US08679460B2
The present invention generally relates to nonionic x-ray contrast media formulations, radiological compositions containing such agents and methods for x-ray visualization utilizing such compositions. The invention especially relates to injectable radiological compositions for x-ray visualization comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a mixture of a monomer, being a triiodo-substituted benzene nucleus, and a dimer, being two linked triiodo-substituted benzene nuclei, such that the mixture demonstrates favorable properties.
US08679457B2
The present invention provides various biomarkers of inflammatory bowel disease, including biomarkers for Crohn's disease and biomarkers for Ulcerative colitis. The present invention also provides various methods of using the biomarkers, including methods for diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, methods for distinguishing between inflammatory bowel diseases, methods of determining predisposition to inflammatory bowel disease, methods of monitoring progression/regression of inflammatory bowel disease, methods of assessing efficacy of compositions for treating inflammatory bowel disease, methods of screening compositions for activity in modulating biomarkers of inflammatory bowel disease, methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease, as well as other methods based on biomarkers of inflammatory bowel disease.
US08679455B2
The invention relates to radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic agents, including biologically active vectors labelled with radionuclides. It further relates to methods of making such radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic agents and the compounds used in such methods. The resultant labelled conjugates are useful as diagnostic agents, for example, as radiopharmaceuticals more specifically for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) or for radiotherapy.
US08679447B2
SO3 is formed from a replenished circulating inventory of fresh and recycled SO2. Also, a feed stream of replenished SO2 is heated by indirect heat exchange with a hot stream of SO2 and SO3 whereby the hot stream is cooled for separating the two gases. The heated feed stream of replenished SO2 serves as a hot gaseous feed to a sulfur burner. This SO2 feed is divided into two feed streams, one being oxygenated with pure oxygen and the other remains as an SO2 feed. These feeds plus a feed of molten sulfur are concurrently and separately introduced into the sulfur burner where additional SO2 is formed via continuous exothermic reaction. Although heated, the oxygenated feed(s) of SO2 bring in the needed oxygen for the reaction and the feeds of the oxygenated and non-oxygenated SO2 serve as a heat sink in the sulfur burner to reduce the temperature therein.
US08679443B2
A method of treating a diamond, the method comprising: (i) providing a liquid metal saturated with carbon with respect to graphite precipitation; (ii) lowering the temperature of the liquid metal such that the liquid metal is saturated with carbon with respect to diamond precipitation; (iii) immersing a diamond in the liquid metal; and (iv) removing the diamond from the metal.
US08679438B2
The invention is generally related to process for generating one or more molecules having the formula SixHy, SixDy, SixHyDz, and mixtures thereof, where x,y and z are integers ≧1, H is hydrogen and D is deuterium, such as silane, comprising the steps of: providing a silicon containing material, wherein the silicon containing material includes at least 20 weight percent silicon atoms based on the total weight of the silicon containing material; generating a plasma capable of vaporizing a silicon atom, sputtering a silicon atom, or both using a plasma generating device; and contacting the plasma to the silicon containing material in a chamber having an atmosphere that includes at least about 0.5 mole percent hydrogen atoms and/or deuterium atoms based on the total moles of atoms in the atmosphere; so that a molecule having the formula SixHy; (e.g., silane) is generated. The process preferably includes a step of removing one or more impurities from the SixHy (e.g., the silane) to form a clean SixHy, SixDy, SixHyDz (e.g., silane). The process may also include a step of reacting the SixHy, SixDy, SixHyDz (e.g., the silane) to produce a high purity silicon containing material such as electronic grade metallic silicon, photovoltaic grade metallic silicon, or both.
US08679433B2
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods of forming coated substrates for use in catalytic converters, as well as washcoat compositions and methods suitable for using in preparation of the coated substrates, and the coated substrates formed thereby. The catalytic material is prepared by a plasma-based method, yielding catalytic material with a lower tendency to migrate on support at high temperatures, and thus less prone to catalyst aging after prolonged use. Also disclosed are catalytic converters using the coated substrates, which have favorable properties as compared to catalytic converters using catalysts deposited on substrates using solution chemistry. Also disclosed are exhaust treatment systems, and vehicles, such as diesel vehicles, particularly light-duty diesel vehicles, using catalytic converters and exhaust treatment systems using the coated substrates.
US08679432B2
The invention relates to an adsorber, including a reaction chamber, an adsorbent having adsorption properties enabling the at least partial removal of water from a gas stream including NOx and/or SOx, and a coating essentially consisting of a polymer material on at least a portion of the inner metal wall of the reaction chamber, said polymer being resistant to the acidic liquids at temperatures above 150° C.
US08679427B2
A process for neutralization is provided which can maintain a high solid content of a bauxite dissolution residual substance slurry even after a neutralization treatment is completed and the stabilize pH within a short time of the neutralization treatment. Such a process for neutralizing a bauxite dissolution residual substance containing a desiliconizing product which is generated in the production process of aluminum hydroxide using Bayer process, includes: mixing a bauxite dissolution residual substance or a bauxite dissolution residual substance slurry with sulfuric acid in an amount ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 equivalence to the total amount of sodium contained in the bauxite dissolution residual substance or a bauxite dissolution residual substance slurry, such that the solid content after mixing becomes 400 to 700 g/l to gelate the mixture, and thereafter obtaining a bauxite dissolution residual substance neutralized slurry.
US08679426B2
A microplate apparatus having a bottom plate defining a plurality of very small microwells (for example, each having a volume of 0.02 or less) for containing sample material and a top plate defining a plurality of domes, each of which housing a sensors for measuring biological parameters, such as cellular oxygen consumption, pH changes, calcium uptake, and metabolic reduction of fluorescent dyes. The top and bottom plates may be composed of quartz. The microplate assembly may be fabricated using a method involving applying an etching solution to each of the top and bottom plates to create the domes and microwells. Additionally, etching solution may be applied to the bottom plate to create a raised lip region around each of the microwells. The etched-away areas surrounding the lip regions facilitate the changing of microwell solution without disrupting the samples.
US08679425B2
A reagent container set is disclosed which comprises: a first reagent container for accommodating a first reagent to be used in a sample analyzer, the top part of the first reagent container having a first aspiration opening for inserting a first reagent aspirating tube to aspirate the first reagent; a waste fluid container for accommodating the first reagent used in the sample analyzer as a waste fluid, the top of the waste fluid container having a discharge opening for inserting a waste fluid discharging tube to discharge the waste fluid into the waste fluid container; a box for accommodating the first reagent container and the waste fluid container; and a container holding member for holding the first reagent container and the waste fluid container so that the first aspiration opening and the discharge opening are disposed at predetermined positions, the container holding member being maintained at a predetermined position within the box.
US08679419B2
This sterile packing (1) includes:—a container (3) for containing at least an object (2) to be sterilized by at least a sterilizing fluid, said container (3) including at least a first opening (10);—at least one first membrane (16) made in a material porous to the sterilizing fluid but non-porous with respect to microbial contamination, said at least one first membrane (16) being sealed at said at least a first opening (10) of the container (3), after filling of the container (3) with the object (2) so as to close said at least a first opening (10);—at least one second membrane (22) made in a flexible and airtight material, said second membrane (22) being sealed at said at least first opening (10) of the container (3), after installation of said first membrane (16), the sealing of said second membrane (22) being carried out at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, so that said second membrane (22) is curved when the packing (1) is brought back to the atmospheric pressure.
US08679417B2
A headless suspended mass transfer and reaction tower system used for the scrubbing, stripping or chemical reaction between gases and liquids. The system comprises an elongated shell having a closed top end and a suspension member configured to suspend the tower from an external suspension support. Various embodiments of the system can be adapted for the purposes of chemical vent scrubbing, absorption, odor abatement, gas-liquid chemical reactions, or similar processes. The tower can be operated in the classical counter current or concurrent flow modes, under pressure, or in a partial vacuum.
US08679412B2
An exhaust gas-purifying system for purifying exhaust gas discharged from a diesel engine includes a diesel oxidation catalyst through which the exhaust gas passes, a diesel particulate filter which includes a filter substrate and an active component supported by the filter substrate and exhibiting a catalytic activity for selective catalytic reduction and through which the exhaust gas having passed through the diesel oxidation catalyst penetrates, and an ammonia slip catalyst which includes a zeolite whose alkaline metal ions are partially exchanged with transition metal ions and through which the exhaust gas having penetrated the diesel particulate filter passes.
US08679411B2
A Rh-including catalyst layer of an upstream catalyst 3 includes Rh-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide and Rh-loading CeZr-based mixed oxide as oxygen storage/release materials. A Rh-including catalyst layer of a downstream catalyst 5 includes only Rh-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide as an oxygen storage/release material. The content of the oxygen storage/release materials included in the Rh-including catalyst layer of the upstream catalyst 3 is smaller than that of the downstream catalyst 5. The Rh-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide of the upstream catalyst 3 shows a particle size distribution having a peak particle size smaller than that of the Rh-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide of the downstream catalyst 5.
US08679410B2
An internal combustion engine in an engine exhaust passage of which a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. If the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) feeds hydrocarbons by a period of within 5 seconds, a reducing intermediate is produced inside the exhaust purification catalyst (13). This reducing intermediate is used for NOX purification processing. At the time of engine operation, the demanded produced amount of the reducing intermediate required for reducing the NOx is calculated. The amount of production of the reducing intermediate is made to become this demanded produced amount by control of the feed amount and feed period of hydrocarbons.
US08679397B2
A hollow body formed of a thermoplastic resin and having uniform inner diameter and thickness and an excellent inner surface smoothness, and, in particular, a pipe-shaped hollow body having a bent portion is manufactured by injection molding.A method of manufacturing a hollow body includes injecting a molten resin 8 into a mold cavity 2 of a mold 1, the mold cavity 2 having on its one end a pressure port 4 provided with a floating core 6 and on its other end an outlet 5, pressure-injecting a pressurized fluid through the pressure port 4 after the injection of the molten resin 8, and moving the floating core 6 toward the outlet 5, and, at the same time, extruding the molten resin 8 from the outlet 5. In the method, the floating core 6 is constituted of a columnar portion and a top portion, which is continuously connected to one surface of the columnar portion and has a shape that a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a central axis of the columnar portion gradually decreases from one surface side of the columnar portion. When a diameter of the columnar portion is represented by A, the height of the columnar portion is 0.1 A to 1 A, and the height of the top portion is 0.3 A to 1.6 A.
US08679391B2
A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.
US08679389B2
A cementitious composite material wherein glass-coated steel rods are positioned in a cementitious matrix. The glass composition for coating the steel reinforcing rods includes between about 33-45 weight percent SiO2, 13.5-19.5 weight percent B2O3, 3.5-4.6 weight percent Al2O3, 4.0-13.5 weight percent K2O, 5.5-15.5 weight percent ZrO2, 8.6-15.9 weight percent Na2O, 4.6-5.1 weight percent CaO, 0.6-0.7 weight percent MnO2, 1.0-1.0 weight percent NiO, and 1.0-1.1 weight percent CoO. The glass composition is typically in compression on the rods at ambient temperatures, has a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 12.5 and about 13.5, and has a softening temperature of between about 585 degrees Celsius and about 600 degrees Celsius.
US08679384B2
A weatherseal adapted to be installed in a door or window opening includes a spine, a resilient foam core, an intumescent material, and a liner. The spine has first and second ends, the first end adapted for mounting the weatherseal to the door or window opening. The resilient foam core is attached to the spine, proximate the second end of the spine. The intumescent material is arranged proximate the foam core. The liner encloses the flexible foam core and the intumescent material. The weatherseal or a portion may be color-coded to identify the weatherseal for fire rated applications.
US08679380B2
A lens forming method comprising the steps of: interposing an uncured resin between a lens molding plate and a flat-shaped transparent substrate that are disposed to face each other so as to keep an externally-opening distance; and performing light irradiation on the resin interposed between the lens molding plate and the transparent substrate so that curing of the resin advances from lens curved-surface parts on the lens molding plate toward a periphery thereof.
US08679373B2
The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.
US08679368B2
A process for the liquefaction of carbonaceous material is described that utilizes a single liquefaction reactor that accepts mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas) at any ratio and which provides for a water gas shift reaction and a hydrogenation reaction of the carbonaceous material to provide a desired hydrocarbon. The process avoids the use of a separate reactor for the water gas shift reaction and applies to carbonaceous material such as any type of coal and/or biomass containing plant and/or animal matter for conversion to a synthetic fuel.
US08679362B2
Disclosed herein are a nickel-zinc-copper (NiZnCu) based ferrite composition containing 0.001 to 0.3 parts by weight of bivalent metal, 0.001 to 0.3 parts by weight of trivalent metal, and 0.001 to 0.5 parts by weight of tetravalent metal based on 100 parts by weight of main component containing 47.0 to 50.0 mol % of Fe2O3, 15.0 to 27.0 mol % of NiO, 18.0 to 25.0 mol % of ZnO, and 7.0 to 13.0 mol % of CuO, and a multilayered chip device and a toroidal core using the same. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a bivalent metal, a trivalent metal, and a tetravalent are contained in a NiZuCu ferrite, thereby making it possible to provide a ferrite composition having excellent quality factor (Q) characteristics. Moreover, it is possible to provide a toroidal core and a multilayered chip device having excellent sinterability, permittivity, and quality factor (Q) characteristics using the ferrite composition.
US08679352B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system of recovering multiple products from industrial-scale production of a biomass of an aquatic species.
US08679340B1
A method for treating LNAPL source zones using a cost effective LNAPL source zone technology to degrade residual LNAPL, by introducing bioremediation amendments comprising nutritional supplements in quantities, locations, and depths required to stimulate and sustain the anaerobic biodegradation of an LNAPL source zone; monitoring the LNAPL source zone for adverse conditions that decrease anaerobic LNAPL biodegradation; eliminating any identified adverse conditions to sustain LNAPL biodegradation; and maintaining the water with nutritional supplements in quantities, locations, and depths required to stimulate and sustain the anaerobic biodegradation of LNAPL.
US08679339B2
This invention relates to a refuse landfill leachate wastewater treatment system comprising a collection well, an adjustment tank, a filter, a comprehensive treatment system having a multi-stage anoxic/aerobic pool and a membrane biological reactor. The process of treatment is: waste water enters a adjustment tanke in which water quality and quantity are adjusted; subsequently, enters a filter, the water discharged from the filter and enters a comprehensive treatment system having a multi-stage anoxic/aerobic pool and a membrane biological reactor, wherein waster water is bio-chemically treated to remove the organic substances, nitrogen and ammonia, and then the wastewater is discharged into a catalyzed oxidation tower; the organic substance in waste water is oxidized on effect of ozone and under the existing catalyst function and then the biochemical capacity thereof is enhanced; and then the catalyzed and oxidized waste water enters carbon filter pool, the remaining contaminated matter can be further removed by degradation of the anoxic oxidation of the biological membrane on the packing material in pool, then the output water meets the requirement of National Standard or other relevant industrial standards.
US08679332B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the nano-scale flow rate of fluid in the operating flow path of a HPLC system without relying on a nano-scale sensor in the operating flow path. A main flow sensor is disposed in the main flow path between the pump and a flow-divider. A waste flow sensor is disposed in the waste flow path downstream of the splitter. The output signal of the waste flow sensor is subtracted from the output signal of the main flow sensor in a difference circuit. The difference signal is divided by the output signal from the main flow sensor in a divider circuit. The output of the divider circuit represents an empirical split ratio of the flow-divider and is independent of media composition.
US08679331B2
A structure described generally for altering one or more properties within a body of water includes a vessel configured to hold water. The vessel may have at least one wall. The at least one wall extends at least above a mean surface water level. At least one conduit extends downward from the holding vessel. The at least one conduit has a length that extends below the surface of the water. A propulsion system may be coupled to at least one of the vessel or the conduit and may be configured to provide forces to the vessel.
US08679330B2
Disclosed are filter assemblies for an aquarium tank. The disclosed assemblies include a filter basket assembly in which one or more filter baskets are connected, either directly or indirectly, to a filter pump basket. The filter pump basket typically is located upstream of the one or more filter baskets and pumps water upwards through the filter basket assembly.
US08679324B2
An additive capable of avoiding formation of impurities and capable of removing or dissolving impurities formed and accumulated at the interphase of organic and aqueous layers on reaction between calcium naphthenate and sulfur compound including H2S in presence of water in mixture of crude oils containing calcium naphthenate and sulfur compound or H2S, wherein the additive is glyoxylic acid is provided. A method for avoiding formation of impurities and for removing or dissolving impurities formed and accumulated at the interphase of organic and aqueous layers on reaction between calcium naphthenate and sulfur compound including H2S in presence of water in mixture of crude oils containing calcium naphthenate and sulfur compound including H2S, comprising treating mixture of crude oils containing calcium naphthenate and sulfur compound or H2S with glyoxylic acid is also provided.
US08679320B2
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and passing each feedstream to separation reformers. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize the differences in the reaction properties of the different hydrocarbon components. The process utilizes a common catalyst, and common downstream processes for recovering the desired aromatic compounds generated.
US08679305B2
A high-pressure hydrogen producing apparatus includes a cell device and a piston member. The piston member is to apply a pressing force to the cell device from an end of the piston member in a stacking direction in which unit cells are stacked. The piston member is provided with a first hydrogen passage, at least one second hydrogen passage, and a hydrogen lead-out passage. The first hydrogen passage and the second hydrogen passage are spaced at substantially equal angular intervals on a virtual circle centered on a center of an end face of the piston member.
US08679303B2
A liquid heating system may comprise a metallic container and a refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube, which may be coupled to the metallic container. The refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube may include at least one open end and anodic material may be filled or refilled into the refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube through the at least one open end. The anodic material is corroded by the oxidation process at a substantially faster rate compared to the metallic container. The anodic material is refilled into the refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube through the at least one open end without removing the refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube from the metallic container or disturbing the position of the refillable non-corrosive hollow porous tube.
US08679301B2
A method and apparatus for performing pasting in a deposition chamber. The method includes depositing a Ti pasting layer on at least the interior portion of the deposition chamber by sputtering a Ti target, thereby reducing contaminants in the deposition chamber for subsequent depositions. The method also includes, after depositing the Ti pasting layer on at least the interior portion of the deposition chamber, depositing a second layer on a wafer within the deposition chamber. The second layer comprises at least one of MgO and Mg.
US08679295B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a tissue product having a creping composition disposed onto at least one surface thereof to increase the softness of the article, while retaining or improving manufacturing efficiency. Preferably the creping composition comprises a first component that is cationic and a second component that is capable of forming a film. Preferably both the first and second components are water soluble. The first component carries a cationic charge that is capable of forming ionic bonds with the negatively charged fibers of the tissue web, thus providing a retention mechanism by which the creping composition is retained. The overall retention of the creping composition reduces the concentration of the composition in the machine process water, improving machine operability and runability.
US08679291B2
A process for concentrating wastewater includes combining heated gas and liquid wastewater to form a mixture of heated gas and entrained liquid wastewater, breaking the entrained liquid wastewater into fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets, transferring heat from the heated gas to the entrained liquid wastewater to partially evaporate the entrained liquid wastewater, and removing a portion of the fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets from the mixture to provide a demisted gas.
US08679282B2
Absorbent sanitary articles (2), such as nappies or incontinence pads with an elongated central body (2a) and at least one pair of closure tabs (5), are manufactured on a machine (1) by which the tabs (5) are directed in pairs from a feed unit (13) onto a transport line (6) carrying the articles (2) toward a sealing station. The feed unit (13) operates by making skew cross-cuts (16) in a continuous strip (15) of material, so as to generate a succession of tab elements (5) appearing trapezoidal in outline; the tab elements (5) are then distanced one from another in alternation along a direction (D3) transverse to their feed direction (D2) through the machine, so as to obtain two single columns (23) which are taken up by a roller (27) and aligned one with another so that the single tab elements (5) are ordered into a succession of transversely aligned pairs. The alignment roller (27) rotates tangentially to the transport line (6) and is timed to place one pair of tab elements (5) on each advancing article (2).
US08679261B2
A box-type warewasher includes a housing defining an internal treatment space for receiving wares to be washed and a liquid sump below the treatment space. A wash liquid delivery system includes a wash pump having an input connected to the liquid sump and an output connected to deliver liquid to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A rinse liquid delivery system includes a rinse pump for delivering rinse water to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A condensing system includes a heat exchanger external of the treatment space, and a blower for moving hot moist air from the treatment space across the heat exchanger and back to the treatment space. A controller effects operation of each of the wash liquid delivery system, the rinse liquid deliver system and the condensing system. The controller is configured for carrying out at least one ware cleaning sequence in which: a wash spray operation is carried out by operating the wash pump; subsequent to the wash spray operation a rinse spray operation is carried out by operating the rinse pump; and subsequent to the rinse spray operation a condensing operation is carried out by operating the blower.
US08679258B2
Washing plant to perform a washing cycle of objects providing at least a pre-wash operation and a washing and heat disinfecting the objects operation. The plant includes a first battery of pre-wash units, in series one after the other along a first alignment axis and a second battery of washer and heat disinfection machines along a second alignment axis, different from the first alignment axis to operate parallel with each other and perform object washing and heat disinfecting. The second battery is able to receive, along a feed direction transverse to the second alignment axis, the objects subjected to pre-wash exiting from the first battery along the first axis alignment. The second battery feed direction is also transverse to the first alignment axis. Movement members are provided to divert the objects exiting from the first battery and direct them, aligned with the direction of feed, towards the second battery.
US08679248B2
Millimeter-scale GaN single crystals in filamentary form, also known as GaN whiskers, grown from solution and a process for preparing the same at moderate temperatures and near atmospheric pressures are provided. GaN whiskers can be grown from a GaN source in a reaction vessel subjected to a temperature gradient at nitrogen pressure. The GaN source can be formed in situ as part of an exchange reaction or can be preexisting GaN material. The GaN source is dissolved in a solvent and precipitates out of the solution as millimeter-scale single crystal filaments as a result of the applied temperature gradient.
US08679244B2
Disclosed is a modified asphalt composition including a styrenic block copolymer and a vegetable wax as modifier. With lower viscosity at high temperatures as compared to the asphalt composition modified only with the styrenic block copolymer, it can be manufactured and used at lower temperatures. Also, with higher ductility at low temperatures, it can minimize fatigue crack even in cold weathers.
US08679239B2
An adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of not less than 4.5 angstroms and not more than 7.3 angstroms as a principal component, which can adsorb xenon under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressures. In addition, a xenon adsorbing device comprising an adsorbent, a container of a vapor poorly-permeating material, which houses the adsorbent, and a joint part which joins the container to a xenon enclosure space, in which the adsorbent is communicated with the xenon enclosure space. Thereby, the present invention provides an adsorbent which recovers xenon directly from the used equipment in which xenon is enclosed with efficiency under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressures, and a xenon adsorbing device using the adsorbent.
US08679236B1
Described are multi-stage drum filtration systems including a primary rotary drum filter stage, at least one passive filter stage, and a main fan configured to create a vacuum on an inlet side of the primary rotary drum filter stage. The multi-stage drum filtration system may also include a HEPA filter stage. A controller may be configured to control a speed of the main fan to maintain an inlet vacuum to the primary rotary drum filter stage that corresponds to an inlet vacuum set point input.
US08679234B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a heavy metal removing apparatus which can efficiently remove the heavy metal contained in the dust produced by burning of the raw material containing the heavy metal, and a cement production system comprising the heavy metal removing apparatus. The heavy metal removing apparatus 10 comprises a cyclone separator 11 which separates exhaust gas containing the heavy metal from a part of the dust heated to a temperature equal to or more than a temperature at which the heavy metal can volatilize, a bag filter 13 which is connected to the subsequent stage of the cyclone separator 11 and separates the exhaust gas containing the heavy metal from the remainder of the dust, and a heavy metal removal tower 14 which is connected to the subsequent stage of the bag filter and removes the heavy metal from the exhaust gas.
US08679219B2
A process for preparing an elemental sulphur-containing fertilizer is disclosed. The process uses a dispersion mill, wherein a rotor turns within a slotted stator, to wet mill elemental sulphur in a liquid (preferably an aqueous liquid), thereby providing a dispersion of milled elemental sulphur in the liquid. The dispersion is combined with further components to provide a mixture of elemental sulphur and further components, and the mixture is granulated in a granulator unit to provide granulated elemental sulphur-containing fertilizer.
US08679216B2
A process for forming a laminate of a low basis weight nanoweb and a substrate includes forming a nanoweb on the surface of a collection scrim, and subsequently bringing the nanoweb into contact with a substrate coated with adhesive. The laminate is suitable for use as a gas filtration medium.
US08679211B1
A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner includes a body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface. The cyclonic separator assembly also includes a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet. The cyclone unit has an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body to define an inlet space therebetween. The cyclone unit includes a plurality of first cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter. The cyclone unit also includes a plurality of second cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle such that each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. The plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are arranged in parallel.
US08679202B2
The invention provides fuel mixtures containing fuel oil, glycerol, glycerol impurities and non-ionic surfactants. The mixtures remain homogeneous longer and are more chemically stable than previous mixtures. Upon combustion, the mixtures generate reduced SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions compared to residual fuels and offer improved engine performance over previous mixtures.
US08679196B2
Tanned leather, skin or pelt is produced by non-metal tanning, comprising the step of tanning a bated hide, skin or pelt with a tanning agent (A), the tanning agent (A) being at least one compound of formula (1), R—NH—Y—SO2—Z (1), wherein R is a radical of formula wherein Hal is fluorine or chlorine, X is N or CR1, Y is an aliphatic, aromatic or aromatic hydrocarbonic bridge which may be optionally be interrupted by a heteroatom or heteroatomic group, Z is vinyl, β-chloroethyl, β-phosphatoethyl or β-sulphatoethyl, R1 is hydrogen or Cl, in a tanning bath, the tanning bath having a pH of from 6 to 10 at the beginning of tanning step.
US08679188B2
The present invention relates to universal liner assemblies for use during hip joint replacement surgeries. The universal liners allow the surgeon a greater degree of selection of liners and shells, without being tied to typical liner/shell connections based on material connection constraints.
US08679184B2
A spinal interbody fusion implant has an impact rod fitting that is configured and adapted to be connected to an impact rod during implantation of the implant. The implant also comprises one or more openings that are encircled by portions of the implant and that extend into the top of the implant and continue through to and out of the bottom of the implant. The top and bottom of the implant each have a load bearing footprint. Each of the load bearing footprints has a centroid that is closer to the leading end of the implant than to the trailing end of the implant. A method of implanting a spinal interbody fusion implant between two vertebrae of a spine comprises inserting the implant into a patient through a posterior incision and guiding the implant into a position between the two vertebrae using a pair of shims.
US08679183B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US08679175B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable valve prosthesis. The valve prosthesis includes a frame defining a lumen extending between a proximal frame end and a distal frame end along a longitudinal axis, and a first valve leaflet positioned within the lumen and having a distal edge attached to the frame and a proximal edge free of the frame. The first valve leaflet comprises a first and a second slit extend distally from the proximal edge and defining a free portion of the first valve leaflet between the first and second slits. The first valve leaflet is movable between a first position that allows fluid flow in a first, antegrade, direction and a second position that restricts flow in a second, retrograde direction.
US08679162B2
A polyaxial bone anchor has a locking element shaped and configured to allow an anchoring member (e.g., a screw or hook) to polyaxially rotate at large angles about a central axis of the bone anchor before compression locking the anchoring member within an anchor head.
US08679149B2
The embolic protection device (10) has an expandable tubular structure supporting a filter mesh material (12). The embolic protection device is compressed to a small diameter for insertion into a patient's aorta, then expanded within the aorta with the filter mesh material positioned to allow blood to enter sidebranch vessels connected to the aorta and to prevent embolic material from entering the sidebranch vessels. The filter mesh material may be configured with waves or undulations (26) for increased surface area and/or with two layers of mesh material to provide additional protection against embolization and to prevent inadvertent occlusion of the sidebranch vessels.
US08679148B2
A distal protection device comprising a catheter having a first strut movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a first dimension and a second strut movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a second dimension larger than the first dimension. Movement of the first strut deploys filter material to a first position having a first deployed dimension and movement of the second strut to a first position deploys filter material to a second deployed dimension larger than the first expanded dimension.
US08679144B2
A puncture needle cartridge 20 detachably mounted on a puncturing device body to form a puncturing device is provided with a needle body 21 having a puncturing portion 212a, and also with a casing 22 for housing the needle body 21 and having openings 223, 224 that are respectively formed in front of and behind the needle body 21. The needle body 21 is mounted so as to be movable between a retracted position, wherein the tip 212c of the puncturing portion is retraced in the casing 22, and an extended position, wherein the tip 212c of the puncturing portion is projected outward from the casing 22 by receiving a pressing force from the puncturing device body. The needle body 21 has a biasing means for biasing the needle body 21 from an extended position towards a retracted position. The puncture needle cartridge can be mass-produced at low cost, and enables a user to perform puncturing safely and easily.
US08679141B2
An athertome assembly comprises a series of spanning and descending members extended between a segmented base and a cutting surface. This athertome assembly configuration provides both flexibility and structural strength which faciliates the implantation of medical devices.
US08679120B2
A device for implantation in an intramedullary space of a bone via a curved insertion path, the device comprises a curved proximal portion extending along an arc substantially similar to an arc of the curved insertion path, the proximal portion including a coupling arrangement at a proximal end thereof adapted to couple to a tool for one of intramedullary implantation and explantation and a flexible distal portion extending from a distal end of the proximal portion, the distal portion extending substantially straight in an unstressed state and having flexibility sufficient to permit being along the arc of the insertion path substantially without permanent deformation.
US08679119B2
Locking nail system for arthrodesis reconstruction of calcaneus fractures which includes a nail, several calcaneus-talar screws, and a guide. The system is usable for the reconstruction of severe comminuted fractures of the calcaneus in humans and fixation of this bone after reconstructing its principal form, to the talus, in order to attain arthrodesis or fusion with the latter. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08679115B2
The present disclosure relates to an end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members and a first electrically conductive cutting plate. The pair of opposing first and second jaw members is movable to cooperatively grasp tissue. Each of the jaw members includes a tissue contacting plate that is disposed thereon and has a longitudinal channel that is defined therealong. The first electrically conductive cutting plate includes a cutting element that extends along the first electrically conductive cutting plate and into the longitudinal channel of the first jaw member to engage and electrosurgically sever tissue upon activation thereof.
