of a pole to be knocked down by a projectile. The game apparatus includes a segmented pole which can be assembled and disassembled easily via coupling mechanisms between each segment. The top segment of the pole includes a top cap where a surface on which targets can be placed, is provided. The bottom segment of the pole is connected to a base which holds the pole up. Alternatively, a stake can be coupled to the bottom segment of the pole to drive the pole into the ground directly. A scoring mechanism along the surface of the poles is provided, as well as a target illuminating device to enhance the visibility of the target. The top cap of the pole can also include illumination such that the game can be played even in low ambient light.
US08608166B2
A sheet conveyance control method in an apparatus including a first conveying path for leading a sheet from a feeing port to a discharge port, a second sheet conveying path for leading the sheet to another conveyance destination, and a decoloring processing section configured to decolor an image formed on the sheet includes: detecting the length of the sheet further on a downstream side than the feeding port and further on an upstream side than a branching point of the first and second sheet conveying paths in a sheet conveying direction of the first sheet conveying path; and changing, if the trailing end of the sheet is not detected in a period after the leading end of the sheet is detected and before the leading end of the sheet reaches the branching point, a first flapper to a state in which the sheet is conveyed to the discharge port.
US08608161B2
A holding portion includes a engagement portion which holds a sheet pressing lever which presses from above a sheet discharged into a sheet stacking portion so that the engagement portion moves upward together with an image reading portion rotatably provided above an image forming portion, and an elastic portion which elastically deforms to release the holding of the sheet pressing lever by the engagement portion. If a force is applied to the sheet pressing lever being held by the holding portion in a direction which makes the lever rotate even lower than its lower limit position, the elastic portion elastically deforms to release the holding of the sheet pressing lever by the engagement portion.
US08608159B2
A recording apparatus includes a cassette having a stacking region for stacking recording materials mounted to main assembly of the recording apparatus; a feeder for feeding the recording material stacked to the cassette; a sheet discharge portion for sheet discharging the recording material having been subjected to a recording operation; a tray movable between a first position where the recording material is incapable of being discharged from the sheet discharge portion and a second position where the recording material is capable of being discharged from a main assembly of the recording apparatus; a holding portion, disposed on the tray, for holding the recording material discharged when the tray is at the second position; an auxiliary portion disposed on the tray and capable of stacking the recording material with the stacking region when the tray is at the second position.
US08608152B2
A sheet conveying device is provided that may include a sheet receiving portion having a movable member, a protruding portion and a recessed portion. The protruding portion may protrude from an upper portion of a sheet receiving surface of the movable member when the movable member is located in one position. When a document is discharged from an outlet port onto the sheet receiving surface of the movable member, the protruding portion may come into contact with a leading edge of a sheet. When the movable member is located in another position, the recessed portion may receive the protruding portion therein.
US08608144B2
An assembly of a cable gripper and a cable that has an outer protective layer formed from plastically deformable material, over an inner tensile strength portion). The cable gripper includes at least one gripper member having a supported outer end and an active inner end penetrating the outer protective layer and gripping the inner tensile strength portion beneath the outer protective layer. The active inner end includes a material of sufficient hardness to penetrate the outer protective layer by movement of the gripper member through the outer layer from an inoperative to an operative position.
US08608132B1
A fence post extractor includes a sleeve for receiving a fence post and a clamping bar that is pivotable with respect to the sleeve at a pivot joint. The clamping bar pivots between a first position where the fence post is clamped between a second end of the clamping bar and the sleeve, and a second position where the fence post is released with respect to the second end of the clamping bar. A powered lifting apparatus has an engaging portion that is engaged with the clamping bar. The engaging portion is moved under power between a raised position and a lowered position to move the clamping bar between the first and second positions.
US08608127B2
A control valve has a piezoelectric actuator substantially immersed in a fluid and a sealing mechanism configured to be in a closed position and an open position. The piezoelectric actuator is configured to distort in response to an applied voltage causing the sealing mechanism to transition between the closed position and the open position. In the open position, the sealing mechanism allows fluid to flow therethrough. In response to removing the applied voltage, the piezoelectric actuator returns to an undistorted position causing the sealing mechanism to close and prevent fluid from flowing therethrough. In at least one embodiment, the piezoelectric actuator is configured to contract due to the fluid pressure, and the tube is configured to contract due to the fluid pressure to compensate at least in part for the contraction of the piezoeletric actuator.
US08608126B2
There is disclosed a support for mounting an end of a roller blind to a structure such as a wall, ceiling and window frame. The support includes a first plate for mounting to the end of the roller blind and a second plate adjacent the first plate. The second plate has a central aperture dimensioned to receive the end of the roller blind. The support further includes a bracket for mounting the second plate to the structure. A plurality of vibration absorbing fasteners are provided for mounting the first plate to the second plate and dampening vibrations travelling from the first plate to the second plate.
US08608122B2
A clamp assembly is provided for securing a panel or fairing to an I-beam, and comprises a pair of side blocks and a clamping block, together with a single bolt to secure them in place. Each of the side blocks as an inclined wedge surface, and the T-shaped clamping block has similarly sloped wedge surfaces along the sides of the leg of the T. When a bolt this passed through side legs of the side blocks, and through or under the clamping block, a sliding and wedging action between the inclined and sloped wedge surfaces occurs. Moreover, a clamping action between the top surface of the clamping block and the lower surface of the lower flanges of the I-beam is also induced.
US08608117B2
An elastomeric assembly is disposed within an aperture defined by a supporting structure of a vehicle. The elastomeric assembly is movable between a first position where the elastomeric assembly can move axial within the aperture and a second position where the elastomeric assembly is prohibited from moving axially within the aperture.
US08608116B2
A structure and counter system for railroad switching, characterized by a base support plate with a lower flat surface which on its upper side includes a first flat section with two protruding hooking elements that hold the skid's inside tab on the rail where the wheels roll on, and also includes an outer section of greater thickness that defines a stopping device that ends on the border of the skid's outer tab within the same rail. This base plate includes a wall perpendicular to the upper surface, covering its width, with a flat internal surface adapted to receive a fixing plate that receives the outer side of a counter rail arranged over the first flat section and separated from the hooking elements; thus being parallel to this rail.
US08608109B2
An aircraft passenger cabin in an aircraft fuselage wherein an upper portion of the cabin volume is a substantially elliptical cross section and a lower portion of the cabin volume is a cross section extending laterally into a blended area of the wing and fuselage typically referred to as a wing to body fairing.
US08608104B2
The invention relates to a propulsion device (10) comprising a body (11) arranged for receiving a passenger (1) and engaging with a thrust unit (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) supplied with a pressurized fluid from a compression station. The arrangement of such a device offers great freedom of movement through the air or under the surface of a fluid. The invention also relates to a propulsion system in which the compression station can be remote in the form of a motorized marine vehicle.
US08608102B2
A reel assembly is provided comprising a cylindrical barrel, a barrel head secured to each end of the barrel and a flange construction secured to each barrel head adjacent the ends of the barrel. The flange construction is formed by arcuate flange segments, each releasably secured to one another and to the associated barrel head. The barrel head includes inner and outer annular supports and an end plate securing the structure together. The inner and outer annular supports define a receipt slot for receiving and securing an end of the barrel therein. The end plate is rigidly fixed to the inner and outer supports and the flange construction is releasably secured to the outer annular support of the barrel head.
US08608101B2
Provided is a locking member mounting structure of a seat belt retractor including: a locking base coupled to one side of a guide drum; a locking clutch rotatably coupled to one side surface of the locking base; a lock arm coupled to one side surface of the locking clutch so as to rotate at a predetermined angle; and a mechanism cover covering the locking clutch and the lock arm, wherein a leaf spring is fixed to extend to one side from a boss formed in the center of the locking clutch, and a fixing piece projects from one surface of the lock arm so as to be fixed to the leaf spring.The leaf spring which returns the lock arm installed in the locking clutch is easily assembled, and assembly time of the leaf spring is reduced, thereby increasing productivity. Further, since the leaf spring has a curved portion or is formed in a stair shape, elasticity of the leaf spring is maintained, and deformation of the leaf spring is prevented.
US08608096B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising classification by means of a tumbler screening machine, wherein the tumbler screening machine used for classification is equipped with at least one ball knock cleaning system and entrained balls are removed outside the tumbler screening machine by means of a capture device.
US08608088B2
A passive data carrier device (100) comprises an input port (110) for receiving a finite duration radio frequency input signal of defined time and frequency spectral characteristics. The data carrier device (100) comprises at least one branch (130) having combinations of passive RF elements, such as band filters (134) and time delays (136), optionally together with powder dividers (120) and combiners (140). The input signal is processed by the device (100) to form an output signal having time and frequency spectral characteristics different from the input signal. The data carrier device (100) has potential application in an RF identification system.
US08608082B2
The electronic device (10) comprising a microcircuit (18) module (20), a near-field communication antenna (36) electrically connected to the microcircuit (18) of the module (20), delimiting an antenna surface (S), and a body (12) incorporating the module (20). More precisely, the antenna (36) is arranged within the module (20) and the body (12) incorporates means (40) of amplifying the gain of the antenna (36) comprising an electrically conductive element (42) electrically isolated from the microcircuit (18) and the antenna (36), of an annular general shape arranged around an area (R) of the body (12) forming a volume generated by the projection of the antenna surface (S) along a direction (Z) substantially orthogonal to the surface (S).
US08608080B2
Secure inlays for secure documents such as a passport comprising an inlay substrate may have laser ablated recesses within which a chip module is installed. Channels for an antenna wire may be formed in a surface of the substrate. Instead of using wire, the channels may be filled with a flowable, conductive material. Patches homogenous with the substrate layer may be used to protect and seal the chip and interconnection area. The inlay substrate may include two layers, and the antenna wire may be between the two layers. A moisture-curing polyurethane hot melt adhesive may be used to laminate a cover layer and the additional inlay substrate layers. The adhesive layer may include metal nanoscale powder and ink for electro-magnetic shielding. Additional security elements may include material that is optically changeable by an electro-magnetic field. Ferrite-containing layers may be incorporated in the inlay substrate.
US08608074B2
For recognizing two-width barcodes having N bars and N spaces, a first class (cluster) A of wide bars or spaces contains n elements Array [1] to Array [n], and a second class (cluster) B of narrow bars or spaces contains N−n elements Array [n+1] to Array [N] are created. Looping n times where n=1 to N−1, a mean value μA to of class A and a mean value μB of class B are calculated, a between-class difference D=μA−μB is calculated, a value of n when D achieves a maximum value is recorded, and if n=M when D achieves the maximum value, then the N bars or spaces are recognized as a two-width barcode; otherwise, the N bars or spaces are determined as not a two-width barcode.
US08608073B2
A fast image-based barcode detection and recognition technique allows a user of a device to analyze an image containing a barcode, locating the barcode containing region of the image automatically, without requiring a user to frame and align the image. In one embodiment, the technique may locate multiple omni-directional barcode regions simultaneously.
US08608066B2
A method for a point of sale terminal, including reading a first PIN code that is stored in an RFID chip that is embedded in a plastic card, identifying a first keypad character on a touch sensitive display screen that is being tapped by the plastic card, reading a second PIN code that is stored in an RFID chip that is embedded in a plastic card, identifying a second keypad character on a touch sensitive display screen that is being tapped by the plastic card, determining whether the second PIN code matches the first PIN code, and if the determining is affirmative, then appending the second keypad character to the first keypad character to generate a two-character input code, else starting a new one-character input code with the second keypad character alone.
US08608061B2
A system and method of operating a rewards program through a financial institution for granting rewards to customers enrolled in the rewards program wherein the customer receives one or more reward credits in an account associated with the financial institution if the customer meets certain qualification criteria. The method may include determining if the account qualifies for an award credit; assigning a reward credit to the account; receiving purchase information regarding a purchase made at a merchant associated with the customer's account; identifying from the purchase information whether the purchase was made at a qualifying merchant; and applying the reward credit towards the purchase made by the customer at the qualifying merchant by applying a reward credit to the customer's account based upon the business rules applicable to the reward program. The method also determines if a reward credit has expired, in which event either the merchant or the financial institution may receive the benefit of any unused or expired reward credits depending on the particular embodiment of the reward program. The method also creates and provides notification to the customer of reward credit information.
US08608055B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. A card actuated automated banking machine may accept checks. The banking machine is operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Value may be credited to a user account corresponding to card data or cash may be dispensed to the user from the banking machine responsive to one or more deposited checks.
US08608051B2
The hinge-lid pack comprising box part (11) and lid (12) features a polygon-like configuration in the region of its side walls (22, 23), namely having angular wall legs (28, 29) and a narrow, transverse side wall (22, 23). The cross-sectional shape of the hinge-lid pack thus conforms to the contour of a cigarette group as the pack's contents, with the cigarette group having at its edges adjacent to the side walls (22, 23) a marginal transverse row of 2 cigarettes and adjacent thereto a transverse row of 3 cigarettes.
US08608041B1
An attachment system for load-bearing equipment includes two sets of parallel webbing strips disposed at an angle to each other. The straps are attached to equipment base fabric such that they form vertical channels between the webbing and the fabric which are at an angle relative to both sets of straps and diagonal channels between the webbing and the fabric which are parallel to one of the sets of straps. An accessory can be mounted in any of at least three different orientations by running accessory straps parallel to one of the sets of webbing strips or running the straps within the vertical channels.
US08608036B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus to carry a portable device comprises a brace body, an adjustment mechanism coupled to the brace body, and a locking mechanism coupled to the brace body. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the apparatus for an adjusted fit and to retain the adjusted fit for the apparatus when not in use. The locking mechanism is configured to conform to a locked state to configure the apparatus for a bracing fit and to conform to an unlocked state to configure the apparatus for a relaxed fit. The bracing fit is configured to brace the apparatus at a usage position, and the relaxed fit permits positioning of the apparatus relative to the usage position.
US08608030B2
Cartridge systems for application of a material have at least one cartridge having cartridge walls, a cartridge head having at least one opening in the cartridge head, and a bracket arranged on the cartridge head. A valve is mounted in rotatable manner in the bracket and has at least one passage through the valve that is connected to an outlet opening of the valve. In a closed position, the valve closes the at least one opening of at least one cartridge in a sealed manner. The at least one passage of the valve is connected to the at least one opening when the valve is located in an open position such that the cartridge content is squeezable out of the at least one cartridge through the outlet opening, and further wherein the valve is configured to be transitioned from a closed position to an open position through a rotation of the valve about an axis of symmetry of the valve.
US08608028B2
The invention relates to a tube dispensing device (10) for squeezing out the content of a tube using two pressure plates (12, 13), which are disposed transverse to each other at the pressure sections (15, 16) thereof, at least in the case of a lack of a tube to be squeezed, wherein a base (11) is provided, from which the pressure sections (15, 16) protrude. In this manner the tube may be stored standing up, and may be completely emptied.
US08608027B2
A spray apparatus is provided, which can prevent a disadvantage which can occur when falling down. In a normal state where a bottom surface of a leg part of the apparatus main body is in contact with a mounting surface, a stand switch is on, and therefore, a shift to a spray process for spraying the agent is permitted, whereas at a time of the stand switch being off when the apparatus main body falls down, a shift to the spray process is avoided.
US08608025B2
A dispenser and method for dispensing a liquid. The dispenser includes a barrel with an interior chamber for holding the liquid, a discharge outlet communicating with the interior chamber for discharging the liquid, and an air space for receiving pressurized air for forcing the liquid from the interior chamber through the discharge outlet. An air supply solenoid valve and an air exhaust solenoid valve are each operatively coupled with the barrel. The air supply solenoid valve controls the flow of pressurized air to the air space, and the air exhaust solenoid valve controls the flow of air from the air space to atmosphere. A control selectively activates the air supply solenoid valve and the air exhaust solenoid valve to respectively supply air to the air space and exhaust air from the air space in order to dispense desired amounts of the liquid from the discharge outlet.
US08608021B2
A fill cover assembly for a liquid fuel storage tank of a road tanker, the assembly comprising: a seat member having a frame, the frame defining a fill aperture, the frame being configured to be fixedly coupled to a base plate of a liquid storage tank, the base plate having a plate aperture formed therein, thereby to form a fluid-tight seal between the seat member and the base plate around said plate aperture; and a fill-cover coupled to the tank and arranged to be moveable with respect to the frame between a closed condition in which a fluid-tight seal is formed between the fill-cover and the frame and an open condition in which fluid may be passed through said fill aperture to fill said storage tank, wherein the assembly is further arranged to allow venting of pressurized fluid from the liquid storage tank in the event that a pressure of the fluid exceeds a prescribed value.
US08608020B2
A handle fixture device, comprising, a cooking vessel; a retaining element attached to the cooking vessel; and a contact is provided between the retaining element on one side and a handle-side retaining device on the other side, wherein the contact is at least one of point shaped and line shaped.
US08608016B2
A straw having a flexible portion. The flexible portion of the straw is removably coupleable to a lid. The straw may be bent to engage a straw latch on the lid, sealing the straw.
US08608011B2
A fuel tank capable of strongly fusion-bonding a built-in part to an inner surface of an outer wall thereof while protecting the outer wall even when an impact, etc. are applied thereto. In the fuel tank for a motor vehicle, which is formed by blow molding, in which the built-in part is mounted, and which has the outer wall composed of a synthetic resin, a plurality of mounting members adapted to mount the built-in part to the fuel tank are provided on the built-in part so as to be fusion-bonded to the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank. An abutment portion is formed on each of the mounting members for contacting the inner surface of the outer wall of the fuel tank, and an abutment surface and a plurality of abutment pins, each projecting from the abutment surface, are formed in the abutment portion. The abutment pin is formed into a columnar or frustum-shaped configuration, each having a circular or elliptical cross-section, and a diameter or a main axis of a projecting end of the abutment pin along with the height of the abutment pin from the abutment surface are formed less than the thickness of the outer wall of the fuel tank.
US08608009B2
A container body (20) includes an upper opening portion (21) having a container internal sidewall portion (22) and a container side skirt portion (24). A lid (10) includes a lid internal sidewall portion (12) and a lid side skirt portion (14). Two or more ledge portions (15) protruding inward are formed on the lid side skirt portion (14). The container side skirt portion (24) includes a first guide portion (30) for guiding downward the ledge portions (15) when the lid (10) is attached. When the lid is closed, the lid (10) is drawn into the side of the container body (20). Thus, a seal portion formed between the container internal sidewall portion (22) and the lid internal sidewall portion (12) is press-contacted, in the state of which the seal portion secures high sealability. Further, the length of the lid side skirt portion (14) is increased so as to cover the lower end of the container side skirt portion (24) with a lower portion of the lid side skirt portion (14) when the lid is attached or detached, whereby the fingertips can be prevented from being scratched.
US08608004B2
A cap for closing a sprayer tank has integrated therein a pressure relief valve having a tubular member providing a seat with respect to which a valve provided by an o-ring on a stem is displaced in a direction against the seat to close the valve. The stem is connected at one end thereof to a cap and is biased by a spring around the stem at the opposite end thereof into closing position. The cap is guided by a rim around the seat member. The cap defines around the stem a chamber. This chamber communicates with a spout which directs pressurized flow away from the cap when it is rotated to manually open the valve against the bias of the spring so as to relieve pressure in the tank. The passageway provided by the spout and the chamber is much larger than the passageway around the rim of the cap so that substantially all of the pressurized flow is diverted by this snout away from the fingers of the person grasping the cap at ears providing wings on the cap for rotating the cap to displace the valve to open position.
US08607998B2
A railway car yoke includes a nose end and at least two straps adjoining the nose end. At least one top strap adjoins a top portion of the nose end and at least one bottom strap adjoins a bottom portion of the nose end. The railway car yoke also includes a butt end adjoining the at least two straps such that the nose end and the butt end are separated by the at least two straps. The butt end comprises at least one concave contour along an outside surface of the butt end. The outside surface is a surface along the butt end opposite the nose end that extends from a top surface of the at least one top strap to a bottom surface of the at least one bottom strap.
US08607992B2
A ceramic filter comprising: (a) from about 75% to about 95% by weight of diatomaceous earth; (b) from about 10% to about 20% by weight of a flux; and (c) from about 0.03% to about 0.4% by weight of a metallic compound; the percentages by weight being percentages by weight of the ceramic filter.
US08607988B2
The invention relates to a screen for a screening machine for screening a product into two fractions. To avoid detrimental effects to the quality of the product due to damage at the screen mesh of a screen (9), the screen is provided with a metal layer, in particular in the manner of a conduction path, wherein the electrical resistance of said layer is measured and wherein changes in the resistance indicate damages.
US08607980B2
A reclosable consumer product package assembly (10) supports a plurality of consumable products (12). The product package retains and encloses the products, The package is formed from a planar sheet (16) folded about the products. The folded sheet (16) defines a portion overlying the products and an extending portion extending beyond the products to define a foldable flap (29). The sheet is scored at a location overlying at least a portion of the products. The foldable flap is folded over the scored location and adhesively secured thereto such that upon opening the flap, the scored location is removed from its overlying location to expose the products for dispensing. The flap is reclosable over the exposed products.
US08607975B2
An electronic device can be inserted into a pocket formed with a main cover through between a side cover and the main cover. A part of the electronic device where an operating stick is formed can be stored in a flap formed with the side cover. The upper end of the flap rim of the side cover is positioned further away from the center line C1 of the case than the lower end is. The pocket rim of the main cover gets closer to the center line C1 of the case as it goes from the upper end to the lower end. According to a case including the main cover and the side cover, insertion/removal work of the electronic device can be facilitated, undesired exposure of the electronic device can be prevented, and a load applied to the operating stick can be readily reduced.
US08607972B2
The present invention is a miscarriage kit. More specifically, the present invention is a kit for use with a miscarriage by a human. The kit comprises at least one item for use in helping the human with the miscarriage. For example, the miscarriage kit may contain at least one under pad/bed liner, at least one sanitary napkin, at least one towel, at least one pair of gloves, at least one specimen pan, and at last one container for holding pregnancy remains.
US08607970B2
A device for displaying jewelry comprising a retractable cord positioned beneath a jewelry display pad, wherein the cord passes through a slot in the display pad and is securely attached to an item of jewelry to be displayed on the display pad, and wherein the item of jewelry can be pulled away from the display pad for examination by a customer.
