US08858670B2
A filter arrangement for filtering the supply air of an engine, comprising a filter element with a folded filter medium, whereby the folded filter medium comprises longitudinal folds with fold walls and fold troughs, and a filter housing for receiving the filter element, whereby the filter housing comprises an upper part and a bottom part. A first insertion tongue is arranged on the upper part and a second insertion tongue is arranged on the bottom part, whereby at least one insertion tongue engages in a fold trough and whereby the insertion tongues press a fold wall between themselves is characterized in that, in regard to the problem of improving the sealing concept of the prior art and of preventing the passage of dust from the raw air side to the clean air side with a high degree of reliability, the filter element comprises side strips manufactured from a compressible material that can be compressed to at least 80% of its thickness in the unloaded state.
US08858669B2
An oil coalescing filter may be used in an oil separator tank with an industrial sized compressor/vacuum package, like a rotary screw compressor/vacuum or a liquid ring compressor/vacuum. The oil coalescing filter has filter media including: a first fiber media adapted for continuously removing oil; and a second fiber media adapted for final oil coalescing; the first fiber media having a greater basis weight than said second fiber media.
US08858668B2
A filter element includes a holding frame with an intake opening, an air intake disposed on the intake opening, and an anti-twist mechanism configured such that the filter element is only insertable into a filter housing in one position. The anti-twist mechanism includes a body with two asymmetrically configured recesses extending along a longitudinal axis of the holding frame. The filter element also includes two bellows disposed on the holding frame, the bellows and holding frame delimiting a cavity.
US08858666B2
A coating for a cutting tool, which includes a plurality of mutually superposed layers, characterized in that the coating has an outer cover layer with a first layer portion of metallic aluminium or an aluminium alloy and a second layer portion arranged thereover of aluminium oxide or a mixed oxide which contains aluminium and at least one further metal.
US08858656B2
The invention relates to a method for thermochemically converting organic waste material having high molecular weight into liquid combustible materials and fuels, comprising the following steps: feeding organic waste material into a reactor, heating the organic waste material to a temperature between 250° C. and 500° C. while avoiding exceeding critical coking temperatures in the reactor, feeding biogenic substances to the reactor, collecting and condensing the gases and vapors released from the mixture of organic waste material and biogenic substances, collecting the condensate and letting phases form, and removing the phase(s) containing liquid combustible materials and fuels.
US08858650B2
A method of treating a fabric using an effective amount of a two component system comprising: i) a source of peroxy bleach; and ii) a source of peroxy bleach activator in liquid form where the two components are mixed at the time and location of use to form an activated peroxy bleaching system.
US08858639B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for a cranial implant assembly adapted for insertion during a craniectomy procedure. In aspects, the inventive cranial implant assembly can contain a peripheral attachment member for attachment to the edge of a skull opening, as well as an articulated spanning member that over-arches and holds a cover in place over the opening. The articulated spanning member contains a central implant fastened or connected to a swollen dura in the skull opening. As swelling of the dura subsides, tension is exerted on guidewires in both the spanning member and cover to draw those constructs into a rigid state. The tips of the spanning member can gradually approach the peripheral attachment member, and register into place using a locking mechanism, such as a pair of opposing magnets. As a result, only one surgical operation or procedure Is required to both perform a craniectomy and implant a supporting assembly for eventual skull regeneration.
US08858632B2
Implants for replacing hyaline cartilage, with hydrogel reinforced by three-dimensional fiber arrays
Implants with hydrogel layers reinforced by three-dimensional fiber arrays can replace hyaline cartilage. Such implants should replace an entire cartilage segment, rather than creating a crevice around a plug, so these implants must be thin and flat, they must cover large areas, the tips of any tufts or stitches must not reach the hydrogel surface, and they must be flexible, for arthroscopic insertion. The use of computerized stitching machines to create such arrays enables a redesigned and modified test sample to be made with no delays, and no overhead or startup costs. This provides researchers with improved tools for making and testing implants that will need to go through extensive in vitro, animal, and human testing before they can be approved for sale and use. Fiber-reinforced hydrogels also can be secured to strong shape-memory rims, for securing anchoring to bones.
US08858629B2
A mastopexy implant for maintaining the breast in an elevated and aesthetically pleasing position includes a lower pole support comprising end portions which may be affixed to the chest wall or to a previously installed upper suspension strut. The implant is loaded in an insertion device. The insertion device is inserted through a small incision and into a subcutaneous pocket created in an inferior half of the breast. The lower pole support may have various constructs and in one embodiment includes a unitary conformable mesh having a plurality of arm or band members which are attached across the breast parenchyma and to the chest wall.
US08858622B2
Implants or systems of implants and methods apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants and methods make possible rapid deployment, facile endovascular delivery, and full intra-atrial retrievability. The implants or systems of implants and methods also make use of strong fluoroscopic landmarks. The implants or systems of implants and methods make use of an adjustable implant and a fixed length implant. The implants or systems of implants and methods may also utilize a bridge stop to secure the implant, and the methods of implantation employ various tools.
US08858621B2
The present disclosure concerns embodiments and methods of use of an introducer that is adapted to facilitate insertion of a prosthetic device, such as a prosthetic heart valve, into a patient's vasculature. In one embodiment, the introducer comprises an elongated body defining a central lumen extending between distal and proximal ends of the body. The introducer body can also have a longitudinally extending gap extending along the length of the body between the distal end proximal ends. The gap in the introducer allows a user to place the introducer around implant sutures by passing the sutures through the gap and into the central lumen. Similarly, the gap allows the introducer to be easily removed from the sutures and/or a delivery device by passing them outwardly through the gap.
US08858617B2
An endoluminal prosthesis that includes a support structure comprising a curvilinear portion having a first strut and a second strut that meet at an apex. Disposed on the support structure is an anchor with an anchor body and one or more barbs extending outwardly from the anchor body and where the anchor body comprises a multi-filar tube fits at least partially about, and conforms to the first strut, second strut, and the apex.
US08858616B2
In a stent intended for implantation in a living body and having a bridge structure in which at least two bridges are coupled to one another at at least one node region on at least one of the bridges near the node region, the section modulus of the bridge varies along the length thereof, and the stresses arising at the node region upon deformation of the stent are distributed in the longitudinal direction of the bridge.
US08858612B2
A method for improving the tissue oxygenation of a subject by identifying diminished blood flow in a blood vessel and deploying a flow reducing implant in a blood vessel. The flow reducing implant comprises a hollow element adapted for placement in the blood vessel defining a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage comprising at least two sections, one with a larger diameter and one with a smaller diameter, wherein said smaller diameter is smaller than a cross section of the blood vessel.
US08858607B1
A light source apparatus including light spectrum-converting materials that emit light primarily over large portions of the 360 nm-480 nm and the 590-860 nm spectral range is provided. This apparatus provides a cooled, high-luminance, high-efficiency light source that can provide a broader spectrum of light within these spectral ranges than has been cost-practical by using many different dominant peak emission LEDs. Up to 15% of the output radiant power may be in the spectral range 350-480 nm in one embodiment of this device, unless a specific separate source and lamp operating mode is provided for the violet and UV. Control methods for light exposure dose based on monitoring and controlling reflected or backscattered light from the illuminated surface and new heat management methods are also provided. This flexible or rigid light source may be designed into a wide range of sizes or shapes that can be adjusted to fit over or around portions of the bodies of humans or animals being treated, or mounted in such a way as to provide the special spectrum light to other materials or biological processes. This new light source can be designed to provide a cost-effective therapeutic light source for photodynamic therapy, intense pulsed light, for low light level therapy, diagnostics, medical and other biological applications as well as certain non-organic applications.
US08858604B2
A cervical plate assembly facilitates the fusion of cervical vertebrae by quickly and easily causing the vertebrae to exert a preloading force against a bone graft interposed therebetween. A cervical plate assembly also facilitates the installation of the cervical plate assembly in an orthopedic surgical procedure by providing both a locking mechanism that positively retains one or more fasteners thereto and a viewing window that results in an unobstructed view of the vertebrae and the bone graft.
US08858592B2
A medical device for wound closure, including an elongate body with a plurality of portions and a perforated region disposed therebetween. The medical device may also include an alignment member. The wound plug may also have a first position for insertion, the portions being mechanically coupled to each other, and a second position where one or more of the portions are spatially separated.
US08858587B2
A nasal dilator manufacturing process reduces waste by cutting nested strips of flexible resilient members interconnected by waste webs from a sheet of resilient-layer material. The nested strips are incorporated into a fabrication matrix with other layers (e.g. base or cover layers), then individual nasal dilators are formed by cutting through the matrix around a peripheral outline of a dilator, said cutting severing the nested strips that are part of the fabrication matrix near the waste webs between the flexible resilient members.
US08858585B2
A device for reducing or removing stenosis present in a blood vessel by means of a working catheter (7) is described. The working catheter comprises a lumen (8) forming a first working channel (9), extending from the distal end (11) to the proximal end of the working catheter for inserting an instrument (38) to reduce or remove the stenosis. Furthermore, a balloon catheter (16) is provided, which is configured separately from the working catheter, the balloon catheter comprising a sealing balloon (22) in the region of the distal end (21) thereof. The balloon catheter comprises two lumen (18, 20) that are configured separately from each other, of which one is connected to the sealing balloon for the dilation of the same, while the other one forms a second working channel (19) extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the balloon catheter. The sealing balloon is configured for the lateral encompassing of the distal end region of the working catheter such that if a working catheter and a balloon catheter are inserted into the blood vessel next to each other a seal is formed between the outsides of the working catheter and of the balloon catheter and the inside wall of the blood vessel by means of the dilated sealing balloon.
US08858583B2
A lancing device (e.g., pen) having an integrated thermoelectric (e.g., Peltier) cooler. The lancing device includes an elongated heat accumulator having a lumen along which a piston having a lancet thereon translates back and forth. A Peltier device and a cooling ring are thermally interconnected to one end of the heat accumulator and include central apertures through which the lancet can extend. The lancing device also includes an integrated battery and microcontroller for supplying and regulating power to the Peltier device. Upon a current being sent through the Peltier device, a cold side of the Peltier device and hence the cooling ring gives up thermal energy and reduces in temperature. The cooling ring can then be placed about a body tissue (e.g., skin) for a period of time (e.g., 3-5 seconds) to desensitize the body tissue, and then the lancet can be fired to puncture the body tissue.
US08858578B2
A medical assembly includes an implant and an envelope at least partially enclosing a portion of the implant. The envelope may include a tongue to protect the implant, a scaffold to provide integrity to the envelope, a tab access to ease envelope withdrawal, and/or one or more discontinuities to ease envelope withdrawal.
US08858572B2
An endoscopic stitching machine, including a housing for mounting the actuators for the stitch-forming tools (needle, gripper and pressure pad), and a housing shaft to house one or more devices for the transmission of the movements generated by the actuators to the stitch-forming tools, whereby the housing shaft (3) and the transmission devices (9, 12, 13) are divided into two shaft parts (14, 15) and lower and upper transmission devices (9a, 12a, 13a and 9b, 12b, 13b), in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, detachably connected to each other by means of a corresponding coupling piece (26), whereby the coupling pieces (26) may be introduced into and positively housed within corresponding recesses (32, 33) of the lower and upper transmission means (9a, 12a, 13a and 9b, 12b, 13b), parallel to the section plane and running in the longitudinal direction of the transmission devices (9, 12, 13).
US08858562B2
Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour the plate laterally, longitudinally and with twist. More particularly, such plate contouring can be performed while the plate is located on the bone.
US08858561B2
An orthopedic apparatus includes an alignment guide attachable to one of a femoral joint surface of a femur of a patient. The alignment guide has a patient-specific three-dimensional engagement surface, and at least one guiding portion defining a guiding passage. The engagement surface anatomically matches a corresponding portion of the femoral joint surface.
US08858544B2
A surgical instrument guide for facilitating treatment of a target tissue is provided. The surgical instrument guide may be placed between two groups of tissue such that a first group of tissue is cut and a second group of tissue is protected from being cut. The surgical instrument guide may lift tissue and slide tissue along a surface so that a target tissue may be cut to a desired depth more easily during a surgical procedure. The surgical instrument guide may be releasably attachable to a surgical instrument or integrally formed therewith.
US08858542B2
A medical laser system and related methods of utilizing cooling within and around an optical fiber tip to prevent premature failure of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is surrounded by a protective jacket assembly including a body tube assembly, and a tip cap assembly. The body tube assembly includes an internal fiber jacket, and an external body tube with a body tube channel defined therebetween. The tip cap assembly includes an inner cap member and an outer cap member defining a cap irrigation channel therebetween. Together, the cap irrigation channel and body tube channel cooperatively define an internal irrigation channel. The optical fiber can be delivered to a treatment location through a cystoscope. Saline is directed through an external irrigation channel between the cystoscope and the protective jacket assembly, as well as the internal irrigation channel to cool the fiber tip and prevent overheating and failure of the optical fiber.
US08858539B2
An opthalmological apparatus for breakdown of eye tissue includes a base station with a light source for generating light pulses, a support arm, with an application head that can be placed onto an eye, is mounted on the base station. The light pulses are transmitted from the base station to the application head through an optical transmission system. The application head has a light projector for focused projection of the light pulses for punctiform breakdown of eye tissue. The support arm is of rigid design with horizontal orientation and has a hinge with a horizontally oriented rotation axis, the hinge is mounted in such a way that the application head can be placed onto the eye with a rotation extending about the rotation axis. The hinge permits controlled manual docking of the application head and light projector onto the eye in a vertical direction, via a rotation movement that is easy to perform and has minimal mechanical friction.
US08858533B2
A low profile adaptor is disclosed to reduce the length of a gastrostomy tube that has been inserted by means of conventional endoscopic procedures or with a replacement feeding tube inserted into the patient's stomach. The gastrostomy tube is cut to the appropriate length by the physician. The adaptor comprises a stem which is inserted into the open end of the gastrostomy tube. The valve assembly contains a seal that functions as a one-way valve to prevent reflux of gastric contents but permits the introduction of feeding solution into the feeding tube. A lock and key mechanism is incorporated into the hub of the gastrostomy tube to prevent disconnection of the feeding tube. A cover is placed over the opening of the adapter to prevent contamination of the lumen of the gastrostomy tube.
US08858524B2
An absorbent article is disclosed including a fluid and vapor pervious combination sheet having a shape defining a longitudinal axis, a minimum lateral dimension and a maximum lateral dimension, and a containment assembly having a shape defining a maximum lateral dimension which is less than the maximum lateral dimension of the combination sheet. The containment assembly includes a central, fluid permeable portion of the combination sheet; a fluid impermeable backing film disposed beneath the combination sheet; and an absorbent core sandwiched between the central portion of the combination sheet and the backing film. The containment assembly is integrally attached to the combination sheet along the longitudinal axis, and the combination sheet forms a plurality of breathable regions laterally disposed beyond the containment assembly. The backing film forms at least a portion of a stay away zone that resists engagement by the laterally disposed breathable regions.
US08858523B2
A disposable wearable absorbent article comprising an absorbent core area, a side, and an anchoring subsystem. The anchoring subsystem includes exactly one side anchoring member. The side anchoring member has a pathway with a front end, a back end, and a middle. The front end, the back end, or both ends are disposed outside of the absorbent core area. The front end is disposed at a front end longitudinally outboard distance. The back end is disposed at a back end longitudinally outboard distance. The middle is disposed at a middle longitudinally outboard distance. The front end longitudinally outboard distance is less than the back end longitudinally outboard distance. The back end longitudinally outboard distance is about equal to the middle longitudinally outboard distance.
US08858519B2
Disposable elements for use in ostomy. In one embodiment a cap with an integral bag is provided. In another embodiment a sealable bag is provided with means for sealing. In another embodiment, the ostomy port itself is disposable.
US08858515B2
An antimicrobial sanitizer system for application of an antimicrobial material on skin or mucous membranes featuring a base handle (110) and a stem extending upwardly from the stem end of the base handle. The stem optionally is extendable from and retractable into an inner cavity in the base handle. The distal end of the stem is rounded and is adapted for insertion into the nasal cavity. At least a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the stem features an antimicrobial material such as but not limited to copper.
US08858510B2
The present invention relates to a safety pen needle device comprising a generally tubular hub having a proximal and a distal end, said hub comprising attachment means arranged at its distal end for attaching the safety pen needle device to a medicament container assembly, and a coaxially arranged needle attachment member; an injection needle having an injection end and a non injection end, said injection needle being attached inside said hub and extending through the needle attachment member; wherein said device further comprises a generally tubular rotatable sleeve rotatable arranged on said hub, said rotatable sleeve comprising on its outer circumferential surface at least one guide track comprising flexible means; a generally tubular needle shield slidably arranged on said rotatable sleeve, said needle shield comprising at least one guide protrusion on its inner circumferential surface, wherein said at least one protrusion is arranged to interact with said at least one guide track and with said flexible means; and resilient means co-acting with said needle shield for urging said needle towards the distal end of the device.
US08858499B2
A liquid injector registers the data of a variable pattern in which an injection rate of a contrast medium varies with time. The injection rate of the contrast medium varies with time according to the variable pattern for maintaining a state in which the image contrast achieved by the contrast medium approximates an optimum level.
US08858496B2
Described herein are bioerodible, biodegradable, or digestible self-deploying intragastric implants that may be swallowed. Once swallowed, the implants undergo self-expansion in the stomach and apply a suitable pressure against the stomach wall to provide a feeling of satiety to the individual. The implants then dissolve or are disassembled perhaps using gastric liquids and pass out of the stomach. Methods of using the devices, perhaps for an individual participating in a dietary control regimen, are described.
US08858488B2
A dialysis system including a dialysis machine including a blood pump actuator, dialysate pump actuator, a blood valve actuator and a dialysate valve actuator; and a disposable cassette operable with the dialysis machine, the disposable cassette including: (i) a housing, (ii) a dialysate pump portion of the housing configured to operate with the dialysate pump actuator, (iii) a blood valve portion of the housing configured to operate with the blood valve actuator, (iv) a dialysate valve portion of the housing configured to operate with the dialysate valve actuator, (v) a dialyzer supported by the housing, the dialyzer including a dialysate inlet and a dialysate outlet, (vi) a first dialysate connection extending externally from the housing to the dialyzer inlet, and (vii) a second dialysate connection extending externally from the housing to the dialyzer outlet.
US08858486B2
A method for determining the recirculation in a fistula and/or the cardiopulmonary recirculation part during an extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed, where the blood to be treated flows in an extracorporeal blood circuit through a blood chamber of a dialyzer split by a semi-permeable membrane into the blood chamber and a liquid chamber, and dialysis liquid flows in a dialysis liquid path through the dialysis liquid chamber of the dialyzer. A device for determining the recirculation in a fistula and/or the cardiopulmonary recirculation part, and a blood treatment device including such a device are also disclosed. The method and device are based on the fact that the sum of the fistula recirculation and the cardiopulmonary recirculation part, i.e. the total recirculation, is determined for two blood flow rates which differ from each other. The fistula recirculation and/or the cardiopulmonary recirculation part are then determined from the recirculation for the two blood flow rates.
US08858483B2
Provided is an Achilles tendon support capable of suppressing a dorsiflexion of an ankle joint as well as suppressing a twist of the ankle joint. The Achilles tendon support includes: an inner support section for covering an Achilles tendon and both side edge portions thereof, upper portions of the inner support section being fastenable to each other on a front side of an upper ankle portion with a hook and loop fastener; and an outer support section for covering the Achilles tendon and both the side edge portions thereof in a range from a sole through a back heel portion, upper portions of the outer support section being fastenable to an outer surface of the inner support section with a hook and loop fastener.
US08858474B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods are sized and configured to effectively and efficiently augment the flow of fluid within body vessels, not only during conditions in which a patient is bedbound and immobile, but also in conditions when the individual is out of bed, and completely mobile and ambulatory.
US08858471B2
A method and system for ultrasound treatment are provided. Acoustic energy, including ultrasound, can serve as input energy to a mask with apertures, such apertures acting as secondary acoustic sources to create a modulated output acoustic energy in a treatment region and treatment effects. Under proper control output energy can be precisely placed and controlled in tissue. In some embodiments, methods and systems are configured for ultrasound treatment based on creating an output energy distribution in tissue. In some embodiments, methods and systems are configured based on creating an output temperature distribution in tissue.
US08858469B2
A method of determining the offset of the head part of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis stem component, relative to the neck of the stem part on which the head part can be fitted, involves obtaining a first and second images of the patient's joint on a non-coincident first and second planes. Template parts are fitted to the first and second images of the bone, which have markings on them which can be placed relative to the head part and the stem part respectively of the patient's bone, and scales for measuring first and second displacements which are the distances between the axis of the head part and the axis of the neck of the patient's bone measured in the first and second planes.
US08858467B2
A lancing device for generating a puncture wound in a body part to obtain a body fluid sample for analytical or diagnostic purposes, in particular, by using integrated disposables that comprise a lancing element as well as an associated test element is disclosed. In order to achieve a high success rate in obtaining the body fluid sample, a drive can be designed such that the lancing element or the test element can be moved into a contact position while remaining in a position near the body part contact opening during a deployment period. If the amount of sample obtained in a lancing movement is inadequate to carry out the analysis or diagnosis, the lancing element can be brought into contact with the sample by a user by manual positioning the lancing device to manually take up a sample obtained by manually milking the sampling site in the region of the puncture wound.
US08858466B2
The invention concerns a disposable diagnostic part comprising a lancing element (14) which is designed for puncturing the skin (26) and has a collecting channel (16) for taking up body fluid, and comprising a detection element (18) which has a test layer (42) provided with reagents for the detection of an analyte in the body fluid and is disposed in the collecting channel (16). In order to ensure an improved stability and biocompatibility it is proposed that the detection element (18) is provided with a sealing layer (20) that is applied to the test layer (42) and covers the reagents.
US08858464B2
A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a cutting element, a biopsy line, a motor line, and a vacuum line. The cutting element includes an outer cannula and an inner cannula. The biopsy line is operatively connected to a control console for moving the inner cannula within the outer cannula to cut tissue cores. The motor line is operatively connected to the control console for operating the surgical device. The vacuum line is operatively connected to the inner cannula. A selectively openable tissue filter is operatively connected to the inner cannula, and is also connected to the vacuum line.
US08858462B2
A biopsy system includes a biopsy targeting assembly, a needle, and a biopsy device. The biopsy targeting assembly includes a cradle. The needle is releasably supported by the targeting assembly. The biopsy device includes a body having a tissue collection assembly and a cutter. The cutter is translatable relative to the body and extends distally from the body. The cradle of the targeting assembly releasably supports the body of the biopsy device distally of the tissue collection assembly. The biopsy device translates a distal portion of the cutter within the needle with the needle supported by the targeting assembly.
US08858456B2
According to various embodiments, methods and systems for determining pressure in the lungs may employ intracuff pressure measurements. The intracuff pressure measurements may calibrated or adjusted based on a set of calibration coefficients or a set of calibration curves, which may reflect patient parameters and cuff/tube geometry factors. The resulting calibration may be used to determine a more accurate estimate of lung pressure, which in turn may be used to control a ventilator and provide breathing assistance to a patient. Also provided are tracheal tubes with couplers or other memory devices for storing calibration information. Such tubes may allow calibration at the level of an individual tracheal tube to account for changes in tube geometry and individual patient factors.
US08858446B2
According to one embodiment, a color Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, a transmission/reception unit, a quadrature phase detection unit configured to perform quadrature phase detection of an output from the transmission/reception unit, a filter unit configured to perform first orthogonal transformation for an output from the quadrature phase detection unit in a depth direction, perform second orthogonal transformation for a result obtained by the first orthogonal transformation in an ensemble direction, apply a two-dimensional filter to obtained frequency data to extract a blood flow component from the frequency data, and sequentially perform inverse transformation of the second orthogonal transformation and inverse transformation of the first orthogonal transformation for an output from the two-dimensional filter, and a blood flow component information calculation unit configured to calculate blood flow component information based on an output from the filter unit.
US08858420B2
The present application discloses a vibration-based hearing prosthesis configured to measure the vibration applied by a hearing prosthesis to the skull of the hearing prosthesis recipient while the recipient is wearing the hearing prosthesis. Directly measuring the applied vibration in situ allows hearing characteristics to be more accurately mapped to voltage inputs. A recipient's hearing threshold and associated voltage input may be directly measured. Additionally, measuring the applied vibrations allows co-listening. A doctor can monitor the sound output from a vibration-based hearing prosthesis as it is worn by a recipient. Directly measuring the vibration output also allows an additional degree of freedom in diagnostics because a recipient can perform diagnostic tests at home.
US08858413B2
The invention relates to a device for forming sleeve-like foil envelopes from a flat strip of foil material (12), at least comprising supply means (10) for supplying the flat strip of foil material; cutting means (20) for cutting the strip of foil material through over the entire width thereof so as to obtain a foil envelope strip of a specific length having a first and a second free edge (120a, 120b); at least one enveloping unit, around which the foil envelope strip is to be wrapped; joining means disposed near said enveloping unit for joining said first and said second free edge together, so as to obtain a sleeve-like foil envelope; as well as discharge means for discharging the sleeve-like foil envelope thus formed from the enveloping unit.
US08858410B2
An exercise apparatus for providing multi-directional training to the body of a user is disclosed. The exercise apparatus allows the user to exercise the mid-section, hips, legs, ankles and connective tissues enjoining all the muscles in these areas. The exercise apparatus comprises a support, two foot platforms, and means for attaching the foot platforms to the support. The exercise apparatus is designed to be free standing or to be mounted onto other supporting structures. The apparatus has multiple interchangeable parts, attachments and accessories for allowing several types of exercises.
US08858405B2
An exercise device includes a frame with a pair of longitudinal support rails arranged side by side in a spaced apart arrangement, a connector for connecting the rails and a first end adapted to accept a wheel. The frame is bent at its first end such that when the frame is laid level on a surface, the wheel is not in contact with the surface upon which the frame lies and when the second end of the frame is raised, the wheel engages the surface. The frame also has one or more weight support members for receiving weights such as weight plates.
US08858398B2
A training script device is described that conveniently allows a user to create a training script defining one or more steps of a workout routine, where each step may include an activity, a duration for performing that activity, and an intensity at which the activity is to be performed. Further, one or more steps of the training script can be self-starting in response to performance data detected by sensors of training script device executing the training script. This conveniently frees the athlete from having to continuously monitor the status of his or her workout activities. Still further, the training script device conveniently allows a user to transfer training scripts to other training script devices, so that athletes can share successful training scripts.
US08858389B2
A variator assembly for a transmission includes an input shaft, an input disc, an output disc, a roller, a trunnion, a piston, and a connection member. The input shaft defines an axis of rotation and the input disc is rotationally coupled to the input shaft and coaxial with the axis of rotation. The roller is disposed between the input disc and the output disc to provide a speed ratio between the input disc and the output disc. The trunnion is connected to the roller and includes a connecting feature. The piston defines a central bore. The connection member has a head portion, a shaft portion, and a connecting portion, where the connecting portion is connected to the connecting feature of the trunnion, the head portion abuts the piston, and the shaft portion is disposed in the central bore of the piston.
US08858375B2
A fixed or adjustable chain guide includes a captured shoulder bolt fastener. An adjustable chain guide such as a chain tensioner arm assembly includes a tensioner arm with a pivot bore defined about a pivot axis. The pivot bore includes an inner end opening through a rear face of the tensioner arm and an outer end opening through a front face of the tensioner arm. The tensioner arm further includes at least one resilient fastener retaining tab located adjacent the pivot bore. The shoulder bolt extends through the pivot bore and is engaged by the at least one resilient fastener retaining tab, and the at least one fastener retaining tab inhibits separation of the fastener from the tensioner arm. The fastener preferably includes an annular groove or other recess to be engaged by the one or more fastener retaining tabs in order to permit the tensioner arm to rotate relative to the fastener. New shoulder bolt fasteners are also defined, each including a shoulder region having at least one retaining feature such as an annular groove adapted to be engaged by a projecting portion of an associated component for axially capturing the fastener to the associated component while permitting rotation of the associated component relative to the fastener.
US08858365B2
Disclosed herein is a six piece golf ball wherein each part of the golf ball has certain characteristics.
US08858362B1
A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a sole or a body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the sole or body patch, and each of the weight ports includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a wall having a variable thickness and varying radius.
US08858361B2
A golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a striking face. The striking face includes a plurality of scorelines each having an average depth no less than about 0.10 mm, a plurality of first micro-grooves each having an average depth no greater than about 0.010 mm, and a plurality of second micro-grooves overlaid on the first micro-grooves, each of the second micro-grooves having an average depth greater than the average depth of the first micro-grooves. Some embodiments can also have a plurality of textured surface treatment regions superimposed on the overlaid first and second micro-grooves so as to at least partially intersect the micro-grooves.
US08858353B2
A stand for supporting a golf flagpole in an inclined position includes a collar rotatably secured to the shaft of the flagpole and one or more legs pivotably coupled to the collar. The one or more legs hang generally parallel to the shaft when the flagpole is in an upright position. When the flag of the flagpole is tipped toward the green, the one or more legs swing outwardly away from the shaft to a position generally perpendicular to the shaft to support the flagpole in an inclined position. Regardless of the position or direction that the legs are facing when the flag is tipped toward the green, the collar rotates so that the legs extend to the green to support the flagpole.
