US07713038B2
A scroll fluid machine comprises a driving shaft in a housing. An orbiting scroll is eccentrically revolved around an eccentric axial portion of the driving shaft via a bearing. Air is introduced from outside through an intake port of a circumferential wall of the housing and directed toward the bearing by a guide to cool the bearing.
US07713035B2
A pumping apparatus and method incorporates at least one and preferably as many as four components that are configured to improve debris removal capabilities as compared to prior art apparatuses. The apparatus and method impart cyclonic motion to pumped fluid, in a manner that tends to separate entrained solids and other impurities, and further that helps draw solid impurities away from the pump barrel. In a preferred embodiment, a cyclonic effect first occurs in a seat plug having a funnel-shaped accumulator region leading to an interior passage therethrough, and at least one off-center opening extending from the interior passage to the exterior of the plug. In one embodiment, that effect is continued at a plunger adapter that has a plurality of inward-angled rings, and that also features off-center openings through which debris may pass to the interior of the plunger adapter. A top plunger adapter may also be provided, having angled veins and openings therethrough to impart cyclonic motion to the pumped fluid as it exits the interior of the top plunger adapter. Finally, it may also be desired to provide a cage having angled veins, to continue the cyclonic effect on the fluid as it travels northward and into the pump barrel.
US07713034B2
A diaphragm pump 1 has a base block 2, a diaphragm 8 and a drive unit for driving the diaphragm to reciprocate. The base block 2 has three or more liquid flow paths, each having three recesses 23 through 25 or more recesses. The diaphragm 8 and the respective recesses 23 through 25 define a plurality of valve chambers and the metering chamber. The drive unit includes: pressing rods 73 through 75 arranged corresponding to the respective recesses with the diaphragm interposed therebetween; and a pressing member drive controller adapted to execute a liquid discharging operation and a liquid sucking operation at a predetermined timing defined for each of the pressing rods, in which in the liquid discharging operation, each of the pressing rods is moved toward the respective recesses so as to gradually decease the volume of the respective valve chambers and the metering chamber and eventually hermetically seal the metering chamber; while in the liquid discharging operation, each of the pressing rods is moved away from the respective recesses so as to gradually decease the volume of the respective valve chambers and the metering chamber.
US07713032B2
The high pressure fluid pump includes a driver defined by a float riding on the waves of a sea surface, a fluid pump housing, an impeller operatively attached to the driver and disposed within the fluid pump housing, a backflow check system connected to the fluid pump housing, and an outflow check system controlling the pressure, volume of fluid flow, and direction of fluid flow to various other systems. The pump may be used to pump fluids other than seawater and may include features multiplying pumping mechanical advantage for a given tidal range.
US07713025B2
An assembling member disposed on a heatsink fan in pairs for detachably disposing the heatsink fan on a fixed frame is provided. The assembling member includes a jointing part and an operating part. The jointing part matches with the fixed frame, and extends a plurality of fastening pins capable of being hooked at the assembly holes of the heatsink fan. The operating part is extended from one end of the jointing part, and passed and grasped by human fingers, so as to hook the jointing part on the heatsink fan. Thus, the heatsink fan is mounted on the fixed frame only by hooking the operating part through human fingers.
US07713012B2
A two-piece, decorative fastener assembly for securing a license plate to a vehicle. The decorative fastener uniquely includes a threaded fastener for securing the license plate to the vehicle and a decorative cover that can be quickly and easily connected directly to the head portion of the threaded fastener.
US07713010B2
A wall anchor device includes an anchor sleeve having an outer peripheral lip, one or more peripheral flanges extended outwardly from the middle portion for engaging with a wall member. The anchor sleeve includes a middle portion having one or more arms. A threaded member is engageable into the anchor sleeve and includes a thread shank for threading with the anchor sleeve. A drill element is secured to the threaded member, to drill the anchor sleeve into the wall. The anchor sleeve includes a projecting device for ensuring the threaded member to be engaged with the inner end portion of the anchor sleeve. A positioning device may position the anchor sleeve and the threaded member to the work piece and the wall member.
US07713000B2
The invention relates to a method for positioning an end (19) of a first pipe section (14) relative to an end (20) of a second pipe section (18), the method comprising: (a) prepositioning the end (19) of the first pipe section (14) near the end (20) of the second pipe section (18), defining a connection area (51) comprising the respective ends (19, 20) of the first and second pipe sections (14, 18); (b) performing a measuring process comprising a plurality of measuring steps, each measuring step comprising: (b1) moving a sensing device (86) to a location (89a, 89b, 89c) near the connection area (51); (b2) automatically measuring the location (89a, 89b, 89c) of the sensing device (86) relative to a reference location (87); (b3) automatically measuring point positions (98a, 98b, 98c, 98d) of points on the ends (19, 20) of the first and second pipe sections (14, 18) relative to the sensing device location (89a, 89b, 89c); (c) determining a target position of the end (19) of the first pipe section (14) relative to the end 20) of the second pipe section (18) on the basis of the measured point positions (98a, 98b, 98c, 98d); and (d) moving at least one of the first and second pipe sections (14, 18) in order to obtain the target position.
US07712998B2
A portable, inflatable flood wall is characterized by a sheet of synthetic plastic material which is folded back on itself to define a chamber between bottom, rear and front portions of the sheet and within which at least one inflatable bladder is secured. When the bladder is inflated, the rear portion of the sheet is erected to a vertical position which prevents water from passing beyond the sheet. The front portion preferably contains a plurality of openings to allow water to enter the chamber. The weight of the water on the bottom portion of the sheet serves to hold the wall in place. A plurality of such walls may be connected in end-to-end relation to construct a wall of a desired length.
US07712996B2
In one aspect of the invention, an asphalt recycling machine has a passageway in communication with a fluid source secured to a motorized vehicle and a fogging nozzle. The fogging nozzle is connected to an underside of the motorized vehicle. The fogging nozzle is also proximate a rotary degradation element connected to the underside of the motorized vehicle. The rotary degradation element has an axis of rotation nonparallel with a paved surface.
US07712993B2
A bonded composite joint may include a base having a foot configured to couple to a member. The base may include a flange extending outward from the foot. The joint further may include a panel having a core positioned between opposing skins, where the skins have inner walls proximate the core and the skins extend outward beyond the core on at least one end of the panel to define a recess between the skins. The recess between the skins may receive the flange. A bonding agent may be used to couple the flange to the inner walls of the panel.
US07712985B2
The lettering tape produced by the print cassette is composed of an application tape and an adhesive tape. The adhesive tape has a release sheet with which an adhesive layer is coated. A printing surface of the application tape to which the ink is thermally transferred and the adhesive layer are overlapped to be stuck to each other to compose the lettering tape retransferring the ink.
US07712983B2
When a printing device inputs image data from a memory card, the printing device prints an order sheet whereon are arranged a chart of the image data and setting entry fields for filling in a variety of settings for generating a movie based on these image data. The user uses various marking fields provided on the order sheet to specify the display times for the various image data and the effects to be performed on the various image data. When the printing device uses a scanner to read in the filled-out order sheet, movie data is generated based on the content that is set using this order sheet. The user is able to generate movies easily using this type of printing device.
US07712962B1
The storage bag includes two sidewalls with peripheral edges and the sidewalls being attached together along at least a portion of the peripheral edges. One or more additional sidewalls may be disposed within the bag, and these additional sidewalls may be connected to form an inner bag. Any inner bag sidewalls may be laminated to the outer bag sidewalls or hang loose from the outer bag sidewalls. One or more of the sidewalls may include an adhesive for adhering to an opposing sidewall or item in the bag, a thin perforated layer disposed over an adhesive, a line of perforations for tearing, and/or one or more perforations for venting. Furthermore, processes for manufacturing a storage bag are disclosed.
US07712957B2
A device is provided for temperature measurement in metal melts, particularly in iron or steel melts, having a thermoelement, which is arranged in a thermoelement tube, and having an exterior protective body, which is essentially formed of graphite and metal oxide. The thermoelement tube is arranged in the protective body with a spacing, forming an intermediate space, and an insulating material and an oxygen-reducing material are arranged in the intermediate space. The insulating material and the oxygen-reducing material, as a powder mixture, form a tube (2), which surrounds the thermoelement tube (3) with a spacing and/or which is surrounded by the protective body (1) with a spacing.
US07712951B2
A blender jar defines a geometry to impart vertical movement to material being processed in the blender jar, and, alternatively or in combination, improves the horizontal movement to the blended material. By configuring one or more agitators on the floor of a jar, laminar flow or symmetric flow of material around the jar is disrupted. The material is forced in an upward direction in the jar and, therefore, into more frequent contact with the cutter blades rotating in the jar.
US07712949B2
This invention is directed to a lampholder for receiving a non-incandescent lamp having a 2-pin base. A surface mountable member for receiving the lamp and which has no voltage transforming circuitry is disclosed. Each pin of the lamp has an enlarged cylindrical shaped end attached to a shaft of reduced diameter. The surface mountable member has two keyhole shaped apertures, each of which has a large circular end aperture and an arc shaped slot for receiving and securely holding the pins of the lamp to the surface mountable member. The circular aperture of each keyhole shaped aperture has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged cylindrical end of the lamp pin, and the arc shaped slot has a width that is both smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the lamp pin and wider than the diameter of the shaft of the pin. The enlarged ends of the pins of the lamp, when located in the arc shaped slots, prevent the lamp from being pulled out of the surface mountable member.
US07712947B2
A backlight module for use in a planar display panel is disclosed. The backlight module comprises a lamp tube set, a light guide plate and a positioning body. The lamp tube set comprises a lamp housing and at least a lamp tube. An optical film is disposed on the light guide plate. The light guide plate has a side for insetting the light guide plate into the lamp tube set. Furthermore, the positioning body is disposed on an inner wall of the lamp housing and comprises at least a flange against the side. The light guide plate is positioned to contact the positioning body so as to form gaps between the at least a lamp tube and the light guide plate or between the optical film and the lamp housing.
US07712940B2
A light source unit includes a light source including a light emitting portion, a light source holding member holding the light source, a light transmission member including an incident portion wherein light from the light emitting portion is to enter the incident portion, a light transmission member holding member holding the light transmission member, a positioning portion provided on the light transmission member holding member and abutted on the light source to position the light transmission member holding member and the light source to position the incident portion and the light emitting portion, and an adjustment joining mechanism configured to join the light transmission member holding member and the light source holding member to each other so as to adjust the relative positions thereof, and joining them to each other in a state where the light source and the positioning portion abut on each other.
US07712939B2
A backlight unit is adapted for increasing the brightness uniformity and life span of a light source, and a liquid crystal module using the same. A light unit includes a light source; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the light source; a peltier device for increasing and decreasing the temperature of the light source; and a controller for controlling the peltier device in correspondence to an output of the temperature sensor.
US07712919B2
The invention relates to an operation light, comprising at least one light-emitting component (9) and at least one light-reflecting surface Mn and in which the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting component (9) is so arranged in the operation light that all or substantially all of the light produced by the operation light consists of light reflected from the reflecting surface, and for each light-emitting component (9) at least one substantially planar light-reflecting surface Mn is provided so that the dimensions of the light-emitting surface of each light-emitting component (9), the direction of the normal to the surface and the distance of the surface in relation to the size of the reflecting surface Mn arranged for the light-emitting component (9) in question, to the direction of the normal to the surface and to the distance of the surface from the surface (11) to be illuminated have been so arranged that the operation light produces on the surface to be illuminated a light pattern of a given shape and size wherein the light intensity in the penumbral shadow area formed at the edges of the light pattern falls in a desired manner.
US07712918B2
A fluorescent light tube retrofit with light emitting diodes (LEDs) that evenly distribute light to avoid bright spots is disclosed. One tube in the form of a conventional fluorescent tube includes two LEDs mounted to the tube on opposite sides of a single circumference of the tube. The LEDs can face the center of the tube, or the LEDs can be offset facing relative to the center of the tube. A reflecting surface can be disposed inside the tube to reflect light evenly toward an arc of the tube. Alternatively, at least one LED can be oriented to direct light into a light pipe that curves around the interior of the tube.
US07712914B2
A device is provided to apply make-up (10) in low-light situations. The device has a body tube (14), with a first and a second and a intermediate portion therebetween. The first end has a radial cross-section with an inner portion and an annular outer portion. Mounted in the inner portion of the first end is a make-up (10) applying means (16). Surrounding the make-up applying means (16) is an illuminating means (22) for illuminating, positioned in the annular outer portion of the first end. It is adapted to project the illumination axially outwardly. The illuminating means (22) is power by a powering means (24) is activated by a switch (621).
US07712911B2
The light diffusion component in accordance with the present invention includes light transmission pieces that are juxtaposed at predetermined intervals in one direction and have a substantially trapezoidal section, and a light absorption piece that is juxtaposed alternately to the light transmission pieces and has a substantially wedged section. The upper base of the substantially trapezoidal section of each light transmission piece adjoins the base of the substantially wedged section of the light absorption piece. The area of the substantially wedged section of the light absorption piece is equal to or larger than one-third of the area of a trapezoid bordering the substantially wedged section, and equal to or smaller than two-thirds thereof.
US07712908B2
A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics. For example, by setting the index of refraction in the prism extension direction greater than the index of refraction in the prism alignment direction (nx>ny), among the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the amount of return light of the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction is greater than that of the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction. In this way, not only a light-collecting function, but also a predetermined polarization split function is obtained.
US07712905B2
An imaging system for imaging an off-axis object field arranged in an object surface of the imaging system onto an off-axis image field arranged in an image surface of the imaging system while creating at least one intermediate image has: an optical axis; an in-line mirror group having an object side mirror group entry, an image side mirror group exit and a mirror group plane aligned transversely to the optical axis and arranged geometrically between the mirror group entry and the mirror group exit, the mirror group including: a first mirror having a first mirror surface for receiving radiation coming from the object surface in a first reflecting area asymmetric to the optical axis; at least one second mirror having a second mirror surface facing the first mirror surface for receiving radiation coming from the first mirror in a second reflecting area asymmetric to the optical axis; at least one of the first and second mirrors being a concave mirror having a concave mirror surface defining a mirror axis on the optical axis; wherein the mirrors of the mirror group are arranged such that radiation coming from the mirror group entry passes at least four times through the mirror group plane and is reflected at least twice on a concave mirror surface of the mirror group prior to exiting the mirror group at the mirror group exit. A strong overcorrection of image field curvature can be effected in an axially compact design.
US07712902B2
A projector includes: a first light modulation device that modulates illumination light; a second light modulation device that further modulates the illumination light modulated by the first light modulation device; a projection unit that projects the modulated illumination light toward a screen; and an optical device moving unit that moves an optical device blocking at least part of the illumination light relatively to a light path of the illumination light to move the device off the light path in response to an external request.
US07712898B2
A method of classifying an optic nerve cup and rim of an eye from a retinal image comprising receiving a retinal image, determining a feature vector for a candidate pixel in the retinal image, and classifying the candidate pixel as a cup pixel or a rim pixel based on the feature vector using a trained classifier. The retinal image can be a stereo pair, the retinal image can be color or monochrome. The method disclosed can further comprise identifying an optic nerve, identifying an optic nerve cup and optic nerve rim, and determining a cup-to-disc ratio.
US07712897B2
A method for constructing a progressive varifocal lens having a far vision area, a near vision area and an intermediate progression area. the method comprises the steps of a) determining the x- and y-coordinates of a first point in the closed interval between the far vision reference point of the far vision area and the center point; b) determining the x and y coordinates of a second point as the near vision reference point of the near vision area; c) determining a mathematical function D(y) which obeys the following conditions: it contains the first and second points as local extrema and comprises exactly one point of inflection in the open interval between the two points; distributing the addition according to the said function along a principal meridian of progression connecting the first and second points; and d) forming the varifocal lens.
US07712895B2
Eyeglasses include a frame, and two lenses; the frame has a streamline shape, and a relatively large curvature as compared with the lenses, and has a joining portion protruding downwards from a middle portion thereof, and grooves extending from two sides of the joining portion to an upper portion of an inward side thereof; each of the lenses includes a body, and a connecting plate, which is secured on the body, and has the same curvature as the body of the lens; the lenses are firmly joined to the frame with the connecting plates being inserted in respective ones of the grooves of the frame.
US07712894B2
An eye gear includes a lens frame, a support unit having a pair of frame coupling blocks, and a pair of coupling units, each connecting pivotally one end of a respective one of the frame coupling blocks to a corresponding one of two ends of the lens frame and including a first pivot coupling component provided on one of the lens frame and the respective one of the frame coupling blocks, and a second pivot coupling component provided on the other of the lens frame and the respective one of the frame coupling blocks. The first pivot coupling component includes a pin portion. The second pivot coupling component includes a limiting portion that defines a pin receiving space to receive removably and pivotally the pin portion.
US07712889B2
An image forming apparatus including an ejection head which ejects liquid onto a recording medium to form a desired image thereon, a conveyance device which moves either the recording medium or the ejection head to move the recording medium in a conveyance direction relative to the ejection head, a first density determination device downstream of the ejection head in the conveyance direction which determines density of the image formed on the recording medium, a liquid removal device downstream of the first density determination device in the conveyance direction that removes liquid from the recording medium, a second density determination device downstream of the liquid removal device in the conveyance direction that determines the density of the image from which the liquid removal device liquid, and a liquid removal control device which controls the liquid removal device according to determination results of the first and second density determination devices.
US07712887B2
The image forming apparatus includes: a first liquid ejection device which, while scanning to and fro in a direction substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, ejects a first liquid containing a coloring material onto the recording medium; second liquid ejection devices which are disposed respectively on both regions in a scanning direction outside the first liquid ejection device, the second liquid ejection devices ejecting a second liquid onto at least an area of the recording medium on which the first liquid is to be deposited prior to the first liquid being deposited while the second liquid ejection devices perform a scan together with the first liquid ejection device; and first radiation irradiating devices which are disposed respectively on both regions in the scanning direction outside the first liquid ejection device, the first radiation irradiating devices irradiating an area of the recording medium on which the first liquid and the second liquid have been deposited with a radiation while the first radiation irradiating devices perform a scan together with the first liquid ejection device, wherein at least one of the first liquid and the second liquid contains a radiation-curable polymerizable compound; and at least one of the first liquid and the second liquid contains a polymerization initiator.
US07712886B2
A composite heating system for use in a wallpaper printing system, the wallpaper printing system passing a media web along a media path from a media cartridge, past a printhead, to a wallpaper exit region, the composite heating system comprising: a first heating system, disposed between the media cartridge and the printhead, comprising a pre-heater; and, a second heating system, disposed between the printhead and the wallpaper exit region, comprising: an heating element provided within a first chamber positioned on one side of the media web; at least one fan positioned to force air past the heating element; the first chamber adapted to direct the heated air through an opening into a second heating chamber positioned on the other side of the media web; and, the second heating chamber receiving subsequent portions of the printed media web passed into the second heating chamber through the opening.
US07712885B2
A liquid-droplet jetting apparatus includes a first common liquid chamber which supplies a liquid to first pressure chambers communicating with first nozzles and extending in a predetermined direction; and a second common liquid chamber which supplies a liquid to second pressure chambers communicating with second nozzles and extending in the predetermined direction. The first and second common liquid chambers are overlapped in a plan view, and each having a substantial width. A damper for attenuating pressure wave which propagates to the first and second common liquid chambers is formed at a portion in which the first and second common liquid chambers are overlapped. Each of the first common liquid chamber, the second common liquid chamber and the damper is formed to have a width overlapping with one of the first and second pressure chambers, thereby making it possible to attenuate the pressure wave efficiently.
US07712882B2
The invention provides for an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The ink cartridge includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs, each reservoir having a layered stack of absorbent material forming a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. The ink cartridge also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body.
US07712879B2
Ink jet printing method, in which the jet (14) is broken up in small and large drops at a fixed point (B), and the drops (16a, 16b) are charged according to the length (l, L) of the break segment (18), in other words according to their diameter. This configuration overcomes transition problems.The charging means (22) can also selectively deflect drops (16b).
US07712875B2
For providing a base for a liquid discharge head having an internal surface of a liquid flow path and a discharge port, suppressed in swelling by liquid and having high precision and high reliability, the base including a base member, an energy generating element for discharging a liquid, formed on the base member, and a resin structure having a liquid discharge port for discharging the liquid and disposed on the base member so as to cover the energy generating element, is provided with a protective layer. The protective layer is formed by a catalytic chemical vapor deposition on a surface of the resin structure in which the liquid discharge port is opened.
US07712864B2
An apparatus for maintaining a recording head which has a nozzle opening in a nozzle-defining surface thereof, and ejects, from the nozzle, a droplet of an ink toward a recording medium, in a state in which the recording head is separate from a remaining portion of a recording device. The apparatus includes a cover member which is adapted to air-tightly contact the recording head to cover the nozzle-defining surface of the recording head such that a space is formed between the cover member and the nozzle-defining surface. The apparatus further includes a selectively communicating device which can selectively take (a) a first state thereof in which the selectively communicating device allows the space to communicate with an atmosphere so that substantially no difference is produced between an air pressure in the space and an atmospheric pressure, when the cover member is air-tightly contacted with the recording head; and (b) a second state thereof in which the selectively communicating device shuts off the communication between the space and the atmosphere, and thereby air-tightly closes the space, after the cover member is air-tightly contacted with the recording head.
US07712862B1
Printer ink-drop detectors are used to detect ink stalagmites forming on a waste ink receiving spittoon. A warning message can be issued so that the stalagmites can be removed before automatic printer shutdown is initiated. Additionally, a record of the ink stalagmite detection can be stored within the printer for later access by service personnel during routine maintenance and/or resource replenishment.
US07712860B2
An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method are provided which are capable of minimizing image impairments caused by a bias of satellite positions even when an odd-numbered-pass bidirectional multi-pass printing is performed. To this end, in an odd-numbered-pass bidirectional printing, a mask pattern, in which print permitted pixels and print non-permitted pixels are arranged such a way that a percentage of pixels in which predetermined two inks are permitted to be printed by scans in different directions is higher than a percentage of pixels in which the predetermined two inks are permitted to be printed by scans in the same directions, is used. This increases the probability of satellites of the two types of the inks printed in the same pixels being printed on both sides of main dots, thus allowing a uniform image to be produced even by an odd-numbered-pass bidirectional printing.
US07712858B2
In relation to a superimposed image obtained by superimposing second image data on first image data in which respective pixels are arranged in a staggered pattern, an image forming apparatus discriminates a region where the second image data is superimposed from a region where the second image data is not superimposed. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is not superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a first control pattern. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a second control pattern different from the first control pattern.
US07712855B2
A signal converter that may perform functions to enable a thermally based technology to be used with a piezo-electric printhead. The signal converter and piezo-electric printhead may optionally be used in conjunction with a chassis assembly having an adjustable vertical member for sizing the chassis assembly to a printer. Methods of using a piezo-electric printhead in a printer having a thermal printhead configuration may include the steps of coupling the printhead to the printer and performing conversion functions.
US07712854B2
A piezoelectric fluid injection device and a driving voltage calibration method thereof. The piezoelectric fluid injection device includes at least one inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles, at least one voltage control element connecting to the inkjet printhead, a controller connecting to the voltage control element, a reference capacitor connecting to an auxiliary voltage control element and the controller in parallel with the inkjet printhead.
US07712843B2
A front wheel of a golf cart includes a supporting component, a round rotating member, and a joining shaft coupling the rotating member to the supporting component; the supporting component includes a holding part, which has an outer stopping protrusion, a polygonal portion, and a round portion adjoining the polygonal portion; the shaft includes a shank partly held in the holding part; a spring biases the shaft to such a position that the shaft is prevented from rotating by the polygonal portion; a fixing component is secured around other end of the shank, and contains the stopping protrusion; the fixing component has a polygonal hollow portion to fit closely around the polygonal portion to prevent the shaft from rotating; the round rotating member can be turned together with the shaft to fold the front wheel after the polygonal hollow portion is relocated around the round portion.
US07712842B2
A method of mounting a hubcap on a wheel that involves providing a wheel having an annular hub surrounding an axis of rotation, the hub including a first periphery extending along the circumference of a circle surrounding the axis of rotation and a second periphery spaced from the circumference of the circle, providing a hubcap having a top wall and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the top wall, the cylindrical sidewall having an end edge spaced from the top wall and a circumferential flange projecting from the cylindrical side wall, the circumferential flange having a sidewall and an alignment tab projecting from the sidewall, aligning the hubcap alignment tab with the second periphery, placing the hubcap sidewall against the hub and the alignment tab over the second periphery, and clamping the hubcap to the wheel. Also a wheel (10, 80) including a hubcap (30, 90) and a clamp (50).
US07712839B1
A tiles or bricks shoveling device includes a body having front wheels and rear wheels, and a handle is connected to a rear end of the body. A motor is connected to the body and drives a circular member by its eccentric shaft. A block is fixed to the body and two posts movably extend through the block. A front board and a rear board are connected to the front and rear ends of the posts. Two springs are connected to the two posts to return the rear board. A shoveling blade is connected to the front end of the front board such that when the motor is activated, the posts are moved reciprocally and the shoveling blade moves linearly back and forth with the front board to shovel the tiles and bricks up.
