US08851820B2
A storage system and methods for operating a storage system are disclosed. The storage system includes a storage system assembly positioned at a height that is greater than a height of a tool used for loading and unloading substrates to be processed. The storage system locally stores one or more containers of substrates. The storage system assembly includes a plurality of storage shelves, and each of the plurality of storage shelves have shelf plates with shelf features for supporting a container. Each of the plurality of storage shelves are coupled to a chain to enable horizontal movement and each is further coupled to a rail to enable guiding to one or more positions. A motor is coupled to a drive sprocket for moving the chain, such that each of the plurality of storage shelves move together along the rail to the one or more positions. The rail has at least some sections that are linear and some sections that are nonlinear and the sections are arranged in a loop.
US08851817B2
The present invention is a wafer transfer system that transports individual wafers between chambers within an isolated environment. In one embodiment, a wafer is transported by a wafer shuttle that travel within a transport enclosure. The interior of the transport enclosure is isolated from the atmospheric conditions of the surrounding wafer fabrication facility. Thus, an individual wafer may be transported throughout the wafer fabrication facility without having to maintain a clean room environment for the entire facility. The wafer shuttle may be propelled by various technologies, such as, but not limited to, magnetic levitation or air bearings. The wafer shuttle may also transport more than one wafer simultaneously. The interior of the transport enclosure may also be under vacuum, gas-filled, or subject to filtered air.
US08851815B2
A self-piercing rivet is disclosed. The self-piercing rivet integrally joins an upper plate member and a lower plate member overlapping each other. The self-piercing rivet includes a head portion, a shank portion integrally connected with the head portion and a plurality of ribs formed to an external circumferential surface of the shank portion along a length direction of the shank portion in a spiral form, wherein a drive slot is formed to upper portion of the head portion.
US08851814B2
A self-piercing rivet is disclosed. The self-piercing rivet integrally joins an upper plate member and a lower plate member overlapping each other. The self-piercing rivet includes a head portion, a shank portion integrally connected with the head portion, and a plurality of ribs formed to an external circumferential surface of the shank portion along a length direction of the shank portion in a spiral form.
US08851812B1
A chuck device for holding an unmodified, circumferentially round tool shaft or collet includes an annular head portion having a distal end surface, a laterally spaced coupling end section, an outer circumferential surface, and a central longitudinally extending bore with an inner circumferential bore surface to slidingly receive the tool shaft or collet with the tool axis aligned collinearly with the bore axis. The head portion includes a first slot extending inwardly on one side of the annular head and normal to the distal end surface, and a second slot extending from the outer circumferential surface normal to and intersecting the first slot to form stationary and pivotable segments having a bore-facing, tool grasping surface that radially directs a compressive grasping force in an amount sufficient to hold the tool with a slip-torque of up to about 430 inch-lbs. at a rotational speed of up to at least about 20,000 rpm.
US08851807B2
A cutting tool has a plurality of cutting portions located along a cutter peripheral surface, alternating between cutter side surfaces, with a cutting insert retained in each cutting portion. At least one cutting portion has a main recess, formed opposite of the respective cutting insert. The main recess has a recess arcuate surface and a recess bearing surface. The cutting portion also has a cam member with a cam arcuate surface and a cam bearing surface, located on different sides of a cam pivot axis. The cam member is located within the main recess, the cam arcuate surface being adjacent the recess arcuate surface and the cam bearing surface being adjacent the recess bearing surface. The cutting portion is moveable between a neutral position and an adjusted position, in which the axial position of the cutting insert is adjusted when the cam member is rotated about the cam pivot axis.
US08851801B2
A subsurface support is provided comprising a soil nail having an outer member and an inner member placed within the outer member. The soil nail includes features that maintain a uniform spaced relationship between the inner and outer members. The soil nail may be installed by drilling or launching through a launching device. The spaced relationship between the inner and outer members may be achieved by crimping the outer member, or by use of an insert installed between the inner and outer members. In other embodiments, the support is made of composite construction materials, and having a self-drilling capability. The soil nail has two primary members, namely, an outer threaded member, and an inner threaded member that is placed through the outer member The outer member is made from fiberglass, and a metallic drill bit is secured to a distal end of the soil nail. The inner member is preferably steel. A method is also provided to improve pull-out capacity of the soil nails by galvanizing the inner and outer members.
US08851791B1
A manhole cover venting and rain guarding device for a manhole cover having an exterior manhole cover surface and an interior manhole cover surface includes a device housing adapted for attachment to the manhole cover. The device housing includes manhole cover venting and precipitation guarding device includes a device housing adapted for attachment to the manhole cover, the device housing including a head portion having a head portion surface adapted to protrude beyond an entire plane of the exterior manhole cover surface and a device bore extending through the head portion and adapted to communicate with the interior manhole cover surface of the manhole cover.
US08851789B2
A closure is adapted to limit damage from a gas explosion in an underground space. The closure includes a telescoping sleeve having a plurality of vents extending radially through the sleeve. The sleeve defines a manhole extending axially through the sleeve so a person can enter the underground space through the manhole. A manhole cover is moveable to a closed position in which the cover is supported on an upper end of the sleeve and covers the manhole. The sleeve can be received in an opening of a frame of a manhole installation so the sleeve is moveable by gas pressure to an extended position in which gas from the underground space can be vented through the sleeve to an aboveground space. If desired, the sleeve can be installed in an existing manhole installation to upgrade the installation to have an explosion mitigation capability without replacing the conventional manhole cover.
US08851787B2
Corner joints and methods of forming corner joints. The corner joints may provide the appearance of a mortise and tenon joint on both the exterior and interior surfaces of the corner joint, but include a mitered connection within the joint. Structures including at least one of the corner joints are also described.
US08851786B2
A reversible sealing mechanism for sealing a bulkhead having a first central aperture defined along a central axis and disposed between first and second compartments includes a cover member having a recess defined therein by a substantially cylindrical sidewall and adapted to cover the first central aperture. A wedge ring having a generally cylindrical body is accommodated by the first and second central apertures and is configured to operatively engage the cover member. A mechanical input is operative to reversibly rotate the wedge ring about the central axis such that a rotation of the wedge ring in a first direction urges the cover member in the axial direction into a sealed position.
US08851781B2
A brush, in particular a toothbrush, comprising a head part with a cleaning structure featuring bristles, a hand part and a neck part, and a cavity located in the head or neck part comprising at least one outlet opening for an active substance. In one embodiment, the cavity incorporates an active substance element, which contains the active substance in a carrier material and releases said substance in a controlled manner when it comes into contact with water. In another embodiment, the cavity is adapted to the shape of an active substance element by means of defined external contours. The volume of the cavity is preferably 1-2 times and no more than 4 times greater than the volume of the active substance element, ensuring that the latter is preferably surrounded by water during use. This allows the active substance to be effectively metered and ensures the brush is easy to use.
US08851774B2
A writing implement that includes a barrel extending in a longitudinal direction; a writing cartridge provided at one front end with a tip and designed to be moved in the barrel in the longitudinal direction between a forward position in which the tip is extended and a retracted position in which the tip is retracted into the barrel; a push member movable in the longitudinal direction and in a radial direction relative to the barrel, connected to the cartridge in order to move the latter, that includes at least one control member extending through an opening in the side of the barrel in order to project radially outwards, and also including at least one locking member designed to cooperate with a complementary locking member of the barrel allowing the push member to be locked in the forward position of the cartridge.
US08851773B2
An adjustable attachment for an applicator box to attach a handle, the adjustable attachment including a mounting plate for attachment to the applicator box having raised portion defining an enclosure between the raised portion and the application box, the enclosure accessible from at least one side, and attachment portion to attach to the handle, and a clamping assembly to clamp the attachment portion to the mounting plate and including at least one threaded member associated with a thumbwheel, rotation of the thumbwheel moving the clamping assembly between a clean condition which at least temporarily fixes the application box and handle relative to one another and a free condition in which the applicator box and handle are movable in relation to one another.
US08851772B2
According to the embodiment, a printing apparatus includes: a printing unit that forms an image on a web; a first feeding unit that feeds the web; a second feeding unit downstream of the printing unit in a feed direction; a buffer unit that has a buffer plate and absorbs flexure of the web generated by the two feeding units by operating the buffer plate; a first feeding control unit that causes the first feeding unit to execute a first deceleration operation; and a second feeding control unit that causes the second feeding unit to execute the first deceleration operation when a trigger for stopping the feed of the web has occurred, measures a feed amount of the web fed by the second feeding unit, and changes the first deceleration operation to a second deceleration operation based on the feed amount.
US08851752B2
A bag, consisting of a single-layer or multi-layer bag wall, which is bonded to form a tube (1) and, at least at one end, has a bottom (4) which is suitable for filling with charge through a filler of a bag-filling machine, is folded and bonded and is realized with a valve opening (13), and said bag wall being designed to dissolve in a moist environment thereby releasing the charge, makes complete dissolving of the bag wall (2) possible even in the region of the bottom (4) which is provided with the valve opening (13), characterized in that the bonding of the bottom (4) is effected using a dextrin adhesive.
US08851747B2
A thermal conductivity measurement apparatus for measuring a thermal conductivity of a one-dimensional material includes a substrate, a vacuum chamber receiving the substrate and four spaced electrodes. The one-dimensional material spans across the four spaced electrodes. A middle part of the one-dimensional material, located between the second and third electrodes, is suspended.
US08851745B2
A hygrometer and dew-point instrument is provided that is structurally simple while reducing the workload during maintenance. The hygrometer measures relative humidity of a measurement space, and has a main body that encapsulates a working fluid therein and causes a heat-pipe phenomenon. The main body is disposed across the measurement space and an external space spaced from the measurement space by a heat-insulating part and has a temperature lower than the measurement space. A first temperature deriving part derives the temperature of the main body in a section where the working fluid evaporates. A space temperature detecting unit detects the temperature of the measurement space. A computation unit calculate relative humidity of the measurement space based on the temperature of the main body derived by the first temperature deriving part and the temperature of the measurement space detected by the space temperature detecting unit.
US08851734B2
A light-guiding article has a film substrate that has at least one patterned surface having a plurality of discrete surface features and an incident edge that is substantially orthogonal to the at least one patterned surface. Each surface feature in the plurality of discrete surface features extends along a length direction that is substantially parallel to the incident edge. Taken in cross-section along the length direction, each surface feature has a positively sloped portion, a substantially flat portion, and a negatively sloped portion. A first widthwise cross-section taken at a first position through the positively sloped portion has the same shape as a second widthwise cross-section taken at a second position through the negatively sloped portion.
US08851733B2
A light signal transmitter and a light receiver for an optical sensor may be used for an industrial automation system. The light signal transmitter has a semiconductor-based light source for generating light. The semiconductor-based light source is disposed in an installation space between outer layers of a multi-layer circuit board. The light emission direction of the semiconductor-based light source is oriented substantially parallel to the layers of the printed circuit board. A deflection unit deflects the light emitted by the semiconductor-based light source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the layers of the printed circuit board. In the case of the light receiver, a light sensor is provided in place of the light source. Such optical sensors can be designed in a particularly flat and installation-friendly manner.
US08851726B2
A vehicle lighting apparatus is provided with: a light source device including a first light source and a second light source; a reflector adapted to reflect forwardly light emitted from the light sources; a main shade adapted to shade a portion of light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the reflector; and a sub shade adapted to shade at least a portion of light emitted from the second light source and reflected by the reflector.
US08851724B2
A headlight for a motor vehicle, in order to provide a cut-off light beam, comprising: a collector mirror of an ellipsoidal type with an optical axis; a source of light (S) placed in the vicinity of the inner focal point of the collector mirror; a substantially flat bender, the reflective surface of which is oriented towards the interior of the collector mirror, and has an edge which is situated in the vicinity of the other focal point of the collector mirror, and a lens, situated to the front of the collector mirror and the bender, in order to provide an image of the edge of the bender.
US08851721B2
The optics system is a lamp assembly which produces the desired beam pattern by using a reflector, a lens, a retainer lens, and an LED as a light source. The lamp assembly has three main components (the reflector, the lens, and the retainer lens) that maintain proper alignment between the light source and the reflector, the lens, and the retainer lens. The optical system collects substantially 100% of the light from the light source while effectively shaping the beam pattern using both cylindrical and revolved reflector elements. The lens has a saddle-shape which is used with the surface of a revolution to eliminate any “dogbone” light pattern shape. The use of a reflective element forms the foreground of the beam pattern.
US08851708B2
Disclosed herein is a light fixture locking mechanism that includes a frame assembly having a first primary rod support and a second primary rod support, a first connecting rod having a first end and a second end, the ends extending substantially between the first primary rod support and the second primary rod support, and a plurality of aiming assemblies, each configured to receive the first connecting rod therethrough, the aiming assemblies including opposing engaging protrusions. The device further includes a first fastener, that when in a fastened position, the first and second primary rod supports are forced inwards towards each other to provide an engaging force on the opposing engaging portions of the aiming assemblies to prevent rotation of the first light module about the first connecting rod, and when in an unfastened position, the first and second light modules are both rotatable about the first connecting rod.
US08851700B1
A system and method for creating a trompe-l'oeil skylight in a ceiling where a light emitting image of the sky is provided in a structure configured to emulate a skylight frame, including an embodiment of a unified non-rectangular sky image area in a substantially rectangular fixture which mount as a single unit into a substantially rectangular hole in a ceiling.
US08851692B2
A holding device for an operator control on a front cover of an electrical appliance is designed for attachment to the front cover and has a feedthrough for a rotating shaft of a rotary encoder of the operator control. The holding device is embodied in an annular fashion around the feedthrough and has a front cover attachment part as well as a lighting ring part which is fitted onto the front of the front cover attachment part. The lighting ring part essentially covers the front cover attachment part toward the front, wherein the two parts have a circular-ring-like intermediate space between them, in which intermediate space at least one component carrier, which has a plurality of LEDs on the side toward the front cover attachment part, is arranged.
US08851688B2
An exposed lens retroreflective article that includes a binder layer; a layer of spaced apart optical elements that are partially embedded in the binder layer; a penetrated colored layer that is located between the spaced apart optical elements; and a reflective layer that is located functionally behind the layer of optical elements and the penetrated colored layer.
US08851687B2
An incident angle when illumination light from a position detecting device enters a reflecting surface may be large in some cases. In such cases, the retro-reflection rate of a reflecting surface having a prism structure decreases, leading to a cause of erroneous detection. In order to solve this problem, provided is a reflecting plate including a reflecting surface that retro-reflects illumination light emitted from an optical position detecting device towards the position detecting device that includes a light source, the reflecting plate further including: a surface structure in which a concavo-convex pattern having the same triangle shape in cross-section in a width direction of the reflecting plate continuously appears in a longitudinal direction thereof; and a retro-reflecting layer in which reflecting beads are evenly placed on at least one oblique surface of the concavo-convex pattern.
US08851683B2
Provided is a light source device capable of effectively cooling a bulb included therein. The light source device includes: a luminous tube having a bulb to seal a pair of electrodes that generates light by electric discharging; a reflector formed into a concave surface shape and configured to emit light from the bulb; and an air blowing device that generates a flow of gas to cool the luminous tube. The light source device includes: a first flow path for jetting out gas along the inner surface of the reflector to a first hemispherical part located far from the installation surface of the bulb; a second flow path for jetting out gas along the inner surface of the reflector to a second hemispherical part located near the installation surface of the bulb; and a movable plate for separating the first flow path and the second flow path from each other to form a part of each flow path, adjusts the amount of gas flowing into each flow path to adjust the ratio of the air flow in each flow path, and gradually narrows the flow path area in the flow path adjusted to increase the air flow in the gas jetting-out direction.
US08851680B2
Disclosed embodiments include stereoscopic systems having at least one compensator operable to reduce the sensitivity of polarization control over incidence angle of image source optics and analyzer optics. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed compensator is operable to compensate polarization changes induced by optics at either or both the image source subsystem and the analyzer subsystem, in which the polarization changes would be operable to cause leakage at the analyzer subsystem if uncompensated. As such, the disclosed compensators and compensation techniques are operable to reduce leakage at the analyzer subsystem even if the disclosed compensator may be located at the analyzer subsystem.
US08851672B2
A fundus photographing apparatus includes: an illuminating optical system for illuminating a fundus of an examinee's eye; a focus target presenting unit for projecting a focus target for focusing to the fundus via an objective lens; a photographing element for photographing the fundus to obtain a fundus image and detect the focus target; a diaphragm in a position substantially conjugate with a pupil of the examinee's eye with the objective lens therebetween; a focusing lens moved along an optical axis to focus on the fundus; and a controlling device for moving the focusing lens along the optical axis based on a result of detection of the focus target by the photographing element with a position where a first distance from the diaphragm to the fundus is substantially equal to a second distance from an image of the diaphragm to the fundus image as a reference position of the focusing lens.
US08851669B2
The invention relates to a device for rehabilitating and/or causing binocular motivity through sensory stimulation of a patient, said device including a planar stand (10) that is defined by a longitudinal axis of symmetry (AA′), the stand (10) including a plurality of means for transmitting at least one sensory stimulus, said transmission means including means for viewing a visual stimulus (101-136) and means for transmitting an auditory stimulus adjacent to the means for viewing a visual stimulus. The transmission means are evenly arranged along isovergence arcs (201-204) that are placed along the stand (10). Said device moreover includes a control system (20) that is at least intended for controlling the transmission of said at least one sensory stimulus (101-136).
US08851648B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a phase change ink composition including at least a first semi-crystalline material having a high amorphous content; and at least a second semi-crystalline material having a high crystalline content, such that the phase change ink has a viscosity ranging from about 0.1 cps to about 15 cps at a temperature ranging from about 60° C. to about 145° C. and the phase change ink composition has excellent robustness when forming images or printing on a printing substrate.
US08851645B2
A liquid container contains liquid to be supplied to a body of an image forming apparatus. The liquid container includes a liquid supply port part having a liquid supply port supplying the contained liquid and a cap member mounted on the liquid supply port part. The cap member has a sealing part sealing the liquid supply port and a holding part holding an information storage device storing information concerning the liquid. The sealing part and the holding part are separably connected together. When the cap member is mounted on the liquid supply port while the sealing part and the holding part are connected, the holding part is immovably fixed to the liquid supply port via the sealing part. When the sealing part has been separated from the holding part, the holding part comes to be able to move with respect to the liquid supply port.
US08851644B2
The method includes: (a) preparing a liquid cartridge to be recycled and including a liquid storing unit, a liquid delivery path having an opening, a blocking member detachably mounted in the liquid delivery path to block the opening, and a valve configured to be switched between an open state and a closed state; (b) removing the blocking member from the liquid delivery path; (c) switching the valve from the closed state to the open state; (d) injecting liquid into the liquid storing unit through the opening with the blocking member removed in step (b) and the valve maintained in the open state achieved in step (c); (e) switching the valve from the open state to the closed state after performing step (d); and (f) assembling the blocking member or another blocking member different from the blocking member in the liquid delivery path to block the opening after performing step (e).
US08851643B2
An inkjet image forming apparatus which is provided with a line engine in which one or more recording heads are aligned in a main scanning direction and which has replacably configured an arbitrary one of the recording heads is disclosed. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, each of the recording heads includes a head tank mounted on the recording head, the head tank including a supply port and a discharge port for ink, the head tanks which are adjacent are mutually connected by a path in which the discharge port and supply port of the respective head tanks are coupled via a coupling unit, a path from the discharge port and a path to the supply port differ in an inner path diameter over the coupling unit, and the inner path diameter on the discharge port side is larger than the inner path diameter on the supply port side.
US08851641B2
A liquid ejection device includes a head section, a first liquid reservoir section, a supply passage, a second liquid reservoir section, an outgoing passage that sends liquid from the first liquid reservoir section to the second liquid reservoir section and includes a shared passage shared with the supply passage, a return passage that sends the liquid from the second liquid reservoir section to the first liquid reservoir section, and a controller. After the controller performs a stirring process of stirring the liquid by causing the liquid in the first liquid reservoir section to pass through the outgoing passage and subsequently causing the liquid in the second liquid reservoir section to pass through the return passage, the controller performs a process of flowing out a part of the liquid in the first liquid reservoir section toward the shared passage.
US08851636B2
A liquid application device includes: a liquid discharge head having a structure in which nozzles for performing droplet ejection of a functional liquid onto a substrate are aligned in a row in a predetermined direction, and including liquid chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and piezoelectric elements which are provided correspondingly to the liquid chambers and serve to pressurize the liquid in the liquid chambers; a relative movement unit for causing relative movement between the substrate and the liquid discharge head; and a droplet ejection control unit for operating the piezoelectric elements so as to cause the liquid to land discretely on the substrate, and controlling operation of the piezoelectric elements according to each of groups formed by grouping the nozzles correspondingly to the structure of the liquid discharge head.
US08851631B2
The liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle plate in which nozzle holes which are through holes are formed, and ejects liquid from the nozzle holes. The nozzle hole has a first nozzle portion which is opened to an ejection surface to which liquid is ejected from nozzles of the nozzle plate, and a second nozzle portion which communicates with the first nozzle portion, and is opened to a surface opposite to the ejection surface of the nozzle plate, and of which the opening diameter is larger than the opening diameter in the ejection surface of the first nozzle portion. The first nozzle portion is covered with a liquid repellent film which has higher liquid repellency than a base material of the nozzle plate and an inner wall of the second nozzle portion is provided with a region which has lower liquid repellency than the liquid repellent film.
US08851615B2
A temperature sensor provided to a recording head detects a temperature when the recording head relatively moves outside an opposite region opposite to a platen heater. A driving signal generating circuit compensates an ejection pulse in accordance with the detected temperature.
US08851607B2
A printing apparatus includes (A) a head that discharges first ink and second ink having a color different from that of the first ink, (B) an optical sensor that includes a light source and a light receiving section, and (C) a controller. In the printing apparatus, when the controller corrects a discharge amount of the second ink, the controller causes the head to discharge the first ink to form a first pattern on a medium, causes the optical sensor to detect light reflected from the first pattern, causes the head to discharge the second ink to form a plurality of second patterns having different gradation values on the first pattern, and causes the optical sensor to detect light reflected from the second pattern.
US08851597B2
An OVJP apparatus and method for applying organic vapor or other flowable material to a substrate using a printing head mechanism in which the print head spacing from the substrate is controllable using a cushion of air or other gas applied between the print head and substrate. The print head is mounted for translational movement towards and away from the substrate and is biased toward the substrate by springs or other means. A gas cushion feed assembly supplies a gas under pressure between the print head and substrate which opposes the biasing of the print head toward the substrate so as to form a space between the print head and substrate. By controlling the pressure of gas supplied, the print head separation from the substrate can be precisely controlled.
US08851584B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a refrigerator body with a storage space defined therein, a door frame rotatably coupled to the refrigerator body to open and close the storage space, a transparent molded body coupled to a front surface of the door frame, and a glass panel coupled to a front of the transparent molded body. The transparent molded body may include a three-dimensional pattern formed on a surface thereof, and the glass panel may include a two-dimensional pattern having a gradation in at least one of brightness, saturation and hue.
US08851576B2
Disclosed herein is a facet cutter used with hydro-demolition equipment in cutting openings in structural surfaces. The facet cutter includes a nozzle head with one or more nozzles. The nozzle head can be placed adjacent a side of the opening where the facet is to be cut. The nozzle head is oriented so that the axes of the nozzles are substantially perpendicular to the desire plane of the face of the facet. High-pressure fluid is applied to the nozzle and the nozzle head is moved over the plane of the facet, thereby cutting the facet. Various axial and rectilinear motions of the nozzle head may be effectuated by various drivers and rotators, at least some of which are controlled remotely by a remote control device.
US08851549B2
A stowable seat can include a seat back having an upper end, an opposite lower end and a seating side, a seat bottom having a forward end, a rearward end and a seating side, and a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement can include a first member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and a vehicle support structure, a second member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and the support structure, a third member fixed to the seat back and pivotably coupled to the support structure, and a fourth member pivotably coupled to the second member and the third member. The linkage arrangement can facilitate suspending the seat bottom in a seating position from the support structure in spaced relation to the floor; rotating the seat bottom to a stadium position; and rotating the seat back and articulating the seat bottom to a stowed position.
US08851547B2
A seating arrangement for a vehicle having at least three seats, comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of said two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extending rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers when seated in the passenger seats. The seats being arrangeable in multiple configurations: a three-seat configuration with a storage space behind the passenger seats, a two-seat configuration with one of the passenger seats folded down to extend said storage space and a one-seat configuration in which both passenger seats are folded down to extend further said storage space. A vehicle engine is mounted in a space beneath said storage space behind the passenger seats and/or beneath the passenger seats and a fuel tank, batteries or other power source is mounted beneath the driver's seat.
US08851538B2
A bumper rail assembled into a bumper of a vehicle includes a bumper rail, a reinforcing member, and a forming part. A bumper rail is disposed at front. The reinforcing member is disposed at the rear side of the bumper rail and forming a closed section together with the bumper rail. The forming part is integrally formed at an inner side of the bumper rail and is disposed parallel along the longitudinal direction of the bumper rail to increase a stiffness of the bumper rail, the forming part having a pipe shape.
US08851534B2
A magnetic closure comprises a magnet-armature structure having a magnet and an armature, the magnet and the armature being constituted such that, for an automatic closing, the armature and the magnet mutually attract each other in a closing direction below a predetermined minimum distance, and, for an opening, the magnet is laterally shifted or rotated with respect to the armature into an open position so that the surfaces of magnet and armature facing each other in a mutually attracting manner become smaller, whereby the force of attraction between magnet and armature comes smaller, Further, an opening-assisting spring is provided for assisting the opening, wherein the opening-assisting spring either is automatically pretensioned by the magnetic force during the automatic closing, or is pretensioned during the opening operation.
US08851523B2
A frame for a vehicle to accommodate a large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, to be mounted downwardly of a rear pipe without having to lower a rear sub-pipe. A large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, can be inserted into a space under a rear pipe by removing a second rear sub-pipe from a main frame and the rear pipe. The second rear sub-pipe can be fixed to the main frame and the rear pipe by simply tightening bolts. Similarly, by simply loosening the bolts the second rear sub-pipe can be removed from the main frame and the rear pipe and the large-sized accessory can be removed onto an outside in a vehicle width direction. This facilitates mounting and helps reduce the number of man-hours involved in mounting the accessory.
US08851521B2
A travel trailer configured to be coupled to and towed by a vehicle is provided. The travel trailer has a compartment that is attached to a chassis which includes a front end and a rear end. A plurality of wheels are attached to the chassis adjacent the rear end, and a hitch assembly is attached to the chassis adjacent the front end. The compartment at the front end of the chassis forms first and second corners. A recess, directed inwardly toward the interior of the compartment, is located at each corner of the compartment. Cavities formed by each recess may receive a portion of the vehicle while the vehicle is engaged in a turn.
US08851516B2
The present invention relates to an airbag cushion and an airbag system including the same, and particularly to an airbag cushion, including: at least one fabric; and seam parts connecting the fabric, wherein deviation of upper seam thread length per a unit length of the fabric between the first seam part sewed in forward direction and the second seam part sewed in reverse direction in the seam parts is 15% or less, a method of preparing the same, and an airbag system including the same.The airbag cushion of the present invention is superior in working stability and unfolding performance because of the optimized properties of the seam parts, provides superior shape stability and air-tight effect at the same time, and can protect a passenger by minimizing the shock given to the passenger.
US08851513B2
An airbag and an airbag device allowing the airbag to stably stand by itself are provided. The airbag is usually folded and embedded in an instrument panel, and in an emergency, a gas is supplied to inflate and expand the airbag between a windshield and a passenger. Also, the airbag includes a front inflation portion inflating toward a windshield side, and a back inflation portion inflating toward a passenger side. The front inflation portion includes a bottom portion pressed against a surface of the instrument panel at a time of an inflation and expansion; and a front face portion which projects to the windshield side in a projecting shape.
US08851510B1
An inflatable curtain airbag system can include a first inflatable curtain airbag, a second inflatable curtain airbag, and a reinforced region. In some arrangements, the reinforced region may include a region where a portion of the first inflatable curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the second inflatable curtain airbag. In other arrangements, the reinforced region may include a region where either or both of the first and second inflatable curtain airbags comprise a localized region of increased stiffness.
US08851499B1
Aftermarket motorcycle stabilizer that attaches to motorcycle crash bars without making irreversible structural modifications to the motorcycle frame. The device is optimized to supplement motorcycle stability during intermittent periods of stopping or very slow speed operation. The stabilizer operates by way of a fixture (often a two part fixture) designed with various complementary indentations designed to allow the two parts of the stabilizer fixture to clamp onto different types of motorcycle crash bars. A pivoting arm is also attached to the fixture, along with an electronic actuator attached to both the arm and the fixture. The actuator raises or lowers the arm upon receiving appropriate manual or automatic signals. The opposite end of the arm has at least one small wheel. Thus extending the arm brings the wheel into contact with the ground, while retracting the arm will bring the arm generally flush with the motorcycle body.
US08851497B2
The support for bicycle saddle comprises a support rod (20), connected at its upper part to the saddle (10) and engaged slidingly in a lower support element (30), rigidly fixed to the bicycle frame (40); an actuator member (60) suitable to exert a thrust force on the rod (20) in axial direction, said actuator member (60) being housed inside said frame (40), at the lower part of the rod (20); a blocking member (50), integral to said lower support element (30) and suitable to fix the position of said rod (20) in a configuration chosen by the cyclist.
US08851481B2
A seal for sealing a space between a shaft and a housing, includes a base member coupled with one of the housing and the shaft and a generally annular, elastomeric sealing member sealingly contactable with the other one of the housing and the shaft. The sealing member is coupled with the base member such that the sealing member is circumferentially strained to reduce friction between the sealing member and the other one of the housing and the shaft. The seal assembly is preferably formed by providing a base member having a generally annular carrier portion and a generally annular, elastomeric sealing member, coupling the sealing member with the annular portion of the base member, and plastically deforming at least a section of the base member carrier portion such that the sealing member is circumferentially strained.