US08858350B2
An inflatable rocket assembly is an apparatus that improves upon existing rocket shaped balloons. The apparatus is provided in a particular arrangement that enables said inflatable rocket assembly to traverse a fluid, in a particular manner, upon being thrown by human capable means. The inflatable rocket assembly is able to provide amusement and function as a teaching tool to a user through a plurality of interactions. The apparatus utilizes the combination of an inflatable body coupled with a plurality of front fins and a plurality of tail fins in order to achieve a particular flight characteristic while traversing through a fluid. The particular component arrangement allows the inflatable rocket assembly to be thrown through the air, achieving distances of 30′ feet or more while requiring very little effort from the user. Furthermore, the inflatable rocket assembly is provided in manner that permits it to be easily inflated and deflated.
US08858346B2
A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are substantially transverse to the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of transitioning peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion.
US08858344B2
A damper includes an outer cover having a front cover and a rear cover. The covers are joined to form a lubricant oil accommodation chamber for accommodating liquid. A damper device, a limiter mechanism, a first plate including a first collar portion located toward the front of the limiter mechanism, and a second plate including a second collar portion located toward the rear of the limiter mechanism are arranged in the outer cover. The limiter mechanism includes a first limiter plate, which is an input side on the torque transmission path, a second limiter plate, which is an output side on the torque transmission path, and a limiter disc spring, which presses the limiter plates.
US08858340B2
A server device according to an embodiment is connected to a plurality of player terminals to communicate information with the player terminals. The server device includes: a storage unit configured to store game content information, the game content information being configured to have special numbers at a predetermined interval in serial number order; a providing unit configured to select the same number of pieces of game content as the number of the predetermined interval, and to provide the selected pieces of game content at a time; a provision notice information generating unit configured to generate provision notice information for notifying in advance of whether a piece of game content with a special number is to be provided; and an image data generating unit configured to generate image data for displaying a game screen on a display unit of the player terminal before providing the pieces of game content.
US08858338B2
A method of integrating client devices into a game networking system is disclosed. A location of a client device of a user of a group of users is enabled to be detected by a game networking system. A notification is received from the game networking system of an incentive reward to be provided to the user based on the group of users performing a set of tasks at the location within a time period. The notification is displayed in a user interface of the client device.
US08858331B2
An exercise game system of the present invention includes a plurality of game clients and a game server. The game clients transmit over a network, exercise intensity information in which exercise intensities of the players performing various types of exercises are measured. The game server drives an exercise game by receiving exercise intensity information of the respective players from the game clients over the network, and by determining a motion of a game object to be displayed on a game screen based on exercise intensity information that is balanced according to a predetermined balancing rule about at least one element of exercise intensity, a change rate, and a duration time according to different types of exercises. In this instance, the game screen is represented to be capable of recognizing the motion of the game object that is affected by adjusting the intensity of exercise performed by the players.
US08858325B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses provided for modifying the effect of an operator controlled input device on an interactive device to encourage the self-regulation of at least one physiological activity by a person different than the operator. The interactive device comprises a display area which depicts images and apparatus for receiving at least one input from the operator controlled input device to thus permit the operator to control and interact with at least some of the depicted images. One effect modification comprises measurement of the physiological activity of a person different from the operator, while modifying the ability of the operator to control and interact with at least some of the depicted images by modifying the input from the operator controlled input device in response to changes in the measured physiological signal.
US08858322B2
Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for games that may be adjusted to provide bonuses to players playing together, such as when one player has referred the other to the system. Game win amounts may be adjusted to account for bonuses that may be provided to Refer-A-Friend (RAF) players.
US08858316B2
A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.
US08858314B1
A server device executes one battle by spending the spending parameter in response to a player's operational input, and recovers the spending parameter by using a recovery item owned by the player. The server device calculates the total number of recovery items used to recover the spending parameter when one battle is fought for a plurality of times while repeating spending and recovering the spending parameter in response to operational inputs from the player until a hit point parameter of the enemy character is brought to less than or equal to a value. In response to one special operational input from the player, the server device determines whether the number of recovery items owned by the player is greater than or equal to the total number of recovery items calculated. When the determination is affirmative, the total number of recovery items calculated is automatically used from among the recovery items.
US08858312B1
A reaction program system including a reaction program implemented on a reaction system platform, the reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device.
US08858311B2
A traveling virtual pet game simulates a pet traveling between various geographic locations. As the pet travels, users interact with the virtual pet to aid the pet in acquiring traits associated with the geographic regions in which it travels and to observe traits that the pet has previously acquired.
US08858308B2
A set of methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported greenhouse or other structure requiring pressurization and ventilation.A method for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure comprises directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means, such as a fan, or fans in parallel, operating in the intake direction, and into the internal space of the air-supported structure and out of the internal space of the air-supported structure through internal pressure regulating exhaust means, whereby the internal space of the structure will be ventilated and pressurized with the assistance of any external wind and the reliability of mechanical flow means (fans). This method allows for the efficient, effective, and economical cooling, through ventilation, of a protected space created by a light permeable membrane (cover), which is supported only by internal air pressure against the weight of the membrane and dynamic pressures of the external wind, itself.Apparatus for directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for internal pressure regulation are also disclosed.Some benefits are less power consumption, minimal internal static pressure (just enough to overcome the external wind), less potential film breakage (than conventional frame-supported poly greenhouses), more light transmission, less cost, and more portability.
US08858299B2
A blade processing (e.g., sharpening) device includes two sets of overlapping edge processing rings. Inner diameter surfaces of the edge processing rings define a notch suitable for effectively processing a blade with a convex cutting edge profile. Certain types of edge processing rings are movable relative to one another to adjust an edge processing angle of the notch. Certain types of blade processing devices also can also process blades with concave cutting edge profiles. The rings may be contained at least partially within a protective housing. A blade can be processed by inserting a blade through a blade insertion opening in the housing and into the notch while a handle of the blade remains outside the housing. By grasping the handle, the blade can be manually reciprocated within the notch during edge processing.
US08858297B2
Provided is a gear grinding method wherein an initial cutting position by a grindstone is appropriately set, resulting in an improvement being able to be made in machining accuracy. For this purpose, the gear grinding method is such that rotation of a workpiece (W) about a workpiece rotation axis (C), cutting by a grindstone (15) in the X-axis direction, and feeding of the grindstone (15) in the Z-axis direction are controlled, resulting in the workpiece (W) being ground by the grindstone (15). In this method, measurement points (P1-P9) are set in a grid-like pattern on a left tooth surface (WL) and a right tooth surface (WR) of a predetermined tooth (Wa) of the workpiece (W); rotation phases about the workpiece rotation axis (C) at the measurement points (P1-P9) are detected; tooth thickness deviation amounts (e) between a reference involute tooth surface and the measurement points (P1-P9) on the left and right tooth surfaces, as well as tooth thickness deviation amounts (e) between the involute tooth surface and corresponding points (Q1-Q9) on all teeth other than the tooth (Wa), are obtained on the basis of the detected rotation phases; and an initial cutting position (X1) for the grindstone (15) is set on the basis of the largest of the deviation amounts (e).
US08858292B2
A tumbling toy assembly that spins on a flat surface and tumbles down an inclined surface. The toy assembly has a body. A fulcrum protrusion extends downwardly from the bottom of the body. The fulcrum protrusion is aligned on an imaginary spin axis. This enables the body to spin in a stable manner upon the fulcrum protrusion. Furthermore, the body defines an internal weight chamber having a first end and an opposite second end that are aligned with the imaginary spin axis. A weight is disposed within the weight chamber. The weight is free to move between the first end and the second end of the weight chamber along the imaginary spin axis. Protrusions extend outwardly from the body. The protrusions cause deviations in the direction of tumble as the tumbling toy assembly tumbles down an inclined plane.
US08858285B1
A generally rectilinear buoyant life preserver has a head hole and an upper section constituting a reception area above the head hole. A box-like pouch is coupled to the reception area. The pouch has an open front with a chamber created within the pouch. A buoyant cover is adapted to be coupled to and uncoupled from the pouch to close and open the chamber. A streamer fabricated of a flexible plastic sheet material has an inner end attached to the pouch and an outer end attached to the cover.
US08858283B2
An engine includes a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders, an exhaust manifold, and an exhaust pipe. The exhaust manifold includes a first passage and a second passage. The first passage includes a plurality of first inflow ports into which exhaust gases flow from the plurality of cylinders, a first collecting portion that collects exhaust gases that have flowed into the plurality of first inflow ports, and a first exhaust port through which exhaust gases collected by the first collecting portion are discharged. The second passage includes a second inflow port into which exhaust gases flow and a second exhaust port through which exhaust gases that have flowed into the second inflow port are discharged. The exhaust pipe includes a connection passage through which the first exhaust port and the second inflow port are connected together.
US08858279B1
A bracket assembly for mounting a marine outboard engine to a watercraft has a stern bracket, a swivel bracket pivotally connected to the stern bracket about a generally horizontal tilt/trim axis, and at least one linear actuator connected to the swivel bracket. The at least one linear actuator includes a fixed portion connected to the swivel bracket, a movable portion being extendable and retractable linearly relative to the fixed portion, and a roller rotationally connected to the movable portion. At least one ramp is connected to the stern bracket. The roller of the at least one linear actuator abuts a surface of the at least one ramp over at least a range of angles between the stern bracket and the swivel bracket as the swivel bracket pivots about the generally horizontal tilt/trim axis. A marine outboard engine having the bracket assembly is also disclosed.
US08858266B2
A high speed communication jack including a housing including a port for accepting a plug, the port including a plurality of pins each connected to a corresponding signal line in the plug and a shielding case surrounding the housing. A flexible circuit board between the shielding case and the housing having a substrate, a plurality of vias extending through the substrate with each via being configured to accommodate a pin on the housing, a plurality of traces on a first side of the substrate, with each trace extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of vias, and a shielding plane on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side of the substrate.
US08858265B2
A connector has a fixture with multiple slits defined therein, multiple terminals, a metal housing and a metal casing. One ends of the terminals are received in corresponding slits and the other ends of the terminals are exposed from the fixture. The metal housing encloses the exposed other ends of the terminals and connected to the metallic baffle. The metal casing encloses the fixture and a part of the metal housing.
US08858264B2
A retainer is provided to retain an electrically conductive terminal within a receptacle. The retainer has a longitudinal body sized to be received by the receptacle and engage the terminal to retain the terminal within the receptacle. The body has an aperture formed therethrough sized to receive a pin through the aperture to contact the terminal. A shoulder extends transversely from the body to engage a distal end of the receptacle and position the body relative to the receptacle. A fastener extends longitudinally from the shoulder and is spaced apart from the body to fasten the retainer to the receptacle. A receptacle assembly is provided with a barb formed externally on a body. An electrically conductive terminal is received within the receptacle assembly. A retainer is provided on an opening of the receptacle to retain the terminal therein in engagement with the barb to fasten the retainer to the body.
US08858262B2
A connector (200), such as but not limited to a coaxial female F-connector, has an integral surge protector. The F-connector includes a connector body (220) with an extended center conductor lead (215). Attached to the F-connector and substantially surrounding the lead is an inductor, such as a toroid core (300) having windings (315) thereon. In one configuration one end (320) of the windings is attached to the center conductor lead and the other end (325) is attached to an electrical ground. In another configuration that other end is attached to a circuit ground via a capacitor, a power supply, or a biasing circuit. The inductor serves to shunt a surge to ground. A series capacitor is connected between the center conductor lead and an input/output port on an electronic circuit, passes the desired signal, and further helps to prevent a surge from reaching the device.
US08858255B2
A distribution block assembly includes a base and a cover removably connected to the base. A first opening in the base receives a conductor and a second opening in the base removably receives a fastener to secure the conductor received in the first opening. A tab extends from the cover toward the base. A magnetic member is connected to the tab to releasably secure a fastener when the fastener is not disposed in the second opening. The magnetic member prevents movement and loss of the fastener when removed from the second opening.
US08858251B2
A connector having a coupler-body continuity member is provided, wherein the coupler-body continuity member electrically couples a coupler and a body, thereby establishing electrical continuity between the coupler and the body. Furthermore, the coupler-body continuity member facilitates grounding through the connector, and renders an electromagnetic shield preventing ingress of unwanted environmental noise.
US08858249B2
Provided is a connector including a plug and a receptacle which are adapted to be fitted together. The plug includes a plate-like or sheet-like connection object, a ground shell which is disposed on one surface side of the connection object so as to be spaced apart therefrom, and a guide covering front end portions of the connection object and the ground shell. The receptacle includes contacts and an actuator having a cam operating portion which is made of a material different from that of the ground shell. When the actuator is operated in a state where the plug and the receptacle are fitted together, the cam operating portion is rotated on the ground shell to press the connection object onto the contacts.
US08858246B2
A power source circuit shutoff device includes: a base housing including a first mating wall and a cam pin; a lever housing including a second mating wall; and an operation lever rotatably supported to the lever housing and having a cam groove for guiding the cam pin. The base housing and the lever housing are set to a lever mating start position in which the first mating wall and the second mating wall are partly overlapped with each other and the cam pin is entered into the cam groove of the operation lever, and a rotation of the operation lever moves the cam pin in the cam groove to thereby cause a mating force between the first mating wall and the second mating wall. The base housing and the lever housing respectively have restriction ribs.
US08858245B2
A power outlet may comprise an enclosure with at least one plug jack, a reset button comprising at least one integrally formed extension latch arm, the extension latch arm comprising at least one positioning pin, and at least one baffle configured to selectively block at least a portion of the plug jack, the baffle comprising an outer wall comprising a face, a pin slit, and a leg. The extension latch arm positioning pin is configured to selectively press against the outer wall face when the extension latch arm is in an upward position. The extension latch arm positioning pin is configured to selectively enter the outer wall pin slit when the extension latch arm is in a downward position.
US08858243B2
An electrical connector includes a housing including a base portion and a tongue portion and contacts. The contacts include contacting plate at the tongue portion, leg portion extending from the rear and retaining portions retained in the base portion. The contacts includes a first group and second group, each group including ground contacts and signal contacts. The contacting plates of the first group are located along a first side face of the tongue portion, the contacting plate of the second group are located along an opposite second side face, the retaining portions of the first and second groups being spaced from each other. A one-piece grounding bar is retained in the base portion, the ground bar includes a beam portion hidden in the base portion and between said retaining portions of the first group and second groups, and fingers touch with corresponding retaining portions of ground contacts.
US08858231B2
Feedback data useful in prosthodontic procedures associated with the intra oral cavity is provided. First, a 3D numerical model of the target zone in the intra oral cavity is provided, and this is manipulated so as to extract particular data that may be useful in a particular procedure, for example data relating to the finish line or to the shape and size of a preparation. The relationship between this data and the procedure is then determined, for example the clearance between the preparation and the intended crown. Feedback data, indicative of this relationship, is then generated, for example whether the preparation geometry is adequate for the particular type of prosthesis.
US08858224B2
An apparatus and system disclosed herein provides detonation wave arrestor including a detonation wave deflector and a burst element. The detonation wave arrestor disclosed herein attenuates and defects the propagation of a detonation wave characterized by a supersonic flame front propagation. The detonation wave arrestor provides deflection of detonation wave towards the burst element. The rupture of the burst element provides venting of hot gases remaining from the detonation, thus providing separation and attenuation of combusted gas residuals. The detonation wave arrestor disclosed herein may be used in a combustible fuel delivery system.
US08858220B2
A locking device for columns of presses with two pairs of locking clamps, wherein the locking clamps of one or both the pairs are mechanically connected to each other through at least one mechanism suited to guide in a synchronized way the relative translational motion of the two locking clamps of the same pair, and wherein the guide mechanism is integral with the moving plane in at least one fixed point, thus guaranteeing the symmetry of the motion of the locking clamps with respect to the fixed point.
US08858219B2
A mold and a method for producing two-color injection-molded parts involves simultaneous injection of two kinds of molding material, in which a pressure difference between two kinds of molding materials is induced so that one of the molding materials is infiltrated into and bonded to the other molding material during solidification. The method for producing two-color injection-molded parts may include simultaneously injecting a first material and a second material to a first gate and a second gate to be filled in a first cavity and a second cavity, and closing the second gate such that the first molding material, which is not solidified, pushes a slide mold provided between a first mold block and a second mold block using a holing pressure of the first gate and is infiltrated into an unsolidified layer of the second molding material and solidified.
US08858217B2
A blow molding tool (1) for producing a plastic article, in particular a fuel tank, comprising at least one clamping frame (2) with mold clamping devices (3) and at least two blow mold halves, which are formed such that they can be moved together and apart by means of an opening and closing movement of the clamping frame (2) and which respectively have at least one cavity (8) for the forming of the plastic article, the blow molding tool (1) being distinguished by the fact that the mold clamping devices (3) respectively have at least one tool holder (6), in which a mold insert (7) is in each case exchangeably inserted, and in that the tool holders (6) respectively form a peripheral sealing edge (10).
US08858215B2
A system for producing blow molded articles. The system includes an injector nozzle mounted to a parison cavity block having a parison cavity such that the injector nozzle injects molten plastic into the parison cavity to form a parison. The injector nozzle is mounted to the parison block by means of two seats, a distal seat where the distal end of the injector nozzle is seated within an opening in the parison cavity block and a proximal seat, a linear distance inwardly from the distal seat, where a circular flange on the injector nozzle is seated within an annular shelf formed in the parison block. The two spaced apart seats ensure an accurate alignment between the centerline of the injector nozzle and the parison cavity. As a further feature, there is a system to heat the nozzle tip to reduce the temperature differential between the nozzle and the parison cavity.
US08858211B2
A coating die that includes a removable manifold section with each side of the manifold section defining a manifold, a land, and an outlet or lip. The two manifolds, lands and outlets may be the same or different, respectively. The manifold section is removably connected to at least one die body and can be removed from the die body to switch between the two sides of the manifold section. The coating die is designed and configured for web or substrate coating, either on-roll (supported web) coating or off-roll (tension web) coating.
US08858209B2
A positioning device is configured for positioning a runner system, and includes a retainer, a number of flanges, and a number of bearing assemblies. The retainer includes a supporting surface. The flanges extend substantially perpendicularly upward from the supporting surface. The flanges cooperatively define a cavity for receiving the runner system. The bearing assemblies are configured for inserting through the flanges to tightly abut against the runner system in the cavity.
US08858185B2
An infusion system and method for controlling the fluid flow from a pump includes a pump system that has a controller that utilizes an algorithm to control the flow rate of fluid through tubing. A plurality of electrodes operatively contacts an electrically conductive portion of the tubing that is also acted upon by the pump system. The electrodes monitor electrical properties of the tubing and provide an electric signal indicative thereof to the controller, which varies the flow rate of the fluid through the tubing as a result of the electric signal.
US08858180B2
An annulus filler element (40) for a rotor of a turbomachine, the annulus filler element (40) comprising: a lid portion (42) having a radially outwardly facing surface for forming an inner wall of a flow annulus of the rotor between adjacent blades (102) and a radially inwardly facing surface; and a nose cone attachment portion (52) integrally formed with the lid portion (42) for connection with a nose cone (122) of the turbomachine.
US08858173B2
A turbocharger bearing assembly can include a compressor side bearing; a turbine side bearing; and a spacer configured to axially space the compressor side bearing and the turbine side bearing where the spacer includes lubricant passages to direct lubricant to spacer-bearing interfaces and where the spacer optionally includes a spring disposed in a central through bore to load the bearings. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08858172B2
A method of manufacturing a rotor assembly in which a first impeller and a second impeller are fixed to a rotation shaft which is supported by a bearing so as to be rotatable, the method including: fixing the second impeller to the rotation shaft; fitting and fixing a sleeve to the rotation shaft after fixing the second impeller; fitting and fixing the bearing to the sleeve after fitting and fixing the sleeve; and fixing the first impeller after fitting and fixing the bearing.
US08858166B2
Systems and devices for substantially fluidly isolating portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly for a rotary machine includes: a complementary set of seal segments configured relative one another so as to form a substantially continuous body with butt gaps between the seal segments, the segments including: a head flange; and an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck extends radially inboard and includes an axial slot formed substantially there through; and at least one butt gap seal element, wherein the at least one butt gap seal element includes an axial flange and a radial flange, the axial flange disposed within the axial slots of adjacent seal segments; and the radial flange extending radially inboard from the axial slots to a proximity of the rotary machine substantially forming a barrier to axial flow through the butt gap.
US08858162B2
A labyrinth seal is provided for forming a seal between a first and a second component which rotate relative to each other. The seal has an abradable lining mounted to the first component, and a plurality of fins projecting from the second component. The fins are arranged in abutment with the abradable lining to form a labyrinthal path for a flow of air through the seal. The seal further has a bypass passage which extends through the abradable lining. The bypass passage allows air to flow through the seal and bypass the labyrinthal path.
US08858160B2
A bucket assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The bucket assembly includes a main body having an exterior surface and defining a main cooling circuit, and a platform surrounding the main body and at least partially defining a platform cooling circuit. The bucket assembly further includes a passage defined in the main body extending from the exterior surface, the passage connecting the main cooling circuit and the platform cooling circuit, and a plug at least partially disposed in the passage. The plug includes a head and a plunger. The head is configured for preventing a flow through at least a portion of the passage. The plunger has a continuous exterior surface and is configured for allowing a flow between the main cooling circuit and the platform cooling circuit.
US08858154B2
A pump system (1) is provided for the pumping of multiphase mixtures which includes a pumping apparatus (3) for multiphase mixtures with at least one liquid phase and at least one gaseous phase. The pumping apparatus (3) contains one or more axial compression stages with one respective axial impeller each and one or more pumping stages with a respective one radial impeller each which are arranged adjoining the axial compression stage or stages, wherein the pump system (1) additionally includes a separator (2) at the inlet side of the pumping apparatus (3) to separate a portion of the gaseous phase and wherein the pumping apparatus (3) is configured for delivery heads larger than 50 m.
US08858153B2
This invention relates to a top mount method, a top mount system and a combination of forklift truck and carrying vehicle having such a top mount system. The top mount method differs from the known methods in that the forklift truck lifting assembly at least is provided with a remote control unit to permit the operator of the forklift to mount the forklift onto the carrying vehicle from a position remote from the forklift. The top mount system comprises a track having a carriage slidably mounted therein and a ram for moving the carriage relative the track. The obviates the need to use the drive of the forklift under remote operation. Finally, there is provided a combination of a forklift and a carrying vehicle having the top mount system which together provide a useful and safer alternative to the known combinations.
US08858151B2
A machine includes a frame having ground engaging propulsion elements coupled therewith, and a hydraulically actuated implement system having a linkage, an implement coupled with the linkage, and a hydraulic actuator coupled with the linkage. The machine further includes a control system having an electronic control unit configured to receive an implement down force control command, and responsively adjust a pressure of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic actuator such that the implement rests with controlled down force upon a substrate below the machine. The controlled down force may be less than a quiescent down force of the hydraulically actuated implement system. Related methodology is also disclosed.
US08858148B2
Binding equipment and false cover forming equipment for hardcover books are disclosed. The false cover forming equipment carries out false covers, by positioning a pair of endpapers in correspondence of lateral binding flaps of a respective backstrip, arranging folds of the endpapers at a pre-assembling distance associated with the thickness of the text block and gluing margins of past-down sheets of the endpapers with binding edges of the backstrip. The binding equipment is feedable, at a cover input “IC”, with the false covers for carrying out book blocks by gluing the backstrips of the false covers with the binding edges of corresponding text blocks and refolding the pairs of endpapers on the respective text blocks. An electronic processing unit is settable for the control of the false cover forming equipment and the binding equipment as a function of the dimensions of the hardcover book to be bound.
US08858147B2
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, 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, and at least one stopper protrusion protruded from a lower portion of the head portion.
US08858135B2
An interlocked assembly of a circular collar receivable in suspension within a sink drain fitting and an annular support slidably engaged to the collar cooperate to form a guide aligning the blade of a rotary cutting tool adjacent the seat of a retaining ring that holds the fitting in place. The sliding translation of the annular support within the collar is limited by a radially projecting ring to limit the penetration depth of the rotary saw blade mounted in the guided tool thus limiting the incidence of damage to the surrounding sink structure.
US08858134B2
A rotatable drilling tool has cutting edges (on a face side) that merge inwardly into a chisel edge, with the chisel edge(s) running on the face side about a central region surrounding the tool axis, with the chisel edges forming, in the innermost region (or about a point thinning region), a residual chisel edge, with cutting edge corners being formed at the outer ends of the main cutting edges, with a straight connecting line that runs through two cutting edge corners of main cutting edges situated opposite one another in relation to the tool axis, or if an opposite main cutting edge is not present, through a cutting edge corner and the tool axis, with the chisel edge inner region running from the outer end of the residual chisel edge within a region with an angle of between −15° and +15° in relation to a parallel to the connecting line.
US08858120B2
A liquid containment barrier is formed by corrugated panels connected end to end and supported by upstanding brackets at spaced positions around the peripheral wall and a liner attached to the wall. Each panel has the top edge as a raw edge with a plurality of elongate extruded plastics spring channel members engaged over the top edge. A plurality of additional clamp collars are arranged to surround a part cylindrical portion of the channel members to bridge between panels and to form a local clamping force on the channel member. Each bracket has an inner vertical edge engaging the panels and a rod member hooked to the brace at the lower end and engaging over the channel members at the upper end. The bracket also includes an upwardly extending flange parallel to the inner edge to form a channel for the bottom edge of the panel.
US08858118B2
An erosion control mat provides a plurality of concrete blocks. Each block has an upper portion and a lower portion, each with a plurality of side walls. The block has an upper surface and a lower surface and a block periphery in the form of an edge. Cables or ropes connect the blocks together to form a block matrix. Each block has a boot with a plurality of inclined side panels affixed to the block lower portion. The boot has a lower panel, a boot interior that is receptive of at least part of the block lower portion. A plurality of anchor posts are attached to the boot interior surface. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the boot side wall panels and lower panel to enable a connection to be formed between the boot and the block inclined lower side walls and lower surface.
US08858117B2
A weight sensing system for a pneumatic compactor is provided. The weight sensing system includes a pressure sensor in communication with a pneumatic cylinder. The pressure sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. Further, a controller is communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. The controller is also configured to determine a compaction weight of the pneumatic compactor based on the received signal, a weight distribution on the pneumatic compactor, and a fixed volume of the pneumatic cylinder.
US08858115B2
A road overlay product for protecting a repaired road portion including repaired potholes and utility cuts. A pothole or utility cut is preliminarily repaired with asphalt fill and compacted per current standard practice. Thereafter, the overlay is placed upon the compacted top surface of the asphalt fill, overlapping onto the adjacent road surface and compressed. The overlay forms a water proof seal preventing water from seeping into the repaired area. The overlay also resists crack propagation and minimizes the potential of asphalt chipping and the breaking down of the asphalt fill and surrounding roadway.
US08858114B2
A support apparatus for a frame of a utility access cover comprises an inner support member and an outer support member in telescopic engagement with the inner support member. The height and inclination of the support apparatus is adjustable by selectively positioning the first support member relative to the second support member and securing the first support member to the second support member with the fasteners.
US08858099B2
An anamorphic objective is provided for imaging an object onto an image acquisition unit. The anamorphic objective has at least one first plane of symmetry and at least one second plane of symmetry. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry are oriented perpendicular to one another. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry intersect and have a straight line of intersection (intersection line). A first objective section followed by a second objective section are arranged. A diaphragm is arranged between the first objective section and the second objective section. A first anamorphic optical element is arranged in the first objective section. A second anamorphic optical element is arranged in the second objective section. The anamorphic objective fulfills specified conditions and is suitable for generating a stigmatic imaging of the object on the image acquisition unit.
US08858092B2
Provided is an inner module for holding a plurality of connectors. The inner module includes a first cylindrical portion having a first outer wall spaced radially from a first inner wall to form an annular volume and a second cylindrical portion having a second outer wall spaced radially from a second inner wall to form an annular volume. The inner module also includes a connecting portion to connect the first cylindrical portion to the second cylindrical portion. Each of the first and second cylindrical portions have an opening in an axial direction having a width that is narrower than a distance between the first inner wall and the first outer wall.
US08858091B2
Provided is an optical connector whose miniaturization is easier than conventional. An optical connector (100) comprises a housing (103) holding an optical member (101), a slider (105) slidably held by the housing (103), a shutter (107) provided to the slider (105) in an openable and closable manner and adapted to be opened and closed to expose and isolate the optical member (101) to and from the outside, and slider-side coil springs (109) pushing the slider (105) in a direction away from the housing (103). The slider-side coil springs (109) are disposed in a width direction of the shutter (107). The optical connector (100) is configured such that the shutter (107) is closed when the slider (105) is moved by an elastic force of the slider-side coil springs (109) in the direction (direction A1) away from the housing (103) and that the shutter (107) is opened when the slider (105) is moved against the elastic force of the slider-side coil springs (109) in a direction approaching the housing (103).
US08858090B2
Ferrule holders with an integral lead-in tube employed in fiber optic connector assemblies, and related components, connectors, and methods are disclosed. By integrating the integral lead-in tube as part of the ferrule holder, the integral lead-in tube may be less expensive to manufacture and easier to install. The integral lead-in tube may also be less susceptible to inadvertent removal by friction with a bonding agent syringe or by vibration during shipment. The ferrule holder may include a ferrule holder body and integral lead-in tube. The integral lead-in tube may guide an optical fiber from a rear end of a fiber optic connector to an internal passage of the ferrule holder, where the optical fiber may be further guided to a ferrule for precise alignment. The integral lead-in tube may also protect the optical fiber during installation, shipment, and use in the fiber optic connector.
US08858085B2
An upper rudder carrier bearing for a ship which has a bearing housing formed of a housing base body and a housing cover. An axial and a radial bearing are disposed in the bearing housing, which are both configured as plain bearings. The axial and/or the radial bearing is configured as a self-lubricating bearing.