US07712831B2
A vehicle seat, an adjusting system and a method for moving at least one vehicle seat arranged in a vehicle cabin, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising seat components that are coupled or guided together, such as a seat part, a backrest and a leg rest, the location and/or inclination of which can be adjusted by means of at least one or more adjusting units. The adjusting system allows a separation of the basic functions from driving devices, with an electronic device for collision-free movement and for adjusting custom-designed functions and facilitating the adaptation of the custom-designed functions. The movement sequences and movements of the respective individual seat components and the seat components in relation to one another and the movements of the components or seats within an environment or group of seats are accomplished by means of a movement model in a coordinate system.
US07712829B2
A seat structure for a vehicle includes front and rear seat bodies each including a seat cushion and a back rest. Each seat cushion has a front part configured to be tipped up about a rear part of the seat cushion. Each back rest has an upper part configured to be tilted backward and forward about a lower part of the back rest. The seat structure also includes first slide rails supporting the front and rear seat bodies in a fore and aft arrangement respectively. The front and rear seat bodies are configured to move backward and forward along the first slide rails. The seat structure further includes a lock member coupled to the front seat body for selectively securing the front seat body relative to the first slide rails. The lock member is movable between a locked position and a released position. The seat structure further includes a push member coupled to the rear seat body. The push member engages the front seat body to move the lock member into the released position so that the front seat body can be moved forward by the rear seat body.
US07712813B2
An expandable trailer comprising a chassis, at least one pair of extendable supports, at least one pair of horizontal floor sections and at least one pair of floor elements. Each support is extendable laterally outwardly to a respective side of a central longitudinal axis of the chassis. The horizontal floor sections of each pair of horizontal floor sections are spaced apart laterally and each have an outer rail which is coupled to a corresponding one of the supports. The floor elements are pivotally coupled to each other and to the floor sections. Upon extension of the extendable supports from a retracted position to an open, extended position, the horizontal floor sections move laterally outwardly to extend from the chassis and the floor elements move from an upright vertical arrangement to an arrangement where the floor elements lie in horizontal alignment with the floor sections.
US07712810B2
To improve a force by which a base holds an inner mirror, a base 4 keeping a base inner 6 for holding an inner mirror 2 is constituted by a first base 30 bonded to a front window 3 and a second base 40 clasped by the base inner 6; the second base 40 comprises a recessed mating part 43 where the first base 30 is fitted, and wider parts 41a, 41b abutting against side faces 33a, 33b of the first base 30 and extending outward from the side faces 33a, 33b of the first base 30; when the first base 30 is fitted into the mating part 43 of the second base 40, the mating width of the base 4 mating with the base inner 46 can be expanded by the width of the wider parts 41a, 41b of the second base 40, whereby the force by which the base 4 holds the inner mirror 2 can be improved even if the first base 30 is commoditized.
US07712804B2
A method of directing a rope around a cantilevered support including the steps of: a) providing an apparatus having i) an elongate pole with a proximal region and a distal region spaced from each other in a lengthwise direction, and ii) a rope engaging assembly at the distal region and having at least one surface facing away from the proximal region; b) configuring the rope so that the rope bears against the at least one surface and a portion thereof is thereby formed to be generally U-shaped opening towards the proximal region with the rope in an operative position; c) holding a second portion of the rope and the elongate pole at the proximal region to bear the rope against the at least one surface to maintain the “U” shape; and d) manipulating the elongate pole to cause the U-shaped portion of the rope to be directed around the cantilevered support.
US07712801B2
A rotary pawl latch has a lock bar that engages with the pawl when the pawl is latched and that moves toward the center of the pawl to release the pawl for unlatching. This lock bar never completely becomes disengaged from the envelope of the pawl. There are cutouts in the pawl which allow the pawl to rotate as the lock bar is actuated.
US07712797B2
An universal fluid coupling assembly is provided that includes a coupler housing that has an inner bore extending along an axis of, and opening onto a mating end of, the coupler housing. The coupler housing has an outer perimeter that includes an outer coupler flange that extends about the outer perimeter and that is located proximate to the mating end. The outer coupler flange has a periphery that follows a predetermined circumferential envelope and that has at least one discontinuity therein to define a blank area in the envelope. The assembly further includes a fitting member with an aperture there through. The aperture has an inner diameter that is smaller than the circumferential envelope of the outer coupler flange. The fitting member is loaded over the outer coupler flange onto the outer perimeter of the coupler housing by orienting the fitting member in a non-orthogonal relation with the coupler housing such that the outer coupler flange passes through the aperture. The circumferential envelope of the outer coupler flange may be generally circular, with the discontinuity including at least one flat cut across a portion of the circumferential envelope to define the blank area.
US07712785B2
A webbing guide mechanism includes an upper webbing guide (58) and a lower webbing guide (60) that are disposed on the side portion of a seat back (30) of a front seat (24) that is a tumbling seat. A webbing (50) is wound in a looped manner on these guides (58, 60). The webbing (50) is pulled forward and a loading/unloading space (78) is easily enlarged by sequentially changing the seat back (30) from a standard state to an inclined state and then to a tumbled state. According to the invention, a webbing guide mechanism is provided which can easily secure, without troubling a passenger, loading/unloading space behind the front seat (24) when the passenger climbs into or out of the space or when the passenger loads items into or unloads items from the space.
US07712781B2
An airbag apparatus includes an airbag module. The airbag module includes an inflatable cushion coupled to an inflator and a retainer. The airbag module additionally includes a cushion wrap. The cushion is folded such that it is in a storage position. The cushion wrap includes a slip section and a retainer end portion. The retainer end portion is affixed to the retainer and disposed adjacent to the slip section. The slip section includes a folded portion and frangible end portion. The folded portion is disposed between the frangible end portion and the retainer end portion. Furthermore, the frangible end portion is affixed to the retainer.
US07712758B2
A bicycle frame is provided in which the head tube, top tube and down tube are constructed as a single structural unit with the ends of the top tube and down tube left open to allow for ease of molding.
US07712754B2
A leaf spring assembly for a vehicle having a frame and an axle. The leaf spring assembly includes a first leaf spring and a trailing arm having first and second ends. The first end of the trailing arm adapted to be coupled to the frame to form a trailing arm attachment point. The first leaf spring is disposed beneath the trailing arm and includes a width defining a lateral direction and first and second ends defining a longitudinal direction. The first end of the first leaf spring being concentrically wound with the first end of the trailing arm and adapted to be attached to the frame.
US07712750B2
A creeper includes an inner framework having longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side rails interconnected by one or more cross members extending therebetween. A support plate is secured to the inner framework. A pad is positioned on the support plate and a cover encompasses the pad and at least a portion of the inner framework therein. A plurality of caster assemblies are secured to the inner framework.
US07712745B2
A unitized pinion seal assembly has a seal portion and a sleeve portion that are assembled in an interference fit relationship. The unitized pinion seal assembly is assembled to a carrier/bearing cage and an axle companion flange with proper spacing between non-sealing components, and without a spacer mounted between the two portions.
US07712741B2
A lottery ticket and continuous process of forming the same in which the front and rear surfaces of the lottery ticket and provided with scratch-off lottery games which may be accessed by the player without first having to remove a break-open window.
US07712735B2
An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head. The sensors are disposed in the unstacking head in a manner such as to deliver signals indicating that the current object is presented appropriately relative to the unstacking head, and the drive of the unstacking head is actuated if the signals indicate that the current object is presented appropriately.
US07712722B2
An anchor structure for electronic devices includes a plurality of bars that are pivotally coupled through a hinged means. At least one of the bars has a housing space formed in a portion of the interior to allow the bars to be swivelable relative to one another. The anchor structure further has a fastening means which has a handle with a bottom end located in the housing space and hinged on a corresponding bar. The hinged portion on the bottom end of the handle runs through the bar and is fastened to a cam. The housing space also holds a slidable brake element corresponding to the cam and a spring to keep the brake element in contact tightly with the cam so that turning of the cam can selectively move the brake element to a position to escape the axle or to another position to form a tight contact with an axle.
US07712707B2
A method that pivotably mounts a display screen includes a housing and a display holder. A bearing is disposed between the housing and the display holder. The bearing may include a bearing protrusion or curved projection extending from a sidewall of the s display holder. The bearing includes a race in communication with the housing and has a concave surface portion, and a clamping member having a convex portion. The convex portion of the clamping member may be juxtaposed with the concave surface portion of the race to form an annular channel between the clamping member and the race. The curved protrusion may be slidingly secured in the annular channel to pivotally mount the display holder relative to the housing. A bearing may support each side of the display holder.
US07712706B2
Methods and systems for providing space tethers for limiting the dynamic response of structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for limiting the dynamic response of a structure having a base member and a substructure projecting outwardly from the base member includes coupling a first end of an elongated flexible tether to the substructure at a first location spaced apart from the base member; and coupling a second end of the elongated flexible tether to the base member at a second location spaced apart from the substructure, the tether being configured to be in a non-taut configuration when the substructure moves within a design volume with respect to the base member, the tether being further configured to be in a taut position when the substructure displaces to a limit of the design volume.
US07712705B2
A deceleration device adapted for gradual dissipation of kinetic energy comprises a spool reel carrying a belt being wound up on the spool reel; an elevating spindle being driven by the spool reel when the belt is being retracted from the spool reel; at least one collet screwed to the elevating spindle; and at least one spring assembly being installed between the collet and a fixed bearing portion of the deceleration device. The at least one collet is screwed towards the fixed bearing portion by retraction of the belt from the spool reel thereby compressing the spring assembly, whereby a reaction load is generated by the spring assembly counteracting the retraction of the belt.
US07712703B2
A flap simulator for an aircraft has a support with a handle. A first couple is on the support and is selectively engageable to a flap track for guiding an aircraft flap. A second couple is also on the support and is selectively engageable to a flap actuator for moving the aircraft flap along the flap track. The support may have an adjustment feature that allows a size of the second couple to be changed to accommodate the flap actuator. The support is apart from the aircraft flap.
US07712702B2
Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch.
US07712692B2
In one aspect of the invention, a rotary impact mill has a milling chamber defined by a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and at least one wall. A plurality of impact hammers located within the milling chamber are fastened to and longitudinally disposed along a rotor assembly that is connected to a rotary driving mechanism. At least one of the impact hammers has a plurality of inserts arranged adjacent one another in a row and attached to a body of the hammer, wherein a first end of at least one insert is complementary to a second end of an adjacent insert.
US07712690B2
A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber having an outlet end, a plurality of shredders configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation, and a discharge mechanism mounted at the outlet end of the shredding chamber and configured for distributing the blowing insulation into an airstream. The discharge mechanism includes housing and a plurality of sealing vane assemblies mounted for rotation. The sealing vane assemblies are configured to seal against the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate. The housing includes an eccentric segment extending from the housing. A blower is provided and configured to provide the airstream which flows through the discharge mechanism. The sealing vane assemblies become spaced apart from the housing as the sealing vane assemblies rotate through the eccentric segment.
US07712683B2
A removable replaceable cartridge for use with a liquid diffusing device. The cartridge includes a venturi, a conduit extending to the venturi, a mixing area and an outlet path for atomizing and dispersing a liquid within the cartridge. A diffusion device including a removable replaceable cartridge received within a housing. The housing includes a source of compressed gas which is directed into the cartridge. A venturi head with a unitary body for use with a diffusion device.
US07712672B2
An antenna module and a portable communication terminal equipped with the antenna module are provided. The antenna module has a space-saving design, and also has both a capability for long communication distance for a tag function and a capability for wide communication range for a reader/writer function.A first antenna coil (11) for communication with a reader/writer and a second antenna coil (12) for communication with an IC tag are disposed on a base substrate (10). The first antenna coil (11) is disposed in an outermost periphery section of the base substrate (10) so that a communication distance is attained. The second antenna coil (12) is disposed within an inner periphery of the first antenna coil (11) so as to achieve overall size reduction of the module.
US07712669B2
A data capture system includes a data collection terminal and a wireless communications module comprising a transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from a remote station in the data capture system. At least one flat antenna embedded within the communications module, and a pair of flat antennas may be included. A connector is arranged to removably couple the communications module with the data collection terminal and to transmit signals. A microprocessor is coupled with the connector and is arranged to standardize the logic levels and the format of the signals transmitted over the connector such that the data collection terminal may be engaged by the communications module through the connector without adjustment of the communications module.
US07712667B2
Hand held wireless reading viewer for bar codes printed with fluorescing inks that are invisible to the human eye. The reading viewer comprises a portable housing with a window transparent to the excitation and emission wavelengths, an LED or laser diode illuminator module having optical filter and diffuser, an image sensor module with a spectral band limited imaging optics, real time LCD video display, microprocessor with an image acquisition circuit, RF communications port, battery and self-destruct intrusion detector.
US07712666B2
An automatic automatically-triggered digital video-imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing an adaptive control process involving the real-time analysis of the exposure quality of captured frames of digital image data and the real-time reconfiguration of system control parameters (SCPs) based on the results of such exposure quality analysis. By virtue of the present invention, the system enables the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, under demanding point-of-sale lighting conditions and other challenging environments.
US07712654B2
A goods supply system that retrieves parts for making up a product from goods storage locations in a supply area and supplies them to an assembly line, which comprises: a storage means that registers key information on the product and parts information including information on types and storage locations of the parts in advance; a first in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information on the product into a first in-process card; and a retrieving unit having a means that reads out the key information written in the first in-process card, collates the key information with the key information and the parts information registered in the storage means, and retrieves the parts corresponding to the key information from the goods storage locations.
US07712650B2
When a semiconductor chip is mounted using ultrasonic vibration, a method of mounting makes it possible to bond the semiconductor chip and bonding patterns with sufficient bonding strength without making the construction of a circuit board complex. The method of mounting a semiconductor chip causes ultrasonic vibration to act on the semiconductor chip to mount the semiconductor chip on a circuit board by flip-chip bonding. As the circuit board, a circuit board is used where protrusion patterns are provided at positions on bonding patterns to which the semiconductor chip is bonded corresponding to antinodes of vibration for a case where the bonding patterns resonate due to ultrasonic vibration applied by the semiconductor chip.
US07712647B2
A driving machine includes a cylinder, a piston fitted into the cylinder in a reciprocatingly movable manner, a driver connected to the piston, a bumper provided in the bottom portion of the cylinder, a housing, a return air chamber, a fastening member feed piston movable backward or forward by supplying compressed air within the return air chamber from an air chamber passage hole 9 through air passages and to a fastening member feed cylinder or discharging such compressed air from the fastening member feed cylinder, a return spring for energizing the fastening member feed piston, and a feed pawl mounted on the leading end of the fastening member feed piston. In the driving machine, between the return air chamber and the fastening member feed cylinder, a filter portion is provided having a projection shape and small holes.
US07712643B2
A jewelry fastening aid assists a user in readily and securely joining disparate flexible ends of bracelets about the user's own wrist. The device provides a substantial improvement over related articles attempting to serve a related need but which are limited in application to slip-clasps. A rotatable and pivotable clamping assembly enables hands-free engagement with spring-clamp clasps, and holds spring clamp-clasps securely in an open position by engaging and retaining a tensioned opening-lever in an open position while simultaneously locking a spring-clamp body relative to the clamping assembly.
US07712639B2
A plastic outlet valve for containers for liquids has a valve housing having an inlet socket and a union nut for securing the inlet socket on an outlet socket of a container. An anti-twist device in the form of an outer annular cam arrangement with locking cams is arranged on the inlet socket of the valve housing. The locking cams interlock with locking cams of an inner annular cam arrangement of the outlet socket of the container. As an alternative, an adapter ring with inner and outer locking cams is provided. The adapter ring is slipped onto the insertion end of the inlet socket of the valve housing. The inner locking cams engage matching external longitudinal grooves of the inlet socket of the valve housing, and the outer locking cams engage matching inner longitudinal grooves provided on the outlet socket of the container.
US07712628B2
Advertising apparatus for vending machines, mainly of the type of those which have a glass front which allows the products to be seen presented in the different compartments of the plurality of storage trays and from which compartments they are delivered to a reception tray formed in an ascending/descending body, by way of an elevator, for their carriage to the delivery box for collection by the user, so that to the ascending/descending body (7), proximate to the internal face of the glass door (2) of the machine (1), is fastened, by one of its sides, a laminar element (9) that holds publicity, which laminar element (9) on its opposing side is fastened to and wound on a winding roller (10), which is driven by a spring tending to cause its rotation and the winding of the laminar element (9), the laminar element (9) in the unwinding thereof remaining abutting on the internal face of the glass front (3) of the machine door.
US07712627B2
An exemplary cover assembly includes a bezel, and a spring-loaded cover. The bezel includes an opening, a pair of slots, and a pair of pins. The opening is defined in the bezel for accessing a device installed thereto. The slots are defined adjacent opposite ends of the opening respectively. The pins are formed adjacent the slots respectively. The spring-loaded cover covers the opening of the bezel, includes a pair of fixing plates formed thereon slidably received in the slots of the bezel. Each of the fixing plates defines an arcuate groove that slidably receives the corresponding pin of the bezel, where the cover is capable of being pivoted open and shut.
US07712624B2
A rigid container for a particulate product with enhanced top load support includes an interior volume formed by a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from the base, and an opening formed in a top. A particulate product, such as coffee, is provided in the interior volume, and is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the interior volume up to a predetermined minimum headspace. The predetermined minimum headspace is that headspace which produces a top load ratio of at least 3:1; where the top load ratio is defined as a ratio of the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30″ deflection in the container when filled to the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30″ deflection in the container when empty. In a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic and includes a flexible closure attached to the top and spanning the top opening.
US07712621B2
The present invention is to provide a housing of an electronic device having a plurality of hidden ventilation holes, which comprises an intermediate frame, an upper shell and a lower shell, wherein the intermediate frame comprises an upright flange along the outer edges thereof, the upper shell and the lower shell respectively have its edge secured to an inner edge inside the flange of the intermediate frame, the upper shell and the lower shell both comprise a plurality of spaced cavities formed along the edge of the upper shell and the lower shell, and both the cavities are concealed behind the flange when the intermediate frame is assembled with the upper shell and the lower shell respectively, so as to maintain a structural strength of the housing and to be looked aesthetic.
US07712616B2
A peg hook support structure is provided. The peg hook support structure includes two mating bodies that are preferably substantially similar. A vertical support supports the two mated bodies in a vertical orientation. The support may vertically support may support the mated bodies from the bottom in an upright orientation or from the top in a hanging orientation. The mated bodies include a plurality of peg hook mounts for securing peg hooks to the mated bodies. When mounted to the mated bodies, the peg hooks project laterally outward from the mated bodies such that merchandise may be supported thereto. The bodies may be configured such that they are identical.
US07712614B2
An adapter includes a first arm and a second arm that is pivotably connected to the first arm. A first portion of the first and second arms cooperate to form a contour which generally matches a contour of a portion of a bicycle frame. A second portion of the first and second arms are constructed to engage one another such that, during a clamping process, the adapter engages the bicycle frame with a desired gripping pressure. Preferably, the gripping pressure is less than a pressure that would crush or otherwise deform the frame of the bicycle.
US07712608B2
A guitar case comprises a guitar body receiving case portion, a guitar body portion cover and a neck portion case top. A neck portion case bottom and a neck portion case sidewall off further provided. A top neck zipper portion secures the neck portion case top to the neck portion case sidewall. A bottom neck zipper portion secures the neck portion case bottom to the neck portion case sidewall. A zipper portion secures the guitar body portion cover to the guitar body receiving case portion.
US07712602B2
The invention relates to a method for separating the web rolls (2) of a roll set (1) traveling on a conveyor (3) from each other. The conveyor (3) comprises a conveyor belt or chain (12) adapted to run about driving and tail pulleys (7). In the method, the set (1) of web rolls is transported on the leg of the conveyor belt or chain (12). According to the method, onto the top surface of the conveyor belt or chain (12) is formed an elevation capable of separating the web rolls (2) apart from each other with the help of an elevating roll assembly (5) adapted to operate below the top surface of the conveyor belt or chain (12) and comprising at least one rotary elevating roll (6).
US07712594B2
Dual clutch arrangement for a dual clutch transmission. The dual clutch arrangement has a housing, an input shaft, a first friction clutch, a second friction clutch, two output shafts, a hub which is fixed to the housing, a first piston/cylinder arrangement which is fixed to the housing, and a second piston/cylinder arrangement which is fixed to the housing. Input members of the friction clutches are connected to the input shaft. Output members of the friction clutches in each case are connected to one of the two output shafts. It is possible for the friction clutches to be actuated in each case by means of one of the piston/cylinder arrangements, which are fixed to the housing.At least one of the input members is rotatably mounted by means of a radial bearing arrangement on the hub which is fixed to the housing.
US07712591B2
A composite profile comprising an extruded aluminum alloy carrier profile comprising a rail head having a longitudinal axis B, the rail head comprises a surface and two longitudinal edges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis B and a metal channel shaped profile strip comprising a base portion spanning the surface of the rail head and parallel side legs which lie on the longitudinal edges of the head rail, an insert rod is provided on the parallel side legs which lie on the longitudinal edges of the head rail and engage in lateral slots provided in the two longitudinal edges of the rail head, wherein the profile strip is attached to the carrier profile under mechanical pretension by way of a weld seam which contacts the rail head of the extruded aluminum alloy carrier profile.
US07712589B2
This invention relates to a device for reducing the reaction force of the supporting booms positioning cylinder of an earthmoving machine, comprising a braking system applied between the supporting booms of the machine which is operated during the time in which the positioning cylinder remains inactive, thereby unloading part of the reaction force of the cylinder, hence reducing the stress.
US07712585B2
A lifting device adjusts the height of a top part relative to a base part for a patient couch. The lifting device includes an elevator mechanism and a drive unit for height adjustment. The elevator mechanism has a scissor mechanism with two scissor arms, which are pivotably connected together via a scissor pivot joint. The elevator mechanism further includes an elbow mechanism having two elbow arms, which are pivotably connected together via an elbow pivot joint. Each of the elbow arms is linked to a scissor arm via a linking pivot joint.
US07712584B2
An elevator without counterweight may Include an elevator car suspended by a hoisting rope, a traction sheave operatively connected to the elevator car by the hoisting rope, and a brake structure configured to engage with the traction sheave in a braking operation in an upward motion and a downward motion of the elevator car. The brake structure may include first and second brake elements. The first brake element may include a surface engageable with the traction sheave, and first contact and sliding surfaces. The second brake element may include second contact and sliding surfaces. The first sliding surface may slide along the second sliding surface relative to the second brake element when the elevator car moves with the upward motion. The second contact surface may contact the first contact surface to stop a sliding motion of the first brake element when the elevator car moves with the downward motion.
US07712579B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a floor silencer that has good transport efficiency due to an ability to be transported in a flat state, and can be assembled to a floor panel of a vehicle by folding along a band-like concave portion. The floor silencer is used with a first surface side in contact with a floor carpet, and a second surface side in contact with the floor panel of the vehicle. The floor silencer also has the band-like concave portion and can be folded along the band-like concave portion. The floor silencer is transported in a flat state and not folded during transport, and is used folded along the band-like concave portion during assembly.
US07712571B2
A control console for a machine having a seat with a plane of symmetry is disclosed. The machine also has an armrest extending from the seat in a forward direction generally parallel with the plane of symmetry. The armrest has an upper surface intended to support an operator's forearm. The control console includes a base operatively connected to the armrest, and at least one operator interface device operatively connected to the base. The at least one operator interface device has a neutral axis inclined at an oblique angle relative to the upper surface of the armrest. The at least one operator interface device is pivotal in a fore/aft direction to initiate only a single function of the machine, the fore/aft direction being rotated outward away from the seat a predetermined angle relative to the forward direction of the armrest.
US07712568B2
A lockout system for a motor vehicle is provided. The system can include a source of input that identifies a status of a driver of the motor vehicle. The system can further include a source of passenger input that indicates if at least one passenger is present in the motor vehicle. The system can also include a lockout control module operable to disable the operation of the motor vehicle if at least one passenger is present in the motor vehicle, based on the status of the driver.
US07712565B2
A hydro-static transmission travel system for a working machine enables the working machine to travel over a range from low speed to high speed with a simplified circuit arrangement. By referring to a machine traveling speed (vehicle speed) based on a detected signal from a rotation sensor, a controller computes respective target tilting amounts of hydraulic motors 10, 20 and controls the tilting amount for the hydraulic motors and a clutch. Depending on whether the traveling speed exceeds a setting speed as a reference boundary, the controller selectively switches over a drive mode between low-speed four-wheel drive, in which travel units 12, 22 are both driven, and high-speed two-wheel drive, in which the front-wheel side hydraulic motor 10 is controlled to zero displacement and only the rear-wheel side travel unit 22 is driven.
US07712563B2
Battery exchange system for a battery-driven industrial truck, in which the chassis of the industrial truck comprises a battery compartment open to the side of the industrial truck for side installation and removal of a battery container, on the battery container on at least two opposing sides at least one respective laterally projecting support element being attached with a downwardly facing bearing surface and the battery compartment on opposing sides comprising horizontal support surfaces spaced apart from one another in parallel on which the support elements are supported with their bearing surfaces, when the battery container is inserted into the battery compartment.