US08607954B2
A control apparatus for a clutch driving mechanism can include a clutch driving mechanism which connects and disconnects a clutch. An angle sensor can detect the angle of rotation of a cam member. A cam face can include a first cam face for connecting the clutch through the linear motion of the operating member. A second cam face, formed continuously to the first cam face, can disconnect the clutch through the linear motion of the operating member. The angle sensor 21 can include a first angle sensor which can detect an angular range of the first cam face, and a second angle sensor which can detect an angular range of the second cam face. The dead zones E of the angle sensors are disposed in such a manner as not to overlap with each other.
US08607942B2
A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.
US08607941B2
A steel sheet for a brake disc contains, on a mass percent basis, 0.02% or more and less than 0.10% C, 0.6% or less Si, more than 0.5% and 2.0% or less Mn, 0.06% or less P, 0.01% or less S, 0.05% or less Al, 11.0% to 13.5% Cr, 0.01% to 0.30% Ni, 0.10% to 0.60% Nb, 0.03% or more and less than 0.10% N, more than 0.0010% and 0.0060% or less B, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and the steel sheet after quenching has a hardness of 32 HRC to 40 HRC on a Rockwell hardness scale C (HRC).
US08607937B2
An elevator includes an elevator car that has a horizontally movable car door leaf, a horizontally movable shaft door leaf, a car door locking mechanism encompassing a car door bolt and a bolt stop, and a coupling device that is connected to the car door leaf in order to transmit an opening movement or a closing movement from the car door leaf to the shaft door leaf. The coupling device has at least one movable entraining element which is brought in contact with an opposite element located on the shaft door leaf. A locking action of the car door locking mechanism depends on the cooperation of the coupling device with the opposite element. In each situation, the position of the car door bolt relative to the bolt stop exclusively depends on the position of the entraining element.
US08607933B2
A lubricant dispenser has a housing whose interior is subdivided by a shiftable piston into a generally closed gas compartment and a lubricant compartment having an outlet port and filled with a body of lubricant. A gas generator associated with the gas compartment is electrically energizable to produce gas and thereby pressurize the gas compartment, shift the piston, and express lubricant from the outlet. A controller including a power supply and a circuit is connected between the power supply and the gas generator for feeding current from the power supply to the gas generator. During a first predetermined part of an operational cycle of the dispenser, the gas generator is energized at a first level. During a second predetermined part of an operational cycle after the first time, the gas generator is energized at a second level lower than the first level.
US08607932B2
A ladder stabilizing attachment for a ladder is disclosed. The device is basically made of two or more long variable length stabilizing legs FIGS. (1) and (11) attached to the upper part of a ladder by universal joints FIGS. (9) and (9A), and capable of forming a triangular or multi-angular pyramid with the ladder. The legs can be independently positioned to give greater lateral stability, as well reducing slide out tendency of the ladder base. The foot sockets of the stabilizing legs FIG. (5) are designed to minimize overloading and movement due to ladder flexing. The device is constructed so that it can be built into new ladders, and readily adapted for and fitted to most existing ladders.
US08607929B2
A moldable acoustic facing comprises cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers entangled together. The acoustic facing has a basis weight of from about 1.5 to about 5.0 ounces per square yard (osy), a thickness of less than about 0.050″, a mean pore size of between about 8 microns and about 40 microns, and an elongation at break of at least twenty percent. The acoustic facing includes less than about five percent synthetic microfiber and has an acoustic resistance of at least about 250 Rayls.
US08607927B2
A multilayer laminate comprising a first polymeric film layer capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 200 C for at least 10 min, a first adhesive layer having an areal weight of from 2 to 40 gsm capable of activation at a temperature of from 75 to 200 degrees C., an inorganic refractory layer, a second adhesive layer having an areal weight of from 4 to 40 gsm capable of activation at a temperature of from 75 to 200 degrees C. and a second polymeric film layer capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 200 C for at least 10 min, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric film layers is thermoplastic.
US08607925B2
A wedge-shaped, number theoretical acoustic diffuser both diffuses and reflects sound while eliminating wasted space created by prior art. The inventive diffuser consists of wells of continuously variable depths which provide wide-bandwidth diffusion in a single dimension. The back of the wells are reflective planes of a plurality of angles that direct energy away from the sound source. The invention may be installed in the upper corners of a room, with the deepest end of the wedge-shape up and tapering down to the thinnest end of the wedge shape. This installation allows floor standing furniture or other objects to be placed against the wall, an impossibility with the installation of prior art. The present invention may be installed as an array in which the deepest ends of the wedge shape are butted together. This formation splits and reflects sound in two different directions both away from the sound source.
US08607924B2
A honeycomb structure that includes cells in which septums are located to provide acoustic dampening. The cells are formed by at least four walls wherein at least two of the walls are substantially parallel to each other. The septums include warp fibers and weft fibers that are substantially perpendicular to each other. The septums are oriented in the honeycomb cells such that the weft fibers and/or warp fibers are substantially perpendicular to the parallel walls.
US08607922B1
A high frequency horn for use in a multiple frequency loudspeaker system having a midrange transducer and a high frequency transducer is disclosed. The high frequency horn includes a horn chamber, horn mouth, a horn throat, a tuned resonant cavity, and a port connected to both the tuned resonant cavity and the horn chamber. The horn throat and horn chamber are located on opposite sides of the horn chamber, the port is located proximate to the horn throat, and the horn throat is configured to be connected to the high frequency transducer. The tuned resonant cavity is tuned to reduce high frequency standing waves produced by the midrange transducer within the horn chamber.
US08607917B2
Provided an electrically-operated hydraulic actuator unit that includes an electrically-operated motor controlled by a control apparatus and actuating a volume adjusting mechanism through driving-side and driven-side arms, and a clutch mechanism in which the driven-side arm presses a contact member against a clutch case so that the driven-side arm is locked when a force from the volume adjusting mechanism is applied to the driven-side arm. The control apparatus can set duties of first to fourth drive signals to be output to the electrically-operated motor in a neutral-side start period, a neutral-side ordinary actuation period, a higher-volume-side start period and a higher-volume-side ordinary actuation period. The duties of the first and fourth drive signals are larger than that of the second drive signal, the duty of the third drive signal is larger than that of the fourth drive signal, and an integrated ON-time of the third drive signal is larger than that of the first drive signal.
US08607904B2
A working vehicle is structured to maintain a ride quality for an operator on a control seat. Provided are a travel machine body which mounts an engine, front wheels on the machine body, a track frame on the machine body, right and left travel crawlers installed on the track frame, a rear axle which transmits a rotating force to the travel crawler, and oscillation supporting point shafts which support the track frame on the machine body so as to freely oscillate. In the case that the rear axle and the oscillation supporting point shafts are provided so as to be spaced, the oscillation supporting point shafts are arranged just below an axle case to which the rear axle is pivoted, and the track frame is connected to the axle case via link members provided in the oscillation supporting point shafts.
US08607903B2
A tracked vehicle (e.g., a tracked carrier vehicle) comprising a plurality of track assemblies for traction of the tracked vehicle. Each of the track assemblies supports a portion of a weight of the tracked vehicle when the tracked vehicle is in use. Each track assembly comprises: a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; a number of support wheels arranged in an in-line configuration between the first wheel and the second wheel; and an endless track disposed around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels. The support wheels may comprise at least five (5) support wheels mounted such that, when the tracked vehicle is in use, the portion of the weight of the tracked vehicle supported by the track assembly is never applied to only one of the support wheels.
US08607887B2
Disclosed is an intelligent, autonomously usable closure for misting nozzles, atomizing nozzles and sprinklers. A covering plate 20 is fixed on the closure having a heat tripping device, a nozzle body 2, outlet channel 11 and outlet opening 10 by means of a melt tripping device 5. The melt tripping device 5 is activated when necessary by a heat element 23 and the outlet opening 10 is released. A structural element 21, such as a disk spring, ensures at the melting moment of the melt tripping device 5 that a force F is applied and the covering plate 20 is separated with force from the outlet opening. In case of emergency, the release is triggered without energy. The proposed autonomous device can be used in a system network and can also be integrated into an existing system.
US08607860B2
A collet assembly has a housing and the collets disposed on flexible fingers connected to the housing at their opposed ends. A surrounding landing sleeve stops the assembly so that collets are aligned with a recess in a landing collar that is part of a surrounding tubing string. Once set the landing sleeve transmits compressive loads so that compressive stress essentially bypasses the finger structure supporting the collets. The fingers are initially tapered toward a longitudinal axis so that when internally supported they assume an aligned orientation to the housing axis to allow greater tensile loading and to provide a retraction force when the housing is to be removed after the collet support is removed.
US08607859B2
A well is drilled and casing installed utilizing a casing drilling technique. A bottom hole assembly having a drill bit and a fluid diverter is secured to a string of drill pipe and installed within a casing string. Drilling fluid is pumped down the drill pipe string to cause the drill bit to rotate and drill the well while the fluid diverter is in a drilling mode position. At the total depth for the casing string, the operator moves the fluid diverter to a cementing position and pumps cement down the drill pipe and up the casing string annulus. After cementing, the operator moves the fluid diverter to a packer set position and again pumps drilling fluid down the drill string to set the packer.
US08607850B2
A heat exchanger includes a heat-exchange section including a first group of tubes and a second group of tubes alternating with the first group of tubes. The first and second groups of tubes are in contact with a heat-conductive medium. In one structure, a first inlet manifold at a first end of the heat-exchange section is fluidly coupled to first ends of the first group of tubes. A first outlet manifold is isolated from the first inlet manifold and is fluidly coupled to first ends of the second group of tubes. A second inlet manifold at a second end of the heat-exchange section is fluidly coupled to second ends of the second group of tubes. A second outlet manifold is isolated from the second inlet manifold and is fluidly coupled to second ends of the first group of tubes.
US08607846B2
A mold includes a first groove part and a second groove part. The first groove part extends with a constant length or a constant width from a center part to an outer circumferential part of the mold. The second groove part extends from a terminal end of the first groove part on an outer circumferential part side of the first groove and merges with any portion of the first groove part. A molding manufacturing method includes manufacturing a preform by semimolten die casting or semisolid die casting using the mold. The method may also include removing a portion of the preform corresponding to the second groove part.
US08607843B2
A sunshade device including: a sunshade; a stay to which one edge of the sunshade is fixed; a windup shaft to which the other edge of the sunshade is fixed; a first support member supporting one end of the windup shaft to rotate relative thereto and move relative thereto in a longitudinal direction of the windup shaft, and mounted at a vehicle; a second support member supporting the other end of the windup shaft to rotate relative thereto and move relative thereto in the longitudinal direction of the windup shaft, and mounted at the vehicle; and a biasing member configured to pivotally bias the windup shaft against the second support member. The windup shaft includes a restricted portion at the other end thereof, and the second support member includes a rotation restricting portion and a rotation releasing portion formed to be adjacent to each other.
US08607841B2
In a roll screen device, inner rails are embedded inside fixed guide rails which guide protrusions at side edges of a screen which is wound via a take-up shaft. Each inner rail has a guide groove in which the guide protrusion is inserted, and inward flanges are provided at an opening of the guide groove. Rail members have outer side protrusions and inner side protrusion of different heights at both side edges of a rail base plate. The higher outer side protrusions are confronting. A micro gap extends between the lower inner side protrusions into the guide groove such that the micro gap is opposed to a guide gap formed between the opposed inward flanges. The guide protrusion is slid and guided in a come-off preventing state by the inner side protrusion, so that an extremely thin fastener element can be used as the guide protrusion.
US08607837B2
An apparatus for stripping metal from a cathode plate, the apparatus comprising stripping means adapted for positioning between the metal and the cathode plate in order to separate the metal from the cathode plate, and wherein movement of the stripping means is achieved through movement of a robotic arm.
US08607835B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing. A fiber layer and a first porous bonding layer are formed to form a unidirectional lay-up of fibers. The unidirectional lay-up of fibers is heated under pressure to form a unidirectional composite tape. A first plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape is laid down to build a first layer from the unidirectional composite tape. A second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape is laid down to build a second layer from the unidirectional composite tape on the first layer at a predetermined angle from the first layer. At least one of the first and second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape are slit while laying down the first and second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape. A composite fabric is formed from the first and second layer.
US08607826B2
Interlocking bend limiter sections are substantially mirror images of each other and are joined to form an interlocking bend limiter segment without use of fasteners by engaging engaging each other's interlocking ends. An interlocking bend limiter comprises a plurality of interlocking bend limiter segment secured at an end by an end piece.
US08607812B2
A butterfly valve for handling materials where the temperature of the materials flowing through the butterfly valve can exceed the breakdown temperature of the sealing member with the butterfly valve inhibiting contact of hot transportable materials with the sealing member to isolate the hot transportable materials from the sealing member. Cooling conduits maintain at least portions of the valve that contacts the sealing member at a temperature below the breakdown temperature of the sealing member to prevent seal failure.
US08607811B2
A flapper valve preferably used in injection application in deep subterranean locations has an actuating sleeve with a seat to accept an object. A j-slot connects the actuation sleeve movement to the housing so that with an object on the seat and an applied pressure cycle the sleeve moves the flapper to the open position. The plug is dissolved and the injection begins. The plug can have an opening so as to allow continuous injection flow as the flapper is operated. Closing the flapper involves a second object on the same seat and a pressure cycle so that a spring can push the sleeve away from the flapper to allow a torsion spring on the flapper to close it.
US08607808B1
A light windproof umbrella is provided with a center post including a top ferrule, an upper grommet, an intermediate sliding ring, and a sliding runner under the sliding ring; ribs each having one end pivotably secured to the grommet and the other end being open; main joints each formed at a portion of the rib proximate to the other end of the rib; auxiliary joints each formed at a portion of the rib between the main joint and the grommet; stretchers each having one end pivotably secured to the sliding ring and the other end moveably secured to the rib; struts each having one end pivotably secured to the sliding runner and the other end pivotably secured to the auxiliary joint; a lower canopy; and an upper canopy in a partial covering relationship to the lower canopy.
US08607807B2
A liquid treatment method including: retaining a substrate with a treatment target surface being set as a lower surface, and rotating the substrate; supplying DIW (deionized water) to the lower surface of the substrate, thereby performing a rinsing process to the substrate; and thereafter supplying a mist containing IPA (isopropyl alcohol) and N2 gas, thereby substituting the IPA for the DIW. The supplying of the mist is performed using a nozzle positioned below the substrate, the nozzle comprising a plurality of ejection ports which are arrayed between a position opposing a central portion of the substrate and a position opposing a peripheral portion of the substrate.
US08607798B2
A custom mouthguard may be formed from a multiple layer assembly including an ethylene vinyl acetate/thermoplastic polyurethane layer, an ethylene vinyl acetate layer and an intervening impact shield and elastomeric framework. The elastomeric framework may include one or more posterior occlusal pads. The custom mouthguard may be molded to a positive mold of an individual's upper teeth and gums.
US08607788B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing those parameters and providing useful notifications and recommendations to clinicians. That is, modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent multiple ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of Auto-PEEP during volume ventilation of a triggering patient exhibiting an obstructive component. According to embodiments, a ventilator may be configured to monitor and evaluate diverse ventilatory parameters to detect Auto-PEEP and may issue notifications and recommendations suitable for a triggering patient to the clinician when Auto-PEEP is implicated. The suitable notifications and recommendations may further be provided in a hierarchical format.
US08607784B2
A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) assembly and kit therefore has an elongated hollow belt body having open first and second ends and multiple inlet openings along its length for mounting one or more filter canisters, one or more filter canisters for mounting in the inlet openings for supplying purified air to the interior of the belt body, a motor and driven fan assembly having a fan inlet in communication with each filter canister through the hollow belt body and a fan outlet; and a power source operably mounted to the belt body and connected to the motor. The PAPR assembly forms a portion of a belt or bandolier to be worn around the user's waist, back, or other location, and at least the belt body can be made of a flexible rubber material, such as a Butyl and Silicone blend, or any other suitable material to conform the PAPR belt to the user's body.
US08607782B2
An improved solar reflector utilizing tensioned reflective membrane, where a bearing edge device is employed to smooth wrinkles in the membrane and limit distortion.
US08607777B2
The present invention relates to outdoor grill accessories, and more particularly, a foldable worktable attachment for an outdoor grill that includes a large table that is pivotally connected to the side of the grill. When in an erect position, the table provides ample space for preparing foods and the like, but when in a collapsed position, the table lies flush against one of the sides of the grill housing, thus, enclosing supporting legs that are folded and stored between the table and the grill housing.
US08607775B2
The present invention provides a cutting machine for stone materials having a power head part, a bedplate, a frame for supporting the bedplate and a basin disposed under the frame. The present invention may also have an expanded basin disposed outside of the basin and a water-retaining device with an upward slope angle may be arranged on the expanded basin to block splashed muddy water in a multi-directional manner during a cutting operation.
US08607770B2
An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil which is feedable on its primary side by a voltage supply unit, a secondary current measuring device for measuring the course of the secondary side current, a control device for at least temporary controlling of the primary side voltage or the primary side current in dependence on the measured course of the secondary side current. Subsequent to an interruption of the primary side voltage or current supply of the ignition coil during an ignition process or subsequent to the drop of the primary side voltage or the primary side current in the ignition coil below a predeterminable threshold during the ignition process, the control device energizes or regulates the primary side voltage or current supply of the ignition coil above the predeterminable threshold only when the secondary side current induced thereby acts in the direction of the predetermined course of the secondary side current.
US08607769B2
In this invention, there is provided a method for reducing NOx emission from an internal combustion engine designed to produce a given amount of power and a method for improving fuel efficiency by providing an intake stream of oxygen-enriched air and keeping the amount of power output the same so that the combustion temperature in the engine is lower.
US08607761B2
A lubrication structure for a bearing section of an internal combustion engine including a crankcase having a wall portion, a bearing secured to the wall portion, a rotational shaft supported for rotation by the bearing, and a bearing restriction member disposed on a side face of an outer race portion of the bearing and configured to suppress coming off of the bearing, wherein an oil receiving portion formed in a swollen state on the wall portion along an outer periphery on the outer side of an outer periphery below the center axis of the bearing, and an oil reserve section is provided so as to extend over the oil receiving portion and the bearing restriction member.
US08607749B2
A camshaft including a carrier element and a cam, in which the carrier element is composed of carrier segments arranged axially one behind the other along a longitudinal axis such that the carrier segments are axially displaceable relative to each other.
US08607746B2
An expansion tank is disclosed in which a non-return valve is fitted in an outlet port of the expansion tank to limit backflow of coolant into the expansion tank in the event that the pressure in the expansion tank falls below the pressure in a return conduit thereby preventing the expansion tank from filling with coolant. The non-return valve and the expansion tank are formed as a single component and the non-return valve is located in an outlet port of the expansion tank.
US08607739B2
A limiting device (9) for limiting the freedom of movement of a standing cow in a lying box (1) in a loose house for keeping cattle, in a direction towards a front end (8) of the lying box. The limiting device (9) is intended to be placed near the front end, on and projecting from the bottom (11) of the lying box. At least one top part (13) of the limiting device is movable between a limiting position operatively projecting from the bottom for limiting the freedom of movement of the standing cow towards the front end of the lying box, and a releasing position, for leaving, for the purpose of the front legs of the cow lying down, at least a part of the space the limiting device occupies in the limiting position. A lying box and a loose house with such limiting device are also described.
US08607737B2
A watering fountain having a first valve assembly coupled to a pressurized water supply, including a check valve configured to restrict water flow under pressurized water conditions. The fountain includes a second valve assembly selectably coupleable to the first valve assembly and including a disabling structure, a valve, a drain port, a flexible diaphragm, a diaphragm actuator, and a quick connect valve. The watering fountain also includes a fluid conduit extending upwardly from the second valve assembly. The fountain includes an activator rod extending upwardly from the second valve assembly inside the fluid conduit. The watering fountain includes a basin extending upwardly from the fluid conduit. The fountain includes an activator plate operationally coupled to the activator rod and disposed within the basin.
US08607731B2
An apparatus for generating uniform plasma across and beyond the peripheral edge of a substrate has a dielectric body with an upper electrode and an annular electrode embedded therein. The outer perimeter of the upper electrode overlaps the inner perimeter of the annular electrode. In one embodiment, the upper electrode and the annular electrode are electrically coupled by molybdenum vias. In one embodiment, the upper electrode is coupled to a DC power source to provide electrostatic force for chucking the substrate. In one embodiment, the upper electrode is coupled to an RF source for exciting one or more processing gasses into plasma for substrate processing.
US08607730B2
An apparatus and method of replacing a liquid of a circulation line in a substrate liquid processing apparatus of a single-wafer type, which can replace the liquid more efficiently, by relating the replacing method with a process-liquid replenishing method. A substrate liquid processing apparatus of a single-wafer type includes: a circulation line through which a process liquid is circulated; a tank disposed in the circulation line; a liquid level sensor disposed in the tank; a liquid replenish part configured to replenish the tank with a new process liquid, based on an output of the liquid level sensor; and a liquid-replacement control part configured to stop the operation of the liquid replenish part based on a predetermined replenish stop condition that is set cooperatively with a predetermined liquid disposal condition, and to discard all the process liquid in the tank based on the predetermined liquid disposal condition.
US08607726B2
[Problem] To provide an instrument dial and its manufacturing method wherein it is possible to shorten a print time and achieve a reduction in cost.[Means for Resolution] An instrument dial with index portions 5 provided in background portions 3 and 4 by subjecting a substrate 1 to printing includes an underlying portion 2 configured of a screen print layer provided on the substrate 1; a first background portion 3 which, being configured of a screen print layer formed on the underlying portion 2, does not include the index portions 5; and second background portions 4 which are configured of a digital print layer formed on the underlying portion 2 and, as well as including the index portions 5, are continuous with the first background portion 3.