US08851462B2
A woodworking machine includes a base, an adjusting device, and an adjustable worktable. The adjusting device is engaged with the base and includes a platform, a plurality of adjusters, and a plurality of fastening members. The platform is slidably engaged with the base. The plurality of adjusters are adjustable, and the plurality of fastening members are releasably inserted through the plurality of adjustors respectively. The adjustable worktable is engaged with the adjusting device. Moreover, the platform bears the adjustable worktable and the plurality of adjusters are abutted against the adjustable worktable. Additionally, the adjustable worktable is adjustably moved upon adjusting of the adjustors, and prior to adjusting each adjustor, the fastening member engaged therewith is removed.
US08851458B1
A scented air vent assembly is provided for attachment to an existing air moving device to scent the air passing through the air moving device. The assembly includes an upper panel having a plurality of upper holes and a lower panel having a plurality of lower holes. The lower panel is coupled to the upper panel and the upper holes are aligned with the lower holes. A medial panel is coupled to and positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel. The medial panel is constructed of a scented material. The medial panel has a plurality of apertures. The medial panel is positioned relative to the upper panel and the lower panel such that the medial panel partially obstructs the aligned upper and lower holes.
US08851453B2
A system to open a shipping bin slide-gate may include an opener, a pivot point towards one end of the opener, and a handle towards the other end of the opener. The system may also include a puller, a connector towards one end of the puller, and a joiner towards the other end of the puller that connects to the opener. The system may further include an attacher that engages a shipping container and the pivot point, and the attacher transmits a force applied at the handle to the connector to open the slide-gate carried by the shipping container.
US08851452B2
Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adapted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a transversal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. The upper member may therefore be self-aligning within the passage.
US08851451B2
The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system. The de-header valve is equipped with a valve body, a gate, a transmission system and an actuator. Actuation of the valve closure functions to open and close the de-header valve.
US08851435B1
A curtain rod assembly comprises a set of telescoping tubes running between brackets and a locking assembly for setting the length of the telescoped tubes. The locking assembly comprises a screw body, attached to the end of the smaller inner tube, which has a tapered screw along which a captive expansible sleeve moves. The sleeve may be a split cylinder with spring elements running across the gap of the split. When the tubes are twisted relative to each other, the sleeve moves lengthwise along the tapered screw and expands radially outwardly to lock the assembly; and simultaneously with the locking action there is a desirable small change in the length of the tube assembly. The screw body is reversible within the tube assembly, so the rod assembly can be used in applications where the rod both pulls inwardly on, or pushes outwardly against, a window frame.
US08851418B2
A landing gear attachment apparatus (100) has a landing gear side bearing retention arrangement (104) connected to an aircraft side attachment apparatus (102), held together by a series of fuse pins. The interaction between a fuse pin carrier and a trunnion block varies the amount of load required to separate the landing gear from the fuselage depending on the direction of the load.
US08851414B2
A bobbin includes an anti-rolling unit capable of supporting the bobbin to prevent the bobbin from rolling on a floor. The bobbin includes a cylindrical part around which a wire is wound, flanges provided at left and right sides of the cylindrical part, a through hole defined through a central portion of the cylindrical part and central portions of the left and right flanges, a handle part including a pair of support shafts, which protrude so as to be fitted into the through hole from left and right flanges, and left and right support rods having end portions fixed to the support shafts, respectively, and extending in parallel to the left and right flanges while making contact with outer surfaces of the right and left flanges, and an anti-rolling unit for the bobbin.
US08851411B2
A reel has: a hub that has a cylindrical tube portion, an extending portion that extends from an inner peripheral edge of a lower end portion of the cylindrical tube portion toward a radial direction inner side, and an abutting portion provided at the extending portion; an upper flange; a lower flange; and a floor wall that is provided integrally at the radial direction inner side of the lower flange, and that has a position restricting portion that restricts a radial direction position of the abutting portion from the radial direction inner side. A region of the floor wall which is further toward the radial direction outer side than the position restricting portion is welded to the extending portion.
US08851410B2
The invention relates to a cutting device for a granulator for obtaining granules from cutting plastic strands which are discharged from nozzles, said cutting device comprising a cutting rotor which is connected to the drive shaft by means of a Cardan joint piece comprising a driven part and a drive part. Said drive part and the driven part comprise a force transfer piece, respectively having a prong like shape such that the prongs rotate about the force transfer piece when they are pivoted at about 90 degrees in relation to each other. Each prong supports the axis which extends through the force transfer piece and both axes are offset in relation to each other essentially about 90 degrees.
US08851405B2
An auto-feeding device includes a container provided on one side with a hollow sleeve; a bottom cover operably connected to an open bottom of the container; a fixing seat having an upright rod upwardly rotatably extended into the hollow sleeve and a stop rod normally located below the bottom cover; and a swaying arm upwardly connected to the fixing seat opposite to the stop rod. When the auto-feeding device is mounted on a bowl of a food processor filled with water, and blades in the bowl are rotated at a preset time to produce swirling water, the swaying arm is pushed by swirls to move the stop rod away from the bottom cover, so that the bottom cover turns downward to open the bottom of the container, allowing foodstuffs in the container to automatically fall into the bowl and be directly heated and ground into different types of food juice.
US08851401B2
An injector for injecting a flat fan of liquid includes an injector body defining a pair of air channels, with each air channel fluidly connected to a respective air inlet. The air channels join one another at a common throat defined in the injector body and are separated by a land defined in the injector body extending from the air inlets to a point proximate the throat. The air channels and a liquid inlet are in proximity to draw liquid out of the liquid inlet into the throat with air flowing through the air channels. A diverging diffuser is provided in fluid communication with the throat. The diffuser includes an impingement surface defined in the injector body opposed to the liquid inlet. The liquid inlet is configured to inject liquid against the impingement surface to form a fan of liquid diverging outward through the diffuser.
US08851396B2
An air freshener includes a pair of wicks extending from a pair of reservoirs configured to contain different scents. A hood is sized and shaped to essentially cover only one of the at least two wicks and movable with respect to the wicks between a first scent position in which the hood essentially covers a second of the at least two wicks, a second scent position in which the hood essentially covers a first of the at least two wicks, and a plurality of combined scent positions in which the hood partially covers both of the at least two wicks.
US08851395B2
Method for applying an electrical contact to a hole (2) of a metal wall portion (1), comprising the steps of providing a bush (12), a punch (11) with a shaft (16), an expansion portion (19) and a connecting portion (20) thereof, a pulling device (21) with an abutment portion (22) and a pulling mechanism (23) for engaging the punch (11) and to pulling it proximally with respect to the abutment portion (22), inserting the punch (11) in a passage hole (25) of the bush (12) so that the connecting portion (20) protrudes proximally from the bush and the expansion portion (19) is located on end (14), bush connecting the punch (11) to the pulling device (21), inserting the preassembled bush (12)-punch (11)-unit from a proximal side of the wall portion (1) distally in the hole (2) and activating the pulling device (21) to pull the punch (11) proximally through the bush, thereby radially expanding bush and permanently anchoring it in the hole (2).
US08851386B2
An apparatus includes a portable electronic device and an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture includes a first mechanism for securing the article of manufacture to the portable electronic device. The article of manufacture also includes a second mechanism for defining a slot. The second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism. The slot is shaped and sized to receive and securely hold a contactless integrated (IC) identification card. The card in question has no more than half of the planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card.
US08851383B2
There is provided in one embodiment a data collection system including a data collection terminal having an encoded information reader device and a computer spaced apart from the data collection terminal. The data collection terminal in one embodiment can be configured to be responsive to configuration data expressed in an extensible markup language.
US08851381B2
A motor drive system includes a motor drive configured to provide signals to an electric motor to drive the motor in operation. A barcode is disposed on the motor drive and is configured to be scanned by a user device to provide the user device with information relating to the motor drive or operation of the motor drive.
US08851373B2
Tracking information in a note handling facility, such as an amusement gaming facility, involves, in some implementations, communications between components of the system to facilitate tracking the location and movement of note acceptors and cassettes for storing notes. Such components can include host machines, note acceptors, cassettes for storing notes, databases, and/or note counting machines. RF tag chips can be embedded in or mounted to some of the components to facilitate the communications. RF tag readers can be provided at appropriate locations within the facility to facilitate reading information from and writing information to the RF tag chips.
US08851370B2
Systems and methods for secure cards with on-board verification are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transaction device associated with at least one transaction account may have a substrate comprising a display that displays an account identifier for the transaction account; a sensor that receives authentication information from a user; a processor that processes the authentication information to verify the authenticity of the user; and a communicator that communicates at least the account information, the communicator including at least one of a magnetic stripe, an electrical interface, and a wireless RF interface. The display may not display the account identifier until the user is authenticated, and the communicator may be inactive to communicate the account information until the user is authenticated.
US08851369B2
Facilitating commercial transactions using a payment system directory are disclosed. A payment directory and/or wireless point of sale (POS) device may be configured to use predetermined rules, a multitude of data items and/or conditions to locate a payment system, and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to at least one payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway. A smartcard may function as a payment directory and/or a payment system.
US08851367B2
A money processing device is provided with a mode setting unit for setting a processing mode relating to a form of a process to be executed so that the mode can be switched between a mode for performing temporal retention and a mode for not performing the temporal retention, in response to a user's command, and is constituted so that, at the time of a process for depositing money or a process for withdrawing money, if the processing mode is set to the escrow mode, the deposit money or the withdrawal money is temporarily suspended, whereas if the processing mode is set to the non-escrow mode, the deposit money or the withdrawal money cannot be temporarily retained. Thereby, at the time of the process for depositing money or the process for withdrawing money, whether or not the operation for temporarily retaining money is performed can be changed by a user.
US08851360B2
An envelope having an envelope wall member including first and second envelope walls that cooperatively enclose a pocket space and define therebetween a pocket opening to the pocket space, the envelope wall including a surface that defines a recess and a sealing strip that includes an adhesive releasably adhering the strip to the envelope wall member within the recess. The adhesive is capable of adhering the strip to the envelope wall to seal the envelope closed.
US08851359B2
A method for assembling at least two plates using a brazing process, the plates being separated by a filler material situated therebetween, includes placing the two plates, separated by the filler material, in a furnace; compressing the two plates separated by the filler material; controlling the temperature in the furnace according to a brazing cycle. The two plates separated by the filler material are compressed using a plurality of devices that can be pressurized using a fluid, the pressurizable devices being located in the furnace and being distributed over the surface of one of the two plates to which each pressurizable device applies a mechanical pressure that is remote-controlled as a function of the temperature in the furnace.
US08851356B1
Embodiments of the invention include flexible circuit board interconnections and methods regarding the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of connecting a plurality of flexible circuit boards together comprising the steps applying a solder composition between an upper surface of a first flexible circuit board and a lower surface of a second flexible circuit board; holding the upper surface of the first flexible circuit board and the lower surface of the second flexible circuit board together; and reflowing the solder composition with a heat source to bond the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board together to form a flexible circuit board strip having a length longer than either of the first flexible circuit board or second flexible circuit board separately. In an embodiment the invention includes a circuit board clamp for holding flexible circuit boards together, the clamp including a u-shaped fastener; a spring tension arm connected to the u-shaped fastener; and an attachment mechanism connected to the spring tension arm. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08851353B2
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw between a first position, in which the first and second jaws are aligned within a plane, and a second position, in which the second jaw is in non-parallel correspondence to the plane. The surgical device may include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and/or stapling element, disposed within the first jaw, and a second driver configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The first and second jaws may include a camming arrangement that is configured to move the second jaw between the first and second positions. The camming arrangement may include a channel disposed along at least a portion of one or both of the first and second jaws, a ball bearing disposed within the channel.
US08851348B2
A portable lock mounting assembly including a body defining a lock retaining mechanism and a contact surface. A strap having first and second ends is attachable to the body such that a loop facing the contact surface is defined by the strap. A cam member is supported by the body adjacent the contact surface and is pivotal between a first position wherein the cam member extends generally parallel to the contact surface and a second position wherein the cam member extends at an angle relative to the contact surface.
US08851346B2
The present invention relates to a vehicle load carrier box (10) attachable to a surface of a vehicle (13) for transporting a load on the vehicle (13). The vehicle load carrier box (10) comprises a base member (20) defining a storage void, a lid (40) pivotally connected to the base member (20) and moveable between an opened and closed position. A flexible safety material is arranged inside of the vehicle load carrier box (10) and adapted to secure the load inside of the vehicle load carrier box (10) by overlapping the load.
US08851341B2
A dispensing device for dispensing powdered or granular product from a container containing said product comprises a first chamber and a second chamber. An inlet passage comprising at least one inlet opening and establishes communication between the first chamber and an interior part of a container having the dispensing device mounted thereon. An outlet passage adapted to deliver powdered or granular product being dispensed by means of the dispensing device establishes communication from the second chamber. An intermediate wall divides an interior part of the dispensing device into the first chamber and the second chamber, the intermediate wall defining an edge. The intermediate wall is arranged in such a manner that an intermediate passage between the first chamber and the second chamber is defined at the edge for allowing powdered or granular product to pass between the first chamber and the second chamber. The intermediate wall further defines a second passage.
US08851322B2
Preform (1) or preform assembly for blow molding a container (23), wherein the preform or preform assembly has a neck portion (4), a lid element (16) being provided at the neck portion, an opening extending into the neck portion, providing access to an internal space of the preform or preform assembly. Method for blow molding a container. Container blown from a preform or preform assembly.
US08851316B2
A trashcan liner dispenser that comprises a combination caddy and liner cartridge that self-locks together when nested, the caddy including an arrangement whereby an access opening in the liner cartridge cooperates with a supply of folded liners housed therein to reduce the pulling force required to remove a liner from the nested cartridge.
US08851310B2
A closure for a container comprises: a pouring spout having a neck defining a pour opening and a cover portion closing one end of the neck; a cap fittable to, and removable from, the pouring spout; a cam for transforming rotation into a stroke having a rotational component and a translational component to couple/detach the cap with/from the pouring spout; a weakening line on the end of the neck; first opening promoting mechanism on the cover portion; and second opening promoting mechanism on the cap to engage the first opening promoting mechanism upon removing the cap from the pouring spout to separate the cover portion from the neck along the weakening line; the first and second opening promoting mechanisms comprise at least one further cam element arranged along an angular portion of the annular periphery of the cover portion to enhance lifting thrust produced by the cap on the cover portion.
US08851306B2
A concealable storage rack for mounting to an underside of the shelf includes a mounting bracket, a swing mechanism and a plate member. The storage rack hangidly supports containers having a readily extending flange. The mounting bracket is mounted to the underside of the shelf. The plate member includes a generally planar top surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein to hangidly support the containers. The plate member is pivotably attached to the mounting bracket by the swing mechanism for movement between a storage position in which the plate member is positioned adjacent to the mounting bracket and a use position in which the plate member is spaced apart from the mounting bracket.
US08851304B2
A hair iron holder is configured to provide protection from incidental contact to users while holding a heated iron. A barrel for detaining irons may include a side wall with vent holes to dissipate heat. The holder may also prevent damage to hair irons as they are inserted into the holder. An open end of the barrel may include a rounded flange preventing scratching of irons during insertion.
US08851299B2
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as BTEX methanol and other non-phase separable hydrocarbons may be removed from wastewater obtained from oil or gas exploration or production operations by way of a bioreactor. The bioreactor may employ anaerobic microorganisms that metabolize various VOCs. In some embodiments, such a bioreactor may be configured to treat process flow rates of thousands of barrels of wastewater per hour. Such a bioreactor may comprise a large vessel at a larger water treatment site.
US08851298B2
An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase is separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. With respect to separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid in a lipophilic continuous fluid, the hydrophobic fibers cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets are formed on hydrophilic surface. The large droplets coalescence until they are so large that they are released and drained off of the filter. The filter media can be designed by mixing hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in various proportions to achieve an optimum wettability range for separation of the immiscible liquid from the continuous phase liquid.
US08851294B2
An aqueous delivery system is described including at least one surfactant and at least one water insoluble wetting agent. Further described are low surface energy substrates, such as microporous polytetrafluoroethylene, coated with such an aqueous solution so as to impart a change in at least one surface characteristic compared to the surface characteristics of the uncoated low surface energy substrate.
US08851291B2
A disk holding device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cassette that includes an interior and an end wall and a cover that is received against the cassette to at least partially cover the interior, the cover having a latch arm that includes a channel established by a first edge wall and a second edge wall, the channel receiving a complementary portion formed in the end wall of the cassette. The first edge wall is received against an interior surface of the end wall that faces toward the interior and the second edge wall is received against an exterior surface of the end wall that faces away from the interior.
US08851290B2
A disposable container for a cosmetics preparation or the like has a generally cylindrical body defining a reservoir for retaining the contents of the container, a base and a cap. The base has a bottom surface. At least one member extends radially from the bottom surface of the base. A layer of adhesive is provided on the bottom surface of the base, but not on the under surface of the radially extending member. A removable protective layer is situated over the adhesive layer. The protective layer has a radially extending portion aligned with the member radially extending from the base. The radially extending base member increases the stability of the container, facilitates removal of the cap from the container body and provides for easy removal of the protective sticker from the adhesive layer.
US08851284B2
A bandage strip includes a plurality of flat adhesive bandage packages of conventional configuration, having sealed therein an adhesive bandage with a pad and an adhesive substrate for adhering to a patient and holding the pad in place on the patient's skin. The packages are adhered to an elongated substrate in end-to-end, spaced relation to form a flat, elongated bandage strip, with perforations in the substrate between the packages. A user can dispense a length of substrate, sever it at the perforations, and remove the bandage from the substrate for use in the conventional manner. A bandage dispensing device is attachable to the wrist of a user for convenient dispensing of bandages from a strip of individually packaged bandages.
US08851283B2
A tool box includes a main part having a connection portion and a locking member which is directly or indirectly connected to the connection portion. A restriction portion and a block extend from the main part. A reception portion is defined therein so as to receive objects therein. A base has a connection portion supporting the restriction portion of the main part and the locking member connects the main part to the base. A recess is defined in the base and the blocks are located above the recess. A positioning portion is located in the base and restricts the locking member. A movable part has a pivot which is rotatably located in the recess of the base. A locking portion of the movable part connects the movable part to the main part. An inner box is located in the movable part so as to receive tools therein.
US08851282B2
A transportable tool box comprising a large compartment configured with upright extending side walls defining a top opening of the large compartment configured with a locomotive arrangement, and two compartmented covers slidingly displaceable over the top opening of the large compartment between a closed position wherein the covers coextend and cover the top opening, and an open position wherein the two covers are displaced away from one another and expose the large compartment to allow access thereto. A locking arrangement is provided for arresting the compartmented covers at the closed position.
US08851264B2
The present invention discloses a roller for conveying glass substrate. The roller includes a structure of roller body that is formed by assembling a plurality of roller components together in a disassembleable manner. An axle bore is formed in center of the roller. The present invention also discloses a roller axle assembly for conveying glass substrate, which includes a plurality of rollers and a roller axle. A distance is formed between adjacent ones of the rollers. Each of the plurality of rollers is individually disassembleable. The roller for conveying glass substrate and the roller axle assembly according to the present invention allows any one of the rollers that are mounted to a roller axle assembly to be disassembled individually thereby shortening the time period for replacing the glass substrate roller, increasing the utilization rate of the roller, and lowering down the device maintenance cost.
US08851259B2
When grooves 44, 45A and 45B of an armature 42 and a rotor 43 are formed by laser beam machining, a metal oxide layer 100 is formed on wall surfaces defining the grooves 44, 45A and 45B. The metal oxide layer 100 is brought into sliding contact with a first contact surface A1 to a fourth contact surface A4 in a process in which an electromagnetic clutch is used, so that a part of the metal oxide layer 100 is ground and peeled off, whereby particles made of a metal oxide are produced. The particles enter the contact surface between the armature 42 and the rotor 43, which increases the frictional force therebetween to thereby prevent slippage. As a result, the torque transmission capability of the electromagnetic clutch M is enhanced, and the increase in the torque of a scroll compressor is achieved.
US08851256B2
A transmission between a driving primary shaft and an outlet shaft of a self-propelled machine, includes a housing within which there are housed, at least in part: a stepdown mechanism; two clutch mechanisms, one being progressive and the other being non-progressive with a movable dog; and a clutch control device including first and second clutch control elements. The second clutch control elements include at least one spring blade extending along the outlet shaft, the spring blade being mounted to move axially on the outlet shaft during axial movement of the dog from the unclutched extreme position towards a clutched position as a result of the movable dog bearing thereagainst, the spring blade being drivable axially on the shaft and being elastically deformable between an active position in which the dog comes into abutment against the spring blade, and an inactive position in which the dog slides along the spring blade.
US08851252B2
A cleaning means related to a vehicle-related system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. The cleaning means is rotatably fastened in an upper area thereof about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and adapted to clean the track from loose obstacles and/or yield to solid obstacles. The cleaning means and the axis of rotation are movably disposed in vertical direction by means of a resilient member. The cleaning comprises a forwardly directed edge portion oriented in the direction of travel, the edge portion comprising a point which may be brought into contact with the track and the conductor.
US08851243B2
A brake actuator (10) having a housing (12) in which is provided a movable brake actuating assembly (18, 30), the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) being movable between a brake apply position which, in use results in the application of a brake to which the actuator (10) connected, and a brake release position which, in use, results in the release of the brake, the brake actuator (10) further including a lock (34) which is operable to prevent movement of the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) from the brake apply position to the brake release position, the brake actuating assembly (18, 30) including a first movable member (18), a second movable member (30) and a resilient biasing element (32) which extends between the second movable member (30) and the first movable member (18) and which, if one of the first or second movable members (18, 30) is moved relative to the other from an equilibrium separation, exerts a force tending to return the first (18) and second (30) movable members to the equilibrium separation, the brake actuator (10) further including compliance control chamber (50) between the first movable member (18) and the second movable member (30), the compliance control chamber (50) having a port (58a) and being sealed such that flow of fluid into or out of the compliance control chamber (50) other than through the port is substantially prevented.
US08851239B2
A tension member monitoring device is provided with at least one contact sensor (21) and a defect determining device (20). The contact sensor (21), which is arranged next to a corresponding tension member (3) without touching the tension member (3), is configured to output a contact signal when contacted. The defect determining device (20), which receives the contact signal, is configured to determine whether there is a defect in the tension member (3), based on the contact signal.
US08851236B2
A safety lockout system for releasably locking a mast guided working surface to a mast is provided. The safety lockout system may include an outer rollcase, an inner rollcase, and a lockout assembly. The lockout assembly includes a retractable dog that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The lockout assembly may include a dog release device that operates both manually and automatically to move the retractable dog from the disengaged position to the engaged position. Automatic operation of the dog release device is triggered when the working surface experiences a tilted condition. A dog emergency release device may be provided to manually move the retractable dog to the disengaged position in the event of a malfunction. The lockout assembly may include a lockout assembly locking device that allows a portion of the lockout assembly to fold up and move the retractable dog to the disengaged position.
US08851225B2
This invention relates to construction machinery or a utility vehicle with at least one vehicle cabin or at least one driver's cab with a first seat with first control devices for a first operator, from which all of the essential driving and/or operating functions of the utility vehicle/construction machinery can be controlled. At least one second seat with second control devices for a second operator is provided in the vehicle cabin/the driver's cab in accordance with the invention, from which all of the essential driving and/or operating functions of the utility vehicle/construction machinery can likewise be controlled, including a steering function for the vehicle. Control elements are provided by means of which a higher standing is assigned to the second control devices when the first and second control devices are simultaneously actuated, so that the second control devices override the first control devices.
US08851221B2
A motorcycle defines a riding position in which positions are provided for the rider's feet that are located behind the engine and in front of the rear tyre (23) in the direction of travel, in which positions the distance between the inner sides of the rider's feet may be less than the width of the rear tyre (23).
US08851218B2
In a method for determining a power limiting value for an electric machine in a vehicle, the electric machine being assigned an energy storage device, an intermediate power value is calculated from a maximally allowable current of the energy storage device and an instantaneous voltage. A corrected intermediate power value is determined by adding at least one power loss to the intermediate power value. A first correction value is determined for reducing the absolute value of the corrected intermediate power value if an instantaneous power of the energy storage device is greater than the absolute value of the calculated intermediate power value. The power limiting value is determined by superimposing the first correction value on the corrected intermediate power value.
US08851216B2
A component housing in a motor-vehicle drive train is sealed by pressurization of the housing interior. The component is a hybrid module (1) comprising at least one electric machine provided between the combustion engine (VM) and the gearing (G) of the motor-vehicle drive train. The pressurization is achieved by a rotating component (R, RA, M, F) of the hybrid module. The rotating component is designed in a manner similar to an impeller of a centrifugal pump. Therefore, rotation of the component builds up a positive pressure (P) on the radially outer region of the rotating component in the region of the housing (GE) in the interior of the hybrid module.
US08851215B2
An electric wheeled apparatus comprises a main body, at least one wheel supported by the main body in a rotatable manner; an electric motor configured to apply torque to the at least one wheel, a battery interface configured to removably receive at least one battery pack which is originally designed as a power source of an electric power tool, and an electric circuit unit configured to electrically connect the at least one battery pack attached to the battery interface with the electric motor.
US08851214B2
A wheelchair of the mid-wheel drive type comprises a chassis frame (10), a pair of front link arms (30) and a pair of rear link arms. The link arms are pivotally connected to the chassis frame. Front caster wheels (32) and drive wheels (53) are fixed to the front link arms. Rear caster wheels (42) are fixed to the rear link arms. Each front link arm (30) is operatively connected to an adjacent rear link arm (40) by a respective coupling (70), which is arranged to transmit pivotal movement of one of the front (30) and rear (40) link arm to an opposite pivotal movement of the other of the front (30) and rear (40) link arm.
US08851211B2
A multi-unit mobile robot comprising a plurality of separate carriages or units linked together by linkages. Each unit comprises hinged first and second segments which facilitates pitch relative motion between the segments, and accordingly the units. By controlling actuators to the hinges, one can cause the robot to coil around and compress against the exterior, or compress against the interior, of an object to be traversed. The linkage between mobile units facilitates at least one of lateral pivot or yaw relative motion between units, and optionally roll. Each hinged platform is carried by a pair of Mecanum wheels, which facilitate movement of the unit in any direction.Among other possible uses, the multi-unit mobile robot can be used to service windmill blades and towers, and carrying cargo up and down windmill towers by directing a multi-unit mobile robot to wrap around the and traverse the tower.
US08851204B2
A downhole tool having a progressive cavity mud motor with an impact generator disposed within the mud motor rotor or bearing assembly. In one embodiment, the impact generator includes a mud turbine connected to a eccentric ring that encircles and periodically strikes an anvil surface of a percussion shaft. The eccentric ring is pivotable between an engaged striking position and a disengaged non-striking position. The percussion shaft is coupled to a drill bit though a splined connector that provides limited slip for transmitting rotation of the mud motor rotor to the drill bit and for transmitting percussion strikes against the anvil to the drill bit without the need to accelerate the entire drill string.
US08851200B2
A system includes a power tool having a motor, a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to the motor, and an output element mechanically coupled to the drive mechanism. The motor is operable to drive the drive mechanism and the output element. The system also includes a non-motorized sensing tool having a printed circuit board and a sensing element electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The sensing element is operable to detect an external characteristic and output a signal to the circuit board. The circuit board is operable to condition the signal into a human-comprehensible form. The system further includes a rechargeable battery pack removably and independently coupled to the power tool and the non-motorized sensing tool to power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element when connected to the power tool and the circuit board and the sensing element when connected to the non-motorized sensing tool.
US08851198B2
Protective covers made with fire-resistant and thermo-insulated blankets to shield diverse structures and objects from fire. Interconnective tent units forming protective surface passageways for sheltering and evacuating firemen at fire locations and for providing tactical shelter for security personnel. Novel tent configurations having optimal packaging and surface coverage characteristics. Ground-covering blankets for stopping ground-level fire and for diverse fire-fighting tactical applications.
US08851195B2
A differential dry pipe valve is provided having a body including an inlet chamber having an inlet port, an exit chamber having an exit port, and a gasket flange positioned between the inlet and exit chambers facing the exit port, the inlet and exit ports being substantially aligned. The valve also includes a gasket attached to the gasket flange and an openable cover hingedly attached to the body. The gasket has an inner water lip in fluid communication with the inlet chamber and an outer air lip surrounding the water lip. The spacing between the water lip and air lip varies. The air and water lips are coaxial. The cover is configured to be sealingly engaged with the seal when in a closed position and to be sealingly disengaged in an open position when the pressure in the exit chamber is lower than the pressure in the inlet chamber. When the cover is in the open position, a direction of a path between the inlet and exit ports is substantially unaltered.
US08851186B2
A method of pumping an oilfield fluid from a well surface to a wellbore is provided that includes providing a clean stream; operating one or more clean pumps to pump the clean stream from the well surface to the wellbore; providing a dirty stream including a solid material disposed in a fluid carrier; and operating one or more dirty pumps to pump the dirty stream from the well surface to the wellbore, wherein the clean stream and the dirty stream together form said oilfield fluid.
US08851177B2
The invention relates to methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface shale formations. The methods utilize in-situ reactions of kerogen involving liquid phase chemistry at formation temperatures and pressures. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen to render it mobile, using chemical oxidants. In one embodiment, an oxidant is provided to the subsurface shale formation comprising kerogen in an inorganic matrix, the oxidant converting the kerogen to form organic acids, and forming a mobile kerogen-based product. The spent oxidant is regenerated in-situ to restore at least some of the original oxidation activity. At least a portion of the mobile kerogen-based product is recovered. The kerogen-derived product can be upgraded to provide commercial products.
US08851175B2
A method and equipment for an instrumented tubular joint apparatus for use in a pipe string comprising an upper tubular section with a threaded connection thereabove and an axial passage for fluid to flow through connected to a lower tubular section with a threaded connection therebelow and an axial passage for fluid to flow through, a sensor to measure strain at the instrumented tubular joint, a data recording and transmitting unit operatively connected to the sensor, means to relate the data acquired by the sensor to a surface processing unit; and a mechanism to disconnect the upper section from the lower section after receiving a signal from the surface processing unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08851158B2
A multi-chamber heat exchanger header includes a header housing and an insert. The header housing has a first wall and a second wall generally opposite the first wall where the first and second walls define a track. The insert is positioned to engage with the track such that the insert separates the header into first and second manifold chambers. A method for forming a multi-chamber heat exchanger header includes extruding a header housing having first and second manifold chambers and a track, positioning an insert in the header housing to engage with the track, and welding or brazing the insert to the header housing.