US08858078B2
Embodiments of the invention include a re-sealable and re-useable storage device with an integral vacuum sealing feature that can be used to create an air tight vacuum sealed environment within the storage device without a machine or pump. Embodiments of the invention further include retrofit kits for adding a vacuum sealing function to a storage device configured to provide an air tight seal but not otherwise configured to allow air to be removed from such storage device once sealed.
US08858076B2
An X-ray contrast sensitivity gauge is described herein. The contrast sensitivity gauge comprises a plurality of steps of varying thicknesses. Each step in the gauge includes a plurality of recesses of differing depths, wherein the depths are a function of the thickness of their respective step. An X-ray image of the gauge is analyzed to determine a contrast-to-noise ratio of a detector employed to generate the image.
US08858064B2
A portable hydrodynamic cavitation manifold assembly formed from cylindrical tubes having flow-through chambers for collection and distribution of fluids. Each chamber includes a series of baffle units each unit formed from a first plate defined by a first end spaced apart from a second end by a length. The first plate includes a curved outer edge sized to follow the inner side wall of the chamber and a straight inner edge extending from the first end to the second end along the approximate center line of the chamber and positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to the longitudinal length of the tube. A second plate, forming a mirror image of the first plate, is also positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to the longitudinal length of the tube and at a 90 degree angle to the first plate. Each plate includes a plurality of apertures sized to control the velocity of the fluid flow, each aperture having edge walls to induce constriction for hydrodynamic cavitation mixing of fluids.
US08858060B2
A surface emitting apparatus includes a light guide plate, a plurality of point light sources, a diffusing member, and a spacer member. The light guide plate has an end surface and a light emitting surface and is configured to allow light incident on the end surface to be emitted from the light emitting surface. The plurality of point light sources is provided to oppose the end surface of the light guide plate. The diffusing member is provided on a light emitting surface side of the light guide plate. The spacer member defines a space between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member such that a distance between the light emitting surface and the diffusing member is larger than a thickness of the light guide plate.
US08858058B2
A planar light guide film for a backlight unit having at least one point light source is disclosed. The light guide film includes a light input surface for receiving light from the point light source, a light redirecting surface for redirecting light received from the light input surface and a light output surface for outputting at least the light redirected from the light redirecting surface. The light input surface includes a composite lens structure having a first and second circular tip segment each circular tip segment with a first contact angle, and a first and second circular base segment each circular base segment with a top and bottom contact angle, the contact angles of the circular base segments being greater than the contact angle of the circular tip segments.
US08858052B2
The present invention relates to a backlight module and a manufacturing method thereof. The backlight module comprises a thin film unit, a light guide unit, an insulation layer and at least a light source. The thin film unit is installed with a first circuit. The light guide unit is installed with a second circuit. The insulation layer is installed between the thin film unit and the light guide unit. The light source is electrically connected to the first circuit, and the light thereof projects into the light guide unit.
US08858051B2
An LED track-lighting system includes an LED for emitting light. A light-transmitting element captures light emitted by the LED light and emits it over at least a portion of the track.
US08858043B2
An electrically powered flame simulator comprises at least two light sources, an integrated circuit electrically connected to the light sources for intermittently illuminating at least one of the light sources independently of other light sources such that the light sources together provide the effect of a flickering movement, and a power source for providing power to the integrated circuit. The flame simulator may be mounted in a decorative or ornamental device such as a candle or fire log, or used on decorative clothing, or may be part of a hazard or warning system. One or more solid state light sources may also be used.
US08858041B2
A lamp includes an outer shell having heat conductivity, a base provided in the outer shell, and a cover provided in the outer shell. The outer shell has a light source support, and a heat radiating surface exposed to the outside of the outer shell. The light source support is formed integral with the heat radiating surface. A light source is supported on the light source support. The light source is heated during lighting, and thermally connected to the light source support. The light source is covered with the cover.
US08858033B1
A composite lighting component system having at least one first component which is a light module, each such light module being disposed on a common optical axis, and each including at least one of the following subcomponents: an LED; a heat transfer element onto which the LED is mounted to remove heat generated from the LED, the heat transfer element including mechanical elements configured to provide a secure yet removable attachment; and a thermal interface onto a second component which is a heat sink assembly, including at least one heat transfer element configured to provide a secure yet removable attachment and a thermal interface with the heat transfer element of the first component lighting module. The composite lighting component system includes a third component being electrical continuity system including subcomponents, any of which is so configured and disposed as to not obstruct light emanating from the light module.
US08858032B2
A heat pipe configured to transfer heat from a central portion of a lighting device to an edge portion of the lighting device, the heat pipe comprising one region which extends along a portion of a diameter of a substantially circular, substantially annular shape and another region that extends along a diameter of the shape. Also, a lighting device comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter and a heat pipe as described above. Also, a self ballasted lamp comprising a solid state light source, an electrical connector, an AC power supply, a reflector configured to receive light from the source and emit reflected light from an aperture, and a thermal management system. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter comprising an array of solid state light emitters, a heat pipe and a sensor.
US08858006B2
The LED lamp includes a housing, an LED chip, a control module, a battery and a heater with a temperature controlled switch. The housing is composed of a front cover and a back cover. The LED chip, control module and the battery are received in the housing. The control module is electrically connected to the LED chip for driving the LED chip. The battery is electrically connected to the control module for providing alternative power to the LED chip.
US08857997B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device which the user can comfortably use by suppressing temperature rise in the surface of the device caused by heat from a heat source. The object is achieved by a portable electronic device including: a first casing; a second casing disposed opposed to one of surfaces of the first casing and capable of changing a position relative to the first casing while maintaining a state where opposed surfaces are opposed; and a heat source disposed in the second casing. Surface of the second casing includes: a first region which is covered with the first casing in a first state where the first and the second casings are opposed and is exposed to the outside in a second state where the position relative to the first casing is changed and area of the opposed surfaces of the first and the second casings decreases from the first state; and a second region which is always exposed to the outside in both of the first and the second states. At least a part of the heat source is disposed in a position corresponding to the first region.
US08857992B2
A method and an apparatus are presented for determining ocular motor function in a patient. The patient is instructed to wear a pair of test glasses comprising a first lens having a first color and a second lens having a second color, where the first color and the second color differ. (N) light-emitting devices disposed in a screen are then activated in seriatim, where the (N) light-emitting devices can emit a light comprising the first color and where (N) is greater than 1. (N) images of the screen are synchronously captured upon receiving a signal from the patient indicating an activated light-emitting device is illuminated by a light comprising the second color. Finally, the (N) images are transformed into an ocular motor functioning map.
US08857986B2
A measurement instrument and its associated method of use to record a pupil center position of a person's eye and determine rear vertex distance to a lens. The instrument has a chassis and a free swinging assembly that is pivotably attached to the chassis. The swinging assembly has alignment points that remain in a horizontal plane as the swinging assembly swings. The instrument is attached to a set of eyeglass that are worn on that person's head. A prism is suspended adjacent the eye. The pupil is viewed through the prism. The offset of the viewed image is measured and used to calculate the rear vertex distance.
US08857985B2
Example embodiments of a large dynamic range sequential wavefront sensor for vision correction or assessment procedures are disclosed. An example embodiment optically relays a wavefront from an eye pupil or corneal plane to a wavefront sampling plane in such a manner that somewhere in the relaying process, the wavefront beam from the eye within a large eye diopter range is made to reside within a desired physical dimension over a certain axial distance range in a wavefront image space and/or a Fourier transform space. As a result, a wavefront beam shifting device can be disposed there to fully intercept and hence shift the whole beam to transversely shift the relayed wavefront.
US08857981B2
Apparatus, systems and methods employing contact lens with capacitive sensors are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes: a substrate; a capacitive sensor, disposed on or within the substrate, that senses a capacitance on the contact lens; and a circuit disposed on or within the substrate. In some aspects, the circuit can include a capacitance analysis component that determines a condition of an eyelid associated with the eye over which the contact lens is disposed and/or a parameter associated with the eye over which the contact lens is disposed. In some aspects, the condition can be a blink of an eyelid. In some aspects, the parameter can be at least one of a pressure of an object in proximity to the contact lens, a thickness or type of a layer of material disposed on or within the contact lens or a composition of material on the contact lens.
US08857980B2
Automatically stretchable folding spectacles, comprising: a first rim, with a first lens being provided within the first rim; a second rim, with a second lens being provided within the second rim; a first leg; and a second leg, wherein the first rim and the first leg are elastically connected via a first elastic member; the second rim and second leg are elastically connected via a second elastic member; a middle beam mechanism is provided between the first rim and second rim; and a locking mechanism is provided between the first leg and the second leg, which makes the spectacles capable of keeping a folded state after the spectacles are completely folded. The wearer needs only to press the locking mechanism with one hand, and the whole spectacles will stretch naturally and exhibit an available state under the action of the tension of the elastic members.
US08857972B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a platen holding a recording medium at a position opposed to a recording head, a suction generating member for suctioning the recording medium to the platen, a first recessed portion provided at a region on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the region faces a scanning area of the recording head, and a second recessed portion provided at a position on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the second recessed portion is provided on the downstream side of a region opposed to the scanning area and provided at a position corresponding to an end portion of the recording medium to be conveyed.
US08857963B2
Ink sets can include a plurality of aqueous inks. In one embodiment, a first ink can include a magenta dye and a magenta pigment. A second ink can include a cyan pigment, and a third ink can include a yellow pigment, wherein the second and third inks are substantially devoid of dye. The inks can independently include 2-pyrrolidone or 2-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone and an additional solvent selected from a glycol, a second pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, an aqueous ink-jet ink can comprise a pigment and a liquid vehicle including water, 2-pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetraethylene glycol, and 1,6-hexanediol.
US08857958B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion capable of ejecting liquid, a casing body for accommodating the liquid ejecting portion, a liquid container which has a protruding portion exposed to the outside of the casing body and is mounted to the casing body, and a protecting portion which protects the protruding portion of the liquid container from an external force.
US08857954B2
A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove is positioned at an angle relative to the drop contact surface.
US08857953B2
A liquid ejection head includes a piezoelectric block body having a plurality of pressure chambers arranged two-dimensionally to face respective ejection ports, a plurality of air chambers arranged adjacently relative to the plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of flow channels arranged along the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers are deformed by expansion and contraction of piezoelectric members disposed between the pressure chambers and the air chambers so as to drive the liquid stored therein to flow toward the ejection ports. A connection flow channel is provided at the ejection port side of the piezoelectric block body so as to make each of the pressure chambers communicate with at least one of the flow channels for partial recirculation of the ink.
US08857952B2
A liquid ejecting head comprises a pressure-generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is composed of a compound oxide having a perovskite structure and containing bismuth, ferrate, manganese, potassium and titanium.
US08857947B2
A printing apparatus has a print head and a transport mechanism including a continuous transparent belt for transporting a sheet medium past a print head. The apparatus includes a through optical sensor operable to direct a sensing beam through the belt for sensing the position of the transported sheet medium when the sheet medium breaks the beam.
US08857941B2
Displacement information indicating a displacement amount of landing position in a main scanning direction of ink droplets discharged respectively from the nozzle of the head module of the same array of the line head of each color is acquired for each head module of the same array (steps S5, S7). Based on the displacement information and concentration information for each array, a color degree of an image when the discharge amount of ink droplets discharged from a nozzle of a head module of each color is not adjusted is specified for each head module of each array (step S9). A correction voltage value of a drive signal for the discharge of the nozzle of the head module of each color, which is suitable to return the specified color degree to “0”, is calculated (step S11) and each corresponding nozzle is driven by the drive signal of the correction voltage value.
US08857928B2
A washing machine appliance is provided with a door rotatably mounted to a cabinet of the appliance with a hinge. The hinge is supported by a bracket that extends between a front panel of the appliance and a flange. By extending between the front panel and the flange, the bracket can provide robust support for the hinge.
US08857924B2
A continuous flexible track for extending about a plurality of aligned wheels on a vehicle or track module, the track includes an outer ground-engaging surface and an inner wheel-engaging surface having inwardly-projecting wheel-engaging lugs. Each lug has a proximal end, a distal surface, front and back surfaces and opposite side surfaces. Each lug further includes a flex-groove extending between the side surfaces and from the distal surface toward the proximal end, thereby dividing the lug into two portions to allow around-wheel hinging motion. In most preferred embodiments, a lug-receiving cap may be positioned over and replaceably secured with respect to each lug. A method for prolonging the useful life of such a track is provided.
US08857921B2
Vehicle wheel including a wheel rim a brake pot fastened to the latter and a brake disc fastened to the brake pot, wherein multiple pivotally supported plate shaped cover elements are provided on the wheel rim for temporarily closing assigned wheel rim side openings, wherein each cover element is movable along the pivot axis in opposition to the force of a restoring element an is connected to the wheel rim via a couple element which force guides in case of a shifting movement, by means of which the cover element is moved from a open position to a closed position, which the cover element assumes when the wheel rotates.
US08857915B2
A method of mining comprising: using a vehicle fitted with scanning module to scan a bench face of a mine bench for both geometric and geological information; making ore grade assessments of material at the bench face from the information provided by the bench face scan; removing material from the bench; and transporting removed material for processing. At least one of said removing, transporting, and processing is performed at least partially dependent on the ore grade assessments.
US08857908B2
A vehicle seat includes a seat back having a backrest, a backrest support, and a linkage arranged to interconnect the backrest and the backrest support. The linkage is configured to support the backrest for movement relative to the backrest support.
US08857904B2
A head-rest of a vehicle seat with a deformable central supporting body which forms an impact zone for the head of a vehicle occupant and into which the kinetic energy of the head in the event of an accident is admitted. On both sides of the impact zone the central supporting bodies are joined by lateral supporting surfaces which are extendable out of the plane of the head-rest in the direction of travel in order to laterally support the head. In order to avoid or at least to reduce the risk of a cervical-spine whiplash injury, it is proposed according to the invention that the head-rest comprises a device for absorbing the energy admitted into the central supporting body and for outputting the absorbed energy in order to activate lateral supporting surfaces.
US08857895B2
A tibia force reduction wedge has a core, a coating upon the core, and fasteners upon the coating. The core has three surfaces forming a triangularly shaped cross section and two opposite spaced apart ends. The core has single or dual density closed cell energy absorbing expanded polyethylene. Following skiving upon the surfaces, the coating adheres to the exterior of the core. The invention has an anti fungal, non slip, polyurethane coating. Hook and loop fasteners mutually engage fasteners upon an existing surface of a vehicle deck for adjustment to the leg lengths of vehicle occupants. The wedge sees usage beneath seats inside a vehicle.
US08857891B2
A supporting structure of a door impact beam for a vehicle mounted on an inner panel of a door for the vehicle, may include a coupling part formed with a coupling groove to which the impact beam may be coupled, a supporting part bent downwardly from the coupling part and supporting the coupling part, and mounting parts provided along side portions of the coupling part and the supporting part and mounted on the inner panel of the door, wherein the coupling part, the supporting part, and the mounting part may be integrally formed, and the coupling part and the supporting part may be protruded from the inner panel of the door to form a reinforcing part.
US08857874B2
A robotic hand includes a finger with first, second, and third phalanges. A first joint rotatably connects the first phalange to a base structure. A second joint rotatably connects the first phalange to the second phalange. A third joint rotatably connects the third phalange to the second phalange. The second joint and the third joint are kinematically linked such that the position of the third phalange with respect to the second phalange is determined by the position of the second phalange with respect to the first phalange.
US08857873B2
A sling system comprises a plurality of sling units each including a synthetic fibrous sling and a roller unit which has one or more spool-shaped rollers. The system provides for lifting a load in equilibrium and maintaining the load in that position or be rotated or tilted between horizontal and vertical positions. The system provides for a plurality of attachment points of the sling units to the load, and the sling units may be set up as a single array or a multiple array depending on the type of load being lifted, transported and positioned. Endless and continuous loop synthetic slings and multiple roller units are used in sling units and provide for uniform and equal distribution of the load throughout the sling system. The spool-shaped rollers may be molded of a rigid plastics material with each roller having end flanges to confine the synthetic sling.
US08857872B2
A transporter for holding articles to be lifted includes a base having a plurality of perimeter beams connected to a plurality of transverse interior beams, the base having a load carrying deck with a load carrying surface, and the deck extending above the transverse beams and to the perimeter beams. There are a plurality of wall panels including multiple removable wall panels that can each be removably affixed to the base, and a plurality of lifting eyes secured to the base externally of the walls. There are multiple cutout openings in the walls, each cutout enabling a diagonally placed lifting line to extend from one of the lifting eyes, through the opening and upwardly of the base to a position above the central portion of the deck. A winch rail extends along the upper surface of one of the perimeter beams. At least one of the wall panels with a cutout opening is one of the removable wall panels.
US08857869B2
Bumper system for a motor vehicle with a cross member which is arranged cross to longitudinal members and having a top side, a bottom side, a front side and a back side and with at least one means to ensure adequate energy impact into the cross member 2 characterized in that at least one means on the top side and/or on the bottom side of the cross member is arranged in that way that it is pointing away from the cross member wherein air can stream at least partially through a region above and/or beneath the cross member during driving of the motor vehicle.
US08857862B2
A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.
US08857861B2
A mechanical pipe joint system for joining a male piping member and a female piping member, the female piping member having a bell portion to receive a portion of the male piping member, includes a retaining flange and a restraining gasket, the restraining gasket including a sealing portion, a flange portion, and a restraining portion, the restraining portion including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced restraining segments.
US08857857B2
A threaded joint for steel pipes having excellent galling resistance, rust preventing properties, and airtightness without using a compound grease comprises a pin and a box each having a threaded portion and an unthreaded metal-to-metal contact portion serving as contact surfaces. The contact surfaces of at least one of the pin and the box are coated with a multi-layered structure comprising, from the bottom, a first layer formed from a first metal or alloy, a second layer formed from a second metal or alloy which is softer than the first metal or alloy, and an uppermost layer of a solid lubricating coating comprising a lubricating powder in an organic or inorganic binder.
US08857855B2
A binding system for binding a set of media sheets, including first and second binder pieces, each including an end cap, a retainer, a cylinder and a connection mechanism. The retainer has an arc-shaped cross-section having an associated arc angle thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer. The retainer and the cylinder are connected to the end cap such that the cylinder is positioned within the retainer. The binder pieces are adapted to bind the set of sheets of media by inserting the set of media sheets into the first and second binder pieces such that the media sheets are wrapped around the cylinders and extend out of the opening slots in the retainers, and engaging the connection mechanisms to connect the first and second binder pieces together.
US08857851B2
An adjustable steering column for a vehicle is provided. The adjustable steering column includes a mounting bracket configured to be secured to an adjacent portion of the vehicle, the mounting bracket including at least one arm having a rake slot. A column jacket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket, the column jacket extending along a first axis and pivotable relative to the mounting bracket for adjustment in a rake direction and movable along the first axis for adjustment in a telescope direction. The adjustable steering column also includes a shift assembly having a shift mechanism secured to the column jacket and a shift cable bracket extending from the shift mechanism. The shift cable bracket is supported firstly by the shift mechanism and supported secondly adjacent to the mounting bracket at a distal anchor point.
US08857849B2
A bracket for fastening a tightening strap of a curtain airbag to a vehicle part includes a base plate and a support surface for fastening the bracket to the vehicle part. A retaining web, fastenable to the tightening strap, is located on the bracket in such a way that the retaining web can be moved to a fastening position by performing a swivel motion with the bracket being supported on the vehicle part via the support surface.
US08857844B1
A transport device for a user of a wheel chair to access a pool or a lower surface that the wheel chair rests upon, the device employing a frame, a lift mechanism, gearing to operate the lift mechanism, drive wheels, stabilizing wheels, locking devices, clamping device, handle grips and holding pads. The transport device is entered by a wheel chair user from a site away from a pool. The user moves the transport device near to an edge of a pool. The lock device is deployed and the lift mechanism is operable by the user of the transport device. The lift mechanism raises and lowers the user to the surface of the pool edge. A rest pad can be deployed under the seat portion. The device to hold the transport device at or near the edge of the pool or at a surface that the wheel chair rests upon has a pivotable clamp and/or stop/hold pads under the handle grips.
US08857842B2
Rear suspension for a bicycle which includes a rear swing arm (15) which carries the hub (19) of the rear wheel (20) and pivots via at least two pivot points (23, 24) on a frame (1) carrying a bottom bracket (12). The swing arm (15) pivots about an instantaneous center of rotation (25) located close to the stretch upper length of the chain (21), or to the straight line extending on from it, in a position of static equilibrium. The instantaneous center of rotation moves inside a horizontal band (27) in such a way that the instantaneous center of rotation (25) moves horizontally and forwards when the swing arm (15) moves upwards as the wheel goes over an obstacle.
US08857841B2
A bicycle frame assembly that includes an upper frame member and a lower frame member that each extend between a head tube and a dropout. A seat tube extends between the upper frame member and the lower frame member. The seat tube is preferably connected to a bottom bracket of the lower frame member and is connected by a pivot to the upper frame member so that the seat tube can deflect from a rest position without altering an orientation of a top tube to a bottom tube of the upper and lower frame members, respectively.
US08857838B2
A dual drive system for a non-motorized vehicle comprising a first drive unit disposed on a vehicle frame, wherein the first drive unit has a rotary action and is operatively associated with a first wheel assembly for turning a wheel; and, a second drive unit disposed on the vehicle frame, wherein the second drive unit has a lever action and is operatively associated with the first wheel assembly for turning the wheel. The first drive unit and the second drive unit are independently operable for turning the wheel.
US08857834B2
The invention relates to an ARS (active roll stabilization) assembly (1) for vehicles, as well as to a suspension system equipped with such ARS assembly. The assembly comprises a torsion bar (3) and an actuator (10) for adjusting a torsion angle of said torsion bar. The ARS assembly furthermore comprises an additional torsion bar (5). This additional torsion bar is arranged such that its torsion axis extends substantially parallel to the torsion axis of the first, adjustable torsion bar, or coincides therewith.
US08857832B2
Knee-walkers allow amputees and individuals with injuries to maintain independent movement. Their stability and steering is very important. The invention comprises a knee-walker (10) comprising a frame (20), at least two ground-engaging wheels (50) at the front, a seat (90), a steering column (70), and a steering belt (200) linking the steering column to the two front wheels, the two front wheels being steered by rotation of the steering column and consequent rotation of the belt.
US08857822B1
The invention provides a bike with wheels and skis that can be used to ski on the bike downhill in snow and other surface conditions. The bike can also be used to travel on many different surface conditions.
US08857820B2
A piston ring, in particular a compression piston ring, includes a running surface, upper and lower flank areas, an inner peripheral area and a joint. The wall thickness of the piston ring is uniform over its periphery and at least the running surface is provided with a PVD coating or a CVD layer in such a manner that the running surface layer has a lesser layer thickness in the peripheral area close to the joint than in the remaining peripheral area of the running surface.
US08857817B2
A game board surrounded and partially supported by perimeter walls that extend above and below the playing surface of the game board. The game board has a plurality of sockets for holding either covers, projectile coins, or player tokens, and a smaller plurality of those sockets have holes through the game board. Supporting the game board from underneath is a deflection structure that deflects projected tokens which fall though the holes and urges them out through elongated openings at the bottom of each wall. Projectors, such as catapults, are mounted slidingly on each perimeter wall. Players have covers with which they can cover a portion of the holes on their “properties. The board has designated paths for player token movement according to turn and a die role. An elevated socket is provided. The rules for an exemplary game to be played with the game board are explained.
US08857815B2
There is provided a paper feeding device including: a microphone which detects sound occurred on a paper conveying path; a pre-processing unit which performs pre-processing on a signal of the sound detected by the microphone; and a jam detection unit which detects a jam of paper based on the sound signal on which the pre-processing is performed, a reference value about intensity of the sound, and a reference value about a duration time of the sound.
US08857813B1
A media inverting system for inverting a media sheet, including a first media transport, a rotatable member, and a second media transport. A rotatable member force mechanism is switchable between a first state where a first side of the media sheet is held to the rotatable member and a second state where the media sheet is released. A control system controls the rotatable member force mechanism according to a control sequence including: switching the rotatable member force mechanism to its first state to receive the media sheet from the first media transport and hold the media sheet to the rotatable member while it is wrapped around the rotatable member; and switching the rotatable member force mechanism to its second state to release the media sheet in synchronization with the media sheet being received by the second media transport.
US08857811B2
A sheet transport device has a housing member, a sheet tray, a transport path, a dispensing portion, a feeding portion, and a projecting member. Sheets are accommodated in the sheet tray. The sheet tray is detachably attached to the housing member, and is configured to be pulled out of the housing member in a first direction. The transport path is disposed in the housing member, and extends from the sheet tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The dispensing portion dispenses the sheets to the transport path. The feeding portion is rotated in contact with the sheet for feeding the sheet toward downstream of the transport path. The projecting member is configured to be projected and retracted with respect to the transport path near the imaginary line extending from a sheet nip portion in the first direction.
US08857808B2
A medium conveyance apparatus used in an image forming apparatus, includes a medium mounting unit held at a body or apparatus frame for mounting a medium, a conveying member supported rotationally around an axis to the body for conveying the medium, and a separating member being held at the body and contacting with the conveying member. The medium mounting unit includes an engaging portion for engaging the body, whereas the body or apparatus frame includes an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion, and the engaging portion includes a contacting portion for regulating the body or apparatus frame in a conveyance direction of the medium. This medium conveyance apparatus maintains improved medium conveyance capability for a long period.
US08857794B2
A device for trimming the thickness of a mechanical body is disclosed. The trimming is performed by screwing a screw through a threaded hole and having the end of the screw pressing against the center of a disk element, which, by deformation, acts as a lever against an adjacent body.
US08857788B2
An electronic expansion valve (50) includes a small hole (54a) that expands a refrigerant, a valve body (55c) that opens and closes the small hole, an elastic member (70) that urges the valve body to close the small hole, and a solenoid (61) that suctions the valve body to open the small hole, and expands the refrigerant by opening and closing the valve body. The elastic member is a disc spring in which a plurality of slits (73) formed in a spiral form is provided at mutually equal pitches on the perimeter. Therefore, there is no need for a guide, the occurrence of sludge due to sliding is suppressed, and the electronic expansion valve operates stably over a long period.
US08857785B2
A thermo-hydraulically actuated valve including a housing; a closure member capable of preventing and permitting fluid flow through the housing. An actuation fluid chamber disposed at the housing and sealed from an external environment. A motive force transmitter in force transmissive communication with the closure member. The transmitter being in fluid communication with the actuation fluid chamber; and a heating element in thermal communication with the actuation fluid chamber. The valve being devoid of a dynamic seal between an area of the valve to be contacted by a managed fluid within the valve and an environment outside of the valve.
US08857783B2
A cement block mold which includes a base, a top cap and a flexible sidewall strip. The base has an upstanding peripheral sidewall with a single slotted engagement. The top cap has a downwardly extending peripheral sidewall with a single slotted engagement. The flexible sidewall strip having a first engagement at a first end and a second engagement at a second end. The sidewall strip is secured in position by bending the sidewall strip to form one of a circle or an oval, and then engaging the first engagement and the second engagement with the slotted engagement of the base, and then engaging the first engagement and the second engagement with the slotted engagement of the top cap.
US08857780B1
A hanging facilitation assembly provides a frame for hanging an object on a wall surface constructed from drywall with minimal damage. The assembly includes a substantially planar frame having an upper edge, a front face, and a back face. A plurality of apertures extends through the frame between the front face and the back face. Each of the apertures extends downwardly through the frame from the front face towards the back face. Each of a plurality of straight connectors is insertable through an associated one of the apertures wherein the frame is configured to be attached to a vertical support surface by the connectors. A base member is pivotally coupled to a bottom edge of the frame. A projection extends from a back surface of the base member for insertion into the vertical support surface when the base member is pivoted into a coplanar position relative to the frame.
US08857775B1
A camera system is configured to detachably couple to a camera mount, which in turn can be attached to an apparatus. The camera mount is a spring clamp including two arms, each include a handle component and a jaw component. The spring clamp can be attached to an apparatus when the two jaw components are closed around the apparatus. A strap is adjustably coupled to the spring clamp and is tightened around the apparatus to further secure the apparatus. In some cases, a flexible neck is fastened to the camera mount, and the camera system is detachably coupled to the flexible neck. This allows a mounted camera system to be situated at any desired angle for taking photographs.
US08857773B2
Adjustable stand assemblies for portable electronic devices are provided, which allow portable electronic devices to stand-alone in multiple incline positions in both portrait and landscape orientations.
US08857771B2
A conduit attachment device is disclosed for use with a trapeze for providing for the placement and suspension of apparatus between existing structural members of an overhead structure. In one embodiment, the conduit attachment device includes a body having four sides formed of a continuous sheet with three bends in an open-ended rectangular box design. A fastening join joins two sides of the continuous sheet. A window including first and second substantially continuous U-shaped engagement surfaces adapted to form a friction fit with a conduit is located at one of the ends. Two sizes of threaded openings are located on opposite sides of the body for mating with two different sizes of threaded suspension rod. Another threaded opening is located in the body for mating with a set screw that further secures the conduit.
US08857769B1
A method and device capable of reliable and accurate train prediction determinations that account for, and overcome the problems associated with, changing ballast conditions. The method and device will detect the presence of a train in an approach area based on a rail characteristic measured in relation to a first measurement frequency transmitted along the rails. If there is a condition such as a ballast condition that may affect the rail characteristic, the method and device will detect the distance and speed of the train based on a rail characteristic measured in relation to a second measurement frequency transmitted along the rails. Otherwise, the distance and speed of the train will be determined based on the rail characteristic measured in relation to the first measurement frequency.