US08607723B2
A device for arranging a profiled element on the bow side of a water vehicle and a water vehicle having a wind-impacted element. The device has at least one profiled element (40, 40.1, 40.2) and means for arranging the at least one profiled element (40, 40.1, 40.2) on the bow (20) of a water vehicle (10, 100), wherein the profiled element(s) (40, 40.1, 40.2) is/are or can be supported about a pivot axis (S) which is parallel, preferably horizontal, to the midship plane, wherein the profiled element(s) (40, 40.1, 40.2) can be or is/are connected to a wind-impacted element (14) at a leading point (43) of a wind-impacted-element-driven water vehicle (10, 100) by means of a connecting device (42), in particular by means of a whippletree (42).
US08607722B2
An aerodynamic wind propulsion device is provided, particularly for watercraft, in form of an aerodynamic wing connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, at least one pair of two active steering lines being connected to the aerodynamic wing at two points in distance and being coupled to a drive unit at the steering unit, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected at the steering unit to at least two of the tractive lines and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force, and two passive steering lines are connected to each other to form a continuous passive steering line section passing through the steering unit in order to passively follow a deformation of the aerodynamic wing.
US08607713B2
The invention relates to a device for pivoting one or more nose flaps of a track-guided vehicle, a railway vehicle in particular. It is hereby provided for the device to comprise at least one supporting frame (10) connected or connectable to the vehicle undercarriage and at least one actuating device connected on one side to the at least one supporting frame (10) and on the other to the pivotable nose flap (1a; 1b) for pivoting the nose flap (1a; 1b) relative to the supporting frame (10) from a closed state into an opened state and vice versa, wherein the actuating device comprises at least one lifting spindle drive (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b).
US08607710B2
A cable-tow system including a skiing surface. A drive tower, including a drive pulley, and a support tower, including a return pulley, are positioned on a periphery of the skiing surface. The cable-tow system further includes a stationary support cable spanning a first distance between the drive tower and the support tower. A movable drive cable spans a second distance between the drive pulley and the return pulley. The movable drive cable travels in an orbital fashion between the drive pulley and the return pulley. A truck is connected to the movable drive cable and includes at least one race pulley. The at least one race pulley engages the stationary support cable. A tow rope is connected to the truck and includes a handle for towing a skier. Movement of the movable drive cable moves the truck along a length of the stationary support cable.
US08607708B1
An improved apparatus and method for fitting a normally non-explosive containing projectile with a spotting charge. A spotting charge capsule is inserted into an opening in the front of a projectile. The opening may be made by removing part of the nose of the projectile and making a shaped opening for inserting the spotting charge capsule. The spotting charge capsule includes an opening at its front and a bore behind the opening leading to a cavity for holding an explosive mixture, usually one or more pressed incendiary pellets. The opening and bore together form a venturi, or venturi-like, tube. The tube ends short of the cavity leaving only a thin wall between the bore and the explosive. On impact on soft media, such as dirt, sand or mud, the soft media will enter the tube and shear the thin wall, creating a high speed flier plate that ignites the explosive mixture.
US08607705B2
The present disclosure generally relates a high strength, low weight, and low shock rocket body separating joint for the purpose of joining rocket bodies, and method of assembly thereof. The solution combines a radax joint, joined by fasteners, with a flattened bladder and inflation system coupled thereto. Upon activation of the inflation system, the bladder is pressurized and exerts a separating force between the members of the radax joint, overcoming the load carrying capability of the fasteners and breaking apart the radax joint.
US08607703B2
A system for a piston actuator comprising a configuration with lead styphnate charge material and Nichrome® bridgewire, wherein the device configuration provides very high reliability, including piston actuator applications; resistance of the bridgewire is carefully controlled to optimize power transfer from the firing circuit to the bridgewire and charge material.
US08607700B2
Mesh may be stretched between rollers of a roller frame using a tool to grip a locking strip slot in the roller at about the middle of the roller and turning the roller using the tool. A rectangular frame may support the roller frame in a planer configuration during stretching. A jack coupled to the rectangular frame may be used to apply rotational force to the tool for rotating the roller. A triangular locking strip may be stitched to the mesh for insertion into the locking strip slot from the top instead of the end of the slot.
US08607697B2
A method and apparatus is provided for compressing the lamination stack for a dynamoelectric machine. The apparatus includes a plurality of weight distribution plates and a plurality of pressing plates. The plurality of weight distribution plates are placed on one end of the lamination stack of the dynamoelectric machine. The plurality of pressing plates are placed on the plurality of weight distribution plates. A compressive force is applied to the lamination stack via the plurality of weight distribution plates and the plurality of pressing plates.
US08607690B1
A system and method for brewing coffee to produce elevated levels of niacinamide is shown. One embodiment includes providing a dark roasted coffee, brewing the coffee at pressures above atmospheric pressure in water heated above boiling temperature, and producing a brewed coffee with elevated levels of niacinamide. Another embodiment includes a system comprising a boiler with a heating element, a heat exchanger extending into the boiler, the heat exchanger having an injector with at least one lateral opening to inject water laterally into the heat exchanger, to produce pressurized water above atmospheric boiling temperature to brew ground coffee at temperatures above boiling to produce a coffee with elevated levels of niacinamide. The embodiment system may also include a thermally insulating lid.
US08607673B2
A tool having a collar disposed rearward of a movable sleeve or tool attachment so as to deflect objects away from the rearward edge of the sleeve or tool attachment when in the tool attachment lock position thereby preventing inadvertent release of the tool attachment during use.
US08607671B2
A wrench for applying a drive torque at a drive element includes an elongated handle, a clamping element or head having a torque-applying gripping surface, and at least one trigger. The head is adjustably or movably mounted at the handle and is adjustable or movable to impart a clamping force at a drive element received at the gripping surface of the head. The trigger is configured to adjust or move the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element. Responsive to a user actuating the trigger, the trigger adjusts or moves the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element irrespective of any movement of the handle relative to the drive element.
US08607670B2
A damaged fastener extractor is provided with a body defining generally cylindrical coordinates ⊖, Z and R about an axis and having a rear body portion communicating with a front body portion. The rear body portion has an outer surface shaped to be engaged by a tool to be used in rotating the body circumferentially about the axis and sized to present a working outer dimension OD to said tool. The front body portion has a front terminus and an inner surface in which the front terminus is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis and provides a generally circular receiving aperture communicating with the inner surface. The inner surface is shaped to engage a damaged fastener to be extracted and sized to present a working inner diameter ID to the damaged fastener. The front body portion inner surface has equally spaced, parallel grooves positioned thereon and oriented to extend along an arcuate, inwardly tapering path from a forward groove terminus located proximal to the front body portion front terminus to a rearward groove terminus located proximal to the rear body portion. Each groove has a centerline extending along its length and a pitch P defined by the axial displacement of the centerline per revolution of the centerline about the axis. Each groove further has a substantially constant cross-sectional geometry extending along most of its length, whereby the position of each groove centerline at the forward terminus is ⊖1, Z1 and R1 and the position of each groove centerline at the rearward terminus is ⊖2, Z2 and R2. Due to the inward taper, R1 is greater than ID/2 which is greater than R2, and an angle of inward taper μ is defined by tan μ=(R1−R2)/(Z1−Z2).
US08607667B2
A method of manufacturing razor blades from a strip material including reducing the thickness of the strip material by at least 10% and converting the strip material into razor blades.
US08607660B2
The present disclosure relates to various vehicle braking assemblies. Brake pedal arms include, for example, a cam block that is configured to simplify the engagement between the power booster and pedal arm. Cam block can be movable with respect to the pedal arm to manage the gap between the pedal arm and power booster in by-wire braking assemblies.
US08607658B2
A horizontal articulated robot includes a base, a first arm provided rotatably around a first rotation axis on the base, a second arm provided rotatably around a second rotation axis on the first arm, the second rotation axis being parallel to the first rotation axis, and a main shaft provided in the second arm to be extended in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis. A distance between the second rotation axis and the main shaft is shorter than a length of a straight line connecting the first and the second rotation axes. Additionally, the first arm has a recessed portion formed so as to include a position on a rotation path where a rotation radius around the second rotation axis is equivalent to the distance between the second rotation axis and the main shaft.
US08607653B2
The present invention provides: a die-cast quality judging method that can easily judge whether or not a prescribed quality is satisfied; a die-casting machine selecting method of judging whether or not plural prescribed qualities are satisfied; and a die-casting condition determining method of determining die-casting conditions.It is judged that inequalities to be restricted by judging standard values QfLB2 and QaUB2 are not true from the positional relation between a process point 13 that is an intersection of a machine characteristic line 11 and a die characteristic line 12 and straight lines 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and thus it is judged that the inequalities to restrict an upper limit of a filling time and a lower limit of an air vent exhaust velocity are not true. That is, it is judged that prescribed qualities are not satisfied with regard to misrun and gas inclusion.
US08607652B2
An apparatus for handling a liquid sample, especially for automatic removal of a liquid sample from a sample-taking location, comprising: a control unit; a sample collecting unit; a supply and metering system, which is embodied to convey a liquid sample from the sample-taking location and to meter the sample into a liquid receptacle of the sample collecting unit; a housing with a first housing part, which at least partially surrounds at least the sample collecting unit, and a second housing part, which is separated from the first housing part, and which at least partially surrounds a metering space; wherein at least parts of the supply and metering system are arranged in the metering space; and wherein the apparatus furthermore includes a plate, which is releasably connected with the second housing part surrounding the metering space, and which divides the metering space into a first metering space part and a second metering space part.
US08607643B2
A Coriolis mass flowmeter with a measuring tube through which a medium can flow, at least one actuator and at least one sensor, wherein the measuring tube is bent between its input and output ends into a first winding and a second winding, the first winding and the second winding merging into one another at a transitional section of the measuring tube. The first winding and the second winding run in parallel winding planes and wherein the first winding and the second winding can be excited to oscillation by the actuator and the oscillations detected by the sensor. The Coriolis mass flowmeter is comparably insensitive to the coupling of external oscillations in that oscillating sections of the first winding and the second winding are bent into a V shape that opens in a direction toward the transitional section of the measuring tube.
US08607637B2
A gage pressure transducer comprising a first pressure sensing assembly exposed to a main pressure and a second pressure sensing assembly exposed to a reference pressure. The pressure sensing assemblies comprise half-bridge sensors and means for using an alignment glass plate with each sensor which reduces the amount of oil required for operation, which consequently reduces the back pressures caused by large volumes of oil. The pressure sensor assemblies are hermetically sealed using glass frits, therefore enabling the gage pressure transducer to robustly and accurately measure pressure in harsh environments.
US08607633B2
A system is provided for measuring the resonant frequencies on disc brake pads. The system includes a data recording apparatus and a measuring device in the form of a sensor system. In order to record a maximum number of resonant frequencies, the sensor system consists of two or more microphones.
US08607625B2
A service procedure to test the SCR device involves turning on an upstream and downstream SCR NOx sensor, turning off an NH3 injector, running the engine until enough upstream NOx mass has been generated by the engine to deplete any NH3 load remaining in the SCR device, determining the operational status of the NOx sensors as follows: if 1−downstream NOx ppm/upstream NOx ppm=approx. 0; then the downstream NOx sensor is reading the same as the upstream NOx sensor and the downstream NOx sensor is determined to be good and the SCR device may have to be replaced; and if 1−downstream NOx ppm/upstream NOx ppm>approx. 0; then the downstream NOx sensor is reading high and the downstream NOx sensor is determined to be bad and downstream NOx sensor may have to be replaced.
US08607622B2
An AFM based technique has been demonstrated for performing highly localized IR spectroscopy on a sample surface. Such a technique implemented in a commercially viable analytical instrument would be extremely useful. Various aspects of the experimental set-up have to be changed to create a commercial version. The invention addresses many of these issues thereby producing a version of the analytical technique that can be made generally available to the scientific community.
US08607617B2
Apparatus for remote inspection of oxygen containers includes an electronic circuit in communication between each container (or at various locations along a pipeline) and a remote central station. The electronic circuit is adapted to issue a signal to the remote central station that includes information about predetermined internal and/or external conditions such as the level of oxygen stored in the tank, a pressure condition of material stored in the tank, a lack of presence of the tank in an installed position, or the presence of an obstruction restricting access to the tank.
US08607612B2
A method of calibrating a reversible-binding sensor for detecting an analyte includes: (i) varying the temperature of a first calibration solution from a first temperature (T1) to a second temperature (T2) while the first calibration solution is in contact with a sensing region of the sensor; (ii) determining the sensor output for the first calibration solution as a function of temperature; (iii) varying the temperature of a second calibration solution from a third temperature (T3) to a fourth temperature (T4) while the second calibration solution is in contact with the sensing region, the second calibration solution having a concentration of analyte which is different from that of the first calibration solution; (iv) determining the sensor output for the second calibration solution as a function of temperature; and (v) using the determined sensor output from steps (ii) and (iv) to calibrate the sensor.
US08607608B2
A bending apparatus (1) is for bending a workpiece (object to be worked), using a bending die (2) formed in accordance with a bent form of the workpiece, and a linear die (3) linearly extended, and includes a table (10) having a work face (11a) where the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) are placed; and a pair of rollers (40, 50) configured to move along the work face (11a), wherein each of the rollers (40, 50) is configured to move from one end side of the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) to the other end side thereof in a state of pinching the bending die (2) and the linear die (3) in a die closing direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to configure the bending apparatus (1), to make a work space small, and to improve the work efficiency of the bending.
US08607606B2
The inventive method involves deforming the extremities of a plate, which has a rectangular edge and is disposed between the working surface of strikers, by ultrasonic forging with the aid of the strikers, simultaneously moving the plate in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axes of the strikers and turning the strikers. Each striker is provided with a groove with a curvilinear generatrix which is made on the surface thereof with a variable radius R. The width of the plate is reduced by a value Δ=R(1−π/4), wherein R is the variable radius value at a point where the ultrasonic forging of the plate is carried out. The circumferential speed Vcirc.S of the striker rotation is chosen, during the plate displacement, as to correspond to the above-mentioned relationship. In the device, the circumferential speed of the striker rotation is synchronized with the plate displacement velocity. The groove of the striker is designed with the variable radius R.
US08607605B2
A spring wire is subjected to a first shot peening process and a second shot peening process. In the first shot peening process, a first shot is projected on the spring wire at a first projectile speed. High kinetic energy of the first shot produces compressive residual stress in a region ranging from the surface of the spring wire to a deep position. In the second spring wire process, a second shot is projected at a second projectile speed lower than the speed of the first shot. The kinetic energy of the second shot is lower than that of the first shot. The low kinetic energy of the second shot increases the compressive residual stress in a region near the surface of the spring wire.
US08607600B2
A locking device includes a shaft, a locking head joined to the shaft, and a lock body having a lock opening for receiving a locking end of the shaft. A latch member is disposed within the lock body and includes a shaft aperture for receiving the locking end of the shaft therethrough. The shaft aperture includes an edge portion spring biased radially inward of the lock opening to engage the recessed portion with the edge portion when the locking end of the shaft is disposed in the lock opening. A locking member is disposed within the lock body. Rotation of the locking member from a locked condition to an unlocked condition moves the edge portion of the shaft aperture out of engagement with the recessed portion of the shaft to permit withdrawal of the shaft from the lock opening.
US08607596B2
A drum type washing machine, including a housing, a spin tub to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub rotating with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine, and a ball balancer coupled to the spin tub to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation thereof, the ball balancer including a first plastic member and a second plastic member joined to each other to define a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous fluid are accommodated, the first plastic member having an open side, and the second plastic member adapted to cover the open side of the first plastic member. The first plastic member includes a plurality of supports formed on an outer surface thereof to establish contact with the spin tub, and the ball balancer is fastened to the spin tub via a plurality of screw members.
US08607592B2
An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus including: a heating furnace in which an optical fiber is formed by melt-drawing an optical fiber preform; a sealing mechanism which is provided on an opening portion located at an upstream of the heating furnace and seals the heating furnace with an inert gas; a first pipe which is connected to the heating furnace and introduces the gas into the heating furnace; a second pipe which is connected to a lowermost compartment closest to the heating furnace among the compartments and introduces the gas into the lowermost compartment; and a gas flow rate control unit which controls a total sum of a flow rate of a gas supplied from the first pipe into the heating furnace and a flow rate of a gas supplied from the second pipe into the lowermost compartment to be substantially constant.
US08607591B2
The device for manufacturing glass, in which bubble formation on precious metal components is prevented, has a precious or refractory metal wall (12, 43) at least partially surrounding a glass melt from which the glass is made, a first electrode pair (20, 21) for measuring oxygen partial pressure at an interface between the glass melt and the wall to obtain an actual value, a second electrode pair (12, 43, 20) for measuring an oxygen partial pressure in the glass melt to obtain a set point value and a regulating system (39, 45) for adjusting the oxygen partial pressure at the interface according to a comparison between the actual value and the set point value, so that the oxygen partial pressure at the interface is within a safe range.
US08607586B2
An aircraft galley refrigeration system is provided which, in one embodiment, includes: first and second galleys; a first chiller for providing a first heat transfer fluid to the first galley; a second chiller for providing a second heat transfer fluid to the second galley; and a heat exchanger including a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit connecting the first galley with the first chiller, and the second circuit connecting the second galley with the second chiller. In another embodiment, the system includes a first cooling subsystem with a first heat transfer fluid, a second cooling subsystem with a second heat transfer fluid, and a heat exchanger that thermally couples the first and second cooling subsystems for distributing heat between the first and second heat transfer fluids.
US08607577B2
An assembly for use in a gas turbine engine has an underlying metal sheet, and at least one ceramic matrix composite tile attached to the underlying metal sheet with at least one fastener assembly. The panel fastener assembly includes a fastener having a threaded portion extending rearwardly from a head, which has a frustoconical surface facing the threaded portion. The frustoconical surface is received in a frustoconical bore in the ceramic matrix composite panel. A bushing is positioned on an opposed side of the metal sheet from the ceramic matrix composite panel. The bushing has a flange extending away from the metal sheet. A sleeve is received about the threaded portion of the fastener, and extends away from the panel, beyond the metal sheet. The sleeve has a lip extending radially outwardly toward the flange on the bushing, such that the flange on the bushing extends beyond a space defined between the lip and a seating surface on the bushing. A wave spring is received within the cavity.
US08607561B2
An actuating apparatus which may be arranged to provide an actuating rotation or force on demand. The actuating apparatus comprises a resilient member having a plurality of co-acting elements such as a plurality of elongate rods and end-mounts arranged to move relative to each other. The resilient member is arrangeable in a first configuration and a second configuration such as a twisted configuration. An actuator which is preferably elongate is secured to the resilient member at least two points, preferably to each of the end mounts of the resilient member. The actuator is arranged to force the resilient member into one of or between the two configurations. The resilient member preferably includes a matrix which preferably surrounds at least a portion of the elongate rods.
US08607559B2
A method for actuating a bypass control valve assembly of a fluid system includes receiving a first input signal at an electronic control unit. The first input signal is related to an active position of a direction control valve that is in fluid communication with a fluid pump and a fluid actuation device. The directional control valve includes a neutral position that provides fluid communication between a fluid inlet port of the directional control valve and a fluid outlet port of the directional control valve. A second input signal is received at the electronic control unit. The second input signal is related to the rotational speed of the fluid pump. The second input signal is compared to a limit. A drain valve of a bypass valve assembly is actuated so that fluid communication between the fluid pump and a fluid reservoir through the bypass valve assembly is blocked.
US08607550B2
A system is provided for admixing a reducing agent to an exhaust gas flow of an internal-combustion engine. The system includes an exhaust line and a metering device for feeding the reducing agent into the exhaust line, the metering device is arranged in or on a hollow body arranged on the exhaust line. An inner volume of the hollow body is connected in an exhaust-gas-conducting manner with the exhaust line. The reducing agent is feedable by a nozzle into the hollow body. A jacket body is provided between the hollow body and the nozzle-fed reducing agent, which jacket body surrounds the reducing agent at least in areas in the inner volume. Accordingly, a depositing of reducing agent on the metering device and on the hollow body is substantially avoided.
US08607549B2
In one approach a method for operating an engine including a DPF is provided. The method includes adjusting a post fuel injection amount based on a rate of change of engine torque during DPF regeneration. As one example, the adjusting includes reducing the amount when the rate of change is positive, and increasing the amount when the rate of change is negative. Furthermore, the method may also include delivering exhaust gas to a turbocharger turbine, to an oxidation catalyst, and then a DPF, the adjusting of the post fuel injection further based on thermal inertia of the turbocharger.
US08607547B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a flue gas purifying device that can suppress leakage of ammonia and can efficiently decrease nitrogen oxides in flue gas. The object is achieved by a flue gas purifying device including: an exhaust pipe; a urea-water injecting unit that injects urea water into the exhaust pipe; a catalytic unit that includes a urea SCR catalyst that promotes a reaction between ammonia and nitrogen oxides and a support mechanism that supports the urea SCR catalyst in the exhaust pipe, and is arranged on a downstream side to a position where urea water is injected; a concentration measuring unit arranged on a downstream side to the catalytic unit in a flow direction of flue gas to measure an ammonia concentration in flue gas having passed through the urea SCR catalyst; and a control unit that controls injection of urea water by the urea-water injecting unit based on an ammonia concentration measured by the concentration measuring unit.
US08607538B2
An apparatus comprises a reel-holding unit for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film unwound by a plurality of rollers from the reel and a reel-changing unit for replacing a finished reel with a new reel, the reel-holding unit and the reel-changing unit being mutually positionable in a reel-change configuration in such a manner that the new reel can be positioned instead of the finished reel, the reel-changing unit being provided with elements that define a curvilinear path for an initial portion of the film of the new reel, the elements being positionable in the reel-change configuration such that when a roller of the plurality of rollers is positioned at a curve, at least one of the elements is completely interposed between the film and the roller.
US08607534B2
The invention relates to a method for applying capsules (1) to a plastic container (54) which is aseptically filled with a liquid and which is weld-sealed with a membrane (80). The capsule (1) to be applied, which preferably is constituted of two aluminum foils (2, 6) having a collar (58), is placed on the membrane (80) with a planar surface thereof and the collar is mechanically bent so that it is reliably secured to the container neck (50). The cap (100) is then pressed onto it so that the collar (58) is retained between the container neck (50) and the cap (100) in a form-and in a force-locking connection. The method according to the invention avoids the risk of the capsule being destroyed, which can happen during welding, and the risk of soiling, which can happen during gluing.