US08851157B2
A header for a heat exchanger having spaced manifolds and tubes extending between the manifolds is disclosed. The header plate comprises a header plate forming a portion of the manifold and having an outward surface for orienting away from the interior of the manifold. At least one opening is formed in the header plate, and is elongated with a longitudinal axis and opposite ends. The at least one opening has a perimeter with sides and ends. A ferrule extends from the outward surface of the header plate along portions of the perimeter of the opening. The ferrule includes at least two ferrule portions formed along portions of the perimeter of the opening. The ferrule is absent from portions of the perimeter of the opening between the portions of the perimeter having the ferrule portions formed thereon.
US08851156B2
A freeze protection system to repeatedly protect the coils or tubes of a heat exchanger/radiator that does not require any maintenance after the contained fluid in the heat exchanger/radiator has experienced a freeze. The system lends itself to construction as a repeatable grouping of diversely different geometric shapes that can then be used to build a freeze protection system for a plethora of sizes of heat exchangers/radiators or, can be made into a unitary, monolithic sheet for a specific sized heat exchanger.
US08851154B2
A cooling module includes a casing with a thermal-transmittance wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a coolant inlet, a vapor outlet, and a converting component with a plurality of orifices and dividing an interior of the casing into a coolant chamber and a vaporization chamber. A liquid coolant is ejected through the plurality of orifices to form plumes toward the interior surface of the thermal-transmittance wall and exchange heat with the thermal-transmittance wall resulting in coolant vapor. In a cooling system, a vapor conduit then carries the vapor to a condenser, and a coolant conduit returns the condensed coolant to the cooling module. The cooling system is used to cool a lamp device.
US08851148B2
A window blind includes a stationary seat, a blind mechanism, a coupling mechanism and a control pole. The blind mechanism includes a linking rod mounted to the stationary seat and a blind unit wound on the linking rod. The coupling mechanism includes a transmission unit connected to the linking rod and movable between an operable state and a non-operable state, a stop unit for restraining rotation of the linking rod when the transmission unit is at the non-operable state, and a resilient member for biasing the transmission unit toward the non-operable state. The control pole is connected to the transmission unit and is operable for converting the transmission unit to the operable state against a resilient force of the resilient member.
US08851146B2
According to one aspect, there is provided a curtain assembly including a curtain and a plurality of rails. The curtain can be used to cover a variety of openings. The plurality of rails can be attached to and disposed horizontally on the curtain to provide rigidity to the curtain when in an open position (covering the opening). The plurality of rails can be made of two main sections, a first and a second coupled to opposite sides of the curtain. The second section can be configured to provide the lateral stability to the curtain, permitting the first section to be made of almost any material. Typically both sections are metal. The first section can also include folded over portions which wrap around the edges of the curtain. The folded over portions provide for attachment and also insure no sharp edges exist on the exterior sides of the curtain. The plurality of rails can be bonded to the curtain using an adhesive. The curtain can include prepared bonding surface to receive the rails. Both can be spaced to minimize overlap between the plurality of rails when the curtain is in a recessed position (wound around a roller).
US08851145B2
An insulation system includes a panel having a major surface, a layer of fibrous insulating material and at least one securing clip affixed to the panel and securing the insulation layer to the major surface. Each clip includes first and second connectors. Each connector includes a head, two diametrically-opposed resilient latching elements projecting from the head and a first locking shoulder extending at least partially between the latching elements. Each latching element includes a latching shoulder adjacent a distal end opposite the head.
US08851141B2
A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries.
US08851134B2
A vacuum device includes a main body and an adjustment assembly connected to the main body. The main body includes a frame, a loading member, and an elastic film. The loading member and the elastic film are arranged at opposite end surfaces of the frame. A chamber is cooperatively formed by the frame, the loading member, and the elastic film. The adjustment assembly adjusts the inner air pressure of the chamber. The loading member includes an absorption area connecting the chamber to outside the main body. The absorption area changes the air pressure inside the chamber. Also provided is a bonding apparatus using the vacuum device.
US08851133B2
Provided is an apparatus and a method of holding a device. The apparatus includes a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and a pressure control structure that can independently and selectively vary a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure. The method includes providing a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and independently and selectively varying a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure.
US08851127B2
Methods and systems for pharmaceutical compounding are described. In one embodiment a system comprises a solution of a pharmaceutical in an injection vehicle, the solution being contained in a vessel. The system also includes one or more tubes, a filter, and one or more valves. The system presents a sterile environment for compounding the solution.
US08851126B1
A wire loading magazine for a twist attachment device includes a magazine assembly adapted to carry a supply of attachment wire segments and a wire loading assembly carried by the magazine assembly and adapted to individually and sequentially load the attachment wire segments from the magazine assembly into the twist attachment device.
US08851122B2
The aircraft includes: a fuel tank panel; a fuel pump bell, the bell being fastened to the panel; and a metal support arranged so that the bell is fastened to the panel entirely via the support.
US08851110B2
A multi-phase fluid is split in a flow splitting device that includes a feed pipe in which a flow redistribution element induces tangential motion in the phases such that the denser phase is forced to redistribute around the periphery of the feed pipe. The so redistributed flow is then split into two or more distribution conduits that are typically perpendicular to the flow direction of the feed flow. Most typically, the feed pipe is in a vertical position.
US08851098B2
A system for sealing a vessel, including: a sealing assembly including a sheet of material and an actuator; and a bracing assembly including a mesh structure. In response to an actuating signal: the actuator is arranged to dispose the sheet of material along at least a portion of an inner wall of the vessel; and the bracing assembly is arranged to displace the mesh structure such that the mesh structure urges the sheet of material into sealing contact with the at least a portion of the inner wall.
US08851097B2
A seat cover includes a frame and cover. The frame includes a flexible member with a first end and a second end, a first connector configured to receive the first end of the flexible member, a second connector configured to receive the second end of the flexible member, and a support configured to receive the first connector and the second connector.
US08851094B2
A cane that can efficiently use a rubber tip (60) is provided from the aspect of ecology. The cane comprises a grip part (10) located at the upper end of a first cane body (20), the rubber tip (60) located at the lower end of the first cane body (20), and a button (52) and holes (36a-36d) for rotating the grip part (10) and rubber tip (60) in four steps, wherein the button (52) and holes (36a-36d) also serve as a fixing part for fixing the grip part (10) and rubber tip (60) after those have been rotated.
US08851089B1
An expandable travel bag system to aid in organizing toiletries when travelling features a flexible, planar anterior bag panel. A pair of item holding straps is located on an anterior bag panel front surface. An attachment strap is located on an anterior bag panel rear surface. The system features a posterior bag panel. A pair of item holding straps is located on a posterior bag panel front surface. An attachment pad is located on a posterior bag panel rear surface. The anterior bag panel is attached to the posterior bag panel via a second anterior hook and loop component attached to a first posterior hook and loop component. The anterior bag panel and the posterior bag panel are flexibly rolled into a cylindrical form for transport and held into a rolled up position via the attachment strap attached to the attachment pad.
US08851077B2
The invention describes methods and apparatus for creating permanent occlusion of body lumens such as the fallopian tubes. The methods and apparatus use non-surgical approaches to deliver permanent implants which create acute occlusion of desired body lumens which resolve to permanent occlusions of the lumens.
US08851072B2
A supplemental air diffusion device is shaped and configured to be attached to the body or clothing of a patient below the head and deliver supplemental air toward the mouth and nose of the patient. The supplemental air diffusion device includes a frustroconicoidal air diffusion body that has a smaller inlet opening at an inlet end and an enlarged diffusion opening at a diffusion end. An air inlet stem is integrally attached to the air diffusion body and includes a plurality of ribs and/or recesses for releasably locking a female connector of an air supply hose over the inlet stem. A pair of spaced-apart slits are provided through a flange extending laterally from an outer surface of the air diffusion device. Initially separate accessory patient attachment clamps are looped through the slits and provide for releasable attachment of the air diffusion device to a patient's clothing. A kit may include an air diffusion device, one or more accessory patient attachment clamps, and an air supply hose for establishing fluid communication between the air diffusion device and an air supply.
US08851068B2
A personal inhalation device includes an outer shell having an orifice formed therein and containing a medium having one or more deliverables and an atomizing unit disposed within the shell. The atomizing unit atomizes the medium when a user puffs on the orifice such that vapor containing the deliverables is discharged through the orifice. The personal inhalation device is further capable of metering the deliverables discharged with the vapor.
US08851067B2
A solar panel comprises a conduit which in the usual way is designed to comprise a heat carrying medium for heat transfer between the solar panel and the surrounding environment. The conduit is placed so that it can be heated by the rays from the sun. The solar panel comprises a chemical heat pump of the type hermetically sealed unity tube with a reactor part, an evaporator/condenser part and a passage there between. The part of the unity tube comprising the reactor part of the chemical heat pump is positioned in heat conducting contact with the first conduit and thereby the part of the unity tube with the reactor part will be heated. The unity tube may be surrounded by a heat insulating part of vacuum jug type comprising an evacuated space between an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall may at its outwards facing surface comprise a radiation receiving part adapted to transform solar radiation to heat and which is in heat conducting contact with the first area and the first conduit.
US08851066B1
A thermal energy storage system includes fluid conduits disposed in a loose solid material. The loose solid material may be disposed inside a waterproof barrier, and the fluid conduits may be configured to define a plurality of zones having different temperatures in operation. The system may include a solar collector or other source of heated oil or other fluid that is routed to the thermal energy storage unit and/or an energy-consuming facility.
US08851056B2
A bow is adapted to shoot a projectile along a direction of flight. The bow includes a riser, a first limb, a second limb, and a drawstring. The riser extends perpendicular to the direction of flight. The riser includes a first mount adjacent a first end and a second mount adjacent a second end of the riser. The first and the second limbs extend along first and second contours from a proximal end to a distal end. The first limb is mounted to the first mount of the riser. The first contour includes a first attachment segment positioned adjacent the first mount. The second limb is mounted to the second mount of the riser. The second contour includes a second attachment segment positioned adjacent the second mount. The drawstring is operably connected to the first and the second limbs adjacent the distal ends. The first and the second attachment segments at least partially extend in the direction of flight from the proximal end to the distal end of the corresponding attachment segment.
US08851042B2
To remove contaminations in the area of a fire land (6) of a piston (5) an insert is provided (1) which sweeps the outer circumference of the piston (5) upon passing the top dead center and in so doing scrapes accumulating contaminations. The insert is formed of a first annular member (2) in which a second annular member (3) is inserted in a groove (9).
US08851035B2
Reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with intake and exhaust valves actuatable by sliding cams of a camshaft, arranged so that they are rotationally locked but axially moveable on a base shaft, and with an actuator unit for each sliding cam unit with at least one actuator pin for the displacement of the sliding cam units into different axial positions. The actuator pins are spring-loaded in the direction of the sliding cam unit and are fixable in their retracted position away from the sliding cam unit by latches having spring-loaded control needles that correspond to clamping bodies of the latches and are releasable via an electromagnet and permanent magnets that are in active connection with the control needles, and acceleration of the control needles defined by the spring force of each moving mass due to their springs is compensated by the acceleration of the actuator pins due to their allocated compressive springs.
US08851025B2
Downstream expansion cylinders are associated with a combustion cylinder such that an overall surface area and displacement volume of the expansion cylinder is sufficient to lower the temperature of fluids associated with the combined engine to such an extent that a radiator can be eliminated in an associated vehicle, or other system. In a separate feature, a catalytic material is placed on surfaces which will “see” the hot exhaust gases such that catalytic conversion of impurities in the gases can be achieved within the engine itself. In yet another feature, water is recovered from a system having both a water injection expansion cylinder, and a combustion cylinder, and the recovered water is re-used for the expansion. In yet another feature, gearing is provided between the expansion cylinder and a combustion cylinder such that the output of the combined engine is optimized, and the two cylinders do not drive the crankshafts in a one-to-one fashion. In another feature the combustion cylinder's ignition timing is delayed (retarded) to manage thermal control of said combustion cylinder between it and a subsequent expansion cylinder or cylinders.
US08851022B2
A water heating system includes a housing that defines a substantially enclosed interior region. A control panel is attached to the housing and includes a display that displays a particular condition of the water heating system. An access panel is attached to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position of the access panel, a passageway to the interior region of the housing is provided, and, in the second position of the access panel, the passageway to the interior region of the housing is closed. The display is visible in both positions of the access panel such that movement of the access panel from the second position to the first position facilitates simultaneous access to the display and to the interior region of the housing though the passageway.
US08851020B2
The present invention is directed to a canine garment that can be used to control and/or contain canine fluids, such as fluids related to canine urine marking, incontinence and heat-induced female menstruation. The canine garment may have a liner that is configured to wrap around the interior of the canine garment to prevent the flow of canine fluids onto the other portions of the canine garment and/or from escaping from the garment. The canine garment may also include a removable pad containing absorbent lining to prevent the flow of canine fluids, where the removable pad may be washable and reusable, and being made of wicking, odor-resistant fabrics. The canine garment may also be capable of accommodating a disposable pad that can be used to prevent the flow of canine fluids. The canine garment according to the present invention may also be comfortable when worn on the canine user's body.
US08851015B2
An aquarium suitable for displaying jellyfish includes a chamber having interior walls that divide the chamber into a series of compartments. The first compartment is the viewing area having openings in the side walls that permit water to flow out of the viewing area while retaining jellyfish and flow into viewing area in a manner that keeps jellyfish suspended. A spillover riser is located between the first and second compartment that defines a channel through which the first and second compartment communicate. The second compartment has an air inlet providing the motive force to circulate water throughout the aquarium and introduce air bubbles to operate a foam fractionating device the inside the aquarium. The third compartment provides an area for placement of filter media and other necessary devices to keep jellyfish alive. The channel below the viewing area provides communication between the second and third compartment.
US08851014B2
A cat litter box assembly having a base tray and an insert. The base tray has opposing side walls and a front wall. The front wall has a height less than the opposing side walls to define a partially open end of the base tray. The insert has a bottom wall and opposing side walls. The bottom wall has a plurality of openings formed in a portion thereof and a leading edge that extends between ends of the opposing side walls. The leading edge of the bottom wall and ends of the opposing side walls define an open end of the insert. The insert is insertable into the base tray through the partially open end of the base tray such that the leading edge of the insert engages and slides along the bottom wall of the base tray as the insert is inserted into the base tray.
US08851012B2
A vapor deposition reactor may include a first electrode including a first channel and at least one first injection hole connected to the first channel. a second electrode electrically separated from the first electrode, and a power source for applying power between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate plasma from a reactant gas between the first electrode and the second electrode. Also provided is a method for forming thin film using the vapor deposition reactor.
US08851003B2
A sailboat halyard lock includes a latch that interacts with a stop to maintain tension on a halyard, and a spring-loaded trigger that contacts the latch. The stop can be a ball that moves along a path through the halyard lock, or alternatively, a wall of a sail track. The latch rotates to engage the stop in the locked position, and is released to return to a neutral position. A spring-loaded trigger contacts the latch so as to position the latch to receive the ball or wall in the locked position. In this way, the halyard can be maintained under tension in the halyard lock, and the tension is adjustable over time.
US08850996B2
A stationary system for gas treatment of top soil to kill plant pests including either underground or above ground piping netting for facilitating the flow of gas towards the roots of the plant, preferably via one or more injection nozzles. The system may be adapted to be in combination with water/fertilizers irrigation system, such that both (i) plant growth is promoted and (ii) plant pathogen kill by a compressible gas is provided.
US08850980B2
The present invention is directed towards a choice of the shape of the patterned fields for Level 0 (patterned by imprint or photolithography or e-beam, etc.) and Level 1 (patterned by imprint) such that these shapes when tessellated together eliminate the open areas causes by the moats.
US08850977B2
A compressible printing sleeve carrier for use in offset lithography which is formed from a composite fiber-reinforced compressible polymer is provided. The printing sleeve carrier is formed by coating reinforcing filaments with a compressible polymer and winding the filaments around a mandrel to form a hollow cylindrical base, where the first portion of the base adjacent the inner surface contains the wound reinforcing filaments coated with the compressible polymer and the second portion of the base adjacent the outer surface contains the compressible polymer.
US08850974B2
The invention relates to a device and to a method for providing and adjusting a numbering machine with which value papers or sheets of value papers are printed with an individual piece of information, particularly a serial number. The numbering machine comprises carrier discs and numbering units on said carrier discs, wherein a plurality of numbering units are fixed on a carrier disc and a plurality of said carrier discs are fixed on a shaft, and the shaft is driven by at least one drive element with at least one rotary encoder. According to the invention, a position device provides the target position of the carrier discs and the associated numbering units on the associated carrier discs. Such a position device is preferably a light generating device with a light beam, a mechanical stop collar, or a camera with a monitor with a reticle. A light generating device hereby is preferably a laser or illumination means with focusing lenses that indicate the target position with a light spot on the carrier disc or the numbering unit.
US08850971B1
Embodiments of the present invention include a press base assembly, a strengthening ring for use with press bases and related methods. In one embodiment, a press base assembly includes a press base having a body that includes a piston cavity at one end. The body, at a second end opposite that of the piston cavity, may exhibit a desired geometry. A strengthening ring may be shaped, sized and configured to substantially mate with the geometry of the second end of the body and be placed thereover. For example, the geometry of the second end may be substantially circular exhibiting a particular diameter and circumference. The strengthening ring may have substantially circular internal surface sized and configured such that the strengthening ring is positioned on the second end of the body in a manner that results in an interference fit between the two components.
US08850967B2
Forming machines and methods for forming a croissant dough piece in which the lateral end sides can be bent to form and join them, while they contact the upper surface of a transporting conveyor, are provided. In one aspect of the invention, the forming machines include an interception pin 75, which is arranged above the transporting conveyor 5 such that it is vertically movable and it is also movable in the conveying direction of the transporting conveyor 5. The forming machine also includes a plurality of pressing members 99, which are arranged above the transporting conveyor 5 such that they are vertically movable and are movable in the conveying direction of the transporting conveyor 5 at a velocity faster than that of the interception pin 75, and they are movable toward and away from each other. When the interception pin 75 intercepts the center portion of the croissant dough piece 3 in the length thereof at the leading side thereof along the conveying direction, the pressing members 99 bend both sides of the croissant dough piece 3 about the interception pin 75 that is centered thereon to form or join them, while downward components of force are applied to both sides thereof. The circumferential surface of the interception pin 75 ejects air when the pressing members 99 are lifted up and the interception pin 75 is pulled up from the croissant dough piece 3.
US08850964B2
An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof includes a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steamflow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.
US08850960B2
System, method and capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system includes an exchangeable capsule, an apparatus including a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule includes a circumferential wall, bottom, and lid enclosing an inner space including the extractable product. The receptacle includes bottom piercing means intended for piercing an entrance area of an alternative capsule for creating at least one entrance opening for supplying the fluid to the extractable product. The entrance area of the capsule of the system includes an entrance filter for supplying the fluid to the extractable product therethrough. In use, the entrance filter is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means, such that the capsule of the system is not pierced by the bottom piercing means.
US08850959B2
Systems and methods for an improved espresso coffee machine are described. In one aspect, the improved espresso coffee machine includes one or more operating units, each of which at least includes a boiler, a pump, a heating unit, and a unit for aroma extraction and dispensing of the espresso coffee brew, including related conduits. Each unit is equipped with a system for controlling and adjusting the espresso coffee brewing parameters.
US08850958B2
A coffee maker including a base, a filter basket positioned above the base, the filter basket including an outlet, and a drip stop assembly, and a method of using the coffee maker.
US08850952B2
A phaser valve for a piston and cylinder assembly helps to keep a pair of pistons in phase with each other. The phaser valve includes a poppet which is slidable between opposing seats of a valve housing. The poppet includes a head and a stem, both the head and the stem having concave portions which facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid across the valve. The poppet head has two generally conical ends, so that the head makes a fluid-tight seal with a seat when the head is urged towards either seat. Due to its construction, the phaser valve may be built to fit within a very small space, while still allowing a substantial flow of fluid when the head is not in abutment with one of the seats.
US08850942B2
A method of fabricating a mechanical member for aircraft, including a plurality of operations of braiding and depositing layers of braided reinforcing fibers on a mandrel (11) by using braiding machine. Each operation comprises braiding a braided layer and depositing it by moving the mandrel (11) along a central axis of the braiding machine. Each of the various superposed braided layers comprises both longitudinal fibers (12, 12G) that are parallel to a main direction of the mandrel (11), and interlacing fibers that are inclined. At least one operation is configured to form and deposit a braided layer having, in at least one cross-section of the member, a density of longitudinal fibers that differs depending on whether consideration is given to one angular region (S1) or another angular region (S2) of the same extent around the center of gravity (G) of the mandrel (11) in the section under consideration.
US08850941B2
The present invention includes a cutting device including a table configured to accommodate a workpiece, and a cutting unit positioned on an upper side of the table and being operable to vertically move relative to the table. The cutting unit includes a cutting blade, and a grip portion disposed on a lateral side of the cutting blade and capable of being grasped by an operator in order to vertically move the cutting unit. The grip portion has a palm contact part that can be touched by a palm of the operator when the operator grasps the grip portion. The palm contact part is inclined relative to a reference line that may be perpendicular to a surface of the cutting blade.
US08850940B2
A miter saw for use with a miter saw stand includes a base having a first clamping surface, a second clamping surface, and a first actuator. The miter saw further includes a turntable rotatable in relation to the base and having a work piece support surface. The miter saw also includes a support assembly attached to the turntable, and a cutting assembly attached to the support assembly and positioned over the turntable. The first actuator is movable between a first position and a second position. Movement of the first actuator from the first position towards the second position causes the first clamping surface to move toward the second clamping surface.
US08850920B2
A remote control assembly having a conduit and a core element slidably disposed in the conduit. An adjustment device is selectively connected to one of the conduit and the core element for adjusting an effective length thereof. The adjustment device includes an adjustment housing and a slider. A locking element, having locking teeth, engages with slider teeth of the slider. The locking element defines a cavity for allowing insertion of a tool to facilitate movement of the locking element from a locked position to an unlocked position. Also, a cover is slidably supported on the housing and the cover includes a detent to further facilitate movement of the locking element.
US08850904B2
A horizontal atmospheric dustfall component trap includes: a dust sampling port that includes a ceiling plate, a side wall, and four or more partition plates; an air pipe; and a trap container, wherein the side wall is a plate that has a vertical center axis and has a side surface having a shape of a substantially circular truncated cone or a polygonal truncated cone widened upward, wherein the side wall is provided with four or more external air inlets each having an opening disposed at the same interval in the circumferential direction of the side wall and disposed at a specific height near the upper end thereof, and wherein the four or more partition plates divide a space surrounded by the side wall into fan-shaped areas having an equal size in a horizontal cross-section.
US08850901B2
An actuation assembly adapted for driving a load, and protecting against overload conditions, includes an actuator defining a stroke, and an overload protection device including at least one elastic member having a nonlinear force-deflection characteristic defining a limit point and negative stiffness region, drivenly coupled to the actuator opposite the load, and operable to provide a secondary work output path when an overload condition exists.
US08850889B2
An acceleration sensor includes: a rectangular moving electrode; a pair of beams which connect to centers of two opposite sides of the moving electrode, and support the moving electrode freely swingably; and first and second fixed electrodes which are provided on one side and other side of a boundary line, respectively, and are arranged to be opposed to a front surface of the moving electrode at a predetermined interval. A straight line that connects the pair of beams to each other is taken as the boundary line. Then, on a back surface of the moving electrode, first and second recessed portions are formed on one side of the boundary line and the other side thereof, respectively.
US08850885B1
A water air-bubble fragment recovery test apparatus that facilitates accurate assessment of fragmentation characteristics and lethality that are normally detonated in air. An airtight, waterproof plastic container encloses a test warhead; the plastic container may then also be filled with a gas or just with air. The container is then embedded in a water-gas-bubble mixture found in a water tank, for the warhead to be detonated therein, and the fragments to then be later recovered.
US08850878B2
Various methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger. In one example, a method includes receiving a signal indicative of a monitored pressure of a pressurized oil supply of a turbocharger or other turbomachine. The method further includes determining whether a high frequency component of the signal meets one or more designated criteria, and, if the high frequency component of the pressure meets the one or more designated criteria, generating a first control signal.
US08850874B1
An in-line viscometer (70) with a coupling magnet (42) installed into a bob (44) and a drive magnet (24) installed onto a magnet holder (52). Coupling magnet (42) forms a magnetic coupling with drive magnet (24). Bob (44) is positioned inside a main body (50) and is submerged in the flow of sample fluid (56). A motor (10) rotates a magnet holder (52) to which the drive magnets (24) are attached. The magnetic coupling between the coupling magnet (42) and the drive magnet (24) causes the bob (44) to rotate while submerged in sample fluid (56). The energy necessary for the motor (10) to turn the magnet holder (52) while the bob (44) is submerged in the sample fluid (56) provides a means to measure the viscosity of the sample fluid (56).
US08850867B2
A photoacoustic sensor, containing a resonance body, which at least partially delimits a space for receiving molecules to be detected, and a device for detecting an oscillation of the resonance body, including a device for optically detecting the location of at least one partial surface of the resonance body. A method for the photoacoustic detection of molecules in the gas phase and to a method for producing an optically integrated photoacoustic sensor.
US08850866B2
In order to functionally test a leak detector (20) that comprises a partial pressure sensor (21), a testing device (30) having a variable volume (33) is connected to the leak detector. Said testing device can be a syringe. By changing the volume (33), the partial pressure of the test gas contained in the ambient air is changed. A test is carried out to check whether the leak detector (20) indicates the change. According to the invention, a vacuum pumping device having mechanical vacuum pumps is not required. The method is suitable for testing vacuum systems that contain a vacuum pumping device that is used in the leak test to generate a required vacuum. The service technician can perform the functional test of the leak detector (20) separately from the system and the vacuum pumping device.
US08850860B2
Provided is a method of controlling operation of a tandem rolling mill which enables large reduction rolling in the latter-stage stand of the tandem rolling mill necessary for manufacturing fine-grained steel, and so on. The method comprises: a step of determining a first exit-side sheet thickness in rolling a constant portion of a material to be rolled; and a step of determining a second exit-side sheet thickness in rolling a front end portion of the material, such that a pre-tightening load becomes a set value or less; the material is rolled into the second exit-side sheet thickness, until the front end portion is fed into the stands; the constant portion is rolled by the stand given a pre-tightening load into the first exit-side sheet thickness; and the second exit-side sheet thicknesses of the stands given the pre-tightening load are made larger than the first exit-side sheet thickness.
US08850851B2
A reactive-ceramming process for making YPO4 ceramics involving the reaction between a YP-glass and a Y-source material. The invention can be used to synthesize, inter alia, phase-pure YPO4 ceramic material 5 at a relatively low temperature in a relatively short period of time and at a low cost. Invention can be used to make large piece of YPO4 blocks suitable for, e.g., an isopipe in a fusion down-draw process for making large-size glass sheets.
US08850846B2
A self-cooling and self dispensing beverage container in the form of a keg which includes a heat exchange unit having a plurality of segments of compressed carbon disposed therein. A valve is secured to a tube attached to the REU housing for carbon dioxide to adsorbed and then desorbed by the carbon for cooling the beverage. A dispense gas canister is disposed within the container to automatically release carbon dioxide to maintain a pressure head within the container sufficient to assure dispensing of the beverage.
US08850843B2
A refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at an upper portion of the refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a lower portion of the refrigerator body, comprising an ice-making chamber partitioned from the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls, the ice-making chamber containing an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice.
US08850831B2
Method for cooling granular solid materials from a continuous curing facility having at least one area for burning a fuel to cure granular materials, wherein the curing of the granular materials, then the cooling of the cured granular materials is carried out in two consecutive steps, a first cooling step in a first cooler and a second cooling step in a second cooler, the method including: providing a cold air source for cooling the granular materials, the cold air source directly supplying air to the second cooler by blowing, and the air heated by the cured granular materials being used during the cooling as combustion gas for the burning area. All gases generated by the first and second coolers are routed to the burning area for use as a combustion gas, and the amount of cold air blown to the second cooler is adjusted to cover the air combustion needs.
US08850802B1
A system for NOx reduction in combustion gases, especially from diesel engines, incorporates an oxidation catalyst to convert at least a portion of NO to NO2, particulate filter, a source of reductant such as NH3 and an SCR catalyst. Considerable improvements in NOx conversion are observed.
US08850800B2
An exhaust treatment system for machine is disclosed that includes a burner body having an inlet for receiving a flow of exhaust, an outlet for the exhaust flow to exit, an opening and a receiving mount disposed around the opening. A fuel injector head is mounted over the opening in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the body. The burner body includes a plurality of mounting pads extending at least partially and circumferentially around the burner body for coupling a support bracket to the burner body in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the burner body. The support bracket may be used to couple the burner to a fixture device such as a cradle for supporting other exhaust treatment system components.
US08850798B2
A regeneration system for a filter that filters exhaust gas of an engine includes a soot loading determination module that determines soot accumulation in the filter. A regeneration control module receives the determined soot accumulation from the soot loading determination module, compares the soot accumulation to a first soot accumulation threshold, and selectively increases oxidation levels in the exhaust gas in response to the comparison between the soot accumulation and the first soot accumulation threshold to initiate regeneration in the filter.
US08850793B2
A turbofan engine is disclosed and includes a fan and a compressor in communication with the fan section, a combustor, a turbine and a speed reduction mechanism coupled to the fan and rotatable by the turbine. The turbine includes a first turbine section that includes three or more stages and a second turbine section that includes at least two stages. A ratio of airfoils in the first turbine section to a bypass area is less than about 170.