US08679112B2
An apparatus for treating tissue of a mammalian body. In one embodiment, a spring mechanism is carried by first and second tubular members and actuatable for moving a needle from a first position disposed within the distal extremity of the first tubular member to a second position extending distally of the first tubular member. In another embodiment, a nozzle is coupled to the distal extremity of an elongate tubular member for delivering a material into tissue of the mammalian body. In a further embodiment, a flexible elongate member provided with a recess is introduced into a cavity of the body to capture tissue in the recess and electrical energy is applied to such tissue in the recess so as to change the compliance of the tissue.
US08679106B2
A coaxial cable apparatus which transmits radio frequency (RF) energy for the ablation of biological tissues has inner and outer coaxial conductors extending substantially the entire length of the cable from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. An RF antenna is disposed at the distal end portion of the cable and transmits RF energy for ablation of a tissue region to be treated. An angioplasty balloon is disposed over the RF antenna and communicates with a fluid supply and extraction passageway extending through the cable to allow the balloon to be inflated for an angioplasty procedure including tissue ablation, and to be deflated after the procedure is complete.
US08679102B2
A self-contained, hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment includes a radiation source configured to generate one or more radiation beams, and an optical system configured to deliver the one or more radiation beams to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment. Each radiation beam includes a first axis beam profile and an orthogonal second axis beam profile. The optical system includes a first axis optic configured to influence the first axis beam profile of each radiation beam by a greater extent than the second axis beam profile of each radiation beam, and a second axis optic configured to influence the second axis beam profile of each radiation beam by a greater extent than the first axis beam profile of each radiation beam.
US08679097B2
A surgical device is provided, the device having a tubular outer body member with a handle at its proximal end and a flexible distal end segment extending from its distal end. The surgical device also has an operable end extending from the distal end of the flexible distal end segment. The device is configured for selectively causing the flexible end segment to bend to adopt a desired curvature and for selectively rotating the operable end relative to the flexible distal end segment about an axis of the flexible distal end segment.
US08679093B2
Drug delivery devices and methods are provided. The device included two or more housing units connected together end-to-end in a fixed, linear orientation, the exterior surfaces of the connected housing units defining a sidewall of the device; discrete drug dose units disposed within the housing units; degradable timing members connected to the housing units and separating the discrete dose units from one another; first and second end pieces defining opposed ends of the device such that the discrete dose units are located between the first and second end pieces within each of the housing units, wherein the device is configured to release in vivo a first of the discrete dose units following rupture of the first or second end piece, and subsequently to release in vivo a second of the discrete dose units following rupture of the degradable timing member separating the first discrete dose unit from the second discrete dose unit.
US08679089B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Some embodiments described apparatus and methods useful in photoablation of tissues. In some embodiments, a photoablation apparatus is used to perforate a tissue, forming an aperture into a space behind the tissue. Gases formed during a photoablation process can be used to pressurize the space behind the tissue to enhance patency of the space. In some embodiments the tissue is the trabecular meshwork of the eye and a wall of Schlemm's canal, and the space behind the tissue is a portion of the lumen of Schlemm's canal. In some embodiments, the method is useful in the treatment of glaucoma by improving outflow from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal, reducing intraocular pressure.
US08679079B2
A manually-activated reduced pressure treatment system includes a substantially rigid housing, and an end cap slidingly received by the housing. An inner chamber is disposed between the end cap and housing, and a volume of the inner chamber is variable in amount depending on the position of the end cap within the housing. The end cap is slidingly movable between an uncompressed position at which the volume of the inner chamber is at a maximum value and a compressed position at which the volume of the inner chamber is at a minimum value. A position indicating member is associated with the end cap and housing to indicate the position of the end cap relative to the housing at predetermined positions between the uncompressed position and the compressed position.
US08679073B2
A repeater system may control a pump by using a repeater and a user interface. An adhesive patch system may be used for affixing a pump or other object to a human body. Such an adhesive patch system may include two sets of adhesive members, each member including an adhesive material on at least one side so as to attach to the body. The members of the first set are spaced to allow the members of the second set to attach to the body in spaces provided between the members of the first set, and the members of the second set are spaced to allow members of the first set to detach from the body without detaching the members of the second set. Also, fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems.
US08679052B2
The invention provides an improved microdialysis method for determining the free concentration of an agent or drug (defined as the concentration of agent that is dissolved and free to diffuse, and not undissolved or precipitated, complexed, bound, included in micelles or microemulsions, etc.).In addition. the invention provides such a method under conditions in which the properties of the microdialysis probe may change.Further, the invention provides a method for determining the permeability of a diffusible agent through the probe wall.The invention also provides a method for determining the rate of change of concentration of an agent in a medium.
US08679048B2
A method is described for using a postoperative CSF dynamical examination to determine the CSF dynamical state of the patient and the dynamical state of the CSF shunt in conjunction therewith.
US08679041B2
A joint drive type link mechanism provided with a link including a joint portion at an intermediary thereof, and a driving source for the joint portion, wherein a link member configuring the link is mounted with the driving source and electric components used for the control of the driving source, in which the link is prevented from being heated by the heat of the electric components is provided. The link member includes an interior space in which the electric components are arranged and has the driving source is arranged thereon with an air inlet connecting to the interior space and an exhaust outlet for exhausting the air passing through the interior space. Further, the interior space is provided with fans as well as a heat sink for cooling the air after air-cooling the electric components.
US08679038B1
The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a drug delivery system for dosing a subject in response to the increased severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movements disorders, accurately quantifies symptoms utilizing both kinetic information and electromyography (EMG) data, that can be worn continuously to provide continuous information to be analyzed as needed by the clinician, that can provide analysis in real-time, that allows for home monitoring of symptoms in subject's with these movement disorders to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks or months, that maximizes subject safety, and that provides remote access to the clinician or physician.
US08679036B2
The invention relates to a display system and method for measuring and displaying ground reaction forces of a human. The system comprising comprises a measurement plate having at least one sensor device for detecting ground reaction forces, which is connected to an evaluation device connected to the measurement plate and a projection device, and the invention also relates to a method for displaying ground reaction forces on a human body. The display system and the method are suitable in particular for measuring the human body and/or prosthetic or orthotic fit components in their relative position to the human body, and for improving the adjustment of a prosthesis set up.
US08679034B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for monitoring a subject, including setting respective first and second thresholds that are different from one another, sensing at least one parameter of the subject, and analyzing the parameter to generate a score. If the score is between the first and second thresholds, an alert that is indicative of a condition of the subject is generated only after the subject awakes. If the score passes the second threshold, an alert that is indicative of the subject's condition is generated immediately. Other applications are also described.
US08679032B2
A biopsy device having a cutting element is disclosed. The cutting element includes an inner cannula having a tissue receiving aperture disposed proximate a distal end thereof and an inner lumen. The inner cannula is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of an outer cannula. A vacuum chamber is disposed about at least a portion of the cutting element and is configured to create a vacuum in the cutting element during a biopsy procedure. The inner cannula is advanced distally outwardly and to cause the vacuum to be generated in the vacuum chamber. The vacuum is delivered to the cutting element whereby tissue is drawn into the tissue receiving aperture. The outer cannula is advanced distally outwardly after the inner cannula such that tissue drawn into the tissue cutting aperture is severed.
US08679023B2
There is provided an ultrasonic probe for supporting spine surgery which can execute both inspection by tactile sense and inspection by ultrasound diagnosis. A front-end component provided at a front end of an insertion unit. The front-end component comprises a metal component and a resin component, and the metal component comprises a tactile member and an anchor. The resin component comprises a cap portion and a surrounding portion. An insertion portion in the front-end component is inserted into a front end portion of a pipe. The anchor and the front end portion are in close proximity with a certain distance therebetween, such that insulation is secured and vibration transmitted from a head can be transmitted from the anchor to the pipe in a superior manner.
US08679022B2
An ultrasonic sensor has two or more ultrasonic arrays disposed on a probe surface, and a delay control unit that controls a transmission angle of ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic arrays. The ultrasonic arrays have a linear array structure in which a plurality of ultrasonic elements are arranged in a linear scanning direction, and the delay control unit controls the timing for transmitting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic elements and controls the transmission angle of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic arrays. Two of the ultrasonic arrays have linear scanning directions that are different from each other and are arranged in positions that are spaced apart from each other.
US08679015B2
A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions.
US08679014B2
The invention generally relates to intravaginal monitoring devices, supporting networks, web services, billing services, modes of operation of the devices and networks, and processing of data harvested by an intravaginal device and communication to the network. Methods, systems and networks for advertising are provided herein.
US08679010B2
An implantable sensor device for capturing at least one physical, chemical, biological or physiological parameter in the body of a living being wearing the sensor device upon contact with the body fluid or tissue of the same, including a sensor housing, a sensor element that is accommodated in the sensor housing and has a capturing section, which has direct contact with the body fluid or the body tissue, or which internally adjoins a surface or opening section of the sensor housing that has contact with the body fluid or the body tissue, and a mechanically acting sensor cleaning device for cleaning the capturing section of the sensor element and/or the surface or opening section of the sensor housing adjoining the same.
US08679003B2
A surgical device for use with an endoscope. The device includes an end cap removably affixable to a distal end of the endoscope such that at least a portion of the end cap distally extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope. The end cap defines a through bore for receiving the distal end of the endoscope, and the end cap includes an outer surface defining first and second tracks substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the through bore. The device further includes a first working channel having a distal end disposed in the first track and movable along a length of the first track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a second working channel having a distal end disposed in the second track and movable along a length of the second track between a first position and a second position. The distal end of each the first and second working channel defines a bore having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the through bore of the end cap.
US08678992B2
The present invention relates to a method of collecting semen from the epididymis or the testis of a lab animal and an artificial insemination method thereof. The present invention relates to a new applicable method in the animal production field using artificial insemination. Since the present invention solves the problems of the conventional method of artificial insemination of lab animals, it is excellent in terms of the pregnancy rate and productivity; is time-efficient; and is superior in economic and industrial respects by preventing a huge economic loss due to the costs for maintaining the mass breeding of animals.
US08678990B2
An instrument used for brachytherapy delivery in the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy including a handle having first and second handle actuators; an end effector; and an instrument shaft that connects the handle with the end effector. The end effector has first and second adjacent disposed staple mechanisms that each retain a set of staples. The first mechanism is for holding standard staples in a first array, and dispensing the standard staples under control of the corresponding first handle actuator. The second mechanism is for holding radioactive source staples in a second array, and dispensing said radioactive source staples under control of the corresponding second handle actuator. A holder is for receiving the first and second mechanisms in a substantially parallel array so that the standard staples close the incision at a surgical margin while the source staples are secured adjacent thereto.
US08678984B1
A hand, wrist, arm and fingers therapy and exercising device which includes a push bar pivotally connected to a base and a wrist support portion. The push bar is moveable between a neutral position, an extended position and a stretching position. The push bar includes finger cams at the end thereof for exercise of the fingers.
US08678983B1
An exercise device comprises a connector, a strap, and a T-bar. The connector is configured to be attached to a substantially stationary object. The strap is configured to extend longitudinally from the connector, and is adjustable in length. The T-bar has two grips positioned at the two ends of the T-bar. The T-bar is attachable to the end of the strap opposite the connector at substantially the center of the T-bar, such that the two grips of the T-bar are substantially equidistant from the location on the T-bar at which the strap is attached to the T-bar.
US08678980B2
A movement device for flexing and/or straightening a joint of a user includes a first anchor element adapted to be positioned adjacent a jointed appendage of a user at a first position. A second anchor element is adapted to be positioned about the jointed appendage at a second position, wherein the jointed appendage is located between the first anchor element and the second anchor element. A spring member is positioned between the first and second anchor elements wherein the spring member is fixedly secured to the second anchor element and moveable through the first anchor element to thereby allow the spring member to bend about a joint of the appendage when said appendage is flexed. The spring member is configured to exert bending forces in opposition to working muscles of the user to straighten or flex the joint of the appendage. To minimize discomfort, an intermediary support device is disposed between the first anchor element and the second anchor element which prevents the spring member from contacting the joint of the user.
US08678979B2
Orthoses with microprocessor control placed around the joint of a patient are used to perform and to monitor isometric, range-of-motion, proprioception and isotonic exercises of the joint. A variety of improved hardware elements result in an orthosis that is easier to use and interacts more efficiently with the controller to allow the monitoring of a greater range of motions while holding down cost and provide suitable accurate evaluation of the exercises. Efficient ways of programming the exercises, monitoring the exercises and evaluating the exercise provide a comprehensive program for the rehabilitation of an injured or weakened joint.
US08678976B1
A vehicle includes wheels, an engine, a start switch, a differential, and a differential lock controller. Each wheel is rotatable at a respective wheel speed. The start switch is configured to selectively initiate of operation of the engine. The differential is associated with the wheels and includes a differential lock. The differential lock is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The wheels are rotatable together when the differential lock is in the locked position. The differential lock controller is configured to facilitate restriction of the wheel speed of at least one of the wheels when the differential lock is in the locked position. The differential lock controller is further configured to facilitate selective disablement of the wheel speed restriction when the start switch is actuated with the engine operating. Methods are also provided.
US08678965B2
An automatic tensioner includes a base, a rotary member to which a pulley around which a belt is wound can be attached, a coil spring including one end locked on the base and the other end locked on the rotary member, an elastic element including one end locked on one of the rotary member and the base and the other end which is a free end and extending along an inner circumferential surface of the other of the rotary member and the base, and a friction member connected so as to be brought into contact with the inner circumferential surface, wherein the coil spring is disposed in such a state that the coil spring is compressed in an axial direction and the friction member is pressed against the one of the rotary member and the base by a repulsive force attempting to expand in an axial direction.
US08678964B2
A rear derailleur is adapted to be secured to a side of a rear fork portion of a vehicle frame. When the front derailleur pull tight or release a transmission cable, a transmission lever is move back and forth in a threaded shaft base and a foot portion of a lever control cable also pulls a chain retaining lever to rotate, so that a position of a distal point of the rotating chain retaining lever resulting from a movement of a retracing spring is changed. Accordingly, effects such as gear shift-up, gear fixing, gear shift-down, and angle adjusting of chain retaining steering wheel are achieved. In addition, occurrence of disorder of the derailleur system and slipping off of the chain are reduced.
US08678961B2
Blood trail enhancer is composed of fish oil and apple cider vinegar together with effective amounts of natural anti-coagulant agents, such as ginger, onion, and garlic. These agents also are effective in promoting healing of a non-fatal wound in a game animal.
US08678957B1
An apparatus for use in practicing pitching and aiming a baseball which includes a target screen having a first attachment apparatus for attaching the target screen to a structure, a first aperture, and a frame attached to the target screen and being positioned at a perimeter of the first aperture thereby reinforcing the target screen around the perimeter of the first aperture against impacts from thrown baseballs. The frame has a rigid construction and defines an opening generally having the shape and size of a baseball strike zone. A plurality of elastic members subdivide the opening, and thus the strike zone, into nine sections to aid a player in aiming for different locations within the strike zone. The opening and first aperture communicate such that thrown baseballs which pass through the first aperture also pass through the opening.
US08678952B2
The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core of at least one layer, a cover of at least two layers which includes an inner cover layer and an outermost cover layer, and a plurality of dimples formed on a surface of the ball. The thickness and Shore D hardness of the outermost cover layer are set in specific ranges, the thickness and Shore D hardness of the inner cover layer are set in specific ranges, and the ball surface has, as expressed in the Lab color system defined by JIS Z-8730, a lightness L value of at least 89, an a value of at least 2 but not more than 10, and a b value of −20 or above. The multi-piece solid golf ball of the invention increases the reddish coloring of a white golf ball, thereby enhancing the stylishness of the ball and improving the way the ball looks and feels to the golfer when it is played.
US08678951B2
A golf ball including a core and a cover including a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a material hardness of 60 to 80 Shore D; a thermoset outer cover layer comprising a castable polyurea and having a material hardness of 20 to 60 Shore D; and a thermoset intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers and having a hardness substantially the same as the inner cover layer hardness and greater than the outer cover layer hardness. The inner cover includes one or more high- or low-acid ionomers and, optionally, a maleic anhydride modified polyolefin. The intermediate layer is formed from a castable liquid polybutadiene rubber.
US08678947B2
The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances using a profiled cutter. More specifically, the grooves has a radius of curvature R1 and a draft angle θ forming a relationship that satisfies the equation R1≧(1*10−7θ3)−(3*10−5θ2)+0.003θ−0.0891 to achieve a maximum spin performance.
US08678942B2
An adjustable canopy mechanism is for use in an infant carrier device having a frame unit, and includes a top cover and a pair of pivot seat units. Each pivot seat unit includes first and second pivot seats. The first pivot seat is coupled to one of the top cover and the frame unit, and has a first central pivot portion and a plurality of engaging grooves. The second pivot seat is coupled to the other one of the top cover and the frame unit, and has a second central pivot portion connected pivotally to the first central pivot portion, and a plurality of resilient arms engaging removably and respectively a subset of the engaging grooves. The second pivot seat is rotatable relative to the first pivot seat so that the resilient arms engage respectively another subset of the engaging grooves, thereby adjusting the position of the top cover relative to the frame unit.
US08678937B2
A shaft coupling is disclosed herein. The shaft coupling includes a tubular portion extending along a central axis. The tubular portion has a maximum inner diameter. The shaft coupling also includes a first set of internal splines positioned in the tubular portion. The shaft coupling also includes a dam rising above the maximum inner diameter in the tubular portion. The dam is spaced from the first set of internal splines along the central axis. The shaft coupling also includes at least one aperture for receiving lubricant for the first set of internal splines. The at least one aperture extends through the tubular portion along an aperture axis transverse to the central axis. A cross-sectional area of the at least one aperture decreases along at least part of the aperture axis. In another feature, the shaft coupling can include a passageway extending through the dam.
US08678934B1
After a game has been started, game content drawing processing, game content placing processing, and point granting and character removing processing are repeatedly executed. Thus, the obtaining of a character by each player, the placement of the obtained character in an area, and the obtaining of points and the removal of the character from the area according to an elapsed time from the placement of the character in the area are repeatedly executed. When conditions to terminate the game hold, a result of the game is decided according to the number of points obtained by each player. Accordingly, more competitive game elements are realized in a game that uses multiple areas.
US08678931B2
Providing a location-based online game for a plurality of mobile devices, including: assigning a force field around a player corresponding to each mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein a radius of the force field is proportional to a score or experience point of the player in the online game; determining a location of said each mobile device; calculating colliding forces among the plurality of mobile devices and virtual environment created in the online game; and providing a forum to enable a battle among the plurality of mobile devices and the virtual environment which are calculated as being in the colliding forces.
US08678924B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods relating to a physical object that are associated with a virtual game world are described. Some embodiments of the physical object have an in-game value within the virtual game world. Software operating the virtual game world ascribes purchasing power or attributes having offensive, defensive, opportunity, or set values as their in-game values. Methods associated with the subject matter relate to relocating an asset of the game component from one asset storage area to another asset storage area. When relocated, an asset's authenticity is validated, retrieved from a first storage area, exchanged over a communications interface, or stored in a second asset storage area.
US08678919B2
A controller of gaming machines that permit wagering on wagering games includes a first memory location that stores a first time-based schedule of gaming actions to be taken by the gaming machines that are located remote from the controller. A second memory location stores identities of first gaming machines. One of the first and second memory locations stores a pointer that links the other of the first and second memory locations and associates the first gaming machines with the first schedule so that one of the first schedule and first gaming machines can be modified independent of and without modifying the other of the first schedule and the first gaming machines. A data transmitter transmits instructions corresponding to the gaming actions defined by the first schedule to the first gaming machines.
US08678916B2
Gaming devices dispense tickets which are unrelated to a player's success on a particular game played on a gaming device or to the player's credits on a credit meter or other “cash out” indicator. The gaming devices provide gaming awards, and also provide tickets. Other methods provide tickets during the play of wagering games. Still other embodiments comprise lottery terminals which dispense tickets other than those purchased by a lottery patron or won on a purchased lottery ticket.
US08678905B2
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer system that includes a processor executing the code to: receive an indication indicating that a player desires to participate in a lottery game based on a near field communication (NFC) between a mobile device of the player and a first game piece associated with the lottery game conducted by a game conducting authority; conduct a drawing in accordance with rules of the lottery game; receive an indication identifying an action performed by the player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game where the action is based on: i) a result of the drawing and ii) NFC communication between the mobile device of the player and a second game piece associated with the lottery game; and distribute a prize to player in accordance with the rules of the lottery game.
US08678897B2
A system for detecting and providing information assigned to soccer players, wherein the system contains a soccer ball (130) comprising a centrally arranged magnetic field generator (142) for generating an alternating magnetic field (150); a transceiver (148) for receiving radio signals (160) and for transmitting collected player information; a control unit (144) for evaluating received radio signals and assigning timestamps to IDs of received radio signals; a source of energy; and a memory for storing and reading out player information based on the IDs with assigned timestamps; and a device (120) for sensing the generated magnetic field in a soccer shoe and for transmitting an ID assigned to the device, comprising a magnetic field sensor (122) for sensing and measuring the magnetic filed (105); a control unit (124); and a transmitting unit (128) for transmitting a radio signal (160) which contains the ID assigned to the device (120), wherein the transmitting unit is actively supplied with energy, and wherein the radio signal is transmitted under control by the control unit.
US08678891B2
Example systems and methods relate to a video game in which multiple players each supply inputs to a respective input device to control a corresponding game character in a game world. Movements and actions of each game character are controlled in accordance with a first game character control operation during the playing of the video game. If one or more conditions is satisfied by one of the players, the one player's game character is protected from harm in the game world. Movements and actions of the protected game character are controlled in accordance with a second game character control operation. The protecting of the one player's game character is stopped in response to one or more protecting stopping conditions, whereby the game character is again controllable in accordance with the first game character control operation. If all game characters are protected, current playing of the video game ends.
US08678890B1
A removable label guest book assembly provides a record of guests attending an event and removable labels to facilitate subsequent communication with those who attended the event. The guest book assembly includes a plurality of pages coupled together forming a book. A plurality of removable labels is coupled to the pages. The labels each have a writing surface configured for being written on by a writing implement. A plurality of recording sheets is provided. Each label has an associated recording sheet positioned between the label and the page. Thus, the recording sheet transfers writing on the writing surface of the label onto the associated page.
US08678889B2
An exhaust system includes an exhaust fan having a frame within which fan blades and a motor are secured. The frame includes an upper sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening on opposite sides of the frame. A flexible exhaust boot is secured to the frame of the exhaust fan adjacent the outlet opening. The exhaust boot is a flexible piece of material having a substantially tubular configuration with a first end having an opening and a second end having an opening. A support assembly secures the exhaust fan and exhaust boot in position adjacent an opening. The support assembly includes a vertical bracket having a first end and a second end, and an outwardly extending support block is mounted at the first end of the vertical bracket. The support assembly also includes a horizontal bracket extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical bracket. The horizontal bracket is shaped and dimensioned to pass through a connection opening in the second end of the vertical bracket, and the horizontal bracket includes first end and a second end. The first end of the horizontal bracket extends outwardly from the same side of the vertical bracket as the support block. A strap is selectively connected to the exhaust fan.
US08678878B2
Methods and systems for evaluating and/or increasing CMP pad dresser performance are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method of identifying overly-aggressive superabrasive particles in a CMP pad dresser can include positioning a CMP pad dresser having a plurality of superabrasive particles on an indicator substrate such that at least a portion of the plurality of superabrasive particles of the CMP pad dresser contact the indicator substrate, and moving the CMP pad dresser across the indicator substrate in a first direction such that the portion of the plurality of superabrasive particles create a first marking pattern on the substrate, wherein the first marking pattern identifies a plurality of working superabrasive particles from among the plurality of superabrasive particles.
US08678877B2
Marker tag darts, dart guns therefor, and methods which allow a toy gun to receive a marker tag dart, to put water in the forward tip of the dart and to shoot the dart. The marker tag dart itself has slits in the wall of a small chamber at the front of the dart so that on impact with a target, the inertia of the water causes deformation of the tip and opening of the slits to eject water for marking the location of the marker tag dart hit. The dart guns are spring chocked, and propel the dart with a blast of air from an air pump powered by the spring. Various embodiments and modes of operation are disclosed.
US08678875B2
A method and apparatus for programming an electronic speed controller for a radio controlled model including a programmer for interfacing a personal computer to the RX port of the electronic speed controller. The electronic speed controller software may be updated, modified or replaced through the RX port.
US08678864B2
A terminal box (10) includes terminal plates (90), a base plate (21) for supporting the terminal plates (90) and an outer plate (22) surrounding the base plate (21). The base plate (21) has higher heat resistance than the outer plate (22) and is mounted and fixed to the outer plate (22). The outer plate (22) is formed integrally with pressing pieces (33) for preventing the lifting of the terminal plates (90) from the base plate 21 by being arranged to be able to come into contact with the outer surfaces of the terminal plates (90) as the base plate (21) is mounted.
US08678860B2
An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.
US08678853B2
A cable connector assembly includes a housing including a main portion and a mating portion extending forwardly from the main portion, a number of contacts received in the housing and including first contacts and second contacts; a number of first wires connecting with the first contacts; and a number of second wires connecting with the second contacts. Each first contact includes a first contacting section and a first termination section exposed beyond the housing. Each second contact includes a second contacting section and a second termination section exposed beyond the housing. The first termination section electrically connects with corresponding first wire via Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC). The second termination section electrically connects with corresponding second wire via soldering.
US08678846B2
An electrical connector is provided for mating with a mating connector and includes a housing and a fulcrum latch mechanism having a latch arm extending from a latching end to an actuation end. The latch arm is configured to rotate about a fulcrum that is located along the length of the latch arm between the latching and actuation ends such that the latching end is configured to move between a latched position and an unlatched position. A connector position assurance (CPA) device is movably held by the housing such that the CPA device is configured to move relative to the housing between a mated position and an unmated position. The CPA device is movably held by the housing independently of the latch arm.
US08678842B2
A terminal connection structure 1 includes first terminal fittings 5 connected to a motor 7, second terminal fittings 22 connected to an inverter, and a clip terminal. The first terminal fittings 5 and the second terminal fittings 22 respectively includes electrical contact portions 8 and 27 formed in a band plate shape and superimposed on each other. The clip terminal is caused to approach the electrical contact portions 8 and 27 along a crossing direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the electrical contact portions 8 and 27 superimposed on each other, and sandwiches the electrical contact portions 8 and 27 superimposed on each other, between a pair of the contact pieces 35.
US08678835B2
After a lead block, where a required number of pin terminals are fitted to and assembled with an insulating support member, is connected to an end portion of a flat cable, the lead block is assembled with a lower connector holder of a rotary connector. The lower connector holder includes lower protruding portions of a lower cover and an outer cylindrical portion that are snap-fitted to each other. The lower protruding portion includes a receiving recess and the lower protruding portion includes a holding wall portion. Leading end portions of pin terminals are inserted into insertion holes of the holding wall portion, so that the lead block is assembled. While stopper portions of the pin terminals are interposed between the holding wall portion and the outer wall of the support member, the support member is positioned and held in the receiving recess.
US08678834B2
A device for demonstrating and comparatively testing the effectiveness of an antireflection treatment for an ophthalmic lens, the device comprising an image (2, 20) and a mirror (3, 30). According to the invention, the device further comprises a part (1, 10) having a first face (1A, 10A) for supporting said image (2, 20), a second face (1B, 10B) for supporting said mirror (3, 30) substantially perpendicularly to said first face, and a third face (1C, 10C) for positioning at least one ophthalmic lens, the third face being situated. facing said second face and being provided with a positioning arrangement for positioning said lens (4′, 4″, 40), the arrangement comprising at least one orifice (4A, 4B, 40A) arranged in said third face facing said mirror, in such a manner that when a user looks through said orifice, the user can see the resulting reflection of said image on said lens by means of said mirror (3, 30).
US08678821B2
An implant includes a collar configured for disposal within tissue. The collar defines an axial bore. A shaft extends between a first end and a second end. The shaft is configured for disposal with the bore of the collar. A base defines an axial bore having an inner surface configured for engagement with the shaft such that the base is axially movable relative to the shaft. At least one arm extends between the collar and the base. The at least one arm is movable via axial movement of the base relative to the shaft between a first position and a second position such that the at least one arm is expanded in a configuration to engage tissue. Methods of use are also disclosed.
US08678820B2
A magneto strictive sterilizable handpiece (14) with an electric connector (44) selectively engageable with a power cable includes a non-conducting inner core (30) having an outer surface, a conducting wire deposited on the outer surface of the inner core in a helical manner to form a coil (42) with a first end functioning as a first electrical contact and a second end functioning as second electrical contact, and an over-mold layer (50) deposited over the conducing wire to substantially completely seal the coil, so that the over-mold layer prevents a fluid from contacting any section of the conducting wire except for the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact during sterilization of the handpiece using the fluid.
US08678816B2
The invention relates to a hot air internal ignition burner/generator comprising an injection device used for producing a high-speed fuel gas mixture stream and for injecting said stream into the burner head (2) which is tabular-shaped and comprises in-series arranged therein a pressure recovery chamber (10), an igniting chamber (11) and simple or multiple diffusion means (24) which are fixed inside the head (2), where two chambers are jointed, wherein said diffusion means (24) comprise a central orifice provided with an igniting tube which penetrates therein and axially extends inside the pressure recovery chamber (10) in such a way that it defines the ignition chamber (43) provided with igniting electrodes (42) connected to the pressure recovery chamber (10) of the burner (2) via a calibrated orifice (46).
US08678806B2
Apparatus for bonding at least two plies of a fibrous web, includes: a first roller having an outer periphery, at least one embossing protuberance provided on the outer periphery; and a second roller having an outer periphery and being elastic at least in a radial direction, the second roller including at least an inner layer and an outer layer that is harder than the inner layer, the second roller together with the first roller forming a nip through which the two plies are to be fed, wherein an embossing element is located on top of at least one of the embossing protuberance(s), an embossing area of each embossing element being smaller than an embossing area of the corresponding embossing protuberance(s) so that the two plies are bonded at discrete locations corresponding to the first and second embossing elements. Multi-ply product including the bonded plies and corresponding method are also described.
US08678805B2
A system and method for layer-by-layer production of an object is provided. The system includes a construction shape having a carrying surface adapted for carrying a layer of build material, a plate having a holding surface adapted for holding an object in an object build area, a moveable reservoir having a plurality of containment surfaces defining a containment area adapted for containing a volume of build material within the moveable reservoir, and an exposure unit adapted for exposing at least a portion of the layer of build material in the object build area so that the portion of the layer of build material solidifies to form a solidified layer of the object.