US08607531B2
Light weight fiber-reinforced polymeric (FRP) structural building panels and panel assemblies, sized and configured for construction of wall structures permanently tied to the ground, optionally tying overlying structure to an underlying wall using such panels and panel assemblies. Fiber schedule and orientation in the panels provide enhanced properties of strength of a panel/wall per unit dimension relative to FRP layer thickness and/or mass of the panel/wall per unit dimension.
US08607530B2
A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.
US08607528B2
A method of building a structure, the method including the steps of: 1. fabricating a generally longitudinal, non-steel sub-structure of the structure with a cable retainer attached to, or forming part of, the sub-structure and that extends substantially longitudinally therealong; 2. assembling the sub-structure into a structure; 3. inserting a cable into the cable retainer; 4. after step 2, applying a tensile force to the cable relative to the cable retainer; and 5. after step 4, bonding the cable to the cable retainer.
US08607514B2
A window trim system and method comprises a trim hoop sized to be slid over an outer face of a window frame to the exterior edge of the frame. A stop member formed around the exterior edge abuts and aligns the trim hoop. A friction member may or may not be installed around the inside of the trim hoop to help hold the trim hoop initially in place. Sealant is then applied around the junction of the trim hoop and window frame on the inside of the trim hoop to fix the trim hoop to the window frame and create a seal against air and water infiltration. The resulting window frame and trim assembly is particularly suited for use in an overfit replacement window installation, but may be used in virtually any window installation.
US08607510B2
A roof of a building is provided. The roof comprises a roof frame, a layer of curved roof cover elements (e.g., tiles) above the roof frame, and a solar panel secured to one or more of the roof cover elements. The solar panel substantially conforms to one or more curved surfaces of the one or more roof cover elements. Another aspect provides a roof comprising a roof frame, a layer of curved roof cover elements (e.g., tiles) above the roof frame, a vent member within the roof cover element layer, and a solar panel. The vent member has a curved surface and is sized and shaped to mimic the appearance of one or more of the roof cover elements. The vent member also has an opening allowing a ventilation airflow from the building interior toward an airspace above the vent member and the roof cover element layer. The solar panel is secured to and substantially conforms to the curved surface of the vent member.
US08607496B2
A programmable, mechanical scrape making device that is battery operated and that can be fastened to the ground. When activated, the device comes in contact with the ground to create a scrape through a sweeping and/or linear motion that is the same as or similar to that of an actual scrape that is performed by deer during the Rut or breeding season. The device also has a scent spraying mechanism that operates as the scrape is made. The device can be enclosed and operate from a weatherproof case which may be designed to look like a tree log. The design of the case can vary in appearance as to create a look that is indigenous to the end users' geographic area. The device is portable and may include a carrying case with a shoulder strap allowing the end user to transport the device from one location to another. The device may include power ports accessible for other devices such as motion detecting digital cameras and mock licking branches.
US08607494B2
A novel firearm pull-through cleaning tool with an integrated foldable handle. The handle is pivotable at a first tool end between a closed position wherein a portion of the handle occupies a longitudinal well in the tool body and an open position wherein the handle is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of body. When in closed position the diameter of the tool is less than the bore diameter of a weapon to be cleaned. In use, the handle is pivoted in a first direction to place the tool in the closed position; the tool is inserted into the firearm bore; a cleaning tool is attached to the attachment portion; the tool is passed through the bore; the handle is pivoted in a second direction to place said tool in the open position; and the handle is pulled to cause the cleaning tool to be passed through the bore.
US08607486B2
A card for presenting visual information while being waved. The card is flexible and has a sensor detecting or quantifying the bending of the card. The card has, preferably at an edge thereof, light emitters for presenting the information. A controller determines the position of the edge and forwards information so that a user watching the edge sees an emulated 2D information provider.
US08607481B1
An attachment for a plow blade and the like typically, used for removal of snow or in earth grading and moving. The attachment provides a contoured surface engagement element for the blade edge allowing it to ride over protruding surface obstacles without direct damaging engagement therewith. The attachment is selectively secured along the length of the blade edge by mounting brackets having quick release and mounted threaded frictional engagement elements.
US08607469B2
Provided is cement burning apparatus 1 comprising a dryer 6 for drying high-water-content organic waste of which water content is 40 mass percent or more, in which combustion gas extracted from outlet portions or ceiling, portions of preheater cyclones 3A to 3D of a cement kiln 2 is fed to the dryer 6. As the dryer 6, a grinding-type flash dryer, which directly contacts the combustion gas G with the high-water-content organic waste W while grinding it, can be used. In addition, the apparatus 1 further comprises a coarse powder separator 12 for separating coarse powder from the combustion gas extracted from the range described above, and the combustion gas G from which dust is separated by the coarse powder separator 12 can be fed to the dryer 6, and the dust concentration of the gas fed to the dryer 6 may be adjusted to 0.05kg/Nm3 or more and 0.35kg/Nm3 or less.
US08607465B1
A digital T-bevel has a blade with a slot along a part of its length and a handle having an end that is mounted both to move along the length of the slot and to pivot with respect to the blade longitudinal axis. The handle also includes an encoder to measure the angle of the handle relative to the blade longitudinal axis and the necessary electronic circuitry to convert the measured angle into digital form to drive a display to visually display the numerical value of the measured angle.
US08607459B2
A utensil apparatus for dispensing a quantity of condiment. The condiment dispensing utensil is constructed such that it contains an internal reservoir of a condiment, such as a salad dressing. The condiment dispensing utensil assembly can then be used to dispense a bite-sized portion of the condiment to the food on the utensil as it is consumed. The utensil allows the user to control the amount of condiment that is consumed at a single meal. Said utensil can later be cleaned for reuse or disposed of if constructed for only a single serving use. The utensil also comprises a pump mechanism for controlling the amount of condiment that is dispensed with each bite or scoop of food.
US08607454B2
A method of fabricating a composite-material turbomachine blade having platform incorporated therein includes separately making a blade platform element that includes rigidified fiber reinforcement and that has a shape close to that of a platform of the blade to be fabricated, with at least one opening being formed through the platform element. The opening has the shape of the profile of the airfoil of the blade to be fabricated. Three-dimensional weaving is used to make a flexible fiber blank as a single piece that includes blade airfoil-and-root preform portions. The platform element is engaged, via its opening, on the flexible fiber blank while deforming it so as to assemble the platform element with the fiber blank. The fiber blank is shaped together with the platform element assembled thereon to obtain a blade preform of a shape that is close to the shape of the blade to be fabricated. After shaping, the blade preform is consolidated in its shape in a shaper. Additionally, final densification of the consolidated blade preform is performed in order to obtain a composite-material blade having an incorporated platform.
US08607448B2
A printed circuit board having a micro strip line, a printed circuit board having a strip line and a method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The printed circuit board having a micro strip line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first insulation layer, a signal line buried in one surface of the first insulation layer, a plurality of conductors penetrating through the first insulation layer and being disposed on both sides of the signal line in parallel with the signal line, and a ground layer formed to be electrically connected to the conductor on the other surface of the first insulation layer.
US08607437B2
An energy harvesting device (EHD) and method including a hollow outer envelope (201) having an inner wall (200) with a first predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the inner wall, at least one inner core (202), free to move in the hollow envelope (200) characterized by a second predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the at least inner core, the inner core being characterized by one or more convex projections of magnetically active material, at least one conducting loop (203) disposed at locations selected from the group consisting of the outer envelope and the at least inner core, so as to be suffused with magnetic flux due to the magnetic field distributions of the at least one inner core and the at least one outer envelope and generating an alternating current due to movement of the inner core within the outer envelope and a rectifying circuit in electrical connection with the at least one conducting loop (203) rectifying the alternating current into a current having a DC component.
US08607425B2
A method of processing media comprises bonding a high molecular weight first lubricant to media; loading and rotating the media in a burnishing device; applying a tape to the rotating media while applying a second lubricant to the tape, such that at least some of the second lubricant is transferred from the tape to the media; and evaporating substantially all of the second lubricant from the polished media within 24 hours. The second lubricant may comprise a low molecular weight, non-functional, free lubricant that does not bond with the media.
US08607424B1
A method and apparatus for a reverse metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The apparatus includes a lower metal layer, a bottom electrode, and an upper metal layer. The lower metal layer is disposed above a substrate layer. The bottom electrode is disposed above the lower metal layer and coupled to the lower metal layer. The upper metal layer is disposed above the bottom electrode. The upper metal layer comprises a top electrode of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor.
US08607423B2
A casket system includes a casket container and a movable platform. The casket container has a bottom, and includes a plurality of rollers supported by said bottom. The movable platform is disposed within the casket container. The movable platform including slots extending through the platform and aligned horizontally with the plurality of rollers, the movable platform having a raised position and a lowered position, wherein at least a portion of a first number of the plurality of rollers extend through the slots and stand proud the movable platform in the lowered position, and a portion of fewer than the first number of the plurality of rulers stand proud the movable platform in the raised position.
US08607418B2
A latching mechanism for use in securing a boat that is afloat, includes a main body having a channel for accepting a line that will hold the boat. A latching member is pivotally secured within the main body and is movable between a position that closes off the channel and movable to a position which opens the channel, the latching member being pivotable about a pivot point on the main body. A spring force holds the latching member in a closed position and a cable attached to the latching member at a location on an opposite side of the pivot point pivots the latching member to an open position.
US08607417B2
A device for termination of synthetic rope, with an eye socket substantially free of sharp edges, a bale at the top of the eye socket with an eye for attachment of connecting links, a groove for receiving synthetic rope. In addition, the device includes a bale with extended sides at the top of the eye socket, a thimble within a synthetic rope eye contained within the extended sides and restrained from translation by pin. A shroud is also provided for protection at the bottom of the eye socket at the synthetic rope splice. The device is intended to aid in the efficient and safe connections to other objects such as other synthetic mooring lines, steel wire rope, and anchor chains.
US08607416B2
A decklid hinge assembly for a vehicle includes a counterbalance torque system having a torque storing assembly. The torque storing assembly includes a torque rod having a first axial end and a second axial end, and a torque tube having a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end of the torque rod is attached to a linkage system in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, the second axial end of the torque rod is attached to the second axial end of the torque tube in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween, and the first axial end of the torque tube is attached to a hinge box in torque transmitting engagement for transmitting torque therebetween. The torque storing assembly is pre-loaded with a moment to generate a torque for assisting movement of the support member from a closed position into an open position.
US08607397B1
The bucket-mounted concrete tool-cleaning device includes a pair of snap-on cleaner heads that attach onto a cleaner head base. The cleaner head base attaches onto an inner, surface of a 5-gallon bucket and includes a plurality of adjustment slots located on an outer surface of the cleaner head base. The cleaner head base further includes a screw that tightens in order to secure the cleaner base onto the side of the 5-gallon bucket. The adjustment slots are for use in attaching one of the snap-on cleaner heads at varying heights within the 5-gallon bucket in order to adjust for varying water levels within said bucket. The snap-on cleaner heads feature a plurality of bristles that adorn an inner channel, which scrub a tool or float clean of concrete after use. The cleaner head base attaches at an angle to an interior surface of the 5-gallon bucket.
US08607395B2
A device for cleaning carboys, kegs, and similar containers is disclosed. The device includes a pair of cleaning pads pivotally attached to a rod. Each pad has a fabric exterior, a stiffening insert, and the absorbent sponge. The insert and sponge are placed on one side of the fabric exterior. The opposite side of the fabric exterior is folded over the stiffening insert and the sponge and then sewn together.
US08607383B2
A drawstring secured fitted sheet where the corners are fashioned to avoid binding the string. It has a hem that holds the drawstring that is fabricated separately to allow that the edges of the sheet can be curved. The hem is terminated short of closing to allow a gap for the drawstring to exit. A stiffener is added at the gap to hold it open. There can be a block or pulley added to aid in tightening.
US08607382B1
Apparatus and method for holding a pillow on an upwardly extending end of a mattress having a single sheet of material having a upper end and a lower end along with a first side and a second side having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower end is folded back upon itself to form an enclosure so that the upper surfaces of the folded section are adjacent to each other having a pillow disposed in the enclosure. The upper end is wrapped around the upwardly extended end of the mattress, using straps to hold the upper end in place.
US08607378B2
A caregiver assist device for use with a patient support apparatus is disclosed. The caregiver assist device including a support structure, a boom, a helper belt, and a constant force spring assembly. The boom extends from the support structure over the patient support apparatus. The helper belt is supported along the boom and has a first end and a second end. The constant force spring assembly includes a constant force spring coupled between the support structure and the first end of the helper belt so that a constant counterbalancing force is applied to the helper belt in response to a patient force being applied to the second end of the helper belt.
US08607373B2
A pool fluid control system utilizes a fluid collection tank having an intake enclosure extending therefrom. The intake enclosure has an open grate which is configured to be positioned flush with the pool wall. Water which accumulates between the pool wall and the liner flows through the grate, into the intake enclosure, and then into the collection tank. A sump pump or other submersible pump within the collection tank then discharges the water out of the collection tank for disposal at a location away from the pool. This constant monitoring and then automatic removal of unwanted water from the space between the liner and the pool wall serves to maintain the integrity of the liner in relation to the wall.
US08607372B2
A self-contained swimming pool for containment of water and generation of water currents therein for exercise, therapy and/or rehabilitation of a user comprising a rigid frame exteriorly located in relation to an inner water containment area. A set of water return channels in communication with the inner water containment area. A propulsion system in communication with the set of water return channels and the inner water containment area. A hydraulic system for driving the propulsion system using a hydraulic fluid to produce a current in the inner water containment area allowing positioning of a user in the current for exercise, therapy and or rehabilitation therein and wherein the hydraulic system is self-contained and mounted external of the rigid frame.
US08607369B1
The therapeutic footrest for use while on the toilet is used to stimulate the evacuation reflex and to elevate the user in a position so he can squat while on a Western-style toilet. The footrest has two foot members for the user use to massage his feet and that the user can stand on while he is squatting over the toilet. The foot members are placed at opposing ends of two horizontal support bars. While the user is sitting on the toilet, he can move his feet back and forth over massage bumps on the foot members, while the foot members pivot on the footrest. When he is ready to squat, the foot members can be locked into place with locking clips so that the user can squat over the toilet.
US08613109B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for providing mobile social networking privacy are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a third party application for location information of a mobile endpoint device user, determines whether the third party application is a multiple user application and provides the location information of the mobile endpoint device user to the third party application in accordance with a privacy setting pre-defined by an authorized user if the third party application is a multiple user application.
US08613104B2
An outer COM object can be provided with privileged access to protected functionality in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer a custom protected interface to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application or by creating a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to access the protected content. An outer COM object can override behavior in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer access to custom behavior to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application. The new inner internals COM object can implement a new interface that provides access to the customized (override) content or can create a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to provide access to the customized (override) content.
US08613098B1
A method and system for providing a dynamic image verification system to confirm human input whereby a dynamic verification image that is pictorial in nature, and/or is animated, is displayed as part of a generated image verification test. The user is then asked to describe the pictorial image and/or the animation shown by the dynamic verification image and/or, in one example, respond to the dynamic verification image in a manner appropriate to the dynamic verification image. Any user entering a correct solution, i.e., describing the pictorial image and/or animated action of the dynamic verification image correctly, or, in one example, interacting with the dynamic verification image in an appropriate manner, is presumed to be a human being, and not a computing system or other automated device.
US08613094B1
An application distribution server may be operable to perform an application distribution process for an application, where the application distribution process may comprise a plurality of phases. The plurality of phases may comprise, in sequence, a developer account creation phase, a risk assessment phase, an application upload phase, an application publication phase, an application promotion phase and an application download phase. The application distribution server may detect, at each of the plurality of phases, whether a particular behavior corresponding to use of the application to distribute undesirable software may occur. In instances when an occurrence of the particular behavior is detected at a certain phase in the application distribution process, the application distribution server may continue, utilizing a trap system, one or more subsequent phases after the certain phase for the application, without communicating information on the detection of the occurrence of the particular behavior.
US08613090B1
Method and apparatus for secure processing. The method includes detecting communication among secure and non-secure data entities, prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a permitted instruction record, and prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a prohibited instruction record. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one non-secure data entity, and secure data entities including: a communication monitor adapted to detect communication among secure and non-secure data entities; a permitted instruction record; a first prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the permitted instruction record; a prohibited instruction record; and a second prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the prohibited instruction record.
US08613088B2
A method and system to detect an evasion attack are provided. The system may include a repository to store signature fragments that together constitute an attack signature, an interceptor to intercept a data packet associated with a network connection, a string-matching module to determine whether the payload of the data packet includes any of the stored signature fragments thereby identifying a match, a responder to perform a prevention action in response to the match, and a detector to detect that a size of the data packet is less than a size threshold. The system may further include a state machine to commence maintaining a state for the network connection in response to the detector determining that the size of the data packet is less than the size threshold.
US08613072B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for processing a secure data connection request. A particular method receives, at a first gateway, a secure data connection request from a client identifying a server to connect to. The first gateway sends the client device a redirect message instructing the client device to attempt alternate connection via a second gateway. The client sends a secure data connection request to the second gateway and the second gateway facilitates the secure data connection between the client and the server.
US08613066B1
Techniques for user authentication are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include receiving, from a client device, an authentication request to access a network resource, the request including a user identifier, obtaining a security credential associated with the user identifier contained in the received request, generating an authorization code based on the obtained security credential, providing to the client device instructions to obtain first information corresponding to the generated authorization code, receiving, from the client device, the first information provided in response to the provided instructions, and, when the first information received from the client device corresponds to at least a portion of the generated authorization code, authorizing the client device to access the network resource.
US08613064B1
A method and apparatus for providing a secure authentication process is described. In one embodiment, a method for a method for providing a secure authentication process includes monitoring login activity of at least one authentication process associated with a computer resource and analyzing the login activity to identify suspicious login activity associated with user credentials.
US08613063B2
An image forming apparatus receives authentication information about a user who requests a function and determines whether the user needs to be authenticated before executing the requested function. The image forming apparatus then transmits the authentication information to an authentication device that performs authentication of the user, and receives an authentication result from the authentication device indicative of whether the user is authentic. The image forming apparatus executes the function specified in the request only when the authentication result shows that the user is authentic.
US08613054B2
In a method of granting a user in a first organization access to private information stored within an access profile of a second organization, an access agreement between the two organizations is formed. Authorization is requested for the user, the access profile is retrieved, and authorization to private information is granted if authorized by the access agreement.In a method of authorizing access by users to private information stored by an organization as associated with a program, three types of caseloads are defined. The first authorizes access to information of a first individual of a first program, the second authorizes access to information of a second individual of a second program, and the third authorizes access to information of all individuals of all programs.Authorization is requested for the user to access one or more of the caseloads, and access to one or more caseloads is granted to the user.
US08613052B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus, systems and methods for authentication, in particular, apparatus, systems and methods for authenticating an entity for computer and/or network security, secure authorization of a payment or for funds transfer and for selectively granting privileges and providing other services in response to such authentications. In addition, embodiments of the invention relate generally to apparatus, systems and methods for the communication of information between a mobile user-device and a point-of-sale device to securely provide authorization for a financial transaction.
US08613043B2
A method for identity mediation in an enterprise service bus is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A security information is received at the enterprise service bus from a first application executing in a first data processing system. The security information is a part of a request for service from a second application executing in a second data processing system. A part of the security information is identified to be transformed such that the part upon transformation is usable for handling the request by the second application. A security policy applicable to the identified part is selected and the identified part is transformed according to the security policy. The transforming results in a transformed security information. The transformed security information is sent to the second application.
US08613035B2
Provided are a package identification method and a location resolution method, more particularly, a package identification method for identifying a dependent package linked with a main AV and independent packages not linked with the main AV, and a location resolution method. Both when the package is dependent and linked with the main AV and when the package is independent and not linked with the main AV, a CRID is used as an identifier for the package. The present invention supports TVA-2 service scenarios by suggesting improved package identification and a location resolution mechanism.
US08613034B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08613033B2
A particular method of mitigating potential video traffic interference includes receiving an alert at a network management system, where the alert indicates detection of a signal in an ultra high frequency (UHF) white space frequency at a video head-end of a video distribution network, where the signal has a potential to interfere with video traffic that has been detected. The method also includes sending data to the video head-end, where the data indicates at least one corrective measure to mitigate interference with the video traffic by the signal.
US08613031B2
A method for transferring video and sound data from a first digital video recorder situated in a first local area network to a second digital video recorder situated in a second local area network comprising the steps of recording video and sound data with the first digital video recorder in the first local area network, providing a distinct address of the second digital video recorder in the second local area network, identifying the second digital video recorder in the second local area network by the address, establishing a direct and secure connection between the first digital video recorder in the first local area network and the second digital video recorder in the second local area network and sending the video and sound data from the first digital video recorder through a communications network to the second digital video recorder.
US08613028B2
The invention relates to providing audiovisual content on a network, and methods of transferring the audiovisual content between devices attached to the network. The methods involve accepting user input, at a first output device that is outputting audiovisual content, to select a second output device from the output devices associated with the network and subsequently outputting the audiovisual content on the second output device that is selected.
US08613027B2
A system and method for receiving and distributing an over-the-air signal over a network. At least one antenna receives an over-the-air signal containing a plurality of channels, at least one tuner isolates from the over-the-air signal information associated with a selected channel and produces an intermodulated carrier wave associated with the selected channel, at least one demodulator demodulates the intermodulated carrier wave to produce a data stream in a first format. Optionally a processor (for example a transcoder) converts the data stream in a first format into a second format. A communications interface produces a network transport stream from the data stream in the second format and distributes the network transport stream over the network. A line coupling unit (LCU) sets resistance/capacitance values which optimize the signal for distribution.
US08613018B2
An electronic programming guide (EPG) providing apparatus and method, in which an EPG is configured as a 3D form to facilitate a search for broadcasting program information included in the EPG. The EPG providing apparatus includes an EPG screen configuring unit and a control unit. The EPG screen configuring unit configures an EPG screen such that broadcasting program information is displayed on at least three faces of a 3D polyhedron. The control unit controls the EPG screen configuring unit to configure the EPG screen such that broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel is displayed on the EPG screen based on a user input signal requesting a search for the broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel.