US08850792B2
An electrospray thruster and methods of manufacturing such thrusters are provided. The micro-electrospray thruster increases the thrust density of conventional electrospray thrusters by miniaturizing the individual components of the thruster thereby allowing for the increase in the number and density of the charged particle emitters.
US08850782B2
The invention relates to safety improvements for mowers incorporating a chipper, and/or catcher. In one aspect the invention provides safety improvements that only allow operation of the chipper when the mower is below a predetermined threshold ride height. In another aspect, the mower includes one or more side skirts to prevent body parts from entering the cutting zone under the mower. In a still further aspect, the mower has a rear flap including a sub-flap. The mower is arranged so that the sub flap remains closed when a catcher is installed.
US08850774B2
A truss hinge that includes a number of different labeled parts, where connections between the two different parts can constrain the truss to different angles.
US08850771B2
Synthetic polymer based roofing elements of the shingle or tile type are provided whereby adjacent roofing elements have projecting tabs or nibs that are adapted to engage against side edges of adjacent shingles or tiles when laid up in courses on a roof, and wherein there are relatively flexible stress relief zones in the shingle or tile adjacent the tab or nib projections, adapted to be deformed within their elastic limit when the shingles or tiles are subjected to stresses due to thermal expansion and contraction, with the stress relief zones also being adapted to return to their original non-deformed condition when such thermal expansion and contraction forces are relieved.
US08850770B2
A floor system for a building includes prefabricated grid sections attached to framing members of the building and a plurality of panels mounted to the grid to form a structurally integrated floor. The panels are removable to provide access to space below the floor that would otherwise be inaccessible in a conventional floor. A subfloor deck below the floor separates one building story from another and encloses the space between the floor and the deck, which can be used for temporary and permanent installations including, for example, pipes for water, laboratory gases, and compressed air, and power, telephone, and data cables; and as a plenum for HVAC. Either or both of the floor and the subfloor deck can be attached to the building frame to function as a diaphragm. The floor system replaces conventional permanent structural floors and raised accessible flooring systems.
US08850765B2
The present invention relates to a device for the anchoring in rigid ground such as decks or floors made of concrete, asphalt, rock etc., for support posts for safety barriers and parapets, by means of bolts partly embedded in the ground and fixed to same by chemical or mechanical means, whose emergent part successively traverses the anchor plate of the post of the barrier, one or more washers and closure nuts which are what fix the bolt to the anchor plate. The washers present the capacity to behave as fusible elements which, in the event of a vertical load due to traction greater than a defined value, are deformed and traversed by the closure nut which, once released from the washer, traverses the corresponding hole of the anchor plate, which is of a size greater than that of the closure nut, with the union between the plate and bolt thus becoming decoupled.
US08850760B2
The present invention relates to a method of overmolding at least one portion of seal (J) onto a peripheral part of a glazed element (V), said seal comprising at least one insert (1), this insert having an overmolded portion comprising a baseplate (2) and a projecting portion (4) oriented along an axis (A) for prepositioning, positioning or fixing the glazed element (V) in an aperture that it is to close, said method being characterized in that, during injection, the insert is positioned in the molding cavity using at least one pin (11) collaborating with a positioning means (5) situated on said overmolded part so that said baseplate (2) comprises, on a face facing toward the glazed element, at least one bearing tab (6) extending toward the glazed element and coming into contact therewith and, on an opposite face, a mount (3) having a free face supporting said projecting part (4) and which is not covered with the plastic of which the seal is made and in that during release from the mold, the mold is opened and the overmolded glazing removed without the projecting part (4) of the insert (1) coming into contact with the wall of said housing (10).
US08850759B2
A window with at least one leaf, which may be swiveled around a vertical axis, has at least two glass panels arranged one above the other in a vertical direction. The leaf is configured so that one of the glass panels is offset forwards in relation to the other glass panel or panels in the line of sight when looking at the window from outside.
US08850758B1
A granular material storage capacity increasing device and system includes a housing including a plurality of roof trusses each including an inner chord. A plurality of panels is attached to the roof structure. Each of the panels extends between and is attached to adjacently positioned ones of the inner chords. Each of the panels is elongated and has a first end, a second end, an upper edge and a lower edge. An upper bend is positioned adjacent to the upper edge and defines an upper flange including the upper edge. A lower bend is positioned adjacent to the lower edge and defines lower flange including the lower edge. A primary bend is positioned between the upper and lower bends. The upper and lower flanges are attached to the inner chord. The primary bend is spaced further from the inner chord than the upper and lower bends.
US08850748B2
The invention relates to a cable feed device for a flat cable, or a flat cable connection, respectively, on a vehicle door, wherein the flat cable is provided being extended between the vehicle door that can be moved relative toward a vehicle chassis and the vehicle chassis, or along a component, respectively, which is substantially firmly attached to the vehicle chassis, wherein at least one seal is disposed between the vehicle door and the vehicle chassis, or the component, respectively, and further wherein the flat cable is disposed in a feed through of the seal between the seal and the vehicle door in a closed state of the vehicle door.
US08850745B2
A window balance assembly may be in a window jamb channel to provide a biasing force urging a window sash toward an open position. The window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may include a latch, a first head portion, and a first projection. The latch may engage the second portion of the spring element. The first head portion may be configured to abut a first wall of the window jamb channel when the window balance assembly is installed in the window jamb channel. The projection configured to extend through and engage an aperture in a second wall of the window jamb channel when the window balance assembly is installed in the window jamb channel.
US08850742B2
A system (1) for modulating growth or attributes of at least one part (2) of one or more plants comprising chlorophyll is disclosed. The system (1) comprises at least one light emitting device (3), such as a light emitting diode (LED), for irradiating the at least one part (2), at least one light sensor (4) for picking up light from the at least one part (2), communication capabilities (5) for facilitating communication between the at least one light sensor (4), the at least one light emitting device, and a processor (6). The processor (6) reads data from the at least one light sensor (4) via the communication capabilities (5), generates a control signal based on the data and a reference, and then controls, based on the control signal, the at least one light emitting device (3) via the communication capabilities in order to modulate plant growth or plant attributes.
US08850741B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for pest control comprising a hollow station (150) forming at least one entrance (160, 165) for the pests to be controlled and a harborage area inside the station; a reservoir for water (100) providing access to water from the inside of said hollow station (150); and a contact pesticide (170) for the pests to be controlled, said contact pesticide (170) being provided inside said hollow station (150) in such a way that pests which enter the hollow station (150) through said at least one entrance (160, 165) to come to the reservoir for water (100) or the harborage area come into contact with said contact pesticide (170).
US08850738B2
A combination firearm safety round that is configured to have tool features compatible for performing maintenance on the firearm. The safety round includes a cylindrical body portion having a small diameter extension having a substantially flat distal end, such that the extension is suitable as a tool for field stripping and maintenance of the firearm.
US08850737B1
Firearm bolt tail cleaning device has a device body and a plurality of cleaning arms arranged radially about a centerline and defining a cleaning slot configured to accept a bolt tail. The cleaning device slidably and rotatably interfaces with the bolt tail at inner wall portions of the plurality of cleaning arms, to remove debris from and to polish the bolt tail surface. The device is constructed of a polymer and 15 to 40 percent by weight of an abrasive material, such as glass fiber. Via interaction with the bolt tail, at least a portion of the plurality of cleaning arms become worn with use and expose more abrasive material which facilitates removing debris from and polishing the bolt tail surface. End portions of the body are open and each have a concavity.
US08850736B2
The invention relates to a stock mounting device for fixing a stock on a receiver of a small arm that includes a clamping pin, and a clamping cam cooperating with the clamping pin, by which the shank can be mounted on the receiver by generating an axial force.
US08850735B2
A monolithic upper receiver/hand guard is provided for use with a firearm. The monolithic upper receiver/hand guard can include an upper receiver section, a hand guard section, and an interrupted optics rail extending along the top of the upper receiver section and the hand guard section. Cable routing features can be defined in the hand guard section and/or the upper receiver section for helping to control wires and cables extending from or between peripheral devices and accessories, which can be mounted on the monolithic upper receiver/hand guard. The cable routing features can include one or more crossover cable guides disposed in respective channels in the interrupted optics rail. The crossover cable guide can include one or more grooves for receiving a portion of a cable passing from one side of the monolithic upper receiver/hand guard to the other for connecting two peripheral devices, for example.
US08850720B2
A sports boot including an upper extending above the ankle joint and at least one rigid collar extending around the wearer's lower leg, the boot including a device for adjusting the volume of the collar to better accommodate the shape of the user's calf. The adjustment device includes a wedge, or collar extension, positioned inside the collar, the wedge being fixed to the collar by means of at least one pivot and by means of a fastening mechanism enabling the relative displacement of the wedge with respect to the collar as well as a deformation of the wedge. The fastening mechanism includes a plate equipped with a cylindrical body having an axis A1 and received in a first circular opening provided in the collar and a rivet received in a second circular opening provided in the wedge and received in a third circular opening having an axis A2 provided in the body, the axis A2 and the axis A1 being non-coaxial. The wedge is fixed by means of a first pivot and a second pivot, which are positioned on respective sides of the collar so that an axis Ap1 of the first pivot and an axis Ap2 of the second pivot are located on a first, substantially horizontal plane P1 and so that the fastening mechanism is not fixed on the first plane P1.
US08850718B2
A shoe construction utilizing a fluid containing chamber as a cushion. The shoe includes a stabilizer positioned in the shoe and having a heel portion in overlying relation to the cushion and a forward portion in overlying relation to at least a midfoot portion of the shoe bottom. The forward portion extends across a substantial portion of the inside width of the shoe where it is located to resist deformation of the shoe bottom under load from a user both in lateral bending and longitudinal torsion.
US08850716B2
A remote control wireless heated insole system in which address data identifying specific insoles to be heated is provided. Once the heating process is initiated, periodic repeated control signals are generated to cause heating of the insoles.
US08850715B2
What is described is a process and an installation for drying articles, in particular painted vehicle bodies, in which the articles are moved through a drying zone in which they are hardened in an inert-gas atmosphere. Inert gas is taken from the drying zone constantly or intermittently and is first of all conducted along a first face which is at a first temperature at which higher-boiling contaminants condense out. The condensate that forms in the process is discharged. After that, the inert gas which has been pre-cleaned in this way is conducted along at least one second face which is at a lower temperature than the first face. Lower-boiling contaminants are precipitated at this point. These condensates, too, are then discharged. This process and installation work more favorably, energy-wise, and with higher cleaning efficiency than known processes and installations of a similar type.
US08850714B2
A chromaticity correction device corrects chromaticity of a video signal displayed on a display panel of a display device to correspond to a change in a luminance value of the display panel. The chromaticity correction device includes a luminance detection unit which detects the luminance value, a backlight driving level detection unit which detects a backlight driving level, a temperature detection unit which detects an internal device temperature or an ambient temperature, a reference luminance value calculation unit which estimates a reference luminance value in a characteristic of an initial state, a chromaticity calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity change amount of white point chromaticity and estimated white point chromaticity that is an estimated value of current white point chromaticity, a chromaticity correction value calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity correction value and a chromaticity correction circuit which corrects the chromaticity of the video signal.
US08850711B2
A mounting device for mounting a length measuring system extending in a measurement direction, the mounting device including a basic body, a steadying device attached to the basic body and a retainer attached to the basic body. A length measuring system that extends in a measurement direction is fixable on the basic body by clamping between the steadying device and the retainer, wherein the basic body and the retainer are embodied for guiding the retainer on the basic body longitudinally in a manner fixed against relative rotation in a direction of the steadying device by an adjusting element.
US08850693B2
An assembly tool for assembling a lens tube in a lens base includes a support base, a fastening unit, a first height sensor, and a second height sensor. The support base defines a positioning groove for receiving the lens base. The fastening unit includes a fastening pole and a torque meter connected to an end of the fastening pole. The fastening pole forms a plurality of connecting portions for engaging with the lens tube. The first height sensor is positioned on the support base to detect a height of the lens base. The second height sensor is positioned on the support base to detect a height of an optical lens formed by the lens tube and the lens base.
US08850690B2
A method of manufacturing an armature for an electric motor, includes: placing a commutator and a lamination stack on an armature shaft, winding magnet wire in slots in the lamination stacks to form coils, attaching ends of the magnet wire to the commutator, and molding plastic around the magnet wire and around the shaft of the armature at ends of the lamination stack. A spinning inertia of the armature is adjusted by adjusting at least one of a mass of the plastic molded and a distribution of the plastic molded. Alternatively and/or additionally, at least one of a resonant frequency and critical speed of the armature is adjusted by adjusting at least one of a geometry of the plastic molded, the physical properties of the plastic and the mechanical properties of the plastic.
US08850689B2
A method for manufacturing a switchable particle-based display is provided, which includes steps of: providing a substrate having a grid structure thereon to define a plurality of cells; providing a template having a plurality of template ribs thereon to define a plurality of compartments corresponding to the plurality of cells; filling a plurality of display particles into the plurality of compartments on the template; transferring the plurality of display particles from the plurality of compartments on the template to the plurality of cells; and removing the template and mounting an opposite substrate over the substrate.
US08850678B2
A system for manufacturing shoes is provided that includes two or more pieces of equipment used in the customization and manufacturing of shoes and an alignment fixture that may engage with each piece of equipment by way of an alignment mounting member. The alignment fixture may secure to it a portion of a shoe, such as an upper portion, wherein the shoe portion remains in a flat position, and in a fixed relationship to the alignment fixture, throughout the various processes performed by the pieces of equipment. These processes may include, for example, printing, laser, embroidery, forming, cutting, or the like.
US08850671B2
A clip includes first and second clamping pieces provided to clamp a member to be fixed. The first clamping piece includes an insertion part to be inserted into a thorough hole of a fixed member. The insertion part includes a pair of strip member, each including a smaller width portion, a larger width portion and a stepped portion provided therebetween. In a course of the insertion part being inserted into the through hole, the larger width portions of the strip members pass the through hole while the strip members are flexed in the direction approaching to each other, and subsequently when the smaller width portions are inserted into the through hole, the strip members are allowed to be deformed in a direction separating from each other to return to an original state, whereby the stepped portions are locked to a region to be locked in the fixed member.
US08850669B1
A device holder includes a body having a receiving port and an arm having an engagement member. The engagement member has a plurality of teeth and is pivotally aligned with the receiving port. The device includes a button extending through a surface of the body pivotally coupled with a pawl positioned to releasably engage the teeth of the engagement member. A biasing member is located between an inner wall of the body and the pawl, biasing the pawl away from the inner wall. A lock located in the body and an actuator extending through a surface of the body is also included. The lock is positionable between a locked and an unlocked position.
US08850663B2
A clamp ring and process for manufacturing a clamp ring to effectively reduce, if not eliminate, waste scrap from the manufacturing process. The clamp ring and process for manufacturing the same, results in clamp ring having a seam formed by a metal joining technique such as welding, brazing, bolting, soldering, and clinching.
US08850657B1
A castor assembly includes a castor unit, a positioning unit, and a brake unit. The castor unit includes a housing and two rollers. The housing has a neck portion and a body portion. The positioning unit includes a fixing block located under the neck portion, a toothed plate pivotally connected with the body portion, and two restoring springs biased between the toothed plate and the body portion. The fixing block has an annular toothed portion. The toothed plate has a plurality of locking teeth that are movable to engage the toothed portion. The brake unit includes a braking block having two braking faces press the rollers. Thus, the toothed plate presses the fixing block by the elastic force of the restoring springs so that the locking teeth of the toothed plate engage the toothed portion of the fixing block closely.
US08850655B2
A bushing includes a bronze backing layer having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a central opening, the bushing having a cylindrical shape and a porous bronze layer. PTFE or other suitable low friction material is impregnated into the porous bronze layer at one of a radially inner or outer surface of the bushing. A PTFE or other suitable low friction material topical layer is disposed adjacent the impregnated layer. The bushing may optionally comprise a flange which also includes the bronze backing layer, the porous bronze and impregnated layer, and the topical layer on an axially inner or outer surface.
US08850651B1
A mop head and handle combination includes a block of substantially rigid foam material with a cylindrically shaped cavity in the interior that extends the length thereof. An elongated slot in said top wall extends downwardly and communicates with the cavity. The width of the slot is less than the diameter of the cavity. The handle includes a vertical pole with a horizontal bar connected to the bottom end forming a T configuration. The handle can be connected to the mop head by aligning the bar with the slot and pushing down on the pole to force the bar through the slot and into the cavity. The portions of the block around the slot flex out of the way to allow the bar to pass therethrough and then flex back to their normal position to maintain the bar in place within the cavity.
US08850649B2
The present disclosure relates to a cleaning tool, a cleaning sheet and method of removes debris, lint, or hair from a variety of surfaces. The cleaning tool is provided with a first array of stems and a second array of stems, wherein the first array of stems are smaller and more densely included on a cleaning surface of the cleaning tool. The larger stems are able to loosen and pull deeply embedded hair from loose fabric surfaces, while the smaller stems are able to capture and retain the loosened hair.
US08850646B2
The present invention relates to a decubitus cushion comprising a core and a jacket, wherein the core comprises viscoelastic material and the jacket comprises a cover layer of material promoting air circulation fixedly or reversibly removable at at least the side facing the skin.
US08850635B2
A patient positioning system and a rail for use in the system. According to one embodiment, the system includes first and second stationary rails arranged parallel to one another. First and second sets of mounting assemblies are used to fix the first and second stationary rails, respectively, to a ceiling. A traverse rail is slidably coupled to the stationary rails. The system also includes a harness for holding a patient and a motorized assembly for raising and lowering the harness, the harness being slidably coupled to the traverse rail. At least one of the first stationary rail, the second stationary rail, and the traverse rail is shaped to include a top wall, a bottom wall, a left wall, a right wall, a substantially open front, a substantially open rear, a first rib extending from the left side wall to the right side wall, and a second rib extending from the top wall to the first rib, the first rib and the second rib jointly dividing the interior of the rail into a pair of upper chambers and a lower chamber.
US08850629B2
A seat for a plumbing fixture includes a substantially rigid base and a cushion. The base includes an upper surface and an underside. The cushion is coupled to the base and includes a radial inward edge and a radial outward edge. At least one of the inward and outward radial edges includes a flange extending toward the other of the inward and outward radial edges, and a portion of the base is positioned above the flange to secure the cushion to the base. A lowermost portion of the at least one of the inward and outward radial edges of the cushion is flush with the underside of the base.
US08850628B2
A pressure release device for preventing pressure build-up in a sink, shower or tub drain includes an elongated tubular member having an elongated passageway extending therethrough. A partially closed top with a plurality of openings therein and an open bottom and means for disposing the device in a drain with an upper portion of the device extending upwardly by at least about 1 cm above an opening to the drain and a bottom of the device extends downwardly in the drain at least 1 and preferably about 2 cm below the opening of the drain.
US08850626B2
Eyewear, such as a goggle, is provided that can include an anterior module (such as a lens support) and an interchangeable posterior module (such as a faceplate). The anterior module can be adapted to support at least one lens in a wearer's field of view. The posterior module can be adapted to fit against a contour of the wearer's face and can be selectively interchangeable with the anterior module to modify at least one physical characteristic of the eyewear. In some embodiments, the anterior and posterior modules can be coupled by a suspension assembly in order to allow articulation of the posterior module relative to the anterior module for evenly distributing forces against the wearer's face. Further, the anterior module can be rigid for maintaining the lens in an optically-desirable orientation. Furthermore, the goggle can comprise an interchangeable lens mechanism to facilitate interchanging of lenses in the goggle.
US08850617B2
There is provided a sweatband configured for attachment to an interior surface of a headwear for absorbing liquid from a head of a wearer of the headwear and including a side surface configured for disposition opposite to the head of the wearer when the sweatband is attached to the interior surface of the headwear and the headwear is being worn by the wearer, the side surface comprising: at least one pair of spaced-apart successive head contacting domains, wherein at least a respective portion of each one of the spaced-apart successive head contacting domains of each one of the at least one pair of spaced-apart successive head contacting domains is configured to contact the head of the wearer when the headwear is worn on a human head; and a channel configured to facilitate air flow between a space above the sweatband and a space below the sweatband when the headwear is worn on a human head, wherein the channel is defined by at least one recessed domain and each one of the at least one recessed domain is defined between a respective edge portion of each one of the spaced-apart successive head contacting domains of a one of the at least one pair of spaced-apart successive head contacting domains; such that, when the headwear is being worn on a human head, and the human head is positioned such that a plane tangent to the highest portion of the human head is substantially horizontal, and for each one of the at least one recessed domain of the channel, at least the respective edge portions of each one of the spaced-apart successive head contacting domains, between which the recessed domain is disposed, are disposed in contact with the human head such that there is provided a passage configured to flow air between a space above the sweatband and a space below the sweatband and the passage includes a minimum cross-sectional area of at least 0.5 square millimeters (0.5 mm2).
US08850615B2
A thermal energy dissipating garment may include a first garment portion having a perimeter defined by at least a first side and a second garment portion having a perimeter defined by at least a vent side. The first garment portion and the second garment portion are discontinuously affixed to each other at defined intervals along a surface of each portion proximate to the first side and the vent side creating a vent seam having a plurality of ducts/scalloped vents for directing air towards a body of a wearer. The plurality of scalloped vents are oriented with an angle of attack that redirects air from the exterior of the garment to the interior of the garment to increase air movement along a wearer's skin.
US08850613B2
Protective pads wearable by a user for use in a contact sport include a release mechanism that allows the protective pads to be safely and easily detached from each other while the individual wearing the protective pads is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of a secondary injury to the individual wearing the protective pads as the protective pads are removed. The release mechanism includes an elongated coupler having an anterior segment that is operable to detach posterior portions of the protective pads from one another.
US08856957B1
A federated identity system is described. A federated identity broker registers a first customer as an identity provider and a second customer as an identity consumer. The federated identity broker acts as an intermediary between the first customer and the second customer, to broker an identity request from the first customer that is fulfilled by the second customer.
US08856950B2
A mobile terminal including a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one external terminal; a memory configured to store at least first and second operating systems including at least first and second modes, respectively; and a controller configured to execute the first operating system, to activate the first mode, to control a display unit of the mobile terminal to display a mode configuration screen including selectable options for designating a designated mode corresponding to at least one of the first and second modes to a particular information, and to selectively restrict assigning the particular information from the designated mode to a non-designated mode.
US08856946B2
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product defines multiple security-enabled context-based data gravity wells on a security-enabled context-based data gravity wells membrane. Non-contextual data objects are associated with context objects to define synthetic context-based objects. The synthetic context-based objects are associated with one or more security objects to generate security-enabled synthetic context-based objects, which are parsed into an n-tuple that includes a pointer to one of the non-contextual data objects, a probability that a non-contextual data object has been associated with a correct context object, probability that the security object has been associated with a correct synthetic context-based object, and a weighting factor of importance of the security-enabled synthetic context-based object. A virtual mass of each parsed security-enabled synthetic context-based object is calculated, in order to define a shape of multiple security-enabled context-based data gravity wells that are created when security-enabled synthetic context-based objects are pulled in.
US08856942B2
A method and system are disclosed for preventing rendering of content at overlapping time periods on more rendering devices than permitted by a license associated with the content.
US08856937B1
A computer-implemented method for identifying fraudulent websites. The method may include identifying a fraudulent-website toolkit. The fraudulent-website toolkit may be programmed for use in creating a fraudulent website. The method may also include determining a characteristic of the fraudulent-website toolkit and using the characteristic of the fraudulent-website toolkit to identify a website created using the fraudulent-website toolkit. The website created using the fraudulent-website toolkit may be identified by searching for websites that comprise the characteristic of the fraudulent-website toolkit. The website created using the fraudulent-website toolkit may also be identified by determining that a web browser is attempting to access the website. Various other methods and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08856934B2
Inputs from multiple input devices including an internal input device 22, a first external input device 54, and a second external input device 56 can be made to a printing apparatus 20. The printing apparatus 20 includes a receiver 50 that receives, from a host device, a print job containing print user identification information that identifies a print user; an input controller 42 that controls any one of the multiple input devices to serve as an input device that inputs authentication information that is used for authenticating the print user identification information; an authentication information input accepting unit 44 that accepts an input of the authentication information from the controlled input device; an authentication unit 46 that authenticates the print user identification information using the accepted authentication information; and a printing unit 52 that performs printing according to the print job when the authentication is successful.
US08856933B2
Systems and methods for selective authorization of code modules are provided. According to one embodiment, a trusted service provider maintain a cloud-based whitelist containing cryptographic hash values including those of code modules that are approved for execution on computer systems of subscribers of the service provider. A code module information query, including a cryptographic hash value of a code module, is received from a computer system of a subscriber by the service provider. If the cryptographic hash value matches one the cryptographic hash values contained within the cloud-based whitelist and the code module is an approved code module, then the service provider responds with an indication that the code module is authorized for execution; otherwise, it (i) responds with an indication that the code module is an unknown code module; and (ii) causes one or more behavior analysis techniques to be performed on the code module.
US08856932B2
An approach for detecting a kernel-level rootkit is presented. A changed entry in a System Service Descriptor Table (SSDT) or an Interrupt Descriptor Table (IDT) is detected. The changed entry results from an installation of suspect software. The changed entry is determined to be not referenced by a white list. A black list is updated to reference the changed entry to indicate the changed entry results from an installation of the kernel-level rootkit. The suspect software is determined to be the kernel-level rootkit based on the changed entry not being referenced by the white list. The changed entry is restored to an entry included in a first state of an operating system kernel. The first state is based on the SSDT and IDT referencing hooks indicated in the white list, where the hooks are not the result of an installation of any kernel-level rootkit.
US08856929B1
In a wireless communication device, first micro-processing circuitry drives a user interface and drives a wireless transceiver to exchange IP communications. A detection system detects a malicious condition related to the IP communications and responsively generates a circuit transfer signal. Switching circuitry de-couples the first micro-processing circuitry from the user interface and from the wireless transceiver responsive to the circuit transfer signal. Second micro-processing circuitry then drives the user interface and drives the wireless transceiver to exchange non-IP communications.
US08856919B2
An authorization device for authorizing operations of a remote server requested from user computers via a data communications network includes a computer interface configured to connect to a local user computer for facilitating communication with the remote server via a data communications network, a user interface configured to present information to a user, and control logic. The control logic is adapted to use security data accessible to the control logic to establish, via the local user computer, a mutually-authenticated connection for encrypted end-to-end communications with the server; collect from the server, via the connection, information indicative of any operation requested via a different connection to the server and requiring authorization by the user; and present the information to the user via the user interface to prompt for authorization of the operation.
US08856908B2
Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for securely retaining profile data and the use of such data for the targeted delivery of content. In one embodiment, a unique profile that represents the user location and is keyed to profile attributes selected from both a first set of data collected from the user location and the second set of profile data collected from an external source, is generated. The key does not allow a third party to identify the end-user location or a user associated with the end-user location. Electronic content transmitted to end-user locations may be encoded such that it may only be accessed by an authorized user and/or on a specific electronic device at the user location. A graphical user interface may be utilized to allow a third-party to provide selection criteria for determining user locations to receive targeted content. Further aspects of the invention relate to an electronic device configured to present targeted content to a user at a user location.
US08856903B2
This system 1 accepts content marker information including content identifier information for identifying content, and executes a process of causing a storing device to store the accepted content marker information. The system 1 accepts sharing-user identifier information for identifying a user/users who shares/share the stored content marker information. The system 1: accepts a content marker output request that includes user identifier information for identifying a user and that is a request for an output of content marker information; based on the user identifier information included in the accepted content marker output request and the accepted sharing-user identifier information, extracts content marker information corresponding to the user identifier information from the stored content marker information; and outputs the extracted content marker information.
US08856896B1
A user password is obfuscated using a first obfuscation algorithm and stored. A security module receives a password from a user a first time and, in response thereto, obfuscates the password using a second obfuscation algorithm and stores the obfuscated password. The security module subsequently receives the password from the user a second time. In response thereto, the security module obfuscates the password using the second algorithm a second time and compares the results of the obfuscation with the stored password obfuscated using the second algorithm. If the results of the obfuscation and the stored password obfuscated using the second algorithm match, the security module replaces the stored password obfuscated using the first algorithm with the password obfuscated using the second algorithm. The operations are performed transparently to the user associated with the password.
US08856882B2
Method of managing security entities positioned to cut off an information stream within a network. The method includes designating an entity to act as a sponsor for a new ward wishing to join the network, requesting to connect the ward with the sponsor, said sponsor determining whether or not it accepts the connection. If the sponsor accepts the connection, then connecting the sponsor and disconnecting from the plurality of entities forming the network. At least one of the entities and the sponsor checking a security level of said ward. If at least one of the entities decides to trust said ward, then the sponsor transmits to the ward configuration information to enable the ward to enter into communication with the network. If at least one of the entities decides not to trust the ward, then the ward cannot access the network and an alarm is generated.
US08856881B2
A method and system for allowing one or more users controlled access to at least one server from a plurality of servers by using an advanced command interface (ACI) server. The method and system include receiving a command at the ACI server from the one or more users to access the at least one server. Further, the method and system include comparing the command and impact of the command with a predefined set of criteria, which includes a plurality of skill and role levels corresponding to the one or more users. Subsequently, the command is transmitted from the ACI server to the at least one server for processing at the at least one server. The command is transmitted based on the predefined set of criteria. Thereafter, a response of the processed command from the at least one server is received. Finally, the method and system include forwarding the response of the processed command to the one or more users.
US08856872B2
A computer includes an enclosure, a network card connected to an external network, a time limit control device, a power module, and a switch. The time limit control device is used to set a connection time of the computer with the external network, and control a network switch module to enable the network card to connect the computer to the external network according the set connection time. The time limit control device is used to count down the connection time, and control a display module to display a remaining connection time. When a countdown of the connection time is zero, the time limit control device controls the network switch module to disable the network card and thereby disconnecting the computer from the external network.