US08678804B2
An apparatus for the continuous modification of polymers in the flowable state by electron radiation, includes a device configured for converting polymers into the flowable state, a forming device and at least one irradiation device structured and arranged to provide electron radiation in a region of irradiation. Additionally, the apparatus includes at least one cooling device, a radiation guard and supply and discharge lines inside the radiation guard. The supply and discharge lines realize a continuous transport of the polymers in the flowable state at least through the radiation guard into the region of irradiation. Additionally, the supply and discharge lines realize a continuous transport of one of polymers remaining in the flowable state and modified at least inside the radiation guard and solid formed and modified polymers out of the region of the irradiation.
US08678785B2
A ventilation fan includes a rotor holder rotating around a rotation axis, an impeller cup including a plurality of blades provided on an outer circumference thereof, and a base portion arranged to rotatably support the rotor holder through a bearing portion. The base portion includes an outer circumferential wall extending upwards in an axial direction from an outer circumferential edge portion thereof. A gap defining a labyrinth structure is provided between an upper end portion of the outer circumferential wall of the base portion and a lower end portion of an outer circumferential portion of the impeller cup. A lower end portion of a cylindrical portion is located axially lower than the upper end portion of the outer circumferential wall of the base portion.
US08678773B2
Method and device for controlling a vacuum apparatus. A method for controlling a vacuum apparatus that applies vacuum to a vacuum accumulator with a pump of a pneumatically operated servo unit of a motor vehicle. The method comprises the steps of determining the pressure in the vacuum accumulator; determining the ambient pressure; adapting a pump control signal to the ambient pressure; comparing the pressure in the vacuum accumulator with an adapted pump control signal; and outputting a pump actuation signal that is a function of the comparison.
US08678771B2
A method of manufacturing a component, including providing a three-dimensional computer model of the component to be produced; deconstructing the three-dimensional computer model by defining a plurality of model slices; forming a plurality of metallic foils, where each foil corresponds to a specific model slice; assembling the plurality of formed foils in a tool to form a three-dimensional component stack; and bonding the three-dimensional component stack to form the component. Characteristics of the foils may differ in various portions of the stack, such as being a different material, having a different thickness, or having a different grain orientation. The control of dimensional tolerances of internal structures, such as cooling passages, in three dimensions is devolved into two separate steps of 1) selecting a thickness of each slice/foil, and 2) controlling in two dimensions a material removal process applied to the respective foil.
US08678770B2
A wind turbine rotor blade defined by a tip point, a shoulder, a maximum chord interval which is defined as the radial interval over which the blade chord is no less that 95% of the shoulder chord and which extends over at least 15% of the entire blade length, and an outer blade interval extending from the maximum chord interval to the tip point, wherein the outer blade interval has a concave hyperbolic chord distribution from the maximum chord interval towards the tip point. Further a method for optimizing the chord distribution of a wind turbine blade layout is provided, wherein the chord distribution is optimized by optimizing the chord distribution in the maximum chord interval by maximizing the ratio of the annual energy production to the loads acting on the blade and in the outer blade interval with respect to the annual energy production alone.
US08678768B2
A vertical axis turbine and method of making same is disclosed. The device and method comprise a plurality of blades rotatably disposed around an axis of rotation at a plurality of blade locations, each blade being twisted at a first angle about its longitudinal axis, each blade having its distal ends located a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation, each blade being bent at one or more central locations along the longitudinal axis so the one or more central locations are the same predetermined distance from the axis of rotation as the distal ends, each blade having a foil cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation for maintaining unidirectional rotation of that blade about the axis of rotation in a fluid flow, and each blade having its longitudinal axis tilted at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation.
US08678767B2
A wind turbine includes two sets of blades. A first set of blades is placed at a front location of the wind turbine. A second set of blades is placed behind the first set of blades. The first set of blades turns in an area within a first circumference. The second set of blades are mounted at a location sufficiently away from an axis of rotation of the wind turbine so that the second set of blades turns within an area that is within a second circumference and that is substantially outside the first circumference.
US08678765B2
A method for the production of a rotor blade (1) for a wind power plant, wherein the produced rotor blade (1) in its longitudinal extension, which extends from a rotor blade root (2) essentially to a rotor blade tip (3), has at least one area, in which the rotor blade has an aerodynamic blade section (4, 4′, 4″), which has a leading edge (5) and a trailing edge (6), which are connected via a suction side (7) and a pressure side (8) of the blade section (4, 4′, 4″), wherein at least a first and at least a second molded part (11, 12) manufactured in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade (1) are provided for a suction side (7) and a pressure side (8) of the rotor blade (1), which are to be connected with each other in the areas of the leading edge (5) and the trailing edge (6). A corresponding rotor blade (1) for a wind power plant and a wind power plant with a corresponding rotor blade (1).
US08678732B2
A system for fixing an accessory on a metal frame for doors, windows, and the like, includes a screw having a head and a self-tapping threaded stem with metric thread, the end of which opposite to the head is tapered. A ratio between the external diameter of the self-tapping stem of the screw and the diameter of the through hole of the wall of the frame is approximately between 1.4 and 1.25, and the ratio between the diameter of the through hole of said wall and its thickness is approximately between 2.5 and 5.5 and more preferably between 3 and 5.
US08678728B1
A vehicle load securing apparatus for securing a load to a vehicle, and including a housing substantially enclosing an interior and having a dispensing opening into the interior, and a spool rotatably mounted in the interior of the housing and including a rotating shaft. The apparatus may further include a length of an elongate member at least partially wrapped about the spool, and a ratcheting structure configured to control rotation of the spool, with the ratcheting structure having an engaged position in which the ratcheting structure resists rotation of the spool in an unwind direction of the spool and a disengaged position in which the ratcheting structure permits rotation of the spool in the unwind direction and a wind direction. The apparatus may also comprise a mounting structure on the housing that is configured to removably mount the housing on the vehicle.
US08678727B2
A stacking and lifting system for intermodal transport platforms is disclosed. Transport platforms can be converted between a storage or empty transport position and a haul or load position through rotation of support posts that provide structural support and locate fitments that align with adjoining fitments on standard intermodal containers. The support posts have fitments at their distal ends for use during lifting or stacking operations when the transport platform is loaded and in use. The support posts also have stacking blocks that provide flip-up fitments for use when the posts are in a lowered configuration for stacking transport platforms with other transport platforms or with standard intermodal containers. The stacking blocks may be lifted directly or may be locked in to adjoining fitment housings, such that the transport platform will cling to the adjoining platform or intermodal container above it that is being lifted.
US08678726B1
An anchoring system utilized in securing and transporting a motorcycle or other vehicle includes a strap, a ratchet and at least one anchor device securable to the bed of a transport mechanism. An embodiment herein includes a remote anchor device that attaches at one end to the strap ratchet and at another end to the bed of a transport mechanism.
US08678724B2
A tool holder includes: a shank portion gripped by a main shaft; a tool attachment portion having an insertion port into which a tool is inserted in a tip end surface thereof; a cover having a tubular wall that covers an outer periphery of the tool attachment portion and a bottom surface that covers the tip end surface of the tool attachment portion; a bearing provided between the tubular wall of the cover and the tool attachment portion; and a stopper that prevents the cover from co-rotating with the tool attachment portion. A through hole penetrated by the tool and an ejection port disposed on a periphery of the through hole in order to eject the coolant toward the tool are provided in the bottom surface of the cover.
US08678716B2
A cutting tool assembly has a tool holder, a tool head and a tool head fastening member. The tool holder includes holder front and top ends, with a holder mating surface extending therebetween. A holder clamping portion is located rearwards from the holder mating surface. The tool head has a tool head bottom end provided with a tool head mating surface. A tool head clamping recess extends upwards from the tool head bottom end, rearwards from the tool head mating surface. In an assembled position of the cutting tool assembly, the tool head mating surface forms a dovetail connection with the holder mating surface, and the tool head fastening member clamps the tool head clamping recess, thereby externally clamping the tool head to the tool holder.
US08678714B2
Milling tool and milling insert kit are provided for the gash milling of a workpiece. The tool comprises a tool body that defines a rotation axis and has a first end, an opposite second end, and a peripheral surface that extends around the rotation axis between the first end and the second end. A large number of separated seats, which are arranged one after the other in the tool body along a line and receive one each of corresponding number of replaceable milling inserts, comprise a primary main cutting edge and a secondary main cutting edge that converge to each other. The milling inserts comprise outer milling inserts, which project from the tool body by a first length from the rotation axis, and inner milling inserts, which project from the tool body by a second length from the rotation axis. The first length is considerably greater than the second length.
US08678713B2
The present invention provides a hat-type steel sheet pile whose economic efficiency, workability, and integrity are all optimized. In the hat-type steel sheet pile according to the present invention, web portions are continuously formed at both ends of an upper flange portion, and lower flange portions are formed at respective end portions of a pair of web portions. A relationship among geometrical moment of inertia I per 1 m of wall width (cm4/m) when forming a steel sheet pile wall, weight per unit wall area W (kg/m2), penetration resistance R, and web angle θ (°) is set to satisfy one of several expression groups.
US08678705B1
An erosion control block having registration ribs and slots on opposite edge surfaces to align neighbor blocks together in a cabled mat of blocks. The blocks have a pair of parallel cable channels therethrough, as well as a single orthogonal cable channel formed therethrough. With this arrangement, the blocks are versatile and can be configured in a mat of side-by-side blocks, or in a mat of staggered blocks. Neighbor mats can be easily fastened together. The parallel cable channels are formed through the block at a location adjacent an articulation edge so that when a mat of cabled blocks are lifted in a catenary, the articulation between blocks is facilitated.
US08678698B2
A holding element, for supporting pivoting levers or the like, includes a support section for receiving an object to be supported as well as a first holding section and a second holding section. The first holding section includes at least a first holding projection and the second holding section at least a second holding projection. The first and the second holding sections are designed to rest against respective first and second contact sections of a component that is to be connected with the holding element. The holding projections are designed for being received in openings provided at the contact sections.
US08678697B2
The present invention provides a coupler (201), use of the coupler (201), and a utility vehicle having the coupler (201), the coupler (201) having a body portion and a linearly movable rail (235), arranged to be moved by an actuator, the body portion comprising an open jaw (207) arranged to receive a mounting formation of a tool, the rail having a first position in which the rail (235) is retracted relative to the open jaw (207) and in which a mounting formation can enter a recess defined by the jaw (207) and an advanced position in which the rail (235) restricts the opening to the jaw (207), thereby arranged to trap, in use, the mounting formation in the recess.
US08678694B2
An aircraft reaction link includes a pair of linear portions, a coupling portion that couples ends of the pair of linear portions on the same side to each other, a fulcrum shaft attachment portion, and a cylinder attachment portion. A metal frame that is made of a metallic material and that is provided so as to extend across the coupling portion and the pair of linear portions and a composite frame that is made of fiber-reinforced plastic and that is provided so as to extend at least in the pair of linear portions are bonded together, and thereby, the pair of linear portions and the coupling portion are formed. The metal frame is provided so as to extend from the fulcrum shaft attachment portion to the cylinder attachment portion.
US08678685B2
A keyboard assembly for a stenographic machine includes character keys with a first set of vowel keys that, at a first rest position, together define a first upper touch surface plane, a second set of keys that, at a second rest position, together define a second upper touch surface plane that is higher than the first plane, with each of the second set of keys having a fully depressed position lower than the second plane by a given distance and a key actuator to be operationally connected to a respective key sensor for registering movement of the respective key. A third key assembly has a third assembly key with an upper touch surface that, at a third rest position, is further from the second upper touch surface plane than the given distance, and a third key actuator to be operationally connected to a respective third-key-assembly key sensor for registering movement of the at least one key.
US08678674B2
An optical transceiver includes a single-fiber bidirectional optical transmission/reception device, a circuit board, a transmission-side FPC, a reception-side FPC and a separation wall. The optical transceiver includes a single-fiber bidirectional optical transmission/reception device includes an LD stem that converts an electric signal into an optical signal and transmits it, and a PD stem that receives the optical signal and converts it into an electric signal. The transmission-side FPC electrically connects the LD stem and the circuit board. The reception-side FPC electrically connects the PD stem and the circuit board. The separation wall is formed between the transmission-side FPC and the reception-side FPC, and grounded to the chassis of the optical transceiver. The reception-side FPC is folded and set between the chassis and the separation wall such that the board front surface is an inner side, where the micro-strip line is formed on the above board front surface.
US08678673B2
Exemplary embodiments of optical USB thin card is disclosed, which includes a substrate, having a space formed inside its packaging layer; a seat, disposed at a position on the substrate while forming an opening on the substrate; a plurality of first contact elements, each being disposed on the seat to be used for connecting electrically with an external device; a plurality of second contact elements, each being disposed on the seat to be used for connecting electrically with an external device; and bidirectional optical transmission module, having a plurality of optical fiber, disposed inside an accommodation space formed by the enclosure of the seat and the substrate; a micro control unit, for processing signals, data and commands of the optical USB thin card.
US08678668B2
Overmolded ferrule assemblies and methods for making the same are disclosed. Some embodiments include positioning a first plurality of fibers in an alignment fixture in a predetermined arrangement such that a predetermined length of the first plurality of fibers extends beyond an end of the alignment fixture. Similarly, some embodiments include positioning a cover portion of the alignment fixture onto the first plurality of fibers, such that corresponding cover recesses on the cover portion align with the corresponding base recesses on the base portion. One method includes the steps of injecting a flowable material into a port on the alignment fixture, waiting a predetermined time for the flowable material to cure, and after the predetermined time, separating the base portion and the cover portion from the first plurality of fibers and the flowable material to create the overmolded ferrule boot.
US08678661B2
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and double row balls contained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces and adapted to be applied a predetermined contact angle. Each inner raceway surface is formed by a first circular arc section, with a first radius of curvature (r), that extends from a position near a contact point contacting the ball at an initial contact angle (α) to the raceway bottom. The second circular arc section, with a second radius of curvature (r1) smaller than the radius of curvature r, extends from an inflection point that the ball contacts at a contact angle (α1) to the radially outer side. The (r) and (r1) are set as 1.05 d<2 r≦1.10 d and 1.01 d<2 r1≦1.05 d (“d” is a diameter of the ball). Δα is in a range of 2° to 8° when the inflection point of the radii of curvatures r, r1 is positioned at α1=α+Δα (α=30-45°).
US08678659B2
A guitar having a tremolo device with tonal stability is provided.
US08678657B1
Various embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) bearing pads having first and second bearing pad portions that exhibit different wear rates, and bearing assemblies and apparatuses (e.g., thrust-bearing apparatuses and radial bearing apparatuses) that utilize such PCD bearing pads. In an embodiment, a PCD bearing pad for use in a bearing assembly of a subterranean drilling system includes a PCD bearing pad body including a plurality of directly-bonded together diamond grains. The PCD bearing pad body further includes a first bearing pad portion exhibiting a first wear resistance, and a second bearing pad portion exhibiting a second wear resistance greater than the first wear resistance.
US08678650B2
An improved flexible package and method thereof are disclosed herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a package system comprises a flexible package having at least a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls; and a locking means for maintaining a portion of the flexible package in a predetermined position, the locking means cooperating with at least a portion of the flexible package and comprising at least one semi-rigid member; wherein one of the front wall, the back wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, or any of the plurality of side walls has a substantially negligible surface area.
US08678646B2
Method and system for using common subchannel to assess the operating characteristics of transducers
A system and method for using a common subchannel to assess operating characteristics of one of a plurality of transducers coupled to said subchannel is disclosed. The transducers are divided into subsets, with each subset is coupled to a subchannel. The system is configured to activate a selected transducer on the subchannel and the subchannel delivers operational information on the activated transducer. The present invention reduces the number of subchannels required to collect information on the plurality of transducers. The present invention permits a more compact ablation device to be constructed based on the invention's ability to reduce the total number of subchannels required to collect transducer information.
US08678642B2
A method of estimating temperature includes selecting a plurality of known calibration temperature values; determining a bulk wavelength for each of the calibration temperature values; formulating a calibration data set that includes the plurality of known temperature values and the corresponding plurality of bulk wavelengths; and using the calibration data set to determine an estimated current temperature value based upon a current bulk wavelength, wherein the current temperature value is estimated based upon one or more data points in the calibration data set.
US08678641B2
In a process for treating viscous products, especially for performing polymerization processes, especially for homo- or copolymerizing thermoplastics and elastomers, wherein monomer(s) and/or catalysts and/or initiators are added to a backmixed mixing kneader, especially with a length/diameter ratio of 0.5-3.5, heat is supplied to the product which is backmixed with already reacted product and the reacted product is removed from the mixing kneader, the product in the mixing kneader shall be heated up to its boiling temperature, portions of the product shall be evaporated and exothermicity of the product shall be absorbed by evaporative cooling.
US08678640B2
Device and methods for use of these devices to manipulate substantially non-magnetic particles dispersed inside a magnetic fluid by employing a changeable pattern of local magnetic field maxima and minima are provided.
US08678639B2
A mixing machine 1 includes a mixing head 3 displayed with one or several elements 12 for connecting the same to a container 5 containing a mix to form a closed mixing receptacle containing the mix. The mixing head 3 is mounted pivotably relative to a frame 2 in such a way that the mixing receptacle formed from mixing head 3 and container 5 is pivotable to execute the mixing process. The mixing machine 1 further includes a device for producing a mix stream and at least one rotary-driven mixing tool interacting in the mix stream. The mix-stream-producing device is designed to produce a low-energy primary mix-stream as a feed stream for supplying the mix contained in the mixing receptacle to the at least one mixing tool W2 disposed in the mixing head 3 interacting in the primary mix-stream produced by the mix-stream-producing device. The at least one mixing tool W2 is provided to produce a secondary mix-stream containing only a fraction of the mix contained in the mixing receptacle as a cross-stream to the primary mix-stream.
US08678631B2
A vehicle headlamp assembly including a housing case and a lens cover forming a light chamber, a projection lens, a shade and a light source are arranged within the light chamber in that order along an optical axis of the headlamp assembly. A radiating member includes plate-shaped radiating fins vertically placed in the light chamber, for radiating heat energy generated by the light source to surrounding air. A plate is arranged at a right angle to the radiating fins in the light chamber, for controlling air-convection flow around the radiating fins.
US08678625B2
A ceiling blank configured to cover recessed canister lighting fixtures. A body member covers the open end of the fixture while an attachment apparatus secures the body member against the open end of the fixture. The attachment apparatus includes a fixture fitting that engages with a threaded aperture, such as a light socket, and a tension member provides tension force between the fixture fitting and the body member, forcing the body member against the open end of the fixture.
US08678618B2
A self-ballasted lamp includes: a base body; a light-emitting module and a globe which are provided at one end side of the base body; a cap provided at the other end side of the base body; and a lighting circuit housed between the base body and the cap. The light-emitting module has light-emitting portions each using a semiconductor light-emitting element, and a support portion projected at one end side of the base body, and the light-emitting portions are disposed at least on a circumferential surface of the support portion. A light-transmissive member is interposed between the light-emitting module and an inner face of the globe.
US08678615B1
The present invention is a string light type Christmas tree kit for raising upon and being supported from a flagpole with rope and pulley for raising and lowering a flag. The kit includes a crown connector for connection of ends of multiple string lights and raising to at topmost position by the rope and pulley. A circular hoop structure is connected to lower ends of the string lights and is raised off the ground when the crown connector is raised to the topmost position, forming a conical, lighted structure providing the visual illusion of a lighted Christmas tree supported from a flagpole.
US08678610B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a LED fluorescent tube replacement lamp and lighting modules from which the lamp is constructed. One embodiment of a replacement lamp includes a plurality of interchangeable lighting modules that are configured to be electrically connected to adjacent modules. The interchangeable lighting modules can include end modules each having an end cap with pin connectors, at least one of the end modules includes electrical circuitry connected to the pin connectors for powering the modules. The lighting modules can also be center unit modules having LEDs mounted to a circuit board. The replacement lamps can be made from conceivable configurations of the lighting modules, requiring removal of only one module for repair or replacement.
US08678608B2
A lamp device includes: a battery housing receiving a battery set and a circuit board; a lamp casing enclosing and connected movably to the battery housing such that the lamp casing is movable relative to the battery housing in an axial direction; an LED lighting unit mounted in and connected fixedly to the lamp casing, and disposed spacedly above the circuit board; and a power switch mounted on the circuit board and connected electrically between the LED lighting unit and the battery set. The power switch is actuated in response to movement of the LED lighting unit toward the circuit board by press of the lamp casing to switch from a current one of power-on and power-off states to the other one of the power-on and power-off states.
US08678602B2
An instrument panel assembly for a vehicle includes a main gauge that defines a main display area and a plurality of cantilevered light guides that are supported on the main gauge and extend outwardly from the main gauge. Each of the light guides are formed from a clear material providing visibility through each of the light guides. A corresponding plurality of lights selectively illuminates each of the plurality of cantilevered light guides. An etched surface is formed on the surface of each of the cantilevered light guides in the shape of a numeral or symbol. The illumination of the etched area on the clear cantilevered light guide creates the appearance that the symbols or numerals are floating proximate the main gauge and thereby generate desired aesthetic features while communicating information to a vehicle operator.
US08678601B2
A one-piece, collapsible light modifier device for attachment to a flash mechanism, including: (a) a translucent front panel; (b) a reflective rear panel that is substantially the same shape as the front panel, the rear and front panels each including a bendable wire frame around its periphery; (c) at least one side panel between the front panel and the rear panel; (d) a flash hole at a base of the light modifier device between opposite ends of the side panel; and (e) a flash strap attached to the reflective inside surface of the rear panel adjacent the flash hole; wherein the light modifier device includes a compact, closed position and an open position for use. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.
US08678600B2
An optical device may include a light transmissive medium having two sides. On one side may be a high reflectivity mirror and on the other side may be a plurality of partial reflectivity mirrors that may be guided mode resonance or nanodot mirrors. An optical system may have a plurality of light inputs, a light transmissive medium, and a plurality of light outputs from the light transmissive medium The light transmissive medium may have a high reflectivity mirror on one side and a plurality of partial reflectivity mirrors on a second side.
US08678597B2
It is possible to reliably prevent dust particles from becoming attached to optical components and it is also possible to suppress temperature rises in optical components. A projection type display device according to the present invention includes a plurality of optical components (20, 21, 24, 30, and so on), a hollow structure (45, 50, or the like), and an air blow source (19, 46, or the like). The plurality of optical components are provided along the optical axis direction of light emitted from a light source. The hollow structure includes optical components (20, 24) that are to be protected from the attachment of dust particles to optical components among the plurality of optical components, and forms an enclosed space separated from the surroundings. Then, the source that blows air is provided in the inside of the enclosed space to circulate the internal air for cooling targets.
US08678596B2
An illumination device includes: a light source device adapted to emit an excitation light beam; and a rotating fluorescent plate having a single fluorescent layer adapted to convert a part or whole of the excitation light beam into a fluorescent light beam. The fluorescent light beam includes two or more colored light beams, and the single fluorescent layer is formed on a circular disk, which can be rotated by a motor, continuously along a circumferential direction of the circular disk.
US08678595B2
A projection type display apparatus including a light source, a display element, an illumination optical system and a projection lens to project a magnified image of the optical image. The illumination optical system includes a first array lens and a second array lens, each includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a matrix, each of the lens elements having a rectangular opening, and a polarization conversion element having polarization conversion function by use of a plurality of polarized beam splitters and a plurality of half-wave phase plates, arranged in an array and opposing to the lens elements of the second array lens, to emit predetermined polarized light. The light source includes a light emitting plane of a rectangle or an ellipse shape, a longitudinal direction of the light emitting plane being parallel to a longitudinal direction of each opening of the polarization conversion element.
US08678586B2
A method for producing spectacle lenses from raw lenses prefabricated in a non-cutting manner uses raw lenses having a central geometric axis standing vertically on them. The lens comprises a convex front side that is formed in a rotationally symmetrical manner about the central axis and is not to be reworked and an opposing back side that is to be reworked with a CNC machine. The front- and back side have at least one optical focal point in common. In order to rework the back side a prescription surface is calculated on the basis of a prescription and of the geometry of the front side. This surface forms a prescription lens in common with the front side, the focal points of which lens correct the visual error of the prescription holder. A spectacle lens with an optical center is produced from the prescription lens for use in an eyeglass frame.
US08678585B2
An eye-side refractive surface 11 of a distance portion is concave and at least part of an eye-side refractive surface 3 of a near portion is a convex region 31 where one or both of principal meridians of the surface are convex. This provides a back surface progressive-power lens capable of solving disadvantages in terms of lens thickness, external appearance and the like in a back surface progressive-power lens in which the eye-side refractive surface is formed of a progressive-power surface.
US08678582B2
A method of making a protective shield is provided. The method comprises molding an arcuate lens blank having an optical center displaced from an apex of the lens to a position near or beyond the edge of the protective shield. This reduces the object shift as wearer of the lens shifts gaze from a normal straight ahead line of sight to an activity specific line of sight that is vertically displaced from the normal straight ahead line of sight.
US08678576B2
A container for holding a volume of fluid includes a first fluid chamber having an entry port and a bubble eliminator with at least one bubble-piercing protrusion for pricking bubbles as the volume of fluid flows through the bubble eliminator. The container further includes a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber for receiving the volume of fluid from the first fluid chamber.
US08678575B2
A solid ink printer is configured to learn the identity of solid ink sticks for printer operation. The solid ink printer includes a feed channel having an insertion opening configured to receive solid ink sticks, a sensor positioned near the insertion opening of the feed channel and configured to obtain solid ink stick type data from a solid ink stick inserted into the insertion opening of the feed channel, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the solid ink stick type data, the controller being configured to store the solid ink stick type data in a memory in response to an initialization signal and to operate the solid ink printer with reference to the solid ink stick type data stored in the memory by the controller.
US08678570B2
A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with the apparatus electrical contacts, the liquid container includes a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of the apparatus contacts; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; a controller for controlling emission of light of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative of individual information supplied through the container electrical contact and the information stored in the information storing means.
US08678566B2
A piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first electroconductive layer having a first surface at the piezoelectric layer side and a second electroconductive layer having a second surface at the first surface side. The second electroconductive layer mainly contains lanthanum nickelate and is disposed on the first surface. The first electrode, the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode overlap with each other when viewed in the direction of the normal to the first surface to form an overlap portion acting as a driving portion. At least part of the second electroconductive layer is disposed within the sides of the first surface within the driving portion, and the second surface has a smaller area than the first surface within the driving portion.
US08678561B2
There is provided a liquid discharging head discharging a liquid, including: a channel unit having a liquid channel including a pressure chamber which has an opening at one surface of the channel unit; a piezoelectric element formed of a piezoelectric material; an intermediate member preventing the liquid in the pressure chamber and the piezoelectric element from making contact with each other; a first adhesive layer composed of a first adhesive and adhering the channel unit and the intermediate member, the first adhesive being a thermo-setting adhesive starting to be cured at a first temperature; and a second adhesive layer composed of a second adhesive and adhering the intermediate member and the piezoelectric element, the second adhesive starting to be cured at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.
US08678559B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a head body; and a flow path member having a liquid flow path circulating a liquid, supplied from a liquid storage unit, and a bubble chamber formed in the middle of the liquid flow path and in which air bubbles are caused to stay, wherein a compliance section (a sealing film) displaced according to a volume change in the air bubbles inside the bubble chamber is formed at upstream side of the bubble chamber so that an amount of the volume change in the compliance section due to the displacement of the compliance section is larger than an amount of a volume change in the air bubbles due to a change in the ambient temperature.
US08678558B2
A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle plate, and a flow path member that is bonded to the nozzle plate, wherein the individual flow path includes a communicating portion that communicates with the nozzle openings and a pressure generating chamber that communicates with the communicating portion and has a width narrower than that of the communicating portion in the first direction, and wherein, in the flow path member, a first individual flow path row in which corresponding individual flow paths are arranged side by side in the first direction and a second individual flow path row where corresponding individual flow paths are arranged side by side in the first direction are arranged side by side in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and each communicating portion of the second individual flow path row is provided between the pressure generating chambers of the first individual flow path row.
US08678557B2
Disclosed is a substrate structure for an ejection chip that includes a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer disposed beneath the first substrate layer, and an intermediate layer configured between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. The substrate structure also includes a plurality of fluid channels configured within the second substrate layer. Further, the substrate structure includes a plurality of fluid ports configured within the first substrate layer. At least one fluid port of the plurality of fluid ports is configured in alignment with a corresponding fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels. Furthermore, the substrate structure includes a plurality of slots configured within the intermediate layer such that the at least one fluid port is in fluid communication with the corresponding fluid channel. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating the substrate structure and an ejection chip employing the substrate structure.
US08678553B2
A recording apparatus has a cartridge installing section including a case which is formed with an opening and which is configured to receive printing fluid cartridges respectively via the opening; a flat plate-shaped lid which has a rotational shaft and which undergoes posture change to a closed posture and an open posture by being rotated around the rotational shaft. The lid has a curved section which is disposed on a side of one end in a widthwise direction along the rotational shaft and which is curved so that the one end is directed to a side of the ending surface of the case in a state in which the lid is in the closed posture; and the curved section is upstanding upwardly from a side of a bottom surface of the case in a state in which the lid is in the open posture.
US08678550B2
A print engine assembly includes an elongate chassis defining a print media exit slot; an elongate printhead assembly mounted relative to the chassis and configured to eject ink onto print media; a paper feed mechanism configured to transport the print media past the elongate printhead and out through the exit slot, the paper feed mechanism comprising a pair of bearing moldings received within and mounted on opposite ends of the chassis, the paper feed mechanism further comprising at least one roller mounted between the bearing moldings and a motor mounted to one of said bearing moldings to drive said at least one roller; and a platen member extending parallel to the printhead, the platen member mounted in the bearing moldings. A pair of spacers is mounted to either end of the chassis and on which said printhead assembly is mounted.
US08678546B2
There is provided a cap device including: a cap unit which is tiltable in a plane direction of the jetting surface and which comes into close contact with the jetting surface of the liquid jetting head; a flexible discharge tube of which one end is connected to the cap unit, which communicates with an inner space defined by the cap unit and the jetting surface under a condition that the cap unit comes into close contact with the jetting surface, and through which a liquid in the inner space is discharged; and a fixing mechanism which fixes a portion, of the discharge tube, other than the one end to the cap unit.
US08678540B2
An image capturing device includes: a housing; a reference pattern used for color measurement and arranged in the housing; an image capturing element that captures an image of the reference pattern in a first area and an image of an object in a second area of the image capturing area; an image forming element causing the image of the reference pattern and the image of the object to be formed on the image capturing element by being arranged on a first optical path between the image capturing element and the reference pattern and a second optical path between the image capturing element and the object; and an optical member that guides any one of the images of the reference pattern and the object formed by the image forming element so that the images are to be formed on an element surface of the image capturing element.