US08613015B2
Methods and systems for presentation of content through an interface to provide personalized video feeds to a user. A video feed is harvested from feed items gathered at various Internet sources. The feed items are filtered to remove those that do not link to video content. A criteria specified by the user is used to filter the feed items.
US08613008B2
A system comprising, at least one processor, at least one eye tracking system electronically connected to the at least one processor, at least one means for electronically connecting a display device to the system, wherein the means for electronically connecting a display device is electronically connected to the at least one processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to use the at least one eye tracking system to determine the number of persons that are capable of viewing at least one display device electronically connected to the system, and control the content displayed on at least one display device connected to the system based on how many persons are determined to be capable of viewing the at least one display device.A method comprising using at least one processor to perform any or all of the following using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving sensory perceivable content, and controlling the content based on how many persons are determined to be capable of perceiving the content.A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising using at least one eye tracking system to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving sensory perceivable content, and controlling the content based on how many persons are determined to be capable of perceiving the content.
US08613007B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for deploying one or more plug-ins. The method and systems involve receiving a request for generating a graphical user interface at a client computing device, the request includes a configuration for flash content of the graphical user interface, identifying a one or more plug-ins associated with the request and at least one extension of the identified one or more plug-ins, the one or more plug-ins having been deployed at a plurality of content servers across plurality of platform types and stored in a plug-in repository, retrieving the identified one or more plug-ins based on the extension of the identified one or more plug-ins and generating the requested graphical user interface based on the retrieved one or more plug-ins.
US08613006B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for terminating a hidden kernel process. In use, a hidden kernel process structure associated with a hidden kernel process is identified. In addition, the hidden kernel process structure is inserted into an active process list. Further, the hidden kernel process is terminated.
US08613002B2
A services and application controller (“SAC”) is provided for digital electronic devices. The SAC includes four interfaces which respectively interact with four different environments, namely an application interface that interacts with application environments and applications, an extension interface that interacts with engines and enablers, a platform interface that interacts with device platform environments, and a service and network interface that interacts with services and service infrastructures and with networks. The SAC provides a set of core functions and abstracts the environments from each other, which enable interactions between these environments without requiring that the environments be aware of specific aspects of the other environments for the interactions.
US08613001B2
A host device having a merged plug-in function and a method of generating a merged plug-in. A storage unit stores a plurality of plug-ins necessary to process respective jobs. A plug-in generator is used to generate a merged plug-in to process a new job by associating respective jobs of selected existing plug-ins among the plurality of plug-ins. A workform generator is used to generate a workform necessary to request an external device to execute the new job using the merged plug-in generated by the plug-in generator. A central processing unit is used to process the workform generated by the workform generator and to store the workform in the storage unit.
US08612997B2
An event driven component, in a distributed system of software components, utilizes a buffered port. Within the distributed system of software components are the event-driven component; accepting means for accepting input events arriving at an input gateway; a coarse-grained component for providing a coarse-grained function that provides a set of services; decision means, in the input port, for creating a buffered port that provides a queue for each of the services according to a configurable policy; an event registry in which the event driven component registers its interest in accepting a subset of the events and its interest in generating output when executing the set of services, wherein each service in the set of services is associated with one or more events; distributing means for distributing the events to the input port; and an output gateway for dispatching a generated output event to an output port.
US08612996B2
A method for receiving user event at a distributed object system component, passing the received user events to a service oriented architecture (SOA) application for processing and receiving the result of the processed user events at the distributed object system component from the SOA application.
US08612989B1
A computer running a database system receives a query. The database system services a plurality of collections. Each collection includes a plurality of workload groups. Each collection is assigned a percentage of a resource for its use. A donor collection, Cdonor, is not using its assigned percentage of the resource during a time slice tJ. The length in time of time slice tJ is less than a time in which the query is expected to execute. The query is assigned to a workload group. The assignment is determined by the computer applying a workload classification and an exception criteria to parameters of the query. The workload group is part of a donee collection, Cdonee, different from the donor collection. The donor collection donates, through the computer, use of a boost percentage of the resource to the donee collection during the time slice tJ. The boost percentage is proportional to the percentage of the resource assigned to the donee collection, the percentage of the resource assigned to the donor collection, and a Greediness Value related to the amount of the donor collection's allocated percentage of the resource available to be donated. The query is executed by the computer during time slice tJ, with the donee collection using its allocated percentage of the resource plus the boost percentage of the resource to execute the query.
US08612987B2
A method, grid computing environment, and information processing system for managing resource requests includes receiving information associated with at least one of a current and a past grid workload of a grid computing environment. Information associated with available resource capacity of at least one resource for processing grid workload is received. An expected grid workload at a plurality of future time intervals is predicted based on the information associated with the current and the past grid workload associated with the grid computing environment. A resource capacity available to the grid computing environment at a plurality of future time intervals is predicted based on the information associated with the available resource capacity. Resource capacities and at least one resource for processing at least a portion of the current grid workload are allocated based on at least the predicted expected grid workload and the predicted available resource capacity.
US08612982B2
A multi-tasking method performs a plurality of tasks according to priority of each of the plurality of tasks. It is determined whether a resource that is to be used by a current task is being used by another task, a priority of the current task is compared to a priority of the task that is using the resource according to a result of the determination, and according to a result of the comparison, the priority of the task that is using the resource is increased to a highest priority of priorities of all tasks trying to occupy a CPU. Accordingly, conventional problems in the BPI and IIP schemes can be solved.
US08612974B2
A method and apparatus for a dynamic service topology. One service is assigned to a virtual machine. The virtual machine is assigned to a physical machine on a network. The service of the virtual machine is transferable from the physical machine to another physical machine on the network by moving the virtual machine.
US08612973B2
A method and system for handling interrupts within a computer system during hardware resource migration are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) programming an address conversion component so that incoming interrupt signals are directed to a control component rather than to a source processing resource, and (b) accumulating the incoming interrupt signals at the control component. Additionally the method also includes, subsequent to the migration of the partition from the source processing resource to a destination processing resource, (c) sending the accumulated incoming interrupt signals to the destination processing resource, and (d) reprogramming the address conversion component so that further incoming interrupt signals are directed to the destination processing resource.
US08612971B1
Techniques are disclosed for controlling and managing virtual machines and other such virtual systems. VM execution approval is based on compliance with policies controlling various aspects of VM. The techniques can be employed to benefit all virtual environments, such as virtual machines, virtual appliances, and virtual applications. For ease of discussion herein, assume that a virtual machine (VM) represents each of these environments. In one particular embodiment, a systems management partition (SMP) is created inside the VM to provide a persistent and resilient storage for management information (e.g., logical and physical VM metadata). The SMP can also be used as a staging area for installing additional content or agentry on the VM when the VM is executed. Remote storage of management information can also be used. The VM management information can then be made available for pre-execution processing, including policy-based compliance testing.
US08612960B2
Embodiments include a system for loading components with complex intra-dependencies. Components in the system may be assigned at start up to a common loader module. The system detects reference cycles amongst the set of components in the system. All components in a reference cycle may be assigned for loading to the same common loader. This system avoids deadlock scenarios by identifying reference cycles at start up and assigning each cycle to a single common loader. The embodiments of the system also analyze components to be loaded that are identified after start up to determine if they cause a new reference cycle. Components that cause a new reference cycle may not be allowed to be loaded to prevent deadlock loading scenarios.
US08612959B2
A code sequence made up multiple instructions and specifying an offset from a base address is identified in an object file. The offset from the base address corresponds to an offset location in a memory configured for storing an address of a variable or data. The identified code sequence is configured to perform a memory reference function or a memory address computation function. It is determined that the offset location is within a specified distance of the base address and that a replacement of the identified code sequence with a replacement code sequence will not alter program semantics. The identified code sequence in the object file is replaced with the replacement code sequence that includes a no-operation (NOP) instruction or having fewer instructions than the identified code sequence. Linked executable code is generated based on the object file and the linked executable code is emitted.
US08612953B2
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for registering and deregistering memory pages in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of hoisting register and deregister calls in a given routine where temporal locality is present to overlap computation and communication; using software pipelined registration and deregistration where spatial locality is observed; and using intra-procedural and inter-procedural analysis by a compiler of the computer system to deregister dynamically allocated buffers. The preferred embodiment of the invention is based on an optimizing compiler. The compiler is used to extract information such as addresses of buffers which are being reused repeatedly (temporal locality), preferably in a loop. The compiler may also find information about spatial locality, such as arrays whose indexes are used in a well-defined manner in a series of messages, for example, array pages being accessed in a pre-defined pattern in a loop.
US08612947B2
A computer readable medium comprises executable instructions to: provide an SDK to a client computer comprising executable instructions for communicating with a build server, receive an HTML/Javascript source application and a configuration file referencing one or more source application files over a computer network from a client computer to the build server, transmit the HTML/Javascript source application and configuration file to multiple compile servers corresponding to each of multiple mobile device platforms, combine the HTML/Javascript source application with a mobile device platform specific framework source code for each mobile device platform on each compile server, compile the HTML/Javascript source application and framework source code on the compile server to output an executable native application for each mobile device platform, and transmit each executable native application from the compile server to the client computer over a computer network.
US08612946B2
A mechanism for cross-building support using dependency information is disclosed. A method of the invention includes parsing a source code package received for compilation into a binary source code package for a target machine, the parsing to determine a list of dependency packages needed to compile the source code package, for each dependency package in the list of dependency packages determining a type of the dependency package and associating an architecture of at least one of a build machine compiling the source code package or the target machine with the dependency package based on a determined type of the dependency package, downloading each dependency package in the list of dependency packages in a binary form of the build architecture format, and downloading each dependency package that is associated with the target machine in a binary form of the target architecture format.
US08612941B2
A system and method for analysis of a large code base using partitioning. The present application relates to management of large code bases, by enabling fragmentation of large code bases into smaller code clusters. Further the system and method analyze small code clusters individually and combining the results obtained therefrom, illustrating to programmers the combined result for the entire code base.
US08612936B2
A system and method are discussed that relate to recommending one or more software artifacts to an artifact user. Characteristic information about the artifact user and about a desired artifact is obtained. First metadata about each of one or more candidate artifacts is retrieved. A score is assigned to each of the one or more candidate artifacts, based on a first evaluation of one or more predetermined criteria applied to the retrieved first metadata. The scored artifacts are scaled based on a second evaluation of each of the one or more scored artifacts, the scaling being in view of the characteristic information about the artifact user and the characteristic information about the desired artifact. Finally, one or more scaled artifacts are recommended to the artifact user based on the second evaluation applied to each of the one or more scored artifacts, that is based on the scaled scores.
US08612932B2
A communication system and method include a server hosting an interactive voice response or self-help application in a Java virtual machine. The communication application is programmed with a unified communication API, which is provided by a unified application framework. The API provides a set of unified class objects for call control and media control. The unified class objects are constructed from class object primitives of individual standards-based Java call control API and media control API. The constructs are a structured and restricted set conforming to the object model of the application and its states. The API has a unified event handler for both call and media controls and dispatches events to the application based on the type of event and the application state of the object model.
US08612929B2
A system and method for automatic efficient parallelization of code combined with hardware transactional memory support. A software application may contain a transaction synchronization region (TSR) utilizing lock and unlock transaction synchronization function calls for a shared region of memory within a shared memory. The TSR is replaced with two portions of code. The first portion comprises hardware transactional memory primitives in place of lock and unlock function calls. Also, the first portion ensures no other transaction is accessing the shared region without disabling existing hardware transactional memory support. The second portion performs a fail routine, which utilizes lock and unlock transaction synchronization primitives in response to an indication that a failure occurs within said first portion.
US08612928B2
Exception-based component models can be generated from non-exception-based models. For example, a non-exception-based interface contract (such as a non-exception-based interface contract in a header file) for a consumable software component can be parsed. Additionally, a wrapper for the consumable software component can be generated from the non-exception-based interface contract. The wrapper can have an exception-based interface contract implementation, and the exception-based interface contract implementation can be a mirror equivalent of the non-exception-based interface contract. If the non-exception-based interface contract hints at one or more arguments as being out argument(s) for a function in the consumable software component, then predefined heuristics can be used to select one of those argument(s) to be used by the exception-based interface contract implementation as a return value for the function.
US08612912B1
A method for analyzing an IC design, comprises: using a computer implemented electronic design automation tool to perform a parasitic RC extraction for a layout of the IC design, the parasitic RC extraction outputting for each of a plurality of routing paths, a nominal capacitive coupling, a minimum capacitive coupling and a maximum capacitive coupling, where the minimum and maximum capacitive couplings correspond to circuit patterning in the presence of double patterning mask misalignments; and performing one of a setup time analysis or a hold time analysis of the IC design using a computer implemented static timing analysis tool. For a given flip-flop having a launch path and a capture path, the setup or hold time analysis is performed using the minimum capacitive coupling for one of the launch and capture paths and the maximum capacitive coupling for the other of the launch and capture paths.
US08612911B2
A method comprises estimating power consumption of an electronic circuit. The estimating includes assigning a first gate of the at least one gate into a priority queue based on a levelized result of the electronic circuit for a full circuit calculation and assigning a second gate of the at least one gate into the priority queue which fan-out gate is directly connected to a fan-in gate of a resized gate for an incremental circuit calculation. The estimating includes, for each gate from the priority queue, performing the following operations. Latest and earliest signal arrival times at an output net of the gate are determined by static timing analysis and calculating a glitch window as difference, and a transition metric is calculated for the output net based on the glitch window. The operations include determining an upper bound of signal transitions, and estimating the power consumption based on the upper bound.
US08612901B2
A method and system for optical proximity correction or fracturing or mask data preparation or mask process correction or proximity effect correction for charged particle beam lithography are disclosed in which a set of shaped beam shots is determined which, when used in a shaped beam charged particle beam writer, will form a pattern on the surface, where the set of shots includes shots for a plurality of exposure passes, and where the determination of the shots includes increasing the dose margin of the pattern by adding a shot in a single exposure pass.
US08612899B2
A computer is programmed to use at least one rule to identify from within a layout of an IC design, a set of regions likely to fail if fabricated unchanged. An example of such a rule of detection is to check for presence of two neighbors neither of which fully overlaps a short wire or an end of a long wire. The computer uses at least another rule to change at least one region in the set of regions, to obtain a second layout which is less likely to fail in the identified regions. An example of such a rule of correction is to elongate at least one of the two neighbors. The computer may perform optical rule checking (ORC) in any order relative to application of the rules, e.g. ORC can be performed between detection rules and correction rules i.e. performed individually on each identified region prior to correction.
US08612896B2
A mobile terminal 10 is equipped with an LCD monitor 32 and a touch panel input device 24 mounted on an upper surface of the LCD monitor 32. The LCD monitor 32 displays character input keys and a received mail, so that character strings in a body text of the received mail are arbitrarily selected by operations on the touch panel input device 24. Further, related information of a selected character string is temporarily stored so as to be correlated with an arbitrary character input key. Then, when a touch-and-slide operation is performed from the character input key utilized in the temporary storage to a body text of a transfer mail, the temporarily stored related information can be inserted into the body text of the transfer mail.
US08612894B2
Provided is a method capable of making various modifications to widgets, graphic objects, or images, which are displayed on a display device, according to motions of a plurality of input units such as finger or stylus pen, with the use of a three-dimensional multi-sensor configured to detect the motions of the input units in a space, without touching the display device.
US08612875B2
First user-generated input is received that selects a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area. In response, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of objects associated with the work area are displayed in the graphical user interface. Thereafter, second user-generated input is received that selects a second element in the graphical user interface element. Once the second element is selected, a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element is displayed. The plurality of displayed primary objects are displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths in the first person perspective projection according to values of an attribute associated with the second element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08612871B2
Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
US08612869B2
A method for personalizing content for a particular user in a computing system comprising a user interface configured to display content. The method comprises identifying a content item accessed by a user, identifying features associated with the content item; using the features of the content item to identify one or more third party profiles that substantially match a content profile of the content item, and displaying a list of the identified third party profiles.
US08612865B2
Mobile communications devices display contextually relevant information based on the presence, status, and identification of a user. Lens templates control how the information is displayed and can be customized and designed for specific usage profiles. The lenses that are used can be updated at any time to accommodate changes in a user's presence. The granularity of the lenses and corresponding information can also vary to accommodate different needs and preferences. Lenses can also be specialized for different events or venues. The lenses allow a user to access contextually relevant information from a mobile communications device having limited display and/or browse capabilities without requiring a user to navigate through undesired information, wasting valuable resources in the process.
US08612851B2
A system, computer-implemented method and computer-readable medium for displaying edition content of a magazine edition are provided. In an embodiment, a screen selection corresponding to a size of a screen upon which to render a magazine edition is received, the magazine edition including a content page with one or more articles. A grid with grid segments is calculated for the selected screen size. A layout for the content page is determined, the layout including a tile of one or more of the grid segments corresponding to each of the articles. Content associated with each of the articles is determined. The content of each of the articles is arranged for display within its corresponding tile. The content page of the magazine edition is displayed, the displayed page including the articles arranged for display within its corresponding tile.
US08612846B2
A method and a system for presenting Internet information to a user including providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink, and at least partially concurrently providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by the at least one hyperlink.
US08612845B2
One embodiment provides a system to facilitate directed reading of a selected portion of an original document by a recipient. During operation, the system creates a transfer document based at least on the original document and the selected portion. The transfer document, when viewed by the recipient, enables the following operations: opening the transfer document to the selected portion without requiring manual navigation to the selected portion, highlighting the selected portion, obscuring a context surrounding the selected portion based at least on a distance metric from the selected portion, and directly navigating from one highlighted portion to another highlighted portion in the transfer document without requiring manual navigation within obscured contexts. After the system creates the transfer document, it sends the transfer document to the recipient.
US08612836B2
Non-volatile memory device with uncorrectable information region and operation method using the same
The non-volatile memory system includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The non-volatile memory includes a data region including a sector region for storing sector data, and an uncorrectable information region for storing uncorrectable sector information on the sector region. The controller includes an information generation unit for generating the uncorrectable sector information that indicates whether the sector region is assigned to an uncorrectable sector region, according to a command output from a host.
US08612835B2
The present invention relates to using a barrel shifter in a cyclic shift device for an LDPC decoding device, a television receiver, and/or a reception system, whereby reduction in size of the device can be realized.
US08612831B2
A method begins by a processing module forward error correction (FEC) encoding data to produce FEC encoded data and dividing the FEC encoded data into a set of FEC encoded words. The method continues with the processing module generating integrity information based on the data and generating a word name for an FEC encoded word of the set of FEC encoded words. The method continues with the processing module affiliating an address of allocated address space of a dispersed storage memory with the word name and storing the integrity information, the word name, and the address. The method continues with the processing module creating a write command to store the FEC encoded word at the address in the dispersed storage memory.
US08612823B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed that include encoding an information word to generate a codeword using a systematic low density parity check matrix using an encoder, the low density parity check matrix comprising a first sub-matrix associated with information symbols, a second sub-matrix having a block triangular structure associated with a first subset of parity check symbols and a third sub-matrix that is invertible and associated with a second subset of parity check symbols, the encoding performed over the second sub-matrix before the third sub-matrix.
US08612804B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for improving wear leveling performance in solid-state memory. The embodiments described herein make more consistent the number of wear leveling operations that need to be performed, so that sudden spikes in the number wear leveling operations may be reduced in solid-state memory. In one embodiment, a rule-based wear leveling approach is used to spread out the execution of wear leveling operations that otherwise would have been triggered in clusters. Under the rule-based approach, wear leveling is periodically triggered by a specified interval of erase counts associated with a unit of solid-state memory such as a group of blocks, rather than by a threshold based on erase counts.
US08612801B2
A server chassis includes an uninterruptible power supply, and a server including a controller. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide a reserve power when a primary power is lost, and to send a power loss signal when the primary power is lost. The controller is configured to receive a desired server uptime, to receive an indication that a power limit for the server is fixed or decreasing over the desired server, to receive the power loss signal from the uninterruptible power supply, to send a power capacity query to the uninterruptible power supply, to receive a reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply in response to the power capacity query, to calculate the power limit for the server based on the reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply and on the desired server uptime, and to enforce the power limit on the server.
US08612792B2
A device to measure power consumption includes a processor connected to a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory module, a switch for setting the power measurement device to measure either the power supplied to the CPU or the power supplied to the memory, and a display to show the results of such measurements.
US08612791B2
In a non-volatile memory system, physically separate power rails are provided from a host system to a NVM device for independently power cycling a controller and memory array in the NVM device. The controller of the NVM device can send a power cycle request signal to the host system over a host channel, or updates a status register in the NVM device. The host system receives and decodes the power cycle request signal, or reads the status register, and performs the power cycle request, which can include power cycling the controller or the memory array in the NVM device, or both. The power cycle request can be based on a power state of the non-volatile memory system, which can be managed by the controller or the host system, or both.
US08612790B2
A serial data transfer apparatus includes a transport controller that performs a process of a transport layer, a link controller that performs a process of a link layer, and a physical layer circuit that performs a process of a physical layer. The serial data transfer apparatus transmits and receives data with a destination apparatus via a serial bus. The link controller outputs idle data, which is received from the destination apparatus, to the physical layer circuit, and stops to operate of a unit responsible for generating data to transmit to the destination apparatus while outputting the idle data to the physical layer circuit. This enables to output idle data defined in the standard in an idle period of the serial data transfer apparatus and also reduce the power consumption.
US08612789B2
An integrated circuit can include a processor system configured to execute program code, wherein the processor system is hard-wired. The IC also can include programmable circuitry configurable to implement different physical circuits. The programmable circuitry can be coupled to the processor system and can be configured to implement a power off procedure under the control of the processor system.
US08612787B2
A computer power saving system includes a computer, an UPS, a power detecting device, and an USB device. The computer includes a USB port and a power management module, and can work in a normal mode or in a STR mode. The UPS is connected to the computer and used for supplying power to the computer upon a condition that a commercial power supply stops supplying power to the computer. The power detecting device detects the state of the commercial power supply and sending out an abnormal power signal when the commercial power supply stops supplying power to the computer. The USB device sends the abnormal power signal to the USB port. When the computer works in the normal mode, the power management module detects the USB port, and controls the computer to shift to the STR mode if the USB port receives the abnormal power signal.