US07712551B2
A system for forming a subterranean wellbore may include a pump and an additive supply. The pump pumps a drilling fluid into the wellbore while also generating a pressure differential that draws an additive across a supply line connected to the additive supply. The drilling fluid may be a gas or a liquid. A method for forming a wellbore may include drilling the wellbore, circulating a drilling fluid in the wellbore using a pump; and supplying an additive to the drilling fluid by flowing the additive across a supply line using a pressure differential generated by the pump. The pump may generate a vacuum pressure at a supply line outlet and/or create a pressure differential in the supply line. The flow of additive across the supply line may be regulated and/or stopped when the pump is not operating.
US07712546B2
It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for avoiding the influence of reaction during tightening operation in the rotary fastening tool. Representative rotary fastening tool includes a tool body, a motor housed within the tool body, a driving-side rotating member that is rotationally driven by the motor, a driven-side rotating member that is disposed coaxially with the driving-side rotating member, a tip-end side rotating member that is disposed coaxially with the driven-side rotating member and rotationally driven via the driven-side rotating member, the tip-end side rotating member driving a tool bit to perform a tightening operation and a rotation control mechanism that allows the tip-end side rotating member to rotate in the tightening direction during the tightening operation of the tool bit, wherein, when the tip-end side rotating member is fixed to a workpiece with the tool bit during the tightening operation and when torque transmission from the driving-side rotating member to the driven-side rotating member is interrupted, the rotation control mechanism locks the tip-end side rotating member and the tool body together against rotation with respect to each other to prevent the tool body from rotating in the tightening direction.
US07712542B2
A fire suppressant system having a pipe system, spray nozzles connected to the pipe system and a control system for selectively charging the pipe system with foam. The control system includes a pilot line for generating a signal based upon sensing an environmental parameter and a first control valve for activating the system based upon the signal. Preferably, the first control valve forms i) an interior cavity for mixing the compressed air and compressed air liquid, ii) an outlet in fluid communication with the interior; iii) a first inlet, oriented substantially perpendicular to a flow through the outlet, in fluid communication with the interior and the compressed air; and iv) a second inlet, oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow, in fluid communication with the interior and the compressed air liquid.
US07712537B2
A kit for converting an existing wireline retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve (170, 270, 370) into a bypass passageway apparatus (100) allowing the injection of production-enhancing fluid into a wellbore while maintaining the operation of the closure member (374). Bypass passageway (280) can extend between upper (260) and lower (275) adapters external to the existing wireline retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve (270) to allow fluid injection bypass thereof. Conversion kit can include a tubing string hanger to suspend a velocity tubing string (407, 507), a gas lift valve (475) for gas lift operations, a locking mandrel (220), and/or a spacer tube (240).
US07712532B2
Method and system for use in a subsurface formation traversed by a wellbore. An energized fluid, which when subjected to a low pressure environment liberates or releases gas from solution, is disposed in the formation. Reduced pressure in a region of the wellbore below pressure in the surrounding formation liberates a gas in the energized fluid near a tunnel created in the formation.
US07712531B2
Methods are provided for stabilizing a portion of a subterranean formation or reducing the production of particulates from a portion of a subterranean formation comprising contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a pre-flush fluid; contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a consolidation fluid comprising a resin and an aqueous dissolvable solvent; and, contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with an after-flush fluid. Other methods are provided for fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation while controlling particulates comprising contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a pre-flush fluid; contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a consolidation fluid comprising a resin and an aqueous dissolvable solvent; and, contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a fracturing fluid at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance a fracture in the subterranean formation.
US07712524B2
A gravel pack service tool is lowered into a well. At least one sensor proximate a well region to be gravel packed measures at least one characteristic of the well, where the measuring is performed during a gravel pack operation by the gravel pack service tool. The gravel pack service tool is removed from the well after the gravel pack operation.
US07712516B2
Molding material, foundry molding material mixture and process of producing a mold or a molding part
The molding material or molding part for foundry purposes, comprising 1-10% of binding agent based on alkali silicate, an aggregate containing 1-10 percent by weight of amorphous silicon dioxide, remainder quartz sand with a grain size range of 0.01 to 5 mm, and to a process of producing a molding material and molding parts. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US07712513B1
A method for controlling the retention time of a casting retained in a mold comprises providing a vibratory shakeout conveyor having a conveying surface, placing the mold on the conveyor; and imparting a vibratory force to the conveyor at a predetermined angle to the conveying surface whereby the predetermined angle determines the retention time of said casting in said mold. A plurality of sensors for detecting mold position and media breakdown may also be employed to detect appropriate mold retention time.
US07712502B2
An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64), A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.
US07712489B2
A storage tank that stores sulphur with zero emissions uses reinforced EPS panels and an impermeable bottom. The reinforced EPS panels are reinforced with networks of horizontal and/or vertical galvanized or stainless steel wires that are interconnected by galvanized or stainless steel orthogonal wires. Both inner and outer walls of the reinforced EPS panels are plastered before sulphur is placed in the storage tank. Larger storage tanks may be assembled by vertically interconnecting one or more reinforced EPS panels. This interconnection is achieved by corrugating the reinforced EPS panels, or forming their edges in a Greek-key shape. The Greek-key shape prevents sulphur from escaping the storage tank.
US07712488B2
A woven preform for a reinforces composite material, which may be woven flat and folded into a shape. The preform has a three-dimensional weave architecture with fill fibers woven to provide layer-to-layer interlocking of layers of warp fiber as well as interlocking of fibers within each layer. At least two legs extend from a base, the base and legs each having at least two layers of warp fibers. The legs can be connected at a symmetrical or asymmetrical, distributed-column intersection, with an even or odd number of columns of warp fibers being located between the legs. The outer ends of the base and/or legs preferably have tapers formed from terminating layers of warp fibers in a stepped pattern.
US07712486B2
A modular manifold system is provided for interconnecting fluid components of a fluid system in a reduced area. The system is comprised of a one or more bridge fittings having an internal fluid passageway which has an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet port of a first fluid component, and an outlet end in fluid communication with an inlet port of a second fluid component. The bridge fittings may be mounted within a channel of a backing plate for structural support. An optional locator plate may be utilized which is mounted over the ends of the bridge fittings in order to align the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid components with the inlet and outlet ends of the bridge fittings. The bridge fittings may also be mounted to the locator plate in multiple directions forming multiple flow paths. Additionally, the bridge fittings may be stacked to form multiple layers where bridge fittings of one layer may be in fluid communication with bridge fittings of another layer. The invention may further comprise seals provided in a recess between the fluid ports and the mating bridge fittings ends.
US07712478B2
An ergonomic crutch comprising an armpit pad assembly, a top tube, a middle tube, a bottom tube, a hand grip, a shock absorber, and a footpad assembly. The armpit pad assembly comprises an armpit pad and means for allowing the armpit pad to tilt vertically and swivel horizontally. In an alternate embodiment, the crutch does not have a shock absorber.
US07712474B2
A disposable device for exfoliating skin is disclosed which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The device can be secured to a shower floor or wall without tools or adhesives, and provides a stationary and waterproof exfoliating device for hands-free use while showering.
US07712473B1
A fingernail gel curation apparatus that allows an individual to rapidly cure and dry fingernail gel that has been applied to their fingertips, thereby saving time for individuals and preventing unnecessary ultraviolet light exposure. The apparatus includes a base and two folding upper lid portions that are pivotally attached to the base. The base and each of the upper lid portions each have a UV light that is protected by glass layer so personal contact is not made. When the upper lid portions are closed over the base, a hand hole is present to allow an individual to insert their hand through in order to receive UV light being emitted from the UV lights within the apparatus. The UV light will help to dry fingernail gel applied to the individual's fingernails in a faster manner than doing nothing, thereby saving an individual time.
US07712469B2
Earplugs (22, 24) and a combination (20) of a pair earplugs and a cord (26) that joins them, each can be detected by metal and/or magnetic detectors even if the parts of the combination becomes separated and fall into a batch of food, etc. Each earplug includes an earplug core (32) formed of a first elastomer with a multiplicity of metal-mag detectable particles (36) (particles detectable by electrical or magnetic detectors) embedded in the first elastomer, and an earplug covering (32) of a second elastomer (that may be the same as the first one) that is devoid of such particles. The cord includes a cord core (50) formed of a first flexible polymer with metal-mag detectable particles embedded therein, and a cord covering (54) formed of a second polymer that is devoid of such particles. The particles are preferably of iron, which is magnetically detectable but that can mark skin or clothing that it contacts, but which is isolated from the skin and clothing by the earplug and cord coverings. The earplug covering can be molded and then filed with the earplug core. The cord core can be extruded and the covering extruded around the core.
US07712461B1
An air propelling toy for directing a quantity of air in a desired direction includes a housing including a perimeter wall that defines an interior space of the housing. The housing has an outlet port that extends through the perimeter wall and is in fluid communication with the interior space. A diaphragm is coupled to the housing and positioned in the interior space of the housing and divides the interior space into an air space and a mechanism space. The air space is in fluid communication with the outlet port. An actuating assembly is operationally coupled to the housing and the diaphragm. The actuating assembly is actuated to draw the diaphragm into the mechanism space to draw air into the sir space through the outlet port and quickly release the diaphragm to force the air out of the air space and out the outlet port.
US07712451B2
A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, the fuel injection system including a plurality of injectors, wherein each of the injectors is adapted to inject at least one of an alternative fuel and a fossil fuel over a full range of operating conditions of the engine.
US07712449B1
A method and system for actuating an internal combustion engine exhaust valve to provide compression release actuation during an engine braking mode of engine operation and early exhaust valve opening actuation during a positive power mode of engine operation is disclosed. The system may include a first cam having a compression release lobe and an early exhaust valve opening lobe connected to a hydraulic lost motion system including a first rocker arm. A hydraulically actuated piston may be selectively extended from the hydraulic lost motion system to provide the exhaust valve with compression release actuation or early exhaust valve opening actuation. The hydraulically actuated piston may be provided as a slave piston in a master-slave piston circuit in a fixed housing, or alternatively, as a hydraulic piston slidably disposed in a rocker arm. The method and system may further provide exhaust gas recirculation and/or brake gas recirculation in combination with compression release actuation and early exhaust valve opening actuation.
US07712439B2
In this method, during the same operating cycle of the cylinder, the following phases are carried out: an opening phase at the exhaust (OE-OF); a first opening phase at the intake (OA1-FA1); a second opening phase at the intake (OA2-FA2); a fuel injection phase (OI-FI) and a combustion phase. The exhaust closing time (FE) is between the first intake opening time (OA1) and the second intake opening time (OA2).The invention also relates to an internal-combustion engine having a cylinder which operates in accordance with such a method, and a motor vehicle provided with such an engine.
US07712437B2
The present invention relates to a mobile pet bed wherein the top and bottom units of the mobile pet bed are reversibly attached to each other. When the top unit is removed from the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions similarly to a traditional pet bed. When the top unit is attached to the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions as a pet carrier. Additionally, the top unit of the mobile pet bed has a door portion that can be opened and closed to permit pet ingress and egress as well as permitting easy loading of the mobile pet bed with the animal without necessitating the removal of the top unit from the bottom unit.
US07712436B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a first high frequency power for outputting a first high frequency, electrically connected to a first electrode disposed inside a depressurizable processing chamber; a heater power supply electrically connected to a heating element provided in the first electrode via filter circuits for reducing noise of the first high frequency. The plasma processing apparatus further includes air core primary inductors provided in primary stages of the filter circuits when seen from the heating element; and a grounded conductive case for surrounding or accommodating the primary inductors.
US07712421B2
A pallet for receiving and transporting loads, having an upper platform for receiving the loads, and a substructure, which supports the upper platform and is constructed of an upper part and a lower part and several support members inserted between them. A good shock absorption, along with a rugged construction, is achieved because the support members each is of a held-together bundle of spike-like individual elements, which extend between the upper part and the lower part, can be laterally deflected with respect to each other and have damping properties.
US07712419B1
A detonator for a hand grenade fuze comprises a detonator case; a slider that is transversely reciprocable in the detonator case from an unarmed position to an armed position, the slider including a longitudinal through-hole filled with a primary explosive; a spring that biases the slider to the unarmed position; an arming mechanism attached to the slider, the arming mechanism comprising a shape memory alloy; an explosive lead disposed below the slider; and a booster charge disposed below the explosive lead.
US07712417B1
A modular propellant charge for semi-fixed ammunition is disclosed. The propellant charge is disposed within an ammunition cartridge canister, and permits direct access to each charge increment. Further, the propellant charge comprises at least one charge increment comprising a rigid section of a cylindrical solid of rotation, and each charge increment has a length less than the central cavity of said ammunition canister.
US07712416B2
A shaped charge and a method of using such to provide for large and effective perforations in oil bearing sandy formations while causing minimal disturbance to the formation porosity is described. This shaped charge uses a low-density liner having a filler material that is enclosed by outer walls made, preferably, of plastic or polyester. The filler material is preferably a powdered metal or a granulated substance, which is left largely unconsolidated. The preferred filler material is aluminum powder, or aluminum particles, that are coated with an oxidizing substance, such as TEFLON®, permitting a secondary detonation reaction inside the formation following jet penetration. The filled liner is also provided with a metal cap to aid penetration of the gun scallops, the surrounding borehole casing and the cement sheath. The metal cap forms the leading portion of the jet, during detonation. The remaining portion of the jet is formed from the low-density filler material, thereby resulting in a more particulated jet. The jet results in less compression around the perforation tunnel and less skin damage to the proximal end of the perforation tunnel.
US07712405B2
An explosion containment vessel includes an inner frame structure for surrounding a potential explosive device, and an outer expandable containment vessel, which expands with the explosion, thereby mitigating potential damage that a bomb blast could do. In addition, a bomb capturing device is provided on the bottom end of the inner frame for lifting the explosive device into the inner frame and for closing the bottom end of the inner frame.
US07712398B2
A spring plier is disclosed. The plier comprises a clipping handle and two symmetrical plier leg plates, and the clipping handle including two reverse direction similar shape plier plates mounted with rivets, the handle mounted with a cover, characterized in that the front end of the two clipping plier plate are respectively provided with a screw hole and a protruded post, the two plier leg plate corresponding to the screw hole and the protruded post are provided with a L-shaped fastening slot and an oval hole, and the front end is a pointed insertion leg, the L-shaped fastening slot engages at a screw fastened to the screw hole at the front end of the plier plate, and the oval hole is placed onto the protruded post, the oval hole provides fine adjustment of leg plate and provides a tolerance facilitating loading and unloading of leg plate, then the screw is tighten so as to secure and limit the two leg plates.
US07712392B2
A shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a limiting element, and an actuator. The lever is movable in opposite first and second directions along an actuating path between neutral and end positions. The limiting element is movable into and out of the path. When the limiting element is in the path, the limiting element impacts the lever while the lever is in the neutral position to prevent the lever from moving from the neutral position in the first direction such that the limiting element acts as a shift lock blocking the lever from the end position. When the limiting element is out of the path, the limiting element allows the lever to move into the end position. The actuator is operable for moving the limiting element into and out of the path such that the actuator is operable for activating and deactivating the lock for the lever.
US07712391B2
The invention relates to a gearing mechanism for the adjustment of two reciprocally adjustable parts (60, 61), especially vehicle parts of a seat adjustment device, a window lifter or a sunroof, wherein the first of the parts (60) has a nonrotating spindle (62) or a fixed tooth rack. The gearing mechanism is formed with a wormwheel (4, 41), which has a spindle nut (42) non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the spindle (62) or a worm non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the tooth rack, with a worm (3, 31) that can be driven so as to transfer a driving force to the wormwheel (4, 41), and with a gear housing (1), which houses the worm (3) and wormwheel (4) in a supporting manner, and which can be connected immovably with the second of the parts (61) in its adjusting direction, wherein the gear housing (1) is formed of a single-piece body with a worm support (14) and a wormwheel support (19).
US07712388B2
A starter includes a drive shaft having an outer periphery formed with shaft splines through which a drive power is transmitted from a starter motor, an overrunning clutch, having an inner periphery formed with barrel splines engageable with the shaft splines, which is axially moveable with respect to the drive shaft and plays a role as one-way clutch, and a pinion gear integrally disposed on the overrunning clutch to be movable into or out of meshing engagement with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine. A radial clearance between a tooth top of each shaft spline and a tooth bottom of each barrel spline is set to be less than a backlash between each shaft spline and each barrel spline.
US07712382B2
A doppler ultrasonic flowmeter including: an ultrasonic transmission member for casting ultrasonic pulses onto the fluid within a fluid tube, which is to be measured, along a measurement line from an ultrasonic transducer, a flow-speed distribution measurement unit for receiving ultrasonic echoes reflected from the measurement region due to ultrasonic pulses cast onto the fluid to be measured so as to measure the flow-speed distribution of the fluid to be measured in the measurement region; a flow measurement unit for measuring the flow of the fluid to be measured; and a transducer position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relative position of a pair of ultrasonic transducers serving as the ultrasonic transmission member, a first transducer and a second transducer, which are disposed away one from another along the axial direction of a fluid tube.
US07712376B2
A method for determining an approximate value for a parameter characteristic of the fatigue state of a component as a result of a time-varying stress to which it is subjected by means of a number of load cycles should, itself, during comparatively lengthy stress cycles, enable a prognosis concerning the current fatigue state of the component, this prognosis being, in particular, adapted to the needs and suited for the real-time determination of maintenance intervals. To this end, in addition to optionally already fully completed load cycles, a first partially completed load cycle is also taken into consideration during the determination of the parameter, whereby temporary stress values for phases that have not yet been run through of the partially completed load cycle are, together with a predetermined fixed value, taken into consideration.
US07712374B2
A load detecting apparatus includes a strain member, a supporting member, a load input member and a strain detecting element. The supporting member is employed for supporting the strain member at a supporting portion thereof. The load input member is supported by the strain member and strains the strain member when an external load is applied thereon. The strain detecting element is provided at at least a surface of the strain member for detecting the strain generated by the load input member. Further, an outer end of the supporting portion located outwardly relative to the load input member is fixed to the strain member.
US07712371B2
A load sensor-equipped operation apparatus. An operational member is movably operated. A reaction force member receives an operating force from the operational member, and a reaction force corresponding to the operation force. At least one pivotal connecting portion is interposed between the operational member and the reaction force member, pivotably connecting a pair of a first member and a second member relative to each other to transmit the operating force. A load sensor, which electrically detects the operating force, includes a shaft-like member, a main body member disposed to be relatively displaced in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft-like member, a deformable member bridging the shaft-like member and the main body member, and a strain detecting element secured to the deformable member, which detects deformation of the deformable member. A transmittal link connects the first member to one of the shaft-like member and the main body.
US07712369B2
A method and an array-based system for inspecting a structure are provided that can identify unacceptable levels of porosity, microcracking or defects attributable to thermal damage. The inspection system includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, and an array controller configured to trigger at least one ultrasonic transducer to emit an ultrasonic signal into the structure. The array controller is also configured to receive data representative of backscattered signals preferentially received by at least one ultrasonic transducer from a portion of the structure offset from the at least one ultrasonic transducer that was triggered to emit the ultrasonic signal.
US07712362B2
The present invention provides a liquid surface detection device 1 in which corrosion is restrained even when liquid having conductivity is used so that a longer lifespan is achieved, including a liquid surface detection sensor 2 that outputs a signal indicating a variation in liquid level as a variation in resistance value by the sliding movement of a contact point 2a on an electrode connected to a resistor 2b, and a control unit 4 that controls supply and stops a supply of electric power to the liquid surface detection sensor 2 at predetermined intervals, in which a vehicle state determination unit that determines a state of a vehicle is provided and the control unit 4 controls the duration to stop the supply of electric power to the liquid surface detection sensor 2 when the vehicle state determination unit determines that the vehicle is in a traveling state.
US07712361B2
A flow rate measuring apparatus can reduce flow rate detection errors resulting from a temperature difference between an inside and an outside of piping. A base has a base main body which is formed at its base end with a connector protruding to the outside of the piping, and a flange which is formed on the base main body and is fitted into an insertion hole in the piping. A plate made of PBT resin is arranged on the base, and a flow rate detection element is formed on the plate so as to be exposed therefrom. A circuit board is arranged at a side of the plate opposite to the connector. A housing has a fluid passage groove that cooperates with the plate to form a measuring passage in which the flow rate detection element is disposed, and an enclosure portion enclosing the circuit board. A cover closes the enclosure portion.
US07712349B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a gas sensor in which a gas detection element is mounted on a wiring substrate; in which a protective cap having gas inlets formed therein is attached to the wiring substrate; and which has a structure capable of effectively preventing emanation of gas from the wiring substrate and the protective cap. A gas sensor comprises a gas detecting element on a writing board where a protective cap with air vents is mounted. The sensor effectively prevents a gas from emanating from the wiring board and the protective cap. The wiring board where a plurality of gas detecting elements (8,9) are to be mounted is formed of a ceramic wiring board (2) excellent in heat resistance. The protective cap (3) having air vents (31 to 39) is formed of a metal excellent in heat resistance. The metal protective cap (3) is fitted to the ceramic wiring board (2) instead of using adhesive. In this way a gas sensor (1) is manufactured. Adoption of such a structure enables suppression of the gas emission from the ceramic wiring board (2) and the metal protective cap (3) effectively during the manufacturing step or in use of the gas sensor (1) attached to a car, thereby preventing lowering of the gas detection accuracy or early deterioration of the gas detecting elements (8,9).
US07712346B2
A slide driver assembly for use in a multi-station or a single-station progressive tooling die includes die sections that are operative to move between an open position and a closed position to perform a first operation on a work piece located between the die sections. A slide driver performs a second operation, such as a trimming operation, on the work piece as the die sections move between the open position and the closed position.
US07712342B2
A process for opening a combination lock having a known opening sequence with a tool having a driven portion operable only upon receipt of an authorization, the process including associating the tool's driven portion with the lock such that the driven portion automatically calibrates with the lock irrespective of the initial position of the lock and authorizing the driven portion to proceed through the known lock opening sequence of a predetermined series of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations to unlock the lock. A method of opening a combination lock with a tool, the combination lock having an opening sequence consisting of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of a non finger manipulable lock opening component, the method including mating the tool with the lock opening component and operating the tool to rotate the lock opening component through a series of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations corresponding to the opening sequence to unlock the lock.
US07712339B2
A jointed bar lock having a lock body and a jointed bar hoop which has a first end and a second end, said first end being permanently connected to the lock body and said second end being connectable to the lock body at a latching region of the lock body, with a bolt provided at the lock body selectively being movable into a latched position in which the bolt engages it the second end of the jointed bar hoop when it is connected to the lock body or is movable into a release position in which the second end of the jointed bar hoop is released for a removal from the lock body. The lock has an actuation device which is coupled to the bolt via a connection section and by which the bolt is movable from the latched position, into which the bolt is biased, into the release position. The lock body accommodates a combination locking mechanism to selectively block or release the bolt. The actuation device is arranged disposed opposite the combination locking mechanism with respect to the latching region of the lock body.
US07712338B2
An inventive electric washing machine is configured so that a gas to be used for performing a specific process (decontamination process) on laundry is prevented from leaking to the outside. In the electric washing machine, a packing (120) to be brought into intimate contact with a door (12) for sealing a gap defined between the door (12) and a peripheral edge of an outer tub opening (118) when the door (12) is closed is opposed to a housing opening (14) with a space (129) defined between a lower edge portion of the housing opening (14) and the packing (120). If the door (12) is closed with laundry protruding through the lower edge portion of the housing opening (14), the protruding laundry is caught between the door (12) and the packing (120), so that the packing (120) is not brought into intimate contact with the door (12). If ozone is supplied into an outer tub (21) in this state, the ozone flows toward the housing opening (14) through a gap between the door (12) and the packing (120) at which the laundry is caught. However, the ozone flows into the space (129) (as indicated by a broken-line arrow X) and is retained in a housing (11) to be thereby prevented from leaking to the outside.
US07712325B2
A modular electronic cooling system with moving parts, composed of a base unit and individual modules inserted into this base unit in respect to the expected upper limit of the heat load may utilize thermoelectric power generation and the heat load itself to allow for operation independent of any external power source. By the same mechanism the cooling system scales within a range automatically reacting to and dissipating a dynamic heat load via forced convection, and doing so passively, without the need for specific programming. This cooling system uses porous material or multi-layered mesh parts, thermoelectric components, a modular assembly system and independent enclosure parts for described porous material or multi-layered mesh, an electronics control system that may be passively activated, and a motor assembly. Altogether the system provides maximum efficiency in terms of form factor.
US07712321B2
A method and apparatus for producing a chilled or partially frozen beverage is provided. The system includes a beverage hopper (32) a chilling unit (44), a rotatable mixing member (38), a sensing member (230) for detecting an occurrence of a rotation reversal condition, a controller for generating a rotation reversal signal in response to the sensing member, and a drive motor (36) coupled to the mixing member for rotating the mixing member in a first direction and a second, reverse direction in response to a rotation reverse signal.
US07712315B2
A flameholder for an augmentor rotates about an axis radially positioned with a turbine engine. The flameholder is in a streamlined position when the augmentor is not operating to minimize pressure loss and radar cross-section and a turbulent position when the augmentor is operating. A linkage connects the flameholder to an actuator to control the rotational position of the flameholder on the axis. Bypass airflow from the fan cools the flameholders and linkages. The length of the linkages can be varied from one flameholder to another to create asymmetric heat release within the augmentor to avoid screech.