US08856866B2
An image forming apparatus capable of restricting use of a hard disc drive and a method of restricting the use of the hard disc drive of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an interface unit to detect whether a hard disc drive is installed, and a control unit to execute an authentication procedure for the installed hard disc drive and to control whether data stored into the installed hard disc drive is printable by the image forming apparatus based on a result of the authentication procedure. Thus, even if the hard disc drive is maliciously taken, the use of the hard disc drive is not allowed if information about specifications of the hard disc drive does not match with stored information about reference specifications during the authentication procedure. Accordingly, the data stored in the hard disc drive are protected from any malicious purpose, thereby providing users with enhanced security and convenience.
US08856858B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to cause a media processor to invoke a software application in the mobile device server. The mobile device server can support voice communications over a cellular communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08856854B2
A processor for a cable television set-top box has an interface for coupling the processor to a second processor. The processor also has a port that is coupleable to control a tuner, a demodulator and a DOCSIS module with or without DSG support. The tuner has an output coupled to the demodulator input, and the demodulator has an output to the DOCSIS module input. The demodulator's output is also coupled to a conditional access module controlled by the second processor. The processor issues commands via the port to control at least one of the tuner and the demodulator based on instructions received via the interface from the second processor.
US08856851B2
An apparatus and a method for controlling a network-connected device in one peer network from an infrared (IR) device connected to another peer network is disclosed. Regardless of underlying communication protocols used in peer networks, the IR device in a peer network can request a transfer of data or control to a networked device in another peer network. Communication compatibility among the two peer networks are maintained by utilizing a set-top box in each peer network configured to communicate with another set-top box using a transport control protocol (TCP), which may be different from underlying protocols (e.g. X.25, IrDA) between the set-top box and locally connected devices to the set-top box. The set-top box may utilize an intelligent routing scheme based on a packet header and/or payload content examination to route the transfer of data to a “most-appropriate” electronic device connected to the set-top box.
US08856845B2
A method is provided for a personalized content delivery system. The method includes detecting a viewing activity of at least one user of a content-presentation device capable of presenting multiple programs in one or more channels, and determining a plurality of user identities of the at least one user. The method also includes discovering available video contents for the at least one user based on the plurality of user identities, and determining personalized video contents for the at least one user by merging the plurality of user identities. Further, the method includes recommending the determined personalized video contents to the at least one user, and delivering the recommended personalized video contents to the at least one user such that the personalized video contents are presented on the content-presentation device.
US08856840B2
A communication system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a video signal outputting unit for outputting an uncompressed video signal of a predetermined content, an identification information generating unit for generating identification information for identifying whether the predetermined content is a still picture content, and a transmitting unit for transmitting wirelessly the video signal outputted from the video signal outputting unit and the identification information generated in the identification information generating unit to the receiver. The receiver includes a receiving unit for receiving the video signal and the identification information transmitted wirelessly from the transmitter, a video signal processor for processing the video signal received in the receiving unit, and a controller for controlling an operation of the video signal processor based on the identification information received in the receiving unit.
US08856836B2
A device and a method for providing information of image data stored in a digital image display apparatus and a recording medium recorded with a program for realizing the same are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device for providing information of image data stored in the digital image display apparatus can include a channel list generating unit, which searches for a broadcast channel received through the digital image display apparatus and generates channel list data, and a link unit, which links image data and information data, respectively, included in broadcast data, stored in the digital image display apparatus according to a broadcast selecting signal and a broadcast data storing signal, with the channel list data.
US08856824B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for retrieving audio signals. A video signal is received that is associated with a content identifier and an alternate audio tag. In response to the alternate audio tag, a query is made for an alternate audio source that corresponds to the content identifier. A query result is received that identifies at least one alternate audio signal that corresponds to the content identifier and that is separately available from the video signal.
US08856822B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for inserting second contents stored in a storage medium of a host while first contents input from an external provider are played includes: searching, by a searching unit, for the second contents using location information which indicates a location of the second contents stored in the storage medium; detecting, by a signal information detecting unit, signaling information from the first contents, the signaling information indicating a section in the first contents in which insertion of the second contents is allowed; and playing, by a playing unit, the searched, second contents in the allowed section of the first contents which are being played, based on the signaling information.
US08856821B2
Multiple scheduling producers such as content management systems, advertisement systems, and emergency broadcast systems can independently send scheduling events to scheduling consumers such as streaming servers, guide generators, and playlogs. The scheduling consumers maintain state machines with persistent storage to process scheduling events from scheduling producers and output media channel playlists, channel guides, and/or content. Scheduling producers can contribute independently to define a channel playout while information at scheduling consumers remains synchronized.
US08856817B2
An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to present, utilizing an ACR system, an overlay during presentation of content, based on one or more rules. The one or more rules may be implemented utilizing information provided by the ACR system. The presented overlay may be associated with a sponsor, and the one or more rules may comprise a timing rule, an advertisement separation rule, an advertisement conflict rule and/or an auto-scaling rule. An ad server coupled to the ACR system may determine whether the overlay associated with the sponsor may be appropriate for presentation. The presented overlay may comprise interactive content for viewer interaction, and the one or more rules may comprise a viewer interaction rule which ensures that, when the interactive overlay is presented, the presented content may be scaled so that the scaled presented content is not covered by the overlay.
US08856805B2
A native application built for a mobile device can embed non-native JAVA code that may be executed by a JAVA virtual machine also embedded as a library within the native application. Enterprise applications may be extended for use by mobile devices. Business logic for an application may be constructed just once and then used in both enterprise applications and mobile device applications.
US08856799B2
Methods for managing resources for maintenance tasks in computing systems are provided. One system includes a controller and memory coupled to the controller, the memory configured to store a module. The controller, when executing the module, is configured to determine an amount of available resources for use by a plurality of maintenance tasks in a computing system and divide the available resources between the plurality of maintenance tasks based on a need for each maintenance task. One method includes determining, by a central controller, an amount of available resources for use by a plurality of maintenance tasks in a computing system and dividing the available resources between the plurality of maintenance tasks based on a need for each maintenance task. Computer storage mediums including a computer program product method for managing resources for maintenance tasks in computing systems are also provided.
US08856795B2
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter are directed to methods and a system that allows the reduction of costs attributed to executing applications on a multi-platform system (such as a mainframe) by migrating certain processes operating on one platform to another platform in the system. In one embodiment, the reduction of cost is achieved by a method for migrating an application executing in a partition operating a proprietary operating system to a second partition operating an alternate operating system and leveraging special purpose processors unavailable to the proprietary operating system, which can be much less costly to purchase and/or rent and license.
US08856794B2
Technologies are generally described for runtime management of processes on multicore processing systems using process affinity graphs. Two or more processes may be determined to be related when the processes share interprocess messaging traffic. These related processes may be allocated to neighboring or nearby processor cores within a multicore processor using graph theory techniques as well as communication analysis techniques to evaluate interprocess communication needs. Process affinity graphs may be established to aid in determining grouping of processors and evaluating interprocess message traffic between groups of processes. The process affinity graphs may be based upon process affinity scores determined by monitoring and analyzing interprocess messaging traffic. Process affinity graphs may further inform splitting process affinity groups from one core onto two or more cores.
US08856783B2
The performance monitoring system allocates virtual machines to users or user sessions according to a user categorization that is determine using user session information and virtual machine metrics. A session monitor of the performance monitoring system is notified that a user session terminated, where the user session accessed a virtual machine. The session monitor responsively records the user session information and obtains virtual machine metrics for the virtual machine from a virtual machine performance monitor. The performance monitoring system updates a user workload profile using the user session information and the virtual machine metrics, and categorizes the user of the user session according to the user workload profile. Upon receiving a request from a user for a virtual machine, a virtual desktop infrastructure requests a virtual machine from a virtual machine manager. The virtual machine manager responsively allocates a virtual machine to the user according to the user's categorization.
US08856771B2
A firmware or software update, patch, or upgrade image is authenticated by forcing its checksum to match a pre-determined value. The pre-determined value is known by a consumer electronic device in advance of propagating the image for installation. Upon propagation, the device determines a checksum value of the received imaged, and compares the checksum value to the pre-determined expected authenticity value. If they match, the image is installed. In an optional feature, the image is executed by the device and modifies the pre-determined checksum value to a next value, which is also shared or known by the image server. In this variation, no two images have the same expected value, and unauthorized images may be rejected for installation.
US08856764B2
A method for distributed static analysis of computer software applications, includes: statically analyzing instructions of a computer software application; identifying at least one entry point in the computer software application; assigning a primary agent to statically analyze the computer software application from the entry point; assigning a secondary agent to statically analyze a call site encountered by the primary agent and produce a static analysis summary of the call site; and presenting results of any of the static analyses via a computer-controlled output device.
US08856758B2
Techniques for automatic license entitlement calculation. A method includes decomposing a license metric definition into metric-generic and metric-specific logic, compiling the metric-specific logic to generate intermediate code, interpreting the metric-generic logic and dynamically loading the intermediate code to execute a license entitlement calculation.
US08856752B2
When an up to date state has been achieved for the inputs and outputs of a build process, an asset state indicator is set to indicate that all the inputs and outputs are up to date. Those inputs and outputs are monitored. If a change to any of the inputs and/or outputs is detected, the asset state indicator is updated to indicate that some build execution is needed. When a build request is detected, the current state of the asset state indicator is exposed. An execution sequence for targets of the build process based on dependencies between targets is determined. A starting point for a partial build is determined by determining the earliest-appearing target in the sequence that is affected by the detected changes to the inputs and outputs to the targets of the execution sequence. Executing the build process from this starting point will produce the updated outputs and return the system to the up to date state.
US08856751B2
A method includes, by one or more computing devices, determining code-under-test configured for execution on a computing device to be evaluated, creating a plurality of test cases based on the symbolic execution and including a plurality of constraints, selectively conducting abstract interpretation on the constraints, selectively conducting Satisfiability Modulo Theory (“SMT”) solving on the constraints, and validating or invalidating the code-under-test based on at least the SMT solving and the abstract interpretation. The abstract interpretation includes using a plurality of abstract interpretation models based on the constraints of the test case and over-approximating the constraints of the test case.
US08856745B2
A system and method can implement compliance tests with annotation based standards using a model library. The model library encapsulates expectation computation logic described in one or more annotation based assertions. A compliance test can obtain an actual value for one or more software properties based on evaluating a source file that contains one or more annotations that is defined by the one or more annotation based assertions, and can determine an expected value for the one or more software properties using the model library. Then, the compliance test can compare the actual value for the one or more software properties with the expected value for the one or more software properties.
US08856737B2
Techniques are provided for displaying information regarding customizations made to an application. The information may be displayed in a design-time environment and/or a runtime environment.
US08856730B2
Defining a layout of diagram elements can be performed in response to user input that includes one or more declarative statements specifying conditional patterns based on attributes of diagram elements, wherein the conditional patterns define layouts of diagram elements. Implementation of the layouts is dependent on conditions defined in the declarative statements and one or more values of one or more of the attributes. Implementations can further include organizing the conditional patterns as a pattern definition, wherein the pattern definition is stored on a computer readable medium in such a way that the pattern definition is retrievable by an application program that uses the pattern definition to evaluate the conditional patterns using values of attributes of one or more diagram elements. Representations of the diagram elements can be displayed according to the layouts when conditions for implementing the layouts are satisfied.
US08856727B2
A delta handler can allow calculation of difference between an already generated set of backend entities and a set of new entities necessary to support a primary object affected by a change made in a development environment supporting extensions to a backend model of a software architecture. Improved stability and robustness can be provided via an approach in which a target list of activities relating to creating, changing, or deleting of entities in backend repositories necessary to support the affected primary object is created and a sequence for performance of the activities in the target list is determined in a manner that can allow handling of such activities in a unified manner rather than on a per object type basis. Related methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and the like are described.
US08856717B2
A circuit board design aid is achieved by generating a shield pattern for a wiring pattern including a pattern element in a circuit board by increasing a width of a geometry of the pattern element by an amount corresponding to a shield pattern spacing set as a preset pattern generation condition. A prohibition region is generated based on a geometry of an element for which a clearance check is to be performed located around the wiring pattern and a clearance condition between the element for performing a clearance check and the wiring pattern. Then, the shield pattern is generated by excluding the geometry of the prohibition region from the geometry of the basic shield pattern element.
US08856699B2
A three-dimensional semiconductor device, comprising: a circuit block located in a first module layer; and a configuration circuit to control the circuit block further comprising a configurable element in a second module layer positioned above the first module layer.
US08856698B1
A process and apparatus are provided for generating and evaluating one or more metrics for analyzing the design and manufacture of semiconductor devices. Embodiments include scanning a drawn semiconductor design layout to determine a difficult-to-manufacture pattern within the drawn semiconductor design layout based on a match with a pre-characterized difficult-to-manufacture pattern determining a corrected pattern based on a pre-determined correlation between the corrected pattern and the pre-characterized difficult-to-manufacture pattern, and replacing the difficult-to-manufacture pattern with the corrected pattern within the drawn semiconductor design layout.
US08856696B2
Methods are disclosed of modifying an integrated circuit (IC) design that utilizes multiple patterning technology (MPT). The methods include configuring a first layout of an integrated circuit, having at least one layer with features to be formed utilizing fabrication by at least two masks. The at least one layer includes a plurality of active cells and a plurality of spare cells. A second layout is configured to re-route the spare cells and active cells, wherein the re-routing utilizes at least a portion of the plurality of spare cells. Fewer than all of the at least two masks are replaced to configure the second layout.
US08856688B2
Using pinch gestures to navigate user interface layers of an application. In particular embodiments, a pinch gesture may cause an application program to close a currently running user interface layer of the application, or return to a previously viewed user interface layer. In some implementations, a pinch gesture may cause an application to close.
US08856686B2
A method of generating a menu display (203), the method comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of menu items (205—1, 205—2, 205—3, 205—4) from a plurality of candidate menu items, the candidate menu items being arranged in a plurality of hierarchical levels, on the basis of most frequently used menu items and most difficult to access menu items within the plurality of hierarchical levels; and displaying the selected menu items simultaneously.
US08856685B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for providing web content on a mobile device. According to one embodiment, a webpage shortcut associated with a webpage is provided on an application catalog. The webpage shortcut is provided on the mobile device based on a selection from an operating user browsing the application catalog. Lastly, the webpage shortcut is updated into a mobile application.
US08856683B2
A method and system that permits a user to navigate or browse a long list on a handheld device with a restricted user interface, such as a limited display and a limited user input device. The user first uses a coarse search to find a generally desired area in the list. The user then uses finer and finer search intervals in the vicinity of the desired area, until the desired entry is located.
US08856679B2
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US08856673B1
A method and apparatus for managing vehicle information. The vehicle information is displayed on a display system for a vehicle. The vehicle information is for operating the vehicle. An item in the vehicle information is placed in a group of items of interest in response to receiving a user input selecting the item from the vehicle information as an item of interest. A number of items in the group of items of interest is displayed in association with a number of graphical indicators on the display system. The number of graphical indicators identifies the number of items as a number of items of interest.
US08856672B2
A web application dialog user interface is provided for presenting users with controls for viewing, editing, and otherwise managing content through the web application. Consistency in style and order of control elements in the user interface with control elements of a standard application user interface, launching of the dialog without a page refresh, and maintenance of task continuity provide users a seamless experience in managing their documents through the web application without loss of context.
US08856656B2
Various systems and methods are described for customizing photo presentations. One particular method comprises receiving by the media display system, a plurality of photos depicting individuals and displaying one or more controls for specifying an action to one or more selected individuals. The method further comprises receiving a selection of one or more individuals, generating an action list according to the selection, and customizing the photo presentation comprising photos from among the received plurality of photos according to the action list and according to the analyzed facial regions.
US08856655B2
Some embodiments provide a media editing application that allows a user to focus on a subset of media clips that the application combines to create a composite presentation. The media editing application of some embodiments includes a display area for displaying the composite presentation that the application creates by compositing several media clips (e.g., audio clip, video clip). The multimedia editing application of some embodiments also includes a composite display area (e.g., an area with multiple tracks that span a timeline) for displaying graphical clips representations of media clips that are part of the composite presentation. To focus on a subset of clip representations in the composite display area, the application of some embodiments also includes a tool for causing a first emphasized subset of clip representations (also referred to as “in-focus clips”) to appear larger in the composite display area than a second de-emphasized subset of clip representations (also referred to as “out-of-focus clips”) that are being concurrently represented in the composite display area.
US08856647B2
A request is received for a rendered document corresponding to a document. The document is retrieved from a storage device. The document is transformed into the rendered document. One or more server font files associated with the rendered document are generated. The rendered document and the server font files are stored.
US08856638B2
The invention relates to multimedia seek sequence using a synchronization index and a mobile computing device. A mobile computing device displays text from a synchronization index. The synchronization index comprises respective times within multimedia corresponding to a word or range of words. A user may perform a gesture performed on a portion of screen of the mobile computing device corresponding to a word, or a range of words, from the synchronization index. The mobile computing device performs a timecode lookup, using the synchronization index, and in response to the gesture performed to select a word or range of words, the timecode lookup functions to associate a time within multimedia to the selected word or range of words. Multimedia is then delivered beginning at that time, or the user is provided instructions for the delivery of multimedia, to a receiving device. The multimedia delivered corresponds to the word or range of words selected by the gesture of the user.
US08856634B2
Gaps in performance data are corrected for through data transformations and conversion. A raw sequence is transformed by correction logic into an interval sequence by partitioning a performance monitoring period into equal intervals and assigning values based on the raw sequence. Locality sequence entries can indicate whether the interval sequence relies on estimation. The interval sequence is converted into an absence length sequence whose entries indicate null value periods in performance data. Conversion includes generating a presence sequence from the interval sequence, and deriving the absence length sequence from the presence sequence, by using a set-based algorithm or other mechanism. Excessive absence length values support treating intervals as downtime for the machine. Correction logic may include a stored procedure residing in a database, for example, which produces the absence length sequence without using a procedural language.
US08856633B2
A wireless device couples an electronic device employing a wired-link protocol to, for example, a wireless personal area network (WPAN). The wireless device comprises a wired interface configured for coupling to the electronic device, a wired transceiver coupled to the wired interface, the at least one wired transceiver configured for functioning as a terminus of a wired link coupled to the electronic device, and a wireless transmitter or transceiver coupled to the wired transceiver and configured for functioning as a terminus of a wireless link in the WPAN. The wireless device may be configured for coupling a plurality of dissimilar wired devices together via a wireless link.
US08856632B2
A device for controlling frequency synchronization includes a processor for controlling a phase-controlled clock signal to achieve phase-locking with a reference clock signal, and for controlling a frequency-controlled clock signal so as to achieve frequency-locking with the reference clock signal. The processor is also configured to monitor a deviation between the frequency and phase-controlled clock signals, detect a change of circumstances such as temperature changes causing frequency drifting of the frequency-controlled clock signal, and replace or correct the frequency-controlled clock signal with, or on the basis of, the phase-controlled clock signal when both the monitored deviation and the detected change of circumstances show correlation confirming frequency drift of the frequency-controlled clock signal.
US08856626B2
According to one embodiment, a decoder includes a control unit and a decoding unit. The control unit determines a window size applied to a first target frame to be a first value and determines a window size applied to a second target frame different from the first target frame to be a second value different from the first value. The decoding unit carries out windowed decoding of a spatially coupled code on the first target frame with the window size set to the first value and carries out windowed decoding of a spatially coupled code on the second target frame with the window size set to the second value.
US08856623B1
A method, computer readable medium, and system for implementing adaptive forward error correction in a network includes converting at a first computing device a number K of original data packets into a number N of error correction packets for forward error correction for a transmission to a second computing device. A subset number S1 of the number N of the error correction packets which is less than the number N of error correction packets is determined at the first computing device based on a loss rate for the transmission to the second computing device. The determined subset number S1 of the number N of the error correction packets is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device.
US08856620B2
Dynamic graduated memory device protection in redundant array of independent memory (RAIM) systems that include a plurality of memory devices is provided. A first severity level of a first failing memory device in the plurality of memory devices is determined. The first failing memory device is associated with an identifier used to communicate a location of the first failing memory device to an error correction code (ECC). A second severity level of a second failing memory device in the plurality of memory devices is determined. It is determined that the second severity level is higher than the first severity level. The identifier from the first failing memory device is removed based on determining that the second severity level is higher than the first severity level. The identifier is applied to the second failing memory device based on determining that the second severity level is higher than the first severity level.
US08856616B1
Method for encoding information in a flash memory block which combines an independent encoding of each page with a block-level code across multiple pages. The method includes two independent error correction codes, one in horizontal direction and one in vertical direction, with horizontal direction error correction decoding; and vertical direction erasure correction decoding.
US08856608B2
A method and apparatus are provided for modulating a binary source sequence including of a plurality of source words to generate modulated symbols. The method implements error-correction encoding of the plurality of source words, implementing one or more encoding modules, each implementing a separate error-correction code to generate a plurality of code words, the source words being encoded in series. The code words are interlaced to generate an interlaced sequence. The interlaced sequence is differentially modulated to generate modulated symbols. Each code word is broken down into at least one group with a number of bits equal to the base-2 logarithm of a number of states of a modulation implemented by the step of differentially modulating. The interlacing step distributes the groups such that two adjacent groups in the interlaced sequence belong to separate code words.
US08856603B2
To produce a memory which resists ion or photon attack, a memory structure is chosen whose memory point behaves asymmetrically with regard to these attacks. It is shown that in this case, it is sufficient to have a reference cell for an identical and periodic storage structure in order to be able to correct all the memory cells assailed by an attack. An error correction efficiency of ½ is thus obtained, with a simple redundancy, whereas the conventional methods make provision, for the same result, to triple the storage, to obtain a less beneficial efficiency of ⅓.
US08856601B2
This invention permits selectively bypasses serial scan chains. Constant or low toggle data is directed to the bypassed serial scan chain, thus reducing power consumption. The number and identity of serial scan chains bypassed during a particular test can be changed dynamically dependent upon the semiconductor process variations of a particular integrated circuit. This enables an optimal test to be preformed for integrated circuits having differing semiconductor process variations.
US08856590B2
A redundant controller engine (RCE) of a system includes a first, second and at least a third redundant processing unit (RPU). The RCE includes an arbitrator in communication with the first, second and third RPUs which sends a message for a corresponding time requiring a decision to the first, second and third RPUs, and receives the decisions made by the first, second and third RPUs. The arbitrator accepts a first two matching decisions for the corresponding time received from the first, second and third RPUs, and sending the matching decision for the corresponding time to the system. The arbitrator has a first message processing unit (MPU) and a second MPU. The first MPU sends the message for the corresponding time to and receives the decisions for the corresponding time from the first, second and third RPUs. A method for processing data from a system. An apparatus for conferencing.
US08856588B2
At least one node of a plurality of nodes in an information processing apparatus executes the following processing for data included in a memory of one node or other nodes and stored in a shared memory area which the node and the other nodes access. That is, the node detects an ICE which occurs over a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time or a PCE which occurs at a single location in the shared memory area. When the error is detected, the node performs control to prevent the node and the other nodes from accessing the shared memory. The node recovers the data in a memory area different from the shared memory area. The node notifies information about the different memory area to the other nodes. The node performs control to resume the access to the data from the node and the other nodes.
US08856585B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: detecting, by a resource allocation device, a failure of server hardware; identifying a first agent device that is configured to utilize the server hardware; and taking at least one action to effect a reconfiguration of the first agent device in response to the server hardware failure. Various embodiments additionally include one or more of the following: identifying a second agent device that is configured to utilize the server hardware; and taking at least one action to effect a reconfiguration of the second agent device in response to the server hardware failure. Various embodiments additionally include one or more of the following: receiving, by the resource allocation device from a second agent device, an indication of the failure of server hardware, wherein the second agent device is different from the first agent device.
US08856583B1
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for performing a failover operation between a first distributed database cluster and a second distributed database cluster. In one aspect, the method includes blocking a plurality of software processes from making any new access requests to the first distributed database cluster and completing a current access request to the first distributed database cluster that was initiated by one of the plurality of software processes before the failover operation was initiated, waiting for data to replicate from the first distributed database cluster to the second distributed database cluster, wherein replicating includes any changes to the data from the current access request, and allowing the plurality of software processes to make the new access requests to the second distributed database cluster once the replicating has completed.
US08856578B2
A skew adjustment circuit, provided in an integrated circuit device having a plurality of signal lines transmitting a plurality of signals respectively, and a plurality of buffer circuits to which a plurality of signals transmitted through the signal lines are respectively input, has: a plurality of delay circuits, respectively provided in stages preceding the buffer circuits; a monitoring circuit monitoring changes in the signals of the plurality of signal lines; and a delay adjustment circuit, which decides delay amounts for the plurality of delay circuits based on a monitoring result output of the monitoring circuit, and sets the delay amounts in the plurality of delay circuits. The monitoring circuit detects, as the monitoring result, a number of signal changes in the signal lines in which a signal change occurs in a monitoring period, and the delay adjustment circuit decides the delay amounts based on the number of signal changes.
US08856572B2
A laptop PC is enabled to operate with small power consumption while maintaining a specific function. A laptop PC is provided with a HDD and can operate in a normal mode and a doze mode as a new operating mode. In the doze mode, the computer can operate with power consumption less than in the normal mode while executing a process to implement a specific function. In the doze mode a shift event is created, and a process existing at that time is force-suspended or an I/O processing completion notification is suspended to a process that makes an I/O request to the HDD. As a result, the laptop PC is enabled to operate with small power consumption by stopping the HDD while maintaining a specific function.
US08856551B2
Systems and methods for preventing the unauthorized access to data stored on removable media, such as software, include storing a predetermined signature in the area of non-volatile memory in a computer system. Upon initialization of the computer system, a check is made to verify the signature. Only if the signature is verified will decoding software operate.
US08856549B2
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a request regarding at least a portion of corresponding encoded data slices, wherein a collection of encrypted and encoded data slices of a plurality of collections of encrypted and encoded data slices includes a common data aspect, wherein encrypted and encoded data slices of the collection of encrypted and encoded data slices are produced by individually encrypting corresponding encoded data slices using a common encrypting character string and representations of the corresponding encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying the common encrypting character string of the corresponding encoded data slices. When the request is to delete the corresponding encoded data slices, the method continues with the DS processing module obfuscating the common encrypting character string in a local memory such that the collection of encrypted and encoded data slices are effectively incomprehensible.
US08856547B2
A processing apparatus comprises logic to, according to a selected secure hash algorithm (SHA) algorithm, generate hash values by preparing message schedules for a plurality of message blocks in parallel using single instruction multiple date (SIMD) instructions and performing compression in serial, and logic to generate a message digest conforming to the secure hash algorithm (SHA) algorithm.
US08856541B1
In general, liveness detection techniques are described for facial recognition. The techniques enable potential detection and mitigation of attempts to authenticate by spoofing. An example method includes determining, by a computing device, a challenge pattern against which to match an authentication input to detect liveness, and displaying, using a display device, a graphical user interface (GUI) including an element and moving the element according to the challenge pattern within the GUI. The method further includes receiving, from an image capture device, at least a first image of a face and a second image of the face, and detecting one or more eye movements based on the first and second images of the face. The method further includes determining whether to deny authentication with respect to accessing one or more functionalities controlled by the computing device.
US08856536B2
A method for authenticating a piece of firmware to be downloaded to a controller. The method includes signing the firmware or a first part of the firmware with a first private key at a first trusted source and signing the firmware or a second part of the firmware with a second private key at a second trusted source. The method also includes validating the signed firmware or the first part of the firmware using a first public key at the controller and validating the firmware or the second part of the firmware using a second public key at the controller. The method further includes authenticating the firmware if the firmware or the first part of the firmware is validated by the first public key at the controller and the firmware or the second part of the firmware is validated by the second public key at the controller.
US08856517B2
A method of using an access manager server to establish a communication session between a resource and a user device may include receiving a request from the user device to access the resource, determining that the client system is registered as a trusted partner, sending the client system a first encrypted token that includes a resource identifier where the client system has access to a first cryptographic key that decrypts the first encrypted token. The method may also include receiving a second encrypted token that signifies that access to the resource has been granted by the client system where the second token comprises a user identifier and the access manager server has access to a second cryptographic key that decrypts the second token. The method may additionally include decrypting the second token and establishing the communication session between the user device and the resource using the user identifier.
US08856516B2
A communication system includes a plurality of nodes, the communication system being arranged to assign each of the plurality of nodes a certificate by means of which it can authenticate itself to other nodes in the communication system and periodically distribute to the plurality of nodes an update formed by compressing a data set representing the validity of the certificates assigned to the plurality of nodes. The update is such that a node may not be able to unambiguously determine from the update whether or not a particular certificate is valid. The system further provides the plurality of nodes with a source of information about the validity of the plurality of certificates that is different from the update and by means of which a node may resolve an ambiguity in the update regarding a particular certificate's validity.
US08856515B2
A content processing integrated circuit includes a system-on-a-chip (SoC) that further includes a processor to receive an authentication request from an external device for authenticating if the SoC is permitted to receive encrypted content from the external device, and to receive the encrypted content once the SoC is authenticated. An authentication processor is provided and coupled to the processor to authenticate the SoC to the external device when the processor receives the authentication request, and to generate a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted content. A decryption processor is provided and coupled to the processor and the authentication processor to receive the decryption key from the authentication processor and to decrypt the encrypted content with the decryption key. A wireless display system with such SoC is also described. A method of implementing a secure and robust content protection in a SoC is also described.
US08856514B2
A renewed digital certificate is obtained within an asynchronous messaging environment from a certificate server of an issuer of an existing digital certificate to replace the existing digital certificate. The renewed digital certificate includes an extended attribute that stores a serial number value of the existing digital certificate. A message is received with a symmetric key that is encrypted using the existing digital certificate. The symmetric key is identified within the message by the serial number value of the existing digital certificate. The message is processed using the renewed digital certificate.
US08856510B2
A method for joining a user domain based on digital right management (DRM), a method for exchanging information between a user device and a domain enforcement agent, and a method for exchanging information between user devices belonging to the same user domain include sharing a domain session key between the user device and the domain enforcement agent or between the user devices belonging to the same user domain. Information is exchanged through a secure session set up between the user device and domain enforcement agent or between the user devices, and information exchange occurs through encryption/decryption using the domain session key.