US08612786B1
A deep idle mode for electronic devices is described, which provides significant power savings while allowing significantly shorter resumption times than experienced with a suspend mode. During deep idle mode, a root clock such as the microcontroller unit phase-locked loop (MPLL) is scaled or gated entirely and other clocks such as the processor, memory, and general purpose timer clocks may be scaled. To maintain functionality while these clocks are scaled or gated, an external clock source couples to the processor, memory, and a general purpose timer.
US08612779B2
Power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and related methods. In one aspect a PMIC which is operable to provide a plurality of PMIC power states is arranged to provide a predetermined delay before a power state transition. The delay is applied after receipt by the PMIC control circuitry of a power state transition command. Applying a delay allows time for the system powered by the PMIC to perform any necessary shut-down procedures and terminate active processes before power is removed, preventing corruption of the system. The delay is preferably configurable. The PMIC may also be arranged to control power converters which are external to the PMIC. In another aspect the PMIC has translation circuitry for providing the control settings of one power block, e.g. power converter, with any necessary modifications to be used by another power block. This means that only one set of control settings needs to be updated to change the output of both power blocks simultaneously.
US08612777B2
Method and apparatus for writing data to be stored to a predetermined memory area, the method comprising: reading stored data from the predetermined memory area, the stored data comprising a stored data block and an associated stored error detection value, manipulating, after reading the stored data, at least one of the stored data block and the associated stored error detection value in the predetermined memory area, and writing, after manipulating, the data to be stored to the predetermined memory area.
US08612755B2
A trusted computing platform includes one or more first logically protected computer environments (or “compartments”) associated with initialization of the system, and one or more second logically protected computing environments (or “compartments”). The one or each second compartment is associated with at least one service or process supported by the said system. The trusted computing platform is loaded with a predetermined security policy including one or more security rules for controlling the operation of each of the compartments such that the security rules relating to the one or each first compartment is loaded onto the trusted computing platform when the system is initialized. The one or more security rules relating to the one or at least one of the second compartments are only loaded onto the trusted computing platform if one or more services or processes associated therewith are enabled.
US08612739B2
An operation inhibiting system includes an image forming apparatus in which programs are installed and an operation inhibition information providing apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a configuration information storing unit to store configuration information about the installed programs, an operation inhibition information acquiring unit to transmit the configuration information to the operation inhibition information providing apparatus, and to receive operation inhibition information that is transmitted from the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the configuration information, the operation inhibition information indicating on a program-specific basis whether an operation to modify a configuration of an installed program is allowed, and an operation unit to inhibit the operation on the program based on the received operation inhibition information, wherein the operation inhibition information providing apparatus includes a unit that transmits the operation inhibition information responsive to the configuration information upon receiving the configuration information.
US08612730B2
A method and data processing system for managing running of instructions in a program. A processor of the data processing system receives a monitoring instruction of a monitoring unit. The processor determines if at least one secondary thread of a set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor selects the at least one secondary thread from the set of secondary threads to become the assist thread in response to a determination that the at least one secondary thread of the set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor changes profiling of running of instructions in the program from the main thread to the assist thread.
US08612726B2
The multi-cycle programmable processor emulates the features of a conventional microprocessor. Processor hardware functional units include a program counter (instruction pointer), an arithmetic and logic unit, an accumulator, an instruction register, a 2×1 multiplexer, 2×4 decoder, 1×2 decoder, an AND gate and an OR gate. Additionally, a controller modeled by a finite state machine (FSM) is operably connected to the microprocessor functional units and has a plurality of states that defines the operation of the microprocessor functional units. Each control state of the FSM implements the transfer of information between the registers of the datapath. The execution sequences through three states: an instruction fetch; an instruction decode; and instruction execute. The controller issues the required signals to the various hardware components to execute the instruction needed in three clock cycles.
US08612720B2
A system and method for implementation of MMU assisted data breakpoints for any number of data structures within a program application are provided. For each data structure for which a data breakpoint is desired, two distinct MMU entries are created. One MMU entry has access attributes. The other entry has an interrupt triggering sub-entry. According to the preferred embodiment, access to the second MMU entry causes a page fault.
US08612717B2
A storage system includes: a data storing means configured to store storage target data and also store address data so as to be tree-structured, the address data being based on a content and storing position of data to be referred to, and the address data referring to the storage target data or other address data; an operation log generating means configured to generate an operation log that represents a content of an operation of storing the storage target data into the data storing means and a content of an operation of storing the tree-structured address data referring to the storage target data into the data storing means; and a file system committing means configured to store the storage target data and the tree-structured address data into the data storing means based on the operation log.
US08612706B1
A disk drive subsystem is disclosed that implements a process for metadata recovery. Certain embodiments relate to recovery of metadata containing information indicating the physical locations in the disk drive in which host data is stored. In an embodiment, the metadata to be recovered is disposed in sequence with, or in physical association with host data that it describes. Recovery is accomplished by identifying metadata that is valid, but is absent from one or more translation tables containing translation information. Metadata portion can include one or more identifiers that are sequentially related to identifiers included in one or more other metadata portions. Performance improvements can thereby be attained.
US08612702B1
Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media for performing optimized backups of multiple volumes are disclosed. In one example, an exemplary method for performing such a task may comprise: 1) identifying a plurality of volumes, 2) prior to backing up the plurality of volumes, obtaining information that indicates that at least one volume within the plurality of volumes comprises at least one shared region of memory that is identical to a region of memory on at least one other volume within the plurality of volumes, and 3) when creating backups of the plurality of volumes, backing up each shared region of memory a single time so that the backups of the plurality of volumes share a single copy of each shared region of memory.
US08612700B1
A system, method, and medium for performing data duplication from a first storage device to a second storage device at a block level. A backup application processes metadata prior to replicating the data to determine the best method for performing the duplication operation. Several images may be selected for duplication, and instead of copying the images one at a time, the backup application copies data from the first storage device to the second storage device block-by-block. The catalog metadata may be updated so that the backup application may be made aware of the new copy of data. The replicated data may be accessed for future restore operations such that individual files may be retrieved from the replicated data by the backup application.
US08612697B2
A system and method for use in an automated data storage cartridge library defines cartridges for use with an external host computer (“open” cartridges), and cartridges for use only internal to the library (“closed” cartridges). Cartridges may be “virtualized” by storing data from them on disk or closed cartridges, and then “realized” by writing data to physical cartridges. Virtual cartridges may be logically exported from one library to another. When new cartridges are introduced to the library, they may be designated with one of multiple designations or uses.
US08612693B2
An apparatus includes first and second components, a memory, and an allocator configured to allocate a portion of the memory to the first component, wherein the first component is configured to access the allocated portion of the memory and to send information to the second component to provide the second component with access to the allocated portion of the memory.
US08612690B2
Embodiments of a data cache are disclosed that substantially decrease a number of accesses to a physically-tagged tag array of the data cache are provided. In general, the data cache includes a data array that stores data elements, a physically-tagged tag array, and a virtually-tagged tag array. In one embodiment, the virtually-tagged tag array receives a virtual address. If there is a match for the virtual address in the virtually-tagged tag array, the virtually-tagged tag array outputs, to the data array, a way stored in the virtually-tagged tag array for the virtual address. In addition, in one embodiment, the virtually-tagged tag array disables the physically-tagged tag array. Using the way output by the virtually-tagged tag array, a desired data element in the data array is addressed.
US08612685B2
A processor having a cache memory provided therein controls use of the cache memory based on operation mode information which changeably designates use/no-use of a cache memory and on designation of cache memory use in an access instruction word in a program at the time of an access to a main storage memory from the program in operation.
US08612679B2
A method for generating a virtual volume (VV) in a storage system architecture. The architecture comprises a host and one or more disk array subsystems. Each subsystem comprises a storage controller. One or more of the subsystems comprises a physical storage device (PSD) array. The method comprises the following steps: mapping the PSD array into a plurality of media extents (MEs), each of the MEs comprises a plurality of sections; providing a virtual pool (VP) to implement a section cross-referencing function, wherein a section index (SI) of each of the sections contained in the VP is defined by the VP to cross-reference VP sections to physical ME locations; providing a conversion method or procedure or function for mapping VP capacity into to a VV; and presenting the VV to the host. A storage subsystem and a storage system architecture performing the method are also provided.
US08612676B2
Embodiments of the invention describe a system main memory comprising two levels of memory that include cached subsets of system disk level storage. This main memory includes “near memory” comprising memory made of volatile memory, and “far memory” comprising volatile or nonvolatile memory storage that is larger and slower than the near memory.The far memory is presented as “main memory” to the host OS while the near memory is a cache for the far memory that is transparent to the OS, thus appearing to the OS the same as prior art main memory solutions. The management of the two-level memory may be done by a combination of logic and modules executed via the host CPU. Near memory may be coupled to the host system CPU via high bandwidth, low latency means for efficient processing. Far memory may be coupled to the CPU via low bandwidth, high latency means.
US08612675B2
A storage controller and method are provided. The storage controller includes control sections including storage sections into which data transmitted from a host unit is cached, one of the control sections being a main control section which controls firmware update in the control sections. The main control section includes an instruction updater sending an update instruction to a sub control section in the control sections in which firmware is to be updated, and an area instructor requesting the sub control section to transmit area information, the sub control section including an area information obtainer obtaining, according to the instruction from the area instructor and an area information transmitter transmitting to the area instructor; and an area setter setting the location of the cache area in the storage section on the basis of the instruction.
US08612664B2
Memory management process for optimizing the access to a central memory located within a processing system comprising a set of specific units communicating with each other through said memory, said process involving the steps of: a) arranging in a local memory at least a first and a second bank of storage (A, B) for the purpose of temporary object exchanged between a first data object producer (400) and a second data object consumer (410); b) arranging a address translation process for mapping the real address of an object to be stored within said banks into the address of the bank; b) receiving one object produced by said producer and dividing it into stripes of reduced size; c) storing the first stripe into said first bank; d) storing the next stripe into said second bank while the preceding stripe is read by said object consumer (410); e) storing the next stripe into said first bank again while the preceding stripe is read by said object consumer (410). f) repeating e) and c) until all stripes composing said data objects have been processed; g) arranging an interlocking mechanism for locking the writing and reading process in said banks to ensure producer has enough space to forward further data, as well as receiver has indeed data to read.
US08612660B2
A system and method for setting a first indicator indicating that interrupts are virtually locked, receiving a first interrupt at a processor of a computing device, setting a second indicator indicating the receipt of the first interrupt and recording a first timestamp based on the receipt of the first interrupt. The system and method further adapted to virtually execute a routine for the first interrupt that includes determining if the second indicator is set, record a second timestamp based on the virtual execution of the routine and determine an interrupt latency based on the first and second timestamp.
US08612659B1
Hardware interrupts are routed to one of multiple processors of a virtualized computer system based on priority values assigned to the codes being executed by the processors. Each processor dynamically updates a priority value associated with code being executed thereby, and when a hardware interrupt is generated, the hardware interrupt is routed to the processor that is executing a code with the lowest priority value to handle the hardware interrupt. As a result, routing of the interrupts can be biased away from processors that are executing high priority tasks or where context switch might be computationally expensive.
US08612656B2
A method and controller for implementing device physical location identification in a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) fabric using resource path groups, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The device physical location identification includes a Resource Path Group (RPG). Each RPG provides a unique persistent physical locator of a storage device in the system. Each RPG including at least two Resource Paths (RPs) and each RP has a fixed size identifying a type and a series of egress ports. A persistent RPG is stored within the device metadata on the storage device.
US08612653B2
An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of recording media, an operation unit receiving an operation from a user, a communication unit outputting data stored on the recording media to an external device, and a controller displaying, on a display unit, a setting screen for setting a mode for outputting data via the communication unit and to control the apparatus on the basis of information input on the setting screen. The controller displays, as the setting screen, a function selection screen enabling the user to simultaneously select a recording medium serving as a source from which data is output via the communication unit and a function to be executed. On the basis of information input on the function selection screen using the operation unit, the controller performs a setting operation to output data recorded on the selected recording medium in accordance with a communication mode based on the selected function.
US08612643B2
APIs discussed herein promote efficient and timely interoperability between hardware and software components within the media processing pipelines of media content players. A PhysMemDataStructure API facilitates a hardware component's direct access to information within a memory used by a software component, to enable the hardware component to use direct memory access techniques to obtain the contents of the memory, instead of using processor cycles to execute copy commands. The PhysMemDataStructure API exposes one or more fields of data structures associated with units of media content stored in a memory used by a software component, and the exposed fields store information about the physical properties of the memory locations of the units of media content. SyncHelper APIs are used for obtaining information from, and passing information to, hardware components, which information is used to adjust the hardware components' timing for preparing media samples of synchronously-presentable media content streams.
US08612637B2
Configuring a buffer with timing information. Initially, a buffer for transferring data from a first device to a second device may be configured, e.g., in response to user input. For example, configuring the buffer may include specifying a size of the buffer, specifying timing for delivery of data of the buffer, and/or specifying transfer of the data from a first device to a second device. In response to the configuration of the buffer, code may be automatically generated which implements the transfer of the data from the first device to the second device according to the specified timing for delivery of the data of the buffer. Accordingly, the automatically generated code may be executable to transfer the data according to the specified timing from the first device to the second device.
US08612631B2
The control apparatus according to the invention includes a keypad detachable from the control apparatus and including a communication device that facilitates communicating with a personal computer such that the keypad detached from the control apparatus is connected to the personal computer for setting the operations of the control apparatus and, then, the keypad is attached to the control apparatus to make the control apparatus conduct the control operations based on the setting contents set in the keypad. The control apparatus according to the invention facilitates setting the operations thereof in any place different from the place, therein the control apparatus is installed, and reducing the electric power fed to the control apparatus during the setting operation.
US08612630B2
This invention relates to provide a communication network system, a gateway, and a data communication method, in which the gateway has an advanced functionality. A person who issues an access request can retrieve a desired access destination easily by the following configuration: functions of routing information providing and authentication processing are added to a gateway that performs protocol conversion between two different communication networks; when an access request is issued from a public communication network such as Internet to a terminal in a local (private) communication network connected to the gateway, a request terminal is authenticated to enable prevention of unauthorized data writing and reading; and an access request user who succeeded in the authentication is provided with an active terminal list comprising accessible terminal information, or with a user condition table.
US08612629B1
A network device including a media access control (MAC) device, and a physical layer (PHY) device. The physical layer (PHY) device is in communication with the MAC device via (i) a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) and (ii) a second SERDES, wherein the first SERDES and the second SERDES operate at a fixed data rate. The MAC device comprises a translator configured to, in response to the MAC device operating at a data rate that is less than the fixed data rate, i) append a predetermined number of bits to data in a first data stream to be transmitted to the PHY device, and ii) subsequent to appending the predetermined number of bits to the data in the first data stream, duplicate the data having the appended predetermined number of bits to generate a second data stream at the fixed data rate.
US08612617B2
A semi-reliable multicast transport protocol uses multiple channels for communication between a server and multiple client devices. A join channel allows the sever to negotiate with client devices to join and exit a transmission session. A communication channel allows the server to communicate with client devices about a status of the transmission session. A polling channel initiated by a content transfer protocol, which runs on top of the transport protocol, transmits polling queries received from the content transfer protocol, receives client device responses to the polling queries, and passes the client device responses to the content transfer protocol. A data channel transmits data to client devices over a network.
US08612615B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying usage histories for producing optimized utilization in a cloud-based network. In particular, a target cloud can receive usage histories corresponding to end user usage in a respective set of other clouds. In embodiments, the target cloud can simulate an execution of the usage histories on resources in the target cloud to generate a set of utilization ratios. Further, the target cloud can determine a desirable usage history from the set of utilization ratios based on highly optimized resource usage within the target cloud. In embodiments, an administrator of the target cloud can provide a deployment recommendation to an administrator of the cloud associated with the desirable usage history.
US08612610B2
A method of operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem user terminal to facilitate user services over a communication network comprising an IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises receiving a SIP message and parsing the message to identify a generic service identifier. Upon identification of said generic service identifier, either a web link within the message body is identified and a web browser session to said web link established, or web page content contained within the message body is identified and displayed.
US08612605B2
An appliance has at least two components and an internal communications network. A first component is in communication with the network and the second component is not. But the first component is configured to communicate service information related to the second component over the internal communications network. The service information will include one or more identifiers.
US08612604B2
A method and system for a server-client communication in a network, is provided. The method includes, at a server: (1) requesting a client to establish an initial connection for discovery, including: generating a discovery beacon for requesting the initial connection, and transmitting the discovery beacon in the network; and (2) requesting the discovered client to establish a further connection for updates, including: generating at least one of an update beacon for requesting the further connection and an event for triggering the further connection, and transmitting the at least one of the update beacon and the event in the network.
US08612603B2
According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including a destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource.
US08612598B1
A content ingestion system and method of operating the same includes a client module receiving a schedule data signal from an external service provider to a content ingestion module. The system also includes a first queue receiving the schedule data signal from the client module. The system further includes a switch module forming a plurality of objects from the schedule data signal and a second queue receiving the plurality of objects from the first switch module. A persistence module is also included in the system that reads the objects from the second queue and storing the objects in a database.
US08612582B2
A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.
US08612579B2
A method and system for detecting and reducing botnet activity includes tracking the number of connections to a destination address over predetermined periods of time. A persistence value is assigned to the destination address based on the number of time periods during which the destination address was connected. The persistence value is compared to a threshold value and an alert is generated if the persistence value is greater than the threshold value. Known safe destinations may be entered into a whitelist.
US08612578B2
A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product manages capacity in a service-provider system. A software model of a physical service-provider system is created and stored in memory. A parameter for running the software model with real-time metrics from the physical service-provider system as inputs to the software model is established. If the parameter is met, then the software model is run using the real-time metrics from the physical service-provider system as inputs. A pre-determined action, which adjusts capacity in the service-provider system and is prescribed by a specific model output, is established. If the specific model output, which resulted from using the real-time metrics from the physical service-provider system as inputs for running the software model, is output from the software model, then the pre-determined action is executed.
US08612575B2
A system and method of communicating with a plurality of different types of devices. A device driver is defined for each type of device. The device driver creates and maintains a set of channels for each device; each channel represents a property of the device. Newly acquired data received from one of the devices is received at the device driver and published to the channel associated with the data. Publishing the newly acquired data to the channel associated with the data includes storing the newly acquired data in a channel database with a time stamp corresponding to the time the data was received. Control information for one of the devices is received at the device driver and associated with one of the channels. The control information is passed to the device being controlled.
US08612564B2
A method and apparatus for serving content requests using global and local load balancing techniques is provided. Web site content is cached using two or more point of presences (POPs), wherein each POP has at least one DNS server. Each DNS server is associated with the same anycast IP address. A domain name resolution request is transmitted to the POP in closest network proximity for resolution based on the anycast IP address. Once the domain name resolution request is received at a particular POP, local load balancing techniques are performed to dynamically select the appropriate Web server at the POP for use in resolving the domain name resolution request. Approaches are described for handling bursts of traffic at a particular POP, security, and recovering from the failure of various components of the system.
US08612563B2
A system and method is provided of generating a map. In one aspect, the map is selected based on a location provided by a user and listings are selected based on their proximity to the location, whether they match a query provided by the user, and the number of matching listings within regions of the map.
US08612562B2
A network system in which a proxy web service process performed by a device on behalf of a network device can be continued while maintaining a reduced power consumption state of the network device, without requiring these devices to be installed on the same subnet. When in a sleep state, the network device redirects a web service request received from a PC to an external device. The external device sends a web service response to the web service request in which addresses of the external device are designated as a reference destination of data contained in the web service response, to the network device. The network device sends the web service response to the network terminal.
US08612555B2
An apparatus for providing an interface between a home-network and a external network and remotely managing the home-device connected to the home-network. The apparatus includes a transmit data processing unit for transmitting information on the home-device to a provider server connected to the external network, and requesting environment setting data for setting a driving environment of the home-device; a receive data processing unit for receiving a response message based on the request, from the provider server, and extracting the environment setting data included in the response message; and an environment setting unit for setting the driving environment for the operation of the home-device, based on the environment setting data.
US08612550B2
A distributed caching hierarchy that includes multiple edge routing servers, at least some of which receiving content requests from client computing systems via a load balancer. When receiving a content request, an edge routing server identifies which of the edge caching servers the requested content would be in if the requested content were to be cached within the edge caching servers, and distributes the content request to the identified edge caching server in a deterministic and predictable manner to increase the likelihood of increasing a cache-hit ratio.
US08612545B2
Devices and applications within a process control system make data generated therein available using a really simple syndication (RSS) XML communication format, thereby making this data easily retrievable from the plant and useable for various purposes both within and outside of the plant. The RSS data communications may provide RSS data for use in control of the plant or for use in other applications not directly associated with the control of the plant, including third party applications run on devices outside of the plant. The RSS data sent from one device to another may include enclosures, such as video, audio or text files, or may include references such as hyperlinks to other sources of information stored on the receiving device or on a further device that may be accessed and used to understand or process the RSS data.
US08612539B1
The present application describes systems and methods for creating customized media channels. A method of the invention according to some embodiments includes: (a) transmitting to a user device information comprising a list of music genres; receiving from the user device a message indicating that a user selected one of the listed genres and including an identifier identifying the selected genre; selecting one or more media content items in response to receiving the message, wherein the selection is based, at least in part, on (i) the genre selected by the user and (ii) profile information associated with a user identifier input by the user and/or a device identifier associated with the device; and transmitting the selected media content items to the device.
US08612525B2
This relates to a method for operating a mobile station. The method includes grouping two or more member addresses into a group. The group is presented as a group data in a transient data list. A selection of an option to open a messaging session with the group is selected. A messaging session is opened, with the member addresses of the selected group.
US08612524B2
A system comprises a processor, a network interface coupled to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The network interface is configured to receive network status messages from a plurality of agents across a network. Each network status message indicates a status of a network. The storage comprises a plurality of queues with each queue corresponding to one of the agents. The network status messages from a given agent are stored in a queue corresponding to that agent pending processing by the processor. Upon a number of network status messages in a queue for a particular agent exceeding an agent high water mark, the processor sends a stop message through the network interface to such agent to cause such agent to cease sending network status messages.