US08857761B2
An aircraft control structure can be utilized for purposes of drag management, noise control, or aircraft flight maneuvering. The control structure includes a high pressure engine nozzle, such as a bypass nozzle or a core nozzle of a turbofan engine. The nozzle exhausts a high pressure fluid stream, which can be swirled using a deployable swirl vane architecture. The control structure also includes a variable geometry pylon configured to be coupled between the nozzle and the aircraft. The variable geometry pylon has a moveable pylon section that can be deployed into a deflected state to maintain or alter a swirling fluid stream (when the swirl vane architecture is deployed) for drag management purposes, or to assist in the performance of aircraft flight maneuvers.
US08857758B2
The lighter-than-air vehicle for shading is an airborne, movable system that provides shade from the sun for an open area. The vehicle is a substantially flat flying device having upper and lower surfaces, and which is filled with a lighter-than-air gas or gases, such as helium or hydrogen. The vehicle may be tethered to the ground through control wires, or may be fully autonomous and controlled by propeller fans. The required power may be provided by wire from ground, or through a portable power source, such as solar cells, mounted atop of vehicle. The vehicle has sun sensors that allow it to track the sun, and provides around the clock shaded area underneath its surface. The vehicle can also have pressure sensors and altitude sensors that may trigger an alarm in case of an emergency descent to the ground.
US08857756B2
According to one embodiment, a helicopter rotor system has a bearing disposed between the drive train and the rotor blade. The bearing comprises an elastomeric material, a housing member coupled to the elastomeric material, and an anti-rotation member coupled to the housing member opposite the elastomeric material. A bearing mount is coupled to the grip and comprises a first opening configured to receive the anti-rotation member of the bearing. The first opening is defined at least in part by a first surface that receives the anti-rotation member and prevents the anti-rotation member from completing a rotation within the first opening.
US08857755B2
The present aircraft comprises a pair of spaced apart and parallelly disposed fuselages, a pair of wings, each wing is attached to an outer portion to each fuselage, a pyramid structure adapted to connect the pair of fuselages and an articulated propulsion system having a thrust axis, wherein the articulated propulsion system is pivotably attached to the pyramid structure and configured for angle of rotation of from about 0 degrees corresponding to the thrust axis disposed substantially parallel but at an offset to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft to about 90 degrees corresponding to the thrust axis disposed substantially at right angle to the longitudinal axis. The thrust axis substantially intersects the center of gravity when the thrust axis is disposed substantially at right angle to the longitudinal axis and the thruster is capable of angle of rotation of about 0 degrees or 90 degrees during take-off or landing.
US08857754B2
A device for launching and recovering a drone for being fastened to an aircraft is provided. The device includes a docking plate for a drone provided with a securing/releasing mechanism for the drone. The docking plate being secured to a flared guide for guiding the drone towards the docking plate.
US08857750B2
A retractor/pretensioner apparatus of a seatbelt for a vehicle may include a housing, a spool to which ends of a shoulder webbing and a wrap webbing may be simultaneously connected and which may be rotatably installed in the housing via a rotary shaft, a pinion coupled to one end of the rotary shaft, a first rack and a second rack slidably installed to the housing and engaged with the pinion respectively, a first gas generator fluid-connected to the first rack to provide gas to the first rack, and a second gas generator fluid-connected to the second rack to provide gas to the second rack.
US08857742B2
In one embodiment, a sprinkler valve includes an actuator member that is rotatably disposed within a sprinkler head and restricted from vertical movement. The inside of the actuator member includes a helical groove within an inner cavity. A plunger at least partially fits within the actuator member's inner cavity and further includes a thread that mates with the helical groove of the actuator member. As the actuator member is rotated by a user, its helical groove causes the plunger to move downwards toward the top of a tube or water passage. If fully extended downward, the flat portion of the plunger fully covers and seals the top of the tube, preventing water from escaping from the sprinkler.
US08857737B2
A spraying device includes a rotatable outer fluid transmission tube and an inner fluid transmission tube disposed in the outer fluid transmission tube. A friction reducing layer, rotated together with the outer fluid transmission tube, is provided between the outer fluid transmission tube and the inner fluid transmission tube. The friction reducing layer is made of a material having a low friction coefficient and has a smooth inner wall surface, so as to make a friction force between the friction reducing layer and the inner fluid transmission tube lower and improve the durability of the inner fluid transmission tube.
US08857736B1
A system for heating and pressurizing fluid that defines a primary fluid flow path, and may comprise a fluid inlet into the flow path for receiving fluid at an initial fluid temperature, a fluid outlet out of the flow path, a fluid pump configured to raise the pressure of the fluid in the fluid path, and a flow diverter valve configured to divert fluid flow from the primary fluid flow path to a secondary fluid flow path. A fluid heating device may be configured to heat fluid passing through the primary fluid path, and may be incapable of heating the fluid from a first inlet temperature range to the outlet temperature in an outlet temperature range, but is capable of heating the fluid from a second inlet temperature range to the outlet temperature in the outlet temperature range.
US08857729B2
An irrigation sprinkler canister seal comprising a flanged screw having a threaded rod and a circular flange extending perpendicular to the rod. The seal further includes a plug piece having a threaded bore adapted to receive the threaded rod, and further including a continuous frusto-conical surface extending around an elongate axis of the plug piece, the frusto-conical surface being configured to form a circumferentially continuous fluid seal against a cylindrical rim of a cylindrical bore.
US08857699B2
The present invention relates to a method of brazing articles of stainless steel, which method comprises the following steps: step (i) applying an iron-based brazing filler material to parts of stainless steel; step (ii) optionally assembling the parts; step (iii) heating the parts from step (i) or step (ii) to a temperature of at least about 1000° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a reducing atmosphere, vacuum or combinations thereof, and heating the parts at the temperature of at least about 1000° C. for at least about 15 minutes; step (iv) providing articles having an average hardness of less than about 600 HV1 of the obtained brazed areas. The present invention relates also to brazed articles of stainless steel.
US08857690B2
A travel bag for organizing and compressing all the diving equipment generally taken by divers on diving vacations. The bag is a belt and shoulder strap supported trifold roll design made of a reinforced synthetic fiber that has no central cavity but rather, three panels with or without see through mesh to enclose pockets on the panels. The bag is washable and has no corrodible components thereon. The main features of the bag reside in it's ability for protective organization and protection of the delicate contents as well as a design suited for rapid opening and visual inspection for ease of access through security checkpoints. A plethora of accessories exist to enhance the versatility of the bag.
US08857689B2
There is provided an apparatus for storing a ladder on the outer rear wall of a cab of a semi tractor. It comprises an outer stationary frame that is bolted to the rear surface of the tractor cab proximate one side of the cab and contained within the outer frame are first and second panels that are pivotally joined to one another where one of the first and second panels is also pivotally joined to the stationary frame. The second inner panel carries a ladder support bracket. When stowed, a latch mechanism prevents the inner articulated frame panels from extending relative to the stationary outer frame. Upon unlatching, the two inner articulated panels can be rotated such that the ladder will be positioned to the side of the tractor cab and accessible to an individual standing on the ground.
US08857688B1
A cargo carrier removably attaches to a square hitch receiver on the back of a vehicle. The cargo carrier is collapsible when not in use. A base plate has a series of first arms pivotally attached thereto each first arm extending outwardly for use and secured thereat and folding upwardly for storage. A removable plate secures the first arms in the extended position. A second arm is attached to an outer end of a first arm and pivots between an extended position extending upwardly from the first arm and a collapsed position flush against the first arm. Each second arm is lockable in its extended position. A flexible cable is attached to the distal end of each second arm to help retain cargo within the device.
US08857675B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for the metered filling of bulk material having a metering screw (16), which is arranged in a hollow cylinder shaped metering tube (12) and which can be slid in a longitudinal axis (L) of the metering tube (12), having a closing head (18) for closing a metering opening (14), wherein the closing head (18) has a substantially conical surface (20) and the metering tube (12) transitions after the metering opening (14) into a hollow cylinder shaped mouthpiece (32) having a larger inner diameter (DMi) compared to the inner diameter (dRi) of the metering tube (12).
US08857669B2
A water dispenser is disclosed having a housing for a reservoir in communication with a faucet to draw water therefrom. A water bottle is positioned spout-down at the top of the housing or in the top section of the reservoir. Water flows to the faucet via gravity without the use of pumps and the like. The configuration of the reservoir and the positioning of conduits provides to place the faucet closer to the top of the water dispenser again without the use of pumps and the like. The faucet includes separate compartments as well as inlets and outlets so as to divert water towards a variety of water treatment apparatuses such as hot tanks, carbonators, chillers and the like. The faucet includes controllable valves which provide the user to choose between hot, cold, carbonated or otherwise treated water. The faucet and reservoir can form an assembly which can be removed from the housing without tools.
US08857652B2
A food support for holding food items during cooking in an oven. The food support includes a reinforcement structure including a perimeter frame extending around and defining a substrate placement area. At least one cross bar extends between two opposing portions of the support frame and beneath the substrate placement area. A removable and replaceable substrate insert is sized to be placed on the substrate placement area for receiving food items thereon. A securing element can be connected to the reinforcement structure for securing the substrate insert on the substrate placement area. A holding device including a holding surface connected to a clamping element, where the holding surface is adapted to support a bottom of the food support and the clamping element is adapted to clamp over a top surface of the food support, can be used to securely introduce and/or remove the food support from an oven.
US08857644B2
Containers comprising a closure system comprising a fixed element and a movable closure element are disclosed. The containers may be constructed to be resealable and improve sanitary conditions of the dispensing portion and allow for easier opening with the ability to be reclosed, over a conventional container.
US08857633B2
A shelving display system formed from a single blank of corrugated material. The display system including a plurality of shelves formed from a first shelf component and a second shelf component.
US08857631B2
A universal container carrier includes a base plate, and a pair of support frames coupled to the base plate. At least one of the support frames is configured to move relative to the other support frame. Each support frame comprises at least one container support configured to engage a portion of the side wall of a container disposed between the support frames The container carrier also includes a resilient biasing mechanism that is coupled to the base plate and the at least one support frame, and is configured to urge the at least one support frame towards the other support frame.
US08857621B2
A material separation system includes a separation screen and an air directing device positioned above the separation screen. The separation screen has at least one rotating shaft, wherein the separation screen transports the relatively rigid material and relatively flexible material to the rotating shaft. The air directing device directs air towards the separation screen such that the relatively flexible material is blown beneath the rotating shaft in a first material stream, wherein the relatively rigid material continues on the separation screen past the rotating shaft in a second material stream.
US08857620B2
A cementitious composition capable of forming high early strength cement when admixed with water may comprise, for each 100% by weight, no more than about 60% by weight C3S, at least about 4% by weight C2S, and between about 7% and about 11% by weight SO3, wherein the cementitious composition has a particle size distribution such that substantially all of its particles are of a size of about 10 microns or smaller. A cementitious composition may have a ratio of weight % SO3 to weight % Al2O3 of at least about 1.5 and a particle size distribution such that substantially all of its particles are of a size of about 10 microns or smaller. An apparatus and method for making such a cementitious composition are also described.
US08857603B1
The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning a bidirectional conveyor belt. The apparatus comprises two parallel idler rollers mounted in a parallel configuration between two brackets. The two rollers rotate in opposite directions and are mounted to the underside of a bidirectional conveyor belt. During operation, the apparatus shifts upward and downward along the axis of a shaft, allowing each of the rollers to come into contact with the conveyor belt in an alternating manner. The idler rollers act to maintain alignment of the conveyor belt in either the forward or reverse directions, thus preventing erosion of the belt and the conveyor system. The invention is further directed a system for maintaining the alignment of a conveyor belt using the idler assembly, ad a method of aligning a bidirectional continuous conveyor belt.
US08857601B2
A slip conveyor assembly 10 is disclosed. The assembly 10 includes six slip conveyors 11 to 16 being arranged in series. Each of the conveyors 11 to 16 includes a tray 18 of “U” transverse cross-section. Each tray 18 is operated by a drive assembly 19 that horizontally reciprocates (oscillates) the associated tray 18 to cause product to advance along the assembly 10. Adjacent trays 18 may be displaced so that there is a gap between adjacent trays through which product may be delivered.
US08857599B2
An apparatus for forming a bundle (11) of rolled bars, comprising bar conveying means (4), an inclined plane device (1) for forming a layer of bars and bar accumulation means (5), wherein the inclined plane device (1) comprises a plurality of support elements (2), arranged parallel to each another and defining a first plane inclined by an angle (a) with respect to a horizontal direction, and adapted to receive a predetermined number of bars defining the layer of bars on said first plane from said bar conveying means (4), handling means (60) for translating the inclined plane device (1) from a first maximum advancement position distal from the conveyor means (4) to a second maximum retraction position proximal to the conveyor means (4) to unload the layer of bars onto the accumulation means (5), at a speed such to prevent the bars resting on said supporting elements from being dragged.
US08857597B2
A banknote handling apparatus recognizes and handles banknotes. The banknote handling apparatus includes a depositing unit, a dispensing unit, a plurality of banknote storing units, a transport unit, a recognition unit, and a control unit. The banknote handling apparatus further includes a portion for an optional attachment to which an escrow unit temporarily storing the banknotes in a process of the handling is selectively attachable. The control unit includes an option control unit performing control corresponding to an attached state of the escrow unit and control corresponding to an unattached state.
US08857596B2
The present invention provides a banknote processing apparatus that enables left-behind banknotes to be removed by a lower rank employee and prevents banknotes inside a safe casing from being removed by a lower rank employee, thereby achieving increased convenience of use and ensuring the security of the banknotes inside the safe casing. Namely, a banknote processing apparatus is provided in which, by providing a left-behind banknote storage section for storing and managing banknotes that have been left behind by a customer in a withdrawal transaction inside a unit disposed above a safe casing, when returning left-behind banknotes stored in the left-behind banknote storage section in response to a request from a customer, the left-behind banknotes can be removed from the left-behind banknote storage section by pulling out the unit, without opening the safe casing in which a large number of banknotes are stored and managed.
US08857592B2
A kit for improving the performance of a clutch assembly, including at least one steel plate configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with a terminal one of the plural friction elements, at least one friction disk configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with the at least one steel plate to form in combination with the plural friction elements and plural steel plates an extended interleaved stack, with the at least one friction disk forming a new terminal friction element, and a retaining ring configured and dimensioned to be secured over the open end of the housing and including an integrally formed, annular inner friction surface adapted to confront the new terminal friction element to directly receive forces applied through the clutch assembly.
US08857584B2
A shock absorbing system applicable to the bumper of a vehicle including a shock absorber with a deformable tube and a retaining device of the absorber including a mechanism susceptible to adopting at least one blocking position and one releasing position in which it prevents and allows, respectively, the displacement of a retaining portion of the absorber in an axial direction. The mechanism includes two rotating retaining connecting rods in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deformable tube, linked to one another such that the rotation of any one of the connecting rods is transmitted to the other to achieve a similar movement but in the opposite direction; and an electromechanical transducer to displace the mechanism from the blocking position to the releasing position.
US08857582B2
In a hydraulic shock absorber, a damping force generating device is provided between a piston side oil chamber and a rod side oil chamber of a cylinder, and in a compression stroke, a compression side flow path for circulating oil in the piston side oil chamber of the cylinder through an outside flow path of the cylinder toward the rod side oil chamber is provided in the damping force generating device, while in an extension stroke, an extension side flow path for circulating the oil in the rod side oil chamber of the cylinder through the outside flow path of the cylinder toward the piston side oil chamber is provided in the damping force generating device.
US08857575B2
A brake caliper assembly having a pad shield. The pad shield may have an inboard channel, an outboard channel, and a gutter. The gutter may be disposed between the inboard and outboard channels.
US08857574B2
Disclosed are a device and method for blocking a vehicle, and a loading-unloading station provided with such a device. The device includes a guide track disposed along a driveway; a carriage guided by the guide track and provided with a blocking means for blocking a wheel of a vehicle; a locking member provided on the carriage for locking the carriage releasably relative to the guide track; displacing means for displacing the carriage from a first rest position for the blocking means to a second blocking position, wherein the displacing means are provided with an energy storage system such that energy supplied by the vehicle can be used to displace the carriage; and releasing means operatively connected to the displacing means for releasing the carriage such that it follows a wheel of a vehicle as soon as this passes the first position.
US08857555B2
A front wheel suspension on a two-track vehicle having a wheel carrier or pivot bearing guided by an articulated suspension link is provided with an add-on part arranged such that during an impact of the vehicle on an obstacle which penetrates into the space bridged by the suspension link between a wheel and an axle support or vehicle body, the add-on part forms a lever arm on an articulated connection of the suspension link to separate the link by opening or destroying the connection. Separation of the articulated connection allows the vehicle wheel to be displaced laterally away from the vehicle interior. The add-on part may be fastened by a fastening screw of the articulation connection or be an extension of the screw. The add-on part may have a bead or a punch ring which has a destructive effect on the articulated connection during impact-caused displacement of the add-on part.
US08857548B2
A work vehicle (1) includes an engine (11), a cooling device (12), first and second hoses (14, 15), first and second flanges (16a, 17a), and a third flange (18a). The third flange (18a) is arranged to overlap with the first and second flanges (16a, 17a) by extending in a region R sandwiched between the first flange (16a) and the second flange (17a). Accordingly, there can be obtained a work vehicle (1) that can have rain water intruding inside prevented from entering the engine side along the hose.
US08857547B1
A wheel loader includes a vehicle cover defining an engine compartment, an engine arranged inside the engine compartment, an air cleaner, a cover member, and a shielding member. The vehicle cover includes a top plate having an opening section. The air cleaner includes an air cleaner body and an intake tube. The air cleaner body is arranged inside the engine compartment to clean air supplied to the engine. The intake tube has an intake port facing upward. The intake tube protrudes upward from the top plate via the opening section. The cover member has an inlet port to take in air. The cover member is installed on the top plate and covers a surrounding area and a top of the intake tube. The shielding member has a first inclined surface inclined downward toward a first direction. The shielding member is arranged above the intake port in the cover member.
US08857538B1
In a method for drilling a borehole real time geosteering data, including natural gamma ray data is obtained for a plurality of borehole positions for drilling a borehole along a projected trajectory. A formation layer having a thickness equal to or greater than the natural gamma ray sphere of influence and having a first lithology is identified. Data is processed for subsequent borehole positions. Upon location of the boundary of a formation layer of different lithology within the natural gamma ray sphere of influence, at least two points of the different formation layer boundary are determined by using the inverse problem methods, and an extrapolation ahead of the drill bit of at least two points is made utilizing the boundary to determine whether to change the borehole trajectory.
US08857531B2
A soil working tool for an agricultural machine includes a carrier that comprises a cutting region having a cutting edge, and one or more hard-material elements being arranged in the cutting region. The hard-material element is a cutting element that forms at least a part of the cutting edge.
US08857530B2
An agricultural implement system is provided that includes an implement, and a fluid control unit configured to mount to a tow vehicle. The agricultural implement system also includes a depth control cylinder mounted to a frame of the implement and fluidly coupled to the fluid control unit. The depth control cylinder is configured to adjust a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the implement by varying a height of a ground engaging wheel. In addition, the agricultural implement system includes a sensor communicatively coupled to the fluid control unit and configured to output signals indicative of the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool. The fluid control unit is configured to automatically control fluid flow to the depth control cylinder based on the signals to maintain a user-selectable penetration depth.
US08857529B2
In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool.
US08857523B2
An offshore oil production system, comprising a structure in a body of water, having a portion extending above a surface of the body of water; a wellhead located at a boom of the body of water; a riser extending from the wellhead to the portion extending above the surface; a primary wellbore extending into a subsea formation beneath the body of water; and at least two secondary wellbores extending further into the subsea formation beneath the body of water and beneath the primary wellbore.
US08857521B2
Apparatus and a method are disclosed for venting gas from an annulus region of a flexible pipe. The method includes the steps of depressurising a bore region of a flexible pipe and via at least one vent flow fluid communication path, venting gas from an annulus region of the flexible pipe into the bore region.
US08857515B2
Methods involving the use of subterranean treatment fluids comprising a silica control agent and an aqueous base fluid wherein the treatment fluid is placed into a portion of a subterranean formation and wherein the silica control agent is present in an amount of at least 75% of the saturation point in the treatment fluid. The methods include fracturing and gravel packing operations using a treatment fluid including a silica control agent present in an amount of at least 75% of the saturation point in the treatment fluid.
US08857512B2
An in situ extraction process for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation, including the steps of injecting a solvent consisting substantially of one of the group of H2S, Ammonia or COS into the formation to mobilize the hydrocarbons for extraction by forming a mobile in situ extraction fluid; and lifting the extraction fluid containing the mobilized hydrocarbons from the underground formation to the surface. In a further aspect an extraction method for a specific reservoir is provided including the steps of: establishing a minimum desired extraction rate, based on a value for the porosity, permeability and dead oil viscosity of the in situ bitumen in the specific reservoir, determining a desired minimum operating extraction temperature determining a desirable range of operating pressures identifying solvents predicted to deliver the operating extraction temperature within the range of operating pressures, and selecting a preferred solvent to use in the process.
US08857510B2
A system and a method determine movement of a drilling component, such as, for example, a tool, a drill bit or other wellbore device, within a wellbore. The system and method may process information obtained from the wellbore by using, for example, a numerical processing algorithm. The information may be data acquired during drilling of the wellbore. Rig surface data recording systems may track the position of the drill bit, the BHA and/or other component of the drill string during the time the component is within the wellbore. Downhole measuring devices may record data at various positions along the BHA and above the drill bit as a function of time.
US08857503B2
A by-pass conduit for a stacked plate heat exchanger is disclosed. The by-pass conduit is formed by first and second plate members that each have a substantially planar central portion surrounded by an offset peripheral flange, the peripheral flanges of the first and second plates being sealably joined together and the planar central portions of the first and second plates being in spaced opposition to define a bypass channel. A flow restricting structure provides a fluid restricting barrier in the bypass channel, the flow restricting structure defining a calibrated by-pass passage that regulates the flow of fluid through the bypass channel.
US08857494B2
A window treatment may include one or more lift cord adjustment mechanisms for leveling of a bottom bar of the window treatment. The mechanisms may allow for fine-tuning adjustment of the levelness of the bottom bar. The mechanisms may be disposed at respective ends of the botom bar. The mechanisms may be directly accessible through the ends of the bottom bar. Each mechanism may include a pulley having a circumferential groove to receive a corresponding lift cord. A portion of the pulley may protrude relative to an exterior surface of the bottom bar. The mechanisms may be hidden from view on the sides of the bottom bar, such that the mechanisms do not detract from the appearance of the window treatment. Manual operation of a mechanism may adjust an amount of a corresponding lift cord that extends from the drive shaft to the pulley of the mechanism.
US08857493B2
A window shade that reduces the risk of an individual becoming entangled in cords used to operate the shade includes a headrail adapted for horizontal mounting above a window, a shading material attached to the headrail, and at least one cord for raising and lowering the shading material. The cord is attached to a location adjacent a lower end of the material, and extends upward through split ring cord guides toward the headrail. The cord is encased within a collapsible shroud attached to each cord guide. The shroud is adapted to longitudinally extend as the shading material is lowered toward a deployed position, and then longitudinally collapse as the shading material is raised toward a stowed position.
US08857488B2
A portable assembly for securing a plastic fitting to a plastic pipe by employing fusion or thermal sealing is disclosed. The assembly is secured to the outer circumference of a plastic pipe at a desired location. The assembly can be secured at any longitudinal and lateral position along a plastic pipe. A heater heats both the pipe and the fitting to the point where they begin to melt. The heater is then removed and the fitting is pressed onto the surface of the pipe, thus fusing the fitting to the pipe. After cooling, the assembly is removed and the surface of the pipe within the interior of the fitting is drilled or removed. This now enables fluid within the pipe to be sent to the fitting and onto distribution lines which are connected to the fitting.
US08857484B2
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an inlet device for regulating the inlet flow of the air tube pump.
US08857479B2
A machine for filling containers in which the filling rate for the products can be varied, thus enabling the filling machine to be used for different filling products, and in particular products having different viscosities. The machine comprises at least one filling station comprising a filling spout provided with a supply opening and a discharge opening, a blocking system mounted in the filling spout, and a supply pipe connected to the supply opening upstream of said blocking system. The supply pipe comprises at least one section made of a flexible tube, the supply apparatus further comprising a clamp adapted to clamp the flexible tube in order to modify the cross-section of the internal passage of the flexible tube, the clamp adapted to move between at least two positions corresponding to different cross-sections of the internal passage of the flexible tube.
US08857477B2
A kit for repairing and inflating inflatable articles has a compressor assembly; a sealing fluid container assembly defining an inlet connectable to the compressor assembly, and an outlet connecting the container assembly fluidically to an inflatable article; a casing at least partly housing the compressor assembly; a supporting member fixed with respect to the casing; and click-on connecting means for connecting the container assembly to the supporting member. More specifically, the click-on connecting means define a conduit for fluidically connecting the container assembly and compressor assembly.
US08857476B2
A coinfusion apparatus including a coinfusion operation section; a coinfusion processing room; a supply section; and a transfusion bag retention section. The coinfusion operation section consists of first and second robot arms. The first robot arm retains a medical agent container. The second robot arm performs an operation to insert a syringe needle of a syringe to a mouth section of the medical agent container and an operation to insert the syringe needle of the syringe to a coinfusion mouth of the transfusion bag. The coinfusion processing room holds the coinfusion operation section. The supply section supplies the medical agent container and the syringe into the coinfusion processing room. The transfusion bag retention section retains the transfusion bag at the outer side of the coinfusion processing room and positions the coinfusion mouth of the transfusion bag at the coinfusion communication mouth formed in the coinfusion processing room.
US08857472B2
A compact and light-weight hydraulic accumulator configuration for a hydraulic brake includes a high-pressure storage chamber, a medium-pressure storage chamber and an atmospheric-pressure storage chamber. The high-pressure storage chamber, the medium-pressure storage chamber and the atmospheric-pressure storage chamber are disposed in a common housing which delimits the high-pressure storage chamber along with a high-pressure piston movably guided within the housing while delimiting the medium-pressure storage chamber along with a medium-pressure piston movably guided within the housing. A high-pressure spring located in the housing rests on the high-pressure piston outside the high-pressure storage chamber and a medium-pressure spring located in the housing rests on the medium-pressure piston outside the medium-pressure storage chamber.
US08857466B1
A system that provides for the remote control shutoff of a main supply of a utility to a structure in an unattended manner comprises a solenoid activated shutoff valve typically mounted immediately downstream of a main shutoff valve and a securable enclosure containing a remote control switch and audible alarm unit electrically connected to a power source. A manual bypass valve is provided as an override should it be required. Because the system requires electricity to operate, a general power failure will automatically shut off of the water supply. No back-up power source, such as a back-up battery, is utilized with the present system. Further, activation of the system is accomplished using a remote control to control the system from a distance.
US08857463B1
A sensor system is provided for pressure vessels. In one embodiment, a compressor directs compressed air into a purification chamber for removing carbon monoxide from the air. A sensor system housing is fastened to an opening on the purification chamber. The sensor housing provides an electrochemical sensor driven by an independent power supply and an electronic processor for receiving a signal from the electrochemical sensor. If the carbon monoxide in the purification chamber reaches a predetermined level, the electronic processor is programmed to initiate a shutdown of the compressor utilizing a relay cable.
US08857462B2
The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.
US08857460B2
A valve insert for a sanitary fitting can be inserted as an insert into a recess in the housing of the sanitary fitting and interacts there with lines of the sanitary fitting that open into the recess. The valve insert contains a base element which receives and holds the moving parts of the valve contained in the valve insert. An adapter element which is preferably injection-molded from plastics material and contains a valve inlet opening and a valve outlet opening can be connected in an exchangeable manner to this base part. The openings interact with the lines that open into the recess. A water guide leads from these two openings to the valve. By exchanging the adapter element, the valve insert can be used for different applications. Preferably, the valve seat itself can also be arranged in the adapter element.
US08857455B2
A method for regulating a steam bypass valve is provided. The bypass valve is arranged in a steam line and the steam line includes a device for spraying water. The equation, t Rest , 0 = FB max m . W , SOLL - m . W , IST is used to determine when to close the steam bypass valve. The steam bypass value is closed when tRest,0 is smaller than a value Δt. An actual volume of water {dot over (m)}W,IST, a desired volume of water {dot over (m)}W,SOLL and a maximum water-volume deficiency FBmax are used in the equation.
US08857449B2
A rinsing liquid adheres in a piled up state to the entire front surface of the substrate which is rinsed with the rinsing liquid discharged from a rinse nozzle, thereby forming a so-called puddle-like rinse layer. An opposed surface of a proximity block is positioned in the vicinity of a front surface of a substrate and a liquid-tight layer is formed in a gap space between the opposed surface and the front surface of the substrate. In a condition that the liquid-tight layer is formed, the proximity block moves in the moving direction, and a solvent gas containing a solvent component, which dissolves in the liquid to reduce a surface tension, is supplied toward an upstream-side edge of the liquid-tight layer.