US07712312B2
As one example, an apparatus configured to regulate flow in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine system is provided. The apparatus comprise a housing disposed within the exhaust passage defining a first region and a second region, where the first region includes a first stopper and a first valve plate, where first stopper completely surrounds first region, and the first valve plate seats on the first stopper to seal first region, and where the second region includes a second stopper and second valve plate, where second stopper completely surrounds the second region, and the second valve plate seats on the second stopper to seal second region, and where the first stopper; a translating mechanism coupled between first and second plates, the mechanism coupling the first and second plates through a set of gears in the housing, such that forces acting to close first plate are translated through mechanism to act to open the second plate, and vice versa; and an actuator to move the translating mechanism, where such movement causes both the first and second plates to rotate concurrently.
US07712310B2
A Stirling engine includes a piston seat, a displacer arranged in the piston seat, a piston seat, and a push rod. Meanwhile, a piston tube is arranged on the piston seat and an airtight piston is arranged in the piston tube. Moreover, one end of the push rod is connected to the displacer, while another end passes through the airtight piston and extends out of the piston seat. Additionally, a power mechanism includes the aforementioned Stirling engine, a crankshaft, an axle seat pivoted with the crankshaft, and two pairs of first and second swing arms that are respectively connected from the crankshaft to the top ends of the push rod and the airtight piston and are arranged symmetrically to each other.
US07712293B1
The present invention is related to lawn maintenance and describes a system for mounting an accessory, such as a grass trimmer, to a lawn tractor or lawn mower. The mounting system provides a lawn tractor operator the ability to operate an accessory while seated in the lawn tractor. The mounting system is also advantageous in that the operator need not specifically align the tractor with any objects that present an obstacle for mowing, but may instead move the accessory to the object. The accessory mounting system includes a linkage arrangement that allows the accessory to be moved from side-to-side of the lawn tractor. The linkage arrangement includes a centered orientated vertical pivot member interconnected with a link member, which is defined by a pair of curvilinear members, that allows the link member to rotate to reposition the accessory. The linkage arrangement also allows limited vertical displacement of the accessory.
US07712291B2
A film wrapping machine comprises a pair of diametrically opposed film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies, mounted upon a rotary ring member, for simultaneously dispensing wrapping film. A vertically movable frame member, upon which the rotary ring member is rotatably mounted, is effectively moved at a speed of ascent or descent that is approximately twice the speed as that of a vertically movable frame member incorporated within a conventional film wrapping machine so as to permit the dual film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to dispense the wrapping or packaging film within a time frame that is approximately twice as fast as that of the conventional film wrapping machine and yet in a slightly overlapped mode as desired for packaging purposes.
US07712287B2
An apparatus in one embodiment has: a positioning functionality that sequentially locates, at a predefined bight, coupons of a continuous web of coupons; a burst functionality whereby a foremost coupon is separated at the predefined bight from a next coupon of the continuous web of coupons; a staging functionality whereby the separated foremost coupon is moved to a staging position; and an insertion functionality whereby the first coupon is inserted into a container. In another embodiment the first coupon is inserted into a container only after the next coupon is separated from the continuous web. In another embodiment after the second coupon is sensed, the first coupon is burst and inserted into a container.
US07712282B2
A shear brace assembly is provided which laterally braces wall lines within a structure, such as a house or other residential construction, while also providing vertical and out-of-plane load carrying capacity. The assembly consists of one or more wood-based panel(s) which are rigidly connected to concrete, masonry or wood support material directly below or above the shear brace assembly bearing surface. The term “wood-based” should be interpreted to mean that the panel may be constructed from a natural wood, or partially or wholly from an engineered wood, such as Timberstrand®, Parallam®, or the like. Ductile anchorage assemblies are used below, and in some applications, above the individual panels.
US07712278B2
A roofing structure for buildings, and more particularly a roofing assembly having high resistance, especially for use with roofs of residential and industrial buildings. The assembly comprises a plurality of sheet panels to be interconnected along side edge portions shaped to define a first longitudinal projection facing laterally outwards, and multiple mounting brackets to be anchored to a roof. Each bracket has at least one longitudinal groove to house in a snap fit relationship the first longitudinal projections of adjacent panels, so that the first longitudinal projections and the groove have opposing upper surfaces at least partly flat and substantially parallel or slightly inclined, in order to enhance the retaining action of the brackets and increase the separation load causing the separation of the edge portions from the brackets.
US07712266B2
A pin-fuse frame is used in a frame assembly that may be subject to extreme seismic loading. The pin-fuse frame includes of columns, beams, plate assemblies that extend between columns and beams, and may included a diagonal brace. The plate assemblies are fixed to the columns and attached to the beams and brace via pin joints. A joint includes a pin connection through outer connection plates connected to a column and inner connection plates connected to a beam. Connecting rods positioned about the pin maintain a coefficient of friction until exposed to extreme seismic activity, at which time the joint accommodates a slippage of at least one of the inner and outer connection plates relative to each other rotationally about the pin. The diagonal brace is separated into two segments connected together with connection plates. These connection plates accommodate a slippage of the segments relative to each other.
US07712264B2
An apparatus for supporting an aerial service wire includes a mast capable of attachment to an aerial service wire. The mast may be extendable between at least a first position and a second position and connected to a clamp capable of attachment to a support structure. A method for supporting an aerial service wire includes attaching an extendable aerial service wire mast to a support structure, attaching an aerial wire to the extendable aerial service wire mast, and adjusting the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast.
US07712263B1
An improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on the protected structure by presenting a surface which projects outwardly from the protected structure at an angle in excess of 25° is impossible for birds to land or nest on and which can be installed quickly and easily on substantially any structure to be protected and is 100% effective in preventing landing or nesting or birds.
US07712254B2
At least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a collapsible planter apparatus is provided comprising (1) a floor section having one or more drainage holes, (2) a first side wall hingeably coupled to a first edge of the floor section, and (3) and a second side wall hingeably coupled to a second edge of the floor section opposite the first edge of the floor section. A third side wall may be removably coupled between the first and second side walls along a third edge of the floor section. A fourth side wall may also be removably coupled between the first and second side walls along a fourth edge of the floor section opposite the third edge of the floor section.
US07712242B2
A rail clamp mount that may be quickly and easily firmly secured to a rail, such as a rail carried by a gun, and that may be quickly and easily released from the rail. A preferred embodiment comprises a mount base including a first rail-engaging surface; a generally U-shaped, somewhat elastic clamping member carried by the mount base and including two second rail-engaging surfaces at the ends of the legs of the U, and a third second rail-engaging surface at the end of the center section of the clamping member between the legs of the U, the second rail-engaging surfaces being opposed to and transversely spaced from the first rail-engaging surface; a cam mechanism mounting the clamping member to the mount base for imparting transverse movement to the clamping member when actuated; and an actuator for the cam mechanism including a throw handle.
US07712241B2
A handgrip apparatus for firearm includes a hollow housing defining a handgrip surface and forming an enclosure. A fastener is connected to the housing for removably attaching the handgrip apparatus to a fore-end portion of a firearm. A retractable leg assembly is movable between a retracted position and an extended position and includes a pair of pivoting legs usable as a bipod support when the leg assembly is in the extended position.
US07712231B2
A midsole of a shoe has a low elastic part 20, a high elastic part 22 and an inclined surface 24. The low elastic part 20 and the high elastic part 22 include air bubbles. An ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) is used as a base polymer in the low elastic part 20 and the high elastic part 22. The inclined surface 24 is inclined upward from the inside to the outside. The low elastic part 20 is located to the inside of the inclined surface 24. The high elastic part 22 is located to the outside of the inclined surface 24. An inner high elastic part 26 is located to the inside of a low elastic part 20. The thickness of the low elastic part 20 becomes gradually larger from the outside to the inside along the inclined surface 24. The thickness of the high elastic part 22 becomes gradually larger from the inside to the outside along the inclined surface 24. The width Wa of the inclined surface 24 in left and right direction is 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less.
US07712229B2
Disclosed is an air-circulating and shock-absorbing shoe that protects the backbone and knee joints and provides smooth air circulation for pleasant wearing of shoes for a long time. The shoe includes an outsole formed with the firstfirst and secondsecond air chambers, a midsole and an insole formed with multiple air suction holes connected with the firstfirst air chamber, and a check valve formed in the secondsecond air chamber of the outsole. The shoe is formed with multiple concaved holes on the bottoms of the firstfirst and secondsecond air chambers, multiple air cushion projections formed on the bottom of the midsole and inserted into the concaved holes, and shock-absorbing holes formed on the top of the air cushion projections.
US07712227B2
An actuation device driven by the adjusting motion of a first carriage is provided and, because of the adjusting motion of the first carriage from the first position into the second position, the adjusting motion of a second carriage can be driven from the measurement point to the rest position, and because of the adjusting motion of the first carriage from the second position into the first position, the adjusting motion of the second carriage can be driven from the rest position to the measurement point.
US07712226B1
A grid system apparatus comprising a substantially planar base member and an attachment member. The base member has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite of the upper surface. The attachment member is mounted to the lower surface of the base and is compatible with the lower surface of the base which facilitates releasable attachment of the base member to an outside surface. The base member and the attachment member are configured as a plurality of border members which cooperate to define a plurality of voids therebetween. The border members include a plurality of outer border members defining an outer periphery thereof, and a plurality of inner border members defining the plurality of voids. The outer border members and the inner border members interface at intersection regions.
US07712223B2
An apparatus for azimuth measurements comprises an elongated housing, a plurality of gyro sensors, each of the gyro sensors having an input axis for angular velocity measurements, spherical sensor holders arranged along the longitudinal direction of the housing, at least one motor for driving the sensor holders, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a rotation force from the motor to each of the sensor holders and a controller for controlling a rotation of the motor. Each of the sensor holders has one of the gyro sensors and is rotatable about a rotation axis so as to change the orientation of the input axis of the gyro sensor.
US07712222B2
A composite utility blade and method of making such a blade involves butt joining a high speed or tool steel wire to a front edge of an alloy steel backing strip. The wire defines a predetermined cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the cutting edge of the blade. The wire is electron beam welded to the backing strip to form a composite strip defining a first metal portion formed by the alloy steel backing strip, a second metal portion formed by the high speed or tool steel wire, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions. The composite strip is then annealed, and the annealed strip is straightened to eliminate any camber therein. The annealed composite strip is then hardened such that the first metal portion defines a first surface hardness and the second metal portion defines a second surface hardness greater than the first surface hardness. The hardened strip is then subjected to tempering and quenching cycles, and facets are formed on the edge of the second metal portion to form a straight, tool steel cutting edge. The composite strip is then scored at axially spaced locations to form a plurality of score lines, and the plurality of score lines define a plurality of blade sections there between. The cutting edge may be coated with AlTiN, TiN, or an inner coating of AlTiN and an outer coating of TiN.
US07712216B1
A restoration process for restoring surface porosity defects resulting from the casting process in metal cast products. The areas of a cast product having surface porosity defects are identified and the areas not containing surface porosity defects are masked using an adhesive, reusable, rubberized mask. The masked surface is subsequently cleaned and a metal spray is applied to the surface porosity defects. The mask is removed and the restored surface porosity defects are hand finished to create a cast product having less than 0.05% surface porosity.
US07712214B2
A patch cord including a connector attached to an end of a multi-pair cable. The connector including a threaded arrangement that engages a jacket of the multi-pair cable to secure the connector relative to the end of the multi-pair cable.
US07712213B2
A method is provided for making an encapsulated stack of circuit boards. The method includes assembling the stack of circuit boards from a plurality of circuit boards, the circuit boards being spaced apart from each other; inserting the stack into an internal volume of a shell, the shell having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, an input orifice adjacent the first end, and an output orifice adjacent the second end and on a side opposite the input orifice; positioning the shell such that the input orifice is at a lowest point of any part of the internal volume of the shell, and such that the output orifice is at a highest point of any part of the internal volume of the shell; angling the shell relative to horizontal; and injecting an encapsulating compound into the input orifice to fill the internal volume of the shell with the encapsulating compound.
US07712212B2
A printed circuit board is by formed by laminating an interlaminar insulating layer on a conductor circuit of a substrate, in which the conductor circuit is comprised of an electroless plated film and an electrolytic plated film and a roughened layer is formed on at least a part of the surface of the conductor circuit.
US07712207B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write pole and trailing wrap around magnetic shield for use in a perpendicular magnetic data recording system. The method includes the use of a hard mask structure with end point detection material embedded in a hard mask material. The novel hard mask structure provides the mill resistance of a hard mask, with the end point detection advantages of an end point detection layer.
US07712202B2
A system for securing a basket containing product securely within an autoclave or retort. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is used with rotational retorts, which generally include a rotational insert for receiving product-loaded baskets, the rotational insert rotated via a drive to rotate the baskets end over end during the autoclave process, for more efficient heat transfer. The present invention contemplates an improvement for securing the baskets within the retort, to facilitate secure rotation of the baskets and their contents, and prevent shifting of the baskets within the retort during rotation. Particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of one or more lift bladders sandwiched between clamping platens situated along the length of the rotational insert, the lift bladders configured to expand to lift and position the baskets into a securing position for rotation, then deflate to release the baskets after processing for removal.
US07712201B2
An improved method and apparatus for installing a seal is provided. The method is preferably applied to install a lip seal onto a clutch shaft of a hydraulic clutch assembly. The clutch shaft defines a lip seal groove adapted to receive the lip seal. An installation cone and a driver are provided to facilitate the installation of the lip seal into the lip seal groove. The driver is hollow and generally cylindrical, and includes a plurality of angular fingers. The installation cone is initially placed over an end portion of the clutch shaft. Thereafter, the lip seal is placed onto the installation cone. The driver is then pushed over the installation cone such that the angular fingers engage the lip seal and push the lip seal into the lip seal groove without seal roll-over.
US07712169B2
An infant pillow device including a head and neck positioner(s) for retaining the infant's head and neck to prevent lateral, upwardly, downwardly, and rotational movement of the infants head. The infant pillow device aligns the infant's head, neck and spine when positioned on the infant pillow device.
US07712163B2
A portable child bed in the nature of a cot. The cot includes a frame having a network of interconnected legs such that the frame is collapsible and expandable between open and closed configurations. The frame includes a stop to halt the expansion of the frame at a certain position. Flexible bedding depends from the frame in the nature of a hammock, with the flexible bedding being anchored at six positions about the frame. The frame of interconnected legs includes legs that are shaped to be out-of-the-way of the depending flexible bedding such that a child rests on the flexible bedding, not on the frame. Flexible straps run on an underside of the bedding and run to and between hubs of the frame.
US07712158B2
Disclosed herein is a non-clog shredder that is used to shred solid matter entrained in a non-homogenous liquid-solid feed. In one embodiment of the invention, the shredder is located at the bottom of a toilet bowl and is used to shred solid disposable products such as napkins and diapers that are discarded in the toilet bowl. The shredder comprises a generally cylindrical cup that is open at one end, with a circular end-cap at the other end. The end-cap has an axial opening that allows the feed to pass through the cup. In one embodiment of the invention, the opening has recesses and/or teeth on the periphery of the opening. An impeller disposed against the circular end plate creates suction for transfer of the waste through the shredder. A cutting blade on the impeller assembly projects axially through the opening in the end-cap.
US07712156B2
A protective cup designed to protect the male genitalia from damage or injury that could result from blows to the pelvic area of a male wherein the protective cup is manufactured using a very high strength ballistic material for the primary protective cup structure and wherein the interior of the protective cup includes a resilient gel that provides additional cushioning to the male genitalia if the protective cup is subjected to heavy strikes from external sources.
US07712155B1
A releasably fastening apparel belt that uses a releasable fastening means, such as VELCRO®-type hook and loop fastener, which, compared to the traditional buckling and unbuckling process, is much more user-friendly for those of limited manual dexterity. A buckle assembly moveably fixed with respect to the portion of the belt having notches for the buckle's tongue gives the belt the appearance of being a traditional belt.
US07712153B2
A novel glove for strengthening and conditioning the wearer's digits and related musculature, with an emphasis on the distal-interphlangeal joints. The glove provides a means for increasing resistance at, or alternatively prohibiting the flexion of, specific joints. Said means include annular rigid bands connected by elastic bands to a partial glove body, integral semicircular members that fit about the desired joints, and integral cylindrical members that fit about the desired joints. The exercises facilitated by the glove improve an athlete's ability to grasp an item, such as a ball, bat or an opponent. It will be appreciated that improved strength in the digits has a direct correlation with improved performance in a multitude of athletic endeavors.
US07712152B2
A garment includes a body portion having a neck opening and a pair of arm openings formed therethrough. First and second breast exposing openings are formed through the body portion that are adapted to encircle and completely expose the breasts of the wearer. Thus, the body portion is free from any type of obstructive covering over the first and second breast exposing openings. The body portion may be formed from a single tube-shaped piece of material or it may be formed from a plurality of pieces of material. If desired, a bodice portion may extend from body portion. The body portion and the bodice portion may be formed from a single tube-shaped piece of material or from a plurality of pieces of material. The first and second breast exposing openings may have respective aesthetic decorations, such as decorative flower petals, provided thereabout.
US07716743B2
The present invention provides a system, method, and computer-readable medium for quarantining a file. Embodiments of the present invention are included in antivirus software that maintains a user interface. From the user interface, a user may issue a command to quarantine a file or the quarantine process may be initiated automatically by the antivirus software after malware is identified. When a file is marked for quarantine, aspects of the present invention encode file data with a function that is reversible. Then a set of metadata is identified that describes attributes of the file including any heightened security features that are used to limit access to the file. The metadata is moved to a quarantine folder, while the encoded file remains at the same location in the file system. As a result, the encoded file maintains the same file attributes as the original, non-quarantined file, including any heightened security features.
US07716726B2
A network security module for protecting computing devices connected to a communication network from identified security threats communicated in a secured communication is presented. The network security module is interposed, either logically or physically, between the protected computer and the communication network. Upon detecting a secured communication, the network security module obtains a decryption key from the computing device to decrypt the secured communication. The network security module then processes the decrypted communication according to whether the decrypted communication violates protective security measures implemented by the network security module.
US07716717B2
A FireNet security system in which trustworthy networks, called BlackNets, each comprising One (1) or more client computers, are protected by FireBreaks against attacks from untrustworthy networks, called RedNets. All incoming transactions from the RedNet are examined by the FireBreak to determine if they violate any of a plurality of protection rules stored in a local protection rules database. Any transaction found to be in violation is discarded. Valid transactions are forwarded to the BlackNet. If an otherwise valid transaction is found to be suspicious, the FireBreak will forward to a FireNet Server relevant information relating to that transaction. If the FireNet Server verifies that the transaction is indeed part of an attack, the FireNet Server will create new protection rules suitable to defend against the newly identified source or strategy of attack. Periodically, all FireBreaks in the FireNet system will transfer, directly or indirectly, all new rules.
US07716711B1
A television multiplexing and transmission system and method, which is using certain portions of the standard television channel-bandwidth to superimpose additional information by phase-modulating said information using precisely-derived frequency carriers combined with reference frequencies and injecting said phase modulated electronic signals at amplitudes below the standard minimum detectable signal without affecting the simultaneous orderly operation of the same standard television channels into which the additional information is multiplexed, which system may be used to simultaneously transmit to a plurality of users various data in response to their corresponding queries, with particular applications to CATV systems, comprising a user data unit, a multiplexing and transmission unit and a alternate frequency unit.
US07716697B2
There is provided a technique which, in the case where the operation has not occurred in a manner as expected by the user, determines from which standpoint the operation was not as expected, and makes a response that is closer to the expectation.An information processing system according to the present invention includes: a reaction section for executing a first process based on a request from a user; an output section for outputting a result of a process; a signal detection section for measuring a signal concerning an event-related potential of electroencephalograms of the user; an analysis section for identifying a positive peak in the event-related potential and determining whether an elapsed time since the result is output and until the peak appears is closer to a first reference time or a second reference time; and a reaction modifying section for determining a second process in accordance with the determination result. This determination result indicates a degree of disappointment of the user, and the second process is to be determined in accordance with the degree. By the reaction section executing the second process, an operation is realized which conforms to the user's expectation even if the operation has not occurred in a manner as expected by the user.
US07716686B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a holding instruction is inserted. After inserting the holding instruction, the hooking of an interface is completed.
US07716680B2
A method and apparatus is provided for providing and integrating high-performance message queues. “Contexts” are provided that allow independent worlds to be created and execute in parallel. A context is created with one or more threads. Each object is created with context affinity, allowing any thread inside the context to modify the object or process pending messages. Threads in a different context are unable to modify the object or process pending messages for that context. To help achieve scalability and context affinity, both global and thread-local data is often moved into the context. Remaining global data has independent locks, providing synchronized access for multiple contexts. Each context has multiple message queues to create a priority queue. There are default queues for sent messages and posted messages, carry-overs from legacy window managers, with the ability to add new queues on demand. A queue bridge is also provided for actually processing the messages.
US07716678B2
A system, method, and a computer program product for processing messages in a message queuing system includes an application repository, a message store, and a queue-less application programming interface in each message queuing system. The application repositories may store application identification data provided by applications. The application programming interfaces may put messages to and get messages from the message queuing systems, and provide with each connect and put request application identification data.
US07716676B2
Described is a mechanism for issuing an event notification message, from a first program to a second program, to indicate that an action occurred within the first program, where the event notification message includes a parameter that indicates that the action is one of a group of possible actions. More specifically, in an application configured to edit documents created with the eXtensible Markup Language XML, the occurrence of an XML-related action causes the event notification message to be issued. The XML-related action may be either an XML-related move action, an XML-related insert action, or an XML-related delete action. In this way, a single event notification message can be used to indicate the occurrence of three different types of actions while editing an XML document.
US07716674B1
Network server information has traditionally been obtained through the use of operating systems functions and calls. By adding URL protocol code to the network server, such data may be obtained by use of a URL. In the URL, path information for the container in the server where such data resides is included. Specific server data may be retrieved, or such data may be retrieved recursively among several levels of containers. System calls and other functions may also be added to the URL path name for searching for particular data, or similar types of data through successive levels of containers. The protocol allows server administrators to access server data, in real time, from any user device in a network in which the server resides.
US07716668B2
A circular array structure is maintained having multiple time slots, where each time slot corresponds to a timeslice during which CPU resources are allocated to a particular thread. The time slots in the circular array include a queue of threads scheduled for execution during that time slot. A pointer index and an array of threads requesting immediate CPU resource allocation are maintained. A currently executing thread is suspended, and a next time slot during which the currently executing thread should resume execution is calculated. The suspended currently executing thread is appended to the queue of threads scheduled for execution at the calculated time slot. The pointer index is undated to point to the identified next sequential non-empty time slot. Any contents of the indexed time slot is appended to the array of threads requesting immediate CPU resource allocation. The thread at the top of the array is removed and activated.
US07716663B2
Under the present invention, a native application is packaged within an Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) bundle to create a link there between. Then, the OSGi bundle is installed within an OSGi environment of a client device. Once installed, the OSGi bundle is deployed in a native environment of the client device and the native application is removed from within the OSGi bundle while maintaining the link. Thereafter, the native application within the native environment can be controlled from the server using the OSGi bundle within the OSGi environment.
US07716662B2
A method for generating a Set Top Box (STB) code download step sequence includes the steps of retrieving a code object from a Software Download Generator (SDG) memory in response to an instruction signal, generating at least one of a control message and a decoder conditional command using a SDG processor in response to the code object, accessing information in a channel map in the SDG memory, combining the at least one of a control message and a decoder conditional command with the code object to generate the STB code download step sequence for a target STB, transmitting the at least one STB code download step sequence from the SDG memory to a Digital Addressable Controller (DAC), re-transmitting the STB code download step sequence from the DAC to a Remote Addressable DANIS/DLS (RADD), and re-transmitting the STB code download step sequence from the RADD to the target STB.
US07716657B2
A method for compiler optimization particularly well suited to object-oriented language that permit dynamic class loading. The method permits the compiler optimization of code associated with a potentially polymorphic object that is a call parameter to a virtual procedure where the procedure is a candidate for devirtualization through inlining. The method includes steps for guarded devirtualizing of the procedure, insertion of code to ensure privatization of the object before the procedure is executed, creation of a guard assumptions associated with the object and application of known optimization techniques to the code associated with the object.
US07716655B2
A computer system includes: a storage unit that stores the source program and type information representing data types including a fixed-point type; a detecting unit that obtains the source program from the storage unit and detects a type specifier and an immediate from the obtained source program; a type specifier analyzing unit that analyzes the type specifier and links one of a variable and a function, data type of which is specified by the type specifier, to the type information of the fixed-point type when the type specifier is a floating-point type to store in the storage unit; and an immediate analyzing unit that analyzes the immediate and links the immediate to the type information of fixed-point type when the immediate is any one of a decimal number without a postfix and a decimal number with floating-point type postfix to store in the storage unit.
US07716649B2
Computer method and apparatus for managing traceability of a software program are disclosed. Given a subject software program, the invention method/apparatus provides a respective history log for each artifact of the program. The invention method/apparatus records in the respective history log changes made to an artifact of the subject software program. During a change being made to the artifact, a processor routine determines from the respective history log related artifacts. An indication of the determined related artifacts is displayed to a user as impact analysis results.