US08856509B2
A method of authentication and authorization over a communications system is provided. Disclosed herein are systems and methods for creating a cryptographic evidence, called authentication/authorization evidence, AE, when a successful authentication/authorization between a client and an authentication server is complete. There are a variety of methods for generating AE. For instance, the AE can be data that is exchanged during the authentication signaling or data that results from it. A distinctive point being that AE results from the authentication process and is used as prior state for the following TLS exchange. An example for creation of AE, is as follows: EAP authentications typically result in an Extended Master Session Key (EMSK). The EMSK can be used to create an Evidence Master Key (EMK) that can then be used to create AE for a variety of servers.
US08856507B2
The invention presented herein consists of systems and methods of secure storage for sensitive and confidential data, such as personal identity data, along with methods of securely accessing that data, and transferring information from that data, as necessary.
US08856504B2
Techniques are described for securely booting and executing a virtual machine (VM) image in an untrusted cloud infrastructure. A multi-core processor may be configured with additional hardware components—referred to as a trust anchor. The trust anchor may be provisioned with a private/public key pair, which allows the multi-core CPU to authenticate itself as being able to securely boot and execute a virtual machine (VM) image in an untrusted cloud infrastructure.
US08856502B2
Pre-installed application activation techniques are described in which live content for applications is activated before user interaction with the applications. Input indicative of an initial log-in of a user to access an operating system is detected. In response, configuration of an account for the user with the operating system may be initiated to set-up a device for first use by the user. During the configuration, notifications are activated through a notification system of the operating system to obtain live content for one or more pre-installed applications on the computing device. The activation occurs before interaction of the user with the pre-installed applications. Live content may then be incorporated with representations of the applications within a user interface for the operating system, such as displaying application tiles having corresponding live content in a start screen presented to the user after completion of the initial set-up.
US08856500B2
A program is obfuscated by reordering its instructions. Original instruction addresses are mapped to target addresses in an irregular way, with position dependent address steps between the addresses of logically successive instructions. Preferably pseudo-random address steps are used, for example with address steps that have mutually opposite sign with equal frequency. The data processing device has an instruction flow control unit that updates instruction addresses according the position dependent address steps. The instruction flow control unit may comprise a circuit that contains secret information, which is not normally accessible from the outside, to control the updates. A lookup table may be used for example, with address steps, successor addresses or mapped address values. In an embodiment the mapping of original instruction addresses to target addresses may be visualized by means of a path (36) along points in an n-dimensional array, where n is greater than one. Successive original instruction addresses are mapped to successive locations in the path, and locations along respective rows of the array are mapped to respective mutually disjoint ranges (33a-d). Because an n-dimensional path is used a form of locality is preserved that provides for cache efficiency, whereas the multi-dimensional nature of the path makes it possible to combine this locality with pseudo-random steps.
US08856488B2
Apparatuses and methods for implementing partitioning in memory cards and modules where conventional memory cards or modules have only a single partition. A representative memory card/module in accordance with the invention includes a memory device(s), and a memory interface which includes a data bus, a command line and a clock line. The memory card/module further includes a memory controller coupled to the memory device(s) and to the memory interface. The memory card/module includes means for controlling the partitioning of the memory device(s), and the memory controller is configured to operate the memory device(s) in accordance with the partition information.
US08856479B2
A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with chained hardware operations completion coalescence, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines, and a processor. A plurality of the command blocks are selectively arranged by firmware in a predefined chain including a plurality of simultaneous command blocks. All of the simultaneous command blocks are completed in any order by respective hardware engines, then the next command block in the predefined chain is started under hardware control without any hardware-firmware (HW-FW) interlocking with the simultaneous command block completion coalescence.
US08856466B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for executing a transactional memory (TM) transaction in a first thread, buffering a block of data in a first buffer of a cache memory of a processor, and acquiring a write monitor on the block to obtain ownership of the block at an encounter time in which data at a location of the block in the first buffer is updated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08856463B2
The disclosed system and method enhances performance of pipelined data transactions involving FIFO buffers by implementing a transaction length indicator in a transaction header. The length indicator in the header is formed by components coupled to a memory controller through FIFO buffers. The memory controller uses the length indicator to execute pipelined data transfers at relatively high speeds without causing additional inadvertent shifts or indexes in the FIFO buffer being read. The system and method can be applied to any memory type in general, and avoids the use of additional control signals or added complexity or size in the memory controller.
US08856458B2
A single interconnect is provided between a first processor and a second processor, such that the first processor may access a common memory through the second processor while the second processor can be mostly powered off. The first processor accesses the memory through a memory controller using a standard dynamic random access memory (DRAM) bus protocol. Instead of the memory controller directly connecting to the memory, the access path is through the second processor to the memory. Additionally, a bidirectional communication protocol bus is mapped to the existing DRAM bus signals. When both the first processor and the second processor are active, the bus protocol between the processors switches from the DRAM protocol to the bidirectional communication protocol. This enables the necessary chip-to-chip transaction semantics without requiring the additional cost burden of a dedicated interface for the bidirectional communication protocol.
US08856432B2
A data programming method for a data programming device having a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, the method comprising determining whether data exceeds one page; if the data does not exceed one page and is insufficient for one page, storing the data into the volatile memory; determining whether next data is to be programmed into the same page as the data stored in the volatile memory; if the next data is to be programmed into the same page as the data stored in the volatile memory, programming the data and the next data into the non-volatile memory.
US08856421B2
A multi-processor architecture for a network device that includes a plurality of barrel cards, each including: a plurality of processors, a PCIe switch coupled to each of the plurality of processors, and packet processing logic coupled to the PCIe switch. The PCIe switch on each barrel card provides high speed flexible data paths for the transmission of incoming/outgoing packets to/from the processors on the barrel card. An external PCIe switch is commonly coupled to the PCIe switches on the barrel cards, as well as to a management processor, thereby providing high speed connections between processors on separate barrel cards, and between the management processor and the processors on the barrel cards.
US08856418B2
The invention relates to a receiving station (10) comprising a first physical connection port (20) intended for a first host equipment item and at least one second physical connection port (22) intended for at least one second host equipment item, detection means (24, 34) of host equipment connected to the ports, and the means (30) of automatic selection of combined use modes of the resources of the receiving station and/or connected host equipment, controlled by the detection means (24, 34). Application to handheld portable equipment.
US08856406B2
A microcontroller includes a central processing unit (CPU); a plurality of peripheral units; and a peripheral trigger generator comprising a user programmable state machine, wherein the peripheral trigger generator is configured to receive a plurality of input signals and is programmable to automate timing functions depending on at least one of said input signals and generate at least one output signal.
US08856398B2
A method of generating length parameters, comprising the steps of reading a data stream from a host, detecting a particular field of the data stream, and calculating a variable based on a length parameter of a first list to be transferred. The data stream may comprise a plurality of definitions. The method may also comprise the step of selecting one of the list definitions. One of the list definitions may be used to generate a length parameter used in a second list in response to (i) the particular field of the data stream and (ii) the length parameter of the first list.
US08856395B2
A SAS expander includes DMD timers for each PHY so that the expander can track disconnected devices directly connected to the expander and signal a SAS controller when the DMD is exceeded. A system including such SAS expanders may reduce the load on the system controller. A controller may recognize expanders capable of tracking DMDs for backwards compatibility.
US08856392B2
A given port at a storage controller is used for communication with storage devices. In response to an indication that at least a portion of the given port is to be dedicated to a group of at least one of the storage devices, the storage controller divides the given port into multiple smaller ports.
US08856391B1
An IEEE 802.3 compliant physical layer device provides efficient loading of configuration information of the physical layer device. The configuration information is written into a volatile memory in the physical layer device, and then uploaded to at least one EEPROM. The configuration information is downloaded to the volatile memory during startup of the physical layer device. The system controller can also directly access the EEPROMs, bypassing the volatile memory. By providing a bridge between the system controller and the EEPROMs and providing additional bits in the volatile memory of the physical layer device, the system controller can read and write the EEPROMs one byte at a time. During reset time, the content of the EEPROMs is written to registers in the physical layer device to configure the physical layer device.
US08856387B2
Local IP access is provided in a wireless network to facilitate access to one or more local services. In some implementations, different IP interfaces are used for accessing different services (e.g., local services and operator network services). A list that maps packet destinations to IP interfaces may be employed to determine which IP interface is to be used for sending a given packet. In some implementations an access point provides a proxy function (e.g., a proxy ARP function) for an access terminal. In some implementations an access point provides an agent function (e.g., a DHCP function) for an access terminal. NAT operations may be performed at an access point to enable the access terminal to access local services. In some aspects, an access point may determine whether to send a packet from an access terminal via a protocol tunnel based on the destination of the packet.
US08856384B2
A controller may help reduce network traffic that is associated with broadcasting of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) packets by converting broadcast DHCP packets into unicast DHCP packets and forwarding the unicast DHCP packets to appropriate DHCP servers. The servers may be identified from a database of servers that is updated with DHCP server address information based on DHCP reply packets that are received by the controller from servers in the network. To convert DHCP request packets into unicast packets, the controller may modify address header fields of the packets such as Ethernet addresses and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. The controller may forward the modified DHCP request packets to the server by providing packet forwarding rules such as flow table entries to the switches or by forwarding the modified DHCP request packets through the controller.
US08856383B2
Communication systems and methods for enhancing communication between users and caregivers, health care providers, and other users via a central processing center. The system comprises a central processing center, including a server, and communication devices such as telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. Information programmed into the server by the user can be transmitted to the user's communication devices without requiring the user to input the information into each device separately. Through the system, other parties, such as adult child caregiver to a senior parent, can program information on the senior parent's communication devices. The system also allows users to contact other users with similar interests.
US08856379B2
A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC or CPD provides a fast-path that avoids host protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC or CPD also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block (CCB) for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The CCB can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC or CPD contains hardware circuits configured for protocol processing that can perform that specific task faster than the host CPU. One embodiment includes a processor providing transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes.
US08856371B2
A method for communication includes establishing communication links over a packet network between a server and plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference. The server receives from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers. The server mixes the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers and transmits to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data. The server relays the video data to the client computers in downlink video packets. The client computers receive and synchronize the video data with the mixed audio data.
US08856368B2
A method and computer system are provided for distributing a plurality of data portions from a server system to one or more client systems. The method includes receiving one or more first requests at the server, each first request being submitted by a client system and including a portion identifier, wherein a portion identifier is assigned to each data portion; in response to receiving the first request(s), transmitting a list of chunk identifiers to the requesting client systems, wherein the list of chunk identifiers specifies the data chunks whose meta-data includes the portion identifier contained in the first request; and transmitting some or all data chunks of a data chunk library to each of the requesting client systems. At the requesting client system, the client specifically selects the data chunks of the transmitted data chunks which are specified by the received list of chunk identifiers.
US08856364B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing opportunistic network updates. In one aspect, a method includes determining, by a queue manager on a mobile device that has a network interface, to fulfill one or more requests to upload or download data through the network interface, and in response to determining to fulfill the requests, applying, by the queue manager, one or more rules to the requests, to classify each request as a request that is to be fulfilled, or a request that is not to be fulfilled. The method also includes causing, by the queue manager, the requests that are classified as to be fulfilled to be fulfilled, or the requests that are classified as not to be fulfilled to not be fulfilled.
US08856357B2
A method for establishing routes to neighboring networks during an initialization sequence according to a prioritized order may include detecting a power-cycling event and accessing a plurality of identifiers stored in a memory device that persisted through the power-cycling event. Each of the plurality of identifiers may be associated with a network. The networks may include first networks that are coupled to network endpoints, and second networks that are capable of coupling to the one or more first networks. For each network, the method may further include accessing a priority field in the memory device that may be associated with the network. The respective priority field can be based on an order in which communications should be established with the network and application layer information. The method may also include attempting to establish communications with each of the plurality of networks in an order based on the priority fields.
US08856351B2
A method is described for reducing a load placed on an endpoint server acting as an endpoint of a tunnel from a client device across a network. The method, implemented at the client device, comprises the following steps. A request to establish a new network connection is received. A risk of establishing the new network connection outside of the tunnel is determined based on a plurality of predefined criteria. The determined risk is compared with a predefined risk threshold and, if the determined risk is less than or equal to the predefined risk threshold, the new network connection is established directly via the network. If the new network connection fails before it is completed it is re-established via the tunnel. If the determined risk is greater than the predefined risk threshold, the new network connection is established via the tunnel. A client device and computer-readable medium configured to implement the method is also described.
US08856350B2
Call admission control (“CAC”) servers in a pool are fully connected to one another. Session data received at one of the CAC servers in a pool is synchronized to each of the other CAC servers in the pool by way of the connections. Each CAC server in a first pool may also establish a connection with exactly one CAC server in a second pool. Status updates and commit data is synchronized from a CAC server in the first pool to a CAC server in the second pool. The commit data may then be synchronized to each of the CAC servers in the second pool.
US08856347B2
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for selecting a channel instance for connecting a client application with a server application in a multi-channel computer system. In this computer system, when a new channel instance is used to connect one of the client applications with one of the server applications, defined channel instance information is established for the channel instance. The method of this invention comprises the steps of when a new application connection request is made, locking existing channel instance information; and after said locking, scanning through a list of channel instance connections for one of the channel instances that is a candidate channel instance for that new application connection request. The method comprises the further steps of, in response to finding a candidate channel instance, determining whether the candidate channel instance is suitable for the new application connection request.
US08856337B2
A method relates to provisioning a cluster system in a virtual machine environment in a storage system. The storage system has a plurality of hosts, a fabric network, a storage array, and a management server. The method includes inputting information on a first cluster system to be defined, the information including selecting a scale unit wherein the first cluster system is to be defined. An inventory database including resource information for the scale unit selected is provided. A virtual I/O (“vIO”) information is provided. The vIO information assigns each of hosts selected for the first cluster system with a vIO device, at least one virtual computer network address, and at least one virtual storage network address. A first cluster definition for the first cluster system in the selected scale unit is created using the vIO information.
US08856334B2
A resource lending control apparatus stores an assignment time and a deletion time in association with each other for each customer. The assignment time indicates a time for assigning an application used by each customer to provide a service to a server. The deletion time indicates a time for deleting the application from the server. The resource lending control apparatus calculates a lendable period of a remaining fixed resource of a lending customer by subtracting the deletion time and the assignment time of the lending customer from a remaining fixed period. The resource lending control apparatus calculates a total borrowing period, i.e., a period during which a borrowing customer is to use a borrowed resource, by adding the deletion time and the assignment time of the borrowing customer to a borrowing request period. Then, the resource lending control apparatus determines whether the calculated total borrowing period is covered by the calculated lendable period to determine to lend the remaining fixed resource.
US08856321B2
A system to improve operation of a data center with heterogeneous computing clouds may include monitoring components to track data center climate controls and individual heterogeneous computing clouds' operating parameters within the data center. The system may also include a controller that regulates the individual heterogeneous computing clouds and data center climate controls based upon data generated by the monitoring components to improve the operating performance of the individual heterogeneous computing clouds as well as the operating performance of the data center. The system may further include spilling computing clouds to receive excess workload of an individual heterogeneous computing cloud without violating individual heterogeneous computing clouds contracts.
US08856313B2
A system and method for determining data usage based on provenance information, in a stream-processing system, includes progressively setting usage information for output stream data objects (SDOs), determining input SDOs that an output SDO depends on, based on a provenance dependency function; recursively feeding back the usage information for a subset of SDOs that can be discarded; and discarding the subset of SDOs. A system and method for data retention based on usage information, in a stream-processing system, includes managing retention of SDOs by deleting SDOs that are determined to be of null usage; and enhancing retention characteristics of SDOs that are deemed to have usage.
US08856310B2
To address the problem of providing network-based security to mitigate and detect cheating in peer-to-peer (P2P) gaming architecture, an architecture suite called architectures with coordinator obfuscation for resilient P2P gaming networks (ACORN) is presented that uses a combination of low overhead, per-packet access authentication, moving-coordinator and cheat detection mechanisms to effectively mitigate security threats.
US08856303B2
A resource requirements method and system is provided. The method includes identifying dependencies and calculating a utilization value for a source server. The source server is mapped to an application and a source infrastructure is compared to a target infrastructure. Deficiencies and differences associated with the target infrastructure are determined and dependency requirements for fulfillment in the target infrastructure are generated. The utilization value is compared to a resource capability of the target server and resource requirements for fulfillment on the target server are generated.
US08856299B2
Policy and charging rules function management method, management network element, and network system
A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) management method includes: acquiring information about a policy control session corresponding to a data connection, where the information about the policy control session includes information about policy control session release or result information about policy control session setup, and managing a mapping relation between the data connection and a PCRF according to the information about the policy control session corresponding to the data connection. A management network element includes: a policy control session information acquiring unit, adapted to acquire the information about a policy control session corresponding to a data connection, where the information about the policy control session includes information about policy control session release or result information about policy control session setup; and a managing unit, adapted to manage a mapping relation between the data connection and a PCRF according to the information about the policy control session corresponding to the data connection.
US08856296B2
A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for handling Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) at a first DHCP server, assigning a priority to each of a plurality of subnets, assigning to a client an IP address from the highest priority subnet, and transmitting a DHCP offer message to the client.
US08856294B2
System and method for converting a Java application into a virtual server image for cloud deployment
A system and method to convert a software application, such as a Java application into a virtual server image that is suitable for cloud deployment. In accordance with an embodiment, the system and method allows for building a hypervisor appliance containing a virtual machine running an application. In particular, the hypervisor appliance can be compatible with any hypervisor for server virtualization and the application virtual machine can be a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
US08856288B2
Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for distributing configuration data to one or more mobile terminals. An embodiment of one method of the invention includes receiving from the host application a request from a client to transmit a configuration data value to a mobile terminal. The configuration data value can include a designation of a new precedence level for a mobile terminal corresponding to a new operating characteristic of the mobile terminal. The method can include the step of transmitting from the NMC a configuration data value including the new precedence level to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can include a mobile application defining a previous precedence level such that the mobile terminal loads the configuration data in response to the new precedence level different from the previous precedence level.
US08856280B2
In a first aspect of the present invention, methods and apparatus implement graphical user interfaces for interactively specifying service level agreements used to regulate delivery of services to, for example, computer systems. An interactive graphical user interface allows a user to see the effects of varying values of service delivery variables on the level of service achievable in a particular service delivery context. In a second aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention provision resources required for service delivery. In the second aspect, the methods and apparatus of the present invention select a service delivery model dependent on context. The selected service delivery model is used to provision resources that will be required during service delivery. In a third aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention monitor compliance with a service level agreement during a service delivery event. In instances where a given service delivery does not comply with service level attributes specified in a controlling service level agreement, the methods and apparatus of the present invention take corrective action.
US08856279B2
A method including communicating with a content server, wherein the communication includes transmitting request data to the content server and receiving first response data associated with the request data; identifying response object data within the first response data; determining whether the response object data is to be downloaded; querying the content server for second response data that corresponds to the response object data based on the determination; transmitting the first response data to a user agent; and storing the second response data, wherein the second response data can be provided to the user agent in a subsequent request.
US08856274B2
The present invention relates to a method for distributing routing information for redundant connection. The method is implemented in hierarchical IPv6 Internet protocol (IP) networks comprising a plurality of different autonomous systems (AS) which use a border gateway routing protocol (BGP-4) to communicate, which protocol does not allow routing sessions to be established automatically, which prevents multi-provider services from being created. The method of the invention makes it possible to create multi-provider services in the networks discussed above by using the BGP-4 protocol established by the current standards and technologies. This makes it possible to increase services offered by the providers.
US08856268B2
A method and system are disclosed for allowing the sharing of games and gaming profiles between console and web-based gaming platforms. The present system includes a console service through which console games may be played, and a gaming website through which web-based games may be played. Players may play games through either the console service or gaming website using a single set of identity and profile data that is stored in a central data repository. Using a single repository for profile and other data, players may log in, play games, access their profiles and friends lists, and accrue rewards and game credits, regardless of whether they are using a console or web-based game. In a further aspect of the present system, users of consoles may play the same game and same game sessions with web-based users.
US08856266B2
Apparatus, and associated method, provides for downloading an application with a selectable lifetime from an application database to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal user's identification information and the selected lifetime for the application are stored in an application-license database. When the user seeks to download the same application on a subsequent occasion the user is able to download that application for a reduced fee if lifetime remains from when the application was first downloaded. In addition, the application may be configured to delete or uninstall itself from the mobile terminal when the selected lifetime for the application expires.
US08856265B2
A method, system, and computer program product is disclosed that evaluates the characteristics of a new content source with respect to subscriber profiles. The subscriber profile attributes are evaluated and weighted algorithmically to produce an “inference score” that is a measure used to predict the interest that subscribers may have with respect to the new content. If the inference score is significant enough (e.g., above a certain threshold value), then the service provider can take measures to inform those subscribers deemed to have a high level of interest in the new content of its existence, e.g., by sending a simple notification to the subscriber with a response link for setting up a subscription.
US08856263B2
A method and system for acceleration of access to a web page using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques. The method comprises receiving a web page responsive to a request by a user; analyzing the received web page for possible acceleration improvements of the web page access; generating a modified web page of the received web page using at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; providing the modified web page to the user, wherein the user experiences an accelerated access to the modified web page resulting from execution of the at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; and storing the modified web page for use responsive to future user requests.
US08856258B2
A host device is provided, which includes a network communication unit connected to network; a local communication unit locally connected to a slave device; a virtualization unit to virtualize the slave device as a network device within the network; and a controlling unit to control the virtualized slave device as the network device. Therefore, a developer may implement an application in consideration of a single type of network without considering various physical input and output ports.
US08856254B2
A method, system and computer program product for providing a collaborative status message in an instant messaging system. Instant Messaging (“IM”) users that belong to a group are identified. A collaborative status message (e.g., “In Meeting with User 2 and User 3”) is generated that specifies the IM users of the group (e.g., User 2 and User 3) that are participating in an event (e.g., meeting) with an IM user upon the event occurring. The collaborative status message is broadcasted to other IM users. In this manner, more detailed information can be provided to other IM users regarding the status of the IM user in question.
US08856253B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for presenting reposted messages. The method includes: respectively establishing, in a server for each piece of original message X, a reposting chain, which takes the each piece of original message X as a root node, generating a piece of reposted message each time the original message X is reposted, and adding the reposted message to the reposting chain as a sub-node; and pulling needed reposted messages from the server when a client terminal device, at which a user locates receives an instruction instructing viewing the reposted messages corresponding to the original message X in a full amount message aggregation mode, and displaying the reposted messages on a page. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system for presenting reposted messages. With the scheme of the present invention, a whole reposting chain of the original message may be presented to the user.
US08856252B2
An approach is provided for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network. Community identifiers are used to locate communities and community members over an ad-hoc mesh network. The community identifiers are also associated with keys to authenticate members of the community and to protect the privacy and anonymity of information exchanged between the members.
US08856240B2
Disclosed is an event notification system and a method to operate an event notification system that has servers and a subscriber unit. The method includes associating with a particular event subscription an “available” event template subscription; sending an initial notify message to the subscriber unit with a current availability of an event state of the event subscription and, for the duration of the particular event subscription, upon detecting a change in the availability of the event state sending an “available” event template notification to the subscriber unit from the event server for informing the subscriber unit of the change in the availability of the event state. The change can be from available to unavailable, or from unavailable to available.
US08856235B2
User profile information for a user of a social networking system is inferred based on information about user profile of the user's connections in the social networking system. The inferred user profile attributes may include age, gender, education, affiliations, location, and the like. To infer a value of a user profile attribute, the system may determine an aggregate value based on the attributes of the user's connections. A confidence score may also be associated with the inferred attribute value. The set of connections analyzed to infer a user profile attribute may depend on the attribute, the types of connections, and the interactions between the user and the connections. The inferred attribute values may be used to update the user's profile and to determine information relevant to the user to be presented to the user (e.g., targeting advertisements to the user based on the user's inferred attributes).
US08856226B2
An apparatus for context-based contact information management may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive contact information and associated sender-based context information. In this regard, the contact information and sender-based context information may have been transmitted from a sending device. The processor may also be configured to associate receiver-based context information with the contact information and identify a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information. Further, the processor may be configured to link the contact information to the historical context. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided.
US08856220B2
A first server may receive first sets of data from multiple second servers and may receive a query from a client device. The query may include an identifier associated with one of the one or more second servers, a timeframe, and a request for forecast information relating to the timeframe and relating to a first set of data received from the one of the one or more second servers. The first server may determine a second set of data associated with the one of the one or more second servers associated with the identifier. The first server may also determine subsets of the first sets of data that relates to the historical data for the timeframe; determine the forecast information based on the subsets of the first sets of data and the second set of data; and provide, to the client device, a query response including the forecast information.
US08856219B2
A system for providing a bidirectional data access service includes a relay server and a service server. The relay server is located in the Internet. The service server registers an internal Internet Protocol (IP) address, an external IP address, and a corresponding server identification in the relay server, and establishes a data channel. When a user wants to utilize a predetermined service provided by the service server through a client device, the client device transmits the corresponding server identification to the relay server, and the relay server transmits the internal IP address and the external IP address to the client device according to the corresponding server identification. The client device automatically determines a connection method between the client device and the service server according to an application program, the internal IP address, the external IP address, and a network on which the client device is located.
US08856207B2
A click detection method, apparatus and system is provided. An embodiment includes a method that receives a request from a client destined for a server and a unique identifier for the client. The method of the method also includes generating a representation of the unique identifier, and forwarding the unique identifier and the request to the server.
US08856206B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for maintaining message versions at nodes in a network. The nodes in the network maintain version information of nodes in the network. The version information for the nodes indicates a message version number of messages supported at the node. The nodes supporting one message version number can receive messages having that message version number. The nodes use the version information to determine whether there is at least one common message version number among the nodes The nodes supporting the at least one common message version number negotiate to join a quorum of the nodes having the at least one common message version number.
US08856196B2
A multi core system for allocating a task generated from a control system program to an appropriate CPU core and executing the task includes a trial-execution instructing part configured to cause a second CPU core to trial-execute a task which a first CPU core executes before the multi core system transfers the task from the first CPU core to the second CPU core and causes the second CPU core to execute the task, a determining part configured to determine whether an execution result by the first CPU core matches an execution result by the second CPU core, and an allocation fixing part configured to fix the second CPU core as the appropriate CPU core to which the task is allocated if the determining part determines that the execution result by the first CPU core matches the execution result by the second CPU core.
US08856193B2
At runtime first and second cost functions associated with a request for a merge of a main partition of a table with a delta partition of the table can be calculated. The first and second cost functions can respectively quantify an urgency of the merge relative to availability of system resources required to perform the merge and an urgency of the merge relative to other merges. Determining whether the merge should occur can include comparing the calculated first and second cost functions with calculations of other first and second cost functions for other merge requests of one or more other tables. If the merge should occur, a merge thread can be assigned to execute the merge, and execution of the merge by the merge thread can be commenced if at least one merge token representing system resources usable for merge operations is available.
US08856179B2
A method to transmit SMS messages to a Related Object by selecting the Base Object and transmit SMS messages to both, the Base Object as well as to the Related Object, simultaneously, in a CRM application is disclosed. The relationship between the Base Object and the Related Object may be any one of one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many that can be defined while deploying the CRM application. The process takes place in different levels wherein the system decides whether the SMS message should be sent to the Base Object or different Related Objects depending upon the Campaign Workflow and locates the mobile phone number of the entity and finally transmits the SMS message via SMS Service Provider chosen from the user Interface.
US08856165B1
A method, performed by one or more server devices, includes receiving an abuse report from a user, where the abuse report indicates that a comment associated with a document violates a policy associated with providing comments to users; retrieving a trust score of the user, where the trust score is based on a difference between a quantity of valid abuse reports previously generated by the user and a quantity of invalid abuse reports previously generated by the user; generating or adjusting a removal score of the comment based on the retrieved trust score of the user; comparing the removal score to a removal threshold; and removing the comment from further presentation to users if the removal score of the comment is greater than the removal threshold.
US08856160B2
Techniques are described for describing and associating custom products. In an embodiment, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of a custom product is received from a user that is customizing the custom product. In response to receiving the first attribute value, a legal set of attribute values for a second attribute of the custom product or an accessory product may be determined. The legal set of attribute values identifies one or more attribute values of the second attribute of the custom product or accessory product that are compatible with the first attribute value. The legal set of attribute values may identify a continuous range of values where any value within the continuous range of values is compatible with the first attribute value. In an embodiment, the user may be limited to selecting accessory products having a legal attribute value.
US08856154B2
Embodiments of the invention allow structured data to be transferred between a source application and a service-oriented target application that process data in different formats. The data to be transferred may be divided into different sections, where each section is processed by a respective service of the target application. To transform each section of data into a format compatible with a respective service, the data may have a set of associated rules which transform data based on a set of variables. The source application may provide variable definitions for each of the variables. Each service of the target application may specify values for each of the variables. Once the variables have a specified value, a transformation engine may transform each section of the data and subsequently transfer the transformed sections of the data to respective services of the target application for processing.
US08856149B2
There is provided an album generating apparatus for generating an album whose pages are adequately allocated in accordance to image capturing position and time. The album generating apparatus has an image storing section for storing images by correlating with the image capturing time and position of the images, a importance judging section for judging importance of the image capturing time and image capturing position in the plurality of images stored in the image storing section, an image capturing time sorting section for sorting the plurality of images stored in the image storing section per page in the album based on the image capturing time stored in the image storing section when the importance judging section judges that the importance of the image capturing time is greater than that of the image capturing position, an image capturing position sorting section for sorting the plurality of images stored in the image storing section per page of the album based on the image capturing position stored in the image storing section when the importance judging section judges that the importance of the image capturing position is greater than that of the image capturing time and a layout determining section for laying out the images sorted per page by the image capturing time sorting section or the image capturing position sorting section to each page of the album.
US08856140B2
Implementations can be used to initiate a query for information regarding a dialog prompt or other pop-up type of prompt or image. Further, implementations may use hash values in proxy for images to enable aggregating of images for creating a knowledge base regarding certain images determined to be of interest.