US08857446B2
The invention discloses a disposable atomizer of an electronic cigarette, comprising a battery component and an atomizer, wherein the atomizer comprises an atomizer cover, a rubber sleeve, an atomizer sleeve, a tobacco tar cotton, two wires, a heating wire, a rubber pad, a threaded sleeve, a propping pin, a first fiber pipe, a tar guide rope and a second fiber pipe; the heating wire is connected with one ends of both wires, and each of the other ends of the wires is fixedly connected with the propping pin; the heating wire and the tar guide rope are wound around together; the first fiber pipe is arranged in the tar guide rope, the second fiber pipe and the first fiber pipe are coaxially arranged, and the second fiber pipe is positioned behind the first fiber pipe; both the tar guide rope and the second fiber pipe are arranged in the tobacco tar cotton, and both the tobacco tar cotton and the threaded sleeve are arranged in the atomizer sleeve; the atomizer cover is arranged at the tail end of the atomizer sleeve; and the rubber sleeve is arranged in the atomizer sleeve and positioned between the second fiber pipe and the atomizer cover. So that the disposable atomizer of an electronic cigarette has the advantages of simple production process, high production efficiency and low labor cost.
US08857438B2
Acoustic shielding system and method for protecting and shielding non-targeted regions or tissues that are not intended to be treated by ultrasonic procedures from acoustic energy using a shield. In some embodiments, the shield comprises multiple layers made of one or more materials with one or more acoustic impedances. In some embodiments a multilayered shield includes materials with relatively different acoustic impedance levels. In some embodiments, the shield includes active components such as energy diversion devices, heating, cooling, monitoring, and/or sensing. In some embodiments, the shield is configured to protect an eye, mouth, nose or ear while allowing the ultrasound to treat the surrounding tissue. One embodiment of an eye shield is configured to fit under at least one eyelid and over a portion of the eye.
US08857435B2
A patient interface assembly that includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a patient interface coupled to the first conduit and the second conduit. The first and second conduits each include a first end that is disposed proximate to a top of a head of a user, and a second end that is disposed proximate to an airway of such a user when the patient interface assembly is being worn by the user. The first and second conduits also each include a central portion that extends along the sides of a face between the user's eye and an ear a head strap is coupled between the first and second conduit, and a patient interface is coupled to the second ends of the first and second conduits.
US08857425B2
A solar water heating system, including: (a) a solar heating collector, having: (i) an array of convex lenses; (ii) a panel disposed below the array of convex lenses, wherein the array of convex lenses focuses sunlight on the panel to heat areas of the panel; (iii) a fluid chamber disposed below the panel; and (iv) a plurality of members extending from the panel into the fluid chamber to transfer heat from the panel into fluid in the fluid chamber; (b) a fluid reservoir; (c) a fluid inlet line for moving fluid from the fluid reservoir into the fluid inlet of the solar heating collector; (d) fluid outlet line for moving fluid from the fluid chamber of the solar heating collector to the fluid reservoir; and (e) a pump for moving fluid cyclically through the fluid chamber of the solar collector and the fluid reservoir.
US08857406B2
An electronic control means of an engine controls a system for the variable actuation of intake valves and for controlling gasoline injection into the combustion chamber. To the electronic control means there are associated memory means. The electronic means are programmed for detecting a value of a crank angle at which the intake valve is closed, controlling the end of the injection with an anticipation with respect to the closing of the intake valve controlling the start of the injection substantially according to said crank angle limit value, and regulating the injection pressure to a value which is defined as a function of the injection time to guarantee the injection of a predefined amount of gasoline.
US08857405B2
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber where the ignition system includes a housing, an ignition device, an injector, and a pre-chamber having a nozzle disposed spaced from the proximal portion of the pre-chamber. The igniter portion of the ignition device and the nozzle of the injector are operatively supported in the proximal portion of the pre-chamber and disposed flush therewith. The igniter portion ignites the fuel in pre-chamber such that partially combusted pre-chamber products are forced through orifices in the pre-chamber nozzle and extinguish, but dispersed through the combustion chamber so as to ignite the main fuel charge therein.
US08857400B2
In a balancer device (10) including a pair of balancer shafts (11, 21), the radial bearings (41-44) for the balancer shafts are formed solely in the balancer housing (30) and/or an integral extension (52) thereof. Because a pump cover (56) provided separately from the balancer housing does not include a radial bearing for either balancer shaft, the pump cover is not required to be attached to the balancer housing when machining the radial bearing bores in the balancer housing so that the manufacturing process is simplified, and the coaxiality of the bearing halves for each balancer shaft can be ensured without difficulty as opposed to the case where the pump cover is provided with a bearing bore which is required to be aligned with the corresponding bearing bore of the balancer housing.
US08857397B2
A device having a first gearing part for meshing with a second gearing part, in particular a starter device having a pinion for meshing with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine, in which at least one arrangement is provided whereby a motion state of the first gearing part and a motion state of the second gearing part are ascertainable. A method for operating a device having a first gearing part for meshing with a second gearing part, in particular a starter device having a pinion for meshing with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine, in which at least one arrangement is provided whereby a motion state of the first gearing part and a motion state of the first gearing part and a motion state of the second gearing part are ascertained.
US08857396B2
An igniter for igniting a fuel-air-mixture in a combustion chamber, in particular in a combustion engine with one or several combustion chambers, by generating a high frequency corona discharge, said ignitiger comprising an assembly comprising an ignition electrode, an outer conductor surrounding the ignition electrode, which has a front end and a rear end, and an electrical insulator arranged between the ignition electrode and the outer conductor, wherein the ignition electrode is part of an electrical high-frequency resonant circuit, protrudes over the front end of the outer conductor, and is connected to an alternate current source or alternate voltage source which feeds the HF-resonant circuit, and delivers a high frequency alternate current or a high frequency alternate voltage, respectively. The ignition electrode is branched into more than four electrode branches extending away from the outer conductor, in different directions.
US08857394B2
A variable valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotating member, an driven-side rotating member, a cam shaft, a control valve switching supply and discharge of a working fluid relative to an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, an advanced angle-side oil passage, a retarded angle-side oil passage, a spider provided with a first oil passage and a second oil passage, a seal mechanism partitioning between at least one of the first oil passage and the second oil passage, and an outside space, and the seal mechanism allows air to come in the at least one of the first oil passage and the second oil passage in a case where pressure inside the at least the one of the first oil passage and the second oil passage is lower than air pressure of the outside space.
US08857386B2
Example embodiments for reducing thermal load in one or more exhaust gas lines are provided. One embodiment includes an internal combustion engine with liquid cooling, comprising at least one exhaust gas line, at least one coolant jacket, and a common boundary wall separating the at least one exhaust gas line and the at least one coolant jacket, wherein the common boundary wall includes a surface structure provided on sides of the coolant jacket in at least one locally limited region. In this way, the surface structure on the sides of the coolant jacket may increase heat transfer to reduce thermal loading.
US08857377B2
A self-contained, multi-function animal jacket, which massages the animal with movable elements and which vacuums up and collects the hair loosened by the massage movable elements.
US08857372B2
An isothermal, low pressure-based process of depositing material within a substrate has been developed and results in creating an extremely narrow reaction zone within which a more uniform and efficient deposition will occur. Sets of isothermal plasma operating conditions have been found that create a narrow deposition zone, assuring that the deposited material is clear glass rather than soot particles. The chemical delivery system, in one arrangement, utilizes rods of solid phase source material (which may otherwise be difficult to obtain in gaseous form). The operating conditions are selected such that the hot plasma does not transfer a substantial amount of heat to the substrate tube, where the presence of such heat has been found to result in vaporizing the reactant material (creating soot) and developing hot spots.
US08857371B2
An apparatus for generating a dielectric-barrier discharge gas including a high-energy radical gas, at a high density and with high efficiency. A flat-plate-like first electrode and a flat-plate-like second electrode are arranged in opposite positions, and a dielectric body is arranged between the two electrodes. A discharge space is located between the first electrode and the dielectric body, within a gap between the first electrode and the dielectric body. The discharge space has three sides which are gas shielded and a fourth side which opens to end surfaces of the first electrode and the dielectric body. A cooling section cools at least the first electrode and a gas supply section supplies a raw material gas to the discharge space part. A dielectric-barrier discharge is generated in the discharge space part by applying an AC voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08857366B2
A manually-operated canopy deployment system for mounted attachment onboard recreational boats comprises a pair of spring-loaded tubular actuators telescopically assembled and coupled in parallel alignment to deploy a flexible canvas from a roller member transversely mounted between the actuators with a gear box operatively connected to the roller member to control the canvas deployment. Each actuator assembly includes a rearward outer tube, and separate forward and intermediate interior tubes each fitted with inner end caps and coaxially disposed to move longitudinally within the outer tube, with compression springs separately disposed within the respective tube chambers to apply outbound forces axially upon the inner ends of the respective interior tubes. Forward and intermediate cross bars connected across the interior tubes serve to draw the canvas from the roller member and support canvas deployment, with a pair of loop attachments provided on the surface of the canvas to prevent billowing thereof.
US08857359B1
A universal mounting interface for rope cleats on water vessels, docks, or other fixed structures. The current invention provides a cleat saddle from which spars or poles are extended and linked at a flexible but resilient arch connection to fend off the vessel from a dock or another vessel. The mounting interface may be seated in overlying relation to a boat cleat and held in place by any mounting means. The current invention further provides elbows connecting the mounting interface to the spars and acts as a juncture of resilience to external forces. Rotation channels in one or more of the components allow rotation and flexibility to resisting the external forces. Additionally, one or more of the components can have strength enhancing aspects to prevent bending or manipulation of the components in response to external forces. The goal is to provide a constant, though relatively flexible, distance between two objects.
US08857357B2
The present invention provides a method of controlling the position of a spread moored marine vessel (1). In particular, the method of the present invention substantially maintains the position of a spread moored vessel (1) in, or on the boundary of a target area (2) using thruster assistance. This is done by monitoring the position of the vessel and when the vessel (1) is positioned outside of the target area (2) applying a position correcting thrust (7) to the vessel (1) in the direction of an aim position located on the boundary of the target area (2) and when the vessel (1) is positioned within the target area (2) reducing the position correcting thrust (7) applied to the vessel (1) or maintaining the position correcting thrust (7) applied to the vessel (1) at zero. The present invention may also apply a damping thrust (7) to the vessel (1) in order to damp the positional variation of the vessel (1). The present invention also provides a thruster assisted mooring system for a spread moored vessel (1) operating according to the method of the present invention.
US08857354B2
A threading to a looper is performed with one-touch operation. A looper threading/sewing changeover mechanism 30 including a push button 33 for a pressing operation of a push button shaft 32 that a control pin 31 is protruded and provided, a control groove cam 38 which includes a first control groove cam portion 34—a fourth control groove cam portion 37 which receive the control pin, a connecting movement plate 40 which supports a thread guide portion and which is elastically repelled toward a threading state that a thread guide outlet of the thread guide portion contacts to a looper thread inlet of the looper by a first spring 39, and a connecting positioning plate 82 which rotates together with a main shaft 2 integrally and has a peripheral surface 80 that a tip portion 41 of the push button shaft contacts and has a notch portion 81 that the tip portion of the push button shaft is fitted is provided.
US08857343B2
A projectile includes a head, a tail, and an interface that interconnects the head and tail. Multiple sections of the interface are deformed by being compressed radially inwardly into respective annular recesses formed between the interface and the head and tail during manufacturing or by rifling when the projectile is fired. The amount of deformation is controlled by the depth of each of the annular recesses. In all embodiments, annular ridges formed in the head, the tail, or both, define the longitudinal extent of the annular recesses. The interface includes an annular obturation region and has a beveled open leading end to facilitate insertion of the head and tail into the interface.
US08857339B2
An explosives detonator system for detonating an explosive charge with which it is, in use, arranged in a detonating relationship is provided. On acceptance of a detonation initiating signal having a detonation initiating property, the system initiates and thus detonates the explosive charge. The system includes an initiating device which accepts the detonation initiating signal and initiates and thus detonates the explosive charge. The initiating device is initially in a non-detonation initiating condition, in which it is not capable of accepting the detonation initiating signal. The system also includes a switching device that detects a chemical compositional component as a switching property of a switching signal that is transmitted to the detonator system, with the switching device being capable of switching the initiating device, on detection of the chemical compositional component, to a standby condition in which the initiating device accepts the detonation initiating signal when it is transmitted thereto.
US08857333B2
A cam follower is affixed to a rotary component that is in mechanical communication with a rotary source such that the cam follower travels along a path when the first rotary source is operating. The cam follower is in mechanical communication with a mechanical component such that, when the cam follower is engaged with a retract dwell section of either of a dynamic cam or a static cam, the mechanical component is retracted. The static cam may be positioned to allow the mechanical component to retract for a predetermined portion of the path.
US08857329B2
A screen printing apparatus includes a printing execution unit that performs screen printing on a substrate. At least one substrate support table that is provided movably along a specific direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. A table drive mechanism that moves the substrate support table at least between substrate entry and exit positions along a specific direction. The substrate entry and exit positions are set asymmetrically with respect to the specific direction. A printing execution unit drive mechanism is provided to drive the printing execution unit along the specific direction. A control unit is provided to control the printing execution unit drive mechanism so that the printing execution unit is driven to set the printing position on a substrate conveying path needed for the substrate support table to move from the substrate entry to the substrate exit.
US08857327B2
A structure for presses, a resistant structure of which includes at least a resistant element which, in turn, includes an annular element or arch, internally of which are predisposed two facing surfaces, between which at least a power organ is insertable, which power organ is suitable for compressing an object or material to be pressed between two bodies. Full-thickness cuts are symmetrically arranged at ends of the facing surfaces, each cut, starting from the end of the relative facing surface, develops over an arc of a polycentric curve which exhibits at least a first tract, the most external surface of which connects with the lateral surface of the vertical portion of the annular element or arch, and at least a second tract which is connected to the first tract and extends over a portion of not less than a quarter of an arc of circumference.
US08857325B2
A food cutter has a base and at least two transverse panels extending from the base and sized to complement a pan. The panels may form a grid with an upper end located in the base. The grid has a lower end with cutting edges adapted to cut food. The upper end may be concave and the lower end is flat. The base is formed from a smooth rigid material and may be covered in a soft pliable material. The grid may be coated with a food safe, non-stick material.
US08857322B2
A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to the pre-cooked food product; a plurality of non-metallic gears, each non-metallic gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; a motor including a motor shaft and adapted to generate a rotational power through the motor shaft at a first rotational speed; and a drive sub-assembly adapted to transfer the rotational power from the shaft to the plurality of non-metallic gears at a second rotational speed.
US08857321B2
A roller grill for heating a pre-cooked food product includes a plurality of tubes having outer surfaces adapted to transfer heat to the pre-cooked food product; a plurality of spur gears, each spur gear mounted on an end of a corresponding tube; and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor; a timing pulley coupled to a shaft having a plurality of worm gears mounted thereon; and a timing belt coupled to the motor and the timing pulley and adapted to transfer rotary motion generated by the motor into rotary motion of the tubes through contacting engagement of the worm gears with the spur gears.
US08857306B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to an inertial damping apparatus in communication with a dynamic suppression mechanism for a firearm. The apparatus is in communication with both a muzzle of a projectile release device and with a suppressor. The apparatus dynamically extends between different states of compression. The apparatus is comprised of a body and an axial sleeve, with the sleeve functioning to guide movement of the body and to hold a first end of axially variable material in position when subject to compression.
US08857305B1
A rope projection device for capturing an object is provided with a head assembly including an open central chamber and two open inclined cylinders spaced from both sides of the central chamber respectively; a capturing rope including a rope member in the central chamber, and two end weights in the inclined cylinders respectively; and a projection assembly including a housing including a recess having a first through hole, and a cap on the recess and having a second through hole; a sleeve in the housing; a diaphragm on a front end of the sleeve; an air canister in the sleeve; and a mechanism including a spring biased cylindrical member in the sleeve, a receptacle on the cylindrical member, a spring biased sliding member projecting out of the receptacle into a third through hole on the sleeve to be under the first through hole, and a rear sharp member.
US08857303B2
A power saw includes a table configured to receive a workpiece, a saw blade and motor assembly, and a linear guide mechanism operatively connected to the table and being configured to pivotally support the saw blade and motor assembly. The linear guide mechanism enables movement of the saw blade and motor assembly along a predetermined linear path in a forward or a rearward direction at a constant level, and includes a first link and a second link pivotally connected by a first hinge connection. The first and second links enable the linear guide mechanism to maintain the saw blade and motor assembly at the constant level. The power saw further includes a locking mechanism which is fixed to the first hinge connection for locking the linear guide mechanism to prevent the saw blade and motor assembly from being moved along the predetermined linear path.
US08857302B2
A cutting tool includes a tool unit having a rotary circular blade, a movable cover mounted to the tool unit and having a cover body movable in a moving direction to cover and uncover a part of the rotary circular blade by the cover body, and a position adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the position of the cover body of the movable cover in an adjusting direction different from the moving direction.
US08857292B2
An improved pedal/cleat assembly includes a cleat that can be releasably secured to a pedal assembly without the need to contact the sole of a rider's shoe. The cleat is configured to include forward and rearward projections, as well as inward and outward feet, and the pedal assembly is configured to include a spindle, a main pedal body mounted on the spindle, and a cleat support base mounted on the main pedal body. The cleat support base includes inward and outward pads configured to support the cleat's inward and outward feet, and it mounts forward and rearward cleat retainers configured to receive and secure the forward and rearward cleat projections. A spring-bias device yieldably biases the forward and rearward cleat retainers toward each other. The pedal/cleat assembly thereby is configured such that the cleat can be secured to the pedal assembly without the need to contact any portion of the shoe sole.
US08857288B2
A connection structure of a control cable includes one control cable, the other control cable, a joint case separable into pieces on respective sides of one and the other control cables, a joint member, and an attachment member. The other control cable includes first and second control cables. The attachment member has a fitting portion allowing fitting of an inner cable of each of the first and second control cables into an outer circumferential surface of the attachment member. The fitting portion can be exposed from an internal space when the joint case is separated. Thus, a connection structure of a control cable with which an inner cable can readily be removed can be obtained.
US08857284B2
A multi clutch transmission includes a first clutch plate mounted on a first input shaft, a second clutch plate mounted on a second input shaft arranged concentrically around the first input shaft, a third clutch plate mounted on a third input shaft arranged concentrically around the second input shaft, and a clutch housing comprising a plurality of reaction plates, the first, second, and third clutch plates being individually and selectively engageable and disengageable with reaction plates in the clutch housing. A multi clutch transmission can also include at least three countershafts arranged around the input shafts.
US08857273B2
An actuation assembly adapted for driving a load, and protecting against overload conditions, includes an actuator defining a stroke, and a resistive member, such as a superelastic shape memory alloy spring, drivenly coupled to the actuator, so as to be displaced over the stroke when an overload condition exists, and defining a non-linear force versus displacement profile.
US08857271B2
An apparatus comprises a brake rod and a flexible dielectric membrane wrapped around the brake rod. The membrane has a plurality of substrate cutouts at precise locations for strain gage substrates.
US08857270B2
A method for detecting plugging of a measuring tube. Heat is supplied to a medium conveyed in a first measuring tube by means of at least one heating element, or heat is removed from the medium conveyed in a first measuring tube by means of at least one cooling element. At least one temperature sensor, which is thermally coupled to the medium conveyed in the first measuring tube, temperature is registered. Additionally, a first comparison variable, which is characteristic for heat transport by the medium in the first measuring tube, is determined based on the supplying of heat or removing of heat, as well as on the temperature registering, and this comparison variable is compared with a reference variable. Plugging of at least one measuring tube of the measuring transducer is detected if the first comparison variable deviates from the reference variable by more than a limit value.
US08857269B2
A system and method of varying the flow rate of fluid from a medical pump through tubing includes determining an inner diameter of the tubing and fluid flow velocity of fluid in the tubing with a controller based on acoustic signals received by a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer sensor system and then determining and adjusting a fluid flow rate of fluid in the tubing with the controller. In addition, the same sensor system also detects air bubbles in the fluid in the tubing.
US08857265B2
An apparatus for orienting a test article relative to a loading axis includes a first member and a second member. The first member may have a concave surface. The second member may have a convex surface configured to engage the concave surface in a manner such that the second member is movable relative to the first member. The test article may be coupled to one of the first and second members such that relative movement thereof facilitates general alignment of the test article with the axial loading axis. The leveling apparatus may further include a plurality of positioning devices configured to facilitate adjustment of an orientation of the second number relative to the first member such that the alignment of the test article may be adjusted.
US08857261B2
A sensing device and a method of attaching the sensing device to a target object is disclosed. The substrate of the sensing device has one or more bonding material vias that allows the bonding material used to attach the substrate to the target object to flow from one side of the substrate to the other side of the substrate. The bonding material forms rivets to secure the substrate to the target object and to secure the layers of the substrate to each other.
US08857250B2
A combustion chamber pressure sensor is provided for recording a pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the combustion chamber pressure sensor has a housing having an inner space that is at least partially enclosed by the housing. At least one mechanical-electrical transducer element, for recording the pressure, is accommodated in the housing. The housing has at least one housing opening. The housing opening is sealed by at least one diaphragm. The diaphragm has at least one convex curvature towards the inner space.
US08857218B2
An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube nozzle in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube nozzles being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.
US08857212B2
The invention provides a process for the separation of a contaminant or mixture of contaminants from a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream, comprising the subsequent steps of: a) passing a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream comprising the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants into and through a cold porous body having a temperature below the sublimation temperature of the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants and contacting the CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream at elevated pressure with the surface of the cold porous body to obtain a porous body comprising solid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a contaminant-depleted product gas; and b) reducing the pressure to obtain fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a cold porous body. c) removing the fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants, wherein the contaminant is selected from CO2, hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, siloxanes and carbonyl sulphide, or a mixture thereof.
US08857211B2
In an injectible two-staged rotary compressor, a second suction pipe includes a heat-exchange promoting unit that promotes heat exchange between intermediary-pressure injected refrigerant and internal space or an external surface of a sealed container. The heat being exchanged by the intermediary-pressure injected refrigerant absorbing heat.
US08857199B2
A refrigerating apparatus includes first and second refrigerant circuits including respective first and second compressors, condensers, pressure reducers, and evaporators, connected circularly with first and second refrigerant pipes, respectively, refrigerants discharged from the first and second compressors being respectively condensed at the first and second condensers and thereafter respectively evaporated at the first and second evaporators to acquire a cooling effect; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of an internal portion of a cold storage cabinet, the first and second evaporators being disposed to cool the internal portion simultaneously; and a first control device that controls the first and second compressors such that the first compressor and the second compressor start being alternately operated each time a temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a first temperature, and are continuously operated until the detected temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature.
US08857193B2
An intermediate casing for a gas-turbine engine has an outer ring (3), an inner ring (1) and an intermediate ring (2) mutually supported by mutually aligned outer and inner supporting struts (4, 5). A radial drive shaft (6), positioned through inner and outer supporting struts (4.1, 5.1) aligned at a 6-o′ clock position, connects to an auxiliary gear drive (7). Four additional outer supporting struts (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5) are spaced apart 72°. A mounting bracket connects to the outer ring at a side facing an aircraft fuselage in areas of two of the additional outer supporting struts. The arrangement of supporting struts and type of mounting bracket attachment, saves weight, improves flow in the bypass duct and increase maintenance and installation access at the bottom side of the engine to nearly 144°.
US08857186B2
A system for converting thermal energy to work. The system includes a working fluid circuit, and a precooler configured to receive the working fluid. The system also includes a compression stages and intercoolers. At least one of the precooler and the intercoolers is configured to receive a heat transfer medium from a high temperature ambient environment. The system also includes heat exchangers coupled to a source of heat and being configured to receive the working fluid. The system also includes turbines coupled to one or more of the heat exchangers and configured to receive heated working fluid therefrom. The system further includes recuperators fluidly coupled to the turbines, the precooler, the compressor, and at least one of the heat exchangers. The recuperators transfer heat from the working fluid downstream from the turbines, to the working fluid upstream from at least one of the heat exchangers.
US08857180B2
A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing with a bearing bore and a semi-floating bearing disposed within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is supported by the bearing for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the first end and configured to be rotated about the axis by post-combustion gasses emitted by the engine. Additionally, the turbocharger includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the second end and configured to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient for delivery to the engine. Furthermore, the turbocharger includes a plate secured within the bearing housing and configured to prevent rotation of the bearing about the axis. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.
US08857177B2
A piston engine, having at least one cylinder that includes at least a first and a second discharge valve and a double overhead camshaft for controlling the first and a second discharge valves. The double overhead camshaft includes both an inner shaft, which has at least one first cam for controlling the first discharge valve, and an outer shaft that is coaxial to the first inner shaft and has at least one second cam for controlling the second discharge valve. The inner shaft and the outer shaft are rotationally adjustable relative to one another changing the discharge time frame of the discharge valves.
US08857164B2
An exhaust manifold to be connected to an internal combustion engine with a plurality of exhaust ports in the present invention includes a first upper shell member, a second upper shell member, and a lower shell member. The first upper shell member and the lower shell member are superposed on each other to thereby form a first flow passage to be connected to at least one exhaust port out of the plurality of exhaust ports. The second upper shell member is superposed on the lower shell member with the first upper shell member sandwiched therebetween such that at least a part of the first upper shell member is exposed, to thereby form a second flow passage to be connected to another at least one exhaust port out of the plurality of exhaust ports.
US08857163B2
To effectively utilize exhaust heat of an engine mounted on a vehicle. An exhaust heat utilization system includes a working fluid heating tank (11) mounted on a truck (10) driven by an engine (12) and configured to heat a working fluid (30) stored therein with exhaust heat of the engine (12) and a heater (26) configured to heat a greenhouse (25) with the working fluid (30) heated by the working fluid heating tank (11). Exhaust heat recovered from the truck (10) is utilized for the heating of the greenhouse (25).
US08857161B2
A detection unit that is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine configured to detect a state of the exhaust gas, addition unit configured to add the additive agent into the exhaust passage, a catalyst that is arranged at the downstream side of the detection unit and the addition unit so as to receive a supply of the additive agent from the addition unit, determination unit configured to determine whether detection accuracy of the detection unit drops due to the additive agent to be added from the addition unit, and stop unit configured to stop detection of the state of the exhaust gas by the detection unit in cases where it is determined by the determination unit that the detection accuracy of the detection unit drops.
US08857160B2
The invention relates to a dosing system (10) for introducing a reducing agent (18), especially urea or an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. The dosing system (10) comprises a reservoir (12, 14) for accommodating a stock in the reducing agent (18), a delivery unit (32), a level sensor (50) and a dosing module (38). The reservoir (40) is a standard reservoir integrated into a vehicle-specific component (60), especially a fuel tank (68).
US08857157B2
A system for a vehicle includes a steady-state (SS) temperature module and a mass temperature module. The SS temperature module generates a SS temperature of a downstream-most catalyst of an exhaust system at a predetermined location between upstream and downstream faces of the downstream-most catalyst. The predetermined location is a predetermined distance upstream from the downstream face. The mass temperature module generates an instantaneous temperature of the downstream-most catalyst at the predetermined location as a function of the SS temperature.
US08857154B2
A method of treating NOx-containing exhaust from an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system has the following devices arranged in the following order downstream the exhaust manifold: a lean NOx trap (LNT), a particulate filter (PF) and a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) device. At least the LNT is located in the engine compartment. The SCR temperature at the input to, or in, the SCR is monitored to determine whether the aftertreatment system is to be operated in a cold mode or warm mode. Only during warm mode is reductant provided to the SCR, and during warm mode the LNT is not regenerated.
US08857153B2
A system and method for determining a rate of ammonia deposition and controlling an engine is described. In one example, an amount of ammonia deposited in an engine exhaust is determined and the deposited ammonia is purged after the amount of ammonia deposited reaches a threshold level. The method may decrease ammonia use and ammonia emissions from a vehicle.
US08857151B2
A core nacelle for a gas turbine engine, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a core cowl positioned adjacent to an inner duct boundary of a fan bypass passage having an associated cross-sectional area that radially extends between a fan exhaust nozzle and the inner duct boundary. The core cowl includes at least one groove that is selectively exposed to change the cross-sectional area at an axial location of the fan exhaust nozzle.
US08857148B2
Component of a chain element of an energy-conducting chain, wherein the component has a cavity which is produced by means of a fluid internal pressure injection molding method, or is formed from a micro-cellular foam.
US08857147B2
Improved self cleaning and lubricating all-weather fishing lines and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The line includes a core line portion of polyester multifilament fiber and a coating portion, the coating formed by a thermoplastic polyester elastomer mixed with a blowing agent . The methods of this invention are characterized by the use of a finely ground powder of copolymer and blowing agent processed through a medical-quality elongated mixing screw at the line coating unit and very low processing temperatures.
US08857133B2
An elongated purlin for use in roof structures includes an elongated mounting wall designed to be mounted to and supported on roof beams, an upright wall affixed to the mounting wall and extending longitudinally approximately the length of the mounting wall, and first and second horizontally outwardly opening channels affixed to the upright wall and extending approximately the length of the upright wall. The first and second channels open outwardly in opposite directions and each of the first and second channels is designed to receive an edge of a solar panel or roof section engaged therein.
US08857131B2
A method of erecting a pylon of a wind power installation is provided. The method includes providing a foundation and placing a plurality of height adjusting units on the foundation. The height adjusting units are made substantially from a plastic material. A load distribution ring is placed on the plurality of height adjusting units. The load distribution ring is straightened and leveled by adjustment of the height adjusting units. A gap between the foundation and the load distribution ring is filled with a grouting material. A pylon segment is placed on the load distribution ring after the grouting material has reached a predetermined strength. The height adjusting units are configured to jointly bear the weight of the load distribution ring, and are configured to yield under a selected load that is greater that a weight of the load distribution ring.