US07716646B2
A method for loading a plurality of dynamically linked assemblies during the execution of an application program is disclosed. The application program reads a configuration file that includes a load sequence for the plurality of dynamically linked assemblies and a class associated with each dynamically linked assembly. The plurality of dynamically linked assemblies are loaded in accordance with the load sequence read from the configuration file. Each class has a common dataset and each of the plurality of dynamically linked assemblies is independent from the other of the plurality of dynamically linked assemblies. A process request defined by the associated class is sent to at least a first of the plurality of dynamically linked assemblies.
US07716642B1
Described are techniques for detecting incompatibilities. A first contents of a data item is determined in accordance with a first set of conventions associated with a first processor architecture. A second contents of said data item is determined in accordance with a second set of conventions associated with a second processor architecture and including at least one convention that is not included in said first set. An actual difference between the first contents and the second contents is determined. It is determined whether the actual difference is expected. If the actual difference is not expected, the data item is flagged as an incompatibility candidate. Code referencing the data item is examined to determine any coding incompatibilities due to coding dependencies.
US07716641B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems and computer-readable media for identifying a safe set of resources that can be used for localization of a software product. This identification involves loading and running a base product having one or more calls to an operating system (or an API) to load language specific data. The resource calls are intercepted after the resource is loaded into a resource loader, and information about the resource is captured for analysis. The display of resources is also intercepted to gather data on which resources are displayed and the context of this display. The process involves running automated tests and/or manual tests on the base product in its base language to identify those resources that are most frequently used, least often or never used, and those that are unsafe. These resources so identified are then analyzed to generate a safe secure resource list that can then be used for external localization of the software product.
US07716636B2
A user interface provides a visual representation of a software development set being loaded on to a computer, including displaying the contents (e.g., constituent software components) of the development set. Contents of the development set may be displayed before the contents have even been loaded on to the computer. The user interface may enable the user to select one or more of the software components of the development set (or the development set itself). In response to the user selection, the user may be enabled to perform limited operations on the software components. A user may be enabled to select, from the visual representation, a software component of the loading set that has not yet been loaded on to the computer.
US07716625B2
A complementary logic circuit contains a first logic input, a second logic input, a first dedicated logic terminal, a second dedicated logic terminal, a first logic block, and a second logic block. The first logic block consists of a network of p-type transistors for implementing a predetermined logic function. The p-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection. The outer diffusion connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first dedicated logic terminal, and the first network gate connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first logic input. The second logic block consists of a network of n-type transistors which implements a logic function complementary to the logic function implemented by the first logic block. The n-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection. The outer diffusion connection of the n-type transistor network is connected to the second dedicated logic terminal, and the first network gate connection of the n-type transistor network is connected to the second logic input. The inner diffusion connections of the p-type network and of the n-type network are connected together to form a common diffusion logic terminal.
US07716624B2
A method and apparatus for translating a hierarchical IC layout file into a format that can be used by a mask writer that accepts files having a limited hierarchy. Cover cells of the original IC layout file or a modified file are designated, and the hierarchical file is redefined to include only those designated cover cells. Non-designated cover cells and other geometric data are flattened into the designated cover cells. The hierarchy of the modified file is then redefined to be less than or equal to the hierarchy limit of the mask writing tool.
US07716621B1
A method and system of improving signal integrity in integrated circuit designs is disclosed. In some embodiments, signal integrity optimization is conducted in conjunction with detailed routing of an integrated circuit design based upon a global routing plan previously generated for the design.
US07716616B2
A method, system and program product are disclosed for improving an IC design that prioritize failure coefficients of slacks that lead to correction according to their probability of failure. With an identified set of independent parameters, a sensitivity analysis is performed on each parameter by noting the difference in timing, typically on endpoint slacks, when the parameter is varied. This step is repeated for every independent parameter. A failure coefficient is then calculated from the reference slack and the sensitivity of slack for each of the timing endpoints and a determination is made as to whether at least one timing endpoint fails a threshold test. Failing timing endpoints are then prioritized for modification according to their failure coefficients. The total number of runs required is one run that is used as a reference run, plus one additional run for each parameter.
US07716603B2
An alpha wheel display, which is an image of a series of segmented concentric rings the segments of which indicate letters, is presented on a TV as a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be operated by a remote control point-and-click device for data input, e.g., to input a search term to an electronic program guide (EPG).
US07716602B2
An accessible markup language specified slider control. A slider control which has been configured for rendering in a content browser in accordance with the present invention can include a script controlled slider track; a markup language specified text input field; and, coordination and control logic coupled both to the slider track and the text input field to harmonize a position of the slider track and a value specified in the text input field. The markup language specified text input field and the script controlled slider track can be defined in a DHTML document. Moreover, the coordination and control logic further can include a coupling to browser settings for the content browser to selectively enable and disable the slider track based upon the browser settings.
US07716596B2
A computer implemented method and computer program product for protecting a pre-filled user input field on a returned webpage from an accidental overwrite. The method identifies the pre-filled input field by detecting a mouseover. In response to a user command to change the state of the pre-filled input field, the method changes an initially unlocked pre-filled input field to a locked state or changes an initially locked pre-filled input field to an unlocked state.
US07716583B2
There is read information on a system indicative of how to reach at least one pre-configured, pre-designated application in the system. The information is used to build at least one software button in at least one group of software buttons that allows launching of the pre-configured, pre-designated application.
US07716572B2
Creating a new music video by intercutting user-supplied visual data with a pre-existing music video
A method in which a pre-existing music video (which may be a professionally-created music video) is intercut with an end-user's own additional visual data (pictures or video). In a first phase, a plurality of temporal sections are defined in a pre-existing music video. In a second phase, which may be performed by a non-professional end-user, video data specified by the end-user are intercut with the pre-existing music video according to the temporal sections.
US07716569B2
A method and a system for presenting Internet information to a user including providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink, and at least partially concurrently providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by the at least one hyperlink.
US07716562B1
Processing polynomials is disclosed. At least a portion of processing associated with an error evaluator polynomial and at least a portion of processing associated with an error locator polynomial are performed simultaneously. The error evaluator polynomial and the error locator polynomial are associated with Berlekamp-Massey processing. Data associated with the error evaluator polynomial is progressively removed.
US07716550B2
Semiconductor IC including pad for wafer test and method of testing wafer including semiconductor IC
Provided are a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) including a pad for a wafer test and a method of testing a wafer including a semiconductor IC. The semiconductor IC includes a first address generator, a second address generator, and an address output unit. The first address generator generates a normal address having (M+N) bits or a first test address having M bits corresponding to voltages applied to a plurality of address pads. The second address generator generates a second test address having N bits corresponding to a voltage applied to an additional pad. Therefore, according to the semiconductor IC and the wafer test method, an additional pad is provided to generate an N-bit test address in wafer test mode such that the number of pads needed to test a device can be reduced. As a result, more semiconductor ICs can be tested simultaneously.
US07716546B2
A method for improved Logic Built-In Self-Test (LBIST) includes providing a plurality of control signal sets, by an LBIST controller, to an LBIST domain comprising a plurality of LBIST satellite modules. Each of the plurality of LBIST satellite modules receives an individual one of the plurality of control signal sets. The LBIST controller interleaves the LBIST channel scan and LBIST sequence operations for each of the LBIST satellite modules, through the plurality of control signal sets.A test system includes a Logic Built-In Self-Test (LBIST) domain comprising a plurality of LBIST satellite modules. An LBIST controller couples to the LBIST domain and provides a plurality of control signal sets to the LBIST domain, wherein each of the plurality of LBIST satellite modules receives an individual one of the plurality of control signal sets. The LBIST controller interleaves LBIST channel scan operations for each of the LBIST satellite modules, through the plurality of control signal sets.
US07716536B2
Techniques to cause a point-to-point link between system components to engage in a negotiation process that may lead to the link transitioning from an active state in which data may be transmitted between system components to a low power state where data may not be transmitted. The negotiation process may occur between each pair of nodes within an electronic system that are interconnected via point-to-point link. The negotiation may ensure that there are no pending transactions or transactions that may occur within an upcoming period of time. Through this negotiation each component acknowledges and agrees to transition the link to the low power state.
US07716535B2
In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for Kalman filtering for grid computing telemetry and workload management is disclosed. The method includes monitoring telemetry data at a node of a grid computing engine with a Kalman filter, determining whether the monitored telemetry data is outside of a bounds of a predictive model of the Kalman filter, signaling an error condition for the node if the monitored telemetry data is outside of the bounds, and addressing the error condition by correcting a problem experienced at the node corresponding to the error condition. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07716533B2
A bus cycle trapping system includes at least one register, a north bridge, a south bridge and a central processing unit (CPU). The register is configured to store at least one trapping parameter. The north bridge traps a bus cycle matching the at least one trapping parameter while issuing an activating signal. The south bridge sends a system management interrupt message according to the activating signal. The CPU enters a system management mode according to the system management interrupt and executes a system management interrupt routine for doing a debugging test of the bus cycle matching the trapping parameter.
US07716532B2
A system and method for identifying ideal channels for communications based on an analysis of communication channel reliability, communicating party preferences, and communicating party contexts is provided. The system attempts to optimize the utility of a communication based on inferred or directly accessed channel reliability data, communicating party preferences and communicating party contexts. Such optimization can be achieved using reliabilities, preferences and policies concerning handling the attempted contact based on a deterministic specification or through inferring reliability, context, content and task under uncertainty by employing decision-theoretic inferences. The methods may consider channels currently available as well as channels available at later times. Thus, the service can include automated rescheduling of communications based on a consideration of forecasts of reliability and availability. The approach may include the use of forecasts about the time required for a communication and the likelihood that a connection will be dropped or will lose fidelity over this period of time. The methods may also include a consideration of metadata within a standard schema that is transmitted along with a communication attempt, the metadata representing information about attributes like the potential communication channels, the identity of the contactor, the task at hand, and the context of the communicating parties. The invocation of the communication service may be performed in a variety of ways, including single button invocations, and via a communication service that is more deeply integrated with other applications and functionalities.
US07716527B2
A repair system is disclosed comprising: a server having a repair manager; a client device having a repair agent; and a network, wherein the server and the client device are connected to the network. The repair agent, in response to a repair signal, is operable to restrict communication of the client device on the network to the repair manager, and the repair manager is operable to provide a repair application. The repair system is enabled to correct actual or potential problems including software viruses and trojans, and spam messages. Diagnosis and repairs can be carried out in response to a deleterious detection system or through user input to the device. The repair agent requires only limited system resources and therefore it particularly applicable to mobile devices where system resources are at a premium.
US07716525B1
A method of providing assured message delivery with low latency and high message throughput, in which a message is stored in non-volatile, low latency memory with associated destination list and other meta data. The message is only removed from this low-latency non-volatile storage when an acknowledgement has been received from each destination indicating that the message has been successfully received, or if the message is in such memory for a period exceeding a time threshold or if memory resources are running low, the message and associated destination list and other meta data is migrated to other persistent storage. The data storage engine can also be used for other high throughput applications.
US07716494B2
A trusted platform in a digital processing system is maintained even when modules, or other processes or data, are loaded after a boot sequence. A configuration file is used to include measurements (e.g., hash values, signatures, etc.) of modules to be loaded. After secure boot-up the operating system kernel uses the configuration file to check module integrity prior to loading and executing. If a module does not verify against the configuration file data then the system can prevent further operation, restrict certain operations, indicate the non-trusted nature of the system or take other actions. In one embodiment, if a module does not pass the integrity check then the failed measurement is extended into a specific Platform Configuration Register (PCR) within a Trusted Platform Manager (TPM) process. Subsequently, client applications can determine if the platform is trustable based on the return of the PCR value. A local application (application running in the same platform) can “seal” secrets to a trusted platform. The operation of the application relies on the secrets, which can only be revealed in a trusted platform.
US07716476B2
Controlling access to functionality within an installed software product. The invention includes an authorization module that dynamically references authorization information when specific functionality is requested by a requesting entity such as a user or an application program to determine if the requested functionality is authorized to be executed. Further, the invention dynamically provides an opportunity to the requesting entity to purchase unauthorized functionality. In this manner, functionality within the software product may be enabled or disabled at any time (e.g., during installation, post-installation, and re-installation).
US07716475B2
When an application is activated, a mobile station 10 detects external devices 20, 30, 40 as candidates for a BLUETOOTH connection out of external devices existing in the surrounding area, and presents a list of the devices to a user. When the user selects from the list an external device 20 with which a connection is to be attempted to make, a link is established by a connection procedure according to a security level described in an ADF of the application. Namely, when “high” is described as the security level, an authentication process and an encryption process requiring input of a PIN are executed prior to the establishment of the link. On the other hand, when “low” is described as the security level, a link is established without executing these processes.
US07716473B1
A computer-implemented system, method and apparatus for operating a reference monitor simulator is operable to recreate the operations performed by a reference monitor on a computer system. In one configuration, the system defines at least one security rule specifying whether to allow or deny a request to access at least one resource under a given set of circumstances and supplies at least one request to access a resource. The system further applies the at least one security rule in response to the at least one request to access a resource to determine whether to allow or prevent the at least one request.
US07716469B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a circle of trust on a network. The circle of trust is configured by exchanging credential of a first and a second affiliated entity. The credentials of the first affiliated entity is stored in a trusted partner list of the second affiliated entity. The credentials of the second affiliated entity is stored in a trusted partner list of the first affiliated entity. Thereafter, a circle of trust session may be provided when a client device initiates use of a resource on a relying party device by providing an authentication assertion reference. The identity of the issuing party of the authentication is determined as a function of the authentication assertion reference. The relying party sends an authentication query containing its credential to the issuing party. The issuing party determines if the relying party is a trusted entity based upon whether the relying party's credential is contained in the trusted partner list of the issuing party.
US07716465B2
In a processing system with a main partition and a sequestered partition, the main partition sends an interrupt to the sequestered partition before calling an operating system (OS) boot loader for the main partition. The sequestered partition may then enter an interrupt handler. After the sequestered partition enters the interrupt handler, an address line of the processing system may be disabled, and the OS boot loader for the non-sequestered partition may be called. The sequestered partition may then determine whether the address line has been re-enabled. The sequestered partition may remain in the interrupt handler until after the address line has been re-enabled. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07716464B2
A method and apparatus is described herein for fault resilient booting of a platform. Upon booting the platform, any boot routines marked are skipped. A current boot routine to be executed in a boot sequence is registered in nonvolatile memory. An attempt to execute the current boot routine is made. If the attempt is successful, the next boot entry is determined and skipped or executed, based on whether it is marked. However, if the execution fails the current boot routine is marked and, upon subsequent execution of the boot sequence, skipped.
US07716462B2
A method and system for initiating a display chip in a computer system is provided, and the initiating system includes a non-volatile memory, an external storage media and a memory unit. A BIOS which is able to initiate the external storage media is stored in the non-volatile memory. First, a backup file is loaded into the memory unit from the initiated external storage media. Then, an initiating program is fetched from the backup file. Finally, the initiating program is executed to initiate a display chip of a computer system.
US07716460B2
In a processor executing instructions in at least a first instruction set execution mode having a first minimum instruction length and a second instruction set execution mode having a smaller, second minimum instruction length, line and counter index addresses are formed that access every counter in a branch history table (BHT), and reduce the number of index address bits that are multiplexed based on the current instruction set execution mode. In one embodiment, counters within a BHT line are arranged and indexed in such a manner that half of the BHT can be powered down for each access in one instruction set execution mode.
US07716456B2
In a two-dimensional optical storage (TwoDOS) arrangement, at certain places on the optical disc, calibration pits are placed, for instance in the lead-in and/or additionally sparsely in the data. The signal waveform resulting from the read out of the calibration bits is measured, and matrix multiplication is performed on these signals to obtain the linear interference coefficients. This can be done since the bit sequence is known (along all of the bit-rows of the 2D patterns). From these linear interference coefficients, the electric field distribution of the read-out spots at the pitholes can be reconstructed. This information can be used in at least two ways: The signal processing unit can use this as input for its settings, so it uses a measured response of the optical channel instead of an expected response.
US07716455B2
A high speed processor. The processor includes terminals that each execute a subset of the instruction set. In at least one of the terminals, the instructions are executed in an order determined by data flow. Instructions are loaded into the terminal in pages. A notation is made when an operand for an instruction is generated by another instruction. When operands for an instruction are available, that instruction is a “ready” instruction. A ready instruction is selected in each cycle and executed. To allow data to be transmitted between terminals, each terminal is provided with a receive station, such that data generated in one terminal may be transmitted to another terminal for use as an operand in that terminal. In one embodiment, one terminal is an arithmetic terminal, executing arithmetic operations such as addition, multiplication and division. The processor has a second terminal, which contains functional logic to execute all other instructions in the instruction set. The invention is useful for arithmetic intensive applications, such as graphic processors.
US07716449B2
A mechanism is disclosed for offset-based addressing in the chunks of a chunked heap. The mechanism provides for storing a side data structure within a portion of a chunk, where the side data structure begins at a predetermined offset within the range of virtual memory addresses allocated to the chunk. The side data structure comprises a plurality of entries, where each entry is associated with a corresponding section of the chunk. The mechanism provides for locating a particular entry in the side data structure corresponding to a particular section of the chunk by using the predetermined offset and an index derived based on the particular section, where locating the particular entry does not include performing any memory accessing operations or conditional branch operations to obtain an indirect reference to the side data structure.
US07716440B2
This storage system has a first disk array device for providing a first volume that stores data transmitted from a host system, a second disk array device for providing a second volume that is virtualized with the first disk array device, and a management terminal for managing the first disk array device; wherein the first disk array device includes a first management unit for managing volume information of the virtualized volume that was virtualized in the first disk array device by being mapped with the second volume; and a first transmission unit for transmitting, based on an external operation, the volume information of the virtualized volume managed with the first management unit to the management terminal; and wherein the management terminal includes a second management unit for managing the volume information of the virtualized volume transmitted from the first transmission unit.
US07716439B2
A data processing system includes a readout unit, a device ID storage unit, a storage medium writing unit, a determination unit, and a processing unit. The readout unit reads out data that have been stored on a storage medium, where the storage medium is removably mounted in an external storage unit. The device ID storage unit stores a device ID that is peculiar to a device. The storage medium writing unit writes the device ID that has been stored in the device ID storage unit to the storage medium. The determination unit makes a determination as to whether the device ID that has been written to the storage medium and the device ID that has been stored in the device ID storage unit are in agreement. The processing unit carries out either first processing or second processing depending on a determination made by the determination unit.
US07716438B2
A storage system includes a primary volume and a first controller that stores data in a primary volume and stores content at a prescribed point in time in the form of differential data. The first controller generates generational management information corresponding to the differential data of the prescribed point in time and manages the generational management information. The storage system also includes a secondary volume configured to store backup data and a second controller configured to receive data sent from the first controller, store data to the secondary volume, store the generational management information, receive a request for a certain generation of the generations and provide data of the primary volume corresponding to the requested generation based on the request. The first controller determines to send differential data and the generational management information to the second controller when an amount of differential data reaches a prescribed amount.
US07716418B2
A modified read-ahead (i.e., jump) command, contains a sequential access parameter SAP, JUMPm(X,Y:SAP), for instructing a disc drive to jump to block Y after having read block X. If the SAP parameter has a value indicating that a host, such as a PC, designed to recognize the SAP parameter, deliberately signals a disc drive to jump to a lower address (e.g., Y
US07716402B2
A wireless USB hub for connecting a plurality of remote peripheral devices to a computer for communication therewith without the need to physically connect the peripheral devices to the hub via a cable connection. The wireless USB hub includes a receiver for receiving wireless data transmissions from one or more remote peripheral devices. The wireless USB hub further includes a hub controller for passing appropriate peripheral device information to a USB upstream port and then to a computer.
US07716400B2
The present disclosure relates to a portable storage device that can communicate with different types of host devices. In some embodiments, the portable storage device receives digital media content via a multi-mode device port and exports a derivative of the digital media content (for example, a media stream) via the same multi-mode device port. In some embodiments, the device port has at least one selectively active pin which is active when receiving digital media content and is dormant when exporting a derivative of the digital media content. Alternatively or additionally, the device port includes at least one selectively active pin which is dormant when receiving digital media content and is active when exporting a derivative of the digital media content. In some embodiments, the portable storage device selects a device mode and/or communications protocol in accordance with at least one detected feature of a complementary port and/or a host. Methods for operating the presently disclosed portable external storage device are disclosed herein.
US07716394B2
Disclosed herein is a content transferring method for use with a first and a second apparatus interconnected by a communicating device. The method includes the steps of: if a storage medium managed by the second apparatus is larger in capacity than content data to be transferred from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, then performing a synchronizing process synchronizing the content data stored in the first apparatus with the content data to be stored onto the storage medium managed by the second apparatus; and if the storage medium managed by the second apparatus is smaller in capacity than the content data to be transferred from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, then performing a selective transferring process causing the first apparatus preferentially to select content data different from the content data stored on the storage medium managed by the second apparatus and to transfer the preferentially selected content data to the second apparatus.
US07716393B2
A system includes a plurality of integrated circuits for propagating data between at least one central processing unit and another component of the system. The plurality of integrated circuits are configured for proximity I/O communication. The plurality of integrated circuits is configured such that data propagation through the plurality of integrated circuits is unaffected by a rotation of at least one of the plurality of integrated circuits by 90 degrees.
US07716390B2
A direct memory access controller is provided, in which an internal storage section storing control setting information; and a control section loading the control setting information from an external storage section to the internal storage section when a transfer request signal does not belong to a first group, and not loading the control setting information from the external storage section to the internal storage section when the transfer request signal belongs to the first group; are included, and a data transfer by a direct memory access is performed in accordance with the control setting information within the internal storage section.
US07716389B1
Due to the integration of multiple I/O device controllers in a storage controller and the need to provide secure and fast data transfers between the I/O devices and the storage controller, an architecture that can perform multiple encrypt/decrypt operations simultaneously is therefore needed to service multiple transfer requests without a negative impact on the speed of transfer and processing. The present invention relates to enhancing Direct Memory Access (DMA) operations between multiple IO devices and a storage controller by adding a Data Processing Core. Exemplary implementations are provided to illustrate the background mechanism used by a DMA controller that minimizes central-processing-unit (CPU) intervention and the multi-channel architecture which allows multiple IO requests to be serviced simultaneously.
US07716387B2
A memory control apparatus generates a plurality of commands whose unit of transfer is smaller than the unit of data transfer of a memory access request, and when the memory access request are transmitted from a plurality of request sources, issues the plurality of commands to a memory in alternate order for each request are executed by time division and concurrently.
US07716386B1
Embodiments of this invention comprise a modular, scalable architecture for building a variety of Layer 2/3/4+ Ethernet products and devices. Such devices comprise of a set modules. The invention provides a set of rules to handle such modules. The rules are controlled by the architectural component named card manager. The card manager uses a protocol to discover the modules that are entering or leaving the system/device. The protocol's data provides a unique way of identifying the modules that belong to the system.
US07716383B2
A Flash-interfaced Fingerprint Sensor is disclosed. The sensor device interfaces directly with a flash memory interface chip. The flash memory interface chip incorporates the system for interfacing with flash memory devices, a fingerprint sensor/detector system, and an encryption subsystem for encrypting data being passed to and from the flash memory devices and the host computing device. The device further employs an advanced encryption approach that entails fingerprint decryption and verification on the host computer rather than on the portable memory apparatus. Once verification at the host computer is complete, memory and host functionality is enabled.
US07716373B2
Current configuration information of an information processing apparatus, post configuration information after updating a software, configuration information of a network device are stored in a database. A selection of a software image for updating the software of the information processing apparatus and a change of a configuration of the network device are considered, based on the pieces of configuration information. An automation of an operation of updating the software is realized by sending a result of consideration to an agent deployed in the information processing apparatus and causing the information processing apparatus to perform a desired processing.
US07716370B1
Stateful failover redundancy support is provided for network address translation (NAT). A master NAT device is backed-up with at least one back-up NAT device. Existing sessions are synchronized between the two NAT devices, such as via a dedicated link between them. In the event of a failover where the master NAT device is unable to perform its NAT functions, ownership of Internet protocol (IP) addresses is transferred from the master NAT device to the back-up NAT device. The back-up NAT device, which is now owner of the IP addresses, assumes the NAT functionality associated with these IP addresses and continues the existing sessions, as well as processing new sessions.
US07716368B2
A network system is provided allowing easy communications with another apparatus via NAPT, as well as a communication method, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program. A local communication apparatus acquires a service providing packet from an apparatus service providing apparatus via a port of a relay apparatus, acquires a service providing packet from another apparatus service providing apparatus via another port of the relay apparatus, calculates a difference value between two pieces of global address information contained in the service providing packets, and predicts that a third port is the port to be used for the next communication. The system, apparatus and methods described can be applied to an instant message service system.
US07716350B2
Method and devices are provided for to simplify, for the user of a home network, the sharing of content with remote users. Some such implementations allow remote users who have logged into the home network to have access to devices and services within the home network. Some implementations of the invention provide solutions for sharing multiple devices within the home network in a grouping to a particular remote user who logs into the home network in a secure fashion. Some methods of the present invention are implemented in part by controlling a gateway of the home network. As such, the necessary hardware and/or software for implementing the invention can be located in a gateway of the home network. In alternative implementations, aspects of the invention may be implemented via a portal service offered by a service provider who also controls the gateway, or by a device in the home network.