US08856139B2
A correspondence table 0121 for recording the correspondence relationship of file titles, file IDs and managing IDs, hash tables 0122 for recording the correspondence relationships of hash values of files and managing IDs and a file memory 0123 for keeping managing IDs and files are provided. When registering files, a file with any registered same title file is managed as a separate file by giving a separate managing ID. File content comparison with registered files is done, and a file with any registered same content file is registered as single file even if it has been registered with a separate file ID. When calling out a file, the file to be called is specified by the combination of the file title and the file ID.
US08856136B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel information management program or system for mutually distributing and managing information limited by an information provider in terms of target for disclosure, for example, personal contact information such as contact information and private messages. A storage medium of a center system stores therein personal self-information, a receivers list, and a senders list as user information and personal contact information on other person as a sender's personal contact information database for each user, and the information processing device, when personal self-information stored in the storage medium is input or changed by a user, checks whether or not the user is registered for a sender on a senders list on each receiver, for each receiver registered in a receivers list on the user, and only for the registered receiver, writes at least some of the input or changed personal self-information in a sender's personal contact information database on the receiver stored in the storage medium, thereby automatically updating the content of the senders' personal contact information database on the receiver.
US08856106B2
A system and method for limiting shares of voice of individual users in a result set are provided. In example embodiments, a listing user providing each listing in a result set of a search is identified. Sorting criteria indicating a number of listings a same listing user is allowed within a number of consecutive listings of the result set are reviewed. Using the sorting criteria, a sorted result set is generated by sorting the plurality of listings in accordance with the sorting criteria. The sorted result set is provided to a searching user.
US08856099B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying entities using search results. One of the methods includes determining that a first search query includes a respective text reference to each of one or more predetermined attributes, wherein each attribute is associated with a first entity type; obtaining search results for the first search query from a search engine, the search results identifying a plurality of resources; identifying entities of the first entity type that are related to any of the plurality of resources identified by the search results; and selecting names of one or more of the identified entities of the first entity type to include in a response to the first search query.
US08856088B2
In accordance with one or more aspects of the application-managed file versioning, a request to store a new version of a file is received from an application, the request having been generated by the application. A filename for the new version of the file is generated, derived from a standardized naming convention. The filename includes a first portion having at least a portion of a name of the file, and a second portion having data indicating that the new version of the file is a version of the file. A set of application programming interfaces (APIs) can be exposed that allow the application to manage file versions, such as creating a new version of a file, identifying one or more versions of the file, listing one or more versions of the file, and deleting one or more versions of the file.
US08856086B2
A cloud deployment appliance includes a mechanism to enable permitted users to move event records reliably from an internal event log of the appliance to a data store located external to the appliance while ensuring the integrity of event records. The mechanism ensures that the event records are not tampered with in storage or during download. Further, the approach ensures that no event records can be removed from the appliance internal storage before being successfully downloaded to the external data store.
US08856068B2
Replicating modifications of a directory that include receiving in a source directory service for a source directory requests for modifications in the source directory and transmitting, from the source directory service to a duplicate directory service for a duplicate directory asynchronously in parallel over a plurality of data communications connections, requests for the same modifications in the duplicate directory. In typical embodiments, a duplicate directory may replicate a subtree of a source directory, receiving requests for modifications may include receiving in the source directory service requests for modifications in the subtree in the source directory, and transmitting requests may include transmitting requests for the same modifications in the subtree in the duplicate directory.
US08856064B2
A method and apparatus for information repository workflows to transfer information between a first domain, such as healthcare sites, and a second domain, such as medical research facilities. Large quantities of medical information may be directly transferred to an information repository or indirectly transferred to the repository through the use of pointers. The information is cleansed and normalized prior to storage in a production database within the repository. The cleansing process is conducted while ensuring integrity of the production database is maintained and while continuing to receive additional information transfers. Errors encountered during processing are logged and reported.
US08856059B2
An inference device is disclosed including a rule base including a graph data structure corresponding to a table formed from columns, each column corresponding to a symbol, and one or more rows including cells, each cell arranged in a position of a column and storing a value for forming a logical expression by applying to each symbol corresponding to a column where the cell is located, the graph data structure including a root node and sequences of nodes connected in series, each sequence of nodes corresponding to a row and each node corresponding to a cell. An end-node of each sequence nodes is connected to the root node, the nodes can be scanned in order following pointers from the root node, each row represents a rule in which logical expressions are arranged on the left side as a logical conjunction and logical expressions are arranged on the right side.
US08856058B1
A business rules engine includes dynamic objects to support dynamically addressable facts. The business rules engine is configured to reduce the need for developer resources to provision resources and adjust/adapt input data and output which would traditionally be required. As a result significant cost advantages are provided in the use of a business rules engine.
US08856053B2
Methods and systems for diagnosing and identifying a treatment for an orthodontic condition can include a server configured to receive patient data through a website. Methods and systems can include the use of a database that includes or has access to information derived from textbooks and scientific literature and dynamic results derived from ongoing and completed patient treatments. Methods and systems can include the operation of at least one computer program within the server, which can be capable of analyzing patient data and identifying at least one diagnosis of an orthodontic condition. Methods and systems can include assigning a probability value to at least one diagnosis, and the probability value can represent a likelihood that a diagnosis is accurate. Methods and systems can include instructing a computer program to identify at least one treatment approach, a corrective appliance, or a combination thereof for the at least one diagnosis.
US08856050B2
A novel domain adaption/transfer learning method applied to the problem of classifying abbreviated documents, e.g., short text messages, instant messages, tweets. The method uses a large number of multi-labeled examples (source domain) to improve the learning on the partial observations (target domain). Specifically, a hidden, higher-level abstraction space is learned that is meaningful for the multi-labeled examples in the source domain. This is done by simultaneously minimizing the document reconstruction error and the error in a classification model learned in the hidden space using known labels from the source domain. The partial observations in the target space are then mapped to the same hidden space, and classified into the label space determined by the source domain.
US08856046B1
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer-implemented method that includes at least the following steps of: periodically receiving investment transactional data identifying investment transactions of a plurality of investors; automatically determining, based on the investment transactional data, a document to be mailed to each investor of the plurality of investors; automatically generating a delivery data for each mailing to be mailed to each investor of the plurality of investors, where the delivery data includes: bucslip data or trade confirmation data, assembling data, and unique production control bar code data generated based on the assembling data and an investment transaction identifier from the investment transactional data; and printing a unique production control bar code based on the unique production control bar code data, where the unique production control bar code is configured to be used for: assembling each mailing envelope, and tracking such mailing envelope.
US08856045B1
Described herein is a mobile-device-to-machine payment system and method for facilitating a cashless transaction for purchase of at least one product or service by a user from a payment accepting unit.
US08856044B1
Methods and systems of segmented access of remotely stored biographical data to a client device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a biographical information is obtained from a vocational collateral such as a business card. In this embodiment, a method and system includes extracting a biographical data from a digital identifier of the vocational collateral. The method and system includes assigning at least one of an access privilege and a security privilege to the biographical data extracted from the digital identifier. The method and system further includes storing the biographical data comprising at least one of the access privilege and the security privilege in a repository of a cloud computing environment accessible to a number of client devices through a network connection. Finally, the method and system includes permitting the number of client devices access to the biographical data based on the access privilege and/or the security privilege.
US08856041B2
Certain embodiments provide a method for trading in an electronic trading environment including receiving market data relating to a plurality of tradeable objects; sending a order to an exchange for the first tradeable object at a quoted price; receiving a fill confirmation for the quoting order at a filled price; determining a difference between the quoted price and the filled price; determining a hedge price for each of the plurality of tradeable objects other than the first tradeable object based at least in part on the difference and at least one multiplier associated with at least one leg of the trading strategy; and sending hedge orders for each of the plurality of tradeable objects other than the first tradeable object at the corresponding hedge price. The plurality of tradeable objects includes at least a first, second, and third tradeable object, which are traded as legs of a trading strategy.
US08856040B2
A system for providing small to medium sized entities commodity price move protection is disclosed. The system may have the steps of receiving information from a client, selecting an appropriate commodity instrument, aggregating the client with other clients, and selecting an appropriate hedge in the event that the instrument provides for more protection than is sought by the aggregated clients and protection for the service provider is desired.
US08856025B2
A system and computerized method of processing a rebate claim from a purchaser comprising means for or steps of receiving and storing: (a) personal information about the purchaser, including an account identifier associated with a designated account, (b) promotion information comprising one or more promotional offers associated with one or more promoted products, (c) purchase information corresponding to the at least one purchase transaction in which the designated account was used as an instrument of payment. Purchase information is associated with the purchaser using the designated account identifier, the rebate claim is validated, and the collective value associated with the rebate claim is provided to the purchaser. One embodiment may comprise means for or a step of receiving an instruction from the purchaser via an online user interface prior to the end of a qualifying period authorizing completion of rebate claim processing.
US08856023B2
In a first aspect of the present invention, methods and apparatus implement graphical user interfaces for interactively specifying service level agreements used to regulate delivery of services to, for example, computer systems. An interactive graphical user interface allows a user to see the effects of varying values of service delivery variables on the level of service achievable in a particular service delivery context. In a second aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention provision resources required for service delivery. In the second aspect, the methods and apparatus of the present invention select a service delivery model dependent on context. The selected service delivery model is used to provision resources that will be required during service delivery. In a third aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention monitor compliance with a service level agreement during a service delivery event. In instances where a given service delivery does not comply with service level attributes specified in a controlling service level agreement, the methods and apparatus of the present invention take corrective action.
US08856019B2
A system and method of storing data related to social publishers and associating the data with electronic brand data is disclosed. The system includes an online persona definition module configured to receive information about a social publisher and, based on the received information, associate personality traits with the social publisher. A social influence measurement module receives social network metrics and social network activities related to social publishers and determine a level of social influence for the social publishers. A brand promoter management module is configured to receive data from the brand promoter, the including targeting elements for an advertising campaign, including a specified a level of social influence and a set of personality traits. The brand promoter may also upload brand art to display within the social network. An association is configured to determine if social publishers meet the targeting elements. An offer selection module allows selected social publishers to accept sponsorship offers and display the brand art within their social content.
US08856018B2
A computer-based method for dynamic path regeneration in a production environment as a function of stochastic event-driven parameters and constraints is described. The method includes examining existing status codes, for a plurality of remaining production jobs, to determine a current status for a production unit, applying at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships for the remaining production jobs to the existing status codes, analyzing historical job performance statistics for a number of previous production units based on production job performance data associated with the previous production units, and providing a user interface that depicts the remaining production jobs in order of criticality, the order of criticality determined based on the existing status codes, the at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships, and the analysis of the historical job performance statistics.
US08856015B2
A system and method facilitating the management of current and prospective customers and customer information is provided. The invention includes an aggregation system adapted to provide management and generation of current and prospective customers. The invention further provides management of current and prospective customer information. Additionally, the aggregation system provides for generating advertisements based at least in part upon market information. Finally, the present invention also includes a printstream aggregation method facilitating the printing of print orders.
US08856005B2
A method for receiving processed information at a remote device is described. The method includes transmitting from the remote device a verbal request to a first information provider and receiving a digital message from the first information provider in response to the transmitted verbal request. The digital message includes a symbolic representation indicator associated with a symbolic representation of the verbal request and data used to control an application. The method also includes transmitting, using the application, the symbolic representation indicator to a second information provider for generating results to be displayed on the remote device.
US08856004B2
Techniques for converting spoken speech into written speech are provided. The techniques include transcribing input speech via speech recognition, mapping each spoken utterance from input speech into a corresponding formal utterance, and mapping each formal utterance into a stylistically formatted written utterance.
US08856003B2
A method for dual channel monitoring on a radio device as provided enables efficient use of communication network resources. The method includes receiving at the radio device a first speech signal over a first channel, while simultaneously receiving at the radio device a second speech signal over a second channel. The first speech signal is then processed at the radio device to generate a text transcription of the first speech signal, and the text transcription of the first speech signal is displayed on a display screen of the radio device. An audible voice signal is then produced from a speaker that is operatively connected to the radio device simultaneously with displaying the text transcription of the first speech signal.
US08856002B2
A universal pattern processing system receives input data and produces output patterns that are best associated with said data. The system uses input means receiving and processing input data, a universal pattern decoder means transforming models using the input data and associating output patterns with original models that are changed least during transforming, and output means outputting best associated patterns chosen by a pattern decoder means.
US08856000B1
Methods and systems for model-driven candidate sorting based on audio cues for evaluating digital interviews are described. In one embodiment, a processing device converts audio data of a candidate in a digital interview into voice-to-text data. An audio cue generator executing on the processing device, generates audio cues of the digital interview based on the voice-to-text data. The audio cues are applied to a prediction model to predict an achievement index for the candidate based on the audio cues. The processing device displays the candidate in a list of candidates based on the achievement index. The list of candidates is sorted according to the candidates' achievement index.
US08855988B2
Determining viable hydraulic fracture scenarios. At least some of the illustrative embodiments include: executing a fracture planning program, and determining a set of schedules from the fracture planning program, each schedule comprising a volume of fracture fluid, amount of proppant, and flow rate of the fracture fluid; providing each schedule of the set of schedules to a stress analysis program, executing the stress analysis program, and determining a set of indications from the stress analysis program, each indication indicative of whether a respect schedule exceeds engineering limits of a tubing string; and providing at least some of the schedules to a fracture simulation program, executing the fracture simulation program, and determining a set of fracture geometries from the fracture simulation program, each fracture geometry corresponding to a respective schedule.
US08855978B2
A method for simulating a magnetic material includes: repeatedly performing a first process and a second process until the change of magnetization and a static magnetic field converges, the first process being to calculate a distribution of the magnetization and an average magnetization in a magnetic material model of micromagnetics, and the second process being to assign the magnetic material model of the micromagnetics to each mesh included in another magnetic material model, calculate the static magnetic field of the another magnetic material model using the calculated average magnetization, and return the calculated static magnetic field to the calculation of the distribution of the magnetization; generating a hysteresis loop of each mesh included in the another magnetic material model based on the calculated average magnetization and the calculated static magnetic field, and calculating a hysteresis loss of the another magnetic material model from an area of the generated hysteresis loop.
US08855974B2
A system for recommending a sensitive make-up based on skin tone of a user, includes an avatar creator for creating an avatar image using skin information obtained by scanning user's body. Further, the sensitive make-up recommending system includes a cosmetics information processor for generating analysis information by analyzing a plurality of cosmetics and then storing the generated information in a database. Furthermore, the sensitive make-up recommending system includes a simulator for displaying results of performing a make-up simulation to the avatar image based on the analysis information on certain cosmetics selected by the user and the skin information.
US08855958B2
A method for determining at least one characteristic for the correction of measurements of a Coriolis mass flowmeter which is characterized by an increased accuracy and a low error rate while determining the characteristic is implemented by detecting values of a measurand during constant flow with the reading sensors, calculating at least one location parameter from the detected values, an calculating at least one dispersion parameter from the detected values and the location parameter. The detection of additional values and the calculation of the location parameter and dispersion parameter from the existing and additional values is carried out until the dispersion parameter reaches a threshold value, and then, the location parameter corresponding to the dispersion parameter is used as the characteristic for the correction of the reading of the Coriolis mass flowmeter.
US08855955B2
There is disclosed a process and apparatus for reading electrical current of electrodes on a microarray of electrodes. Those electrodes having binding events are detected by a difference in electrical current flow. Enzymes on targets catalyze the conversion of substrate to product, which is detectable by electrochemical reduction at each electrode on the microarray of electrodes. The apparatus has an integration circuit that provides a voltage output that is measured and recorded over time and used to calculate an average current flow. A potentiometer equalizes voltage at electrodes undergoing measurement compared to grounded electrodes.
US08855947B2
Various methods of metering a multi-phase composition in a pipe using patch antenna(s), that operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, are disclosed including locating and then exciting the patch antenna(s) over a range of frequencies; measuring transmitted and reflected signals over time; estimating a shift in a resonant frequency from a baseline resonant frequency; then calculating a permittivity of the composition, based on the shift; and calculating a phase composition of the multi-phase composition. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
US08855946B2
A method measures a hybrid flow rate (Q) of a fluid using simultaneously at least two measuring technologies and a reference measurement, the method includes a hybrid value, wherein the measurements of the at least two measuring technologies are combined according to a given rule to get the hybrid value by performing a linear or non-linear interpolation within a given interval of the reference measurement.
US08855943B1
A system and methods for actuator fatigue monitoring is disclosed. At least two measured actuator forces are received from at least two actuators respectively, and a hybrid force is calculated. The hybrid force is calculated based on a force fight of the at least two actuators calculated based on the at least two measured actuator forces, and a monitored actuator force among the at least two measured actuator forces. An air load of the at least two actuators is estimated based on the at least two measured actuator forces, and a fatigue anomaly is determined based on the hybrid force and the air load.
US08855940B2
The present invention relates to a method of detecting coliform bacteria in water from reflected light, and also includes devices for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to that method.
US08855930B2
A method of generating a route across an electronic map representative of an area, the method comprising using a processing circuitry 302 to generate a set of cost functions 607 associated with at least one route planning profiles 602 and comprising the steps of: ) collecting information relating to at least one example route associated with the at least one route planning profile 607; 2) processing, with a cost function generating process 716, the information relating to the at least one example route to generate one or more cost functions 607 to be used with the at least one route planning profile 607; and 3) using the or each cost function 607 to generate a route across the electronic map for that route planning profile 602.
US08855929B2
The initialization of an inertial navigation system is performed using information obtained from an image of an object. Positional and orientational information about the object in a global reference frame and positional and orientational information about the camera relative to the object are obtained from the image. Positional and orientational information for the camera in the global reference frame is determined along with a transformation matrix between inertial sensor reference frame and a navigation coordinate frame. The inertial navigation system is initialized using the positional and orientational information for the camera, the transformation matrix and the velocity of the camera when the object was imaged, i.e., zero. Using the initialized data with measurements from the inertial sensors the position of the mobile platform may be updated during navigation and provided, e.g., on a digital map. Inertial navigation errors may be corrected using information obtained from images of different objects.
US08855928B2
A positioning apparatus includes: a first measuring section to directly measuring its own present position; a second measuring section to measure an azimuth and a movement of a user; a movement method judging section to judge a movement method of the user based on the measurement result by the second measuring section; an azimuth specifying section to specify a movement azimuth of the user based on the measurement result by the second measuring section; a movement speed calculating section to calculate an average movement speed in a period where the movement method of the user is judged to be a movement state by car; and a position calculating section to obtain a movement position by integrating a movement distance into the specified movement azimuth at the average movement speed to reference position information obtained by the first measuring section when the user is in the movement state by car.
US08855923B2
The present invention relates to methods, computer software products, server and system for mapping road conditions, especially friction. In the method according to the invention the acceleration of the vehicle is measured by means of an acceleration sensor, the position of the vehicle is monitored by means of positioning means and the measured acceleration value is combined with the position data of the measurement location. The method compares whether the measured position-specific acceleration value exceeds the value on the server for the said area and in case the value is exceeded, a measured position-specific acceleration value is sent to the server.
US08855921B2
A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for collecting and analyzing route to determine the routes of a transit system. One example method includes receiving GPS data from a plurality of buses or uses from along a transit roué, the discreet GPS reports organized into a set, generating a plurality of clusters, each cluster is comprised of a first GPS point from a first set and one or more subsequent GPS points, each subsequent GPS point from a different set, and wherein each subsequent GPS point is located within a predetermined distance of the first GPS point. The clusters are then connected to form a route polylines. Outliers, inaccuracies, and/or route endpoints may be pruned to improve accuracy and efficiency of the method. The method may also order the aggregated clusters using spatial and temporal data of the GPS reports to improve accuracy.
US08855916B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set.
US08855913B2
A drive management system proposes a trips combination, such as a combination of two regular trips and/or a side trip from an ongoing trip. A trips database stores a plurality of trips including regular trips. A regular trips combination proposing module automatically creates a trips combination of regular trips and proposes the trips combination to a user. The real-time trips combination proposing module finds out a trip combinable with an ongoing trip based on short-term needs which are retrieved from the trips database and proposes the trips combination to a user. The system proposes the trips combination and shows an impact which will be caused by the proposed trips combination. As a result, it is possible to support a user to plan a trips combination advantageous in some aspect.
US08855911B2
Systems and methods for navigation using cross correlation on evidence grids are provided. In one embodiment, a system for using cross-correlated evidence grids to acquire navigation information comprises: a navigation processor coupled to an inertial measurement unit, the navigation processor configured to generate a navigation solution; a sensor configured to scan an environment; an evidence grid creator coupled to the sensor and the navigation processor, wherein the evidence grid creator is configured to generate a current evidence grid based on data received from the sensor and the navigation solution; a correlator configured to correlate the current evidence grid against a historical evidence grid stored in a memory to produce displacement information; and where the navigation processor receives correction data derived from correlation of evidence grids and adjusts the navigation solution based on the correction data.
US08855903B2
Systems and methods for providing incentives for the public to travel during time windows and routes that help alleviate traffic congestion. The systems described herein include at least two components: a computer server software system that includes various algorithms and database sub-systems; and a mobile device application. Generally, a user may enter an origin, destination, and preferred time of travel for an intended trip into the mobile device application, which transmits the information to a remote server. The server computes a route for the trip and provides the user with available incentives for traveling the route at one or more departure time windows. The user's mobile device transmits GPS data to the server, which allows the server to verify whether the user has traveled the route during the specified time window. If so, the server then provides the incentive to the user via the user's mobile device or through email.
US08855885B2
A device for estimating the state quantity of a skid motion of a vehicle is provided with an element which finds road surface reaction force model values of respective wheels and a skid motion state quantity model value using a vehicle model including a friction characteristic model between the wheels and the road surface, an element which finds the deviation between the lateral acceleration model value generated in a predetermined position of the vehicle by the resultant force of the road surface reaction force model values and the lateral acceleration detected value indicated by the output of an actual lateral acceleration detecting means, and an element which determines, as the estimated value of the skid motion state quantity, a value obtained by adding a value obtained by passing the deviation through a filter having a high-cut characteristic to the skid motion state quantity model value.
US08855879B2
A method of operating a clutch serving as a shift element and/or starting clutch of a drive train. During engagement, the clutch will be filled by a fast filling up to a defined minimum pressure. The fast filling is at least subdivided into two phases comprising a basic filling phase and an extension and/or a cutout phase. At the end of the basic filling phase, the actual clutch pressure is measured, and then, when the actual clutch pressure is equal to or larger than the minimum pressure, the extension and/or cutout phase is activated immediately following the basic filling phase. When the actual clutch pressure is lower than the minimum pressure, activation of the extension and/or the cutout phase is at least delayed by a pressure holding phase and, if necessary, by a pressure surplus phase.
US08855877B2
A method for controlling gearshifts of an automatic transmission includes preventing an upshift while the vehicle accelerates on an ascending grade, if predicted vehicle acceleration in a target gear is less than a reference vehicle acceleration in the target gear; accelerating the vehicle on the grade; and producing the upshift, if predicted vehicle acceleration in the target gear is greater than a reference vehicle acceleration.
US08855876B2
A system for managing a temperature of a working fluid in a vehicle powertrain can include a temperature sensor and a controller. The working fluid can be located in a transmission of the powertrain, and a temperature sensor can be in thermal contact with the working fluid and configured to output data indicative of a real-time temperature of the working fluid. The controller can be in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and at least one of a power source and the transmission. The controller can be configured to compare the data from the temperature sensor to a temperature threshold, select a terminal speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is less than or substantially equal to the temperature threshold, and select a reduced speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is greater than the temperature threshold.
US08855871B2
In an engine-overrun-preventing control device, if an engine speed exceeds a maximum speed, a minimum value of an inching rate is set such that higher the actual engine speed results in a higher minimum value of an inching rate. The hydraulic pump displacement is adjusted to obtain a higher inching rate between the minimum value of the inching rate and an inching rate set based on a brake stroke. If the engine speed exceeds a commanded speed and a pressure time-rate-of-change at the pump intake exceeds a prescribed value, the minimum value of the inching rate is set such that the higher the pressure time-rate-of-change, the higher the minimum value of the inching rate. The pump displacement is adjusted to obtain a higher inching rate between the minimum value of the inching rate set based on the pressure time-rate-of-change and the inching rate set based on the brake stroke.
US08855870B2
A clutch control device for an industrial vehicle includes: a braking force detection device that detects braking force of the industrial vehicle; a speed stage detection device that detects a set speed stage of a transmission; a clutch control device that controls engage/release of a forward clutch so that the forward clutch is released when a clutch cut off condition is judged to be satisfied based upon braking force of the industrial vehicle detected by the braking force detection device; and a switching device that automatically switches the clutch cut off condition in the clutch control device based upon a set speed stage of the transmission detected by the speed stage detection device.
US08855867B2
The invention relates to a sensor system including a plurality of sensor elements which are designed so that the elements detect at least partially different primary measured values and utilize at least partially different measurement principles, further including a signal processing apparatus, an interface apparatus and a plurality of functional apparatuses. The sensor elements are connected to the signal processing apparatus, which is designed so that it includes at least one of the following signal processing functions each for at least one of the sensor elements and/or the output signals thereof, an error handling, a filtering, a calculation and/or provision of a derived measured value. At least one measured value is derived from at least one primary measured value of one or more sensor elements, and all functional apparatuses are connected to the signal processing apparatus via the interface apparatus and the signal processing apparatus provides the signal processing functions.
US08855864B2
A method is provided for operating an electrical steering system of an industrial truck. An assignment assigns a target value for a rotational position of the steering wheel to each rotational position of the steered wheel. An electrical steering drive motor is provided for the steered wheel such that the detected rotational movement of the steering wheel is converted into rotational movement according to a predetermined transmission factor. An absolute value of a rotational position of the steering wheel and the steered wheel is detected during travel of the industrial truck. If the detected absolute values are related to one another according to the assignment, and if a deviation is determined, a transmission factor is specified that differs from the predetermined transmission factor for the conversion of the detected rotational movement of the steering wheel into the rotational movement of the steered wheel such that the determined deviation is automatically counteracted during the further steering movement.
US08855863B2
A vehicle steering apparatus is an apparatus, mounted on a vehicle, for setting a target steering reaction force to be applied to a steering wheel on the basis of a steering angle and a vehicle speed and for performing reaction force control to apply the target steering reaction force, the vehicle steering apparatus provided with: a setting device for setting the target steering reaction force such that the target steering reaction force is less than a predetermined base steering reaction force if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined base vehicle speed.
US08855857B2
An electric motor controller for controlling an electric motor that includes a rotor and a stator that faces the rotor. The electric motor controller includes a current drive unit; an addition angle calculation unit; a control angle calculation unit; a torque detection unit; a changing unit and a suspending unit.
US08855851B2
A diagnosing device is provided for a vehicle having a flow passage for circulating a liquid medium for cooling an inverter of the vehicle, and a pump provided on the flow passage to circulate the liquid medium. The diagnosing device includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature related to a temperature of the liquid medium, and a calculating unit for calculating a concentration of the liquid medium. The calculating unit calculates a viscosity of the liquid medium based on a flow rate of the liquid medium flowing through the flow passage and performance of the pump, and when the calculation as to the viscosity of the liquid medium is executed with a plurality temperature conditions, the calculating unit calculates the concentration of the liquid medium based on a relationship between the plurality of temperature conditions and the corresponding viscosities of the liquid medium.
US08855812B2
A system and method for developing an intrusion detection zone substantially surrounding mobile components of a robot, training a model of the robot to accept selected intrusions into the intrusion detection zone, and, during application operations, triggering an application interrupt upon detecting an unexpected intrusion.
US08855809B2
Systems for sorting materials, such as those made of metal, are described. The systems may operate by irradiating the materials with x-rays and then detecting fluoresced x-rays, transmitted x-rays, or both. Detection of the fluoresced x-rays may be performed using an x-ray fluorescence detector array. The systems may be configured to provide high throughput sorting of small pieces of materials.
US08855808B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for targeting using storage magazines. Some embodiments operate in context of a data storage environment, in which the magazines are used to hold data cartridges, and the data cartridges are installed in, removed from, and ferried between the magazines by a robotic mechanism. Magazine implementations include integrated targeting features in the magazine base structure. For example, some side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for optical targeting, while other side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for lead-in (i.e., to minimize undesirable collisions or interference between the cartridges and the magazine slot walls). Some embodiments describe novel locating functionality in context of magazines with integrated targeting features. Other embodiments include other geometric magazine features.
US08855807B2
Computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting using actuators for operating barrier doors, pushers, and locks.
US08855806B2
Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify multiple shipments that each includes one or more units that are eligible to be conveyed from a storage area to a respective packing station in a materials handling facility. The identification of a given shipment may include determining that shipment is compatible with a packing capability of the packing station. The system may be configured to evaluate each respective shipment according to one or more shipment-related criteria to generate a ranking of at least some of the multiple shipments. The system may, in response to determining that a particular shipment is ranked highest relative to other shipments of the ranking, generate an instruction to convey the units of that particular shipment from the storage area to the respective packing station.
US08855804B2
Described are methods, systems, and a computer-readable storage medium for controlling a discrete-type manufacturing process (e.g., an injection molding process) with a multivariate model. Data representing process parameters, operating parameters, or both of the manufacturing process are received. The received data is compared with a multivariate model that approximates the manufacturing process to provide a result. Upon the result of the comparing satisfying a condition, one or more values for a set of operating parameters for the manufacturing process are determined. When the one or more determined values for the set of operating parameters satisfies a criterion, at least one operating parameter of the manufacturing process is updated.
US08855796B2
The present invention is to provide a method of efficiently detecting music scenes from television broadcasts.A music-segment detection method according to the present invention includes a data input step of inputting data including an audio and video signals; a plurality of candidate-music-segment detection steps of detecting candidate music-segments from the audio signal based on criteria different from each other; and a music-segment detection step of detecting a music segment based on the plurality of detected candidate music-segments. Thereby, high detection accuracy can be ensured for a wide variety of music with various tones, such as rock, popular ballad, and classic.
US08855789B2
A delivery system for implanting a biostimulation device comprising a stylet extending along an axis from knob end to a threaded end configured to engage an internally threaded nut of the biostimulation device and a catheter tube configured to axially contain the stylet. The catheter tube comprises a feature that engages a corresponding feature on the biostimulation device whereby the stylet can be rotated relative to the catheter tube for disengagement of the stylet threaded end from the biostimulation device threaded end.