US08678536B2
A printing device has a support and heating unit for supporting and heating a medium, a head for discharging color image ink and background image ink on the medium supported by the support and heating unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a color image printing process for executing a plurality of color image recording passes by which the head is moved relative to the medium in a moving direction, and a background image printing process. The controller is configured to execute a wait process of evacuating the head from above the support and heating unit and moving it to an evacuation position to have the head wait at the evacuation position for at least one of between the color image recording passes and between the background image recording passes.
US08678526B2
A hinge, comprising a cup having a rim and an arm pivotably connected to the cup, wherein the arm is permitted to pivot between a closed position and an open position, the open position defining a opening angle between the cup and arm. An adjustable stopper coupled to the arm is engagable with the rim whereby the opening angle is controlled by adjustment of the stopper.
US08678521B2
A brake control system includes at least a pair of brake systems respectively connected to a pair of brake operating members L1, L2, and a control unit 10 for controlling the brake forces of the pair of brake systems interlockingly according to a predetermined distribution ratio by operating one of the pair of brake operating members L1, L2. The control unit 10 executes a decreasing control on the brake forces in such a manner that, when releasing the pair of brake operating members L1, L2, the control unit 10 decreases both of the brake forces together, even in a state where the control unit performs the interlocking control so as to decrease the brake force of one of the brake system as the brake force of the other of the brake system is increased in accordance with the predetermined distribution ratio.
US08678505B2
A seat cushion of vehicle seat including a seat cushion frame and a bottom panel member on which a foam padding is mounted. The bottom panel member has a thigh support area fixed to a forward portion of the seat cushion frame and a buttocks support area situated in a rearward portion of the seat cushion frame. The buttocks support area has a resiliently deformable area in which are formed beads, each being resiliently stretchable laterally relative to the central line thereof by a downward load applied to the buttocks support area, whereby the resiliently deformable area is rendered deformable and displaceable downwardly. The buttocks support area may be made narrow by forming two inwardly curved edge portions in the respective sides thereof to thereby allow that buttocks support area to be warped downwardly. Hence, the buttocks support area is resiliently displaceable vertically relative to the seat cushion frame.
US08678504B1
A seat assembly includes a molded plastic shell and an embedded frame. The seat assembly can include a seat bottom and a seat back which are connected by a curved backstop. The curve of the backstop is dictated by the embedded frame. The seat assembly can be part of a modular chair system, in which the seat assembly can be attached to a chair base, without or without optional arms. The seat assembly can be transferred between a low density stacking chair base and a high density stacking chair base without modification of the seat assembly. The arms can be attached to the chair base without modification of the chair base. A method for attaching a seat assembly to a chair base is also provided.
US08678503B2
A chair arm adjustment device according to embodiments of the present invention includes an arm pad base slidably coupled to the arm support, the arm pad base sliding substantially horizontally in two degrees of freedom with respect to the arm support within a range of motion of the arm pad base with respect to the arm support, and an arm brake assembly coupled with the arm pad base, the arm brake assembly moveable between a locked position in which the arm brake assembly substantially inhibits movement of the arm pad base relative to the arm support and an unlocked position in which the arm brake assembly does not substantially inhibit movement of the arm pad base relative to the arm support, wherein the arm brake assembly moves from the unlocked position to the locked position at any position of the arm pad base within the range of motion.
US08678499B2
A booster cushion for use in a vehicle, comprising a base (2) consisting of at least one inflatable member, upon which the child may sit, and a harness (6) adapted to fit over at least a front portion of the base to retain the base, said harness being provided with seat belt receiving members (14, 16) on either side of the harness (6) to be positioned, in use, on either side of the base (2) for receiving a lap belt portion of a vehicle seat belt to retain the base (2) upon the vehicle seat and such that the lap belt portion extends over the pelvic region of a child.
US08678477B2
A utility vehicle (10) comprising a cab (12) mounted to a frame (14) by cab suspension means (16) is provided. The cab suspension comprises rolling linkage (20) which permits only circumferential movement of the cab around a generally longitudinal axis (24;44), and vertical linkage (22) which permits only radial movement of the cab relative to said axis (24) or radial movement of the axis (44) relative to the frame. The rolling linkage and vertical linkage are connected in series between the cab and the frame thus allowing independent resolution of rolling movement and vertical movement. The cab suspension means further comprises two spring/dampers (28,38; 58,38) arranged to independently control the stiffness and damping within the two degrees of freedom, namely roll and vertical movement.
US08678474B1
A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel including a front portion and a rear portion adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the skirt panel being adapted to move away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter, the resilient strut includes a shape variation adapted to change the mechanical strength thereof and also adapted to sustain an elastic deformation allowing the resilient strut to bend when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the aerodynamic configuration and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed. A kit of resilient struts, a method thereof and a trailer equipped with same are also provided.
US08678469B2
A soft top fabric cover supported by an internal frame work provides a removal end support rail in closest range to a cargo bed tail gate, contains a latch system which allows coupling or uncoupling of the fabric cover from both left and right side longitudinal rails. Further, both left and right longitudinal rails incorporate a full length downward angled slot which accepts an incorporated receiver located on the outer edges of the fabric cover. Upon tensioning, the fabric cover is securely coupled to its internal frame work.
US08678462B2
A vehicle load floor assembly having a load floor coupled with a handle. The handle is operable between first and second positions. At least one support leg is coupled to the load floor. The at least one support leg is retracted when the handle is in the first position and deployed when the handle is in the second position. A base wall supports the at least one support leg, when deployed, to maintain the load floor in a substantially lateral position. The base wall supports an underside of the load floor when the at least one support leg is retracted.
US08678455B2
A lifting fitting for lifting a series of elements of different sizes in a wind turbine is proposed. The lifting fitting has a base plate having at least one central slotted hole shaped to accommodate a fastener for fastening the lifting fitting to an element to be lifted, at least two outer slotted holes each shaped to accommodate a further fastener for fastening the lifting fitting to an element to be lifted. The outer slotted holes are arranged transverse to the central slotted hole. The lifting fitting is connected to a lifting apparatus for lifting the element. A method of assembling the series of elements is proposed. The elements are successively lifted into place. The lifting fitting can be used in the assembly of a wind turbine tower having individually liftable tower sections for lifting the tower sections into place.
US08678454B2
A front vehicle body structure includes a bumper face that extends in a vehicle width direction and a license base that is formed separately from the bumper face and fixed to the bumper face. The license base includes a main body which allows a license plate to be attached to a front surface thereof, a leg portion that extends rearward from a rear surface of the main body, and a hinge portion that extends downward from a rear end of the leg portion and is capable of being bent upward. The license base is fixed to the bumper face by engaging the hinge portion that has been bent upward with the bumper face.
US08678453B2
A portable door propping apparatus includes a first arm, a second arm, and a coupling member. The first arm is pivotally coupled with the second arm. The portable door propping apparatus can be hung on a door hinge, to facilitate propping of the door in an opened position. Methods are also provided.
US08678452B2
In a vehicle door, a latch engages with a striker and a ratchet engages with the latch, so that the door is closed. In a vehicle door latch device, an inside operating lever and a childproof lock mechanism are disposed between a cover and a casing. To connect the childproof lock mechanism to the casing, the inside operating lever is held in an assembling position and the childproof lock mechanism is held in its locking state or in its unlocking state.
US08678448B2
A threaded connection used in exploration and operation of hydrocarbon wells includes first and second tubular components, including respective male and female ends and threaded zones. The threaded zones include respective male and female threads, the threads including a root, a crest, a stabbing flank, and a load flank. A groove is provided in the load flank of the threaded zone of the female end and/or the male end respectively, adjacent to the root, and a boss projects axially from the load flank of the threaded zone of the male end and/or respectively from the female end adjacent to the crest, the boss including a convex and concave surfaces. The boss is housed in the groove with, in a connected state, a radial clearance between the concave surface and the groove and an axial clearance between the end of the boss and the bottom of the groove.
US08678443B2
A clamping connector for pipes and/or tubes (2) made of a polymer material has at least two pipe/tube connecting elements (3). At least one connecting element (3) includes a plug-in region (5) which is provided with peripheral ribs (4, 4a, 4b), for slidingly connecting to each of a pipe and/or tube end (2a) against which a flange projection (6) abuts. At least one tooth-like projection (7) is disposed on the side of the flange projection (6), which is located opposite to the peripheral ribs (4, 4a, 4b). A free space (8) is provided between the flange projection (6) and the at least one tooth-like projection (7). A plurality of tooth-like projections (7) are disposed so as to be distributed across a periphery of the polymer connecting piece (4). In addition, gaps (9) are disposed between the individual tooth-like projections (7). In addition, the object is solved by means of a clamping connector for pipes and/or tubes (2) made of a polymer material comprising a polymer connecting piece (1) as described above.
US08678438B2
A seat belt apparatus for a vehicle including an anchor metal plate coupled with a vehicle body by a fastening bolt to extensively support a seat belt and upper and lower covers to receive the anchor metal plate. A contact rib is formed on at least one side portion of the inner surface of the upper cover, and a sidewall is formed on a side portion of the lower cover to make contact with the contact rib. An arc-type rib is formed on the bottom plate of the lower cover corresponding to an outer peripheral portion of at least one side portion of the base portion of the anchor metal plate, and a connection rib is formed between the arc-type rib and the sidewall. An arc-type slot is formed on the bottom plate of the lower cover.
US08678428B2
An airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag comprising at least one first and at least one second fastening component to attach the airbag to a vehicle body. The second fastening component is attached in such a way that—in relation to the deflated, flat outspread state of the airbag—it is offset from the first fastening component in a perpendicular direction to the main extension direction of the airbag. A first section of the airbag that stretches to a side of the second fastening component facing away from the first fastening component, is folded by means of a first fold in the form of a rolled fold and a second section of the airbag that extends to a side of the second fastening component facing the first fastening component by means of a second fold different from a rolled fold.
US08678422B2
An adjustable hitch device for coupling a towing vehicle to a towed implement or trailer is adapted for changing the coupling angle between the vehicle and the implement and also for changing the elevation angle of the implement. An elongated, rigid link is pivotally coupled at a first end to a hitch mechanism coupled to the vehicle and at a second, opposed end to a forward portion of the implement. An intermediate portion of the link is pivotally coupled to one end of a hydraulic cylinder, while a second, opposed end of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to a forward portion of the implement. Extension of the cylinder lowers the implement's forward portion and raises its aft portion, while retraction of the cylinder has an opposite effect. In this manner, the height of the implement may be increased for use in operation or may be lowered for transport or storage.
US08678419B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide systems and methods for connecting a power supply of a tow vehicle to a trailer. The system may comprise a connector plate coupled to a hitching member. The connector plate may define a curvilinear slot that receives a first connector. The curvilinear slot may allow the connector plate to rotate with respect to the first connector. A retention spring may be coupled to the first connector. In various embodiments, the hitching member may be a tongue of a fifth wheel trailer or a downward extending member of a gooseneck trailer.
US08678411B2
A retractable stair assembly for a vehicle includes a track assembly mounted on a vehicle frame beneath a workbed, a step assembly, and first and second pivot assemblies that engage the track and step assemblies together. The step assembly moves between a storage position where it is disposed between tracks of the track assembly, and an operational position where it extends outwardly from the tracks, through an aperture in the vehicle's wall panel, and angles downwardly toward the ground. A foldable handrail on the step assembly moves between a collapsed position and an extended position. The handrail is in the extended position when the step assembly is operational and folds to the collapsed position when the step assembly is stored. A door is engaged with the track assembly and covers the aperture when the step assembly is stored. A flange extends from the door and supports a license plate thereon.
US08678410B2
A suspension for a motor vehicle has a sub-frame and first and second control arm movably attached to opposite ends of the sub-frame. A leaf spring extends transversely across the sub-frame, a first end acting on the first control arm and a second end acting on the second control arm. A first spring seat is located between the leaf spring and the sub-frame, and is movable over a first range of positions relative to the leaf spring. A second spring seat is located between the leaf spring and the sub-frame, the second spring seat movable over a second range of positions relative to the leaf spring. An actuator is operatively connected to the first and second spring seats to move the first and second spring seats across their respective ranges of positions, thereby changing a spring rate of the leaf spring.
US08678400B2
A chuck including a body with a nose section defining an axial bore formed therein, a plurality of jaws movably disposed with respect to the body, and a sleeve rotatably mounted about the body so that rotation of the sleeve moves the jaws relative to the axial bore. A bearing has a first race, a second race, and at least one bearing element disposed therebetween, one of the first race and the second race defining a ratchet and the other defining a pawl biased toward the ratchet. A biasing element is disposed between the pawl and the sleeve. The biasing element exerts a biasing force on the pawl toward the ratchet and the ratchet and the pawl prevent the second race from rotating in the opening direction with respect to the first race when engaged.
US08678396B2
A leaf seal device having a connection holding section of a sealing plate which is bent at a first bending section. A plurality of laminated sealing plates are engaged sequentially at the first bending section. An inclined face at an inner circumferential side of the connection holding section, a pitch and a space of a sealing section are changed.
US08678387B2
The control unit 60 controls driving units 45b, 45c and 45d in such a manner that, when the detecting unit 36b detects at least the one paper sheet P2, the detected paper sheet P2 and the bundled of paper sheet P1 escrowed in the loop portion are merged to each other, and that the merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are escrowed in the loop portion. At this time, the control unit 60 controls the drive units 45b, 45c and 45d such that, after the detected paper sheet P2 and the escrowed bundle of paper sheet P1 have been merged or partly merged to each other, the merged or partly-merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are accelerated in at least the loop portion.
US08678383B2
A multifeed processing apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit and is connected to a multifeed detecting mechanism and an image reading mechanism. The control unit includes (i) a measuring unit that measures a multifeed detection pattern from any one or both of an output of the multifeed detecting mechanism and an image of a medium read by the image reading mechanism, (ii) a determining unit that determines whether the measured multifeed detection pattern is included in a multifeed disable pattern stored in the storage unit, (iii) a reading control unit that regards a multifeed detection performed by the multifeed detecting mechanism as invalid, and causes the image reading mechanism to continue a reading operation, and (iv) a storage control unit that stores the measured multifeed detection pattern as the multifeed disable pattern in the storage unit.
US08678378B2
A paper feeding cassette includes a cassette body having a bottom wall, a front face wall disposed at a front end of the cassette body, a medium-stacking member disposed so as to be swingable about a support shaft relative to the cassette body wherein the medium-stacking member configured to have a medium thereon stacked, and a mechanism configured to move the medium-stacking member away from the bottom wall. The front face wall includes a curved portion.
US08678366B2
A portable cradle device is provided and includes a cradle top section and a cradle bottom section, wherein the cradle top section includes a top portion base structure having a first component support structure and a second component support structure, and the cradle bottom section includes a cradle support structure extending downward from the cradle top portion, wherein a portion of the cradle top section is sized relative to the cradle bottom section to form a cradle lip such that when the portable cradle device is associated with a utility bucket, the cradle lip rests on the edge of the utility bucket cavity.
US08678354B2
Bubble generator devices to produce a fluid stream of bubbles are described. Apparatuses that include any of the described bubble generator devices to treat waste and/or frac-water are also described.
US08678351B2
A lift assist device for assisting a user in lifting an item includes a base having a center portion and a side portion that is angled relative to said center portion, a support shaft extending upward from the center portion of the base, and a support platform rotatably attached at an upper end of the support shaft and rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support shaft. The lift assist device is tiltable between a loading position, where the side portion of the base rests on a floor or support surface and the support shaft is in a tilted orientation, and a lifting position, where the center portion of the base rests on the floor or support surface and the support shaft is in a generally vertical orientation.
US08678343B2
An armature-stator structure (45) includes a stator (56) having a magnetic housing (57) of generally U-shaped cross-section. The housing includes an open end (58) in communication with an interior portion (60). A coil (94) is associated with the stator and to be energized to generate a magnetic field. An armature (46) has a generally ring-shaped base (48) and a generally rod-shaped stem portion (50) extending transversely from the base such that the base and stem portion define a generally T-shaped cross-section. The base is able to be received in the opened end of the housing with the stem portion extending into the interior portion. The armature moves with respect to the stator from a first position to a second position in response to the generated magnetic field. The stator and armature are configured such that a force on the armature decreases as a portion of the armature moves further into the interior portion of the body of the stator, towards the second position.
US08678334B2
A patient flatwall system comprises a generally horizontal track extending generally parallel and adjacent to a wall of a hospital room, and at least one patient flatwall coupled to the track for movement therealong and for rotational movement relative thereto about a generally vertical axis. The at least one flatwall has a plurality of service connectors. In another embodiment, a patient flatwall system comprises a short telescopic arm having a proximal end coupled to the track for movement therealong, and a patient flatwall coupled to a distal end of the telescopic arm for rotational movement about a generally vertical axis.
US08678327B1
A trash bag securing device has a rotatable member and a stationary member. The stationary member is attached to the trash receptacle. The rotatable member has a first bag securing means which may include a bag containment area. The stationary member includes a second bag securing means which may include a point.
US08678324B2
Embodiments of the present airfoil systems comprise an airfoil with a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a skin surface, at least one structural element located within said airfoil, wherein said structural element supports the skin surface having an upper skin portion and a lower skin portion wherein said structural element can change its shape in response to external stimulus during flight operations, and an actuating means for selectively altering the curvature of said structural element which alters the curvature of said upper skin portion and of said lower skin portion to cause nonlinear deflection of said skin surface between an extreme raised position through a neutral position to an extreme lowered position; whereby the outer surface curvature of said airfoil and said skin surface is smooth and continuous over substantially the entirety thereof at all positions of said skin surface.
US08678314B2
Aircraft fuselage section (32) subjected to impacts of external bodies, the aircraft fuselage having a curved shape with at least a vertical symmetry plane (A-A) and a central longitudinal axis and comprising a skin (35) and a plurality of frames (37) arranged perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis (33), the aircraft fuselage section also comprising at least an inner reticular structure (51, 53) mounted on a supporting structure (41, 43) comprising longitudinal beams (39) attached to the skin (35) and interconnected with said frames (37), said inner reticular structure (51, 53) being arranged for creating at least one closed cell (75) with the skin (35) for improving its resistance and its damage tolerance to said impacts. Said inner reticular structure (51, 53) can be formed by panels (61), rods (65, 65′), cables (67, 67′) or belts (69, 69′).
US08678303B2
A method for operating a grinder pump station and inhibiting the likelihood of operation of a grinder pump assembly under at least one of a run dry condition and a blocked condition includes providing a wattmeter circuit operably connected to the grinder pump assembly and measuring real power using the wattmeter circuit during operation of the grinder pump assembly to process sewage received in a tank and discharge the processed sewage from the tank. The grinder pump assembly is automatically turned off based on the real power (e.g., average value of the product of instantaneous values of voltage and current over time) measured by the wattmeter circuit due to the at least one of a run dry condition and a blocked condition.
US08678292B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes a metallic antenna plate, a first metallic tube, and a second metallic tube. The metallic antenna plate has a positioning portion and defines a central axis, a first hole, and a second hole. The positioning portion is formed in the path of the central axis and surrounds the second hole. The first and second metallic tubes are disposed on the metallic antenna plate. The first and second metallic tubes each has one end disposed on the positioning portion. The first and second metallic tubes extend across the first and second holes, respectively and are welded to the metallic antenna plate. The portion of the second metallic tube that extends across the second hole is approximately perpendicular to the portion of the first metallic tube that extends across the first hole.
US08678281B2
A point of sale system and method are disclosed wherein a shopping bag has one or more RFID loop type antenna. An example system includes a bag holder for securing the shopping bag while items are placed in it. Multiple bag holders may be incorporated on a carousel, which can be rotated to move an empty bag to a filling station at the checkout counter, and to move filled bags to an open area for the customer or cashier to retrieve the filled shopping bags. An RFID reader in communication with the bag holder uses one of the RFID loop antennas to read the RFID tags on the items placed in the bag. In a shopping bag having more than one RFID loop antenna, the RFID system controller may monitor the impedance of each RFID loop antenna and dynamically select one of the RFID loop antennas on the shopping bag as a function of the impedances.
US08678277B2
A decoding system includes a decoding engine running on a mobile device that decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, detects the read once the incoming signals are in a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks in the incoming signals into bits. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party, so that the first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party.
US08678273B2
An electronic transaction verification system for use with transaction tokens such as checks, credit cards, debit cards, and smart cards that gathers and transmits information about the transaction token and biometric data is described herein. The electronic verification system includes a biometric data device for recording and/or transmitting biometric data taken at the transaction location. The electronic system is adapted to accept or deny a transaction based on the comparison result generated by comparing the biometric data and the information obtained from the transaction token at the transaction location with information previously stored in one or more databases.
US08678270B2
A method is provided for brazing a metal leadframe clip to an electrical resistance heating tip for an electrical resistance igniter, wherein the electrical resistance heating tip includes silicon carbide. The method includes forming a layer of SiO2/Al2O3 on a surface of the electrical resistance heating tip; applying a braze alloy paste between the layer of SiO2/Al2O3 and the metal leadframe clip; and heating the braze alloy, the metal leadframe clip and the electrical resistance heating tip to fuse the braze alloy.
US08678263B2
There is disclosed a materials delivery system for use with a surgical stapling instrument having at least one jaw including a knife slot. The materials delivery system includes a series of treatment material receiving pockets positioned adjacent the knife slot such that a portion of each pocket is open to the knife slot. A source of treatment material is positioned within the pockets such that passage of the knife blade adjacent to the pockets repeatedly coats the knife blade with the treatment material.
US08678257B2
The invention relates to a roof rack (2) for a vehicle (K) comprising a front crossmember (3) and a rear crossmember (4), the crossmembers (3, 4) comprising fastening feet (5) at the end by which they are supported on the lateral roof rails (DR) and in which at least the fastening feet (5) of the front crossmember (3) comprise fastening means (8) by means of which the fastening feet (5) are able to be secured to the respectively associated roof rail (DR) of the vehicle (K). For improved securing of the roof rack (2) to the vehicle (K), it is proposed that at least one crossmember (3, 4) is connected to the rear roof rail (HR) by at least one connection element (12).
US08678254B2
The present invention broadly comprises a support belt having a band including a first end having a fastener, a second end configured to receive the fastener and a middle portion having a midpoint and arranged between the first and second ends. The present invention also includes a first dependent loop coupled to the first end of the band and a second dependent loop coupled to the second end of the band, wherein the first and second dependent loops are disposed at a predetermined angle to the band.
US08678246B2
The present invention relates to a cartridge for holding liquid, paste-like or powdered compounds and a piston for closing such a cartridge, and a system made up of such a cartridge, comprising a tool (15), wherein the piston comprises a cylindrical or cylindrical tube-like base member that can be placed into a cartridge and moved along the cylindrical longitudinal axis inside a cartridge, wherein at least one sealing lip (12) is provided that seals against a sealing surface running parallel to or at an acute angle with respect to the cylindrical longitudinal axis, wherein the sealing lip is arranged such that by way of a tool that can be accessed from an end side of the piston, the sealing lip can be lifted off the sealing surface when the cartridge is closed by the piston so that air can escape from the cartridge.
US08678234B2
A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
US08678231B2
A medicine dispensing device capable of appropriately dispensing medicines independent of their form and having a compact structure. The medicine dispensing device has a device body (1) and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying, on one by one basis, medicines (D) arranged in rows in the device body (1). The medicine conveyance member (3) has a medicine holding member (40) reciprocatingly moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. The medicine holding member (40) has a support member (42), a forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) reciprocatingly moving in the forward and backward direction of the device body (1) while being supported by the support member (42), and a holding member (44) supported by the forwardly/backwardly moving member (43) so as to swing between a vertical position and a horizontal position and having a pair of holding sections (54) capable of holding a medicine (D).
US08678230B2
An exemplary embodiment of a vessel-lid combination includes a glass, ceramic or metal vessel having an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, a lid fabricated of a plastic material, and a seal structure integrated with the lid to form a unitary structure. The lid is configured to attach to the open top by means of a latch or set of latches integrated with the lid, and the seal structure is configured to provide an air-tight seal between the lid and the peripheral edge of the vessel when the lid is attached to the vessel. In one exemplary embodiment, the vessel is a container fabricated of a glass suitable for baking or oven heating applications.
US08678229B1
A protective sleeve system featuring a housing having an inner cavity adapted to hold a vial. The top of the housing is at an angle with respect to the side wall forming a crater. An aperture is disposed at the narrowest part of the crater providing access to the inner cavity of the housing. Two windows are disposed in the side wall of the housing and positioned opposite each other. A drainage hole is disposed in the bottom surface of the housing and is fluidly connected to the inner cavity of the housing.
US08678224B2
An insert for a receptacle intended to contain a concentrated product in solid or liquid form includes a main part (1) formed by a base (2) extended on the edge by a wall (3) perpendicular to the base, with an opening (4) formed in the base. A receptacle with such an insert is also provided. In order to enable emptying the receptacle entirely without leaving dead spaces in which the products to be solubilized may accumulate, the face of the base (2) intended to be in the receptacle after assembly is concave at the opening, so that the opening is at the bottom of a trough (6). This avoids corners in which the liquid would not circulate sufficiently, and prevents solid product from accumulating elsewhere than in the trough, so that it is always subjected to the flow of liquid.
US08678221B2
A container lid includes a conventional main or pour opening and a vent opening spaced from the main opening. A vent score defines the shape of the vent opening, and a vent panel covers the vent opening. The vent panel has a raised convex shape. The lower surface of the tab handle includes a protruding portion, seen as a concave shaped element when viewed from above the container lid. The protruding portion of the tab handle can be aligned with the vent panel so application of a downward force on the tab handle transfers force to the vent panel and breaks the vent score. The shapes of the vent panel and concave element of the tab handle can be adjusted for selective and controlled force transfer to create the vent opening.
US08678204B2
A centrifugal separator of the present invention comprises an upper inlet chamber and separation barrel connected thereto. The upper inlet chamber comprises an inlet through which a solids-laden fluid is introduced. An upper portion of the separation barrel extends into the upper inlet chamber below the inlet, such that the interior wall of the upper inlet chamber and the upper portion of the separation volume define a space, called the vestibular chamber. The vestibular chamber is defined at its upper end by a horizontally disposed plate larger in diameter than the separation barrel, but smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the upper inlet chamber. The upper portion of the separation barrel comprises a plurality of generally axially-oriented slots which may penetrate through the wall of the separation barrel tangentially, so as to generally induce a tangential flow pattern to fluid entering the separation barrel from the vestibular chamber.
US08678203B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide forming polynorbornenes useful for forming pervaporation membranes, the membranes themselves and methods of making such membranes.
US08678200B2
A system for dewatering a stream of slurry has a first and a second separator. The first separator removes objects above a first size, to produce a stream of primary treated slurry. The second separator removes objects above a second size from the primary treated stream, the second size being smaller than the first size. Optionally, a third separator removes objects above a yet smaller third size from the stream of secondary treated slurry. The first separator has a plurality of sieve mat supports alternately connected to a main support frame section and a movable support frame section so that the flexible sieve mat can be agitated by the movable support frame section, a collector being provided for collecting the primary treated slurry passing through the flexible sieve mat. In an optional step, water contained in the separated solids is removed.
US08678197B2
Powder (b) cut and attached to tablet pieces (T1, T2) can be removed smoothly. A tablet dividing feeder (A1) cuts and divides a tablet (T) in a receiving pocket into two halves with a fixed blade as a rotor rotates. Powder removing plates (64a, 64b, 66) are installed in a tablet supplying passage (14) of the feeder. The powder removing plate (64b) is vibrated by a vibration motor (71) to peel the powder (b) attached to the tablet on the powder removing plate and drop the powder (b) from a slit (a). The peeling operation is performed by temporarily leaving the tablet pieces (T1, T2) between the powder removing plates (64a, 64b). The powder removing plate (64b) is fluctuated by a plunger, and the tablet pieces may be left and dropped due to the fluctuation. The tablet piece drops along the powder removing plate (66), and the attached powder is peeled to be guided to a packaging process through a supply opening (90).
US08678192B1
A mineral separating gold cube concentrator presents at least two modular portable stacking trays defining alternating inclined surfaces over which a continuing supply of water flows. A first tray provides an inclined smooth surface with controlled water flow to the incline which imparts fluidity allowing the aggregate to move downward and form a slurry that separates the aggregates into lightest first, heaviest last. A second tray is a collection tray is below the first tray and defines a G force separator, forcing all materials under the gate into vertical column within the turbulent water, the column descending upon the vortex mat upon the second tray, forcing the lighter materials within the aggregate to advance ahead of the heavier material. Any material not captured by the vortex mat travels to the end of the matting and is either expelled or subsequently transferred into another collection tray through another G force separator.
US08678190B2
A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. Printed instructions (1001) can be included with the tray (100). One or more layers of wrap material (2200) can be folded about the tray (100) to enclose the tray (100) and other items, such as an additional layer of wrap material (2701), packaged liquid hand sanitizer (2401), and packaged gloves (2402). When a health care services provider (3101) unfolds the wrap material, the same can be used to create a sterile field beneath a patient (3201).
US08678188B2
The present invention comprises a storage container that comprises a front panel, a back or rear panel, a left side panel, a top portion, and a bottom portion. Each of the panels, as well as the top portion and the bottom portion of the storage container, comprises a contact surface with each contact surface comprising at least one contact point. The use of multiple contact surfaces and multiple contact points allows a plurality of storage containers to be efficiently and securely stacked and nested, thereby allowing for quick and easy storage of items while conserving valuable yet precious storage space.
US08678187B2
A shipping and installation container for soft tubing. The container includes a substantially cylindrical section that readily receives soft or foam tubing commonly used on heating or cooling conduits in an industrial plant. End caps are provided at opposite ends of the cylindrical section to facilitate stacking and storing the container laden with soft tubing during shipment. The end caps can be readily removed and the cylindrical section then serves as a guide to facilitate installation of the tubing onto industrial conduit.
US08678174B2
A method for buffering products, such as bottles, cans and pots, wherein the products are carried upwards on a moving, inclined first conveying surface at a first flow rate. The products on the first conveying surface can accumulate against a guide member at the upper end of the first conveying surface, after which the products are guided from the guide member onto a second conveying surface, on which they are conveyed onwards at a second flow rate. The first conveying surface is disposed at such an angle and is provided with such a surface condition that the dragging force exerted on the products from the first conveying surface is just a little greater than the force of gravity being exerted on the products in the direction along the conveying surface. As a result, the products can be buffered in a simple manner, while the products exert only little pressure on each other.