US07716347B2
A method for managing commerce contexts between a direct commerce context and a temporary commerce context in a client session. Commerce context parameters are associated with the direct and temporary commerce contexts. The commerce context associated with a client request is determined according to the commerce context parameters associated with the client request.
US07716343B2
A system and method for operating a networked software application on a network with sporadic connectivity is disclosed. A user may create in a client application on a user device business data transmission. The client application may transmit the order to a proxy module. A network detection module may check whether a network connection to a backend software application is available. If the network connection is available, the proxy module may transmit the order to a backend software application. The business data may be saved in the persistency module as it is being transmitted to the server. Otherwise, the proxy module may save the order in a persistency module. A middleware application may create a client specific subset of a set of master data stored with the backend software application. The middleware application may send the client specific subset to the proxy module. The proxy module may store the client specific subset in the persistency module to be used by the user in creating the order.
US07716341B2
Management information for specifying use environments of devices and application softwares at a plurality of user terminals is created at an administrator terminal. User-specific configuration information is generated at a server according to the management information obtained from the administrator terminal. The user-specific configuration information is referenced by installation support programs when a use environment of the devices and application softwares is built at a user terminal. The user-specific configuration information is distributed from the server to the user terminal, together with device drivers of the devices, the application softwares and the installation support programs.
US07716334B2
A computer system comprises a plurality of field replaceable units (FRUs) for supplying processing resources and a system controller. Each of the plurality of FRUs has a field replaceable unit identification (FRUID) memory adapted store a capacity-on-demand (COD) indication associated with the FRU, wherein the COD indication is indicative of whether the FRU is a base level resource or a COD resource. The system controller is configured to access the FRUID memory of each of the plurality of FRUs to detect the COD indication. Additionally, the system controller is configured to enable at least those of the plurality of FRUs for which the corresponding COD indication indicates that the FRU is a base level resource. The system controller is further configured to identify a need for additional processing resources, and is configured to enable additional ones of the plurality of FRUs responsive to identifying the need for additional processing resources.
US07716333B2
A system, method and computer program product are provided for affording intention-based, context-sensitive services to mobile users. First provided is a database. Also included is a profiler module coupled to the database. The profiler module is adapted for collecting a state of a user along with profile information. Such profile information includes an identity, location, available services per location, devices per location, and/or security per location. In use, the profiler module communicates the profile information to the database for storage therein.
US07716318B2
An image forming apparatus monitoring system which is configured so as to reduce an installing operation load for installation of image forming apparatuses including settings relating to monitoring apparatus. In the present system, when a multi-function machine determines that it is not registered in the image forming apparatus monitoring system, the multi-function machine searches for a monitoring apparatus 105 which matches the multi-function machine, and selects the monitoring apparatus 105 which is to monitor the multi-function machine, based on monitoring apparatus information acquired from the searched monitoring apparatus 105. When receiving a notification of the start of monitoring from the selected monitoring apparatus 105, the multi-function machine stores the notification in a storage area as registration completion information. On the other hand, the monitoring apparatus 105 transmits monitor request information received from the multi-function machine to the monitoring host 101, and starts monitoring the multi-function machine when determining from the result of the monitor request that registration of the multi-function machine in the monitoring host 101 is completed.
US07716317B2
A system for providing single view of content in a network of devices includes a communication module that detects devices connected to the network, a directory module that discovers content in each detected device via the communication module and maintains a directory of such available content providing a single view of the discovered content for access thereto, and a content manager that provides access to the single view.
US07716313B2
A computer network includes a plurality of components governed by policies from a policy manager. Where conflicts arise between policies, a conflict management policy is inherent in the system and is implemented to detect and resolve such conflicts.
US07716307B1
A method is disclosed for reducing client-server messages. A first request to open a file is received. The first request includes first information that indicates a first access mode for opening the file. The first information is modified to indicate a most extended access mode for opening the file. The first request with the modified first information is sent to a file server that manages access to the file. A first response is received. The first response comprises second information which indicates a specific access mode for opening the file that is granted by the file server. The second information is stored in a cache. In response to a second request to close the file, the closing of the file is delayed.
US07716300B2
The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates self-regulation of a social network system based at least in part on user behavior, and in particular on good or desirable user behavior. The system and method involve monitoring user behavior such as user activity and user interactions with other users and the network itself. Several factors can be weighed to determine whether the user behavior is good. Network assets or rights can be allocated to good users in the form of gifts or trade exchange opportunities whereas less desirable or bad users may not receive such gifts or trade opportunities or assets and rights might be revoked from them. By watching user behavior and promoting good behavior in this manner, the social network can be managed and self-regulated to optimize the utilization and distribution of both limited and unlimited assets (e.g., network created and user created assets or resources).
US07716281B2
A web page architecture is provided for enabling a user browse the web within an inline frame embedded in a web page and drag and drop content rendered in the inline frame into a receiving panel in the web page for transmission to the user's mobile device. The delivery mechanism to receive such content on the user's mobile device may be either through SMS messaging or through communicating with a client application on the user's mobile device.
US07716279B2
A method is described that involves processing a Web services message within an object oriented runtime environment. The processing involves executing a plurality of protocols to support a Web service that the message pertains to. Each one of the protocols perform one or more operations that contribute to a different part of the processing. The executing involves a first of the protocols receiving from an object WS Addressing information retrieved from the message's header. The executing also involves the first protocol providing the WS Addressing information to a second of the protocols. The executing also involves the second protocol providing the WS Addressing information to at least one of: a third protocol of the protocols; a component that performs an endpoint method of said Web service; software that identifies a new transport level destination address for said message.
US07716268B2
A method and apparatus for providing a processor based nested form polynomial engine are disclosed. A concise instruction format is provided to significantly decrease memory required and allow for instruction pipelining without branch penalty using a nested form polynomial engine. The instruction causing a processor to set coefficient and data address pointers for evaluating a polynomial, to load loading a coefficient and data operand into a coefficient register and a data register, respectively, to multiply the contents of the coefficient register and data register to produce a product, to add a next coefficient operand to the product to produce a sum, to provide the sum to an accumulator and to repeat the loading, multiplying, adding and providing until evaluation of the polynomial is complete.
US07716267B2
Decimal calculation apparatus, which performs multidigit decimal calculation with the number of calculation digits set in calculation instruction, comprises multidigit memory section capable of storing values with greater numbers of digits than the number of digits of a predetermined digit unit in plurality of memory areas; calculation-instruction memory section which stores calculation instruction having the number of calculation digits and type of calculation set therein; and decimal calculation section which performs decimal calculation of sequentially calculating numerical values of corresponding digit units respectively stored in plurality of memory areas of the multidigit memory section, digit unit by digit unit in the number of calculation digits set in calculation instruction stored in calculation-instruction memory section, in decimal calculation according to type of calculation set in calculation instruction stored in calculation-instruction memory section, and sequentially writing calculation results in plurality of memory areas of multidigit memory section digit unit by digit unit.
US07716258B2
A garbage collection system and method in a multiprocessor environment having a shared memory wherein two or more processing units participate in the reclamation of garbage memory objects. The shared memory is divided into regions or heaps and all heaps are dedicated to one of the participating processing units. The processing units generally perform garbage collection operations, i.e., a thread on the heap or heaps that are dedicated to that processing unit. However, the processing units are also allowed to access and modify other memory objects, in other heaps when those objects are referenced by and therefore may be traced back to memory objects within the processing units dedicated heap. The processors are synchronized at rendezvous points to prevent reclamation of used memory objects.
US07716250B1
High throughput in data computations and processing is maintained while minimizing latency. A binary tree architecture is provided in which two trees are used simultaneously, and initiation of the trees is staggered to allow for optimal use of bandwidth. These techniques are desirable for erasure codes and other computations where the addition operator is commutative. Additionally, a ternary tree architecture may be used, in which three trees co-exist on the same set of nodes to maintain high throughput while further improving latency.
US07716244B2
A multi-organizational information management system provides for full lifecycle tracking of business activities of a complex mix of governmental entities and business organizations by maintaining a secure database of data entities or records to track such activities. The system provides for secure sharing of information among the governments and organizations by controlling access to data entities based on organizational membership and assigned role of system users. The system provides flexible structural relationships among the various data entities. A graphic, web-based user interface of the system enables efficient access to the data entities for entry and update of specific data.
US07716240B2
In an information management system, relevant policies are deployed to targets while policies which are not relevant are not. By deploying relevant policies, this reduces the amount of space requirements at the target to store the policies and the amount of data that needs to be sent to the target. Also, execution speed at the target may increase since the target does not need to evaluate policies that are not relevant.
US07716230B2
A computer implemented method, an apparatus, and computer usable program product for identifying a defective product is provided. A data processing system identifies a product status for products comprising at least one range of serial numbers. The data processing system then narrows the at least one range of serial numbers using a range flattening algorithm. The data processing system then applies a conditional mask algorithm to the at least one range of serial numbers to narrow the at least one range of serial numbers.
US07716218B1
A method and system for enhanced tuning of search engine parameters includes receiving a search parameter at a search engine. The search engine is equipped with a plurality of tunable knobs set at an initial setting. A search result having a plurality of result objects is generated for the search parameter based on the initial setting of the plurality of tunable knobs. A relevancy score is associated with each of the result objects in the generated search result and the search result is presented at an user interface. The search engine identifies one or more result objects from the presented search result that are not selected over time. The relevancy score of the identified non-selected result objects are adjusted dynamically. The plurality of tunable knobs in the search engine are tuned using one or more search algorithms to obtain optimal search result based on the adjusted relevancy scores and the non-selected result objects.
US07716217B2
In an electronic mail system, a user's actions with an application for managing electronic content are monitored. Based on the user's actions and/or on the actions of other users in the system, a relevance analysis module determines a relevance to the user of a piece of electronic content based on a likelihood of interest of the electronic content piece to the user and/or a measure of a level of significance the user has to another entity associated with the electronic content piece.
US07716209B1
A method of searching for information includes receiving a query, providing the query to a first search engine that searches a set of data sources, the data sources having relationships to an ontology, receiving search results from the search engine, analyzing the search results to determine at least one statistic corresponding to the search results and the query, wherein the statistic is based upon a relevance score that is calculated based upon a first weighting function related to a concept, a second weighting function related to a data source item, a set of items related to the concept, and a set of items related to the search results, and providing at least one concept to a user, wherein said at least one concept correspond to said at least one statistic.
US07716204B1
A handle allocation manager is provided for an integrated circuit search engine device that includes multiple stages of a multilevel tree of search keys and a handle memory. The handle allocation manager includes a handle availability memory that stores handle availability indicators to provide an indication of whether a handle is available for association with a key. A handle availability summary memory stores indicators for groups of handles and a block availability summary memory stores indicators for multiple groups of handle availability summary memories. The handle allocation manager can use these memories to search for a next available handle. Related methods are also provided.
US07716203B2
The present invention in various implementations provides for a method and system for removing suspect duplicate data in a database having a plurality of datasets for a suspect processing transaction, using a plurality of matching engines, comparing results of matching engines in a logically predetermined comparative assessment, and thereafter providing an ordered priority of results of matching engines to identify suspect candidates.
US07716202B2
A ranked list of search results is received from a search engine based on a search query. A relevance value of a particular search result in the ranked list is estimated based on its rank and based on relevance values and ranks of at least two others of the search results.
US07716172B2
A method of operating a multi-dimensional database is disclosed. In this method, a multi-dimensional portion of the data is transferred to a multi-dimensional database. A relational portion of the cube is kept in the relational database. When data from the relational portion needs to be accessed, the system produces the SQL queries to obtain data from the relational database.
US07716167B2
A system automatically generates OLAP metadata objects for a multidimensional analysis program such as OLAP from SQL statements without involving the database administrator, and eliminates the need for database administrators to manually perform this analysis and design. The system deconstructs a set of SQL statements into tables and aggregates metrics for measures and joins. It recognizes that the relational database structure contains both dimension tables and fact tables. Over many SQL statements, fact tables will have a large measure metric while dimension tables will have a low measure metric. Tables are linked based on large join metrics; small join metrics are ignored. The present system builds the OLAP cube model from the fact tables, dimension tables, and joins. The analysis of the SQL statements allows the system to map the hierarchies within the dimension table, and provides the system with information about attribute relationships and cubes.
US07716165B2
A method of analyzing customer behavior, where customers are engaged in customer-to-customer transactions in the third-party network, includes the transformation of data representing the customer-to-customer transactions from a data representation to a network representation, and then analyzing the network representation. The network representation includes a set of nodes and a set of links where each node represents a customer and each link represents a transaction between two of the customers.
US07716161B2
The relevance of advertisements to a user's interests is improved. In one implementation, the content of a web page is analyzed to determine a list of one or more topics associated with that web page. An advertisement is considered to be relevant to that web page if it is associated with keywords belonging to the list of one or more topics. One or more of these relevant advertisements may be provided for rendering in conjunction with the web page or related web pages.
US07716160B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems with Readers and Tags in which a Reader queries the Tags with a parameter that includes a level of probability of reply according to which the Tags individually and randomly decide whether or not to reply. In one embodiment, the Tags can switch between two states: A and B. The query command also specifies a state (A or B) so that only the Tags in the specified state can reply. After successfully sending the Tag identification data from a Tag to the Reader, the Tag switches to the other state from the specified state. In one embodiment, the operations about the two states are symmetric. In one embodiment, the Tags can remember the parameters used in a query so that a short form of query command can be used to repeat the query with the same query parameters.
US07716153B2
Methods and systems for enhancing and/or improving one's memory are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented memory assistance system is comprised of a client and a memory assistance server. The memory assistance server includes a signal processing server to receive and process media signals (e.g., audio, video, or photographs) and associated data received from the client. The signal processing server includes a variety of servers or services for processing signals and/or data. Each signal processing server or service identifies characteristics of the received media signal that are relevant to aiding a user in recalling and/or reinforcing an existing memory of a particular event or fact. In addition, the memory assistance server includes presentation logic to generate one or more media clips from the received media signal. Furthermore, the presentation logic determines a time and medium to present one or more media clips to a user so as to aid the user in recalling and/or reinforcing one or more existing memories of a particular event or fact.
US07716134B2
A method of operating a self service terminal (SST) (12) is described, in which the SST (12) detects characteristics of a mobile computing device held by a user (16), and configures the user interface dependent on the detected characteristics. The characteristics may include features of the mobile device, such as communication facilities, or may include user identification information. Where the user is identified, a user profile may be retrieved from a remote SST operator (14). Certain embodiments of the invention may detect devices held by a second or subsequent user (18), and retrieve the relevant user profile prior to the second user (18) interacting with the SST (12).
US07716128B2
A payment service method and system involve a payment service provider, a customer/payor and a consumer provider/payee. The customer/payor enrolls in the service and is provided a unique identifier that enables the customer to conduct transactions with the payment service provider. The customer/payor interfaces with the payment service provider through various forms of communication, and can facilitate payments to the consumer providers/payees through the payment service provider while remaining anonymous.
US07716127B2
The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating commercial transactions involving the exchange of monetary value for goods, services, or other value between remote individuals, as in the case of transactions between users of a distributed computer network such as the Internet. Remote individuals are provided with a convenient, cost-efficient, and secure means for engaging in commercial transactions with one another. The invention provides remote sellers with an irrevocable means of receiving funds from a remote purchaser; means for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party; transaction tracking; and rapid funds availability. The invention also provides remote purchasers with means for making a secure, confidential transfer of funds; means for immediate initiation of shipment by a seller; means for releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value; means for demonstrating proof of payment; and means for having some level of recourse against a remote seller.
US07716125B2
A system for matching lending orders and borrowing orders includes a borrowing order receiver, a lending order receiver, and a matcher. The borrowing order receiver is configured to receive borrowing orders from at least one borrower, each borrowing order including borrower-requested loan terms. The lending order receiver is configured to receive lending orders from at least one lender, each lending order comprising lender-requested loan terms. The matcher is configured to automatically identify a plurality of borrowing orders each having borrower-requested loan terms that satisfy the lender-requested loan terms of a respective current lending order, and select from amongst the identified plurality of borrowing orders a set of borrowing orders to be provided as a match of the respective current lending order, wherein the borrowing orders of the sets are selected so as to optimize said respective provided matches with respect to criteria of respective operator-definable utility functions.
US07716122B2
A system comprises a memory operable to store a trading order for a particular quantity of a trading product, wherein a first portion of the particular quantity is a displayed quantity and a second portion of the particular quantity is a reserved quantity. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to disclose the displayed quantity to one or more market centers. The processor is further operable to identify a decay rate associated with the trading order. The processor is further operable to cause the reserved quantity to decay based at least in part on the identified decay rate.
US07716118B2
A system for managing trading orders comprises a memory operable to store an order associated with a first price. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to identify a latency value. The processor is further operable to receive a counterorder and to identify a potential trade associated with the order and the counterorder, the potential trade based at least in part on the first price. If the latency value satisfies a configurable condition, the processor is further operable to initiate a configurable period of time. If the potential trade is not valid upon expiration of the configurable period, the processor is further operable to prevent the execution of the potential trade.
US07716114B2
A credit derivative trading system comprises a credit derivative authority configured to receive defined positions for credit derivatives and update a plurality of trade clients in real-time whenever there is movement in the market for a particular credit derivative.
US07716109B1
The present invention relates to a web trading system and method for performing financial transactions securely over a public data network, such as the Internet, using a web browser as the user interface. The financial transactions are offered, for example, by a financial institution to its customers at the institution's web site. They include transactions such as foreign currency exchange, currency and money market trades, and warrant trades. The web trading system and method provide secure communication protocol between the Internet user interface and a virtual private network (VPN) of a financial institution to enable implementation of trading applications by the financial institution's application servers across the VPN. Security for the financial transactions is provided by the web trading systems and software downloaded to the customer's personal computer (PC) and includes encryption, authentication, authorization, message and transaction integrity capabilities, registration authority, handshake protocol, and firewalls.
US07716104B2
A system and method are provided for analyzing tax avoidance of a taxpaying entity. A taxpaying entity's financial information may be analyzed and used to compute a set of one or more financial ratios based at least in part on the entity's return on assets, capital, sales, and/or operating expenses. Those ratios may be compared to corresponding ratios for related firms operating in a predefined industry to identify whether the taxpaying entity engages in tax avoidance. The level of the taxpaying entity's tax avoidance may be calculated from analysis of the taxpaying entities controlled transactions. An adjusted tax liability may be produced after re-distribution, re-apportioning, or re-allocation of income, deductions, credits, or allowances.
US07716102B1
A system, method, software, and portfolios for managing risk in markets relating to a commodity delivered over a network are described, in which a market participant constructs portfolios of preferably liquid price risk instruments in proportions that eliminate the Spatial Price Risk for the market participant's underlying position. Techniques are also disclosed for constructing and evaluating new price risk instruments and other sets of positions, as well as identifying arbitrage opportunities in those markets.
US07716098B2
A method of hindering optical detection of a pattern of data being stored, moved or processed by at least one active circuit in an integrated circuit, the active circuit including at least first and second active devices that change state within a period of time, such that each device exhibits low resistance in one state and high resistance in another state, the method comprising controlling timing of the change of state of the first active device relative to the second active device so as to prevent the devices having simultaneous intermediate resistances between the low and high resistances, thereby to reduce optical emission by the at least one active circuit compared to causing the changes of state of the two devices to happen simultaneously.
US07716096B2
An application service provider (ASP) and automated transaction machine method and system is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of individually accessible server side ATM applications through at least one ASP server. The method further includes enabling a plurality of ATMs to selectively access each server side ATM application through communication with the at least one ASP server. The method also includes performing services for the ATMs with the at least one ASP server responsive to the plurality of server side ATM applications.
US07716090B1
A remote bidding supplement for traditional-style live auctions, comprising an audio/video system for streaming instantaneous and buffer-free live audio and video data from a live auction site to one or more remote auction bidders having a bidding device for receiving the data and for transmitting instantaneously remote auction bids for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; a clerk system for controlling and accepting auction bids received at the live auction site from onsite auction bidder and from remote auction bidders for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; a marquee system for displaying instantaneously at the live auction site auction bid information, including accepted auction bids, for each item being auctioned at the live auction site; and a bid system for broadcasting instantaneously to all remote auction bidders and to the marquee system the auction bid information for each item being auctioned at the live auction site, for receiving instantaneously auction bids from each remote auction bidder for each item being auctioned at the live auction site and for transmitting instantaneously to the clerk system each remote auction bid received for each item being auctioned at the live auction, and for broadcasting instantaneously to all remote auction bidders and to the marquee system the onsite and remote auction bids that have been accepted by the clerk system.
US07716086B2
Multiple users are provided the ability to add or modify items in an open order created by an originating user on an electronic retail system. The originating user has the ability to verify and authorize a final purchase order that is submitted to the retail system. The originating user forwards an open order to other users, who are then allowed to add to the order, such as by adding items to a shopping cart. In a tandem browsing mode, other users are invited to observe the interaction of the originating user with an electronic retail system and modify an order for approval by the originating user.
US07716080B2
Method and system for using multi-function cards for storing, managing and aggregating reward points
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.
US07716075B1
A computer-based method, system and apparatus for pricing a tax flow-through annuity product. The resulting product is superior to traditional VA's, offering: lifetime income guarantees; capital gains tax treatment on annuity withdrawals; stock dividends taxed as dividends, not ordinary income; ETF-like tax efficiency by minimizing capital gains distributions, even on actively-managed funds; and wealth transfer efficiency through step-up in basis on death. The product benefits life insurance carriers and distributors. Investor benefits include: the ability to realize the full benefit of recent tax reform; the potential for better tax treatment than existing mutual funds; a guarantee of lifetime income; and the ability to pass assets on to heirs efficiently.
US07716072B1
A medical management system is provided that integrates all aspects of healthcare provider practice management and managed care, including schedule management, patient registration, insurance information, EMR and billing and collections. The system integrates a central framework module, a scheduling module, a registration module, an account management module and an electronic record module to provide a seamless exchange of information. A clinical module provides template builder which allows the users to define a customized template. The custom and standard templates are used by a document builder to generate documents, such as progress notes and H&P notes, which are retained in the patient's electronic chart. The progress note template allows the clinician to record a patient encounter by presenting the clinician with predefined sections and sentences that are easily completed by the clinician during or after the patient encounter. The templates and documents generated are designed to closely resemble a paper chart. Information gathered during patient scheduling and triage are referenced to pre-populate the templates to avoid having the clinician entering redundant information. The documents are relied upon to automatically generate patient superbills and electronic requests are sent to a claims clearinghouse.
US07716069B2
In a further aspect of the invention, the calculated results may be communicated as a graphical output 196, such as is illustrated in FIG. 27. The graphical output 196 may be accessed by pressing a graph report button 198 on the report output dialog box (FIG. 26). The graphical output 196 is useful to further illustrate to the physician and the patient the changes in the calculated risk value over time, and in relation to the cholesterol levels. The graphical output 196 is also useful as a further tool in enabling a patient to understand the relationship between their health habits and the associated risk factor, and in encouraging the patient to participate in their own medical decision making.
US07716055B1
A verification system for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant using an account is authorized to use the account. A voice response unit records a voice print of the customer, e.g. when the account is established, and associates the voice print with the customer account. In a subsequent transaction, such as where a customer changes telecommunications provider, the customer voice print is used to verify that a voice approval given by the customer is in fact from the customer.
US07716051B2
A distributed voice recognition system (500) and method employs principles of bottom-up (i.e., raw input) and top-down (i.e., prediction based on past experience) processing to perform client-side and server-side processing by (i) at the client-side, replacing application data by a phonotactic table (504); (ii) at the server-side, tracking separate confidence scores for matches against an acoustic model and comparison to a grammar; and (iii) at the server-side using a contention resolver (514) to weight the client-side and server-side results to establish a single output which represents the collaboration between client-side processing and server-side processing.
US07716041B2
Context-free grammars generally comprise a large number of rules, where each rule defines how a string of symbols is generated from a different series of symbols. While techniques for creating finite-state automata from the rules of context-free grammars exist, these techniques require an input grammar to be strongly regular. Systems and methods that convert the rules of a context-free grammar into a strongly regular grammar include transforming each input rule into a set of output rules that approximate the input rule. The output rules are all right- or left-linear and are strongly regular. In various exemplary embodiments, the output rules are output in a specific format that specifies, for each rule, the left-hand non-terminal symbol, a single right-hand non-terminal symbol, and zero, one or more terminal symbols. If the input context-free grammar rule is weighted, the weight of that rule is distributed and assigned to the output rules.
US07716035B2
PCI simulation component has an initialization component, a configuration space simulator and a memory-mapped I/O space simulator. The initialization component can claim an amount of memory by modifying the amount of memory that an operating system has available to it. The initialization component further identifies to the operating system that at least some of the claimed memory resides on a PCI bus. The configuration space simulator causes the operating system to accept that the simulated PCI device is present in the system.