US08857125B2
Floor boards and wood flooring for truck trailers and containers as well as methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example wood floor for truck trailers and containers may include a wood member including a plurality of floor boards. Each of the floor boards may include a plurality of wood strips joined together. Opposing side surfaces of the wood strips may be attached together. Opposing end surfaces of the wood strips may be secured together with an end joint. The end joint may include a sealer disposed within the end joint.
US08857120B2
An aisle containment system is provided. The aisle containment system includes a pair of wall beams suspended from a ceiling, a pair of floor tracks positioned beneath the wall beams and secured to a floor, and at least one blanking panel secured to one of the wall beams and one of the floor tracks.
US08857102B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a rodent proofing and entrapment system, the system comprising: a rodent proof shell; a opening disposed in the shell communicating with a rodent passage; a bridge having a proximal end disposed proximate to the first opening and a distal end disposed proximal to a trap chamber, the bridge being configured to pivot on a pivot axis; a door, engaged by the proximal end of the bridge, such that when a rodent crosses the pivot axis towards the distal end of the, the door closes; a flap depending from the distal end of the bridge excluding rodent access beneath the bridge and closing the trap chamber when the distal end of the bridge is in an upright position.
US08857100B2
A weedless fishing lure device. The device has a single piece soft bodied lure material having a first end and a second end. An air ballast formed by at least one cavity region provided within one or more portions of the single piece soft bodied lure material and extending from a vicinity of the first end of the single piece soft bodied lure material toward the second end of the single piece soft bodied lure material. The device has a lower portion of the soft bodied lure member bordering a lower portion of the cavity region and an upper portion of the single piece soft bodied lure member bordering an upper portion of the cavity region. An outer region is formed from the single piece soft bodied lure material. An opening is within the upper portion of the single piece soft bodied lure member. The device also has hook member having an eyelet and a shank, which extends from the eyelet to at least one bend section configured in an annular manner and having at least one portion extending back toward a direction of the eyelet and terminating at a point. The hook member is substantially enclosed within the outer region of the single piece soft bodied lure member. The shank is embedded within the lower portion of the single piece soft bodied lure member, and the point is substantially snag proof or weedless.
US08857098B2
Sport fishing for lobsters by divers is done with a hand held net. Lobsters in a net try to escape through the large net opening by flipping their tails. It is accordingly an object of the invention to trap a lobster and prevent it from escaping. The Mark I lobster net closes by flipping a lever with the thumb, preventing the lobster from escape. The overall density of the net is greater than that of sea water. If the net is dropped, it will fall to the bottom and not drift off. The handle is painted a florescent yellow so that it can be seen on the ocean floor.
US08857087B1
A label holder and sign holder system for attachment along the front face of a merchandise display shelf. The label holder has a forwardly projecting, downwardly opening sign grip extending along its upper edge for receiving and gripping upper edges of sign cards, which can be positioned along the length of the label holder. A sign holder, which is narrow in relation to the label holder, has a mounting clip at its upper edge which snaps over the sign grip and releasably locks the sign holder to the label holder, while permitting the sign holder to be laterally adjusted along the label holder. The sign holder has a panel extending downward from the mounting clip and carrying a sign clip for displaying a sign at right angles to the label holder. When no sign is displayed, the sign holder can be left in position or moved to an inconspicuous location.
US08857078B2
Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices may include an authentication or activation system for providing power or otherwise determining the connection of a sensor in the article of footwear.
US08857073B2
Vacuum concentrator, comprising a vacuum chamber with a closure which may be sealed in an airtight manner, a centrifuge rotor arranged in the vacuum chamber with at least one receiver for at least one vessel for samples to be dried, a drive motor arranged outside the vacuum chamber for driving the centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber, a tempering device associated with the vacuum chamber for tempering the at least one sample in the vacuum chamber, a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum chamber for detecting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and an electrical control and evaluating device which is connected to the drive motor, the vacuum pump, the tempering device and the pressure sensor, for detecting the end point of the vacuum concentration by means of the pressures detected by the pressure sensor in the vacuum chamber and terminating the vacuum concentration when the end point is determined.
US08857067B2
A saw assembly includes a housing, a motor, a worm gear, and a drive member. The housing defines an interior space. The motor is positioned in the housing and has a motor shaft, the motor being configured to rotate the motor shaft about a first axis. The worm gear is positioned in the housing and has a worm gear shaft. Rotation of the motor shaft causes rotation of the worm gear shaft. The drive member is operatively coupled to the worm gear. Rotation of the worm gear shaft causes movement of the drive member in a repeating pattern. The worm gear shaft includes a bore structure defining a blind bore and an opening leading to the blind bore. The bore structure defines a set of internal threads that are spaced apart from the opening. The motor shaft includes a set of external threads.
US08857061B2
A system and method for mounting a bearing assembly on a shaft includes an internal flange, external flange, and a sleeve. The internal flange is securable to the bearing assembly and has a displacement pin extending outward that defines an initial position of the bearing assembly relative to the shaft. The external flange is secured to the internal flange via fasteners passing through elongated holes. The external flange has an opening configured to receive the displacement pin. The external flange may be rotated when coupled to the internal flange with the fasteners between a first position where the external flange opening is not in register with the displacement pin and a second position where the external flange opening is in register with the displacement pin. A sleeve has a tapered outside diameter and is engageable with the external flange.
US08857058B2
A system for making a dental restoration, comprising a 3D digitizer for producing a 3D model digital representation of a dental restoration model, a computer in communication with the 3D digitizer and capable of creating a dental restoration milling trajectory for a selected block of given dimension and given dental restoration material, based on the 3D model, and a laser milling apparatus in communication with the computer and capable of laser milling the dental restoration from the selected block positioned therein using the milling trajectory created by the computer. The laser milling apparatus includes one or more sensor for continuously monitoring the laser milling of the selected block and to provide feedback to the computer such that the milling trajectory is continuously adjusted by the computer using the feedback from the one or more sensor.
US08857053B2
A compressor housing defines an inlet bore having a first inlet collar disposed therein. The inlet collar is connected to the housing with a first plurality of radially extending posts. The first plurality of posts is removed to detach the inlet collar from the housing, and the inlet collar is removed from the housing. The same or another inlet collar is concentrically located within a liner. The liner can be located at a radial distance around at least a portion of the inlet collar. The inlet collar is connected to the liner by radially inserting a second plurality of posts through the liner and into the inlet collar. An assembly of the liner containing the inlet collar is inserted into the inlet bore of the housing such that the inlet collar forms the inducer bore of the compressor housing.
US08857052B2
A flexure assembly includes two metallic flexure arrays molded into a thermoplastic support base. The two flexure arrays are positioned in parallel in the thermoplastic support base to allow rotational movement about one axis while providing high stiffness with respect to off-axis movement. Flexible supports in the two flexure arrays may be interleaved to form a cross flexure configuration. Off-axis stiffness of the flexure assembly prevents harmonic resonance in directions that cannot be compensated for in a single-axis actuator.
US08857043B2
A method of manufacturing a leadless marker for localizing the position of a target within a patient. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a ferromagnetic element; positioning a coil of an inductor at least around a portion of the ferromagnetic element, wherein the coil comprises a plurality of windings of a conductor; and positioning the ferromagnetic element such that the radiographic and magnetic centroids of the marker are at least substantially coincident. The marker does not have external electrical lead lines extending through the casing. The ferromagnetic element is at least partially within the inductor. The ferromagnetic element has a volume such that when the marker is in an imaging magnetic field having a field strength of 1.5 T and a gradient of 3 T/m, then the force exerted on the marker by the imaging magnetic field is not greater than gravitational force exerted on the marker.
US08857036B2
A method of forming a leak tight connection between a pipe and a port made of different metals is described. A leak tight connection between a pipe made of a first metal and a port made of a second metal is also described.
US08857029B2
A mounting apparatus includes a substrate; an optical component having a first surface on which light from the substrate is incident and a second surface from which the incident light goes out after the incident light is refracted; an adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the substrate and a position of the optical component by moving the substrate and the optical component relatively with the first surface of the optical component and the substrate being opposed to each other; an imaging unit that is arranged in an optical path of the light that goes out from the second surface; and a control unit that controls an amount by which the adjustment unit moves the substrate and the optical component relatively according to image data which is captured by the imaging unit, and that mounts the optical component on the substrate.
US08857027B2
A method of reducing the volume of a blade section of a boiling water reactor control rod for transport or storage that cuts the control rod spline into four substantially equal longitudinal sections, with each longitudinal section including one control rod blade. Each longitudinal section is radiologically characterized and the locations of desired lateral segmentation are identified. A band of malleable metal is wrapped around each longitudinal section at each of the locations and the bands are sheared to separate segments of the longitudinal section and the ends of the bands are crimped at the point of shearing to seal the interior of the segments.
US08857025B2
The present invention is directed to methods for repairing pipes or pipe junctions. The methods include providing a launcher device having a bladder and a liner impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening. The bladder includes a first end, a closed second end, and an opening proximal the closed second end. A portion of the bladder is positioned within the launcher device, a rope or a line is connected to the liner, and the rope or line is threaded through the opening in the bladder. The rope or the line is pulled until the liner is at least partially within the bladder, and the rope or line is removed. The pipe is repaired by positioning the liner against the wall of a pipe, and allowing a material capable of curing and hardening to cure and harden. The methods allow for the rapid reuse of the bladder.
US08857020B2
A method of forming an actuator includes depositing a photoimageable material to form a first photoimageable layer on a piezoelectric layer; patterning the first photoimageable layer to form an aperture; and disposing a first conductive layer on the first photoimageable layer. An actuator device formed by this method includes the photoimageable material. The first conductive layer partially overlies the first photoimageable layer such that a first portion of the first conductive layer contacts the first photoimageable layer and a second portion of the first conductive layer electrically contacts the piezoelectric layer in the aperture.
US08857016B2
A hinge assembly for a trunk lid of an automotive vehicle. The hinge assembly includes a mounting plate secured to the vehicle and a hinge arm having first and second ends. The first end of the connecting arm is mounted to the mounting plate such that the second end of the hinge arm is pivotally movable between a lowered position and a fully raised position. A friction plate is provided adjacent to the mounting plate and hinge arm and includes a portion biased into contact with the hinge arm. The contact between the friction plate and the hinge arm provides frictional resistance to movement of the hinge arm between the lowered position and the fully raised position.
US08857011B2
A hand-held cleaning device that utilizes a low-power, low-torque motor coupled to an impeller for creating a vacuum. The device includes a contact head having a plurality of protrusions formed on its top surface. The contact head contacts the surface to be cleaned, for example, the coat of a pet. The protrusions are sized and spaced to avoid tangling or clumping of pet hair. The device includes a container for collecting hair and debris. The impeller includes ribs on a disk portion thereof for increasing the efficiency of the vacuum system.
US08857005B2
A hair brush that permits quick and easy removal of hair has a handle attached to a head. The head is made up of at least two frames that are mounted to the handle through cantilevers that permit movement of the frames relative to one another. The bristles are mounted to the frames, preferably in single rows. A force applied to one frame moves that frame relative to the other frame and the handle, thereby permitting the user to reach between the frames to remove any hair that is caught in the bristles. The brush allows a gap between the bristles to be enlarged, thereby making removal using human fingers much easier. Repeated movement and return of the frames to their resting position can cause the hair fibers to work away from the bristle bases and make removal much easier.
US08857003B2
The present invention discloses a toothbrush having a handle and an articulated head coupled to the handle. The articulated head includes two sections and each of the head sections has a bottom surface and a side surface. Each of the head sections includes a plurality of bristles extending from the bottom surface of that head section and at least one of the head sections includes a plurality of elastomeric fingers partially defining the side surface of that head section and partially extending from the bottom surface of the head section. The head section most remote from the handle, in a normal configuration of the articulated head, is angled with respect to the other head section.
US08857000B2
A convenient way to erase a dry-erase writing board is described. One or more erasers are mounted to a shaft that travels along the surface of a dry-erase writing board. A motorized transport mechanism may be used to propel the shaft along the writing board. Other options include a remote control system, handles, a cleaning fluid dispensing system, and a marker holder.
US08856986B2
A patient support system includes independently adjustable columns supporting a hinged bending or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for upwardly breaking and downwardly breaking orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions.
US08856968B2
A stabilizing sock has a foot section having a shape corresponding to a human foot and comprising a rearfoot portion corresponding to human calcaneous and talus bones and to tibial and fibular malleoli, a forefoot portion corresponding to human metatarsal and phalanx bones, and a midfoot portion between the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion and corresponding to human cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones. The sock has a medial stabilizer region on a medial side of the sock and a lateral stabilizer region on a lateral side of the sock. The medial stabilizer region covers a forward medial region of the rearfoot portion and a rearward medial region of the midfoot portion, and the lateral stabilizer region covers a forward lateral region of the rearfoot portion. The sock may also include lace bite protector regions and boot bang protector regions. Kits for assembling stabilizing socks are also described.
US08856967B2
A glove including a wrist region, a palm region, and digit regions. A band zone is defined in a back surface of one or more digit regions and grippingly engages a back of the user's digit received in that region. The band zone includes C-shaped elastomeric bands disposed at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the digit region. Each band extends around less than one half of the circumference of the digit region. The band zone extends from proximate the palm region to an area disposed adjacent a nail of the user's digit. A smooth zone is provided in a surface of the digit region opposite the band zone. The smooth zone is free of elastomeric bands and contacts a front surface of the user's digit. This configuration aids in gripping the user's digit while preserving tactile sensitivity therein when the glove is used for long periods of time.
US08856966B2
Embodiments of a scratching device are provided herein. In one embodiment, a scratching device includes a hand cover and a means for scratching disposed proximate a terminal end of the hand cover. The hand cover may be configured as a glove, a mitten, or the like and may further be configured to resemble a human hand, an animal's paw, or an element of nature. The means for scratching generally includes a scratching element that extends from a terminal portion of the hand cover. The means for scratching may further comprise a body coupled to the scratching element and having one or more holes configured for the fingers of the user. Optionally, an insert having one or more holes configured for the fingers of the user may be placed within the hand cover to facilitate control of the means for scratching.
US08863304B1
A method and apparatus for remediating backup data to control access to sensitive data is described. In one embodiment, the method for facilitating sensitive data remediation from backup images without a separate data store includes examining the backup images to identify sensitive data and modifying remediation information associated with the sensitive data, wherein the remediation information restricts access to the sensitive data to at least one corresponding access group.
US08863286B1
Techniques for notification of reassembly-free file scanning are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first request for accessing a document provided by a remote node is received from a client. In response to the first request, it is determined whether a second request previously for accessing the document of the remote node indicates that the requested document from the remote node contains offensive data. If the requested document contains offensive data, a message is returned to the client, without accessing the requested document of the remote node, indicating that the requested document is not delivered to the client.
US08863283B2
In one embodiment, a system for securing access to system calls includes a memory, an operating system configured to execute on an electronic device, and a below-operating-system security agent. The below-operating-system security agent is configured to identify one or more resources associated with a system call for which attempted accesses will be trapped, trap an attempted access of the one or more resources that originates from the operational level of the operating system, access one or more security rules to determine whether the attempted access is authorized, and operate at a level below all of the operating systems of the electronic device accessing the one or more resources associated with a system call.
US08863278B2
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided to support security in a distributed grid computer cluster. Each non-node root node in the cluster is configured with a local security agent, and the root node is configured with a security controller to manage each of the security agents of each non-root node. The security agent of each non-root node is in communication with an associated configuration file that contains data private to the respective non-root node, to allow the security agent to manage security local to the node. The security controller of the root node is in communication with a controller configuration file that contains data that applies to all security agents in the grid cluster, to allow the controller to manage the security agents.
US08863262B2
Systems and methods are provided to authorize users to anonymously access resources of different web sites. For example, a business listing service may authenticate users and allow the authenticated users to access the resources of the businesses listed via the business listing service, without the users having to create separate accounts with the businesses and without having to reveal the identities of the users to the businesses.
US08863255B2
Techniques are described for deploying a security credential for an application deployed in a cloud. An encrypted security credential is received from a remote system and is inserted into a virtual machine image associated with the application. Upon deploying the virtual machine image as a virtual machine instance, embodiments transmit a request to a cryptex server for a decrypted security credential, the request including the encrypted security credential and a virtual machine identifier for the virtual machine instance. The cryptex server is configured to retrieve metadata associated with the virtual machine identifier and to authenticate the virtual machine instance using the retrieved metadata. Embodiments receive, from the cryptex server, the decrypted security credential for use by the application.
US08863244B2
Communication abuse prevention techniques are described. In an implementation, a reputation level for a communication is determined based on relation information for a sender and an intended recipient of the communication. A challenge is invoked that is to be completed by the sender before the communication is sent. The challenge is selected based on the reputation level for the communication. The communication is caused to be available for access based on successful completion of the challenge. Access to the communication is inhibited in response to a subsequent determination of the reputation level that indicates that the reputation level for the communication has changed to a new reputation level prior to the communication being accessed by the intended recipient. The subsequent determination is based on additional information associated with the sender of the communication.
US08863243B1
When a portable electronic device receives an access request for an application, the device detects one or more available communication networks. Based on the detected network or networks, the device determines a current location. The device then accesses a usage data store to determine whether the access request and the current location correspond to a familiar usage pattern. If the access request and the current location do not correspond to a familiar usage pattern, the device presents a security prompt and denies the access request until a verified response to the security prompt is received.
US08863239B2
This invention relates to a system and a method of generating an Authorized Domain (AI)), the method comprising the steps of selecting a domain identifier (Domain ID) uniquely identifying the Authorized Domain, binding at least one user (P1, P2, . . . , PN1) to the domain identifier (Domain ID), and binding at least one device (D1, D2, . . . , DM) to at least one user (P1, P2, . . . , PN1), thereby obtaining a number of devices (D1, D2, . . . , DM) and a number of users (P1, P2, . . . , PN1) that is authorized to access a content item (C1, C2, CN2) of said Authorized Domain (100). Hereby, a number of verified devices (D1, D2, . . . , DM) and a number of verified persons (P1, P2, . . . , PN1) that is authorized to access a content item of said Authorized Domain (100) is obtained. Additionally, it is possible to enable automatic assignment of imported content being imported on a device belonging to the Authorized Domain (AD) since it now is given to which person a given authorized device belongs to. Further, a simple and efficient way of implementing domain boundaries is enabled.
US08863238B2
A control unit for controlling a card reader. The control unit includes an authentication management unit for transmitting/receiving information to/from a host and each of a first encryption magnetic head device and a second encryption magnetic head device to mutually authenticate each other. The authentication management unit includes (1) a commanding means for commanding one of the first encryption magnetic head device and the second encryption magnetic head device to create lower-level information for authentication, according to a request on authentication from the host, (2) a sharing means for transmitting the lower-level information for authentication received from the above-mentioned one device to the other device for the purpose of sharing it and (3) a transmission means for transmitting the lower-level information for authentication, having been shared in all of the first encryption magnetic head device and the second encryption magnetic head device, to the host.
US08863237B2
Examples of systems and methods are provided for communication and for facilitating establishing a remote session between a client device and a remote server. The system may facilitate establishing a trusted relationship between the client device and a host device. The system may be configured to receive login information from the host device for a first remote session established between the host device and the remote server. The system may facilitate continuing the first remote session previously established between the host device and the remote server as a continued remote session between the client device and the remote server.
US08863235B2
A method is provided to control access to a femto cell. The method includes configuring one or more time-dependent parameters that specify access to a femto cell service. An access control list is employed for the femto cell service, where the access control list utilizes the time-dependent parameters to enable or deny access to the femto cell service. Access is granted to the femto cell service according to the access control list and the time-dependent parameters.
US08863234B2
A method of providing collaborative security and collaborative decision making in a service-oriented environment. The method includes validating request(s) by application(s) for service(s) in the environment, and providing each service for which an application request is validated. The method also includes monitoring a situational state exposed by services being provided in the environment. Based on the monitored state, the validating of one or more service requests is influenced.
US08863230B1
Methods of authenticating a combination of a programmable IC and a non-volatile memory device, where the non-volatile memory device stores a configuration data stream implementing a user design in the programmable IC. A first identifier unique to the programmable IC is stored in non-volatile memory in the programmable IC. A second identifier unique to the non-volatile memory device is stored in the non-volatile memory device. As part of the process in which the configuration data stream is used to program the programmable IC with the user design, a function is performed on the two identifiers, producing a key specific to the programmable IC/non-volatile memory device combination. The key is then compared to an expected value. When the key matches the expected value, the user design is enabled. When the key does not match the expected value, at least a portion of the user design is disabled.
US08863228B2
An energy management apparatus includes: a communicator capable of communicating with at least a meter apparatus among the meter apparatus and a server apparatus that collects measurement information from the meter apparatus; a device registration processor configured to determine whether the direct communicator to the server apparatus can communicate with the server apparatus; if the direct communication is possible, transmit to the server apparatus a device registration message that requests to register a device identifier of the meter apparatus and a device identifier of the energy management apparatus; and, if the direct communication to the server apparatus is not possible, transmit the device registration message for the server apparatus to the meter apparatus; a communication processor configured to obtain energy control information of the device transmitted from the server apparatus; and a control executor configured to control the used energy amount of the device based on the energy control information.
US08863222B2
A media gateway that services a plurality of client devices may be used to combine a plurality of encoded multimedia transport streams, which may comprise a buffered copy of received encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream and an encoded local multimedia transport stream that pertains to the broadcast transport stream. The media gateway may decode the encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream to extract broadcast multimedia content carried therein based on determination of capabilities of one or more client devices used in playback of the content. The encoded local multimedia transport stream may be generated based on local multimedia content generated and/or captured via one or more client devices. The buffering duration of the received encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream may be adaptively determined, to ensure that the encoded local multimedia transport stream and the encoded broadcast multimedia transport stream are synchronized when they are combined.
US08863216B2
A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.
US08863211B2
A method and system for monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to obtain remote control response metrics, along with internal performance data, for client systems in the ETMP. Historical metrics and historical data may be logged along with the release version for the client systems, which may then be used to correlate operational performance when analyzing client system characteristics.
US08863209B2
A method and apparatus that enable the use of a multi-service endpoint device to integrate features and functions of voice and/or data services with IPTV service through a TV console are disclosed. For example, the method connects a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of the plurality of networks provides a voice service, and where at least one of the plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The method then integrates the voice service with the IPTV service using the MSED.
US08863203B2
A video server apparatus includes an interface unit configured to receive a video data file, memory units configured to store data files received by the interface unit, a line concentrator configured to receive the data files retrieved from the memory units and packetized, decoders configured to decode a packetized data file transmitted from the line concentrator and to output video data, a switch configured to switch signal paths between the line concentrator and the decoders, a data transmission controller configured to control data transmission by packet transmission over a standardized general-purpose local area network among the interface unit, the memory units, the line concentrator, the switch, and the decoders, and a timing controller configured to generate time slots for the memory units and causes a packetized data file to be transmitted from at least one of the memory units within a corresponding time slot to the line concentrator.
US08863200B2
Example embodiments provide an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network and a method for operating thereof. Example embodiment methods may include receiving signals containing content and/or instructions from a mobile station and providing IPTV content based on that data. Example embodiment networks may include an interface connected to an IPTV network configured to receive data containing IPTV instructions and/or content and configured to transmit IPTV data based on received data from a mobile station.
US08863188B2
According to one embodiment, a apparatus includes a tuner configured to receive a broadcasting wave that is broadcasted from a broadcasting station, an receiver configured to receive program information corresponding to programs, a display controller configured to display an electronic program guide includes program sections corresponding to programs based on the program information, a selection module configured to display a first window includes a first operation area, when it is detected that a first program section is operated, and the first program which corresponds to the first program section is not broadcasted, and a request module configured to request the tuner to select the first broadcasting station when the first operation area is operated.
US08863186B2
A method is provided to designate visual content that is accessible from a computer readable storage device and that correspond to programs distributed according to a predetermined schedule comprising: comparing attribute information of a respective program metadata record with respective attribute information of multiple respective content metadata records to measure similarity between corresponding attributes; determining respective program-content attribute match scores for each of the compared content metadata records as a function of the measure of similarity between the program attributes of the respective compared program metadata record and corresponding visual content attributes of respective content metadata records and of relative weighting of respective attribute comparisons; and selecting a respective visual content based upon the determined program-content attribute match score.
US08863173B2
A peer-to-peer (P2P) application which can be applied to TVs. The P2P application promotes a social networking aspect by allowing devices connecting to either the home mesh network and/or Internet to share contents and create common-interest channels. The P2P application does not require support from network infrastructure (e.g., no central servers), and consequently is extremely cost-effective and easy to deploy. The distributed nature of this system allows users to join or leave the network at will. It takes advantage of the local home mesh network connectivity, or existing Internet connections. A participant that tunes into a broadcast on an Internet channel is not only downloading a video stream, but also uploading it to other participants watching the program. Data mining systems capture user preferences and create personalized Internet channels on the TV using the P2P network.
US08863172B2
Methods and apparatus for delivering emergency alert system message content to customer premise devices without requiring them to tune to an emergency message channel and having to encode information into frames of regular program content being delivered to customer premise devices, e.g., set top boxes, are described. An emergency management server receives emergency alert messages from a federal government system and generates emergency alert control messages which are sent to one or more switching devices located at one or more regional hubsites/headends to which the emergency alert message applies. The emergency alert control message instructs the switching device to output an emergency alert content stream in place of a standard program. The switching device outputs the emergency content message stream in place of the standard program content to, e.g., a QAM modulator, which modulates the content stream on the frequency being used to deliver the standard program content being replaced.
US08863167B2
A system receives an indication of selection of an item in a broadcast segment from an end device. A broadcast segment is identified by the selection and a broadcast segment schedule. An item ID is determined using the identified broadcast segment and the broadcast segment schedule, and a corresponding sponsor of the item is determined using the item ID and the identified broadcast segment. An anonymized message, including the item ID and a request for information, is sent to the corresponding sponsor. A reply is received from the corresponding sponsor, and forwarded to an end user contact.
US08863160B2
A disc device supplies a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs being stacked in such a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from an arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a plurality of claw portions holding the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc out of the plurality of discs, and a disc press pressing the topmost disc out of the plurality of discs so as to be in parallel to the disc placing face of the tray.
US08863152B2
Presented is a method and system for providing a communication bridge between two computer technologies. The method includes defining interfaces for the two computer technologies, wherein each interface includes certain parameters, generating classes that contain methods in the two computer technologies, based on the parameters included in the interfaces, publishing the interfaces for invocation of methods between the two computer technologies.
US08863134B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is presented computer readable media for servicing at least one task. The machine readable media stores a plurality of instructions, where the plurality of instructions further comprises an operating system. The operating system treats a first request from a task at a priority level associated with a real time application and treats subsequent requests from the task that occur within a predetermined amount of time after the first request at another priority level that is lower than the priority level associated with the task. In another embodiment, an operating system receives real time requirements from at least one task and determines whether it can assure the task of meeting its real time requirements.
US08863121B2
The present invention provides a method and a terminal for loading picture resources by a JAVA virtual machine. The method includes: obtaining the picture resources required by the JAVA virtual machine, decoding the picture resources into original data and then storing the original data; and reading the original data of the picture that requires loading to load the picture after receiving a loading picture event in normal operation of the JAVA virtual machine. According to the present invention, the picture loading speed of the JAVA virtual machine can be controlled, thereby guaranteeing the start speed of the JAVA virtual machine.
US08863119B2
Techniques and systems for modifying a virtual machine functionality. Archive files each including at least a class files are received. The archive files are stored within the virtual machine. The virtual machine runs on a host system and neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the receiving or storing of the archive files. Files of the host system are scanned to find class files that are not included in a class path for the virtual machine. The class files are copied to a class path for the virtual machine. Neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the copying of the class files. The classes corresponding to the class files are registered in the virtual machine in response to the copying of the class files to the class path. Neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the registration of the classes.
US08863110B2
A computing system and method updates firmware to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of a motherboard. The computing system updates firmware of the BMC according to the parameters, wherein the parameters includes a predetermined number of times to update the firmware of the BMC. The computing system counts a number of successful updates, in response to a determination that a current update of the firmware is successful. The computing system records information of each of the successful updates and generates a log file for storing the information, in response to a determination that counted number of the successful updates equal to the predetermined number of times.
US08863096B1
A symbolic execution task is dynamically divided among multiple computing nodes. Each of the multiple computing nodes explores a different portion of a same symbolic execution tree independently of other computing nodes. Workload status updates are received from the multiple computing nodes. A workload status update includes a length of a job queue of a computing node. A list of the multiple computing nodes ordered based on the computing nodes' job queue lengths is generated. A determination is made regarding whether a first computing node in the list is underloaded. A determination is made regarding whether a last computing node in the list is overloaded. Responsive to the first computing node being underloaded and the last computing node being overloaded, a job transfer request is generated that instructs the last computing node to transfer a set of one or more jobs to the first computing node.
US08863094B2
Provided are techniques for receiving an error inject script that describes one or more error inject scenarios that define under which conditions at least one error inject is to be executed and compiling the error inject script to output an error inject data structure. While executing code that includes the error inject, an indication that an event has been triggered is received, conditions defined in the one or more error inject scenarios are evaluated using the error inject data structure, and, for each of the conditions that evaluates to true, one or more actions defined in the error inject script for the condition are performed.
US08863093B1
A method to instrument program code for a virtual machine that comprises, in the course of loading a class to a virtual machine, adding code to the class to declare a field that corresponds to a field declared in a first bootstrap class.