US08678170B2
Products (3) advancing in single file are divided into at least two files by a device comprising a main conveyor (10) from which the products (3) of the single file (7) pass onto a first outfeed conveyor (11) and onto a second outfeed conveyor (12) positioned with infeed ends at different heights, one above the other; the device also comprises a linking conveyor (26) between the main conveyor (10) and the outfeed conveyors (11, 12), consisting in a pair of looped belts (27, 28) presenting outer surfaces faced along a portion of predetermined length with a layer (35) of resilient material, thereby creating a channel (34) by which the main conveyor (10) is linked to the outfeed conveyor (11) positioned uppermost, and along which the products (3) are transferred cyclically to this same conveyor (11).
US08678169B2
A checkpoint system, wheeled bins for a checkpoint system, and methods for conveying articles in wheeled bins through a checkpoint system. Each bin has four wheels that do not extend below the bin's flat bottom. In this way, the bin can be slid on its bottom along a shallow, troughed divesting table while it is being filled and conveyed on its bottom through a checkpoint and rolled on its wheels along a deeper troughed discharge lane. A bin return beneath the discharge lane returns bins to a bin storage queue beneath the divesting table. A sorter at the output of the checkpoint selectively diverts bins to one or more discharge lanes, such as individual lanes for cleared and for suspect bin contents.
US08678163B2
A paper currency handling apparatus associated with the present invention has a paper currency storage unit which receives paper currencies, a feeder port which enters or dispenses paper currencies by opening or closing an inner shutter and an outer shutter, a transport path which transports the paper currencies between the feeder port and the paper currency storage unit, open/close control unit which controls open/close operations of the inner shutter and the outer shutter independently, and paper currency posture modification unit which modifies the posture of paper currencies present between the outer shutter and the inner shutter.
US08678157B2
An isolating decoupler comprising a shaft, a pulley rotationally engaged with the shaft, a coil spring engaged between the pulley and a spring carrier, the spring carrier moveable relative to the shaft and pulley, a one-way clutch mounted to the shaft, a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring engaged between the spring carrier and the one-way clutch, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring having a releasable frictional engagement with the one-way clutch, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring comprising adjacent parallel strands and having substantially equal diameters, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring each being engagable with the pulley, the first torsion spring releasing a frictional engagement with the one-way clutch upon an engagement with the pulley, and the second torsion spring releasing a frictional engagement with the one-way clutch upon an engagement with the pulley.
US08678156B2
The invention relates to a shiftable friction clutch (1a, 1b) for actuation with a pressure medium. Clutches of this type can be used, for example, to drive auxiliary assemblies such as fans (22) in vehicle construction. An especially compact construction is achieved through the use of a disk spring (6). A production method is furthermore proposed.
US08678147B2
In an electric brake of the present invention, a plunger of an actuator is connected through a pin to a pivot arm to which an engaging pawl engageable with a tooth portion of a ratchet is pivotably attached. A lower surface (a force-receiving portion) of the pin is adapted to receive an upward force which is applied by a tool inserted through a bolt hole threadably engaged with a watertight bolt. When the parking brake is operated (the engaging pawl is engaged with the tooth portion of the ratchet), if supply of current to the coil becomes impossible, the pin is moved upward by means of the tool, to thereby separate the engaging pawl from the tooth portion. Therefore, an emergency action to release the parking brake can be manually conducted.
US08678145B2
A pneumatic or electromagnetically actuated disc brake includes a caliper spanning a brake disc, a brake application unit disposed in the caliper and having a brake lever, at least one actuating spindle axially displaceable by the rotary lever, and a wear adjustor actuated by the brake lever and positioned in the brake caliper, by which a wear-induced change in an air gap between a brake pad and the brake disc can be substantially compensated for by way of an axial adjustment of the actuating spindle. The wear adjustor includes a spur gear segment extending in the pivot direction and disposed on the lever and engaging with a crown gear operationally connected to the actuating spindle for adjusting.
US08678141B2
An exemplary electromagnetic coupling device includes an electromagnet and a vane member that is selectively magnetically coupled with the electromagnet. A non-magnetic slider layer is supported on one of the electromagnet or the vane member such that the slider layer is between the electromagnet and the vane member. The slider layer maintains a spacing between the electromagnet and the vane member. In a disclosed example, the electromagnetic coupling device is used for coupling an elevator car door to a hoistway door for moving the doors in unison between open and closed positions.
US08678137B2
A lubrication monitoring system for monitoring the lubricative state of two relatively movable elements of a linear transmission device includes a contact resistance capturing device and a processing unit. The contact resistance capturing device for detecting the contact resistance between the two elements and converting it into a corresponding value. A maximum delay time and a threshold value are preset in the processing unit. A period of time during which the linear transmission device starts to run and then the corresponding value reaches the threshold value defines a delay time. If the specific value of the delay time to the maximum delay time is larger than or equal to a predetermined specific one, it will be judged that the lubrication needs resupply. Therefore, monitoring the lubricative state as the linear transmission device is accelerated can get correct lubricative state to enable correct lubrication resupply.
US08678129B2
A method for selectively charging and discharging a steering accumulator are provided. One vehicle steering system includes a hydraulic pump configured provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for use in steering the vehicle. The steering system also includes an accumulator configured to hold pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump for use in steering the vehicle in case of need. The steering system includes a charging circuit configured to selectively allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic pump to the accumulator based on a fluid pressure applied by a first pilot and a second pilot. The steering system includes a charging bypass circuit configured to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow to a steering control unit and to bypass the charging circuit. The hydraulic pump supplies fluid to the charging circuit and the bypass circuit.
US08678122B2
A vehicle body frame of a motorcycle comprises a front frame portion extending rearward from a head pipe; and a rear frame portion extending downward or rearward from a rear end of the front frame portion. The front frame portion includes at least a pair of right and left frame members. A forward portion of the rear frame portion is a lumbar frame having a closed cross-section structure portion in which a pair of right and left steel plates and are joined together. Devices such as a canister, and an ABS unit, are easily mounted in spaces lateral relative to the lumbar frame having a reduced width, while ensuring a sufficient stiffness.
US08678121B2
A system comprising a tractor vehicle, at least one trailer vehicle and a skin between and in contact with the tractor and trailer vehicles. One of the vehicles is disposed in a non-inverted position above the skin and the other is inverted and below the skin. The trailer vehicle comprises one or more magnets, while the tractor vehicle comprises one or more magnets magnetically coupled to each opposing magnet on the trailer vehicle. The vehicles may have mutually opposing permanent magnets in one-to-one relationship. Alternatively, each permanent magnet on the trailer vehicle could be opposed by one or more electro-permanent magnets on the tractor vehicle. The system further comprises means for maintaining the magnetic attraction force within a range as the vehicles move along a portion of the skin having a varying thickness.
US08678118B2
A vehicle drive device having two independent systems provided for two driving wheels, respectively, each system including a rotating electrical machine, an output member to be connected to a corresponding driving wheel, and a drive transmission system. The transmission also includes a counter deceleration mechanism, which connects the rotating electrical machine and the output member to each other. A case integrally accommodates the rotating electrical machines, the output members, and the drive transmission systems of the two systems. The rotation axes are provided so that their respective rotation axes are parallel to each other, and are positioned so as to overlap each other in the rotation axis direction. The rotating electrical machine of each system is provided with an output portion located on one side of the rotating electrical machine which is distal from the corresponding driving wheel in the rotation axis direction of the rotating electrical machine.
US08678115B2
In a rotating electrical machine configured with a rotor and stator, a lubricant supply portion is configured to supply a lubricant from within. A communication passage is provided in either the rotor support member or the sensor rotor, and is configured so as to provide a passage from a first space, which extends radially outward from the axial first direction side of the sensor rotor and is formed between the support wall and the rotor support member, with a second space, which is formed between the sensor rotor and the rotor support member. The case of the machine has a support wall extending at least in a radial direction to an axial first direction side, which is one side in an axial direction of the rotating electrical machine, and after lubricating the bearing, the lubricant is discharged from the second space to the first space through the communication passage.
US08678111B2
A hybrid earth-boring bit comprising a bit body having a central axis, at least one, preferably three fixed blades, depending downwardly from the bit body, each fixed blade having a leading edge, and at least one rolling cutter, preferably three rolling cutters, mounted for rotation on the bit body. A rolling cutter is located between two fixed blades.
US08678108B1
A casing drilling assembly includes a profile sub having an interior profile shoulder and secured a casing string. A bottom hole assembly is run into and retrievable from the casing string. Stop dogs carried by the bottom hole assembly lands on the profile shoulder and stop downward movement of the bottom hole assembly, positioning an underreamer below the casing string. A mandrel is coupled to the bottom hole assembly. An elastomeric sleeve encircles the mandrel below a setting ring. A running tool releasably couples to the mandrel and moves the setting ring downward relative to the mandrel to a lower position to deform the sleeve into frictional engagement with the casing string and the mandrel to transmit torque and axial load between the bottom hole assembly and the casing string.
US08678094B2
An offshore platform may include a pair of trolleys. One trolley may be mounted on top of the platform and the other trolley may be suspended below the platform. Each trolley may be positioned on opposed sides of a moon pool in one embodiment of the present invention. The lower trolley may be used to hang off a riser and blowout preventer. The upper trolley may be utilized to hang off smaller diameter casing while larger diameter casing is being made up and positioned within the hole. As a result of the parallel operations made possible by the trolleys, drilling time may be reduced in some embodiments.
US08678091B2
Magnetic retrieval tools for use in a wellbore or other tubular member to remove metallic debris. A magnetic retrieval tool includes a tool body having a central shaft with a plurality of ribs that project radially outwardly therefrom. The ribs present lateral sides that have recesses formed therein. Magnet bars are retained within the recesses by wedge members and retaining rings. The magnet bars include a hollow protective housing that encloses a plurality of magnets. Retaining plugs are used to secure the magnets within the housing.
US08678090B2
A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation and treated hydrocarbon-bearing formations. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a composition having solvent and a fluorinated polymer. The fluorinated polymer has units having formula (I): A method for making a composition containing these units is also disclosed.
US08678086B2
A downhole steam generation apparatus and method of use are provided. The apparatus may include an injection section, a combustion section, and an evaporation section. The injection section may include a housing, injector elements, and injector plate. The combustion section may include a liner having channels disposed therethrough. The evaporation section may include conduits in fluid communication with the channels and the combustion chamber, and a nozzle operable to inject a fluid from the channels to the combustion chamber in droplet form. A method of use may include supplying fuel, oxidant, and fluid to the apparatus; combusting fuel and oxidant in a chamber while flowing the fluid through a plurality of channels disposed through a liner, thereby heating the fluid and cooling the liner; and injecting droplets of the heated fluid into the chamber and evaporating the droplets by combustion of the fuel and the oxidant to produce steam.
US08678083B2
A liner hanger uses a spirally shaped slip member that makes at least one revolution about the mandrel being expanded. The slip member is disposed in a groove with tapered end walls that approach each other during radial mandrel expansion due to shrinkage of said mandrel in the longitudinal direction. The shrinkage binds the slip to the mandrel as the slip member approaches the surrounding tubular. The tapered side walls of the groove moving together cam out the slip member into enhanced contact with the surrounding tubular to support the liner or other string below the hanger. The slip member and groove have preferably the same pitch to allow easy mounting with an applied rotational force.
US08678075B2
Heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a thermal contact plate defining a cavity in fluid communication with a first pipe and a plurality of stationary elements substantially perpendicular to the first pipe each defining a cavity wherein each cavity is in fluid communication with the first pipe and at least one cavity includes a wick. A plurality of movable elements are provided wherein the movable elements and the stationary elements are substantially parallel, alternatingly arranged and a portion of the movable elements overlaps a portion of the stationary elements. A working fluid is provided in the first pipe and cavities or stationary elements and thermal contact plate.
US08678065B2
A carrier tape feeder is provided. The carrier tape feeder includes a unit for loading a carrier tape, a picking-up unit where chips are picked up, and a driving unit. The pick-up unit includes a knife portion, a folding-guiding portion, and an inversion-guiding portion. The knife portion separates a cover tape from a base tape in a first adhesive portion. The folding-guiding portion is spaced from one lateral side of the knife portion to induce folding of the cover tape separated by the knife portion in the lengthwise direction in a state in which the cover tape is partially attached to the base tape in a second adhesive portion. The inversion-guiding portion extends in an oblique direction from the knife portion and the folding-guiding portion toward the outside of the carrier tape to induce inversion of the upper and lower surfaces of the cover tape folded in the folding-guiding portion so as to be superimposed on the base tape. The distal end of the lateral side of the folding-guiding portion opposed to the knife portion extends above the second adhesive portion.
US08678054B2
A Segmented Tire Apparatus for improving the reliability and performance of irrigation systems. The Segmented Tire Apparatus includes a plurality of arcuate tire segments coupleable end to end to form a circular tire. Each of the arcuate tire segments has a plurality of treads which may be radial, transverse, or semi-transverse. Additionally the apparatus may be filled with a closed cell foam to provide stability and rigidity while inhibiting water from collecting on the inside of the tire.
US08678052B2
A wheeled chassis to which a stump grinding unit is securely attached that includes a chip collector attached to either the stump grinder or the wheeled chassis and positioned adjacent the trailing edge of the stump grinding wheel. The wheeled chassis includes a duct in fluid communication with the chip collector, and a collection bin positioned adjacent the trailing end and in spaced relation below the duct. The wheeled chassis is adapted for hitched connection to a vehicle. A blower can be positioned within the duct to produce a rearwardly directed air flow to assist in the chip movement towards the collection bin. The collection bin can be positioned on the wheeled chassis or on a vehicle to which the wheeled chassis is attached.
US08678051B2
An instrument for filling a substance supply container of a device for personal care treatment has a filling needle having a proximal end connected or connectable to a storage reservoir and a distal end, a substance transport conduit extending from the proximal end to at least one outlet provided in a radially facing surface portion closely adjacent the distal end of the filling needle. A sleeve is arranged around the filling needle and is movable between a first position closing off the at least one outlet and a second position proximally away from the first position and the at least one outlet. A system including such an instrument, a container for cooperation with such an instrument and for provisioning a device for personal care treatment as well as a device for personal care treatment including such a container are described.
US08678042B2
A spoolable composite tube capable of being spooled onto a reel for storage and for use in oil field applications. The spoolable tube exhibits unique anistropic characteristics that provide improved burst and collapse pressures, increased tensile strength, compression strength, and load carrying capacity, while still remaining sufficiently bendable to be spooled onto a reel in an open bore configuration. The spoolable composite tube can include an inner liner, an interface layer, fiber composite layers, a pressure barrier layer, and an outer protective layer. The fiber composite layers can have a unique triaxial braid structure.
US08678039B2
An elongated conduit including a tubular outer pipe, an elastic inner pipe and an annulus between the outer pipe and inner pipe, the conduit being provided with a fluid supply device, the outer pipe being provided with an inlet for introducing the fluid in the annulus between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, which inlet communicates with the fluid supply device.
US08678037B2
A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.
US08678033B2
Disclosed is an exemplary valve having a first valve member that may include at least one orifice, and which is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a second valve member that includes at least one orifice, and which is moveable relative to the first valve member between a first position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly disconnected from the at least one orifice of the first valve member, and a second position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly connected to the at least one orifice of the first valve member. The exemplary valve may also include first and second actuators for moving the first and second valve members between their respective first and second positions.
US08678031B2
A nuclear plant is provided with a pipe-passivating alkali-injecting device including an alkali-injecting tank, an actuator, a counter-balance valve, a pressure gauge, exhaust valves and switching valves. The actuator is connected to the alkali-injecting tank via a first pipe. The counter-balance valve is connected to the actuator via a second pipe and connected to the alkali-injecting tank via a third pipe. The pressure gauge is provided between the actuator and the counter-balance valve and connected to the second pipe. The exhaust valves are connected to the first and second pipes, and so are the switching valves. The alkali-injecting tank, the actuator and the counter-balance valve are used together to expel gases from the pipes while injecting alkali, thus effectively avoiding feedback of liquid in the nuclear plant, transmitting pure alkali in the pipes, and reducing damage to the pipes.
US08678029B2
A pressure regulator includes a housing assembly defining a main fluid flow path from an inlet end to an outlet end. A tubular plunger body is supported within the housing assembly for linear movement toward and away from a valve seat in response to fluid pressure at said outlet end. An actuator sleeve is supported within the housing assembly and engaged with the tubular plunger body, and a pressure chamber defined in part by a shut-off diaphragm extends between the housing assembly and the actuator sleeve. A fluid port is arranged to supply pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber to thereby produce linear movement of the actuator sleeve and the tubular plunger body independent of the pressure at said outlet end, moving the tubular plunger body into engagement with the valve seat to shut off the flow path.
US08678011B2
Orifice insertion devices are provided. An orifice insertion device includes a stent and a plurality of sealing elements. Each sealing element is attached to the stent. At least one sealing element includes an expandable section configured to exert a pressure on an ear canal wall to seal an ear canal, without appreciable deformation of the ear canal wall. At least two of the plurality of sealing elements are formed from different materials.
US08678007B2
A patient support system for a wheelchair is provided. At least a portion of the patient support system components form a no-air-loss patient support surface. At least one fluid pump can supply air pressure to a plurality of no-air-loss air cells, and at least one pressure release valve can release air pressure from the no-air-loss air cells. A computer can compare air pressure within the air cells to a desired air pressure set point and can modulate the air pressure by actuating the at least one fluid pump and/or the at least one pressure release valve to bring the air pressure within the air cells to a desired air pressure. After the initial air pressure adjustments are made and the desired air pressure is achieved, no further adjustments during the operation are able to be made by the computer so that the patient positioned thereon the patient support system will not be moved by the patient support system during an operation.
US08678005B2
A valve, usable in connection with a tracheostomy tube, permits phonation by selectively blocking passage of air therethrough. The valve includes a main body portion with first and second internal passages. A first aperture extends radially through a peripheral wall, connecting the first internal passage to an environment external to the main body. A second aperture extends radially through the peripheral wall, connecting the second internal passage to the environment. A trach body portion defines a third internal passage and is connected to the main body portion. A flapper valve is sandwiched between the main body portion and the trach body portion. First and second adjustment rings permit adjustment of opening defined by the first and second apertures, thereby permitting control over the air passing through the first and second apertures.
US08678002B2
A facial mask for use in decreasing the transmission of one or more than one human pathogen to and from a human wearer of the facial mask, the facial mask comprising a facepiece; where the facepiece comprises three or more than three layers; where one or more than one of the three or more than three layers comprises a fabric comprising one or more than one binding substance comprising one or more than one human pathogen binding group for chemically attaching the human pathogen to the binding substance; where the fabric further comprises one or more than one type of multivalent metallic ion or metallic salt; and where one or more than one of the three or more than three layers comprises a heat-moldable fabric.
US08677998B2
The present invention provides an oxygen concentrator which allows the flow rate setting to be changed safely and securely by the patient using a remote control device, the oxygen concentrator comprising a control means which does not allow the operation of the flow rate setting change button unless the remote control device receives the information on the flow rate setting value of the oxygen-enriched gas supplied by the current oxygen concentrator main body.
US08677995B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a brushless DC (BLDC) motor over a wide range of angular speeds is presented. Analog magnetic sensors provide continuous signal measurements related to the rotor angular position at a sample rate independent of rotor angular speed. In one embodiment, analog signal measurements are subsequently processed using an arctangent function to obtain the rotor angular position. The arctangent may be computed using arithmetic computation, a small angle approximation, a polynomial evaluation approach, a table lookup approach, or a combination of various methods. In one embodiment, the BLDC rotor is used to drive a Roots blower used as a compressor in a portable mechanical ventilator system.
US08677975B2
A method for detection of abnormal combustion for internal combustion engines is disclosed. A physical model is chosen that describes, as a function of the angle α of rotation of the engine crankshaft, the development of pressure in the cylinder during combustion without any pre-ignition phenomenon. The cylinder pressure Pe(α) is estimated using this model and the intake pressure is measured. The beginning of abnormal combustion is detected by comparing a first value of a variable calculated using the measurement of the cylinder pressure, to a second value of the variable calculated using the estimation of the cylinder pressure. The amplitude of the pre-ignition is determined by repeating these steps for a defined number of crankshaft angles. Then the progress of the abnormal combustion detected in the combustion chamber is controlled as a function of the amplitude of the pre-ignition phenomenon.
US08677974B2
A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including a generally concave portion including a flat bottom surrounding a central protruding dome. The relatively flat bottom portion is bounded by two radial concave surface portions which are disposed below two convex separation features for the injected fuel spray. Such surface geometries may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.
US08677969B2
A mass balancing device for balancing free inertial forces and/or free moments of inertia of a reciprocating internal combustion engine (1). The mass balancing device includes two balancer shafts (3, 4) rotating at the same rotational speed in opposite directions of rotation, and a transmission (5) arranged between the crankshaft (2) of the internal combustion engine and the balancer shafts. The transmission drives the balancer shafts at a transmission ratio of crankshaft rotational speed to the balancer shaft rotational speed that is non-uniform over the crankshaft angle such that the angular speed of the balancer shafts is at the maximum at the piston dead centers. The mass balancing device is intended to be configured for an internal combustion engine of multi-cylinder design and the mean value of the transmission ratio is intended to be 1:2.
US08677968B2
A shaft assembly includes a shaft, a spacer and a cover. The body of the shaft includes a sealing portion, a balancing portion and a hollow portion which may collectively define a generally cylindrical space. The spacer substantially encloses the hollow portion of the body. The cover encapsulates the shaft body and the spacer to provide a substantially continuous cylindrical surface in sealing engagement with the sealing portion. The shaft assembly may be rotatably installed in an engine such that the balancing portion may be partially submerged in an oil bath in the engine and such that the substantially continuous cylindrical surface of the cover minimizes turbulence and aeration of the oil bath when the shaft assembly is rotated. The shaft may be configured for rotation in synchrony with a crankshaft. A method for encapsulating the shaft includes forming a continuous cylindrical surface in sealing engagement with the shaft body.
US08677967B2
Disclosed is an intake manifold having a surge tank connected to an air intake passage for air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine. The intake manifold includes a gas introduction section communicated to the air intake passage or the surge tank for introducing gas containing fuel component to the surge tank and a negative pressure feed passage communicated to a portion of the air intake passage or the surge tank which portion is upstream of the gas introduction section in the movement direction of the air and configured to feed a negative pressure inside the surge tank to the outside. The negative pressure feed passage is connected to the air intake passage or the surge tank via an expansion chamber having a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the negative pressure feed passage.
US08677959B2
A variable valve timing controller for an internal combustion engine includes a hydraulic variable valve timing unit, a lock pin, and a hydraulic control valve. The lock pin is configured to lock the VCT phase at an intermediate lock position. The variable valve timing controller controls a valve drive electric current that is used for actuating the hydraulic control valve. The controller controls the valve drive electric current based on a first control characteristic in the operation of the hydraulic control valve under a first control range. The controller controls the valve drive electric current based on a second control characteristic in the operation of the hydraulic control valve under a second control range. The first control characteristic is different from the second control characteristic.
US08677952B2
A drive train for the sleeve of a sleeve valve engine has a pair of drives imparting compound motion to the sleeve which gives improved port opening and closing. One drive uses a engine driven first gear to give eccentric motion to the sleeve by a cam and follower. The other drive uses an engine driven second gear to give a small simultaneous rotation to the sleeve by an eccentric pin during a split sleeve. One drive allows axial response without preventing rotational response from the other drive. The sleeve path allows tall narrow ports which allow the piston rings to be nearer the piston crown and this reduces emissions.
US08677947B2
A boiler system has a boiler and a combustion amount control unit. The boiler includes a boiler body, a discharge unit, a discharge passage, a feedwater preheater and a feedwater temperature measuring unit. The feedwater preheater includes a heat exchanger. The feedwater temperature measuring unit measures a feedwater temperature that is the temperature of the feedwater flowing in the heat exchanger. The combustion amount control unit controls combustion amount in the boiler, and has a feedwater temperature threshold as a threshold relating to the feedwater temperature. The combustion amount control unit minimizes the combustion amount in the boiler in a case where the feedwater temperature measured by the feedwater temperature measuring unit is the feedwater temperature threshold or lower.
US08677936B2
A dairy milker unit detacher having a milker unit support arm that resists damage and breakage by incorporating a breakaway mechanism that disengages and then automatically or easily returns the support arm to a functional arrangement when a dairy animal or other force engages the support arm.
US08677928B2
The invention concerns a nozzle arrangement for dispensing liquid material, in particular for applying hot melt adhesive onto a substrate, comprising a nozzle orifice for dispensing the liquid material, said orifice being associated with a first and/or a second component, and positioning elements for fixing the position of the first component with respect to the second component. The invention concerns in particular a nozzle arrangement in which the positioning elements are formed as centering screws extending into fitting bores of the second component and into corresponding recesses of the first component. The invention further concerns an applicator and a production facility for applying liquid material.
US08677923B2
A sewer cleanout level indicator for use with a retrofitted conventional sewer cleanout cap. The indicator provides a visual indication of whether a sewer lateral line is blocked on the residential or private side, or the government side. The indicator includes an elongated tubular member which is slidably received by the retrofitted conventional sewer cleanout cap. The tubular member has an upper end having a circular cap attached thereto. The circular cap has a flexibly-compressible annular flange contiguously carried therebelow. A bulbous float is fixedly attached to the lower end of the tubular member. The float is responsive to a change in a level of fluid or waste water present within the cleanout riser of a conventional sewer lateral line.
US08677908B2
A power conversion unit is unitized by accommodating an inverter, converter, and control equipment etc in a box-shaped enclosure having six faces. A storage battery unit is unitized by accommodating a storage battery and storage battery control equipment etc in a box-shaped enclosure having six faces. The driving control equipment of a driver's cab is accommodated in a box-shaped enclosure having six faces. A power generation unit is unitized by accommodating an engine, main generator and radiator etc in a box-shaped enclosure having six faces. The power conversion unit, storage battery unit, driver's cab and power generation unit are mounted on a car body under-frame.
US08677907B2
A bimodal container chassis for supporting a container during roadway and railway transit includes a mainframe having first and second ends, a top edge and a bottom angled edge. The bottom angled edge is positioned at an angle from horizontal. A running gear attachment is connected to the mainframe and slidable along the bottom angled edge in first and second directions between an over-the-road position and an over-the-rail position. The first direction is upward and toward the first end and the second direction is downward and toward the second end such that the running gear attachment is disposed adjacent the second end when in the over-the-road position and disposed upward relative to the over-the-road position and toward the first end when in the over-the-rail position.
US08677906B2
This invention is based on using the railroad system for automatic address transportation of people and cargo. This invention allows usage of existing rail roads, many miles of which are not used or partially used. This invention includes design of vehicle that will be used for automatic address transportation. The invention allows excluding the most complicated part of railroads, switches, and transforms the railroad from an active to a passive system.
US08677900B2
An electrical igniter for a munition. The igniter including: a magnet and coil wherein the magnet is configured for substantially repetitive motion in proximity to the coil to generate a voltage over a duration responsive to an acceleration of the munition; an electrical storage device configured to receive a portion of the voltage over the duration; and a circuit powered by the voltage, the circuit configured to determine an all-fire condition based on both the portion of the voltage and the duration of voltage generation and a predetermined accumulated voltage of the electrical storage device.
US08677898B2
An apparatus and methods for the adjustment of the position of a die in a printing press are disclosed. The apparatus and methods provide for the adjustment of a die frame within a chase. The chase defines a horizontal and a vertical axis. The die frame is slidably secured in a chase to permit movement and adjustment of the die frame in the horizontal and the vertical axis. The die frame may be slidably mounted to one or more vertical guides and one or more horizontal guides to facilitate movement and adjustment in the horizontal and vertical axis.
US08677896B2
A square baler has a baling chamber with slots in the top of the baling chamber for receiving twines to tie bales, and a star wheel sensor having a housing mounted on the exterior of the baling chamber and a star wheel in the housing and passing through one of the slots to contact the crop material of the bale being formed in the baling chamber. A deflector is mounted on the baling chamber to extend through the same slot as the star wheel sensor. The deflector has a region inclined relative to the slot to deflect the twine away from the star wheel.
US08677887B2
A coffee-holding funnel for moka-type coffee machines and a moka-type coffee machine utilizing such funnel are described. The funnel and the moka are adapted to be used with single-use capsules containing ground coffee.
US08677884B2
A hydraulic motor 10 of the invention includes a detected unit 52 formed on an outer circumferential surface of a cylinder block 14 and a rotation sensor 50arranged opposed to the detected unit 52 for detecting the detected unit 52. The rotation sensor 50 is provided on a position corresponding to a position between a deepest portion 41 of a cylinder hole 29 and a rear end face 28 of the cylinder block in an axial direction of the cylinder block. A fan driving device 60 is provided with the hydraulic motor 10, a bracket 61 to which the hydraulic motor is attached in a state in which a tip end of the rotational shaft 13 is arranged on a surface side thereof through a through-hole 64 and a fan 62 attached to the rotational shaft 13 and is driven by the hydraulic motor.
US08677869B2
A control panel 21 has a display screen 22. An operator turns a low-thrust pressing key 28 ON in the menu key group 26 displayed on the display screen 22. In this state, the operator turns an operating dial 32 of a manual pulse generator 31, thereby causing an encoder 34 to generate pulses. When the encoder 34 outputs a pulse signal as a command signal, and a servomotor 17 is driven in accordance with the command signal, the tailstock is advanced. With the distal end of a tailstock center contacting a center hole of the workpiece, the operator turns the operating dial 32, thereby finely adjusting the drive torque of the servomotor. Accordingly, the thrust of the tailstock center is finely adjusted, so that the tailstock center is pressed against the workpiece by a low thrust.
US08677864B1
A wrench drive socket having jaws, actuated by a cam mechanism, facilitating the accommodation of a range of faceted work pieces is provided wherein adjustment of the distance between the jaws having V-shaped grips is accomplished by rotation of a knurled adjustment collar circumferentially disposed around a socket sleeve and fixed to an internally positioned jaw guide, the rotation of the jaw guide selectably positioning cam followers on the jaws against arch shaped cam profiles fashioned along the inside circumference of the socket sleeve, the sleeve being fixed to a centrally disposed socket body having an engaging hole to receive a drive shaft of a wrench such as a ratchet wrench. The adjustable drive socket provides advantages over the prior art including simplified construction, convenience of use, durability, effectiveness, and cost and weight reduction through the elimination of a plurality of sockets having fixed sizes.