US07716031B2
Providing a unified view of multiple computer system simulations. A simulation process has a simulation thread that executes a plurality of computer system simulations. The simulation process also has a debug support thread that provides a unified view of the simulations. To provide the unified view, the debug support thread has an external interface, an internal interface to each of the simulations, and an interface converter that converts between the external interface and the internal interfaces. Thus, the external interface provides a unified view of the simulations. The external interface allows a single debugging platform to control and observe the simulations.
US07716029B2
A method is disclosed for performing optimal gridding in reservoir simulation, the method comprising: establishing an optimal coarse grid proxy that can replace all or parts of a fine grid with a coarse grid while preserving an accuracy of a predefined simulation model output, the step of establishing an optimal coarse grid proxy including finding, by using an optimizer, a best fit of a coarse grid output to the output of a training set.
US07716028B2
Method for modeling a reservoir using a 3D wettability map generated from a wettability logging tool
A method is disclosed for modeling a reservoir, comprising: receiving a set of wettability logs from a wettability logging tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore; generating a wettability map in response to the wettability logs; generating a gridded simulation model, the gridded simulation model including a plurality of grid cells; determining, for each grid cell of the gridded simulation model, a local value of wettability from the wettability map; determining, for each grid cell of the gridded simulation model, a permeability model and a capillary pressure model from the local value of wettability associated with each grid cell; and generating a set of simulation results representing characteristics of the reservoir.
US07716025B2
A system and method for configuring a condensing unit for a cooling system includes inputting one of a cooling system characteristic, a condensing unit characteristic and a compressor characteristic for the cooling system, applying embedded design rules and accessing a condensing unit database of component attributes and their relationships. A base condensing unit is determined based on the one of a cooling system characteristic, a condensing unit characteristic and a compressor characteristic for the cooling system. The method further includes selecting various accessories of the condensing unit for customizing the base condensing unit based on the particular application.
US07716023B2
A system and method for deriving semiconductor manufacturing process corners using surrogate simulations is disclosed. The method may be used to determine individual performance metric yields, the number of out-of-specification conditions for a given number of simulation samples, and a total yield prediction for simultaneous multi-variable conditions. A surrogate simulation model, such as a Response Surface Model, may be generated from circuit simulation data or parametric data measurements and may be executed using a large number of multi-variable sample points to determine process corners defining yield limits for a device. The model may also be used to simulate process shifts and exaggerated input ranges for critical device parameters. In some embodiments, the derived process corners may better represent physically possible worst-case process corners than traditional general-purpose process corners, and may address differences in process sensitivities for individual circuits of the device.
US07716014B2
A method and apparatus that includes determining differences between a process model and an actual process are used as a diagnostic system for the actual process. The process model includes elements from a design process to provide a “known good” condition for evaluating the differences. Initial input states to the process model are the initial input states to the actual process. Output information correlated to states in the actual process is provided by controls, such as programmable logic controllers, that manage the actual process.
US07716011B2
A strategy is described for identifying anomalies in time-series data. The strategy involves dividing the time-series data into a plurality of collected data segments and then using a modeling technique to fit local models to the collected data segments. Large deviations of the time-series data from the local models are indicative of anomalies. In one approach, the modeling technique can use an absolute value (L1) measure of error value for all of the collected data segments. In another approach, the modeling technique can use the L1 measure for only those portions of the time-series data that are projected to be anomalous. The modeling technique can use a squared-term (L2) measure of error value for normal portions of the time-series data. In another approach, the modeling technique can use an iterative expectation-maximization strategy in applying the L1 and L2 measures.
US07716008B2
The data acquisition means acquires the acceleration data at predetermined time intervals. The change amount calculation means calculates a change amount vector representing a change amount of the acceleration by using the acceleration data having been acquired by the data acquisition means. The accumulation vector calculation means calculates an accumulation vector by sequentially and cumulatively adding the change amount vector having been calculated by the change amount calculation means. The direction determination means determines, as a waving direction representing a moving direction of the input device, a direction of the accumulation vector, when the accumulation vector having been calculated by the accumulation vector calculation means satisfies a predetermined condition.
US07716006B2
A computer system that schedules loads across a set of processor cores is described. During operation, the computer system receives thermal measurements from sensors associated with the set of processor cores, and removes noise from the thermal measurements. Then, the computer system analyzes thermal properties of the set of processor cores based on the thermal measurements. Next, the computer system receives a process to be executed, and schedules the process to be executed by at least one of the processor cores based on the analysis. This scheduling is performed in a manner that reduces spatial and temporal thermal variations in the integrated circuit.
US07715994B1
The invention is an improved process for using surface strain data to obtain real-time, operational loads data for complex structures that significantly reduces the time and cost versus current methods.
US07715991B2
A method for estimating an amount of damages sustained by a component operating in an energy system by monitoring the component is provided. The method includes generating a transfer function that is dependent upon an input of at least one operating condition of the component and an output of a crack-initiation time and/or a crack propagation for at least one critical region. The method further includes receiving data from at least one sensor coupled to the component, wherein the data relates to the at least one operating condition of the component, and inputting the received data from the at least one sensor into the transfer function to calculate at least one of the crack-initiation time and the crack propagation for the at least one critical region. The method also includes recording at least one of the crack-initiation time and the crack propagation on a memory storage device.
US07715984B2
It is shown that a pressure pulse originating in a well is correlated to a pulse observed at a distant well with a characteristic time. The correlation time is directly related to the diffusion time scale arising out of the pressure diffusion equation. The relationship is affected by the source-observer or observer-observer distance but the correction is small for large distances. In practice, further corrections have to be included for finite width pulses. For these pulses, a practical scheme for continuous permeability monitoring is presented.
US07715981B2
A method of searching and retrieving ranked points of interest (POIs) within a Polygonal area of interest (AOI) includes defining an AOI. The AOI has a Polygon shape and includes a plurality of points. The method also includes identifying at least one POI within the defined AOI, and organizing the identified POIs in an order of rankings associated with the identified POIs. Then, information related to the identified POIs is requested, and presented in the order of the rankings associated with the respective POIs.
US07715977B2
A system and method for controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network, where the rail network is divided into a plurality of planning areas with a boundary element of common track between adjacent planning areas, using a local coordinating agent for controlling the movement of the trains through the boundary elements.
US07715967B2
A hydraulic controller includes an actuator for electrically controlling the hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic-pressure sensing part for sensing an actual value of the hydraulic pressure in the actuator, and an ECU for controlling the actuator. The ECU includes a fundamental hydraulic-pressure value command part for carrying out setting and command of a fundamental hydraulic-pressure command value, a feedforward control part for calculating through an inverse filter a first target hydraulic-pressure command value in accordance with the fundamental hydraulic-pressure command value, a feedback control part for calculating a second target hydraulic-pressure command value in accordance with the sensed actual value of the hydraulic pressure and the fundamental hydraulic-pressure command value, and a target control-amount determination part for determining a target control amount of the actuator in accordance with the first and second target hydraulic-pressure command value, wherein the ECU controls the actuator in accordance with the determined target control amount.
US07715963B2
In a stabilizer control apparatus for controlling a torsional rigidity of a stabilizer of a vehicle, an actual lateral acceleration and a calculated lateral acceleration are obtained. Then, influence amount caused by the calculated lateral acceleration is set to be greater than influence amount caused by the actual lateral acceleration, when the vehicle is moving straight, whereas the influence amount caused by the actual lateral acceleration is set to be increased, with the turning operation of the vehicle being increased, to actively control the rolling motion of the vehicle body.
US07715957B2
A hybrid ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating an SOC of a battery when turn-on of pre-air-conditioning is requested; prohibiting pre-air-conditioning when the SOC does not satisfy a condition that the SOC is greater than an SOC (Y %) necessary for warm-up and running; and notifying a driver of prohibition of pre-air-conditioning.
US07715953B2
The present invention helps a driver steer a vehicle while backing up a trailer. A trailer being pushed wants to turn around and be pulled (i.e., to jackknife). To compensate for this instability, the driver must skillfully control his steering to cause the trailer to alternately move to be pulled from the opposite side thereby repeatedly crossing the centerline of the pushing vehicle. The moment when the trailer crosses this centerline is the moment of greatest instability and the position in which the driver would most desire to have the trailer travel. A pointer indicates in what direction the trailer is presently being directed; to backup the trailer, the driver turns the vehicle's wheel such that the pointer is kept pointing in the direction of the intended trailer destination. The present invention can be adapted to most vehicle and trailer combinations with minimal cost and complexity.
US07715951B2
A system for managing consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to power consuming devices includes at least one client device and a server. Each client device operates at least partially responsive to control messages received from the server and controls operation of one or more controllable devices. Each controllable device selectively enables and disables a flow of power to one or more of the consuming devices. The server stores information, on a per client device basis, relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. When a power reduction is requested by the utility, the server selects, based on client device information stored in the database, at least one client device to which to issue a power reduction message that indicates at least one of an amount of power to be reduced and an identification of a controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of power.
US07715945B2
By using a first dynamic model of a moving robot 1, a provisional motion, which indicates a provisional value of a desired motion of the robot 1, is created such that a desired value of a floor reaction force moment horizontal component and a permissible range of a translational floor reaction force horizontal component are satisfied on the first dynamic model. The difference between a floor reaction force produced on a second dynamic model, which has a dynamic accuracy that is higher than that of the first dynamic model, by the provisional motion and a floor reaction force produced on the first dynamic model is defined as a floor reaction force error. Based on this floor reaction force error, the provisional motion is corrected on the first dynamic model to generate a desired motion. The desired motion is generated such that the value obtained by adding the floor reaction force error to the floor reaction force generated on the first dynamic model satisfies the aforesaid desired value and permissible range.
US07715937B2
A method and system sorts manufactured integrated circuit devices by evaluating performance characteristics of the manufactured integrated circuit devices. All of the integrated circuit devices are manufactured using an identical design, and differences in the performance characteristics among the integrated circuit devices occurs because of variations including manufacturing line variations. The integrated circuit devices are sorted into groups according to the performance characteristics and are utilized in different computing devices depending upon individual performance requirements of the computing devices.
US07715936B2
A computer-based system and method for production planning are described that relies on developing factory shop floor modeling. This modeling includes simulating the factory shop floor to create a Virtual Factory. This Virtual Factory provides the ability to assess any possible production sequence for determining an optimal of production sequence according to the criteria defined the user.
US07715935B2
A system and method for determining how food products might be portioned includes a scanner for scanning the food product and then using a computer to analyze the scanning data to develop a volume distribution of the food product. The computer operating scanning software carries out modeling to determine potential sets of end products achievable from the initial work product, taking into consideration the possibility of adjusting the thickness of the food product, either before or after cutting of the food product occurs. The computer evaluates the potential yield provided by the potential sets of end products and then one of the potential sets of end products is selected. Thereafter, the present system or a further portioning system is used to cut and optionally adjust the thickness of the food product, either before or after the cutting occurs, thereby to achieve the selected end product set.
US07715932B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling safety-critical processes, such as the monitoring of protective doors, emergency stop switches, light curtains and the like. A control unit is connected to a plurality of I/O units via a data transmission link. The I/O units transmit process data to the control unit, with the process data being protected against transmission errors by means of a diversitary multiple transmission. The process data are encoded using a variable keyword in order to generate variably encoded process data. The variably encoded process data are transmitted to the control unit as part of the diversitary multiple transmission.
US07715929B2
A human-machine interface of a control system for monitoring and control of a process and including a computer generated model of the process. The process or a part or component of the process is displayed such that the model is arranged to map a point on the computer generated model to data held by the control system about the at least one part or component of the process. A method to monitor and control a process using the human-machine interface and a system including the interface are also described.
US07715928B1
Techniques and sensor networks based on distributed wavelet transform algorithms for efficient sensor networks. Wireless multihop sensor networks can implement the described techniques to exploit the data flow direction in the network to perform partial computations to approximate the wavelet coefficients using the available data that arrives at each sensor. Non-multihop sensor networks may use inter-sensor communications and the distributed wavelet transform algorithms to decorrelate the data and thus improve the energy efficiency.
US07715913B1
A method and apparatus for training a user to operate an external defibrillator, usable in a therapy or training mode, which includes an energy source; an electrode interface responsive to an electrode arrangeable on a release liner and configured for placement on a subject; and an energy delivery system operable to selectively deliver electrical energy from the energy source to the electrode via the electrode interface. The method includes: when the electrode is coupled to the electrode interface, receiving an input signal from the electrode, prior to placement of the electrode on the subject; based on the input signal, identifying a degree of electrical connectivity along an electrical path including the electrode; based on the determined degree of electrical conductivity, advancing the external defibrillator from a first training state to a second training state; and issuing a training state notification indicating advancement from the first training state to the second training state.
US07715911B2
Delivering electrical stimulation to a body tissue by a circuit. The circuit includes a first and second terminal electrically coupled to body tissue. A sole capacitor has a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is coupled to the first terminal. The second electrode is coupled to a power source through a switch.
US07715902B2
A method for identifying advantageous and non-advantageous infusion regions in the tissue includes capturing at least one of (i) functional anatomical data and (ii) structural anatomical data. The captured anatomical data is evaluated with computer assistance. Based on the evaluating step, the method includes determining infusion distribution information, such as directional and velocity information.
US07715897B2
A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance. The source and detector may be attached to the fabric in relative positions such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into the aperture of acceptance as the fabric stretches in response to motion.
US07715893B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for calibrating a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes one or more electrodes to measure an additional analyte. Such measurements may provide a baseline or sensitivity measurement for use in calibrating the sensor. Furthermore, baseline and/or sensitivity measurements may be used to trigger events such as digital filtering of data or suspending display of data.
US07715891B2
A receiving apparatus which is used while connected to a plurality of antennas, the receiving apparatus receiving a radio signal through the antennas to perform a predetermined process to the received radio signal, the radio signal being transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus inserted into a subject, includes a receiving antenna selection unit that selects the antenna which is suitable for reception of the radio signal when the radio signal is transmitted from the body-insertable apparatus; a sequential antenna selection unit that sequentially selects each of the plurality of antennas when performance inspection of the plurality of antennas is performed; and a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process to the radio signal received through the antenna, the antenna being selected by the receiving antenna selection unit or the sequential antenna selection unit.
US07715884B2
Various embodiments are described for a mobile communication device having a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device; a device memory coupled to the main processor for storing a plurality of battery information profiles; and a smart battery coupled to the main processor for providing supply power. The smart battery includes a battery processor for controlling the operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and a battery memory coupled to the battery processor for storing a Battery ID indicating the model of the smart battery. The main processor is configured to communicate with the battery processor to obtain the Battery ID and select one the battery information profiles based on the Battery ID.
US07715881B1
Automatically initiating and answering communications are described herein. A communications device may be configured to automatically initiate outgoing communications to a default destination or to perform some action automatically upon receiving an incoming communication. Entries in a data structure accessible by the communications device can specify different delay periods applicable to each entry, such that communications to or from these entries are handled according to these delay periods. Outgoing communications can be initiated automatically to one of the entries, triggered in response to a user action. The user can override the outgoing communication by acting affirmatively within the delay period specified for the entry to which the communication is being initiated. The communications device can also be configured to automatically answer incoming communications in a variety of ways. The user can act affirmatively within an applicable delay period to override a default answering mode for incoming communications.
US07715874B2
A portable handsfree for cable-connection to a mobile terminal is provided. The portable handsfree comprises a cable for connecting the portable handsfree to a mobile telephone at a first end of the portable handsfree and to a computer at another end of the portable handsfree such that data transmission between the mobile terminal and the computer can be enabled through the portable handsfree.
US07715856B2
A method for delivering a short message service (SMS) message to an interworking wireless local area network user equipment (UE) begins by registering the UE with an Internet Protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW). A capability report is sent from the UE to the IP-SM-GW, the capability report including the capabilities of the UE. A SMS message is transmitted from a short message service center (SMSC) to the IP-SM-GW. The capabilities of the UE are evaluated at the IP-SM-GW to determine whether the UE can receive the SMS message, and the SMS message is delivered to the UE via the IP-SM-GW if the UE has the capabilities to receive the SMS message.
US07715855B2
A wireless communications network (120) responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device (134) by transmitting a call-paging message (418) within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format. Responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event (404), the network transmits (414) a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network. The broadcast-paging message is transmitted multiple times within each digital radio frame. Another sequence (500) describes WCD operation in this network. Responsive to wakeup (502) from sleep, the WCD detects (509) received signal quality. The WCD also receives (510) scheduled network transmission of a call-paging message and a number of instances (at least one) of a repeating network transmitted broadcast-paging message that occurs multiple times for each scheduled transmission of the call-paging message. This number varies inversely with the detected signal quality.
US07715843B2
Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.
US07715839B2
The present invention relates to a method of controlling the roam of a terminal user in the NGN network system, including: dividing the network into regions in accordance with IP address field and defining the roam type and service attribute of each IP address field when the terminal user roams to each region; defining the roam right of the terminal user in a core control device according to the roam type; when the terminal registers with the core control device from a region, IP address of the terminal being uploaded to the core control device, and the core control device obtaining the roam type of the terminal in accordance with the IP address of the terminal; then judging whether the terminal user has such roam right of this roam type, if positive, the terminal registering successfully, otherwise failing; when the terminal registers successfully, the terminal user is able to use the network service and some service attributes in the region. By adopting the method of the present invention, it is possible that the core control device can control and manage the access of the terminal user to different regions.
US07715830B2
The present invention permits safeguarding of private data entered into a memory chip of a cell phone by permitting the cell phone owner to erase the data in a lost or stolen phone, using an preset erase code and erase command in the cell phone or the network base station, and disabling or erasing circuitry on the memory chip, preferably an EEPROM chip.
US07715825B2
One method involves the steps of causing a message to be sent to a relay network for delivery to a mobile device through one of a plurality of wireless networks coupled to the relay network; receiving, from the relay network, a result message when the mobile device is unavailable to receive the message, the result message comprising a message identifier; maintaining storage of the message in memory accessible by a host server after the result message is received; receiving, from the relay network, a status message which indicates that the mobile device is available to receive the message when the mobile device is available to receive the message; and causing the message to be sent again to the relay network for delivery to the mobile device in response to receiving the status message. During the unavailability, the relay network refrains from maintaining storage of the message.
US07715822B2
A mutual authentication method is provided for securely agreeing application-security keys with mobile terminals supporting legacy Subscriber Identity Modules (e.g., GSM SIM and CDMA2000 R-UIM, which do not support 3G AKA mechanisms). A challenge-response key exchange is implemented between a bootstrapping server function (BSF) and mobile terminal (MT). The BSF generates an authentication challenge and sends it to the MT under a server-authenticated public key mechanism. The MT receives the challenge and determines whether it originates from the BSF based on a bootstrapping server certificate. The MT formulates a response to the authentication challenge based on keys derived from the authentication challenge and a pre-shared secret key. The BSF receives the authentication response and verifies whether it originates from the MT. Once verified, the BSF and MT independently calculate an application security key that the BSF sends to a requesting network application function to establish secure communications with the MT.
US07715817B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing wireless communications through, for example, a utility pole mounted antenna. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving first data from a wire line network at a transceiver placed at a location on the wire line network. The location may be a place where the wire line network is present, where electrical power for the transceiver is present, or where a service provider of the wireless communications has a legal right to locate the transceiver. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include transmitting the first data wirelessly from the transceiver through an antenna wherein the transceiver and the antenna are located on a utility pole. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include receiving second data at the transceiver wirelessly from a wireless device.
US07715812B2
Transmission in DCS1800, PCS1900, and WCDMA1900 is performed by a common second RE power amplifier. In DCS1800 and DCS1900, transmission power is set in a high transmission power mode at 33 dBm by a high-gain input amplifier to activate an internal voltage follower of a bias circuit, and in WCDMA1900, in a low transmission power mode at 28 to 29 dBm by a low-gain input amplifier to inactivate the voltage follower. Switching of the high and low transmission power modes and controlling the voltage follower are performed according to a mode signal. In an RF power amplifier module that transmits frequencies of GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900, and WCDMA1900, it is possible to reduce the number of power amplifiers and, for ramp-up and ramp-down of the GSM standard, to perform high-speed control of an input bias voltage and reduce noise of a transmission power of a wideband WCDMA.
US07715808B2
This invention intends to provide a polar modulating circuit, a polar modulating method, an integrated circuit and a radio transmission device capable of compensating for a delay difference between paths of a phase signal and an amplitude signal while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale in a polar modulating system. In a delay quantity determining unit 102, delay quantity information relative to the amplitude value of the amplitude signal or transmission level information S1, based on the step response characteristic of a power amplifying unit 105 are previously stored as table data. Thus, by executing delay adjustment using, as a reference signal, the amplitude signal or transmission level information S1, the delay difference between paths of a phase signal and an amplitude signal can be compensated for while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.
US07715799B2
A headset monitoring system includes a plurality of headsets and a base station. Each headset includes a microphone, a speaker, a transceiver, and a memory device for storing an identification code, and the base station includes a transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory device, and a user interface. The base station is configured to send and receive data to and from the headsets and is further configured to identify headsets that are not functioning properly.
US07715797B2
A mobile communication terminal equipped with speaker phone functionality and a method for removing feedback when the speaker phone is in use are disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes: a first voice input path serving as a default voice input path; a second voice input path serving as an additional voice input path; and a controller for determining whether a speaker phone is in use, wherein the controller selects one of the first and second voice input paths according to whether the speaker phone is in use.
US07715796B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a search module to search for a wirelessly communicable wireless communication device, a display module to display, as options, a list of wireless communication devices found by the search module, and a connection module to send a connection request to a wireless communication device selected from the list displayed by the display module. The display module includes a first device information presentation module to present, together with an address of each wireless communication device, a full or short device name contained in information which is acquired from each wireless communication device in searching by the search module, and a second device information presentation module to present a full device name acquired by sending a device name acquisition request to a wireless communication device whose full and short device names have not been presented by the first device information presentation module.
US07715790B1
Methods and apparatuses for automated configuring of user preferences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to operate a data processing system, includes: detecting whether or not a portable device is connected to the data processing system; and automatically configuring one or more user preferences of the data processing system according to an identity of the portable device in response to a change in whether or not the portable device is connected to the data processing system. In one aspect of the present invention, call forwarding of at least one of a land line phone and a mobile phone is automatically configured when the mobile phone is brought close to the land line phone or when the mobile phone is taken away from the land line phone.
US07715784B2
In a radio system for transmitting information channels A1, A2, A3 to radio receivers, the information channels A1, A2, A3 are transmitted in parallel over a number of data channels, each using different transmission standards. A radio receiver selects a transmission standard based on the type of its energy supply.
US07715782B2
A channel mapping system has a data source containing data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region and a channel determination module that uses data indicative of a location in conjunction with the data source to determine a preferred channel. The preferred channel may be an FM channel. A transmitter is used with a portable media player to broadcast audio data contained on or received by the portable media player over the preferred channel. The media can be received by a corresponding receiver set to the same preferred channel. Adjustments to the channel settings can be determined repeatedly so that, as a preferred channel changes with location, an automated process or a user facilitated process can be used to change the channel settings on each of the transmitter and the receive. A location identification system such as GPS can be used to identify the location.
US07715780B1
A wireless audience response system can have a host unit, presenter device, and a plurality of audience response units with keypads, with the host unit being communicatively coupled to a computer. In some embodiments, the audience response units can be used to execute functions using application programs within the computer remotely. Also, in other embodiments, the audience response units track delay times required for transmitting input data, with the delay times being usable in comparing response times at the host unit.
US07715779B2
A duplex simultaneous reading apparatus having an image reading unit for simultaneously reading a first surface and a second surface of a document, the duplex simultaneous reading apparatus includes: a detection unit for detecting any specified pattern image from image data read by the image reading unit; and a selection unit for selectively inputting the read image data of the first surface of the document and the read image data of the second surface to the detection unit in block units, wherein the detection unit detects the specified pattern image in the first surface or the second surface of the document, from the block-unit image data inputted by the selection unit.
US07715775B2
The present invention provides a glossing apparatus including first and second heating rotating members which contact each other to form a nip part, an toner image on a recording material being heated in the nip part; a cooling unit which cools the recording material, moved while contacting the first heating rotating member, before the recording material is separated from the first heating rotating member; and a mode performing unit which performs a high-gloss mode and a low-gloss mode, the recording material is conveyed to and heated by the nip part such that the toner image contact the first heating rotating member in the high-gloss mode, the recording material is conveyed to and heated by the nip part such that the toner image contact the second heating rotating member in the low-gloss mode.
US07715753B2
In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of process units each including a photoconductor drum are arranged in tandem; a plurality of exposure units configured to expose the photoconductor drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon are each disposed above and opposite to the corresponding photoconductor drum; an output tray configured to receive an ejected recording sheet on which an image has been formed is disposed above the plurality of exposure units; and an image reader unit configured to read an image of a source document is disposed above the output tray with a predetermined space provided between the image reader unit and the output tray. At least one of the exposure units and at least a part of the output tray are movable together into the predetermined space, whereby the plurality of process units are allowed to be pulled out in a direction of tandem arrangement thereof.
US07715748B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a developing method thereof are provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image carrier body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing roller which faces the image carrier body and supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier body, and an anti-toner-dispersion element which faces an outer circumferential surface of the image carrier body between an exposing section where the electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing section where the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller. A collection bias is applied to the anti-toner-dispersion element to collect dispersed toner from the developing roller.