US08612514B2
An application serving system is disclosed that comprises a target client computer that connects to a server system and subscribing institution host Web Server, over a network. Both the client computer Web server and server system implement a network protocol layer to communicate across the network. In a preferred embodiment, network is the Internet, or other public or private network, and the network protocol layers are implemented on top of TCP/IP or UDP/IP. Other network configurations and network protocols layers, however, could be implemented in place or in addition to the Internet such as wireless CDPD, GPRS, or other networks. The target, client computer is preferably a PC.
US08612510B2
A large-scale data processing system and method for processing data in a distributed and parallel processing environment. The system includes an application-independent framework for processing data having a plurality of application-independent map modules and reduce modules. These application-independent modules use application-independent operators to automatically handle parallelization of computations across the distributed and parallel processing environment when performing user-specified data processing operations. The system also includes a plurality of user-specified, application-specific operators, for use with the application-independent framework to perform a user-specified data processing operation on a user-specified set of input files. The application-specific operators include: a map operator and a reduce operator. The map operator is applied by the application-independent map modules to input data in the user-specified set of input files to produce intermediate data values. The reduce operator is applied by the application-independent reduce modules to process the intermediate data values to produce final output data.
US08612509B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are described for resetting a HyperTransport link in a blade server, including reassigning, by a blade management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a HyperTransport link reset; sending, by the blade management module to a reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the blade processor, HyperTransport reset signals. The HyperTransport link includes a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency, point to point data communications link. The blade server includes the blade processor, the reset sync module, and the baseboard management controller. The blade server is installed in the blade center. The blade center includes the blade management module. The blade management module is coupled to the baseboard management controller by the blade communication bus.
US08612507B2
A computing device includes: a deciding unit which, in computation of values of nodes on a lattice in a direction where a value of m representing a horizontal axis coordinate of the lattice increases, decides dummy nodes to be added to m=n−1, so as to enable values of nodes on m=n to be calculated by adding the dummy nodes to m=n−1 and executing a vector operation through the use of the SIMD function by using values of nodes on m=n−1 and values of the added dummy nodes; an adding unit adding the dummy nodes decided by the deciding unit to m=n−1; and a calculating unit calculating the values of the nodes present on m=n by executing the vector operation through the use of the SIMD function by using the values of the nodes on m=n−1 and the values of the dummy nodes added by the adding unit.
US08612500B2
A method to generate a magnitude result of a mathematic operation of two decimal operands within one cycle in a decimal arithmetic logic unit structure, wherein the decimal operands are in hexadecimal sign magnitude format.
US08612498B2
Methods and apparatus to process multimedia data enabling faster channel acquisitions, improved error recovery and improved efficiency. An encoder device encodes a first portion of multimedia data using inter-coding to generate a first version, and encodes the first portion of multimedia data using intra-coding to generate a second version. A decoder device receives a first version of a first portion of multimedia data, wherein the first version is inter-coded, receives a second version of the first portion of multimedia data, wherein the second version is intra-coded, and selectively decodes the first and second received versions.
US08612496B2
Methods and systems for providing related files in a collaborative file storage system are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of files within the collaborative file storage system, wherein the plurality of files each have a relationship with the first file, and wherein the collaborative file storage system allows sharing of the plurality of files between multiple users through a network. The method further includes generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of files, providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one collaborator of the first file, receiving from the at least one collaborator at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of files based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of files.
US08612494B2
The present invention provides a system, method and computer-program product for selectively providing operating information for operation of an electronic device, which is capable of assuming a plurality of operating modes. The system comprises a store and a file access module. The store includes a plurality of files and a plurality of file identification data sets. Each of the file identification data sets is associated with one or more of the plurality of files, which include the operating information. The file access module is configured for operatively interacting with the store and to select one of the file identification data sets based on an actual operating mode of the electronic device. Each file identification data set is associated with one or more of the operating modes. The file access module is configured to provide the one or more files associated with the file identification data set selected.
US08612492B2
A computer implemented method of processing data containing information about relationships between contacts and a community of contact owners is provided, which includes the steps of: collecting data having contact information, contact owner information and one or more values related to the strength of a relationship between the contact and the contact owner; evaluating the strength of the relationship based on the one or more values; and storing the collected data and evaluated strength in a computer database.
US08612491B2
System and method for storing a dataset of image tiles.
US08612490B1
An exemplary embodiment may provide a repository for containing representations that represent a model or a portion of the model. A user may store the representations in the repository, for example, as functions. The functions stored in the repository may be shared and used for processing another model that includes a pattern performing the same or similar function as the representations stored in the repository. A checksum may be compared to determine an equivalent function in the repository. In a different embodiment, the intermediate representation of the pattern may be compared to determine an equivalent function in the repository.
US08612487B2
Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for transforming hierarchical language data into relational form. An aspect provides for assembling at least one statistical summary of at least one hierarchical language data source responsive to execution of program instructions accessible to at least one processor operatively connected to a memory device; accessing at least one entity of interest selected from the at least one statistical summary; generating at least one target hierarchical language model based on the at least one entity of interest; and transforming data from the at least one hierarchical language data source into at least one relational form by executing transformation artifacts generated based on a type of the relational form. Other aspects are disclosed herein.
US08612486B2
Embodiments herein include systems, methods, software, and data structures to generate and render visualizations of configuration items (CIs) represented in a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). One embodiment includes receiving a request for a CI graph from a client including a focus CI identifier represented in a CMDB. The focus CI may be used to retrieve data of related CIs, the data including CI identifiers. A process is then executed for each retrieved CI identifier to retrieve CI data as a function of the received CI identifier and to build a node XML and an edge XML representation of relations between the CIs. This method also includes aggregating the node and edge XML representations into a single XML document and then translating the document into a markup language document capable of being rendered in a graphical user interface. The markup language document is then transmitted to the requestor.
US08612483B2
Systems and methods provide a “live social context” in which users can share multimedia content information. Upon finding multimedia content that a user would like to share with others, the user may select a “share” function Invitations may then be sent to other users across different services. In addition, the invitation may include content, such as a text comment or file that the user has added. The recipient users receive a live notification of the invitation and may then participate in an online discussion with the user. Furthermore, other users may be provided a live notification that activity has been initiated or in-progress about the multimedia content. These users may then request to join in the online discussion.
US08612481B2
A system and method proxies data access commands acrossed a cluster interconnect between storage appliances and a cluster using a file-level protocol. Each storage appliance activates two ports per data access, a local port for data access requests directed to clients of the storage appliance and a proxy port for data access requests directed to the partner storage appliance. Clients utilizing multi-pathing software may send data access requests to either the local port of the storage appliance or the proxy port of the storage appliance. The system and method improves high availability, especially during a loss of connectivity due to non-storage appliance hardware failure.
US08612478B1
A computer implemented method and system for rendering time sensitive responses to a query associated with a target location is provided. A query-response management server receives a query containing information on a target location from a first client application on a requesting user's requesting device via a network. The query-response management server dynamically retrieves location information and activity information of each of multiple responding users via the network and identifies one or more of the responding users proximal to the target location based on the location information and the activity information. The query-response management server transmits the query to a second client application on a responding device of each of the identified responding users via the network. The query-response management server receives and aggregates responses to the query from the second client application via the network and renders the aggregated responses to the first client application on the requesting device.
US08612475B2
The present invention includes a system and method for generating a discussion in a social network based on visual search results. A mixed media reality (MMR) engine receives images from a user device and identifies matching MMR objects. A social network application determines whether a discussion group that is related to metadata associated with the images from user devices are related to a discussion group. If the discussion group does not yet exist, the social network application generates the discussion group and provides the user devices with information about the discussion group.
US08612474B2
Provided are a system and method for supporting a logical sensor network (LSN) separate from an actual physical sensor network (PSN) to readily obtain sensing data required by a user or application program in an environment consisting of various types of PSNs. The system includes a metadata database (DB) for storing metadata of a plurality of available PSNs each having a plurality of sensor nodes, a LSN generation module for generating a LSN including one or more PSNs among the PSNs registered in the metadata DB or one or more sensor nodes in the PSNs, and storing metadata of the generated LSN in the metadata DB, a LSN update module for updating the metadata of the LSN including the PSNs or the sensor nodes in the PSNs when a state of the PSNs or the sensor nodes is changed, and a query processing module for, when a query about the LSN is received from an application program, collecting sensing data from the PSNs or the sensor nodes included in the LSN, generating query result data for the LSN using the collected data, and providing the query result data to the application program.
US08612463B2
In a user-activity identification technique, a user's actions are monitored while the user is using a computer. While these user actions are associated with user activities, the user activities are initially unspecified, so the tracked user actions constitute unsupervised data. Then, the tracked user actions are aggregated into subsets (for example, using clustering analysis), and user-activity classifications for the subsets (such as activity labels) are provided by the user, so the subsets constitute supervised data. Subsequently, when additional user actions (which are associated with one or more initially unspecified current user activities) are tracked, they can be associated with one or more of the classified subsets. For example, information about the additional user actions can be mapped in real time (or near real time) to one or more of the subsets using a supervised learning technique. In this way, the one or more current user activities can be identified.
US08612462B2
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and system for data transmission based on a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) network that classifies contents files which are stored in a DMS according to a support of the DLNA network to make a contents list. Support is provided to convert a file attribute of a selected file into a file attribute which can be applied to the DLNA network to generate, in case a user selects a non-supported file which is not applied to the DLNA network. The invention outputs the selected file to a display unit, captures the outputted image to convert into a file which can be applied to the DLNA network.
US08612461B2
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and/or systems for manipulating hierarchical sets of data are disclosed.
US08612459B1
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for providing matching resources. One example method includes identifying example resources, evaluating query logs to determine queries including query terms that resolved to a given example resource, identifying matching resources other than the example resources that also were provided as a solution to the determined queries, filtering the matching resources based on one or more criteria to identify matching resources that are relevant to a consumer, and providing the filtered matching resources for output to the consumer.
US08612456B2
Users provide preferred multimedia programs types and receive electronic messages with recommendations for recording upcoming broadcasts. In response to receiving reply messages to the recommendations, the recommended multimedia programs may be scheduled for transport to the user. Example multimedia programs that may be recommended include without limitation television shows, sporting events, and pay-per-view events.
US08612450B1
Methods and systems generate content-categorization hierarchies and assign each content object to a set of nodes in the hierarchies. Each hierarchy includes a series of levels, each level including nodes which represent a categorization. A node in a top level is connected with multiple nodes in a lower level via a direct path. Each content object is assigned to a set of nodes, such that assignment to a lower-level node also results in assignment to each higher-level node in the lower-level node's direct path to a top of the hierarchy. Metadata of the content object is then modified to include a set of tags, each tag being a term from an assigned node. Tags are used to categorize the content object, summarize of the content object, identify recommended content objects, identify content objects responsive to a search query, and/or identify other content objects to supplement the content object.
US08612447B2
Document cluster ranking systems and methods of ranking document clusters are described. In some example embodiments, the method comprises: obtaining, at a document cluster ranking system, a value associated with a first feature for each of a plurality of document clusters; based on the values associated with the first feature, automatically generating, at the document cluster ranking system, a plurality of first feature bins, each first feature bin defining a range of values and a bin identifier; and obtaining a score for one of the document clusters, by: i) identifying the first feature bin having a range of values which includes the obtained value associated with the first feature for that one of the document clusters; and ii) determining a score for that document cluster based on the first feature bin identifier for the identified first feature bin.
US08612446B2
A system and method for providing generating reference sets for use during document review is provided. A collection of unclassified documents is obtained. Selection criteria are applied to the document collection and those unclassified documents that satisfy the selection criteria are selected as reference set candidates. A classification code is assigned to each reference set candidate. A reference set is formed from the classified reference set candidates. The reference set is quality controlled and shared between one or more users.
US08612444B2
A document classifier may analyze documents for a search engine and tag the documents. A document classifier system may have several different classifiers, each with a separate algorithm for classification. Some of the data classifiers may learn or change the classification over time with a feedback loop. As those classifiers are modified, updated, replaced, or added, the documents that have already been classified by the classifier may be re-examined to update their classification. The document classifier system may maintain a database of documents with a timestamp that the document was classified that may be used to identify those documents whose classifications may be out of date.
US08612440B2
A method for a dynamically configurable imaging process, including: inputting, using a graphical user interface for at least one first specially programmed computer, computer instructions for executing at least one image processing task; creating template type information using the computer instructions and a first processor for the first computer, the template type information in a database; retrieving, using a second processor for at least one second specially programmed computer, the template type information from the database; inserting, using the second processor, the template type information into a service flow for a first imaging process; and executing, using the second processor, the template type information such that the computer instructions for the at least one image processing task are implemented as part of the service flow for the first imaging process.
US08612439B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data storage operations, including content-indexing, containerized deduplication, and policy-driven storage, within a cloud environment. The systems support a variety of clients and cloud storage sites that may connect to the system in a cloud environment that requires data transfer over wide area networks, such as the Internet, which may have appreciable latency and/or packet loss, using various network protocols, including HTTP and FTP. Methods are disclosed for content indexing data stored within a cloud environment to facilitate later searching, including collaborative searching. Methods are also disclosed for performing containerized deduplication to reduce the strain on a system namespace, effectuate cost savings, etc. Methods are disclosed for identifying suitable storage locations, including suitable cloud storage sites, for data files subject to a storage policy. Further, systems and methods for providing a cloud gateway and a scalable data object store within a cloud environment are disclosed, along with other features.
US08612437B2
A system and method provides location-aware search results from a navigation or other device and provides one or more enhanced listings or advertisements with the results to offset the communication cost of the search. The sponsor may be charged for the listing or advertisement and the charge may be based on whether the device arrives in an area around the sponsor location within a threshold amount of time.
US08612424B2
The present invention provides a method and system for optimizing search result rankings through use of a game interface. The method and system includes providing a game interface to at least two users, the game interface comprising at least one search query and at least two search result sets. The method and system further includes detecting the selection of one of the two search result sets by the users based on competition criteria and updating ranking data in response to the selection of one of the two search results. The method and system further includes selecting ranking data associated with a given query, determining an optimum ranking based on aggregating the selected ranking data, and storing the optimum ranking.
US08612421B2
Predicate abduction involves identifying, from a database statement, predicates on attributes of dimensional data, and applying those predicates to corresponding measure data so that only measure values are fetched and returned for dimension values that satisfy the predicate. In contrast to processing joins of relational data, the subset of the measure data is determined without needing to join a fact table with a dimension table and, therefore, without processing every fact record to determine which measure values are associated with records that satisfy the condition. Buffer reuse involves storing in buffers the “domains” of queries executing on multidimensional data. Responsive to detecting that execution of a database statement requires multiple iterations of extracting the same multidimensional data, the data is extracted during the first iteration and stored in a buffer so that, for each subsequent iteration, the buffer-stored data is accessed rather than re-extracting the data.
US08612416B2
Techniques are disclosed for providing a domain-aware snippet for a search result. A uniform resource locator (URL) is identified for a search result obtained in response to a search query, and it is determined that the URL corresponds to a single domain that has a plurality of web pages that are generated using a template that is common to each of the web pages in the domain. The template comprises a hypertext markup language (HTML) layout pattern that includes multiple sections shared by the web pages. A ranking value is assigned to the multiple sections and is used to identify a first section of the template that is relevant to the search query. A snippet is provided to a user for the search result; the snippet includes at least a portion of text from the first section.
US08612409B2
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and explaining bursty stream events in targeted groups. In one example, the method includes receiving validated bursty events, finding explanatory data sources having relevant bursty events that are relevant to the validated bursty events, wherein the explanatory sources explain the presence of the validated bursty events, correlating the validated bursty events to the relevant bursty events of the explanatory data sources to obtain burst results, and sending the burst results to a burst database that is accessible to an end user.
US08612401B2
Techniques and mechanisms are provided to allow for selective optimization, including deduplication and/or compression, of portions of files and data blocks. Data access is monitored to generate a heat index for identifying sections of files and volumes that are frequently and infrequently accessed. These frequently used portions may be left non-optimized to reduce or eliminate optimization I/O overhead. Infrequently accessed portions can be more aggressively optimized.
US08612398B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for automatically identifying a version of a file that is expected to be present on a computer system and for automatically replacing a potentially corrupted copy of the file with a clean (or undamaged) copy of the expected version. Upon identifying a file on the computer system as being potentially corrupted, a clean file agent may perform an analysis based on the identity of the file and one or more other properties of the system to determine the version of the file that is expected to be present on the system. Once the expected version is identified, a clean replacement copy of the file may be obtained from a clean file repository by submitting a version identifier of the expected version. The version identifier may be a hash value, which may additionally be used to verify integrity of the clean copy.
US08612393B2
An application server disk image generating apparatus and method comprising a basic disk image generating component for generating basic disk images for basic programs used by the server; an incremental disk image generating component for generating incremental disk images including heritage relationship for other respective applications based on the basic programs used by the server; and an image profile generating means for generating an image profile for each of the basic disk images and the incremental disk images. By using the apparatus, the storage consumption can be decreased greatly and the storage efficiency can be improved. The invention also discloses an application server disk image management and distribution system to which the application server disk image generating apparatus is applied, and a system for provisioning the application server using disk images.
US08612390B2
Searching cached log blocks. A method includes performing a first search on cached log blocks for a log block having a first log block ID. The log blocks are cached and organized into sequentially ordered log buffers in memory. Adjacent sequentially ordered log buffers are double linked to each other. Each log buffer includes a complete range of log blocks from a starting log block ID to an ending log block ID. As part of the first search one or more links are followed, forward and/or backward, to one or more other log buffers. The method may further include determining that the first log block is not found by following one or more links forward and/or backward to one or more other log buffers and as a result, follow one or more covering pointers to one or more log buffers to search for the first log block.
US08612389B2
A method and apparatus for discovering application configuration files in a system. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a process identifier of an application in concern; comparing the obtained process identifier with a process identifier of a process for operating configuration files in the system; and determining configuration files to be the configuration files of the application in concern if the obtained process identifier is identical to the process identifier of a process for operating the configuration files in the system. Application configuration files can be automatically discovered and thereby monitored, such that the change of the application configuration files can be effectively and accurately detected, so as to facilitate a user to perform various subsequent operations.
US08612382B1
A method is used in recovering files in data storage systems. A set of file system blocks of a file of a file system is identified. The set of file system blocks are associated with a portion of an inode of the file of the file system. Mapping information associated with the portion of the inode is missing references to the set of file system blocks. Metadata of each file system block of the set of file system blocks is evaluated. Based on the evaluation, the portion of the inode of the file is recovered by updating mapping information associated with the portion of the inode.
US08612367B2
Techniques are described for determining queries that are similar to rare queries. An n-gram space is defined to represent queries and a similarity function is defined to measure the similarities between queries. The similarity function is learned by leveraging training data derived from user behavior data and formalized as an optimization problem using a metric learning approach. Furthermore, the similarity function can be defined in the n-gram space, which is equivalent to a cosine similarity in a transformed n-gram space. Locality sensitive hashing can be exploited for efficient retrieval of similar queries from a large query repository. This technique can be used to enhance the accuracy of query similarity calculation for rare queries, facilitate the retrieval of similar queries and significantly improve search relevance.
US08612365B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving a message at the PCRN, the message comprising at least one content element; inferring a message type of the message based on the at least one content element; and responding to the message based on the message type of the message and the at least one content element of the message. Inferring a message type may include applying a set of inference rules to content elements of the message to determine a message type. Various exemplary embodiments further include validating a message received at the PCRN, receiving an incomplete message at the PCRN, and inferring a value of a missing element of an incomplete message. Incomplete messages may include messages where the missing element is a message type element that indicates the type of the message.
US08612362B2
An appliance cooperation operation device in which a facility database stores an introduction cost of a power storage shared among a plurality of customers, and a rated life of the power storage; a facility deteriorating influence calculator calculates deteriorating influence on the power storage by using at least one parameter selected from a discharge rate of the power storage in a first period, depth of discharge at the end of the first period, and environmental temperature in the first period; a customer electric energy collector collects, from each of the customers, data of electric energy consumption in the first period; and a customer's burden cost calculator calculates a burden cost of each customer in the first period by multiplying: a ratio of energy consumption of each customer to total customer energy consumption; the introduction cost; a ratio of the first period to the rated life; and the deteriorating influence.
US08612361B1
Systems and methods which provide processing of payment errors with respect to delivery services in accordance with user preferences are disclosed herein. According to embodiments, a delivery service user provides information with respect to how payment errors with respect to delivery services provided to the user are to be handled to facilitate electronic and/or automated processing of such payment errors. A user may authorize payment shortages on the user's behalf, may request notification for an ad hoc determination as to how the shortage is to be handled, or may elect to have postal items returned in the case of payment shortage. Various levels of payment error handling services may be provided with respect to users. Detailed information, such as statistics with respect to users' payment errors, the numbers and types of payment errors, user's preferences in handling payment errors, etcetera, may be provided.
US08612358B1
Systems and methods are provided for providing an adjustment to a value estimate for a property that is considered distressed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving the estimate of value for the property; determining, based on a model, the adjustment to the estimate of value, such that the model accounts for a characteristic of the property and a characteristic of the loan; and providing the adjustment.
US08612357B2
A wearable identification token includes a housing, a transmitter for transmitting user identification data to a proximity reader, a switch for switching the identification token between an enabled state and a disabled state, and a sensor for detecting removal of the housing from the user's body. The switch is responsive to the sensor to switch the identification token from the enabled state to the disabled state in response to the housing being removed from the user's body, and is responsive to a signal received from a trusted electronic device to switch the identification token from the disabled state to the enabled state.
US08612354B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling digital rights of the “Play N times” type for a digital audio and/or video content, referred to as controlled content, the controlled content being consumed by a consumer on a consuming device or on another device delegating the controlling of these rights to the consuming device. According to this method, charging of one additional usage is inhibited in at least one of the following cases where: the consumer momentarily consumes another content, on the same device where the controlled content is consumed, and then returns to the controlled content; the consumer effects a pause in the usage of the controlled content; the consumer performs a fast-forward of the controlled content; or the consumer performs a rewind of the controlled content.