US08863092B2
The subject disclosure relates to enabling the evolution of a framework by providing public surface area factorings for both old and new public surface areas. The factoring can mitigate changes in the implementation of existing distributions of framework. The factoring can also mitigate breaking existing binaries. Further, the factoring can be provided while mitigating a degradation in the security guarantees of the linking model. The factorings can be applied for runtime and/or for a development toolkit. Thus, multiple, almost simultaneous, interoperable views of a framework implementation can be enabled at runtime and/or at design or build time. The views can represent different versions of the framework.
US08863084B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining whether dependencies of configuration files have changed such that the compilation strategy should be recomputed. Local build checksums are computed for individual configuration files. The local build checksums are computed by sorting input paths to the configuration files plus data indicating whether the path refers to a file or a directory and a checksum computed on the configuration file itself. The transitive closure of local build checksums are then used to compute a global build checksum: the local build checksums are sorted in order to compute the global build checksum. If the global build checksum is different from a previously computed global build checksum, then the compilation strategy should be recomputed, since this is a signal that the compilation strategy may not be valid anymore, e.g. because some dependencies in the configuration files have changed.
US08863080B2
A processing device implements a sandbox that provides an isolated execution environment, a memory structure. The processing device generates a pointer to a data item, the pointer having a type. The processing device generates a key for the pointer based on the type of the pointer. The processing device designates a name for the pointer based on the key. The processing device then inserts the pointer having the designated name into the memory structure, causing the pointer to become a private pointer.
US08863077B2
Embodiments may provide a makefile interposer, which enables a makefile to be used for building software for different platforms without modifying the makefile. In some embodiments, the interposer intercepts the commands run by makefile and automatically interposes the correct library files, dependencies, paths, and other information used by make to build the program for a particular platform. Additionally, calls that the invoked tools themselves make are intercepted and the interposer may redirect them to the platform-specific tools or file system locations including redirecting file descriptors. In some instances, when a tool is called that is not in the platform, the interposer may also fall back on the other system tools.
US08863076B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an intuitive method for the specification of a design as follows. A widget is added to the design at the direction of a user. The widget has an event and an event handler. A second widget is added to the design. The design is exported from a design program and an instantiation of the design is created that is capable of being rendered by an external player. Executing the event handler adds a second event handler to a second widget in the instantiation of the design.
US08863072B1
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for producing configuration images of a system on a chip (SOC) design, including a programmable logic device (PLD) and operating system (OS) packages, responsive to a user selection of one or more modules of the PLD and a user selection of at least one OS package. A processor configured to run a design tool, builds the configuration image of the SOC. The design tool compiles a PLD configuration image corresponding to the first selection, selects one or more PLD module drivers corresponding to the first selection, compiles a bootloader and OS kernel design corresponding to the selected one or more module drivers and the PLD image; and builds the configuration image of the SOC corresponding to the bootloader and OS kernel design and the second selection.
US08863071B2
Embodiments of the invention place surface-mount devices such as decoupling capacitors, resistors or other devices directly on the underside of a ball grid array (BGA) electronic integrated circuit (EIC) package, in place of de-populated BGA pads.
US08863070B2
A thermal analysis apparatus calculates an area of a predetermined range including an electronic component mounted on a printed-circuit board. The thermal analysis apparatus counts the number of via holes included in the predetermined range of which the area is calculated. The thermal analysis apparatus calculates a first physical property value using the area calculated, the number of via holes counted, and a preset physical property value of a conductor. The thermal analysis apparatus generates a thermal analysis model subject to thermal analysis in which a preset physical property value is set in the electronic component and a heat release path having the first physical property value calculated is provided in the printed-circuit board so as to extend from the electronic component in a layer direction of the printed-circuit board.
US08863068B2
A dynamic system coupled with “pre-Silicon” design methodologies and “post-Silicon” current optimizing programming methodologies to improve and optimize current delivery into a chip, which is limited by the physical properties of the connections (e.g., Controlled Collapse Chip Connection or C4s). The mechanism consists of measuring or estimating power consumption at a certain granularity within a chip, converting the power information into C4 current information using a method, and triggering throttling mechanisms (including token based throttling) where applicable to limit the current delivery per C4 beyond pre-established limits or periods. Design aids are used to allocate C4s throughout the chip based on the current delivery requirements. The system coupled with design and programming methodologies improve and optimize current delivery is extendable to connections across layers in a multilayer 3D chip stack.
US08863064B1
A method for modifying a design of an integrated circuit includes obtaining design layout data for the integrated circuit and selecting at least one SRAM cell in the integrated circuit to utilize enhanced body effect (EBE) transistors comprising a substantially undoped channel layer and a highly doped screening region beneath the channel layer. The method also includes extracting, from the design layout, NMOS active area patterns and PMOS active area patterns associated with the SRAM cell to define an EBE NMOS active area layout and a EBE PMOS active area layout. The method further includes adjusting the EBE NMOS active area layout to reduce a width of at least pull-down devices in the SRAM cell and altering a gate layer layout in the design layout data such that a length of pull-up devices in the at least one SRAM and a length of the pull-down devices are substantially equal.
US08863052B1
A system and method are provided for generating a structurally-aware timing model for operation of a predetermined circuit design. The timing model is generated to have a plurality of timing arcs representing timing characteristics of the circuit design. Additionally, terminal pairs of the circuit design are evaluated to determine characteristic structural weights for selected paths through the circuit design. The structurally-aware timing model may then be incorporated into a top-level hierarchical circuit design for timing analyses and pessimism removal to arrive at realistic timing characteristics. The structural weights are particularly helpful in an AOCV-type pessimism removal post-process.
US08863036B2
The present invention is directed to preventing a user from losing sight of a parameter that the user is currently set. To solve the problem, there is provided an information processing apparatus or a display control method for, when detecting that a node in a structure display area is selected by a user's operation, specifying a tab of setting associated with the selected node via a management unit and displaying the tab in a detailed setting display area, and when detecting that a tab in the detailed setting display area is selected by a user's operation, specifying a node associated with the selected tab, via a management unit and displaying the node in a selected state in the structure display area.
US08863031B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles, such as computer program products, including a method for managing presentation of information, performed by execution of computer readable program code by a processor of a computer system, is disclosed. The method includes retrieving information relating to one or more subject matters from one or more data repositories, the one or more subject matters including general non-personal information on medical conditions and treatments therefor, presenting one or more sets of data from the retrieved information specific to a practitioner type selectable by a user from a plurality of practitioner types, presenting another one or more sets of data from the retrieved information common to two or more practitioner types selectable from the plurality of practitioner types, and presenting a further one or more sets of data from the retrieved information specific to at least one non-practitioner type.
US08863028B2
A motion desktop, including a moving image, may be presented on a display screen of a processing device. Foreground items such as, for example, icons and associated text, or other information, may appear on a surface of the motion desktop. In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, foreground content may be rendered to a composing surface, which may be an alpha-enabled surface capable of presenting translucent items. A motion desktop module may render content for at least a portion of a background of the motion desktop to a respective shared memory, shared with a composer. The composer may periodically copy the rendered content from the shared memory to the composing surface, where the composer may compose and blend a scene from background and foreground content. The composed scene may then be presented as the motion desktop.
US08863021B1
A system and method for scheduling tasks in a calendar of a user. Multiple task entries are received from the user, and the task entries are ranked based on a deadline of each of the task entries. A length of time required to complete each task entry is determined, and a time-consuming calendar entry for each task entry is created in the calendar of the user based on the ranking of each task entry, the determined length of time required to complete each task entry, and existing calendar entries in the calendar of the user. The created time-consuming calendar entries are provided to the user. Machine-readable media are also provided.
US08863017B2
An electronic apparatus includes an input unit and a controller. The input unit is configured to detect a user operation and output a signal corresponding to the user operation. The controller is configured to cause a data icon to be displayed on a screen of a display unit, judge a drag operation with respect to the data icon based on the signal from the input unit, and cause an icon to be displayed on the screen according to the drag operation, the icon indicating a state of an access authority of data related to the data icon.
US08863009B2
A method, apparatus, and system for integrating presence data with contact data at a communication device is provided. A display device associated with the communication device is controlled via the processing unit to provide a representation of the contact data in at least one of an e-mail application and a PIM (Personal Information Manager) application. The display is controlled, via the processing unit, to provide a representation of the presence data in association with the representation of the contact data, the presence data associated with the contact data.
US08863007B2
An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented method for information transfer displays a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the graphical user interface has a plurality of regions defined by boundaries on the display device, wherein each region represents output from an associated data processing system, and responsive to an object in a first region in the plurality of regions in the graphical user interface being moved to a second region in the plurality of regions in the graphical user interface, transferring information associated with the object from a first data processing system associated with the first region to a second data processing system associated with the second region.
US08863004B2
An approach is provided for increasing the functionality of a user device when the device is in an, at least in part, locked state. The approach involves presentation of a first user interface and rendering of at least a portion of a second user interface associated with the first user interface while the user device is in an, at least in part, locked state wherein the second user interface is associated with one or more applications and/or one or more services. Further, one or more interactions with the first user interface and/or with the at least a portion of the second user interface are detected and processed for at least changing the device to an, at least in part, unlocked state.
US08863002B2
A method and system to receive a query, from over a network, and identify a first plurality of data items based on the query. The first plurality of data items including a second plurality of data items. Next, the system computes a quantity of the first plurality of data items by counting the first plurality of data items and compares the quantity of the first plurality of data items with a determined threshold to identify the quantity of the first plurality of data items as being greater than the determined threshold. Next, the system presents a user interface, over the network, to the computer system, the user interface includes the second plurality of data items, and further includes at least one user interface element responsive to the identification of the quantity of the first plurality of data items as greater than the determined threshold. The at least one user interface element is selectable to browse the first plurality of data items.
US08862999B2
The present invention relates to a method, computer program product and system for masking sensitive data and, more particularly, to dynamically de-identifying sensitive data from a data source for a target application, including enabling a user to selectively alter an initial de-identification protocol for the sensitive data elements via an interface.
US08862990B2
According to the present invention, even if information on a page displayed on a browser browsed by a user shifts to another page, the user can select and store a necessary page. An information processing apparatus according to the present invention generates, when displaying information obtained via a network on a display unit, print information of the information displayed on the display unit based on a print instruction from the browser, and further stores the generated print information in a storage unit. When a destination from which the information is obtained is different from a just primarily preceding destination, the display unit displays a list of the information stored in the storage unit.
US08862989B2
An extensible reading system is described that provides a method of extending the readings supported by an IME application without updating the entire application. The extensible reading system separates the IME reading dictionary from the IME application, so that the user can update or supplement the dictionary with new readings without modifying the IME application. The extensible reading system receives custom readings from a user that include a sequence of keyboard characters and a selection of a language character that is to be inserted into a document when a user inputs the sequence of keyboard characters. Thus, the extensible reading system allows the user to update the readings for mapping keyboard characters to language characters much more frequently.
US08862985B2
A screen reader application for visually impaired users suppresses unwanted content that is output by Braille or text-to-speech. The invention accesses, but does not modify, the document object model of the web page and enumerates web page elements for the end user to either hide or skip to. The end user selections are saved as rules which may be applied according to various levels of scope include web page specific, site specific or web-wide. A screen magnification application for visually impaired users automatically sets the visual focus and magnification level on a web page element according to end-user selection.
US08862984B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for using data contracts in connection with network page generation code. A network page request is obtained from a client. Data is aggregated from multiple data sources in response to the request, and data is marshalled based at least in part on a data contract. Page generation code is executed to generate at least a portion of the network page in response to the request. The aggregated data is provided to the page generation code as one or more predefined variables. Access to the predefined variables by the page generation code complies with the data contract.
US08862977B2
A script (object displacement program) is embedded in a Web page to be transmitted from a Web server 10 and executed by a user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 into which the object displacement program is read displaces a plurality of icons from their initial positions to target positions through a path outside a display area of elements in the Web page, and makes the icons converge on the vicinity of each of the elements in such a way that the icons are distributed to the respective elements in the page in accordance with various access data and statistical data (e.g. the number of page views (PV), click-through rate (CTR), order quantity etc.).
US08862971B1
Inter-track-interference correlation and cancellation for disk drive application includes receiving an input sequence of samples; and simultaneously processing the input sequence in at least a detector over one or more iterations while processing the input sequence to produce inter-track-interference information during at least a portion of one of the one or more iterations.
US08862970B1
This disclosure relates generally to low power data decoding, and more particularly to low power data decoders for use under defects, erasures, and puncturing, with a low density parity check (LDPC) encoder. Systems and methods are disclosed for decoding a vector with punctured, detected defect and/or erased bits. Systems and methods are also disclosed for decoding a vector with undetected defects and/or unknown error patterns. Low power decoding may be performed in an LDPC decoder during the process of decoding an LDPC code in the case of defects, erasures, and puncturing. The low power techniques described herein may reduce power consumption without a substantial decrease in performance of the applications that make use of LDPC codes, or the devices that make use of low power LDPC decoders.
US08862967B2
A method may be performed at a data storage device that includes a memory and a controller. The method includes providing user data to a variable-bit error correction coding (ECC) encoder. The ECC encoder generates a first set of parity bits. A first number of parity bits in the first set of parity bits is determined based on stored counts of read errors. The method also includes storing the user data and the first set of parity bits to a memory of the data storage device.
US08862964B2
A method for data storage includes, in a first programming phase, storing first data in a group of analog memory cells by programming the memory cells in the group to a set of initial programming levels. In a second programming phase that is subsequent to the first programming phase, second data is stored in the group by: identifying the memory cells in the group that were programmed in the first programming phase to respective levels in a predefined partial subset of the initial programming levels; and programming only the identified memory cells with the second data, so as to set at least some of the identified memory cells to one or more additional programming levels that are different from the initial programming levels.
US08862959B1
A method includes, in an Error Correction Code (ECC) decoder that includes variable nodes and check nodes, receiving in a given variable node Check-to-Variable (C2V) messages from a subset of the check nodes. Magnitudes for respective Variable-to-Check (V2C) messages to be sent to the check nodes in the subset are computed based on the received C2V messages. A single sign is computed, for use in all the V2C messages to be sent from the given variable node to the check nodes in the subset. The V2C messages are sent from the given variable node to the check nodes in the subset, such that each V2C message includes a respective magnitude and the single sign.
US08862958B2
A method and a circuit for generating cyclic redundancy checks. The method calculates a plurality of cyclic redundancy checks for a transport block with a plurality of information bits. At least one cyclic redundancy check among the plurality of cyclic redundancy checks is calculated based on a subset of information bits, and at least one information bit among the plurality of information bits is not within said subset of the information bits. In addition, a transport block cyclic redundancy check may be calculated based on all the information bits.
US08862956B2
Aspects of the invention relate to techniques for diagnosing compound hold-time faults. A profiling-based scan chain diagnosis may be performed on a faulty scan chain to determine observed scan cell failing probability information and one or more faulty segments based on scan pattern test information. Calculated scan cell failing probability information may then be derived. Based on the calculated scan cell failing probability information and the observed scan cell failing probability information, one or more validated faulty segments are verified to have one or more compound hold-time faults. Finally, one or more clock defect suspects may be identified based on information of the one or more validated faulty segments.
US08862954B1
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise a function module to operate according to a clock signal; a clock control module to provide a clock gate signal; and a clock gate module to provide the clock signal to the function module only until the clock control module provides the clock gate signal; wherein the function module includes a plurality of storage elements, wherein the storage elements form a scan chain in response to a mode signal; and wherein the scan chain is configured to shift data stored therein out of the scan chain.
US08862946B2
An information processing apparatus receives a request transmitted from a client to a server and a response transmitted from the server to the client. The information processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor counts a first number of first requests having no corresponding response within a first time period, counts a second number of second requests having a corresponding response, and detects a failure in the server on the basis of the first number and the second number.
US08862945B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present techniques may request a user to execute a task using a software application under test. An interruption may be generated that interrupts the user while the user is attempting to complete the task, and measuring an effect of the interruption on the ability of the user to successfully complete the task.
US08862941B2
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and articles associated with remediation execution. In embodiments, a set of policy test failures may be selected for remediation. The set of policy test failures may be associated with a computer network with a number of nodes. For each failure within the set of policy test failures, a remediation script may be obtained to remediate a corresponding policy test failure. The remediation scripts may be selectively provided to nodes that are affected by policy test failures, for execution by the nodes. A remediation script result for each remediation script executed may be received. Based upon the remediation script results, it may be determined whether or not execution of the remediation scripts was successful.
US08862935B2
An integrated circuit is provided with error detection circuitry and error repair circuitry. Error tolerance circuitry is responsive to a control parameter to selectively disable the error repair circuitry. The control parameter is dependent on the processing performed within the circuit. For example, the control parameter may be generated in dependence upon the program instruction being executed, the output signal value which is in error, the previous behavior of the circuit or in other ways.
US08862934B2
A redundant computing system is composed of two systems: a first arithmetic processing unit (A-system) and a second arithmetic processing unit (B-system) having the same functions. A diagnosis control unit performs diagnosis of one system while the other system is performing arithmetic processing operation. The diagnosis control unit controls the input to the first and second arithmetic processing units by way of an input control unit according to the diagnosis operation, and an output control unit controls the output from the first and second arithmetic processing units according to the diagnosis result. After termination of the diagnosis, a value is copied from a storage unit of the system which has not been diagnosed to a storage unit of the system which has been diagnosed, and the redundant computing system resumes the redundant operation.
US08862931B2
A data processing module includes a first interface connected to (i) a host via a second interface, and (ii) storage arrays. The first interface receives, from the host via the second interface, blocks of data for storage in one or more of the storage arrays. A memory stores the blocks of data received by the first interface. A processor (i) determines error checking and correcting processing to be applied to each block of data of the blocks of data, and (ii) for each block of data, (a) transfers the block of data from the memory to a selected storage array of the storage arrays, and (b) assigns, to the selected storage array, the error checking and correcting processing to be applied to the block of data. The memory stores a map. The map indicates storage of the blocks of data among the storage arrays.
US08862928B2
Techniques for achieving high availability (HA) in a cloud environment are presented. Cloud storage provided to multiple tenants is accessed via a plurality of controllers via a switch. The controllers are organized in a ring and each controller is responsible for detecting failures in adjoining controllers within the ring. Storage services for the tenants are serviced without disruptions even when multiple nodes completely fail at the same time.
US08862914B2
Embodiments of the virtual machine power metering system and method measure the power consumption of individual virtual machines. Power meter measurements for a physical host server are converted into individual virtual machine power meters that measure the power consumption of each individual virtual machine residing on the host server. The virtual machine power consumption is computed by generating a power model using the total power consumption of the host server and resource utilization for a virtual machine. Optimal power model coefficients are computed using the power model. The energy used by the virtual machine is computed using one of two embodiments. Embodiments of the system and method also can be used to obtain the power consumption for a specific activity (such as a service, request, or search query). In addition, the virtual machine power metering can be used for virtual machine power capping to allow power oversubscription in virtualized environments.
US08862912B2
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for the powering of active components in connector inserts at each end of a cable may in various ways. For example, where a host is coupled to a device that is not self-powered, the host may provide power for circuitry at each end of the cable. In various embodiments of the present invention, the device may request higher voltage from the host, such that more power can be delivered. In these cases, the device may regulate the voltage received from the host to a lower voltage, and then provide the lower voltage to circuitry at one or both ends of the cable. Where the host is connected to a device that is self-powered, the host and the self-powered device may power their respective connector insert circuits.
US08862906B2
Control of platform control of platform power consumption using selective updating of a display image. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a display controller to transfer pixel data from a frame buffer to a video display and a detection element to track updates to the frame buffer, the detection element to identify a portion of the pixel data that has been changed from a previous image, where the display controller is to provide the video display with the identified portion of the pixel data.
US08862905B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that analyzes telemetry data from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains the telemetry data as a set of telemetric signals using a set of sensors in the computer system. Next, the system analyzes the telemetry data to estimate a value of a parameter associated with the computer system, wherein the parameter is at least one of a power utilization and a temperature. Finally, the system controls a subsequent value of the parameter by modulating a virtual duty cycle of a processor in the computer system based on the estimated value.
US08862904B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a network adapter configured for wireless communication using more than one technology using distributed management and wherein the network adapter is configured to share a plurality of shared hardware components by automatically turning all other comms to OFF when one comm is turned to ON.
US08862902B2
Apparatus and method for providing data security through cascaded encryption. In accordance with various embodiments, input data are encrypted in relation to a first auxiliary data value to provide first level ciphertext. The first level ciphertext are encrypted using a second auxiliary data value associated with a selected physical location in a memory to produce second level ciphertext, which are thereafter stored to the selected physical location. In some embodiments, migration of the stored data to a new target location comprises partial decryption and re-encryption of the data using a third auxiliary data value associated with a new target physical location to produce third level ciphertext, and the storage of the third level ciphertext to the new target physical location.
US08862900B2
Moving from server-attached storage to distributed storage brings new vulnerabilities in creating a secure data storage and access facility. The Data Division and Out-of-order keystream Generation technique provides a cryptographic method to protect data in the distributed storage environments. In the technique, the Treating the data as a binary bit stream, our self-encryption (SE) scheme generates a keystream by randomly extracting bits from the stream. The length of the keystream depends on the user's security requirements. The bit stream is encrypted and the ciphertext is stored on the mobile device, whereas the keystream is stored separately. This makes it computationally not feasible to recover the original data stream from the ciphertext alone.
US08862899B2
In embodiments according to the present invention an encryption switch is used to authorize access to LUNs from client VMs present in the cloud provider network. The encryption switch includes responder side software for an authentication protocol and an agent in the client VM includes the requestor side of the authentication protocol. The certificate of the client is securely provided to the encryption switch, which associates the client VM with the LUN. The client private key is securely provided to the client VM, which retains it only non-persistently. The client VM requests LUN access and performs an authentication handshake with the encryption switch. If successful the client VM than has access to the LUN. As the original certificate is linked to the client, if the client is itself a VM, should the client be moved to a different host, the certificate moves with it and LUN accessibility is maintained.
US08862890B2
A biometric-information processing apparatus and method including storing sample biometric information of a user each time biometric authentication processing for verifying sample biometric information of a user against enrolled biometric information registered in a first storage unit succeeds, where the user's sample biometric information is stored in a second storage unit, and selecting an update-candidate biometric information for updating the user's enrolled biometric information from the user's sample biometric information stored in the second storage unit, based on a result of verification of multiple pieces of the user's sample biometric information stored in the second storage unit against enrolled biometric information of other users.
US08862888B2
In one aspect, systems and methods for three-factor authentication include receiving a user's identification and password transmitted from the user's mobile device, generating a One Time Password (OTP), encrypting the OTP, and encoding the encrypted OTP in a two-dimensional barcode. The two-dimensional barcode of the encrypted OTP is transmitted to a computing device of the user, and an image of the two-dimensional barcode of the encrypted OTP displayed on the user's computing device is captured using the user's mobile device. The two-dimensional barcode of the encrypted OTP is decoded using the user's mobile device to obtain the encrypted OTP. The encrypted OTP is decrypted using the user's mobile device and displayed. The OTP then is spoken by the user, and the user's voice and the OTP are recognized to authenticate the user.
US08862880B2
A two-stage anonymization process is applied to monitored network traffic in which unique user identifiers, such as the MSISDN (Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number), are extracted from the traffic and anonymized to generate an ASI (anonymized subscriber identifier). A strictly random RSI (random subscriber identifier) is generated and used to replace the ASI. The RSI is generated upon a first occurrence of an ASI and stored in a lookup table for utilization upon subsequent ASI occurrences. Use of the strictly random RSI enables various studies and analysis of user behavior to be performed at a heightened level of privacy protection as compared with conventional anonymization schemes that do not utilize strictly random identifiers.
US08862878B2
Provided are techniques to enable a device that provides a service to authorize a second device for receiving the service and the delivery of the service to the second device and other devices within a trusted network. A signed Management Key Block (MKB) is generated and transmitted over a network. Devices authorized to access a particular service parse the MKB and transmit a request. A server associated with the service determines whether or not the device is authorized to access the service based upon data included in the request. The first device may issue a challenge to the second device for authentication purposes. If service is approved, service is initiated, either from the first device or another authorized device. Devices may be organized into classes such that devices of a specific class are authorized to access the service.
US08862873B2
A shortcut management device capable of improving user-friendliness of a portal application. The shortcut management device is capable of executing shortcuts which use functions of an electronic apparatus, and manages at least part of the functions used by the shortcuts. A storage unit registers shortcuts. An invalidation detecting unit detects that the license is invalidated. A retrieval unit retrieves a shortcut made inexecutable in association with the license of which the invalidation is detected. An invalidation unit invalidates the retrieved shortcut.
US08862871B2
A device implemented, carrier independent packet delivery universal addressing networking protocol for communication over a network between network nodes utilizing a packet. The protocol has an IP stack having layers. At least some of the layers have privacy preserving source node attribution and network admission control. The packet is admitted to the network only if a source node of the network nodes admits the packet.
US08862851B2
The disclosed architecture uses address mapping to map a block address on a host interface to an internal block address of a non-volatile memory (NVM) device. The block address is mapped to an internal chip select for selecting a Concurrently Addressable Unit (CAU) identified by the block address. The disclosed architecture supports generic NVM commands for read, write, erase and get status operations. The architecture also supports an extended command set for supporting read and write operations that leverage a multiple CAU architecture.
US08862837B1
Described are techniques for automated compression and/or decompression of data. Idle counters are received for data portions which indicate a level of inactivity with respect to idle criteria for the data portions. Compression criteria is received specifying conditions for determining whether a data portion is a candidate for data compression. The compression criteria includes a time compression threshold indicating a minimum amount of time that a data portion has been deemed idle with respect to said idle criteria. A data portion that qualifies as a candidate for data compression has an associated idle counter indicating an inactivity level that is greater than the time compression threshold. Processing determines whether a first data portion is a candidate for data compression in accordance with the compression criteria. If the first data portion is determined as a candidate for data compression, compression processing is performed for the first data portion.
US08862826B2
A method and an apparatus for increasing capacity of cache directory in multi-processor systems, the apparatus comprising a plurality of processor nodes and a plurality of cache memory nodes and a plurality of main memory nodes.
US08862824B2
Examples are disclosed for managing power and performance of multi-socket processors. In some examples, a utilization rate of a first processor circuitry in a first processor socket may be determined. An active memory ratio of a cache for the first processor circuitry may be compared to a threshold ratio or a data traffic rate between the first processor circuitry and a second processor circuitry in a second processor socket may be compared to a threshold rate. According to some examples, a first power state of the first processor circuitry may be changed based on the determined utilization rate. The first power state may also be changed based on the comparison of the active memory ratio to the threshold ratio or the comparison of the data traffic rate to the threshold rate.
US08862823B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a compression status cache configured to store compression information for blocks of memory stored within an external memory. A data cache unit is configured to request, in response to a cache miss, compressed data from the external memory based on compression information stored in the compression status bit cache. The compression status for active buffers is dynamically swapped into the compression status cache as needed. Different compression formats may be specified for one or more tiles within an active buffer. One advantage of the disclosed compression status cache is that a lame amount of attached memory may be allocated as compressible memory blocks, without incurring a corresponding die area cost because a portion of the compression status stored off chip in attached memory is cached in the compression status cache.
US08862819B2
A storage system, comprising: (a) a primary storage entity utilized for persistently storing an entire data-set; (b) a secondary storage entity; and (c) a secondary storage controller (“SSC”) responsive to a destage stream pending to be written to the second storage entity for identifying a succession of physical locations on the secondary storage entity formed by non-protected locations in an extent that is sufficient to accommodate the destage stream and one or more intervening protected locations between two or more of the non-protected locations; wherein said SSC is adapted to retrieve from said primary storage entity protected data associated with the intervening protected location(s), pad the stream of data with the protected data and write the padded stream of data to said secondary storage entity as a single successive write sequence over said succession of physical locations.
US08862802B2
A switch fabric is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting a plurality of slave devices to a master device in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of slave devices to the master device to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of slave devices. The parallel communications interface may comprise a dedicated parallel communications channel for each one of the plurality of slave devices. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.
US08862795B2
System and method for hardware implemented accumulation of waveform data. A digitizer is provided that includes first and second memory banks. A first waveform is stored in chunks alternating between successive buffers in the first and second memory banks, and concurrently, the first and second chunks may be transferred to first and second FIFOs, respectively, which may be accumulated with respective first and second chunks of a second waveform into the first and second memory banks. This process may be repeated for respective successive pairs of the first and second waveforms, where the first and second memory banks and FIFOs are used in an alternating manner, and further, to accumulate additional waveforms, where previously stored (and accumulated) waveform data are accumulated chunkwise with successive additional waveform data, and where at least some of the accumulation is performed concurrently with waveform data transfers to and from the memory banks and FIFOs.
US08862793B2
A storage system includes a disk and a controller module (CM). The CM includes a main control unit and a sub control unit that distribute and execute processing in the CM. Further the CM includes a plurality of channel adapters (CAs) that receive commands related to the input and the output of the data stored in the disk from a host computer. The main control unit requests the sub control unit to copy dump data of a first CA among the plurality of CAs when detecting abnormality of the first CA while copying dump data of a second CA among the plurality of CAs according to abnormality of the second CA.