US08677862B2
A hand-held powered wrench includes a primary handle and a secondary handle. A motor is mounted on a primary handle. The secondary handle provides a second hand grip position which is significantly displaced from the primary handle axis, and includes a motor control for starting and stopping the motor. By having the significant displacement of the motor controlling second hand grip position, the operator naturally chooses a better stance and naturally dissociates the motor control hand from the torque sustaining hand in operation of the power wrench. The hand-held powered wrench can be used such as for safely exercising fire hydrant valves.
US08677861B2
A bladeless stripping device includes a body having a cutting zone across the body forming a living hinge to fold the body along a fold area. An aperture may be located through the body and may be associated with the fold area. The aperture may change dimension as the body is folded and unfolded. The fiber aperture may receive for example an optical fiber in an unfolded state and may close upon for example the optical fiber in a folded state such that, when the bladeless stripping device is translated along for example the optical fiber at least one coating of for example the optical fiber is caused to be stripped away, revealing for example a bare glass fiber suitable, for example, for connectorizing or splicing.
US08677857B2
A handle brake device comprising: —a housing fixable onto the handlebar of the wheelchair or the wheeled walker, —a brake lever rotatably installed on said housing , —a transmission cable connected to said brake lever through a cable connector, said cable connector defining a connecting point, characterized in that the brake lever comprises a first arc hole and a second arc hole, inside each of which a pivot pin fixedly connected to said housing is slideably engaged in such a manner as to provide dual pivot for the brake lever, respectively a first pivot and a second pivot.
US08677855B2
First and second parallel link mechanisms 36, 38 are connected via a short link 35 arranged on a rotational angle transmission mechanism 29 so that a rotation applied to the first parallel link mechanism 36 is transmitted to the second parallel link mechanism 38 via the rotational angle transmission mechanism 29. The rotational angle transmission mechanism 29, the second parallel link mechanism 38 and the driven side link of the first parallel link mechanism 36 are horizontally supported by the drive side link 30 of the first parallel link mechanism 36. The rotational angle transmission mechanism 29 transmits the rotational angle applied to the drive side link 30 of the first parallel link mechanism 36 to the drive side link 32 of the second parallel link mechanism 38 supported by the drive side link 30 via the guide means that is parallel to the short link 35.
US08677849B2
A sprocket unit comprising: a damper mounted on the first shaft with a first face defining a recess and a second face defining chambers for receiving spring loaded weights; a sprocket mounted to the first shaft with a hub defining an aperture and a slot; a front end plate mounted on the shaft with a hub defining an aperture aligned with the aperture of the sprocket; and a spring received within the aperture of the sprocket, the aperture of the front end plate, and the recess of the damper. When the first shaft rotates and firing frequency of the engine coincides with a resonant frequency of the first shaft, the spring loaded weights slide in the chambers of the damper, dampening out the resonant frequency in the first shaft and when the sprocket rotates the spring compresses and extends, reducing torsional load of the first shaft on the second shaft.
US08677842B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide an apparatus and method for decontaminating tubing. The invention is particularly suitable for decontaminating tubing in a test system used for certifying a filter in a containment system. In one embodiment, a test system for a containment system is provide that includes a sample system including equipment adapted for testing a filter disposed in a containment system utilizing samples obtained from a downstream sample port and a upstream sample port of the containment system, and a device for reversing a flow within the sample system. In another aspect of the invention, a method for decontaminating tubing is provided. In another embodiment, the method includes flowing a sterilization agent through tubing in a first direction and flowing the sterilization agent through tubing in a second direction.
US08677840B2
Novel rapid, efficient sample collection systems, devices and methods are disclosed which remove and capture particles, and especially potential bioterrorism particles from surfaces into a liquid sample. The devices were developed primarily for obtaining samples of biological contamination from environmental surfaces. Biological particles, as described here, include bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, and other particles of biological origin including nucleic acids, proteins, and toxins.
US08677838B2
There is provided a contact-pressure detecting apparatus including a base, at least three pressure-sensitive sensors, and a plurality of plates. The base has an arbitrary shape. The at least three pressure-sensitive sensors are provided on different vertex positions of a polygon having at least three corners, respectively, the polygon being set on each of a plurality of areas partitioning at least part of an area on a surface of the base. The plurality of plates are arranged corresponding to the areas of the base, respectively, the plurality of plates covering the surface of the base by sandwiching the at least three pressure-sensitive sensors with the base.
US08677837B2
A hub for measuring the driving power of a cycle wheel including a central shaft defining an axis of rotation of the wheel, a hub body mounted to rotate freely about the shaft, a flange mounted to rotate freely about the hub body and axially aligned with the hub body, as well as a torque sensor including a test body which supports at least one strain gauge. The torque sensor is housed in a two-part housing which includes a cutout, arranged in an outer radial surface of the hub body, and a notch, arranged in an outer radial surface of the flange.
US08677831B2
An apparatus (20) and method for characterizing stresses in a formation (10) based on leakoff pressure measured in the formation (10). The method includes determining a line of shear failure (52) as a function of leakoff pressure (LOP) measured in the formation (10), determining a vertical stress (Sv), and determining each of a lower limit (Sh,limit) and an upper limit (SH,limit) as a function of the vertical stress (Sv) and the leakoff pressure (LOP).
US08677818B2
There is described a flow sensing device having a semiconductor chip with a flow channel integrated therein and a sensing element positioned in the flow channel, and a package base attached to the semiconductor chip and allowing access to the two passage-openings of the flow channel from opposite sides of the package base.
US08677805B2
A leak detection system is provided for detecting a leak in a fuel line. A controller determines the presence of a leak in the fuel line based on an analysis of data obtained from individual leak tests performed on the fuel line, the individual leak tests may span one or more fuel delivery events.
US08677802B2
A sensing module and method for monitoring various physical parameters, and particularly environmental parameters to which a living body may be subjected, for example, impacts and shock wave pulses. The module at least one energy storage device and at least one set of electromechanical sensing elements contained in a housing. The sensing elements are responsive to an external environmental input, and each sensing element defines an open electrical path when not subjected to the input, is operable to define a closed electrical path that produces an output in response to the input if the input exceeds a threshold of the sensing element. The module generates data corresponding to the outputs of the sensing elements and records the data.
US08677795B2
An extrusion press comprising a control apparatus for handling the container is described, comprising one or more pairs of control cylinders (40, . . . 43) for handling the container, provided with piston sliding chambers fixed to the container (35), one cylinder of said pair having the rod facing the die platen (25) of the press, the other cylinder of said pair having the rod facing the main cross-piece (20) of the press.
US08677791B2
A locking arrangement with a lock cylinder and matching key. The key has a flat key bit with a narrow spine, two broad sides, and coding notches at coding positions on the key bit. The cylinder has a housing, core, tumblers, and a sensing member located in a supplementary core hole. Spacing from the spine of the sensing point is greater than spacing from the spine of the apex of the notch is cut the deepest. The sensing point is near a peripheral edge of a notch cut less such that deepening the notch to a depth of the notch cut the deepest leads to disappearance of the sensing point. For protection against unlocking, the supplementary core hole is located between adjacent core holes and the sensing member has a tip which the sensing point on a broad side of the key situated between adjacent coding positions is sensed.
US08677790B2
A security enclosure that may include at least three supports with each support secured to a surface, at least two panels with each panel installed between adjacent ones of the supports, and a locking device that may selectively permit and prevent removal of the panels. A method of securing equipment in a security enclosure that may include the steps of arranging supports around the equipment being secured, and securing the supports. The method may also include inserting a panel in the supports and inserting another panel in the supports. One panel may prevent removal of the other panel from the supports, and each of the panels may be retained between the adjacent ones of the supports.
US08677787B2
A drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine may include a tub, a drum, a motor rotating the drum, bearing housings housing bearings to support a rotation shaft, a suspension connected to the bearing housings and a cabinet to mitigate vibration, a bracket coupled to the bearing housings, and a gasket installed between the bracket and the tub. Such an arrangement may allow volumes of the tub and the drum may be increased without increasing the volume of the cabinet.
US08677774B2
Ice making portions of an ice making machine have a pair of ice making plates disposed vertically and an evaporation tube disposed between back faces of the ice making plates. A plurality of vertically extending projected rims are formed at predetermined intervals widthwise on a surface of each ice making plate to define a plurality of ice making regions. The ice making plates facing the ice making regions are provided with consecutive vertical steps of inclined portions inclined from a back side towards a front side as directed downwardly, and contact horizontal extensions of the evaporation tube at a vertically intermediate position on a back face of each inclined portion.
US08677769B2
The invention relates to a mineral recovery system that processes concentrated brine leftover from a desalination system, wherein the brine is introduced into a crystallization chamber in the form of a spray, and wherein by mixing it with super chilled air from the desalination system, the droplets will flash freeze and form a super chilled slurry mixture, wherein an agitator for mixing the super chilled slurry is provided at or near the bottom of the crystallization chamber. Multiple stilling chambers are preferably provided for further separating the water from the concentrated brine, to produce a heavily concentrated sludge containing mineral solids that can be removed from the brine and recovered for commercial purposes.
US08677764B2
An aircraft propulsion unit includes a nacelle in which a power plant is arranged. The nacelle includes an inside wall that delimits a pipe with an air intake at the front. The propulsion unit includes a frost treatment system having at least one first pipe equipped with elements for regulating the passing air, for directing the hot air from the power plant to the air intake, and, an exhaust system having at least one second pipe equipped with elements for regulating the passing air, for directing air from the power plant to a delivery zone. The at least one second pipe is connected to the at least one first pipe, and the elements for regulating the air that passes into the at least one first pipe are separate from the elements for regulating the air that passes into the at least one second pipe.
US08677762B2
A process for the preparation of hydrocarbon products and for the generation of power that includes the steps of (a) providing a synthesis gas having a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of between 0.1 and 1; (b) contacting the synthesis gas with one or more catalysts which together catalyse a reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to oxygenates comprising methanol and dimethyl ether with a dimethyl ether to methanol ratio of higher than 2 and a carbon dioxide content of above 20 mole %; (c) contacting the carbon dioxide containing oxygenate mixture at an inlet temperature of between 240° and 4000° C. with a catalyst being active in the conversion of oxygenate to higher hydrocarbons and a tail gas being rich in carbon dioxide; (d) combusting the carbon dioxide rich tail gas in a gas turbine combustion chamber to flue gas; and (e) expanding the flue gas stream through a gas turbine for the generation of power.
US08677760B2
Disclosed is a method of operating a secondary fuel nozzle for a turbomachine combustor including delivering a flow of pilot fuel through a pilot fuel channel toward a combustion zone and delivering a flow of air through a plurality of transfer passages arranged around the pilot fuel channel toward the combustion zone. The flow of pilot fuel and the flow of air are combusted in the combustion zone, and a flow of transfer fuel is delivered through the plurality of transfer passages for combustion. A secondary fuel nozzle includes a pilot fuel channel extending along the fuel nozzle to deliver a flow of pilot fuel to a combustion zone. A plurality of transfer passages are arranged around the pilot fuel channel and are configured to deliver a flow of air for combustion with the flow of pilot fuel and to deliver a flow of transfer fuel to the combustion zone.
US08677757B2
A combustion chamber head of a gas turbine has a confinement enclosing a dampening volume (207) and including a combustion chamber-opposite confinement (206) and a combustion chamber-side confinement (210). The combustion chamber-side confinement (210) is provided as perforated wall (210). In the edge area of the combustion chamber-side confinement (210), cooling air can be routed onto the combustion chamber-side confinement (210) via recesses (203) in the confinement (206). This cooling air, which flows along the combustion chamber-side confinement (210), crosses the cooling air flow through the perforated wall (210) in the combustion chamber (101) without mixing with the latter, as both are separated by walls.
US08677752B2
A geothermal power system for production of power, and in particular electrical energy, utilizing naturally occurring geothermal energy sources and a method for identifying and converting manmade and natural geological formations into a substantial source of energy and at the same time providing remediation of environmental and safety hazards. Utilizing surface air that is substantially cooler than the geothermal temperature of the subterranean cavern an induced air flow will be produced. This naturally induced air flow will be harnessed and provide the energy to the system power plants for production of electrical energy. The system includes a hydro electric power system, a geothermal well, heat recovery systems, a source of renewable biomass material, and air and water remediation systems.
US08677740B2
A method for predicting regeneration may include calculating total mass flow of reducing agent, calculating mass flow of the reducing agent used in nitrate reduction reaction, mass flow of the reducing agent used in NO2 reduction reaction, and mass flow of the reducing agent which is simply oxidized by using the total mass flow of the reducing agent, calculating mass flow of released NO2 and mass flow of reduced NO2 by using the mass flow of the reducing agent used in the nitrate reduction reaction and the mass flow of the reducing agent used in the NO2 reduction reaction, calculating mass flow of NO2 slipped from DeNOx catalyst, and calculating mass of NO2 and mass of NOx remaining at the DeNOx catalyst after regeneration based on the mass flow of the released NO2, the mass flow of the reduced NO2, and the mass flow of the slipped NO2.
US08677724B2
A method of converting a conventional round baler to a round baler with an accumulator chamber is disclosed.
US08677711B2
A free-standing wall includes concrete base blocks adjacent to each other forming a base course; a first set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a first wall face; and a second set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a second wall face that faces the opposite direction from the first wall face and that has the same number of courses as the first plurality of wall blocks. Methods of constructing the wall arrangement include laying the base blocks next to each other end to end; stacking individual blocks of a first set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a first wall face; stacking individual blocks of the second set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a second wall face that faces a direction opposite of the first wall face.
US08677707B2
A door skin comprises an exterior side and an interior side for being secured to a frame member. First and second molded, spaced stiles lie on a first plane. A flat planar portion is disposed between the stiles and lies on a second plane spaced from the first plane. A first interface portion is disposed between and contiguous with the stiles and the flat planar portion. First and second integrally molded, spaced rails lie on a third plane, wherein the third plane is intermediate the first and second planes.
US08677705B2
A support structure for conditioning systems, such as blowers and/or heaters, that are used with grain bins and a method for installing same. To aid in aligning the conditioning system and grain bin, one embodiment uses beams that are partially embedded in the grain bin's concrete foundation and extend from the foundation. By linking the grain bin's foundation with the support structure that carries the conditioning system, the grain bin and support structure are aligned with respect to each other. Any movement of the grain bin's foundation will cause concomitant movement of the support base to prevent misalignment between the grain bin and conditioning system as time goes on.
US08677698B2
A construction set and method for assembling a Relocatable Habitat Unit (RHU) requires a plurality of flat panels that include male (M) and female (F) connectors located on their respective peripheries. The entire RHU can then be assembled using a single, hand-operated tool to engage a selected M with a selected F. First the floor is established and leveled. Next, starting at a corner, the walls are erected around the floor. Finally, the roof is created. A same, hand-operated tool is used for each task.
US08677692B2
A cover for an automatic vehicle door latch. The cover comprises a first wall having a free top and bottom edge, and a second edge intersecting an edge of a second wall. The second wall also includes top, free and bottom edges, wherein the bottom and top edge of the first and second walls are contiguous. The first and second walls are angled relative to one another at the intersecting edges. A top ridge protrudes from the walls adjacent the top edges, and a second ridge protrudes from the wall between the top and bottom ridges such that the top ridge and the second ridge define a channel therebetween.
US08677691B2
The present invention relates to a sealing device, of the type including a base body suitable for sealing an opening, movable between an open position and a closed position, a thrust element having first and second ends, and a slack configuration and a tight configuration, and the first end of the thrust element being connected to the base body.
US08677666B2
The invention relates to a drop-safety mechanism for a firearm having a pivot-mounted, trigger, said trigger being designed as an arm of a double lever, the other arm of which supports a counterweight that can be displaced between a rest position and a functional position. The counterweight is resiliently pre-tensioned in the rest position and strikes on a part of the firearm in the functional position to block the trigger from unintended firing.
US08677660B2
A support bracket for an upright tracer wire conduit proximate a pipeline riser with an above grade flange having bolt holes for receipt of mounting bolts. The bracket has a first hole sized to accommodate the mounting bolt shank diameter and a second hole spaced from the first hole and sized to accommodate a diameter of said upright tracer wire conduit. The bracket is thereby arranged for fastening to the above grade flange of the pipeline riser through alignment of the first hole of the bracket with one of the bolt holes of the above grade flange and fastening of the mounting bolt through said aligned holes in order to support the tracer wire conduit in an upright position extending through the second hole. A surface of the bracket facing away from the holes presents a label carrying area of the bracket for displaying identifying information concerning the pipeline or riser.
US08677655B2
A shoe includes a vamp, an insole, a flexible pad, a spike set, a mediate part and an outsole part. The flexible pad includes multiple slits and the spikes of the spike set are inserted into the slits. The combination of the flexible pad 11 and the spike set are connected to the mediate part and the insole is connected to the top of the combination by way of injection molding. The vamp is connected to the mediate part and the outsole part is connected to the mediate part and the mediate part by way of injection molding. The flexible pad and the spike set protrude out from the underside of the outsole part.
US08677652B2
An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane or polyester film attached together to form an airtight seal. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air in the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The article of footwear may also include an assembly for connecting several tubes to one under foot inflation mechanism. The article of footwear may also include inflatable laces that are inflated by an underfoot inflation mechanism.
US08677651B2
This invention is a type of adhesive footwear for humans. The adhesive bond between the footwear and foot eliminates the need for shoestrings, Velcro, zippers, or any other type of fastening device. Unlike other types of footwear, the adhesive bond enables the footwear to remain in place and causes less discomfort when the foot becomes wet, sandy, or muddy. The footwear is precut into a shape that makes it capable of fitting several different sizes and types of feet. It is applied to the feet by stepping directly onto the adhesive side of the slip resistant material. Only the material needed will remain attached to the foot, making the footwear as light as possible.
US08677650B2
Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.
US08677649B2
A device for large-scale lyophilization of pharmaceutical solutions in medical hollow bodies, includes a lyophilization device and at least one camera. Images of at least one pharmaceutical solution to be lyophilized are recorded by the at least one camera. The images may be used for controlling and/or monitoring the lyophilization process.
US08677642B2
The invention concerns a three-dimensional measuring device, which comprises: a base (5) intended to be fixed to a support assembly (6) and lying in a first plane, a plate (14) mounted so as to rotate on the base (5) about a first axis (Z), said plate being equipped with a first sensor (c1) determining the angle of rotation (Φ) of the plate about this first axis (Z), a single rocking telescopic arm (2), a first end of which is articulated on the plate (14) about a second axis (X) orthogonal to the first axis (Z), the angle of rotation (θ) of said arm about the second axis (X) being determined by a second sensor (c2), the second end of the single telescopic arm being provided with a measuring feeler (3), and the said single arm being equipped with a third sensor (c3) determining the elongation length (ρ) of the arm in translation, so that the spatial position of the measuring feeler is determined by its polar coordinates (ρ, θ, Φ) in the fixed three-dimensional reference frame consisting of the base (5) once the latter is fixed to the support assembly (6).
US08677641B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a plurality of approximately evenly spaced graduation marks disposed along the length of an art implement handle. Some embodiments may enable an artist to more accurately compare the relative sizes of different portions of his subjects so that he may depict them to scale, and or create a to-scale representation of an object.
US08677640B2
A parameter related to the Earth's magnetic field can be used to determine accuracy of a magnetometer of a mobile device. In one aspect, a first instance of a parameter related to Earth's magnetic field is determined using data generated by the magnetometer. The magnetometer data can be based in part on a position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. A second instance of the parameter can be determined using data generated by a model of Earth's magnetic field. The model data can also be based in part on the position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. The first instance of the parameter can be compared with the second instance of the parameter. An accuracy metric for the magnetometer can be determined based on a result of the comparison. An indication of the accuracy metric can be presented by the mobile device.
US08677637B2
An archery sight assembly for aiming bows including, without limitation, compound bows. An adjustable mounting bracket connects the archery sight assembly to a bow and permits position adjustment of a sight window relative to the bow. At least two rigid optical sight pins are visible through the sight window. A length of fiber optic cable extends from the tip of a first optical sight pin, through a transparent housing, and attaches to the tip of a second optical sight pin. The optical sight pins have an offset angle to provide a gap between the pins, thereby improving the archer's field of vision.
US08677628B2
A scrubbing razor includes an upper handle, a plurality of outer safety ribs or feet integrally joined to the lower end of the upper handle, and a cutting blade mounted to the lower end of the upper handle. Each of the outer safety ribs or feet has a radially outer end, and a lower flat side lying in a common plane, and each radially outer end extends radially outwardly from the lower end of the upper handle to a rib or feet outer diameter. The cutting blade is flat, includes a radially outer rounded cutting edge, and extends parallel to the common plane of the plurality of outer safety ribs or feet.
US08677627B2
A hair trimmer includes a handle having a housing including an actuation assembly rotatable relative to the housing, and a blade assembly including a reciprocating blade, a stationary blade and a blade assembly housing, the blade assembly constructed and arranged for being detachably engaged to the actuation assembly in a plane of rotation of the actuation assembly.
US08677623B1
A wheel trim adapter adapted to be securely affixed to the wheel of a vehicle without the use of tools, wherein the adapter can be used in a system for affixing a wheel trim or wheel cover to said vehicle, and methods for using same.
US08677620B2
A method for the linking of components to hollow shafts, preferably for producing camshafts, is disclosed where the components, especially cam rings, are manufactured so as to generate their function-related contour, that either a hardenable material is used for this purpose which, aside from its elastic deformability, after hardening still has a permissible plastic deformability of minor extent; or that subsequently the surface of the components, particularly the contact face of the cams, is subjected to a surface-hardening process. These components together with the hollow shaft to be deformed are placed into an IHPF tool in a manner to suit the respective function, and that in a second process step through the application of the IHPF process and due to the internal pressure exerted the components are joined to the hollow shaft in a force- and form-closing manner.
US08677618B2
A method of manufacturing a substrate using a carrier, that includes preparing a carrier having a releasing layer, and insulating layers and metal layers sequentially disposed on both sides of the releasing layer; patterning the metal layers to form base circuit layers; forming buildup layers on the base circuit layers; executing a routing process to separate the insulating layers from the releasing layer; and forming solder resist layers on the buildup layers and forming openings in the solder resist layers and the insulating layers to expose pads.
US08677608B2
An annular core member having an opening portion located at a position rotated by 90 degrees from a reference position, where the opening portion is oriented in the counterclockwise direction, and an annular core member having the opening portion located at the reference position, where the opening portion is oriented in the clockwise direction, are prepared to form an iron core by a rotary lamination apparatus by rotating the annular core members and by a predetermined angle (90 degrees) such that a first end, in the annular core member, which is at the position rotated by 90 degrees from the reference position and has no rotation uneven part, is circumference-positionally identical in the laminating direction with that of a fourth end, in an annular core member, which is at the reference position and has no rotation uneven part.
US08677602B2
Spiral-wound materials, spirals, and shafts made therefrom that have wraps with edges that may nest within one another are described. Such edges allow the spiral to achieve a smaller bending radius, meaning tighter turns and more flexibility due to the ability of adjacent wraps to nest within each other when the shaft is bent. Spirals having wraps with edges capable of nesting can be used in the medical field for devices that track anatomy, such as endoscopes, colonoscopes, catheters, and the like.
US08677589B2
Apparatus for lateral fitting and removing of a compressor barrel into and out of a casing of a turbocompressor, the barrel having an inner core section with split disks which are bolted together coaxially, a cap rotatably mounted on a bearing block, and a rotor, wherein the disks are bolted to the cap and the rotor, and wherein the casing is vertically split and has a suction connection and a pressure connection. A support arm has a proximal end which can be releasably connected to the bearing block and a distal end which extends beyond the rotor and is displaceably supported on the casing when the proximal end is connected to the bearing block. A support device can be releasably mounted to the bearing block oppositely from the support arm, the supporting device being movable laterally on a guide to move the barrel into and out of the casing.
US08677588B2
A rivet setter has a holder for holding a blind rivet prior to said rivet being set by means of the setter. The holder has a central cylindrical passage, the diameter of which is somewhat greater than the diameter of the mandrel. At least two, preferably three clamping jaws, which are guided in radial slots so as to be radially and axially displaceable, act on the mandrel. The width of the slot is smaller than the diameter of the mandrel.
US08677584B2
To provide a coolant supply structure for a turret tool rest in which the central part of the intermediate shaft can be utilized effectively as a space and there is no need to allow this shaft to be hollow when a shaft such as a driving shaft is inserted.In a coolant supply structure for a turret tool rest to supply a coolant to a tool mounting part of a turret 12, which is provided in a turret tool rest 1 having a turret 12 with a tool T being mounted thereon, a hollow rotating shaft 15 for rotating the turret 12 and a hollow intermediate shaft 19 arranged within the rotating shaft 15, wherein the coolant supply structure has a cylindrical member 23 inserted into the intermediate shaft 19, and a space served as a passage 24 of the coolant is formed between the cylindrical member 23 and the intermediate shaft 19.
US08677582B2
A method for fabricating an acoustic wave device includes the steps of forming an insulating material layer on a piezoelectric substrate, forming a patterned photoresist on the insulating material layer, patterning the insulating material layer, and forming a piezoelectric-substrate exposed depression corresponding to a region where an interdigital transducer electrode is to be formed on a first insulator layer composed of the insulating material layer, depositing a metallic material on the piezoelectric substrate to form the interdigital transducer electrode in the piezoelectric-substrate exposed depression such that the overall interdigital transducer electrode is thinner than the first insulator layer and coating the photoresist with a metallic material, removing the photoresist and the metallic material on the photoresist, and depositing a second insulator layer so as to cover the interdigital transducer electrode and the first insulator layer.
US08677570B2
The water-resistant zipper includes first and second profiles which are interlocked or separated by the movement of a slider. A triangular island and separating plow are formed at the opening end to separate the first and second profiles. The slider includes various channels which engage corresponding rails in the profiles in order to properly position the profiles.
US08677569B2
A grab handle assembly with integrated articulating hook is disclosed comprising base elements and a handle pivotal on the base elements between closed and an open positions. A pivot pin is fixed to the handle and pivotally supported on a base element. A hook is pivotally supported on the pivot pin and is movable between a stored and a deployed position. In one form a resilient finger on the hook coacts with surfaces on the pivot pin to provide resistance to movement of the hook between the stored and deployed positions. The pin is configured to provide varied resistance at different hook positions.
US08677563B2
A cushion member includes a resilient material body having multiple different diameters defining a body bell-shape. The body includes a solid first portion having a first diameter. An aperture extends through the first portion transverse to a body longitudinal axis. A hollow second portion defines a hollow chamber in communication with the aperture. The second portion has a second diameter larger than the first portion first diameter. A third portion has a third diameter smaller than the second diameter. An end flange is connected to the third portion. The differing first, second, and third diameters induce the body to elastically compress when a force is applied to the end flange and to return to an uncompressed state after force dissipation. A flow rate of air forced out of the hollow chamber during second and third portion compression and out the aperture is restricted by an aperture diameter.
US08677562B2
An apparatus for controlling movement of a first member relative to a second member in a piece of furniture includes a damper. When relative movement occurs between the first and second members, force is transmitted through a clutch drive mechanism to a movable member in the damper. A viscous damping medium in the damper resists movement of the movable member.
US08677553B2
An upright vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing air flow and a casing housing a fan unit for drawing the air flow through the separating apparatus. A support assembly is connected to the main body for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle. The support assembly includes a pair of domed-shaped wheels which each have a substantially circular rim. The overall size of the appliance is reduced by locating the casing between the wheels, and providing an air duct which extends between the rims of the wheels to convey the air flow from the separating apparatus to the casing.
US08677549B2
A squeegee device having an integrated scraper blade, which includes a removable and telescoping/extendable handle pivotably connected to a squeegee head for motion of the device between squeegee position, wherein the handle is generally orthogonal to the head for facilitating cleaning windshields and windows, and a storage configuration, wherein the handle and head are generally parallel and the head can be disposed and sealed entirely within a portable container which includes an integrated reservoir which holds a supply of aqueous cleaning solution. The device can be used in conjunction with instant glass cleaner tablets which dissolve in plain water within the integrated reservoir to make an aqueous cleaning solution, and includes an integrated removable tray which stores a supply of cleaner tablets within the container. The device also features an integrated shield which serves to protect the user's hand and arm from becoming wet/soiled from aqueous solution and/or debris which might otherwise run unimpeded down the handle or fall from the squeegee head while the squeegee is being carried and/or used.
US08677545B2
The invention relates to a toothbrush having a cleaning element formed of a plastic injection molded component, comprising an attachment segment for attachment in the head region of the toothbrush and a cleaning segment for cleaning teeth, and having at least one indentation in the region of the cleaning segment, around which the cleaning segment has an increased bending flexibility.
US08677542B1
An improved antimicrobial electric toothbrush and method includes a handle, a tip, and a plurality of bristle tufts and a drive mechanism. The bristle tufts may include four tufts of 10.5 mm length and another four tufts of 5.5 mm length. The tips of the bristle tufts may additionally be spaced apart and includes a cone shaped tip. The size and diameters of the bristle tufts may be combined with the reciprocating movement of the bristle tufts such that the bristle tips can reach into the crevices and tight spaces between the teeth and between the teeth and gums where no conventional toothbrush can reach. A second component of the apparatus may include an improved brush design with two counter rotating arrays of bristle tufts for use in polishing the teeth.
US08677541B2
An oral care implement may include a base portion sized for insertion into an oral cavity and a plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements extending from the base portion, wherein each of the plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements comprises an edge, wherein at least one of the edges comprises a micro edge, and wherein the plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements comprises an element density of less than about 5 mm.
US08677540B2
An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.
US08677531B2
An apparatus for supporting the head and neck of a user for airway management includes a head-supporting surface dimensioned to receive and support the head of the user and a neck-supporting surface connected to the head-supporting surface, wherein the neck-supporting surface is dimensioned to receive and support the neck of the user; wherein the head-supporting surface and neck-supporting surface are configured so that when the user is lying on his or her side with a side of his or her head positioned on the head-supporting surface and a side of his or her neck on the neck-supporting surface, the user's head and neck are automatically aligned in the sniff position for improved airway management.
US08677530B2
A stretcher including a flexible base panel sized to support a person lying thereon during a rescue or extrication operation. The base panel includes a header end and an opposite footer end, and further includes a head-supporting region and a body-supporting region. The head-supporting region is sized to support the head and shoulders of the person and the body-supporting region is sized to support a human torso. The stretcher further includes a securement strap extending from the head-supporting region along one side of the base panel and crossing over to the body-supporting region at the other side of the base panel. The securement strap extends diagonally across the shoulder and torso of the person to arrest the shoulder and limit sliding movement of the person toward the header end of the panel.