US08612353B2
A system may receive an instruction to publish a video asset to a video provisioning system; retrieve profiles associated with the video asset, where a first profile may correspond to a set top box (STB) and a second profile may correspond to another device of a different type than the STB; process the video asset to create a first asset that can be published to a first device, associated with the system, based on the first profile; and process the video asset to create a second asset can be published to a second device, associated with the system, based on the second profile. The system may also publish the first asset to the first device that enables the STB to obtain the first asset from the first device; and publish the second asset to the second device that enables the other device to obtain the second asset from the second device.
US08612341B2
A computerized method and system for implementing such method, the method comprising establishing a card payment instrument account for an approved customer and an investment account for the benefit of the approved customer. A rebate is calculated periodically based on credit card usage and the rebate is applied to fund the investment account periodically. The rebate is the only funding of the investment account accomplished through the card payment instrument account.
US08612335B2
A system and methods are provided for using order descriptor identifiers in relation to orders being used in trading strategies. According to one example method, when a hedge order is submitted upon detecting a fill of another order, the hedge order includes one or more order descriptor identifiers conveying a purpose of the hedge order to a user. The order descriptor identifiers can be used to search for desired orders and perform more effective order management and post trade analysis.
US08612331B2
Systems and methods for operating a prediction market, including methods for finding disagreement with the consensus among participants and methods for managing liquidity. Also, an interactive user interface to facilitate investing, with one user action, in a prediction market.
US08612330B1
Usage of shared resources can be managed by enabling users to obtain different types of guarantees at different times for various types and/or levels of resource capacity. A user can select to have an amount or rate of capacity dedicated to that user. A user can also select reserved capacity for at least a portion of the requests, tasks, or program execution for that user, where the user has priority to that capacity but other users can utilize the excess capacity during other periods. Users can alternatively specify to use the excess capacity or other variable, non-guaranteed capacity. The capacity can be for any appropriate functional aspect of a resource, such as computational capacity, throughput, latency, bandwidth, and storage. Users can submit bids for various types and combinations of excess capacity, and winning bids can receive dedicated use of the excess capacity for at least a period of time.
US08612328B2
A method for providing a trading platform over the Internet or other network that allows users to participate in competitive virtual trading of securities and/or derivatives, wherein the monetary returns of the participants are based on their relative performances. All of the participants must register and deposit monies in an account with the trading platform provider. The platform provider will control the crediting and debiting of each account based on the results of each competition. In a competition, the securities and/or derivatives are traded at market prices, including but not limited to over-the-counter spot prices on different assets such as currencies, indices, commodities, stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but instead of calculating the returns of the participants according to their absolute results (which means the summation of gains and losses for all the transactions that the participant executed within a period of time), the returns of a participant will be based on the difference between his and his rival's absolute results.
US08612324B1
A method, system, and program product, the method comprising: allocating client funds of respective client accounts among aggregated deposit accounts, determining client funds to be withdrawn from the aggregated deposit account held at one of the depository institutions more than six (6) times during a month while preserving an insured and interest-bearing status of the aggregated deposit account; generating instructions to transfer funds to or from one or more of the respective aggregated deposit accounts in the program through an aggregated demand deposit and making a withdrawal and/or transfer from the one aggregated deposit account more than six (6) times during the month period; and updating databases.
US08612321B2
Disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment is an automated financial instrument brokerage system wherein a front end layer interacts with customers to generate activity requests for an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer preferably processes the activity requests and places financial instrument orders on a financial market if appropriate. A backend layer preferably provides data to the intermediate layer for processing activity requests. Multiple heterogeneous front end customer applications may be supported by the same intermediate layer. Further, multiple backend layer applications may interact with the intermediate layer in a manner transparent to the front end layer. Further, scalability can be achieved be partitioning various tasks of the intermediate layer onto separate servers, and more preferably on separate redundant servers. Load balancers may then be used in the intermediate layer to provide distributed access to these servers. Also disclosed herein is a caching technique whereby turnaround time for processing activity requests can be reduced by reducing the number of times that the intermediate layer needs to interact with the backend layer.
US08612315B2
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for remote data validation of shipment information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention shipment information including at least one item identifier of an item in the shipment and at least one entity identifier of an entity associated with the item is captured by a remote unit and sent to a dispatcher with a request for validation. Entity identifiers in the received validation request are used to identify validators that are targets of dispatcher generated validation requests. Validators retrieve additional shipment information using item identifiers in the validation request received from the dispatcher and return a response based on degree to which information in the received request corresponds to stored information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention, the dispatcher assimilates the received responses and relays the assimilated response to the remote unit.
US08612314B2
Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. In certain embodiments, one or more models may be applied over a set of historical transaction data associated with a vehicle configuration to determine pricing data. Some models may leverage incremental data in various conditions, including cases where fewer than a desired number of historical transactions are present in the bin of a specified vehicle, where fewer than, equal to, or more than a certain number of list prices for the specified vehicle available, and where no historical transaction data for new models is available.
US08612308B2
A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu.
US08612306B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for related search suggestions for products. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query for searching documents wherein the query specifies a first product. A number of occurrences of the first product in a plurality of prior queries of the documents submitted by users is determined. A product category for the first product is determined based on one or more attributes associated with the first product, the category having a predetermined plurality of category attributes. A suggested product is selected wherein the suggested product is associated with attributes that satisfy the category attributes.
US08612304B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating seller to seller transactions. A seller can make products in the seller's inventory available to other sellers. Therefore, other sellers may list a portion of the seller's inventory as their own in-stock inventory. Upon the sale of such a product by another seller, embodiments of the disclosure can facilitate initiating and settling transactions between the sellers and the purchaser as well as fulfillment of the product from the seller's inventory to the purchaser on behalf of another seller.
US08612302B2
Rewards, which can be virtual currency which can include items, on one website are transferred to be used on another website. The one website on which the rewards are earned has reciprocity with other websites, and can send those rewards to another website, either associated with the user's own account, or with someone else's account. In one embodiment, the rewards can be transferred even if the user who earns those rewards does not participate in the website that is receiving the transfer.
US08612293B2
Systems and methods for automatically generating targeting information for presentation of an offer via an online social network using affinity information collected concerning members of online social networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes indexing member profiles within social networks for affinity to keywords using a targeting system that retrieves data concerning member profiles and activities from servers within an online social network, identifying member profiles that have affinity for at least one offer keyword using the targeting system and the index, identifying additional keywords for which the identified member profiles have affinity using the targeting system and the index, determining a set of keywords that target a desired audience based upon the identified additional keywords, and targeting presentation of advertisements for the specific offer to members of an online social network using the online social network and the targeting keywords.
US08612287B2
A trailer transport system for tracking trains having a plurality of rail cars, wherein each rail car can transport a trailer, is described. The system includes a computer system having a trailer tracking program, wherein the trailer tracking program receives information regarding a trailer to be transported and stores the information in a record and a plurality of terminals, wherein each terminal includes a terminal management system communicatively connected to the computer system, wherein the terminal management system pulls up the record corresponding to the trailer to be transported when the trailer arrives at the terminal and modifies the record to reflect the trailer's transportation status.
US08612283B1
A rule-based method and apparatus for evaluating the cost of operating a network infrastructure are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request to evaluate the cost of operating a network infrastructure in a form of one or more rules, e.g., in a natural language format. The one or more rules are translated into at least one cost model. The method then applies the at least one cost model to determine the cost of operating the network infrastructure.
US08612275B1
A method of forecasting work hours per unit of time is provided. The method comprises estimating a project hour budget, determining a percentage of the project hour budget to be expended in each of a plurality of project phases based on average percentages of project hour budgets expended in each project phase in completed projects, and distributing the project hour budget across a plurality of units of time based on the percentage of the project hour budget to be expended in each project phase, on the project hour budget, and on a schedule of project milestones.
US08612274B2
A simulation framework for evaluating revenue that may use a pricing engine that runs at least one pricing algorithm with particular configurations and under particular model market conditions to provide revenue projections.
US08612272B1
An invention for scheduling employees in a skills-based contact routing environment in which each employee has one or more skills and belongs to a skill group. The invention includes an initialization step and an iterative step. In the initialization step, the invention generates initial staffing levels and initial agent schedules for each skill group. In the iterative step, a skill group is selected and unscheduled while keeping agents in other skill groups on their current schedules, agent requirements for the skill group selected are updated using a staffing model that applies contact routing rules and includes the number of agents scheduled for work in other skill groups, and agents are rescheduled in the selected skill group. In each iteration each skill group is unscheduled, agent requirements are updated, and agents are rescheduled once. Iterations continue until one or more stopping criteria are satisfied.
US08612269B2
Methods and systems to store event information and corresponding event availability information. An event record and a corresponding availability count record may be stored together in a hash table, at an index computed from event information. Alternatively, event records may be stored in a first hash table at indexes computed from corresponding event information, and availability count records may be stored in a second hash table, at indexes computed from contents of the availability count records. Event records in the first hash table may include pointers to availability count records in the second hash table. To retrieve an availability count record for an event, the event information may be hashed with the first hash function to determine an index of the first hash table at which the event record and associated pointer are stored. From the pointer, the associated availability count record may be retrieved from the second hash table.
US08612267B1
A computerized method of allowing insurance customers to purchase travel medical insurance or other foreign medical insurance, based on user age, sex, and various user designed risk scenarios, and receive information on the payout amounts that various insurance plans will deliver based upon these factors. In one embodiment, a method for allowing customers who are unfamiliar with the medical cost structure of a foreign country to be informed both as to the costs of medical treatment in that country, and the benefits that a variety of foreign coverage medical insurance plans will provide under these user risk scenarios. These plans may then be evaluated according to different user selected parameters. The method can be implemented using computerized servers and client devices communicating using standard internet protocols over the internet.
US08612250B2
A system for managing remote doctor medical request workflow may include a workflow module that optimizes assignments of medical requests to remote doctors based on parameterized doctor and scheduling information and may further include a forecasting module that predicts the hospital credentials, state licenses or doctors needed to fulfill a projected volume of future medical requests. In one embodiment, radiologists are parameterized and then matched with requests for radiological readings based on information extracted from DICOM image headers and merged with associated information contained in a medical work order. In this embodiment, the radiologists are parameterized based on their locations, schedules, hospital credentials, state licensing, compensation metrics, and performance metrics and incoming requests for review of CT scans and the like are filtered based on the parameterized radiologist information to identify one or more radiologists who are to fulfill the medical request.
US08612249B2
Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided for managing regulatory data pertaining to a healthcare product. For example, the system may include a network interface for receiving, from a client terminal, a request for regulatory data related to regulatory activity about a product as it pertains to a regulatory authority. The system also includes interconnected information stores for storing regulatory data associated with the product, where the information stores may include: contact records associated with respective contacts with the regulatory authority; commitment records associated with respective commitments made to the regulatory authority; and product information records associated with respective documents associated with the product. The system also includes a processing module for identifying, in response to the received request, each contact record, commitment record, product information record, and central files record associated with the product related to the received request.
US08612246B2
A medical guideline integration engine is presented. The engine imports medical guideline information from disparate sources based on various guideline standards into a knowledge base. The knowledge base houses the information in a database. Upon request, the engine retrieves the information from the knowledge base and converts the information into a desired guideline format.
US08612244B2
Various aspects of one or more methods, apparatuses and data processor program products capable of enabling management of data associated with an athleticism development program are disclosed herein. These various aspects include maintaining a database including subscriber performance data for a plurality of athleticism development program subscribers and facilitating preparation of a subscriber performance report for a specified one of the plurality of athleticism development program subscribers. The subscriber performance data is capable of enabling an attained standardized athleticism level to be determined for each one of the athleticism development program subscribers. The implementation of standardized athleticism levels is advantageous as it supports a measurable plan of progress for motivating a subscriber and trainer to meet their individual and mutual goals.
US08612234B2
A method is disclosed for applying a multi-state barge-in acoustic model in a spoken dialogue system. The method includes receiving an audio speech input from the user during the presentation of a prompt, accumulating the audio speech input from the user, applying a non-speech component having at least two one-state Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to the audio speech input from the user, applying a speech component having at least five three-state HMMs to the audio speech input from the user, in which each of the five three-state HMMs represents a different phonetic category, determining whether the audio speech input is a barge-in-speech input from the user, and if the audio speech input is determined to be the barge-in-speech input from the user, terminating the presentation of the prompt.
US08612233B2
An expert conversation builder contains a knowledge database that includes a plurality of dialogues having nodes and edges arranged as directed acyclic graphs. Users and authors of the system interface with the knowledge database through a graphical interface to author dialogues and to create expert conversations as threads traversing the node in the dialogues.
US08612232B2
A system and method are disclosed that improve automatic speech recognition in a spoken dialog system. The method comprises partitioning speech recognizer output into self-contained clauses, identifying a dialog act in each of the self-contained clauses, qualifying dialog acts by identifying a current domain object and/or a current domain action, and determining whether further qualification is possible for the current domain object and/or current domain action. If further qualification is possible, then the method comprises identifying another domain action and/or another domain object associated with the current domain object and/or current domain action, reassigning the another domain action and/or another domain object as the current domain action and/or current domain object and then recursively qualifying the new current domain action and/or current object. This process continues until nothing is left to qualify.
US08612230B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are described for automatic speech recognition (‘ASR’) that include accepting by the multimodal application speech input and visual input for selecting or deselecting items in a selection list, the speech input enabled by a speech recognition grammar; providing, from the multimodal application to the grammar interpreter, the speech input and the speech recognition grammar; receiving, by the multimodal application from the grammar interpreter, interpretation results including matched words from the grammar that correspond to items in the selection list and a semantic interpretation token that specifies whether to select or deselect items in the selection list; and determining, by the multimodal application in dependence upon the value of the semantic interpretation token, whether to select or deselect items in the selection list that correspond to the matched words.
US08612211B1
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving two or more data sets each representing speech of a corresponding individual attending an internet-based social networking video conference session, decoding the received data sets to produce corresponding text for each individual attending the internet-based social networking video conference, and detecting characteristics of the session from a coalesced transcript produced from the decoded text of the attending individuals for providing context to the internet-based social networking video conference session.
US08612209B2
An assignment device (1) assigns word class information (WKI) to one or more words of text information (ETI). Based on word-class sequence information (WK-AI) formed from this assigned word class information (WKI), actions (A) are executed in order to notify the user of conflicts or to provide the user with background information (HI) relating to words in the text information (TT).
US08612207B2
Language analysis means 21 analyzes texts read from a text DB 11, and generates a sentence structure as the analysis result. Similar-structure generation adjustment means 25 generates, from an input of an input device, a determination item for determining whether or not the structures are identical every type of differences between the sentence structures. Similar-structure determination adjustment means 26 generates, from an input of the input device 6, a determination item for determining whether or not the difference between attribute values is ignored every type of attribute values. Similar-structure generating means 22 generates a similar structure of a partial structure forming the sentence structure obtained by language analysis means 21 in accordance with the determination item from the similar-structure generation adjustment means 25, and sets the generated similar structure as an equivalent class of the partial structure on the generation source. Frequent-similar-pattern detection means 24 ignores the attribute value in accordance with the determination item given from the similar-structure determination adjustment means 26, detects the frequent pattern on the basis of a set of equivalent classes from the similar-structure generating means 22, and outputs the frequent pattern to an output device 3.
US08612200B2
Disclosed are a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) symbol structure for a PLC code for automatically generating an input/output model, and a simulation apparatus and a simulation method for testing the PLC code using the same. In one embodiment, a computer-readable recording medium records a PLC code including a plurality of PLC symbols, wherein each of the PLC symbols includes a plurality of levels identified by an identifier, and a computer automatically generates an input/output model using the structure of each of the PLC symbols, thereby performing a simulation for testing the PLC code. The PLC symbol structure according to one embodiment systematically contains information required for automatically generating the input/output model, making it possible to automatically generate the input/output model for testing the PLC code in an easier manner without knowledge of simulation and modeling, and reducing the time consumed and the labor required for generating the input/output model.
US08612184B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums. A method includes receiving a geometric model including at least one removal feature having at least one face and designating at least one face as a remove variational face. The method includes adding a constraint that refers to the designated face. The method includes creating a second object corresponding to the removal feature and modifying the constraint to refer to the second object instead of the removal feature. The method includes removing the removal feature and performing a variational edit and solve on the model using the second object in place of the removal feature. The method includes recreating the model according to the variational edit. The recreated model can include the removal feature placed according to an updated location of the second object.
US08612183B2
An analysis model generation system, for generating an analysis model of an analysis target, by correcting a distortion configuration owned by a configuration mesh data, which is generated by changing configuration of the analysis target, being made up with hexahedrons, into meshes, comprises a mesh data read-in portion 110 for reading the configuration mesh data therein, a mesh quality estimate portion 111 for estimating quality of a mesh of the configuration mesh data, a first database 101 for classifying distortion configuration of the mesh into a pattern, so as to register it therein as a distorted mesh pattern, in advance, a mesh pattern determination portion 112 for determining, on which one of the distorted mesh patterns a distortion corresponds, when the mesh has the distortion as a result of the quality estimation within the mesh quality estimation portion, a second database 115 for registering therein correction methods for correcting the distortion, corresponding to the distorted mesh pattern registered in the first database, a mesh correcting portion 113 for correcting the distortion of the mesh upon basis of the correction method, and a mesh data display portion 114 for displaying a result of conducting the correction.
US08612182B2
A method of isolating a frequency in a rotating machine having at least one sensor includes receiving, from the at least one sensor, a sensor signal that includes at least one frequency, converting the sensor signal to a digital vibration signal, modifying the vibration signal to generate an envelope signal, synchronously oversampling the envelope signal to generate a synchronous envelope signal, and transforming the synchronous envelope signal into a frequency spectrum to isolate the frequency.
US08612181B2
This invention allows for remote monitoring of the skier/skiing performance. The system consists of a various MEMS sensors embedded in skier clothing and equipment. These sensors measure instantaneous changes in acceleration in x/y/z axis and changes in earth magnetic field—relative to the skier position, to provide six degree of freedom in calculation of skier position as well as moments applied to the ski edge and forces experiences by the skier body. These sensors communicate with the monitoring application residing in the user wireless terminal (call phone) over the PAN wireless network. The instantaneous measurements are analyzed either locally or remotely and when the system is configured in an active mode, a corrective response to the MEMS actuators embedded in the ski or ski bindings may be send does changing the parameters of the run or provide enhanced safety.
US08612175B2
A measurement device system and method of using the same for determining the depth of a pile being installed and/or the equipment used to install the pile. The device including an encoder assembly having a support attachable to a structural component of a rig wherein the support has a pivot joint coaxial with a load arm axis. The encoder assembly has a load arm rotatable about the arm axis and with a wheel near its distal end that is rotatable about a wheel axis with an encoder joined to the wheel that moves with the wheel. The encoder assembly further including a biasing assembly to urge the load arm and wheel into an engaged condition relative to the associated pile installation machine such that the wheel frictionally engages a surface of another structural component of the rig. Thus, the displacement of the first structural component relative to the second component rotates the wheel about the wheel axis and the encoder. This information can then be used to determine pile depth.
US08612165B2
The invention relates to a method and system for determining an aerodynamic drag area CxA of a moving vehicle, for example a bicycle, in dependence upon the airflow yaw direction and speed without the use of a wind tunnel. The vehicle is equipped with sensors for collecting time-stamped values indicative of the vehicle speed, propulsion force, airflow speed and yaw angle of the airflow at various points during the trip. The trip data are then processed using successively refined hypotheses regarding the CxA(yaw) dependence to generate a plurality of elevation profiles for the travelled path. The generated elevation profiles are then evaluated based on available route elevation information to select a correct dependence of the aerodynamic drag area upon the yaw angle of the airflow.
US08612164B2
A method of maintaining a pipeline, including estimating a corrosion rate of a pipeline segment, is provided. The method includes analyzing a first data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a first time and a second data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a second time subsequent to the first time. A plurality of matched features that include a feature in the first data set and a feature in the second data set is identified. A confidence metric for each of the matched features is calculated. A subset of the matched features is selected based on the confidence metric, a size of the matched features, and/or a desired size of the subset. The corrosion rate of the pipeline segment is calculated based on changes in a geometric characteristic of features within the subset of the matched features between the first time and the second time.
US08612159B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte.
US08612153B2
In a course of updating old map data on a hard disk drive to new map data, a low-priority portion of the old map data that has less importance/necessity is deleted to create a vacant area, and a high-priority portion of the new map data is copied to the vacant area as an update of the map data. Then, the high-priority portion of the old map data is deleted to create another vacant area, and a low-priority portion of the new map data is copied to the vacant area. During the update of the map data, restrictions on the usage of the map data are avoided at all efforts by having the high-priority portion of at least one of the new map data and the old map data maintained on the hard disk drive, while maximizing the utilization of storage resources in a map data management apparatus.
US08612146B2
A system comprises a gyroscope configured to produce a gyroscope signal, an accelerometer configured to produce an accelerometer signal, and a filter unit coupled to the gyroscope and having a configurable bandwidth. The filter unit configured to filter the gyroscope signal. The system also comprises control logic that is configured to alter the bandwidth of the filter unit based on the accelerometer signal.
US08612143B2
The passage determination device according to the present invention includes: a storage; a position information obtaining unit that obtains positions of the device at predetermined intervals; and a controller that causes the storage to store a course and a position of a passage point on the course set in advance by the user, and that causes the storage to store the positions obtained by the position information obtaining unit as well as times at which the positions are obtained, wherein the controller determines, if positions of the device enter a predetermined range of the passage point, a time at which the user passes through the passage point based on a position, from among the obtained positions within the predetermined range, that is closest to the passage point and a time at which the position is obtained.
US08612140B2
Navigation system with constrained resource route planning mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: sending a reservation request for requesting a reservation time window at one or more replenishment locations within a reservation area; receiving a reservation response based on the reservation request for determining an availability for each of the replenishment locations; generating a travel route with a control unit based on the reservation response to a destination through one or more of the replenishment locations for displaying on a device; and sending a cancellation request based on the travel route for cancelling a tentative reservation.