US08862783B2
Via use of a shared data bus, a processor system offloads processing tasks. For example, a processor system communicates over a respective data bus with a data communication controller. After notifying the data communication controller of a particular block of data to retrieve, the processor system relinquishes control of the respective data bus so that the data communication controller can control the data bus and store a block of data in a specified memory location using direct memory access techniques. Upon receiving a notification of completion of storing the data block by the data communication controller, the processor system regains control of the respective data bus and notifies a data forwarding circuit to: i) partition the block of data into data packets, ii) apply respective headers to the data packets based on the header information received from the processor system, and iii) forward the data packets to the respective destination.
US08862781B2
An information processing method of an information processing system including a client device functioning as a client and a server device functioning as a server which are capable of communication via a network, includes the steps of: at the server device, managing format identification information provided so as to be unique for each content data within the range of each data format, corresponding to the contents of each content; at the client device, causing execution of communication via network, for specifying a content, as to the server device; at the server device, transmitting, to the client device, format identification information correlated with a specified content in response to specification of a content via network from the client device; and at the client device, managing the received and obtained format identification information as corresponding to the specified content.
US08862767B2
Systems and methods for managing concurrent secure elements on a mobile device to coordinate with an application or “app” running on the mobile device and an appropriate communications protocol for conducting transactions using the mobile device include: informing, by the processor, the reader device of a preferred app and a communication protocol usable by the preferred app; receiving, by the processor, information about which apps and communication protocols are supported by a reader for processing a transaction; locating, by the processor, a secure element supporting an app and a communication protocol supported by the reader; channeling the communication protocol for the specific configuration of the app and the supporting secure element; activating the secure element that supports the app; and processing, with the activated secure element, using the supported app and communication channel, the transaction with the reader.
US08862764B1
A method and apparatus for providing digital streaming media data to client devices via a digital media control room is described. The method may include receiving a request at a server computer system from a mobile device to join a digital media control room, where the digital media control room is a virtual location that provides access to digital media data of a real-world event captured by a plurality of different mobile devices. The method may also include locating one or more available media streams associated with the digital media control room that capture the real-world event as the real-world event occurs. The method may also include transmitting data indicative of the one or more available media streams to the mobile device.
US08862750B2
Methods and systems are provided for connecting an electronic device to a network. In some situations, the electronic device connects to a first network provider and pings a first server having a static internet protocol address and a second server having a dedicated uniform resource locator. If the electronic device receives a response from the first and second server, the electronic device maintains its connection to the first network provider. Otherwise, the electronic device connects to a second network provider and pings the first and second servers.
US08862749B2
A remote access service is provided by receiving remote access transport agent (RATA) capability information of a home remote access server (RAS) and a remote RAS from the home RAS and the remote RAS, respectively, generating a RATA profile based on the RATA capability information, supported by the home RAS and the remote RAS, and transmitting the generated RATA profile to the home RAS and the remote RAS, respectively.
US08862737B2
A resource identifier parser can derive information from resource identifiers that are provided to non-browser application programs or the operating system, such as through the desktop area of a windows-based user interface. The resource identifier parser can understand the formatting of resource identifiers of specific domains and can derive therefrom information such as coordinates of a map page, the title of classified listings, and other like information. If the resource identifier cannot be parsed, the identified data page can be referenced to identify services offered by the page, such as data feed services, which can then be presented to the non-browser application program or the operating system to which the resource identifier was provided. As yet another alternative, the domain can provide a customized resource identifier parser to parse its resource identifiers. Such a customized parser can be either downloadable and locally executable or it can be a network service.
US08862732B2
Methods and devices are provided for regulating traffic on a network. According to some aspects of the invention, if a subscriber's upstream traffic exceeds a predetermined level over a first period of time, the subscriber's quality of service is adjusted without requiring the subscriber to re-register. According to some embodiments, a first token bucket is used to determine whether the subscriber's upstream traffic exceeds the predetermined level over the first period of time. In some such embodiments, the first token bucket is used to control the burst size of another token bucket, depending on the subscriber's upstream traffic during the first period of time.
US08862718B2
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for troubleshooting one or more communications between a first device and a second device. A monitoring device disposed between the first device and the second device receives a message associated with the communication(s), analyzes the received message and stores the analyzed message whenever the analyzed message satisfies one or more troubleshooting criteria. The one or more troubleshooting criteria may include one or more data element criteria, one or more event-based criteria, one or more time-based criteria, one or more logical operators or a combination thereof. The method can be implemented using a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium having one or more code segments to perform the method steps.
US08862715B1
Pending execution of a sensor function for use in operation of an application executing on a computing device may be determined. At least a first sensor and a second sensor associated with the computing device may be identified, the first sensor and the second sensor both providing at least a portion of the sensor function. A current context associated with the pending execution of the sensor function may be determined, the current context being defined in terms of context parameters. Selection criteria defined in terms of the context parameters may be accessed, and the first sensor may be selected to execute the sensor function for the application, based on the selection criteria and the current context.
US08862704B2
A system and method for managing a network of nodes that share sensor data is presented. In one embodiment, the system and method clusters groups of nodes into subnets. Nodes in a common subnet share sensor data with other nodes in the subnet at one rate, while nodes that are not in a common subnet share sensor data at a second substantially reduced rate.
US08862700B2
A data synchronization system transfers data between multiple data synchronization servers connected to a network path. The data synchronization server calculates a transfer delay on a network path involved in the transfer of data of multiple applications in an application server to another data synchronization server, predicts a time at which the transfer delay will exceed the requested delay of each application, and controls the transmission rate of data for each application so that times, at which the transfer delays will exceed the requested delays of all applications, become the same. In this way, the data synchronization system controls the data synchronization of applications between remotely installed distributed data centers so that the requested delay of each application is satisfied as much as possible.
US08862683B2
A KVM switch connected between an information processing device and a remote terminal, includes a memory part that stores boot screen data generated when the information processing device is booted or rebooted, and a transmission control part configured to send predetermined key data to the information processing device independently of the remote terminal when screen data received from the information processing device coincides with the boot screen data stored in the memory part.
US08862672B2
Content sharing and instant messaging are described. In an implementation, a first user interface is displayed at a first client that is configured to provide instant messaging with a second client having a second user interface. One or more content items are output in the first user interface to be controllable via both the first user interface and the second user interface.
US08862666B2
A system and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system, that operates to obtain aggregated user online presence information through its own client software, through interception of client-server communications between an external instant messaging client and server, and through other available interfaces to user account information on such external instant messaging systems. The system operates to gather user online presence information in part by intercepting communications between an instant messaging client and the Internet. The aggregate presence data, as well as other information describing the availability of a user, is used to intelligently route real-time communications, such as instant messages and phone calls. The disclosed system further implements a technique for waiting for changes in a user's availability status, and for performing actions on a user's behalf in response to such changes in availability status.
US08862654B1
Methods and systems for syndicating media with distributed content rights. A system whereby an alternate website can enable media services for their audience by allowing content submitters to directly contribute media files for distribution to a web based media provider while maintaining member rights and member managed distribution channels is presented. In addition, by the use of metadata the media files can be easily referenced, included, and searched on by the alternate website. A method for syndicating media with distributed content rights is also presented.
US08862646B1
Various data source locations storing files can be accessed and/or crawled. At each location, files can be identified. These files can be analyzed to obtain attributes characterizing such file. Thereafter, a visualization can be generated in a graphical user interface that takes the form of data map that characterizes the identified files along two or more dimensions, with each dimension being based on a different attribute of the file. For example, the vertical dimension can be based on a number of columns and the horizontal dimension can be based on a number of rows. The graphical user interface can include graphical user interface elements associated with each identified file. These elements, when activated, can cause complementary information characterizing the corresponding identified file to be displayed. The elements can then be used to import or otherwise utilize one of the identified files into an application (such as a spreadsheet software application.
US08862645B1
A storage system comprises a storage array, a network file system configured to communicate with the storage array, a server associated with the network file system, a client configured to communicate over a first path with the network file system via the server and to communicate directly with the storage array over a second path that bypasses the network file system, and a block cache arranged in the second path between the client and the storage array. The server may comprise a multi-path file system (MPFS) server and the client may comprise an MPFS client, with the MPFS server and the MPFS client being configured to communicate using a file mapping protocol. The block cache is illustratively implemented using a VFCache or other type of server flash cache.
US08862644B2
Distributing data is disclosed. A first request for data associated with a first file is received at a first node. It is determined, at the first node, that the first file is located on a second node. A second request for data associated with the first file is received at the first node. It is determined that a third node should have an instance of the first file. The third node is caused to have an instance of the first file.
US08862643B2
In accordance with one or more aspects, one or more portions of at least one file that have been freed are determined. One or more delete notifications are generated that identify the one or more portions of the at least one file. Each portion is identified as a range of data on a storage device, and each delete notification includes one or more ranges of data on the storage device. A determination is made as to when to send the generated delete notifications based on one or more threshold-based criteria. These generated delete notifications are then sent to a storage stack.
US08862639B1
Locking allocated data space is disclosed. An indication is received that certain previous version data is required to be retained. A map of metadata records, each associated with a journaling process write of previous version data which write includes previous version data required to be retained beyond the protection window, is built. In some embodiments, the map associates a write time with each record in the map. A reclamation process checks to determine whether any storage proposed to be reclaimed is included in the map of record identifiers. In some embodiments, the determination is made based at least in part on the write time associated in the map with at least a first record identifier in time sorted order.
US08862630B2
A system for aggregating data obtained from different organizations within a seed company or within multiple seed companies is provided. The system may receive seed product development data from a seed product development source, seed production data from a seed production source, and/or seed sales and/or marketing data from a seed sales and/or marketing source. The data may be aggregated in a central storage unit based on the geospatial data associated with the received data. The aggregated data may then be accessed and/or output in response to a query and/or algorithm.
US08862627B2
Systems and methods may include identifying an input population of parent epsilon chromosome data structures; combining genes of each selected pair of parent epsilon chromosome data structures according to at least one evolutionary operator to generate a plurality of child epsilon chromosome data structures, each child epsilon chromosome data structure providing one or more genes each having a respective candidate epsilon value representing a respective step size or spacing for the respective problem objective; and evaluating each of the plurality of child epsilon chromosome data structures according to one or more epsilon objective functions to generate respective epsilon objective function values for each child epsilon chromosome data structure, where each epsilon objective function is associated with a respective goal associated with at least one a priori criterion, where each respective epsilon objective function value indicates an extent to which each respective goal can be achieved.
US08862620B2
A method according to one embodiment includes determining the presence of pre-existing metadata associated with at least one local media content file. The method of this embodiment may also include determining at least one data field contained within the pre-existing metadata and generating a homogeneous metadata file for the at least one local media content file by mapping data contained within the at least one data field of the pre-existing metadata into at least one defined data field of the homogeneous metadata file.
US08862619B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for storing a data stream in a first table of a database. Further, a plurality of contexts associated with the data stream are identified. Additionally, the data stream is filtered, utilizing plurality of contexts. Furthermore, the database may be associated with a device and/or any robot equipped with an operating system.
US08862617B2
A system and method for inserting an object into a distributed database is provided. An object to be inserted into a priority queue is received, wherein the object includes a unique identifier and a priority. Next, an index for the object is generated. A row name for the object is then generated based on the index, the priority of the object, and the unique identifier of the object, wherein a lexicographical order of the row name for a higher priority object is smaller than the lexicographical order of the row name for a lower priority object. The object is then inserted into a row of a distributed database using the row name.
US08862613B2
A core system including different program components performing distinct tasks in a workflow sequence that are initiated through status field updates of objects in database may be modified to define a new status triggering additional processes in an action management system. Once the additional processes are completed, the status field may be changed to an original status provided by the core system to trigger a second program component in the workflow sequence. The action management system may contain user customized processes that may be modified and changed independent of the functionality provided by the core system.
US08862610B2
Method, system, and programs for content search are disclosed. A user interface configured based on context information is presented within a host application. A plurality of selectable search results are then fetched based on the context information and a query received from a user through the user interface. An input associated with a selection of one or more selectable search results is received from the user through the user interface. The user interface is updated based on the plurality of selectable search results. In response to the selection, the one or more selected search results are provided to the host application with the context information.
US08862608B2
Category affinity may be used as a consideration in providing search results. A taxonomy of substantive categories is created and/or obtained. A corpus of document is compared with the taxonomy to determine the category(ies) with which the documents affine. A query is also compared with the taxonomy to determine the category(ies) with which the query affines. A document may receive a category score based on how well the document's category(ies) match the query's category(ies). This document score may be combined with other scores, such as a text score, a link score, and a distance score, and/or any other factors, to determine an overall relevance score. The relevance score may then be used to rank and present search results.
US08862606B1
The invention enables a correlated or multi-row subquery (CSQ) to be performed on distributed MPP and shared-nothing databases by broadcasting intermediate results, prior to a correlation operation, from subquery execution on one segment to all other segments in the distributed database so that the respective CSQs of each segment will have access to the necessary results to permit correct execution of the CSQ. Additionally, the intermediate results are saved to disk to avoid the necessity of replicating the same intermediate results multiple times during execution of a subquery plan.
US08862588B1
A server system having one or more processors and memory stores a plurality of entities in a schemaless database. The entities are not structured in accordance with a predefined schema. The server system generates an index for the plurality of entities stored in the schemaless database. The index has a plurality of index entries sorted in a sort order. The server system receives a first request from an application and, in response to the first request, accesses an empirically-determined schema and generates a first response based on the empirically-determined schema. The empirically-determined schema is generated from the index. After generating the first response, the server system sends the first response to the application.
US08862580B1
In some embodiments, techniques for searching comprise providing a user interface, wherein the user interface is associated with an input area and a selector, receiving a search term and a desired category simultaneously, wherein the search term is associated with the input area and the category is associated with the selector, determining a plurality of documents, wherein each of the plurality of documents is associated with the search term and the category, and providing a search result, wherein the search result is associated with the plurality of documents.
US08862572B2
A universal distributed search system allows users to find and distribute search results (possibly including advertisements) to those with whom they communicate. The search results can be easily distributed by the user via a simple interface that allows the search results to be easily added to the user's content. In one implementation, a content creation application includes a first interface configured to facilitate composition of a message by a user and a second interface configured to receive a search query from the user, display search results relating to the search query, and receive selections of the search results from the user. The messaging application automatically incorporates, in response to the selections, the selected ones of the search results into the message in the first interface.
US08862570B1
An architecture which permits externalized management of services includes a number of management service capability (MSC) definitions. Each operator may associate a management service capability with a Service/Service Capability for managing various aspects of the Service/Service Capability. An interface enables a variety of different management systems to utilize a common MSC structure, independent of the information models, transport mechanisms and management interface of the system using the MSC. With such an arrangement, management related integration costs associated with integrating and bundling complex multi-media services is significantly reduced.
US08862567B2
A method for monitoring a network for information includes repeatedly searching the network for sensitive information about a subscriber. The network is intermittently searched for obscuring information during the repeated searching to thereby disguise the sensitive information that is the target of the repeated searching. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.
US08862566B2
Systems and methods are provided for conducting intelligent parallel searches of data sources. A search engine receives a request to access target data that is stored in at least one of multiple data sources. Each data source has a candidate index. The search engine extracts inquiry parameters from the request. The inquiry parameters corresponds to sub-indices of respective general indices. Each general index includes an index of relationships between data from at least two of the data sources. Each sub-index includes a subset of the respective general index. The search engine performs parallel searches of the general indices common to the data sources. Each parallel search includes searching the sub-indices based on corresponding inquiry parameters for the sub-indices. The search engine performs additional parallel searches of the candidate indices based on results of the parallel searches. The search engine extracts an output from results of the additional parallel searches.
US08862562B2
A file management apparatus, file management method, and file management program product are provided in which a user who receives a file-saving related notice from a system can easily grasp the contents of the notified file. Accordingly, a designated notice destination that the end of a save period of a file recorded in a file saving apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a save-period counter, a save-period monitoring section for monitoring an end of a save period of each file basing on timing by the save-period counter, an attachment-file making section for making a partial file composed of a part of file contents, a notice transmitting section for notifying a notice destination of a fact that there is a file at the end of a save period, and a notice-file making section for attaching a partial file of the file to the notice of the notice transmitting section.
US08862554B2
Methods and arrangements for prioritizing customer service restoration, in the event of service failure or compromise such that any adverse effect of the service disruption on the customer is minimized, the perceived drop in quality of service, if any, is minimized and timely and efficient resource reallocation for service restoration is achieved. Input data relating to customer service protocols is assimilated. A service restoration order is implemented responsive to a service disruption and based on the assimilated input data. This implementing includes determining bufferable and non-bufferable services, postponing restoration of the bufferable services, and determining an order of priority of the non-bufferable services.
US08862552B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product for reverse audits based on server access of databases. In one embodiment, a data provider is determined, and a data request based on the data provider is sent to a server, wherein the data request promotes an entry of the data request to access a database. A data response is received from the server, wherein the data response corresponds to the data request. A message is output based on whether the data response includes specific data.
US08862549B2
A data management method and apparatus of a portable terminal improves memory utilization efficiency using a data move/copy function which allows moving or copying the user data preserved in the non-volatile memory region of the memory of a portable terminal. A data management method for a portable terminal includes selecting at least one user data item in response to a selection request. An extended region for backup of the user data item is checked in response to a backup request. Transfer data corresponding to the user data item is created. The transfer data is stored in the extended region as a backup of the user data item.
US08862539B2
The present disclosure provides a method of statistical application in an OLTP environment to reduce the intensive computational load of invoking SQL statements for statistical calculations. The method introduces a time element into statistical records, and use the time element to determine the time status of previously computed statistical records. Upon receiving a query for a statistical record, the system first searches for an existing copy of the statistical record, and checks the time status of the statistical record if found. The system sends the statistical record to the inquirer if the record exists and is unexpired, and invokes an SQL statement to compute the statistical record only if the record does not exist or has expired. The statistical records may be placed in statistical table in a database and/or a cache of an application server. The disclosed strategy may also increase attack resistance of the system.
US08862525B2
A method for screening samples for building a prediction model and a computer program product thereof are provided. When a set of new sample data is added to a dynamic moving window (DMW), a clustering step is performed with respect to all of the sets of sample data within the window for grouping the sets of sample data with similar properties as one group. If the number of the sets of sample data in the largest group is greater than a predetermined threshold, it means that there are too many sets of sample data with similar properties in the largest group, and the oldest sample data in the largest group can be deleted; if smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, it means that the sample data in the largest group are quite unique, and should be kept for building or refreshing the prediction model.
US08862518B2
Methods and apparatus for conducting electronic transactions such as commerce transactions or purchases and exchanging related information. In one aspect, a robust and integrated apparatus and associated method is provided whereby a purchaser can securely provide transaction data and/or information in an electronic format to another party such as a vendor. In one exemplary embodiment, the purchaser can authenticate his or her right to use the billing information contained therein to complete a purchase without actually having to disclose the billing information in a human readable format, thereby enabling the vendor to obtain and authenticate the purchaser's identity and billing information while still protecting the purchaser's privacy, and without requiring disclosure of the purchaser's billing information to the vendor's employees or any other parties. In another aspect, the vendor can provide information about the transaction in an electronic form that can be authenticated and verified for accuracy.
US08862517B2
A method and system for managing use of items having usage rights associated therewith including a point of capture system adapted to generate content of a future event when the event occurs, a content distributor adapted to generate a rights label having usage rights associated with content of the future event before the content is created, the rights label having a distribution key for encrypting the content as the content is generated, the distribution key being encrypted with a public key. The system also includes a license server adapted to generate a license associate with the content from the rights label before the content is generated, the license including the distribution key encrypted with the public key, and a content distributor adapted to distribute the license before the content is generated.
US08862513B2
An application on user's mobile device (having a display screen) generates a transaction-specific barcode on the display, where the barcode contains a plurality of funding sources for the transaction and/or merchant loyalty, reward, or membership numbers. The barcode can be scanned to make purchases at a point of sale (POS).
US08862512B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method of developing a financial transaction data profile. Financial instruments are received as images, where the financial instruments include transactional data. The transactional data is extracted from the financial instruments and uploaded to a computer. The transactional data is organized so that the transactional data is grouped into categories. The categories are stored for presentation to the user in a financial transaction profile.
US08862504B2
A method for activating and funding a stored value, prepaid card account includes acquiring, with a point of sale (POS) device, a first data set associated with the card and purchase thereof, and a second data set associated with the card and activation, deactivation, funding, loading, and reloading thereof. The method also includes transmitting a specific transaction trigger amount for card account activation and transmitting the second data set across a universal payment network to an authorization system associated with the second data set. The method further includes transmitting, from the authorization system, a transaction approval message to the POS including data relating to a funded value of the account, an electronic settlement message causing payment to the merchant for selling the card, an electronic message in the amount of the funded value of the account plus the specific transaction trigger amount, and an electronic message to debit the account.
US08862497B2
Provided are computer implemented methods for rewarding a user of a web-based application, comprising: providing a web-based application accessible by a plurality of users via an interface, wherein the application interface provides for user-directed posting and retrieval of content relating to the application; monitoring use by the plurality of users of user-specific content; assessing a value of the user-specific content; determining an incentive or reward, based on the assessed value of the user-specific content; and providing the specific user with the determined incentive or reward. Also provided is a computer network apparatus or system for rewarding a user of a web-based application. Further provided are methods of data mining, comprising: providing a web-based application (e.g., geospace, E-marketing, E-photo) for sharing posted application information accessible by a plurality users using client-server interfaces; monitoring use by the plurality of users of posted data content; and identifying a subset of users thereby.
US08862494B2
A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.
US08862493B2
In a computer-implemented process modeling and simulating environment, an analyzer receives a process model with parameters in combination with data from previous or planned process performances. An analyzer receives a simulation target from a user, calculates evaluation results that represent the influence of the parameters in view of the simulation target, and presents the evaluation results as indicators to the user. Upon receiving modifications to the performance data, the process is simulated with modified performance data. Alternatively, the evaluation results are converted to computer instructions to automatically modify the process parameters.
US08862483B2
Data capture and workflow management devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a data processing system having a processor and a storage device. The storage device may include application instructions encoded therein, and the application instructions may include a workflow engine to facilitate healthcare delivery to a patient. The system may further a data capture device to communicate data to the data processing system over a network. The data capture device may be provided in the form of a magnet board including a plurality of magnetic sensors to detect user-placement of a magnet within a region associated with a magnetic sensor.
US08862482B2
A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product manage connections between a virtual world and a social network. A set of virtual world information and a set of social network information are analyzed. A graph including a plurality of vertices is generated. Each vertex represents one of virtual world information and social network information. Each vertex is coupled to at least one other vertex by a respective edge. At least one edge of the graph couples a first vertex representing virtual world information and a second vertex representing social network information. At least one vertex is determined to be an articulation point having a respective edge. The removal of the respective edge of the articulation point causes a disconnection of the virtual world information from the social network information within the graph. A user is notified via a graphical user interface that the graph comprises the articulation point.
US08862466B2
A device for speech input includes a speech input unit configured to convert a speech of a user to a speech signal; an angle detection unit configured to detect an angle of the speech input unit; a distance detection unit configured to detect a distance between the speech input unit and the user; and an input switch unit configured to control on and off of the speech input unit based on the angle and the distance.
US08862458B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing a natural language interface for searching a database. One process includes operations for receiving a natural language query. One or more tokens contained in the natural language query are identified. A set of sentences is generated based on the identified tokens, each sentence representing a possible logical interpretation of the natural language query and including a combination of at least one of the identified tokens. At least one sentence in the set of sentences is selected for searching a database based on the identified tokens.
US08862457B2
Smart Mark-up or highlighting delimits a rule using ontology technology to identify words and fields as objects and/or possible values in the rule. These technologies support the user in formalizing parts of the rules in a manner consistent with the system's data.
US08862449B1
Methods and systems for the design and execution of an aerospace or aeronautic system are provided. The aerospace or aeronautic system may incorporate planetary environment models and models of equations of motion. The planetary environment models mathematically represent planetary environment specifications, such as atmosphere and wind. Atmosphere models include standard day atmosphere models and non-standard day atmosphere models, and wind models include continuous wind turbulence models and discrete wind turbulence models. The models of equations of motion include models of three-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass and models for six-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass. As a result, the present invention can design and execute a target system more accurately than the conventional system that provides only standard day planetary environment models, continuous wind turbulence models, or fixed mass equations of motion models.
US08862436B2
Systems and methods for modeling wellbore trajectories using curvature bridging functions. The systems and methods use a clothoid spiral as a bridging curve in the transition zones to reduce tubular stresses/failures in the design of multilateral well paths and extended reach well paths.
US08862426B2
A method and test system for fast determination of parameter variation statistics provides a mechanism for determining process variation and parameter statistics using low computing power and readily available test equipment. A test array having individually selectable devices is stimulated under computer control to select each of the devices sequentially. A test output from the array provides a current or voltage that dependent on a particular device parameter. The sequential selection of the devices produces a voltage or current waveform, characteristics of which are measured using a digital multi-meter that is interfaced to the computer. The rms value of the current or voltage at the test output is an indication of the standard deviation of the parameter variation and the DC value of the current or voltage is an indication of the mean value of the parameter.
US08862419B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating and initializing/aligning an attitude and heading reference system of a crane jib. Magnetometer measurements are generated using a magnetometer that is attached to the crane jib, while crane jib maneuvers are performed including crane jib slewing. The magnetometer measurements are supplied to a processor that is configured to generate magnetometer calibration parameters using the magnetometer measurements and to initialize and align a plurality of filters.
US08862412B2
A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
US08862408B2
In response to at least one input criterion, one or more target positions in an acquisition domain are determined for processing of survey data, where the survey data is acquired by survey equipment in the acquisition domain having a first set of dimensions, and where the processing of the survey data is to be performed in a processing domain having a second set of dimensions different from the first set of dimensions.
US08862403B1
Methods and systems for determining altitudes for a vehicle to travel are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving information indicating a desired location for a balloon and a time period for traveling to the desired location. A region may include the desired location, and the region can be divided into a plurality of cells. The method may include determining estimated cell locations that can be reached by the balloon over a time interval by following a wind at a given altitude. The method may also include assigning a cost value to each cell based on a proximity of the estimated cell locations to a cell including the desired location. The method may further include determining for each cell an altitude for the balloon to travel based on the assigned cost value, and storing information indicating the cost value and the altitude for the balloon to travel.
US08862398B2
A system for tracking objects that are in earth orbit via a constellation or network of satellites having imaging devices is provided. An object tracking system includes a ground controller and, for each satellite in the constellation, an onboard controller. The ground controller receives ephemeris information for a target object and directs that ephemeris information be transmitted to the satellites. Each onboard controller receives ephemeris information for a target object, collects images of the target object based on the expected location of the target object at an expected time, identifies actual locations of the target object from the collected images, and identifies a next expected location at a next expected time based on the identified actual locations of the target object. The onboard controller processes the collected image to identify the actual location of the target object and transmits the actual location information to the ground controller.
US08862381B1
An air navigation obstacle reporting and notification system for providing a centralized obstruction notification system to aircraft pilots regarding unreported and/or unmarked obstructions. The air navigation obstacle reporting and notification system generally includes a plurality of users that enter obstacle data into a control server via a global computer network which are uploaded to and broadcast by a satellite unit. Navigation receivers within the aircraft receive the updated obstruction data and match this data with navigation data (e.g. GPS) to determine if the aircraft heading and altitude will result in a potential collision with an obstacle. If a potential collision risk exists, the pilot is notified visually and audibly by the navigation receiver.
US08862377B2
A system for sensing a force applied to an aircraft includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor operative to define a first velocity vector as a function of a first velocity due to a rotation motion of the aircraft, define a second velocity vector as a function of a second velocity due to the rotation motion of the aircraft, define an instant axis of rotation of the aircraft as a function of the first velocity vector and the second velocity vector, determine whether a force has been exerted on a first portion of the aircraft, and output an indication that a force has been exerted on the first portion of the aircraft responsive to determining that the force has been exerted on the first portion of the aircraft.
US08862373B2
A method is provided for guaranteeing a temporal spacing between an aircraft and at least one reference moving object, said spacing needing to be guaranteed no later than at a point in the flight plan called the point of interception, with the aircraft following a current flight plan. The feasibility of guaranteeing the spacing at a date Tcour by regulating the speed of the aircraft while maintaining the current flight plan is verified in a first step. In a second step it is verified whether the date Tcour is contained within a feasibility range. In a third step the current flight plan is modified when the feasibility is not verified, a lateral trajectory between the current position Xcour of the aircraft and the point of interception being implemented in this case such that the spacing can be attained by regulating the speed.
US08862371B2
Even when, due to an abnormal decrease in the battery voltage, an engine control apparatus is inoperative, an engine can safely be started. Based on gearshift lever selection position information generated by a gearshift sensor (109A), a first detection circuit (194) generates a first detection signal PS1 when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position or in the parking position; a microprocessor (110A) is provided with a second detection means that generated a second detection signal PS2 when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position or in the parking position. Even when, due to an abnormal decrease in the voltage of a vehicle battery, the microprocessor (110A) is inoperative, by ascertaining through the first detection signal PS1 that the vehicle is in a state of not being driven, the engine can be started by means of a starting switch.
US08862365B2
A vehicular power supply device mounted on a vehicle equipped with an idle stop function is provided that enhances engine startability and suppresses a voltage drop at a battery driving the starter, so as to reduce energy consumption by the engine or other drive sources. The device includes a voltage converter for converting a DC voltage V1 output from a generator into a DC voltage control value V2 and for outputting the value, and when the idle-stop determination unit determines that the engine is in the idle stop state, the voltage converter outputs, depending on a current and voltage supplied to an electrical load including a starter, a second DC voltage control value V2a higher than a first DC voltage control value V2 that is a target output voltage for the battery.