US08677525B1
A patient lifting apparatus is provided and which is operative to lift an injured person or patient from a lower area to an elevated position where the patient or injured person can be easily and safely transferred to a stretcher or other support device. The patient lifting apparatus includes a pair of side sections that are interconnectable. Each side section includes a lifting device and a lifting bar which is movable up and down. In a connected mode, the two side sections are connected together and the lifting bars include attachments for attaching to a patient support. Once attached to the patient support, the lifting bars via the lifting device are operative to lift the patient support upwardly generally between the two side sections where the patient can be transferred to a stretcher or other structure.
US08677519B2
A drainage connector communicates between a drain outlet of a toilet drainage path connected to a toilet bowl and a connecting port of a drain conduit led into a room equipped with a toilet body. The drainage connector includes a casing formed with a flow inlet connected to the drain outlet and a flow outlet connected to the port, and piping disposed in the casing. The piping has an upstream piping having an upstream opening communicating with the flow inlet and forming a downward flow path when the drain outlet communicates with the port and a downstream piping connected to the upstream piping and having a downstream opening open to the casing in a lateral direction along an inner surface of the casing so that flush water flows out in the lateral direction. The downstream piping forms an upward flow path when the drain outlet communicates with the port.
US08683601B2
The invention is directed to marking audio/video (A/V) signals for use in tracing content to a source. An ID controller captures an A/V synchronization fingerprint from a master A/V signal, stores the fingerprint in a data store, and provides signals to an ID encoder to have encoded an identifier into a copy of the master A/V signal. The identifier is encoded to be persistent through actions such as capture, compression, and/or transcoding. In one embodiment, the identifier is encoded as a bit sequence, where each bit is encoded using an encoding technique that is hereinafter called a Mississippi encoding technique. The encoded identifier within the copied A/V signal may later be determined by extracting the fingerprint and comparing it to the stored fingerprint to determine the identifier. The identifier may then be used to trace a source of the copied A/V signal.
US08683588B2
A method of and apparatus for monitoring for security threats in computer network traffic is disclosed. The method comprises operating computer processing means to carry out the steps of: monitoring traffic between a network to be protected and a second network, through a first gateway; in response to determining traffic between the network to be protected and a new host in the second network, accessing the new host through a second gateway; and comparing traffic between the network to be protected and the new host through the first gateway with traffic between the computer processing means and the new host through the second gateway, to detect an anomaly therebetween. The apparatus comprising the computer processing means, the computer processing means programmed and operable to carry out the method.
US08683572B1
A system and method of authenticating a user of a data network which inserts control information into certain data packets being sent over the network. The control information is user-specific, including such items as user identity, password, originating CPU, or biometric information. Inserting the control information into data packets transmitted during the entire session permits continuous authentication.
US08683571B2
A system and method for authenticating a user in a secure computer system. A client computer transmits a request for a sign-on page, the secure computer system responds by transmitting a prompt for a first user identifier, and the client computer transmits a request including a first identifier, a second identifier stored in an object stored at the client computer and a plurality of request header attributes. A server module authenticates the first and second user identifiers, and compares the transmitted plurality of request header attributes with request header attributes stored at the computer system and associated with the first and second user identifiers. If the first and second user identifiers are authenticated, and if a predetermined number of transmitted request header attributes match stored request header attributes, the server software module transmits a success message, and the user is allowed to access the secure computer system.
US08683561B2
A tamperproof ClientID system to uniquely identify a client machine is invoked upon connection of a client application to a backend. Upon initial connection, the backend issues a unique ClientID containing a checksum. The client application prepares at least two different scrambled versions of the ClientID and stores them in respective predetermined locations on the client machine. Upon subsequent connection to the backend, the client application retrieves and unscrambles the values at the two locations, verifies the checksums and compares the values. If the checksums are both correct and the values match, the ClientID value is sent to the backend, otherwise the client application sends an error code.
US08683559B2
A computer implemented method and system for, via a global communications network, serving subscribed contents from various subscribed content sources to end users without the need of end users subscribing and signing in at each individual subscribed content source. An embodiment system of present invention may use pre-stored access credentials specific to the embodiment system for fetching the requested subscribed contents from various subscribed content sources. The embodiment system may remove the aforementioned access credentials when forwarding the fetched subscribed contents to corresponding requesting end users. The end users may be served according to their viewing credits and other permissions. The viewing credits of end users may be adjusted according to the served subscribed contents. Before being forwarded to end users, the fetched subscribed contents may be amended according to the present invention to facilitate end users for requesting further subscribed contents to be served by the embodiment system.
US08683542B1
A system including one or more stream sources and a stream controller. The one or more stream sources may be configured to generate a plurality of input streams containing a given content at a plurality of bitrates, a plurality of resolutions, or a plurality of bitrates and resolutions. The stream controller may be configured to generate a plurality of output streams in response to the plurality of input streams. The stream controller may be further configured to (i) determine when one of the plurality of input streams becomes invalid, (ii) switch generation of an output stream associated with the invalid input stream from the invalid input stream to a valid one of the plurality of input streams, and (iii) when the invalid input stream becomes valid again, switch the generation of the output stream back to the now valid input stream.
US08683531B2
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a digital data stream is divided into at least two complementary digital substreams and delayed in time. The first digital substream and the second digital substream are transmitted by the broadcasting systems with a time offset in accordance with the broadcasting principle such that any receiver can use the respectively intact part of the other complementary digital substream in order to ensure a seamless media reception when a break in the transmission or reception occurs.
US08683529B2
The present invention provides a method of processing data. The method of processing data includes receiving a broadcasting signal where mobile service data are multiplexed with main service data, extracting transmission-parameter-channel signaling information and fast-information-channel signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data; obtaining first program table information describing virtual channel information of an ensemble and a service provided by the ensemble using the fast-information-channel signaling information, the ensemble the ensemble corresponding to a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, obtaining information indicating that second program table information, which describes an additional service provided by the ensemble, is included in the ensemblem and parsing the second program table information according to the obtained information; and providing the additional service by using the second program table information.
US08683510B1
Architecture for the delivery of IP-based messages from wired and/or wireless devices to a television system. The means for delivery can be via an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology. The message is processed through a messaging system that obtains a mapping of a message address to an IPTV address, and routes the message to an IPTV network for delivery the desired television system for presentation. Messaging can be via SMS (short message service) for textual content, MMS (multimedia messaging service) for multimedia content, or other messaging technologies, such as instant messaging, an e-mail, for example. Optionally, the message from the user device can include a request for confirmation of delivery of the message to the television. The confirmation can then be routed back over an IP data network to the user device and presented to the user.
US08683506B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08683490B2
A computer system events interface is described. In embodiment(s), the computer system events interface includes event indicators that each indicate a past computer event. An event indicator is selectable to initiate an information display pertaining to a corresponding past computer event. The computer system events interface can also include additional event indicators that each indicate a future computer event. An additional event indicator is selectable to initiate a configuration interface from which a corresponding future computer event can be modified. The computer system events interface can also include current event indicators that each indicate a current computer event. A current event indicator is also selectable to initiate a configuration interface from which corresponding current computer events can be modified.
US08683484B2
Intelligently pre-placing data for local consumption by workloads in a virtual computing environment
Methods and apparatus involve intelligently pre-placing data for local consumption by workloads in a virtual computing environment. Access patterns of the data by the workload are first identified. Based thereon, select data portions are migrated from a first storage location farther away the workload to a second storage location closer the workload. Migration also occurs at a time when needed by the workload during use. In this manner, bandwidth for data transmission is minimized. Latency effects created by consumption of remotely stored data is overcome as well. In various embodiments, a data vending service and proxy are situated between a home repository of the data and the workload. Together they serve to manage and migrate the data as needed. Data recognition patterns are disclosed as is apportionment of the whole of the data into convenient migration packets. De/Encryption, (de)compression, computing systems and computer program products are other embodiments.
US08683482B2
Provided is a control method for a computer system including one or more host computers, one or more storage systems, and a management computer. The storage system includes a plurality of controllers connected to the host computers through a network, and one or more logical volumes for storing data used by the host computers. At least one of the logical volumes is assigned to at least one of the controllers. According to the control method, when performance information of a controller exceeds a predetermined threshold, the logical volume assigned to the controller is assigned to another controller other than the controller. Thus, access loads on a storage system used in a network environment are balanced.
US08683481B2
Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for resource allocation of a plurality of resources for a dual activity system by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, each of the activities may be started at a static quota. The resource boundary may be increased for a resource request for at least one of the dual activities until a resource request for an alternative one of the at least one of the dual activities is rejected. In response to the rejection of the resource request for the alternative one of the at least one of the dual activities, a resource boundary for the at least one of the dual activities may be reduced, and a wait after decrease mode may be commenced until a current resource usage is one of less than and equal to the reduced resource boundary.
US08683478B2
A virtual function mapping process, which is capable of being used in connection with the migration of a logical partition to a target system, creates candidate lists for virtual functions assigned to the logical partition, which are populated with candidate physical ports from a target system that are capable of being mapped to such virtual functions. Candidate physical ports are assigned weights based upon their suitability to be mapped to a particular virtual function, and as candidate physical ports are selected for virtual functions, weights for other candidate physical ports for other virtual functions are recalculated to reflect the impact of the selection of candidate physical ports on the suitability of the remaining physical ports for other virtual functions.
US08683472B2
The present invention optimizes the utilization of computer system resources by considering predefined performance targets of multithreaded applications using the resources. The performance and utilization information for a set of multithreaded applications is provided. Using the performance and utilization information, the invention determines overutilized resources. Using the performance information, the invention also identifies threads and corresponding applications using an overutilized resource. The priority of the identified threads using said overutilized resource is adjusted to maximize a number of applications meeting their performance targets. The adjustments of priorities are executed via a channel that provides the performance and utilization information.
US08683470B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to dynamically controlling the number of spins for a selected processing thread among a plurality of processing threads. A computer system tracks both the number of waiting processing threads and each thread's turn, wherein a selected thread's turn comprises the total number of waiting processing threads after the selected thread's arrival at the processor. Next, the computer system determines, based the selected thread's turn, the number of spins that are to occur before the selected thread checks for an available thread lock. The computer system also, based on the selected thread's turn, changes the number of spins, such that the number of spins for the selected thread is a function of the number of waiting processing threads and processors in the computer system.
US08683466B2
A technique for composing a virtual desktop associated with one or more applications in a virtualized computing environment. The technique includes generating file system level metadata in the desktop image for applications that create a perception that data blocks in the desktop image have been allocated to applications, but not actually copying any of the application data into the allocated blocks. Instead, the technique builds a mapping table between disk block numbers and the application data, which can be stored in a separate application store. The disclosed techniques provide a more efficient way to compose a virtual desktop, compared to current virtual desktop adoption techniques.
US08683463B2
When data received separately in first and second reception processing is processed separately by first and second application programs, and when data received by the first reception processing contains specific data specifying processing by the second application program, and the specific data has regional properties, the current region where the second application program is executed is judged, and if the region does not match a region to which processing specified by the specific data belongs, the content specified by the specific data is converted based on data in a predetermined table, and processing is executed by the second application program. Accordingly, two application programs can be linked in a mobile phone unit or other terminal devices, and problems when executing one application with regional properties under control of the other application can be resolved.
US08683462B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, provide a technique for handling calls to native code in a managed code environment. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of: loading, in a managed code environment operating on one or more data processing apparatus, code of an application and code of an extension, wherein the loading includes loading the code of the extension into a first domain and loading the code of the application into a second domain, the first domain being different than the second domain; receiving, through an application program interface (API) of the managed code environment, a call to a function of native program code corresponding to an identified computing platform; allowing the call when the call arises from the first domain; and disallowing the call when the call arises from the second domain.
US08683456B2
Systems and methods are provided for testing a non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory. The non-volatile memory may be virtually partitioned into a test region and a general purpose region. A test application may be stored in the general purpose region, and the test application can be executed to run a test of the memory locations in the test region. The results of the test may be stored in the general purpose region. At the completion of the test, the test results may be provided from the general purpose region and displayed to a user. The virtual partitions may be removed prior to shipping the electronic device for distribution.
US08683455B1
A system and method for optimizing the object code of a computer program is disclosed. The method includes receiving one or more object code units from the memory; identifying first and second identical program entities in the one or more object code units, wherein each program entity has an object code segment and an associated address; updating the one or more object code units by merging the first identical program entity with the second identical program entity if neither of the first and second program entities is subject to an operation on the respective program entity's address; and linking the updated one or more object code units into an executable program.
US08683451B1
A system and method for generating test code software utilized by a test system for testing a circuit card assembly is provided. A translator provides an automatic translation of a test code from a first computer language to a second computer language. One or more pinmap documents are provided to map the pins of the circuit card assembly.
US08683449B2
A server device is configured to receive a request to identify a manner in which changed code propagates within an application; generate a group of blocks that correspond to code associated with a parent function corresponding to the application and which includes the changed code; perform an intra-procedural analysis on the group of blocks to identify a block that is affected by the changed code included within an epicenter block; perform an inter-procedural analysis on functions associated with the block, where, when performing the inter-procedural analysis, the server device is to generate another group of blocks associated with the functions, and identify another block that is affected by the changed code included within the epicenter block; and present, for display, information associated with the block or the other block that enables the application to be tested based on the block or the other block.
US08683442B2
A method allows for testing software under test (SUT) with respect to a partial design model (PDM) having a boundary which differs from a boundary of the SUT. The method includes recording input information including the SUT, the PDM, and coverage criteria defining a required number of the test cases. Variables in the SUT are identified that correspond to boundary signals for the PDM. Test cases are extracted meeting the coverage criteria. The method may include generating additional test cases at the PDM level and mapping the additional cases with corresponding constraint functions to the boundary of the SUT using a forward/backward propagation and/or heuristics guided technique. A system for testing the SUT includes a host machine and memory. The host machine executes process instructions from memory to identify variables in the SUT that correspond to boundary signals for the PDM, and extracts test cases meeting the coverage criteria.
US08683439B2
A process and system for debugging of a computer program, is provided. One implementation involves including mark-up information into source code of the application program, generating a debug-enabled version of the computer program including debugging methods based on the mark-up information, and providing the debug-enabled version of the program computer to a debugger for debugging purposes using the debugging methods.
US08683438B2
A method, computer program product, and computing device for initiating a first instance of an application to be debugged. A second instance of the application to be debugged is initiated. A common command is simultaneously executed on the first and second instances of the application to be debugged.
US08683436B2
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing timers for tasks of process models. In one aspect, an input representative of a temporal constraint for a task of a graph-process model may be received. The temporal constraint defines at least one of a delay or a deadline. The task may be associated with the temporal constraint created based on the received input. The temporal constraint defined to have a placement at the graph-process model based on the type of temporal constraint. The task and the temporal constraint may be provided to configure the process model. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are described.
US08683433B2
An adaptive automatic change management for computer system landscapes is described herein. A predefined set of attributes are extracted or obtained for a computer system artifact, together with a number of values assigned to the set of attributes. A unique identification section is created and distributed among the computer systems in the landscape based on the set of attributes and the assigned values, where the unique identification section encompass computer system artifacts of a same kind. A modification of an artifact of the same kind is tracked at a computer system. The tracked modification is automatically applied in the computer system to one or more incoming computer system artifacts of the same kind.
US08683412B1
Disclosed are improved methods, systems, and computer program products for generating and optimizing an I/O ring arrangement for an electronic design. Corner packing is one approach that can be taken to optimizing an I/O ring. Stacking of I/O components provides another approach for optimizing an I/O ring.
US08683400B1
A apparatus and method for conducting fault sensitivity analysis of the analog portions of a mixed signal circuit design includes simulating the fault free circuit design, inserting a fault into the analog portion of the circuit design, simulating the circuit design with the fault during a fault interval time period, and determining whether the fault is detectable.
US08683367B1
A method for differentiating between variations of an apparatus design is provided. The method includes digitally characterizing at least two aspects of a first expression wherein the at least two aspects include at least logical data and physical data relating to the first expression, and digitally characterizing the at least two next aspects of at least one next expression other than the first expression wherein the at least two next aspects include at least logical data and physical data relating to the at least one next design expression. The method further includes identifying selected differences between the at least two aspects and the at least two next aspects and displaying the first expression and at least one of the at least one next expression in a visual display wherein the selected differences are presented using at least one visually identifiable distinction.
US08683366B2
A field device is able to diagnose a broad spectrum of possible faults and/or states, and includes: structure for performing user defined, diagnostic methods; which has an input circuit, via which at least one input variable is fed to the structure; which has an evaluation unit, which serves for deriving, on the basis of at least one input variable selected by the user and at least one evaluating method selected by the user, at least one characterizing variable; which has a monitoring unit, which monitors the derived characterizing variables on the basis of monitoring criteria selected by the user; and which has an output unit, which, upon the meeting of a monitoring criterion, outputs a diagnosis associated with such monitoring criterion; and an interface, via which a user selects the input variables for each user defined diagnostic method, selects the evaluating methods to apply to the input variables, selects the monitoring criteria, and specifies the diagnosis.
US08683361B2
The presentation of headers for groups of locations in a library comprising a collection of locations is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises receiving a request to organize a library into groups according to a selected property, and organizing the locations into groups such that locations within a selected group have a common value of the selected property. If the common value of the selected property for the selected group corresponds to an object distinct from the locations in the group, then a first type of group header configured to accept a first set of user inputs associated with the header is displayed. Otherwise, a second type of group header configured to accept a second, different set of user inputs is displayed.
US08683358B2
In one embodiment, an application design method includes identifying one or more application objects selected by a user when designing an application and identifying dependencies associated with the selected objects. The method further includes duplicating the selected objects and the associated dependencies. In another embodiment, the one or more objects comprise at least one of a valuator, an input and an output.
US08683355B1
A chat space system is provided. The chat space system comprises at least one computer system and a chat space application that when executed on at least one computer system receives a plurality of audio recordings, at least some of the audio recordings formatted to initiate one of a plurality of chat themes and the other audio recordings associated with one of the chat themes, converts a chat theme audio title contained in each of the audio recordings formatted to initiate one of the chat themes to a chat theme text title and stores the audio recordings according to chat themes. In response to receiving a request from a first device for a list of chat themes, retrieves the chat theme text titles from storage and transmits the chat theme text titles to the first device. In response to receiving a request from a second device for a summary of a first one of the chat themes, retrieves an initial portion of a selection of the audio recording formatted to initiate the first one of the chat themes and the audio recordings associated with the first chat theme from storage and transmits to the second device the initial portion of the selection of the audio recording formatted to initiate the first one of the chat themes and the audio recordings associated with the first chat theme.
US08683344B2
A network-based communication and information discovery solution that pertains to network-accessible resources and the use of interlinks among resources. In one embodiment, dynamic interlinking of resources is proposed, wherein the resources reside in a web-based system and are accessible via web-clients. The resources can be representable by an administrator in a graph-like structure interlinking the resources with each other and thus defining a navigation model. An extended navigation model can be implemented by a user-generated, personal or collaborative interlinking functionality.
US08683334B2
A control system and method is described having a framework in which many applications in a user interaction system (UIS) can share common data regardless of which application obtained the data and all without prior knowledge of the other applications. The shared data is typically personal data of the current user, such as name, location, preferences, etc. However, the system can also be used to share style sheets, announcements, etc., that can be utilized by multiple applications. The data is stored in a standardized manner in a location available to any application. Application's have access to the data based upon user privileges at any particular time.
US08683325B1
A method is provided. The method includes (1) placing, within a common style file, definitions of each of a plurality of transformations for displaying the contents of a data file, wherein the definitions of at least two of the transformations are different from each other, (2) encoding, within a display file, instructions for (a) providing a user with a choice to select a particular transformation and (b) causing the contents of a data file to be displayed according to a transformation selected by a user, and (3) distributing the style file and the display file to a user. Related methods are also provided, as well as data structure, encoded in a computer-readable storage medium, for use in practicing these methods.
US08683322B1
In some embodiments, communications in a private network are programmatically inspected to identify traffic associated with uncontrolled Web applications originating from outside of the private network. Unstructured data, including messages and application content, originating from such uncontrolled Web Applications may be disassembled, analyzed, and categorized into application element types. In some embodiments, these application element types may be source specific. An example of a source would be a social networking site operating on a public network such as the Internet. The application element types thus generated can then be utilized in a variety of ways to facilitate the entity operating the private network to, for instance, control, monitor, archive, categorize, and moderate communications between its users and social networking sites operating outside the entity's private network.
US08683320B2
For processing of XML data by use of a finite state automaton, the XML data is based on a predetermined XML schema and the finite state automaton has states and transitions being arranged based on the predetermined XML schema. In the finite state automaton, at least one of the transitions of the finite state automaton, which refers to an element or attribute of the XML schema, has a variable length binary code, the variable length binary code being arranged to code the element or attribute of the XML schema. An improved handling of XML data in several systems or devices of several technical areas is provided, wherein saving of memory resources and processing resources or costs in the systems and devices is enabled.
US08683312B2
Systems and methods provide a mechanism to create and traverse inter-document links involving embedded documents. One aspect of the systems and methods includes creating and traversing inter-document links to and from documents that are embedded in a host document. A further aspect of the systems and methods includes creating and traversing inter-document links to an from documents that may be embedded at more than one level in an embedded document hierarchy. A still further aspect of the systems and methods includes creating and traversing inter-document links from a first document to an embedded document in a second document.
US08683301B2
Coded video data may be transmitted between an encoder and a decoder using multiple FEC codes and/or packets for error detection and correction. Only a subset of the FEC packets need be transmitted between the encoder and decoder. The FEC packets of each FEC group may take, as inputs, data packets of a current FEC group and also an untransmitted FEC packet of a preceding FEC group. Due to relationships among the FEC packets, when transmission errors arise and data packets are lost, there remain opportunities for a decoder to recover lost data packets from earlier-received FEC groups when later-received FEC groups are decoded. This opportunity to recover data packets from earlier FEC groups may be useful in video coding and other systems, in which later-received data often cannot be decoded unless earlier-received data is decoded properly.
US08683298B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for error detection/correction based memory management. One embodiment includes performing a read operation with respect to a particular group of memory cells of a memory device and, if the read operation results in an uncorrectable error, determining whether to retire the particular group of memory cells in response to a status of an indicator corresponding to the particular group of memory cells, wherein the status of the indicator indicates whether the particular group of memory cells has a previous uncorrectable error associated therewith.
US08683290B2
Disclosed herein is a nonvolatile memory, including: a memory area including a data area configured to retain data and an error correction code area configured to retain an error correction code known as ECC; and a control unit configured to control access to the memory area. The control unit includes an error detection and correction function configured to detect an error in the data read from the data area and to correct the detected error, at least one save area configured such that if data at a designated address and ECC corresponding thereto are read from the memory area and if an error is detected, then the save area retaining the address and correct data corresponding thereto, and a validity presentation block configured to indicate whether or not the address and the correct data retained in the save area are valid.
US08683286B2
A method begins for a first group of data segments by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module selecting a first vault parameter set from a plurality of vault parameter sets and generating a first plurality of sets of slice names for a first plurality of sets of encoded slices in accordance with the first vault parameter set. The method continues for a second group of data segments with the DS processing module selecting a second vault parameter set from the plurality of vault parameter sets and generating a second plurality of sets of slice names for a second plurality of sets of encoded slices in accordance with the second vault parameter set.
US08683275B2
Provided are techniques for receiving a packet transmitted in conjunction with a security association associated with Internet Protocol Security (IPSec); determining, based upon the security Association that the packet is faulty; incrementing a count corresponding to previous faulty packets received; determining that the count exceeds a threshold; and disabling IPSec accelerator hardware in response to the determining that the count exceeds the threshold.
US08683268B2
An approach is provided to trace a software program running in a multi-nodal complex computing environment. A trace request is sent from a requestor node to the nodes with the trace request associated with the software program and also associated with a transaction identifier. The software program is executed on the nodes. While the program is executing, trace data entries resulting from the execution of the software program are logged at the respective nodes with each trace data entry being associated with the transaction identifier. A log request is subsequently sent from the requestor node to the other nodes. The resulting trace data is then received by the requestor node from the target nodes and logged in a transaction based log. The transaction-based log is then provided to a user of the requestor node.
US08683262B1
Certain example embodiments provide a single pass, reverse chronological approach to write-ahead log recovery, enabling space- and time-efficient the recovery of stored data from large write-ahead logs to a transient storage medium. The techniques described herein can in certain instances enable fast and efficient recovery, even in scenarios where at the time of a failure requiring such a recovery the live log is potentially multiple terabytes or larger in size. Certain example embodiments make use of a filtering mechanism (e.g., involving potentially stateful delete, skip, and/or transaction filters), a key/value property (allowing a live set of data, once identified, to be applied in any arbitrary order), etc. A simplified environment with a small closed set of mutative operations allows for the performing of recovery backwards by scanning the log from the most recent written record backwards in time (and, in other words, finishing with the oldest record).
US08683256B2
In a method for adjusting modulation on a network, a modulation profile of a network node on the network is set a specified density. A plurality of messages that are received at the network node are monitored on an ongoing basis. The modulation profile of the network node is updated continually based on the monitored messages. A determination is made that a predetermined class of messages is received incorrectly at the network node. The network node is disconnected from the network based on the incorrectly received predetermined class of messages and is reconnected to the network to initiate the network node on the network.
US08683250B2
Techniques for minimizing storage power consumption are provided. The techniques include generating one or more physical storage volumes and one virtual storage volume for each physical storage volume, creating a mapping from virtual storage volumes to physical storage volumes, determining input/output (I/O) access behavior of one or more applications using statistical analysis, and re-mapping the virtual to physical volume mapping based on the determined I/O access behavior of the one or more applications to minimize storage power consumption while meeting a required performance.
US08683249B2
According to one embodiment, a computer system comprises a first memory that stores a first program, a second memory that stores a second program or data, a processor, a first and a second power control circuits. The first power control circuit causes the first memory to operate at a first power consumption when detecting change of an input signal to the processor, and causes the first memory to operate at a second power consumption smaller than the first power consumption and transmits a temporary halt instruction to the processor when the execution of the first program or the second program by the processor is completed. The second power control circuit causes the second memory to operate at a third power consumption before the processor executes the second program, reads or writes the data. The second memory accepts read and write operations while operating at the third power consumption.
US08683248B2
An electronic apparatus includes a first power source to generate power from external power; a photovoltaic power generation device to generate power from received light as cell-generated power; a power storage device to store cell-generated power; a second power source to generate power from cell-generated power; a mode switching unit to switch between normal power supply mode and reduced-power mode, in normal power supply mode, power is supplied from the first power source to the electronic apparatus, and in reduced-power mode, power supply from the first power source is stopped and power is supplied from the second power source; a voltage detector to detect voltage of cell-generated power; a memory to store condition-specific threshold voltages to determine conditions of the electronic apparatus; and a power supply controller to control switching between normal power supply mode and reduced-power mode by comparing the voltage of cell-generated power and the condition-specific threshold voltages.
US08683247B2
An apparatus, method, and system are provided for optimizing computer performance while a first processor is in a sleep mode of operation. For example, an embodiment of the apparatus includes a first processor, a second processor (also referred to herein as a “sleep” processor), and one or more peripheral devices. When the first processor is in a sleep mode of operation, the sleep processor is configured to control one or more functions of the computer system incorporating the first processor and the sleep processor. These functions can include applications that may not otherwise be executed while the first processor is in sleep mode such as, for example, functions of the one or more peripheral devices. As a result, power management of the computer system is improved since the first processor remains in sleep mode for a longer period of time.
US08683245B2
A computer system capable of showing documents for users to read in a power saving mode is disclosed. The computer system includes a system end and a display end. The system end operates normally in a normal mode, when in a reading mode, the system end converts the data in processing to N pieces of frame data, and then the system end enters a suspend mode. The display end operates continuously in the reading mode. It includes an image buffer connecting to the system end, the image buffer temporarily storing N pieces of the frame data sent by the system end, an input device generating a control signal; a display panel; and an image transmitter connected to the image buffer, the display panel and the input device. The image transmitter displays the frame data on the display panel. When in the reading mode, the image transmitter receives the control signal generated by the input device, and retrieves the specific frame data from the image buffer and sends it to the display panel for displaying.
US08683241B2
A method for reducing current leakage in a battery in communication with an information handling system (IHS). The method includes providing a battery management unit (BMU) in the battery, the BMU in communication with an embedded controller (EC), the BMU in a standby mode while the battery is coupled to the IHS, and configuring the BMU to exit the standby mode if an external power supply is coupled to the IHS. Also disclosed is an IHS which includes an EC in communication with a BMU, a power switch in communication with the EC and the BMU, and a control switch configured to be switched on if an external power supply is coupled to the IHS or if the power switch is activated without the external power supply, wherein the BMU unit exits the standby mode if the control switch is switched on.
US08683237B2
The disclosure relates to a system and method to allow an end user to remotely reset or reboot an optical network terminal (ONT) and/or residential gateway that has become unresponsive or otherwise needs to be reset. In various aspects, the end user may initiate a sequence of hook flash signals from a telecommunication device that causes an ONT control system to power cycle the ONT.
US08683234B2
A device state control method for use in an information processing apparatus that has a body, a device connectable to the body, a storage portion which stores information of a state of power supply to the device, the device state control method including: determining whether the information of state of power supply stored in the storage portion is information of power-supply OFF state or not, after instructing to shift the state of the power supply to the device from the power-supply OFF state into a power-supply. ON state; and starting the power supply to the device, when the information of power-supply OFF state is stored in the storage portion.
US08683225B2
A microprocessor includes an architected register having a bit (may be x86 EFLAGS register reserved bit) set by the microprocessor. A fetch unit fetches encrypted instructions from an instruction cache and decrypts them (via XOR) prior to executing them, in response to the microprocessor setting the bit. The microprocessor saves the bit value to a stack in memory and then clears the bit in response to receiving an interrupt. The fetch unit fetches unencrypted instructions from the instruction cache and executes them without decrypting them after the microprocessor clears the bit. The microprocessor restores the saved value from the stack in memory to the bit in the architected register (and in one embodiment, also restores decryption key values) in response to executing a return from interrupt instruction. The fetch unit resumes fetching and decrypting the encrypted instructions in response to determining that the restored value of the bit is set.