US08855776B2
An implantable electrical stimulation system for treating a nerve symptom, the system comprising an implantable device. The implantable devices includes a wave generator that is operable to generate a signal wave and a white noise, mix the signal wave and the white noise, and produce an electrical stimulating signal. The system further comprises an electrode unit located in close proximity to a target nerve and is operable to provide the electrical stimulating signal to the nerve. The system further comprises an external controlling device.
US08855775B2
Systems and methods for neuromonitoring a subject are described. The system may include a stimulation assembly including a pulse generator that generates one or more stimulus waveforms; an electrode array coupled to the stimulation assembly and configured to deliver a stimulation signal to nervous system of the subject; a sensing assembly adapted to acquire a signal from a subject indicative of the subject's brain activity; a power supply configured to supply power to the stimulation assembly and the sensing assembly; and a timing controller programmed to control the use of the power supply by the stimulation assembly and the sensing assembly, said timing controller being programmed to control the time the sensing assembly is powered to acquire the signal to be substantially different than the time the stimulation assembly is powered to stimulate the subject.
US08855773B2
A system and method for selection of stimulation parameters for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) may include a processor that displays in a display device and in relation to a displayed model of a leadwire including model electrodes, a current field corresponding to a first stimulation parameter set, provides a user interface for receipt of user input representing a shift of the current field, in response to the user input, moves, in the display device, the current field with respect to the displayed model, determines a second stimulation parameter set that results in the moved current field, and outputs the second stimulation parameter set and/or sets a stimulation device with the second stimulation parameter set, where the stimulation device is configured for performing a stimulation using the leadwire in accordance with the second stimulation parameter set.
US08855767B2
A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.
US08855763B2
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including ATP. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the implantable medical device analyzes the morphology of a cardiac signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver an ATP therapy. In various embodiments, the implantable medical device produces morphological parameters indicative of the likeliness of success of the ATP therapy and selects an anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy mode based on the morphological parameters. In various embodiments, the implantable medical device also controls the timing of the ATP therapy delivery using morphological features of the cardiac signal to maximize the probability that the ATP therapy is delivered into an ATP window during which a tachyarrhythmia episode can be effectively terminated by pacing.
US08855759B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating rheumatic disorders, and symptoms of arthritis specifically. The method involves utilizing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in combination with administration of a ginsenoside, such as Rb1.
US08855757B2
The invention is directed to a system for acquiring electrical footprint of the heart, electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) and heart rate variability monitoring, incorporated into a mobile device accessory. The ECG signal is conveniently acquired and transmitted to a server via the mobile device, offering accurate heart rate variability biofeedback measurement which is portable and comfortable during normal daily life. The invention provides a reliable tool for applications such as wellness, meditation, relaxation, sports and fitness training, and stress-relief therapy where accurate heart rate variability measurement is desired.
US08855756B2
Methods and program products for providing heart rate information are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing heart rate information about a user includes the steps of defining a plurality of heart rate zones as ranges of percentages of a maximum heart rate of the user, determining upper and lower limits for said heart rate zones based on the maximum heart rate of the user, associating a color with each of said heart rate zones, receiving heart rate information from the user, and initiating a graphical display in response to receiving heart rate information from the user, wherein a color of a portion of the graphical display corresponds with the color associated with one of said heart rate zones.
US08855754B2
An apparatus for detecting an epilepsy seizure, includes: a graph generating unit configured to generate an orthogonal graph where values of heart beat intervals are sequentially plotted while a heart beat interval at an arbitrary timing is set as a first coordinate and a next heart beat interval is set as a second coordinate; and a seizure detecting unit configured to detect the epilepsy seizure based on: a change of a distribution of a group of the plotted values in a first direction perpendicular to a straight line passing an origin and a point where the first and second coordinates are equal to each other; and a change of a distribution of the group of the plotted values in a second direction parallel to the straight line.
US08855750B2
An optical three-dimensional structure measuring device including: optical three-dimensional structure information storing device (91) for storing optical three-dimensional structure information; specific layer extracting device (121) for comparing information values of the optical three-dimensional structure information stored in the optical three-dimensional structure information storing device with a predetermined threshold and extracting, as a specific layer area of the measurement target, an area equal to or greater than a predetermined range where the information values of the optical three-dimensional structure information equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold continue; missing area extracting device (122) for extracting, as missing areas, areas where the information values of the optical three-dimensional structure information are smaller than the predetermined threshold in the specific layer area; missing area range calculating device (123) for calculating sizes of ranges of the missing areas; and region-of-interest classifying device (124) for comparing the sizes of the ranges of the missing areas with a plurality of predetermined range determination reference values and classifying the missing areas into a plurality of types of regions of interest.
US08855739B2
The ultrasound examination apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is an ultrasound examination apparatus for observing an inside of a body of a living subject and includes: a transmitting probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to an inside of an examination target which is a part of the living subject; a receiving probe that detects microscopic displacement on a surface of the examination target without contact with the examination target, to detect reflected ultrasonic waves which are the to ultrasonic waves reflected from the inside of the examination target; and a signal processing unit that generates an image of the inside of the examination target, based on the reflected ultrasonic waves during a scanning operation in which the transmitting probe is kept fixed with respect to the examination target and the receiving probe is moved with respect to the examination target.
US08855736B2
Transcutaneous safety electrode assemblies are described that can include a conducting electrode having a sharp end to penetration of the skin of a patient, and a shielding member that is deployable by a user so as to shield the sharp end of the electrode after the electrode is removed from the skin. The shielding member can be deployed by retracting the sharp end of the electrode a protective housing, assisted by spring force provided by the electrode wire so as to self-retract into the protective housing. The deployment and disengagement can be via push button action, and the electrode assembly can be self-retaining on the patient's skin while deployed.
US08855730B2
Methods of transmitting and receiving wireless signals using a compact antenna having an array of compactly arranged emitters/receivers. Wireless signals are transmitted from an antenna feed to the plurality of emitters/receivers in any appropriate band, such as the 5.15 to 5.85 GHz band and/or the 2.40-2.48 GHz band. The feed is connected to a radio connection point and from there may connect to the plurality of emitters/receivers arranged in a plane (or planes) above an antenna feed connecting the emitting elements to the radio connection point. The antenna feed is positioned between the emitters and a ground plane. Signals (e.g., horizontally and vertically polarized signals) may be emitted from the plurality of antenna radiating surfaces. Methods of manufacturing compact array antennas are also described.
US08855725B2
An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a multi-mode portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) management unit and a control unit. The SIM management unit is configured to determine whether there are multiple SIM cards of the same serving cell in a portable terminal supporting a plurality of RF modules and a plurality of SIM cards. The control unit is configured to activate only one RF module corresponding to the SIM cards of the same serving cell when receiving information of the SIM cards of the same serving cell from the SIM management unit.
US08855722B2
A method and apparatus for an organizer that may receive a cellular portion to form a cellular telephone is provided. An organizer comprises an organizer component, including a microphone. The organizer further includes an area for receiving an additional component. The area is designed to receive a cellular component, and a connection element is designed to mate the microphone in the organizer component with the cellular component, to use the organizer as a part of a cellular telephone.
US08855720B2
The present disclosure is a method for providing a plurality of screens in an idle state of a mobile terminal, comprising; allocating at least one application program to each of the screens, based on a user selection; displaying a first screen among the plurality of screens in the idle state; receiving a screen switch request from a user; and turning the screens one by one based on the screen switch request so as to display the at least one application program allocated to each of the screens.
US08855718B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a signal transmission method, apparatus, and base station. The method includes: sending downlink signals through N sectors, where the N sectors are created by using M sectors used to receive uplink signals, and N>M. In the embodiments of the present invention, the base station creates N sectors by using M sectors used to receive uplink signals and sends downlink signals through the N sectors, so that the multi-sector technology is mainly used in the downlink and the multi-antenna technology is mainly used in the uplink. This may resolve an existing conflict between the uplink and the downlink when system capacity is being improved, thereby improving system capacity of a wireless communication network.
US08855716B2
A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.
US08855715B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: a first part configured to receive a first and second removable memory module, a second part coupled with the first part with a hinge, and conductive terminals configured to contact the first removable memory module in a first closed position and the second removable memory module in a second closed position.
US08855710B1
A web programmable telephone and a method for operating a web programmable telephone are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a voice module of a wireless household telephone is controlled by an internal web module that can retrieve and execute data operations from a remote portal or server thus adding data functionality to the conventional functions of a telephone. The programmable web module controls all functionality of the web programmable telephone so that every function of the telephone can be programmed and customized by a user.
US08855703B2
A method of driving a mobile communication terminal in a cellular network, includes monitoring with a control unit of the mobile communications terminal, reception power levels between the mobile communication terminal and cellular network base stations at a predefined monitoring rate for each base station. Timing information values for a number of base stations are intermittently monitored by the control unit. Drift of the timing information values for at least two of the base stations is monitored and significant motion of the mobile communication terminal is deemed detected if at least one of the timing information values indicates a drift equal to or exceeding a given timing drift threshold. The predefined reception power level monitoring rate is reduced to a reduced reception power level monitoring rate for at least a number of the base stations as long as the motion of the mobile communication terminal is not significant.
US08855695B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for a data call setup comprises receiving an origination message by a radio call control (RCC) and by a main call control (MCC), receiving an assignment request message by the MCC and by the RCC, and receiving a traffic channel assignment message by a channel element control (CEC) and by the MCC.
US08855689B2
SMS-C's and associated methods are disclosed that attempt to deliver SMS messages over a broadband data network as opposed to a voice network. An SMS-C described herein stores session information for a mobile device that has established a data session over the broadband data network. When the SMS-C receives a Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS message destined for the mobile device, the SMS-C stores the SMS message for delivery. The SMS-C then identifies a routing address for the mobile device over the broadband data network based on the stored session information, and forwards the SMS message to the mobile device directly over the broadband data network based on the routing address.
US08855674B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining whether a reported position of a wireless transmitter is sufficiently accurate in accordance with an accuracy metric based at least in part on a calculated range between an estimated position of a mobile station and the reported position and also based at least in part on one or more measurements taken from one or more signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter.
US08855673B2
The present invention relates to a network location management entity for managing location information indicating a location of a mobile terminal in a communication network. The network location management entity comprises a provider (101) for providing pre-stored information on a network communication node which handled communications of the mobile terminal, and a transmitter (103) for transmitting a subscriber location request towards the network communication node if the pre-stored information fulfills a validity criterion, the subscriber location request requesting a transmission of the location information.
US08855672B1
The key locator device integrates two forms of locating means therein so as to provide location-based services and/or paging means and alarms for locating the key locator device. The locating means include a GPS locating means and a cellular transceiver such that the location of the key locator device may be determined via GPS whereas a paging function in association with an audible alarm may be accomplished via the cellular transceiver. The key locator device includes a caller ID strip that illuminates to display a phone number when so paged. The GPS locating means may provide location-based data of the key locator device remotely via transceiver to a smart phone or computer. The key locator device may include a vibrating means and/or speaker to produce a vibratory and/or audible alarm when so paged.
US08855669B2
Systems and methods to detect an overcrowded area and to provide guidance to people in and in the vicinity of the overcrowded area are provided. A census module is configured to determine a number of mobile client machines located in a defined geographical area. A capacity module is configured to determine that a capacity assigned to the defined geographical area is exceeded. The capacity is a number of people that is used to provide an indication that the defined geographical area is overcrowded. The determination is based on the number of mobile client machines located in the defined geographical area. An exit module is configured to assign an exit route to an exit of the defined geographical area to a client machine of the mobile client machines within the defined geographical area. A navigation module is configured to transmit instructions comprising the exit route to the client machine.
US08855663B2
The present invention discloses a method for terminal access, and this method includes: receiving an access request sent by a terminal; analyzing the access request to obtain a service type of the terminal; determining a number of residual equivalent users according to a difference between an access equivalent user number threshold corresponding to the service type of the terminal currently and a number of accessed terminals; and determining whether to respond to the access request according to the number of the residual equivalent users and a preset minimum residual equivalent user threshold. The present invention further discloses an apparatus for accessing the terminal. With the present invention, dynamic variation of the wireless environment can be adapted, QoS with higher quality can be provided for the users, and the experience and the feeling of the users are improved.
US08855654B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems and computer readable media for tracking and communicating LTE handset communication capability. One method includes maintaining, in a signaling message routing node, an LTE communication capability database. The database includes identifiers associated with LTE communication capable handsets. The method further includes, intercepting, at the signaling message routing node, a request for routing information. The method further includes, determining, by the signaling message routing node using the LTE communication capability database, whether a B party number associated with the request for routing information is associated with an LTE communication capable handset. In response to determining that the B party number is associated with an LTE communication capable handset, the method includes, responding, by the routing node, to the request for routing information with an identifier for a node in an LTE network for providing LTE service to the LTE capable handset.
US08855646B2
User equipment 100n comprises a connection state processing section configured so that the connection state processing section measures the communication quality in a cell belonging to two or more layers, reports the result of the measurement to a base station device 200, and performs handover processing according to the instruction from the base station device 200 on the basis of first priority notified by a first control signal notified from the base station device 200 in an RRC_Connected state and a stand-by state processing section configured so that the stand-by state processing section measures the communication quality in the cell belonging to the two or more layers to determine a cell for performing a stand-by according to the result of the measurement on the basis of second priority notified by a second control signal notified from the base station device 200 in an Idle state.
US08855645B2
A radio communication device may include a cellular wide area radio communication technology circuit configured to provide a communication according to a cellular wide area radio communication technology; a circuit configured to provide a direct communication device to communication device communication; and a message generator configured to generate a message indicating a request for a handover from an established direct communication device to communication device communication connection with a second radio communication device to a cellular wide area radio communication connection with the second radio communication device.
US08855642B2
The invention is related to an apparatus including a processor and a memory including a computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to: configure a private network; determine cells belonging to the private network to form a mobility priority group; store neighboring cell information on at least the cells of the private network; and convey the neighboring cell information and information on the determined mobility priority group to an authorized user device accessing the private network for providing mobility management control to a user device, the mobility management control being based on the neighboring cell information and the information on the determined mobility priority group.
US08855641B2
A wireless communication device is disclosed that is capable of performing efficient measurements of secondary radio access technologies (RATs). The device includes multiple receiver chains. While operating in a first RAT, the device receives a measurement gap in order to perform measurements. Even though the measurement gap may be too small to adequately measure the other RAT, the device controls one of the receiver chains to measure the other RAT during a time period that overlaps with the measurement gap. In addition, when preparing for an inter-RAT handoff, the device controls one of the receiver chains to perform measurements regardless of whether a measurement gap has been received. In this manner, measurements of alternative RATs are efficiently performed, and handoff latency is significantly reduced.
US08855640B2
It is described a method for partitioning radio transmission resources within a telecommunication network. The method includes (a) preparing a handover of a user equipment from a source access point being assigned to a source side of the telecommunication network to a target access point being assigned to a target side of the telecommunication network, (b) transferring a pre-announcement message from the source side to the target side indicating the handover, wherein the pre-announcement message is indicative for the amount of data traffic being associated with the user equipment, and (c) partitioning the radio transmission resources on the target side based on the pre-announcement message. It is further described a source side network element and a target side network element for controlling a partitioning of radio transmission resources within a telecommunication network. Furthermore, a computer program for controlling the above described method is described.
US08855638B2
A method for transitioning communications of a mobile subscriber station from a serving base station to a target base station includes receiving from the mobile subscriber station a transition request message having an identifier which identifies the mobile subscriber station, and transmitting a transition request notification message having the identifier to the target base station. The method further includes receiving a transition request notification response message having information relating to capabilities of the target base station, and transmitting a transition response message having the information to the mobile subscriber station.
US08855631B2
An apparatus and method for measuring signal quality information in a mobile broadcasting network are provided, as well as a system supporting the same. A broadcast server provides a reporting condition for signal quality to a mobile terminal using a control message. The mobile terminal, when it satisfies the reporting condition, transmits a reporting message for signal quality to a management server managing signal qualities. The reporting message includes signal quality measurement results at the current location. In this way, information on the low-signal quality area is automatically collected from the mobile terminal, making it possible to rapidly and easily comprehend the sate of the mobile broadcasting network depending on the collected information.
US08855628B2
A wireless communication assembly (20) includes a visitor location register (42) that accesses a mobile station memory portion (44) that stores a visiting mobile subscriber's profile including an indication of the wireless features available to that subscriber. When a call needs to be setup involving the visiting mobile subscriber, the visitor network locally sets up the call by using the stored indication of the visiting mobile subscriber's profile from the mobile station memory portion (44). There is no need for contacting the subscriber's home network for purposes of setting up the call, which reduces the amount of signaling and communication between the visitor network and the subscriber's home network.
US08855626B2
A freight management arrangement includes a monitor system that communicates over wireless with a large number of freight assets by land and with smaller number of users each associated with a fleet of the freight assets. The monitor system polls sensed ambient data in the freight assets on the basis of requests from the users. The requests may be stored as data in the monitor system or occur on a real-time basis.
US08855625B2
Intelligent radio access technology sensing and selection are applied in a dynamic traffic steering network. Network characteristics and network policies are determined. A server sends network characteristics and network policies to user equipment devices. User equipment devices can determine a radio access technology to connect to based on network policies and network characteristics. Further, it can be determined how to select user equipment devices for connection to a radio access network via a radio access technology. In one aspect, user equipment devices dynamically select a radio access network for connection based on real-time or near real-time radio access network conditions. In another aspect, a self-organizing network can monitor and determine radio access network conditions and the radio access network conditions can be sent to user equipment devices in given cellular broadcast area.
US08855623B2
A propagation state measurement system includes a parameter update information reception means (101) and a measurement control means (102). The parameter update information reception means (101) stores a time when a radio parameter of a base station (30a) is updated. The measurement control means (102) indicates measurement of a radio wave state to a mobile terminal (40a) that can communicate with the base station (30a) at a timing determined according to the time stored by the parameter update information reception means (101). Then, when the radio parameter of the base station (30a) of a mobile communication system is updated, a change of the radio wave state by the radio parameter update is quickly and efficiently measured.
US08855622B2
The invention relates to systems and methods that enable a mobile device to be approximated with an object in order to enable control of the object. In one possible embodiment of a method of the invention, a mobile device is brought in physical proximity with an object, the identity of the object is determined wirelessly, based on such determination, a remote control user interface is presented by the mobile device, the mobile device receives input relating to a desired control action for the object, and the mobile device wirelessly communicates with a remote computer to facilitate control of the object. Various embodiments of the invention are possible to address a wide range of practical applications.
US08855620B2
The present invention comprises a system and method for receiving at an application server a request for a software application from a mobile device wherein the request includes an indicator that allows the application server to tell whether the mobile device currently has a software application interpreter installed, sending the software application interpreter to a cellular wireless network for provisioning to the mobile device if the indicator shows that the mobile device does not have the application interpreter installed, and sending the software application to a cellular wireless network for provisioning to the mobile device. The invention further comprises a system and method for updating the software application in a way that seems automatic to a user.
US08855617B2
Methods, systems and graphical user interfaces that facilitate activation of mobile devices, such as communication devices or multi-function devices, via computers are disclosed. According to one embodiment, activation of a mobile device with respect to a wireless service provider can be performed by users through use of a computer (e.g., personal computer) that communicate with a remotely located activation server. According to another embodiment, graphical user interfaces can be presented to users so as to enable end users to easily activate mobile devices.
US08855611B2
A system for real-time photograph printing service includes a personal terminal, a telecom terminal, and a printing service terminal. The personal terminal is triggered to transmit a digital photograph file and a phone number according to the personal terminal. The telecom terminal fetches a communication address of a user of the personal terminal according to the received telephone number, and the printing service terminal receives the digital photograph file to print out a physical photograph. Finally, the printed photograph is send to the communication address for user by post.
US08855609B2
Disclosed in an example embodiment herein is an apparatus comprising a user interface, and a controller coupled to the user interface. The controller is operative to display images associated with a message that has been forwarded at least once in a predefined format on the user interface, where a first image is associated with the original sender of the message. A first image is associated with the original sender of the message, and an additional image is associated with a party forwarding the message. The controller is operative to receive an input associated with the user interface indicating a selection of a displayed image, and plays back content added to the message by a party associated with the selected image.
US08855604B2
A roaming authentication method for a GSM system is disclosed. The method sends an IMSI of a user end to a visitor end, generates a challenge code, and sends the IMSI and the challenge code to a home end. The method further generates a random code, a signature code and a communication key and combines them into an authentication data. The method further generates and sends a response code to the visitor end. The user end generates and sends the authentication signature code to the visitor end for authentication purposes. In another embodiment, the visitor end sends one more challenge code to the home end. The home end generates an authentication key that is stored in the visitor end and used to generate an authentication code. The authentication code is sent to the use end which generates and sends an authentication signature code to the visitor end for authentication purposes.
US08855603B2
A system and method for updating a security key at a base station (BS) is disclosed. The method comprises the operation of transmitting a handover command from the base station to a mobile station. The operation of incrementing a base station instance of an authentication key counter at the base station follows. The next operation of the method can be calculating a new local authentication key (AK*) at the base station using the base station instance of the authentication key counter and an authentication key (AK). The AK may be previously obtained from an authenticator. The method further includes communicating by the base station with the mobile station using the new local authentication key after a predetermined action time.
US08855602B2
A mobile telecommunications network and method of operation that includes establishing a first user plane connection between a telecommunications device registered with the network and a network gateway device of the network via a first access point; providing the telecommunications device with a token using the first user plane connection; establishing a second user plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via a second access point by using the token information to validate the telecommunications device; and, subsequent to establishment of and corresponding to the second user plane connection, establishing a control plane connection between the telecommunications device and the network gateway device via the second access point. The token includes information indicative to the network that the telecommunications device has authorization to send a quantity of data to the network gateway device prior to full conventional authentication of the telecommunications device.
US08855569B2
Systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device are disclosed herein. In particular, a method of the present disclosure includes: listening for a first hailing signal to be received on at least one hailing channel selected from a plurality of hailing channels, selecting at least one hailing channel based upon a system time and a node identification; determining a noise floor for the at least one hailing channel; and upon receiving a noise signal on the at least one hailing channel, adjusting the noise floor in response to the noise signal.
US08855567B2
In an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network between wireless devices, a high priory first receiver device is configured to perform successive interference cancellation. A first pilot signal is received by the first receiver device from the first transmitter device. Similarly, a second pilot signal is received from a second transmitter device, the second pilot signal indicating that the second transmitter device intends to transmit a second traffic signal. The first receiver device determines a first and a second transmission rates for traffic transmissions from the first transmitter device. A control message is then transmitted by the first receiver device to the first transmitter device including the first and second transmission rates. Subsequently, the first receiver device wirelessly receives a traffic signal including a first traffic signal from the first transmitter device including a first and a second signal components generated from a first and a second codewords, respectively.
US08855563B2
A terminal apparatus (M101) includes a terminal unit (M201) and a near-field communication unit (M107). The terminal unit (M201) includes a main memory (M106) that stores operation history information of the terminal apparatus (M101) and a controller (M105). The near-field communication unit (M107) includes a communication control unit (M216) that performs near-field communication with the mobile apparatus (M102) and a near-field communication memory (M215). The controller (M105) stores, in the near-field in communication memory (M215), at least a part of the operation history information stored in the main memory (M106) when a malfunction of the terminal unit (M201) is detected, and the communication control unit (M216) transmits the operation history information stored in the near-field communication memory (M215) is by near-field communication to the mobile apparatus (M102), in accordance with a request from the mobile apparatus (M102).
US08855562B2
A method and system for enabling discovery of services and automated exchange of data between multiple Bluetooth devices are disclosed. The method includes measuring signal attenuation of a Bluetooth signal between a first Bluetooth device and a second Bluetooth device. The method further includes comparing the signal attenuation with a set of predefined threshold values. The set of predefined threshold values is associated with a set of services. The method also includes activating a corresponding service from among the set of services based on the comparison. Activating the corresponding service enables discovery of the service and automated exchange of data between the first Bluetooth device and the second Bluetooth device.
US08855558B2
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
US08855554B2
A wireless power system includes a power source, power receiver, and components thereof. The system can also include a parasitic antenna that can improve the coupling to the power source in various modes. The antenna can have both a variable capacitor and a variable inductor, and both of those can be changed in order to change characteristics of the matching.
US08855553B2
Technologies are presented for an architecture and infrastructure for a scalable, very high bandwidth, wireless network that can accommodate arbitrarily high geographic concentrations of high-bandwidth users. The architecture may include a network of highly localized service areas that communicate with a central access point through a hierarchy of aggregate-and-relay stages. Communications may be mediated by a hybrid combination of ad-hoc and infrastructure-network features that are supported separately within the framework of a standardized system, for example in the 60 GHz (millimeter-wave) band. The infrastructure may include a dense mesh of fixed control points that communicate over lossy, high-bandwidth, directional channels permitting dense spatial frequency sharing and providing for highly localized coverage, thereby enabling high user densities.
US08855536B2
A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer, a first developer conveyance member to supply developer to the developer bearer, a second developer conveyance member to transport developer axially, and a partition dividing an interior of the development casing into a supply channel and a collecting channel via which developer received from a downstream end portion of the supply channel is forwarded to an upstream end portion of the supply channel. The supply channel includes a conveyance area and a buffer area disposed adjacent to the conveyance area in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction to temporarily retain developer and midway in the developer conveyance direction inside the supply channel, and an upstream end face defining an upstream end of the buffer area is inclined relative to the axial direction to draw away from the conveyance area downstream in the developer conveyance direction.
US08855529B2
There is provided a device and method for aligning a doctor blade in a toner hopper of toner printer cartridge. In one embodiment there is provided a device for aligning a doctor blade in a toner hopper of a toner printer cartridge where the device has a base portion, at least one cartridge portion holding element on the base portion, and an alignment assembly portion setting a doctor blade alignment setting and aligning a doctor blade in a toner hopper retained by the cartridge portion holding element.
US08855525B2
A developing apparatus includes a first chamber for accommodating a developer, the first chamber being provided with a developer carrying member for carrying the developer; a second chamber communicated with the first chamber through communication openings provided at opposite end portions to establish a circulation path; a feeding member, provided in the second chamber, for feeding the developer in a feeding direction which is from one of the communication openings toward the other communication opening; a sealing portion for openably sealing the communication openings; a moving mechanism for opening the communication openings by moving the sealing portion; and a reverse feeding member for feeding the developer in a direction which is opposite the feeding direction.
US08855523B2
A developer-adhesive body unit is detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus. The developer-adhesive body unit includes a developer-adhesive body having a surface to which a developer adheres, a cleaning member that removes the developer from the surface of the developer-adhesive body, a developer storage portion storing the removed developer, and a contact portion contacting the surface of the developer-adhesive body at an upstream side of the cleaning member in a moving direction of the surface of the developer-adhesive body. A contact-and-separation unit causes the surface of the developer-adhesive body and the contact portion to separate from each other when the developer-adhesive body unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus and the surface of the developer-adhesive body moves. The contact-and-separation unit causes the surface of the developer-adhesive body and the contact portion to contact each other when the developer-adhesive body unit is not mounted to the image forming apparatus.
US08855522B2
A toner conveying apparatus includes a conveying unit providing a toner conveyance path having an inlet portion and an outlet portion and provided for conveying toner from the inlet portion to the outlet portion, and a first rotation member that is rotatable and located upstream in a toner conveying direction of the conveyance path, wherein the first rotation member rotates about a first rotating shaft to convey toner from an outside of the toner conveyance path toward the inlet portion. In addition, a second rotation member is rotatable and located downstream in the toner conveying direction of the conveyance path, wherein the second rotation member rotates about a second rotating shaft to convey toner from the outlet portion away from the toner conveyance path, and an agitation device agitates toner in the toner conveyance path. One end portion of the agitation device is connected to a first eccentric shaft eccentric with regard to the first rotation member and another end portion of the agitation device is connected to a second eccentric shaft eccentric with regard to the second rotation member.
US08855519B2
A blowing device includes a blower that blows air and an air duct including an inlet and an outlet. The air duct takes in the air through the inlet and guiding the air so that the air flows out through the outlet toward a corona discharge unit including a target component toward which the air is to be blown. The outlet of the air duct includes a through-portion in a non-overlapping region thereof, the non-overlapping region being a region of the outlet excluding an overlapping region of the outlet. The overlapping region corresponds to an interposed component of the corona discharge unit, the interposed component being located between the outlet and the target component at a position at which the interposed component overlaps the overlapping region.
US08855517B2
An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, an index provided at part of an end edge of the belt, a detecting member, a processing unit, and a storage unit. The detecting member changes an output value thereof based on the passing states of the index and the end edge of the belt in a detection area of the detecting member. The processing unit processes the output value and determines whether the index is present in the detection area by comparing the present output value with a threshold value. The storage unit stores the processed output value. The processing unit acquires a reference value based on the stored output value. The processing unit, when determining whether the index is present in the detection area, sets as the threshold value a value obtained by changing the most recently acquired reference value by a predetermined value.
US08855516B2
An image forming apparatus includes; an image forming station for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressing member; an air feeding member for air feeding cooling air toward the pressing member; and a shutter, provided between the air feeding member and the pressing member, for controlling an air feeding region, wherein the image forming apparatus operable selectively in a first mode for feeding the air an entire area with respect to the longitudinal direction of the pressing member, and in a second mode for feeding the air only a non-sheet-passing area when a small size sheet is fed.
US08855511B2
A storage container for a developer, includes: a first storage unit in which a collected developer is stored; a second storage unit which is disposed at an end of the first storage unit, in which the developer conveyed from the first storage unit is stored; a detection member which detects the developer stored in the second storage unit; a full-state determining unit which determines whether the first storage unit is a full state or not, based on a detected result of the detection member; and a conveyance member which is disposed in the first storage unit, and is rotated to convey the developer stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit, and the conveyance member has: a first region as defined herein; a second region as defined herein; and a third region as defined herein.