US08683217B2
A device according to the present invention is configured for transmitting data between two semiconductor chips of a data processor in an encrypted manner, wherein a first semiconductor chip is connected to a second semiconductor chip. The device includes a non-volatile memory element in each of the two semiconductor chips, wherein an encryption initial value for an encryption rule is stored in the memory element of the first semiconductor chip and a decryption initial value associated to the encryption initial value for a decryption rule associated to the encryption rule is stored in the memory element of the second semiconductor chip. Additionally, the first semiconductor chip has a first data transmission interface formed to generate an encryption data stream from an input data stream using the encryption initial value according to the encryption rule. Also, the second semiconductor chip has a second data transmission interface formed to receive the encryption data stream and to generate a decryption data stream from the encryption data stream using the decryption initial value according to the decryption rule and to compare the decryption data stream generated to an expected data stream, wherein the second data transmission interface is also formed to perform a defensive measure against transmitting data from the second data transmission interface to the first data transmission interface when the decryption data stream does not correspond to the expected data stream.
US08683212B2
Securely loading code in a security processor may include autonomous fetching an encrypted security data set, which may comprise security code and/or root keys, by a security processor integrated within a chip. The encrypted security data set may be decrypted via the on-chip security processor and the decrypted code set may be validated on-chip using an on-chip locked value. The on-chip locked value may be stored in a one-time programmable read-only memory (OTP ROM) and may include security information generated by applying one or more security algorithms, for example SHA-based algorithms, to the security data set. The encryption of the security data set may utilize various security algorithms, for example AES-based algorithms. The on-chip locked value may be created and locked after a virgin boot of a device that includes the security processor. The security data set may be authenticated during the virgin boot of the device.
US08683205B2
A method begins by a processing module determining whether a data access request is requesting access to data stored in a plurality of dispersed storage networks (DSNs). The method continues with the processing module determining whether one of the plurality of DSNs is a home DSN to a requesting entity when the data access request is requesting access to data stored in the plurality of DSNs. The method continues with the processing module utilizing a local signed certificate to access one or more dispersed storage (DS) units of the home DSN, validating a global signed certificate with one or more DS units of a non-home DSN of the plurality of DSNs to produce a valid global signed certificate, and utilizing the valid signed certificate to access the one or more DS units of the non-home DSN when the plurality of DSNs includes the home DSN.
US08683202B2
Messages exchanged between a mobile node and a home agent according to a mobile Internet protocol are authenticated using cryptographic methods applied to the messages and which have been agreed on between the mobile node and the home agent.
US08683199B2
Whenever a drawing command is executed, a computer system having a graphic user interface such as a multi-window system determines, from the logical operation pattern of the drawing command, what kind of information is inherited by a drawing result from the drawing command, preferably without performing a complicated step such as an image process. At the same time, the computer system controls information flow of an image outputted to a screen by managing labeled area maps which correspond one to one to images on the screen and in a memory.
US08683198B2
A method and apparatus is provided that allows code signed by a master key to grant trust to an arbitrary second key, and also allows code, referred to as an antidote and also signed by the master key to revoke permanently the trust given to the second key.
US08683192B2
Methods and apparatus for use in quantum key distribution (QKD) are described. A quantum QKD signal is generated at a source and transmitted through a fiber optic network to an endpoint, a key being agreed with communication over a classical QKD channel. The classical QKD channel contains additional information relevant to a network over which keys are distributed, and may be processed at nodes intermediate between the source and the endpoint.
US08683189B2
A boot method an apparatus are described which reduce the likelihood of a security breach in a mobile device, preferably in a situation where a reset has been initiated. A predetermined security value, or password, is stored, for example in BootROM. A value of a security location within FLASH memory is read and the two values are compared. Polling of the serial port is selectively performed, depending on the result of such comparison. In a presently preferred embodiment, if the value in the security location matches the predetermined security value, then polling of the serial port is not performed. This reduces potential security breaches caused in conventional arrangements where code may be downloaded from the serial port and executed, which allows anyone to access and upload programs and data in the FLASH memory, including confidential and proprietary information.
US08683188B2
A method, computer program product and system of preventing the unauthorized rebooting of a server having a change record, reboot password and valid reboot key. The method includes authenticating that rebooting is authorized by the change record; responsive to entering a reboot password, authenticating that a valid reboot password has been entered; and responsive to entering a reboot key, authenticating by a computer processor that a valid reboot key has been entered.
US08683182B2
Systems and apparatuses are presented relating a programmable processor comprising an execution unit that is operable to decode and execute instructions received from an instruction path and partition data stored in registers in the register file into multiple data elements, the execution unit capable of executing group data handling operations that re-arrange data elements in different ways in response to data handling instructions, the execution unit further capable of executing a plurality of different group floating-point and group integer arithmetic operations that each arithmetically operates on the multiple data elements stored in registers in the register file to produce a catenated result that is returned to a register in the register file, wherein the catenated result comprises a plurality of individual results.
US08683176B2
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables are obtained. Dynamic address translation of the virtual address proceeds. In response to a translation interruption having occurred during dynamic address translation, bits are stored in a translation exception qualifier (TXQ) field to indicate that the exception was either a host DAT exception having occurred while running a host program or a host DAT exception having occurred while running a guest program. The TXQ is further capable of indicating that the exception was associated with a host virtual address derived from a guest page frame real address or a guest segment frame absolute address. The TXQ is further capable of indicating that a larger or smaller host frame size is preferred to back a guest frame.
US08683175B2
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for interfacing between a multi-threaded processing core and an accelerator. In one embodiment, the method comprises copying from the processing core to the hardware accelerator memory address translations for each of multiple threads operating on the processing core, and simultaneously storing on the hardware accelerator one or more of the memory address translations for each of the threads. Whenever any one of the multiple threads operating on the processing core instructs the hardware accelerator to perform a specified operation, the hardware accelerator has stored thereon one or more of the memory address translations for the any one of the threads. This facilitates starting that specified operation without memory translation faults. In an embodiment, the copying includes, each time one of the memory address translations is updated on the processing core, copying the updated one of the memory address translations to the hardware accelerator.
US08683168B2
A memory system including a plurality of first blocks provided for storing user information therein, to which first physical addresses which are not duplicate are assigned, respectively, a plurality of second blocks provided for individually storing therein the first physical addresses of initial defective blocks out of the plurality of first blocks, and a plurality of third blocks provided for individually storing therein the first physical addresses of late defective blocks out of the plurality of first blocks. The memory system further includes a computing device for obtaining the first physical address corresponding to a logical address on the basis of the logical address, information stored in the second blocks, and information stored in the third blocks.
US08683165B2
A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
US08683148B2
Data storage devices and methods are disclosed that provide a status indication when a maintenance operation is to be performed prior to completion of a write command. A method includes receiving a write command from a host device to write data to the non-volatile memory while the data storage device is operatively coupled to the host device. In response to determining that a maintenance operation is to be performed prior to the completion of the write command, an indication is sent to the host device that the write command has a status of incomplete.
US08683145B2
A packed command can be received at a storage device. The packed command can include an indicator of a source data location in the storage device and an indicator of a destination data location in the storage device. In response to receiving the packed command, a storage map table in the storage device can be updated. Also, a storage processing guide can be sent to a storage device. The processing guide can include a stream indicator associating the processing guide with a storage command stream. A set of storage commands can also be sent to the storage device. One or more of the commands in the set can each include a stream indicator that matches the stream indicator in the processing guide and identifies the command with the stream.
US08683138B2
A prefetch data machine instruction having an M field performs a function on a cache line of data specifying an address of an operand. The operation comprises either prefetching a cache line of data from memory to a cache or reducing the access ownership of store and fetch or fetch only of the cache line in the cache or a combination thereof. The address of the operand is either based on a register value or the program counter value pointing to the prefetch data machine instruction.
US08683133B2
A real request from a CPU to the same memory bank as a prior prefetch request is transmitted to the per-memory bank logic along with a kill signal to terminate the prefetch request. This avoids waiting for a prefetch request to complete before sending the real request to the same memory bank. The kill signal gates off any acknowledgement of completion of the prefetch request. This invention reduces the latency for completion of a high priority real request when a low priority speculative request to a different address in the same memory bank has already been dispatched.
US08683132B1
A memory controller for prefetching data for a processor, or CPU, of a computer system. The memory controller functions by interfacing the processor to system memory via a system memory bus. A prefetch cache is included in the memory controller. The prefetch cache includes a short-term storage portion and a long-term storage portion. The prefetch cache is configured to access system memory to retrieve and store a plurality of sequential cache lines subsequent to a processor access to system memory.
US08683124B2
An unmount state storing unit configured to store a state of unmount processing to end access processing to a memory card attached to a device from a host computer is provided. During a period from immediately after a host computer executes the unmount processing until detaching of the memory card is detected, a value of the host computer unmount state storing unit is stored as “true”. During the period in which this value is “true”, a host computer mount request from another host computer is denied. Consequently, after the access processing to the memory card attached to a device by the host computer has ended, contents of the memory card cannot be read from the other host computer while the memory card is still attached.
US08683111B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and method for storing metadata to unused portions of a virtual disk file. In a particular embodiment, a method provides selecting a virtual disk file stored on a data storage volume and identifying unused portions of the virtual disk file. The method further provides writing metadata for the virtual disk file in the unused portions of the virtual disk file.
US08683105B1
The modular avionics system may include one or more centralized processing line-replaceable units (LRUs), the centralized processing LRUs including at least one multi-core computer processor, one or more multi-function display (MFD) units configured to receive imagery data from the centralized processing LRUs and display the imagery data on a display device, one or more control display units (CDUs) configured to receive imagery data from the centralized processing LRUs and display the imagery data on a display device, the MFD units and the CDUs including one or more user input devices, the MFD units and the CDUs including at least one logic module, the CDUs and the MFD units configured to transmit user input data from the user input devices to the centralized processing LRUs, the centralized processing LRUs constructed from a plurality of component slices, wherein a first component slice and at least a second component slice are reversibly couplable.
US08683101B2
A method of communication over a single-wire bus between a transmitter device and at least one receiver device, wherein each data bit is transmitted in a frame successively including: a synchronization slot different from a reference voltage of the devices; a first idle slot in a state corresponding to the reference voltage of the circuit; a slot representing the data bit to be transmitted; a second idle slot identical to the first one; a slot intended to contain the state of an optional response bit; and an end slot identical to the idle slot.
US08683100B1
Method and apparatus for handling data flow in a multi-chip environment using an interchip interface
A processing system includes an interchip interface that comprises an interchip interface module having an arbiter to allocate a dedicated time slice in every fixed number of time slices, to assign a first priority to store data item(s) from a first-type channel having a first datapath width in memory during the dedicated time slice. In the remaining time slices of the fixed number of time slices, the arbiter further arbitrates among multiple channels of one or more types other than a first type, where the multiple channels correspond to at least one datapath width different from the first datapath width, and channels with wider datapath win the arbitration. The arbiter further arbitrates among two or more channels of the same type if a certain type of channel(s) wins the arbitration in a time slice. A method for implementing the same is also disclosed.
US08683097B2
Systems and methods for detecting Input/Output (I/O) device connection are described herein. The method includes physically coupling an I/O device to a host port through a first signal line and a second signal line. The method also includes driving the first signal line or the second signal line high via an active buffer of the I/O device. The method also includes providing an acknowledgement signal from the host to the device through the other signal line that is not being driven high by the active buffer of the I/O device.
US08683095B1
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with tracking packet identifiers are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving packets of data, wherein each packet includes an encoded packet identifier, the encoded packet identifier being decoded into a decoded packet identifier, and after each packet is received, incrementing a first counter and a second counter for estimating a sequential value of the decoded packet identifier.
US08683093B2
According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor.
US08683092B1
A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication network.
US08683090B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for determining whether an accessory includes particular circuitry. A host device may measure a first voltage and a second voltage received from an accessory, where the voltages are provide through the accessory from a power source. Before measuring the second voltage, the host device may send an instruction to the accessory instructing the accessory to alter an impedance of the power path between the power source and the host device, and the host device may draw at least a threshold amount of current from the power source via the accessory. The host device may then determine whether the accessory includes particular circuitry based on the relationship between the first voltage and the second voltage.
US08683075B1
Distributed computing system and method for distributing user requests to replicated network servers
Routing requests for data objects from clients includes receiving a request for a data object from a client, providing content servers capable of serving data objects, determining a server from the content servers, and informing the client of an address associated with the determined server accessible by the selected route. Determining a server includes, for each content server, identifying routes between the content server and the client, determining traversal times for the routes, and selecting a route from among the routes based on the traversal times.
US08683063B1
A medium and method are provided for preventing undesired data from being communicated through a network. In one aspect, the method comprises the method comprises receiving from an anonymizing device an indication of an undesired data communication and an identification of one or more of a computing device responsible for said communication and a user responsible for said communication; on the basis of specified criteria, determining whether said indication is valid; when said indication is valid, incrementing a cumulative instance count that sums a number of instances associated with one or more of the computing device and the user; and, when said cumulative count exceeds a predetermined threshold number of instances, implementing a measure to prevent a further undesired data communication from said computing device.
US08683059B2
A security management approach that combines network security management with application layer or software service security to address the threat of internal network security attacks. The invention is directed to a method for enhancing network security on a computer network. Data access privileges relating to users and services are interpreted, network access rules are determined based on the interpreted privileges, and network message traffic is monitored and filtered based on the determined network access rules. The interpreting, determining, monitoring, and filtering are performed at a network layer responsible for controlling how a network device gains access to the network, such as the Media Access Control (MAC) layer.
US08683046B2
A network and connection provisioning framework for configuring and provisioning multiple aspects of network connectivity (e.g., multiple networks, media types, and/or connections). The framework may comprise a unified configuration interface that enables an administrator to configure multiple different types of network connectivity. A single configuration file comprising settings for multiple aspects of network connectivity may be generated based on preferences entered by a system administrator, or by exporting current settings from a particular computing device. Global configuration policies or other configuration settings that span multiple types of network connectivity may be also created and stored in one or more configuration files. Stand-alone media managers and/or plug-in modules may implement one or more standardized application programming interface functions so that they may interoperate with the network and connection provisioning framework. The standardized API may be used to ensure that configuration information is handled and stored in a standardized manner by different media managers and/or plug-in modules.
US08683044B2
A third party call control (3PCC) application program interface (API) permits for users to use a web browser or other Internet capable software to place a call. The third party call control application program interface includes a first uniform resource locator operable over the Internet to effect a call between first and telephonic devices to be completed. The first uniform resource locator includes identification of the first telephonic device and identification of the second telephonic device.
US08683034B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for coordinated session termination in an IMS network
A network connectivity status of user equipment (UE) is detected. Detection of the network connectivity status of the UE may include, for example, detecting termination of network connectivity of the UE responsive to a communication to the network by the UE, receiving a termination message from the UE at the bootstrapping server function (BSF), receiving notification of de-registration of the UE from a home subscriber server (HSS) and/or detecting a loss of communications between the UE and the network. A bootstrapping server function (BSF) communicates with at least one network application function (NAF) responsive to detection of the network connectivity status to terminate a plurality of sessions associated with the UE.
US08683030B2
Message intermediation for multiple service instances, while allowing the service instance to control whether messages are processed under a transaction. The message intermediator chooses to dispatch messages among different backend service instances based on any routing rules. The message intermediator performs a peek-lock of message from a forward-end queue, and assigns the message to a service instance. The message is provided into a backward-end queue specific to the assigned service instance. The service instance may then process the message, perhaps under a transaction created at the service instance. Upon completion of processing, the message is deleted in the back-end queue, which causes the forward-end queue to delete the message under the same transaction created by the service instance. Whether or not this deletion at the forward-end is committed or rolled back depends on whether the transaction created at the service instance is committed or rolled back.
US08683027B2
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computer system for controlling processing of a data stream employing utilization of uncertainty dependency relationships, by receiving elements of data of a hierarchy to form received data, wherein each element has associated dependency information, creating a set of data streams, receiving elements, associated with a specific terminal node, from the received data into a respective data stream associated with the specific terminal node, processing data streams in the set of data streams individually using the associated dependency information, determining whether processing of a stream in the set of data streams is successful and, responsive to a determination that processing of each stream in the set of data streams is successful the computer-implemented process, terminating controlling processing.
US08683025B2
A host server of a storage system transmits path information and a simultaneous command issue number to a storage managing server, while the path information corresponds to such paths that when the host server executes an application program, the host server accesses to a logical volume, the simultaneous command issue number corresponds to a total number of commands issued to the respective paths. A storage monitoring agent server transmits to the storage managing server, an upper limit number of command multiplex numbers. When accepting path information, a simultaneous command issue number, and the command multiplex number upper limit value, the storage managing server proportionally distributes the command multiplex number upper limit value of the port to the respective paths so as to calculate a command multiplex upper limit value, and calculated result.
US08683017B2
A configuration tool provides a user interface that interacts with a gateway to remotely configure and/or monitor automation devices in an automation network. The configuration tool employs a self-contained software application (e.g., applet) that can be utilized for presentation and configuration interactions within a common web browser. The configuration tool can be based on open standards and implemented with small devices and/or with heterogeneous automation networks. The configuration tool can provide a list of automation devices to a system engineer via a workstation and standard software (e.g., a PC with a browser). The configuration tool interacts with automation devices to obtain their configurable parameters and/or send configuration commands. In one instance, the configuration tool and the automation network devices are based on Java and IEC 61499, respectively.
US08683016B1
Embodiments of the components and processes for recording selected Web site data described herein adhere to long-term stability guidelines so as to improve maintainability and viability over time. Additionally, the data recording components can be placed within a software architecture to minimize the number of redundant data recording components. Furthermore, the data recording components can be tailored to specific data recording purposes. Additionally, the data recording components can be designed to take into account system performance issues and minimally impact system performance. Furthermore, the data recording components can be tailored to gather specific data useful for various analytical processes. Additionally, embodiments of the data recording components are relatively easy to implement and able to handle idiosyncrasies and changes of various Web sites in which they are placed.
US08683008B1
Map tile data for displaying graphic elements of a web-based mapping system in a mobile computing device may be pre-fetched to the device based on selection of an option to store the data at the device. A request for mapping system data may be sent from a mobile computing device to a remote mapping system via a network connection. The request may include user-specified location data. The remote mapping system may retrieve the mapping data corresponding to the user-specified location data and send it to the mobile computing device via the network connection. The mobile computing device may receive the retrieved mapping data and display a selectable option to store or not store the mapping data in a cache memory of the mobile computing device. The retrieved mapping data may then be stored at the mobile computing device in response to selection of the option to store the mapping data.
US08683006B2
A font server is configured to verify that a request for a font file originates with a web page of a web site licensed to use the font file, and, if so, to download the font file to a web browser. Rather than just downloading the font file directly, however, the font server first provides the web browser a script configured to determine information regarding the web browser sufficient for the font server to determine which of a plurality of font files available to the font server to provide to the browser. When the script executes within the browser, the information is gathered and returned to the font server. Thereafter, the font server provides an appropriate font file to the web browser. Preferably, the font file is configured so as to be protected against unauthorized use.
US08683003B2
A computer program provides a first set of representations (e.g., textual representations) of a first set of hyperlinks. In response to selection by a user of one of the first set of hyperlink representations (such as by clicking on or hovering a cursor over the representation), the program displays a second set of representations (e.g., graphical representations) of a second set of hyperlinks. The user may select one of the second set of representations, in response to which the program navigates to the destination of the hyperlink. The second set of representations may, for example, be logos of companies, and the second set of hyperlinks may be hyperlinks to the companies' web sites.
US08683002B2
One or more content delivery networks (CDNs) that deliver content objects for others is disclosed. Content is propagated to edge servers through hosting and/or caching. End user computers are directed to an edge server for delivery of a requested content object by a universal resource indicator (URI). When a particular edge server does not have a copy of the content object from the URI, information is passed to another server, the ancestor or parent server to find the content object. There can be different parents servers designated for different URIs. The parent server looks for the content object and if not found, will go to another server, the grandparent server, and so on up a hierarchy within the group. Eventually, the topmost server in the hierarchy goes to the origin server to find the content object. The origin server may be hosted in the CDN or at a content provider across the Internet. Once the content object is located in the hierarchical chain, the content object is passed back down the chain to the edge server for delivery. Optionally, the various servers in the chain may cache or host the content object as it is relayed.
US08682997B2
Various embodiments utilize a real-time instant messaging or presence based communications system as a mechanism to remotely control the operation, programming, and/or review of media content on a device or system such as a television, media center, gaming device, digital video recorder and the like. In addition, the use of the instant messaging or presence based communication system opens up various social networking options for users. For example, users can, if allowed, gain access to the viewing habits of individuals in their contact list and exchange information with one another to provide a rich, robust sharing environment.
US08682987B2
A method for providing electronic mail return receipts with video of the electronic mail recipient is disclosed. The electronic mail recipient opens an electronic mail message which initiates recording of the electronic mail recipient. The recording may be terminated when the recipient closes the electronic mail or minimizes the electronic mail message window. Recording may also end after a predetermined amount of time after the electronic mail message is opened.
US08682985B2
Architecture that facilitates cross-boundary message tracking based on a trust relationship in existence between a sender network and a recipient network. A tracking service is deployed in each network as a proxy to obtain message events for each hop that passes the message on to the recipient. Tracking can include a search task and a get task. Messages can be found in reports that match message search criteria. The search task returns an array of search results objects, each object identifying a single tracking report. A selected object is pipelined into the get task to return the detailed tracking report for the selected message.
US08682983B2
The present invention relates to a method for the delivery and display of an email text message and audio/video attachment to an IPTV enabled display device. The method comprises retrieving an email message and at least one audio/video attachment from an email account, and saving the email message and one audio/video attachment. The method further comprises analyzing the retrieved email message to determine if an IPTV account is associated with data that is comprised within the email message, and transmitting a notification to the IPTV account in the event that the email data that is comprised within the email message is determined to be associated with the IPTV account.
US08682981B2
A method to deliver a notification of receipt of an e-mail includes associating a set-top box identifier with at least one e-mail account. Through a mail server external to an IPTV network, it is determined whether an e-mail has been received for the at least one e-mail account. In response to determining that an e-mail has been received for the at least one e-mail account, an e-mail delivery notification is generated and transmitted to the e-mail delivery notification to a set-top box device identified by the set-top box identifier.
US08682980B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing messages for an instant messaging conversation. A determination is made as to whether the selected party should receive the messages already exchanged in the instant messaging conversation in response to a user input during the instant messaging conversation with respect to a selected party. The messages are sent to the selected party in response to a determination that the selected party should receive the plurality of messages.
US08682973B2
Multi-user, multi-computing device collaborative work experience is provided. One or more computing devices, including wired and wireless personal computers, laptop computers, servers, handheld mobile computing devices, for example, mobile telephones, tablet type computers, slate type computers and the like, may be linked together to allow users of such devices to engage in a collaborative work session. Information for each user engaged in the collaborative work session may be displayed on the one or more devices along with any content such as agenda items, documents, data, images, and the like. User participation may be tracked, and information on user participation, work session communications and content may be stored for subsequent use.
US08682972B2
An improved networked computer communications system handles arbitrary streams of data, and transports at varying speeds those steams where intermediate updates can be dropped if they are obsoleted by later arriving data updates, optimizing the utilization of network and node resources. One conferencing system allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the display seen on their computer screens. The conferees may be at sites removed from each other, or may view a recorded presentation or archived conference at different times. A pointer icon, which can be labeled to identify the conferee, is displayed on the shared image area. Each conferee can modify the position of his pointer, even when not presenting, so that every participant can see what each conferee is pointing to. These and other features apply to other data streams shared in the conference or in meetings where there is no shared-image data stream.
US08682965B2
A remote system and a remote operation method are provided, being capable of starting promptly and completing remote operation immediately for a user. A support server 100 acquires configuration information of a user terminal 10 in response to support request from the user terminal 10, receives remote operation from a supporter, the operation corresponding to support request sent from a support terminal 150, and sends remote operation received from the supporter to the user terminal 10 as a configuration command for setting configuration corresponding to the support request from the user terminal 10. The user terminal 10 sets configuration corresponding to the support request based on sent configuration command. Where the user terminal 10 conducts configuration corresponding to the support request based on the sent configuration command, the user terminal 10 displays a user interface in a phased manner to set the configuration corresponding to remote request.
US08682959B2
Systems and methods for processing information via networked computers leverage request handlers, process handlers, and task handlers to provide efficient distributed and fault-tolerant processing of processing jobs. A request handler can receive service requests for processing jobs, process handlers can identify tasks to be performed in connection with the processing jobs, and task handlers can perform the identified tasks, where the request handler, the process handlers, and the task handlers can be distributed across a plurality of networked computers.
US08682953B2
A hospital system for generating image data is provided. The Hospital System includes a module for determining raw image data, with a server that is spatially separated from the module and can calculate image data from the raw image data, and a network for transmitting the raw image data from the module to the server. The hospital system may include a number of modules.
US08682950B2
An input polynomial, in symbolic form, is received, classified, pre-processed, and factored. The input polynomial is classified as a constant, a univariate polynomial, or a multivariate polynomial. Various pre-processing is performed depending on the classification. After the input polynomial is pre-processed, the remaining polynomial is factored using a polynomial factoring algorithm. By pre-processing the input polynomial, the complexity of the polynomial to be factored is reduced, which reduces the computational expense of the polynomial factoring algorithm.
US08682946B1
A method for determining a peak value of a histogram or a sequence of sampled data is disclosed. The method may include fitting a curve to the sequence of data, the curve being modeled based on an orthonormal expansion; obtaining a differential curve, the differential curve describing changes in slope of the curve fitted to the sequence of data; finding at least one root for the differential curve; for each of the at least one root for the differential curve, calculating a corresponding value on the curve fitted to the sequence of data; and determining the peak value of the sequence of data based on a maximum value among the corresponding value calculated for each of the at least one root.
US08682942B1
Embodiments of system and method for performing object-modifying commands in an unstructured storage service are described. Embodiments may include utilizing one or more nodes to implement an unstructured storage service including a service interface configured to service data storage requests and data retrieval requests from remote clients. The unstructured storage service is configured to isolate access to each of multiple storage domains of the service to different clients. Embodiments may also include receiving from a given remote client, a request to store a data object to a given storage domain of the service. The request further specifying a command to modify source data for the object prior to storing the object. Embodiments may also include using the unstructured storage service to perform the command without exporting the source data from the unstructured storage service to the given remote client prior to completion of the command.
US08682941B2
A logical record of a source logical page is moved to a space area or a deletion area in a destination logical page. The source logical page is sequentially set forward from the logical page immediately before the last stored logical page in a subrange. The destination logical page is sequentially set backward from the leading logical page in the subrange. When a logical record is moved, exclusive control is performed in logical page units only on the source logical page and the destination logical page. The access by online operations is not prohibited on other logical pages not exclusively controlled in the same subrange.
US08682936B2
Techniques for an inherited entity storage model are described that can be employed to implement inherited entity management for a CRM system. In at least some embodiments, input can be obtained to create a custom entity that is based at least in part upon a parent entity. The custom entity is created to inherit the parent entity according to an inheritance relationship established between the entities. To do so, the custom entity is created from the parent entity in a common table with the parent entity using some common fields and defining custom fields as appropriate. Data for the entities is then stored via the common table. This approach can reduce storage requirements, enable unified searching, and speed up data operations. Further, back-end business logic associated with parent entity in the CRM system can be automatically applied to the custom entity based upon the inheritance relationship established between the entities.
US08682928B2
Provided is a method, system, and program implemented by a server for controlling and providing access to a file to at least one remote computer over a network. The server maintains metadata about files. The files are maintained at remote storage locations. The server receives a request from the remote computer for a filename of a requested file over the network. The server determines from the metadata one remote storage location address associated with the filename where the requested file is located. The server then updates the metadata for the requested file and sends the storage location address to the remote computer.
US08682919B1
A coordinate system is assigned to an object in a group of objects (e.g. an image in a digital photo album or a page in a document). The object is rendered on a display. A value correlated to the coordinate system is transmitted when another object in the group of objects is to be viewed. From this value, another related object (e.g. the next image in the album or the next page in the document) is identified and transmitted. This related object is then rendered on the display in place of the first object.
US08682915B2
A method and system for converting XML files to and from files in a data format based on hierarchies in real-time. A method for converting from XML to the data format based on hierarchies includes: applying a stylesheet to at least one XML file thereby generating at least one data record in an intermediate format and including information included in the at least one XML file; and, translating the at least one record in the intermediate format to the data format based on hierarchies. A method for converting from a data format based on hierarchies to XML includes: translating at least one record including information stored in the file format based on hierarchies to an intermediate format; and, applying a stylesheet to the at least one record in the intermediate format thereby generating at least one XML file being indicative of the information and suitable for transmission.
US08682913B1
A method and system for corroborating facts extracted as attribute-value pairs from multiple sources. Facts associated with a common subject are identified and extracted from multiple sources. From the extracted facts, attributes satisfying a first corroboration requirement are identified. Attribute-value pairs satisfying a second corroboration requirement and having any of the identified attributes that satisfy the first corroboration requirement are identified. Predefined actions may be performed with respect to the identified attribute-value pairs and/or with respect to their status in a fact database.
US08682911B2
A system comprises a processor-implemented collection module configured to request rating information from a first user relating to a transaction involving the first user and second user in an online transaction processing environment. The requested rating information relates to performance of the second user with respect to the transaction in a plurality of performance categories. A score generator is configured to generate a performance score relating to the second user using the rating information. A communication module is configured to communicate the performance score.
US08682904B1
A method and system for sorting a table based on a column containing fractions. In the table, a first column representing values of a first parameter, a second column representing values of a second parameter, and a third column representing values of a third parameter defined as the ratio of the second parameter to the first parameter are identified. Then, a fourth column representing values of a fourth parameter is generated. The fourth column has a relation to the third parameter that is defined in terms of a weighted sum of the values of the third parameter and an average value associated with the values of the third parameter using a weight function defined as a monotonically decreasing function of the values of the first parameter. The table is sorted in ascending or descending order the rows of the table based on the values of the fourth parameter.
US08682901B1
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are extracted from the document collection. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases, using phrase posting lists. The phrase posting lists are stored in an cluster of index servers. The phrase posting lists can be tiered into groups, and sharded into partitions. Phrases in a query are identified based on possible phrasifications. A query schedule based on the phrases is created from the phrases, and then optimized to reduce query processing and communication costs. The execution of the query schedule is managed to further reduce or eliminate query processing operations at various ones of the index servers.
US08682894B2
A method for managing the exchange of information is provided, wherein the method includes receiving at least one information location identifier, wherein the at least one information location identifier may be associated with at least one information portal and associating with at least one network browser. The method further includes generating an information location identifier template responsive to the at least one information portal and communicating with the at least one information portal to identify resultant information.