US07715747B2
An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
US07715734B2
A method for detecting a media change includes the steps of comparing a previous media condition to a current media condition, detecting a media change when the previous media condition is in one state and the current media condition is not that one state and, prompting a user to make appropriate menu selections when the media change is detected.
US07715733B2
Systems and methods for authentication of materials used in imaging members and assemblies. Authentication of imaging materials ensure that compatible components are being used with the imaging members and assemblies. Embodiments provide a system and method for efficiently detecting whether materials being used in the imaging members and assemblies are compatible and authentic materials authorized for such uses.
US07715724B2
The phase modulation in which the frequency chirp becomes 0 at the timing which the user wants to synchronize, and the frequency chirp becomes larger as the time deviates in a positive or negative direction from this timing is applied to the signal light with each wavelength comprising pulse train of different timing. Thus, the optical pulses which deviate from the timing which the user wants to synchronize receive the frequency chirp in accordance with the amount of the timing deviation. The WDM signal light which has been chirped in this way is made to pass a linear dispersive medium, and the dispersion fit for the amount of frequency chirp is made to be given. By adjusting the amount of dispersion, it is possible to obtain the pulses which conform to the timing at which the user wants to synchronize the pulses of each wavelength.
US07715720B2
An optical device is provided with first and second inputs. A first coupler coupled is coupled to the first input and produces at least a first and second output. A second coupler is coupled to the second input and produces at least a first and second output. A third coupler is coupled to the first output of the first coupler and to the first output of the second coupler. A fourth coupler is coupled to the second output of the first coupler and to the second output of the second coupler. First and second crossing waveguides are provided with an angle selected to minimize crosstalk and losses between the first and second cross waveguides. The first crossing waveguide connects one of the first or second outputs from the first coupler with an input of the fourth coupler. The second crossing waveguide connects one of the first or second outputs from the second coupler with an input of the third coupler. A first phase shifter is coupled to the first and second waveguides. The first and second waveguides connect one of the outputs of the first or second coupler and one of the inputs of the third or fourth couplers. The first, second, third and fourth couplers, the two crossing waveguides and the phase shifter are each formed as part of a single planar chip made of an electro-optical material.
US07715713B1
A technique for allocating protection-switching mechanisms operates on a per wavelength basis. This allows a designer of an optical network to select a particular protection switching mechanism for a given traffic type, which is usually specific to a particular wavelength in an optical network. For another traffic type, the designer can allocate a different protection switching mechanism, thereby providing optimal protection switching for each traffic type.
US07715709B2
The optical switch, having a plurality of ports capable of switching optical signal routes in a network in the form of light, includes a detection means for detecting information in regard to the transmission condition of an optical signal passing through each port; and a control means for exchanging the transmission condition information between each switch and controlling the ports, so as to select one route from among a plurality of routes transmitting the optical signal based on the difference of transmission condition information between the relevant switches. The transmission condition information is the power of the optical signal. When the difference between each switch exists, or when at least one switch intervenes in the middle of the transmission route, by selecting a transmission route which minimizes accumulated differences among the switches, configuring a tree structure conventionally performed through manual operation can be set automatically in an optical network system.
US07715708B2
An optical sensor is transported to a position above a marker on a tray, where it irradiates the marker and measures the reflected light so as to obtain a reference value. A threshold value is determined based on the reference value. The optical sensor is transported above the tray, while emitting light and measuring reflected light. The measured amount is compared with the threshold value. A marker position is identified based on the comparison and the threshold value. A start print position is based on the marker position.
US07715697B2
A broadcast receiver includes a tuner section for receiving a broadcast program, an MPEG decoder 126 for converting a signal coming from the tuner section into a given format, and a hard disk drive (HDD) for recording the converted digital signal. In the broadcast receiver, a HDD medium of the HDD for recording the received broadcast program has, separately, a stream area for storing stream data as a video/audio signal, and a management data area for storing management data other than the stream data, and these areas are formatted by each different given unit. With such a structure, the broadcast receiver becomes highly-usable, requiring less time for the search operation on an HDD at the time of system startup. There is also a method for recording broadcast programs received by the broadcast receiver, and an information recorder for such use.
US07715690B1
This invention relates to an information processing apparatus for recording a first picture supplied and for reproducing a second picture recorded, the apparatus comprising: recording means for recording the first picture; reproducing means for reproducing the second picture; and display controlling means for providing display control in such a manner as to display a first screen through which to input orders for operating the recording means, and a second screen through which to input orders for operating the reproducing means.
US07715688B2
A broadcast receiver is provided which can prevent recording of uncopyable contents without failing to record copyable contents. A copy information detecting unit (4) detects copy control information attached to contents. A discriminating unit (5) discriminates the copyability or uncopyability. The contents recorded in a user-unreadable recording unit (6) is transferred to a user-readable recording unit (7) only if copyable.
US07715680B2
A cable management panel including a sliding drawer. The drawer including a bottom tray that pivots to provide access to cable management devices mounted on the tray. The drawer including a connection arrangement that locks the tray in both of a non-pivoted position and a pivoted position.
US07715674B2
An optical fiber in which the macro-bending loss is lowered while an MFD is maintained large, and a waveguide including the optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core region doped with an impurity; a first cladding region formed as a layer around the core region and including holes as microstructures; and a second cladding region formed as a layer around the first cladding region and made of a homogeneous material. A relative refractive-index difference Δ1 between the core region and the second cladding region is equal to or higher than 0.01% and lower than 0.3%. A total cross-sectional area of the holes in the first cladding region with respect to a total cross-sectional area of the core region, the first cladding region, and the second cladding region is equal to or smaller than 20%. A waveguide is formed using the optical fiber.
US07715673B2
An imaging system including a multi-mode fiber and a gradient index (GRIN) lens. The invention also relates to a system including a multi-mode fiber, such as a double-clad photonic crystal fiber, for transmitting an excitation signal to a sample for the purpose of imaging, and a scanning mechanism, which preferably includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror, for reflecting the excitation signal in varying directions in order to scan the sample.
US07715669B2
A fiber optic link is provided that uses a relatively low-cost transceiver that incorporates relatively inexpensive low bandwidth optical and electrical components to achieve high data rate operations. The data rate of the fiber optic link can be greater than the data rate of the laser of the transceiver provided the laser meets certain noise requirements; in particular, the relative intensity noise (RIN) of the laser must be low enough to ensure low bit error rate (BER) operation of the link.
US07715667B2
Disclosed is a metal waveguide device, and nano plasmonic integrated circuits and an optical integrated circuit module using the same. The nano plasmonic integrated circuit module includes an input coupling unit, an input focusing unit, a surface plasmon polariton waveguide for guiding surface plasmon polaritons, a signal sensing/processing unit, an output defocusing unit, and an output coupling unit for converting surface plasmon polariton signals into optical signals. The optical integrated circuit module includes the nano plasmonic integrated circuit module, thus realizing highly integrated photonic circuits having a micro structure, low power consumption and low price.
US07715666B2
Optical path converting member, multilayer print circuit board, and device for optical communication
A device for optical communication including a multilayer print circuit board in which a conductor circuit, an insulating layer, an optical circuit and an optical path for transmitting an optical signal are formed, and a package substrate having an optical element or an insulating layer and mounted on the multilayer print circuit board. An optical path converting member is disposed at the optical path to transmit an optical signal between the optical element and the optical circuit. The optical path converting member includes a lens and an optical path conversion mirror having an entrance surface, an exit surface and a reflection surface. The lens is provided at the entrance surface, the exit surface, or inside of the optical path conversion mirror.
US07715665B2
In an optical circuit including multi-dimensional photonic crystals, in which the optical circuit has a structure (33), such as a light emitting member or a light receiving member, having a natural resonance frequency, another structure (34) having a natural resonance frequency slightly differing from the natural resonance frequency of the structure (33) is arranged in the vicinity of the structure (33) to control the directivity of localization and propagation of an electromagnetic field, light emission and light reception in a spatial region including the above structures in the multi-dimensional photonic crystals, in order to permit functional operations to be realized.
US07715664B1
A high power optical isolator is able to transfer excess heat to a heat sink, reduce the effect of scattered and reflected light, and be coupled to standard thin optical fibers.
US07715662B2
A method of generating an interface surface is provided in which machine-readable coded data is generated to be arranged in accordance with a layout having n-fold rotational symmetry about a center of rotation, where n is at least two, the layout including n identical sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about the center of rotation, each sub-layout defining the position of data elements, and including rotation-indicating data that distinguishes that sub-layout from at least one other sub-layout, and the coded data is printed onto a surface to generate an interface surface.
US07715655B2
Images may be registered using temporal (time-based) and spatial information. In a film implementation, because film is a sequence of frames, using information from neighboring frames may enable a temporally smoother visual experience. In addition, it may be beneficial to take advantage of the fact that consecutive frames are often shifted similarly during the photographic process. Distortion measures may be used that discount candidate transformations that are considered to be too far from one or more preferred transformations, such as, for example, an optimal transformation from another frame or block or a currently-optimal transformation from the same frame/block. Composite color images may be processed to provide registration of underlying components.
US07715653B2
The present invention provides a unique method and/or system that facilitate navigating through the content of large images viewable on a wide range of computing devices, independently of the dimensions of their display area, and the dimensions of the digital images. The present invention creates dynamic digital images, which are displayed on a synchronized sequence to simulate a 2D and/or 3D visual experience. Such navigation allows the end user to zoom into or out, pan, and/or rotate the content displayed by using input components, such as touch pads, joysticks, and the like. The embodiments can be either stand-alone or client/server, based on the physical location of the images.
US07715650B2
A method and apparatus for processing defects in a digital image include defining a defect map, having defect and non-defect entries, as a defect bounded by an expanded defect region and an outer analysis region of a different defect map values. By choosing suitable values and performing a bitwise logical OR operation on the entries the processing of the defect map is made more efficient.
US07715643B2
An image processing device for processing images of background images and moving objects. A region specifying unit specifies a mixed region made up of a mixture of a foreground object component and a background object component, and a non-mixed region made up of one or the other of a foreground object component and a background object component, and outputs region information corresponding to the specifying results. A foreground/background separation unit separates the input image into foreground component images and background component images, corresponding to the region information. A separated image processing unit processes the foreground component images and background component images individually, corresponding to the results of separation.
US07715642B1
An image (e.g., a sprite) having at least three textures is compressed by generating a map which represents boundaries separating regions in the image, and generating pointers that associate each of the regions with one of the textures. The resulting data structure may be used in decompressing the image.
US07715626B2
A method of segmenting tubular structures in digital images includes selecting a point in an image of a tubular object to be segmented, defining an initial state of the selected point, initializing measurement weights, a conditional probability distribution and a prior probability distribution of a feature space of the initial state, sampling the feature space from the prior probability distribution, estimating a posterior probability distribution by summing sample measurements weighted by the measurement weights, and segmenting a cross section of the tubular object from the posterior probability distribution.
US07715624B2
A method, apparatus and system, each capable of recognizing or reproducing a character color, are disclosed. An original image is divided into a character image and a background image. The color information of the character image is obtained to generate a color palette of the character image. A color, defined by the color palette, is assigned to each of the characters in the character image. The color palette may include a main color palette and a minor color palette.
US07715623B2
A new measure to compare histogram-based descriptors, a diffusion distance, is disclosed. The difference between two histograms is defined to be a temperature field. The relationship between histogram similarity and diffusion process is discussed and it is shown how the diffusion handles deformation as well as quantization effects. As a result, the diffusion distance is derived as the sum of dissimilarities over scales. Being a cross-bin histogram distance, the diffusion distance is robust to deformation, lighting change and noise in histogram-based local descriptors. In addition, it enjoys linear computational complexity which significantly improves previously proposed cross-bin distances with quadratic complexity or higher The proposed approach is tested on both shape recognition and interest point matching tasks using several multi-dimensional histogram-based descriptors including shape context, SIFT and spin images. In all experiments, the diffusion distance performs excellently in both accuracy and efficiency in comparison with other state-of-the-art distance measures. In particular, it performs as accurate as the Earth Mover's Distance with a much greater efficiency.
US07715622B2
A method for analyzing an image formed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel of the plurality of pixels including a plurality of color channels, each color channel of the plurality of color channel having a channel level within a range of channel levels corresponding to each pixel, including designating from the plurality of color channels a primary channel, a secondary channel, and a tertiary channel; generating histogram data from the image using the plurality of pixels to form a histogram having a first axis and a second axis based on the primary channel, the first axis pertaining to the range of channel levels within the primary channel, and the second axis pertaining to a number of pixels of the image at each the channel level within the primary channel; and reorganizing the histogram based on the secondary channel and the tertiary channel to form a multi-dimensional histogram.
US07715620B2
Dropping out of color form backgrounds from images of completed forms to obtain color form dropout images retaining only the respondent information. In one embodiment, a color form image processing method (100) includes retrieving (102) a template image, retrieving (104) a respondent image, registering (106) the images against one another to establish correspondence between pixels in the respondent and template images, dilating (108) the template image, and performing (110) a color form dropout including comparing (112) corresponding pixels in the respondent and dilated template images, and determining (114) whether to keep corresponding pixels by applying (116) a geometric solid threshold comparison to assess both color similarity and relative darkness, and removing (118) pixels from the respondent image based on such comparison.
US07715619B2
There are provided a three-dimensional data input means (10) for input the three-dimensional data of an object, a reference image storing unit (30) for storing a reference image of at least one object, a pose candidate deciding means (20) for generating a pose candidate that is a candidate for the pose of the object, a comparison image generating means (40) for generating a comparison image close to the reference image while projecting the three-dimensional data onto a two-dimensional image in accordance with the pose candidate, and an image comparing means (55) for performing comparison based on either a distance value or similarity degree between the reference image and the comparison image. This allows comparison or search to be performed with high accuracy even when the reference image of the object is captured under different conditions such as pose and illumination, even when no three-dimensional object model of the object can be obtained in advance, or even when only one or few reference images exist.
US07715610B2
A method of testing a document comprises deriving a plurality of measurements from the document at a resolution R and processing the measurements to derive values at a different resolution.
US07715607B2
A method is disclosed for obtaining the location of a landmark in an MR image of a brain. In a first step, a region of interest in a plane within the MR image containing the landmark is defined. In a second step, the ROI is binarised into foreground and background voxels based on at least one threshold selected using anatomical knowledge. In a third step a set of object voxels is identified from the foreground voxels, excluding voxels which were only classified as object due to proximity of cortical and non-cortical structures. This can be done by morphological processing which reclassifies voxels which may have been incorrectly classified as object, followed by restoring voxels due to the partial volume effect and/or morphological erosion/opening. In a fourth step, an automatic process is then carried out to identify one or more landmarks in the modified binarised image.
US07715600B2
The present invention includes a system and a method of validating an identity of a user using a pointing device by comparing a sampled mouse signature with an authenticated mouse signature. The method includes presenting a virtual pad including a background graphic image, a plurality of objects positioned on the background graphic image to a user. The user moves the pointing device to manipulate a cursor on the background graphic image. The method includes a step of sampling a plurality of events corresponding to positions of the cursor to provide a sampled mouse signature including a set of position vectors. The present invention includes comparing the sampled mouse signature to a stored mouse signature representing the identity of a user, and validating the identity of a user in response to the comparing step.
US07715596B2
It is provided a method for verifying digitized images of persons and apparatuses for performing the method. The method is particularly usable for verifying the suitability of an image of a person for identification of the person. The method comprises the steps: segmenting the image of a person in a background area and a head or face area, analyzing the head or face area, to detect at least one characteristic value, comparing the at least one characteristic value with at least one predetermined threshold value.
US07715595B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for iris recognition including stereoscopic face recognition, which can recognize irises using a stereoscopic face recognition system in order to recognize an authenticatee. The system includes two or more face recognition cameras for photographing two or more face images of an authenticatee; a recognition system for receiving the face images photographed by the face recognition cameras from the face recognition cameras and creating stereoscopic face information on the basis of the face images; and one or more iris recognition cameras controlled by the recognition system to photograph focused irises of the authenticatee using the created stereoscopic face information.
US07715591B2
A vision-based system for automatically detecting the type of object within a specified area, such as the type of occupant within a vehicle is presented. The type of occupant can then be used to determine whether an airbag deployment system should be enabled or not. The system extracts different features, including wavelet features and/or a disparity map from images captured by image sensors. These features are then processed by classification algorithms to produce class confidences for various occupant types. The occupant class confidences are fused and processed to determine occupant type. In a preferred embodiment, image features from image edges, wavelet features, and disparity are used. Various classification algorithms may be implemented to classify the object. Use of the disparity map and/or wavelet features provides greater computational efficiency.
US07715590B2
The present invention relates to a system and method of detecting polarized identification indicia in real-time. A frame of image data is provided having a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes polarized light intensity information. An intensity value is determined for each of the pixels from the polarized light intensity information. A first portion of the pixels having intensity values within an intensity range is selected. The pixels in the first portion having similar angle of linear polarization values within a tolerance range are analyzed, thereby detecting the polarized identification indicia in the image data.
US07715585B2
In the speaker of the invention, a circular outer magnet type magnetic circuit 8, and a diaphragm 13 to which a circular voice coil 14 driven by the circuit is fixed are held on a rectangular frame 1. The circular outer magnet type magnetic circuit 8 is configured by: a yoke 9 in which a rectangular flange 9b is disposed in one end of a circular center pole 9a; a plate-like magnet 10 which has a circular center hole 10a, which is placed with forming a circular annular gap around the yoke center pole 9a, and which has a rectangular outer shape that is substantially identical with the outer shape of the yoke flange 9b; and a circular annular pole piece 11 which is substantially equal in inner diameter to the magnet center hole 10a, in which the outer diameter is substantially equal to short side dimensions of the yoke flange 9b and the magnet 10, and which cooperates with the yoke flange 9b to clampingly hold the magnet 10. A circular magnetic gap 12 is formed between the yoke center pole 9a and the pole piece 11. The magnet 10 is split into two portions in a center area in the longitudinal direction.
US07715584B2
An air deflector is positioned relative to the through bore in the pole piece of the motor structure of a speaker such that the flow of air entering and leaving a cavity overlying the voice coil and pole piece is directed along a flow path which passes in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner surface of the former of the voice coil opposite the wire winding on the outer surface of the former.
US07715583B2
A microphone assembly comprising a housing in which a transducer element is positioned. In the housing, an upper and a lower chamber are defined, the lower chamber extending at least at one edge of the transducer element and potentially to an upper side thereof. An element, such as a horse-shoe shaped element or a circular element, is provided for separating the upper side of the transducer element into the upper and lower chambers. The transducer element is fixed using flexible fixing means, and space is provided at one or more sides of the transducer element to take up thermal expansion and retraction of the housing and the transducer element.
US07715576B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a hearing aid (1a, 1b) using a control unit (7), which is linked to the hearing aid (1a, 1b). The latter receives acoustic signals via a microphone (2a, 2b), amplifies said signals and outputs them by means of a loudspeaker (3a, 3b). In said hearing aid (1a, 1b) digital signals are processed according to a predetermined algorithm and data concerning the acoustic environment is created and forwarded to a control unit (7) via a communication interface (6a, 6b). To improve the quality and ease of operation, the data in the control unit (7) is analysed and an optimal algorithm is calculated, which is transmitted to the hearing aid (1a, 1b) via the communication interface (9).
US07715568B2
A binaural sound reproduction apparatus includes a correction filter operable to filter an input sound signal that is recorded using a binaural recording microphone and to supply the filtered signal to a headphone, an adaptive filter to which the input sound signal is supplied, and a difference detector determining a difference between a sound signal that is obtained by collecting a sound reproduced by the headphone using a sound-collecting microphone that is the same as the binaural recording microphone, or that has a similar characteristic to that of the binaural recording microphone, and a sound signal output from the adaptive filter, and for transmitting the difference to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter determines the inverse of a synthesis characteristic from the headphone to the sound-collecting microphone based on the input sound signal and the difference, and sets the determined characteristic as a characteristic of the correction filter.
US07715567B2
A method of denoise a stereo signal comprising a stereo sum signal and a stereo difference signal, performs a frequency selective stereo to mono blending based on the masking effect of the human auditory system. Therefore, a stereo signal noise reducer, comprising a first filter bank (1) to split the stereo difference signal (l−r) into a plurality of subbands, respective first multipliers (CO, . . . , CN) to weight each of the subbands of the stereo difference signal with a respective corresponding control signal (CO, . . . , CN), and a first adder (3) to sum all weighted subbands of the stereo difference signal (l−r) to build a frequency selective weighted stereo difference signal (diff), within which a number and width of the subbands obtained via the first filter bank (1) are choosen according to the properties of the human auditory system, further comprises a weighting factor determination unit which determines a respective control signal (CO, . . . , CN) frequency selective based on the masking effect of the human auditory system.
US07715554B1
A method for determining, for use in ciphers, all of the prime numbers within the large numeric series: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, . . . , n, the method including steps of setting n′=┌n/6┌; establishing the small numeric series, 6(1)−1, 6(1)+1, 6(2)−1, 6(2)+1, 6(3)−1, 6(3)+1, . . . 6(n′)−1, 6(n′)+1, each member of the small numeric series being initially unlabeled, the small numeric series consisting of a “−1” subseries and a “+1” subseries; while β−((β+1)/6) is less than n′, repeating sub-steps of First, setting β to equal the least unlabeled member of the “−1” subseries, labeling that member as “prime”, labeling as “non-prime” every βth member thereafter of the “−1” subseries, labeling as “non-prime” the (β−((β+1)/6))th member of the “+1” subseries, labeling as “non-prime” every βth member thereafter of the “+1” subseries, and Second, setting β to equal the least unlabeled member of the “+1” subseries, labeling that member as “prime”, labeling as “non-prime” every βth member thereafter of the “+1” subseries, labeling as “non-prime” the (β−((β−1)/6))th member of the “−1” subseries, and labeling as “non-prime” every βth member thereafter of the “−1” subseries; and labeling as “prime” each unlabeled member of the small numeric series.
US07715546B2
A system and method for updating contact records automates analysis of contact results for one or more contact devices performing a contact campaign in order to select contact records for skip trace updates to contact information with the updated contact information for real time use by the contact devices. For instance, an update engine analyzes contact records returned by dialers to a distribution module to select contact records to skip trace based on rules, such as where a wrong number code is indicated, or cost analysis, such as where the predicted result of an update has a value greater than the cost of obtaining the update. The distribution model provides the updated contact information for real time use by the dialers of the updated contact numbers.
US07715539B2
The invention relates to a telephone system and method for use by a residential user. A residential telephone system is electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone. The system comprises a telephone service facility interface for receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone service facility and a user telephone interface for transmitting the incoming call signal to the user telephone and for receiving an administrative signal from the user telephone. The system also comprises a memory and a messaging module for storing in the memory a calling party message received from a calling party in the incoming call signal. The system further comprises a connection module responsive to the administrative signal received from the user telephone via the user telephone interface for receiving an incoming call signal and processing the incoming call signal to either connect the incoming call signal to the messaging module or to transmit the incoming call signal to the user telephone via the user telephone interface. The invention also relates to a system for remotely administering a residential telephone system. The invention further relates a system and method for call management of incoming calls by a residential telephone system.
US07715534B2
A network for transporting power and multiplexed data and digital telephone signals. The network includes at least three nodes and first and second wiring segments in a building for carrying the multiplexed data and digital telephone signals, and at least one of the segments is configured to additionally carry a power signal. A power consuming component is connected to the at least one wiring segment and is powered by the power signal carried by that segment. Each wiring segment connects a different pair of the nodes together to form, with nodes nodes, a packet based bi-directional communication link. One of the nodes contains communication link composed of a repeater, a bridge, or a router connectable to a data unit. At least one of the nodes is connected to a remote data unit external to the building for coupling the remote data unit to at least one of said communication links.
US07715530B2
The present invention discusses a method and apparatus for selectively providing a power to an alarm system, such as the power source provided by a telephone company, to alarm equipment located at customer's premises in a Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) telephone network. This power source is commonly used to power the POTS lines in a Service Provider's network. Two signals, one relating to the optical connectivity of the network and one relating to the connectivity of virtual circuits, are monitored at the customer premises. A logical operation is performed so as to remove a power source if either of the two signals is lost.
US07715529B1
An X-ray tube is disclosed. The X-ray tube can include a cathode configured to emit electrons, an anode that has a surface arranged parallel to an emission direction of the electrons and is configured to collide with the electrons and emit X-rays, and a guide positioned between the cathode and the anode to modify the direction in which the electrons travel such that the electrons collide with the surface of the anode. The X-ray tube according to an embodiment of the invention can be used to improve the unevenness in X-ray intensity.
US07715498B2
A method and apparatus for correcting the phase and gain of data associated with a constellation pattern of a plurality of received individual symbols. Each symbol is divided into real and imaginary symbol components. The signs of the real and imaginary symbol components of each symbol are determined and used as a basis for determining whether the symbol is associated with a first or third quadrant of the constellation pattern or a second or fourth quadrant of the constellation pattern. The absolute values of the real and imaginary symbol components are determined and used to create a first sum and a second sum. A phase adjustment value θ and a gain adjustment value G are derived from the first and second sums, and are used to create a complex number. Each of the received individual symbols is multiplied by the created complex number to provide corrected constellation pattern data.
US07715496B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a receiver, a generator, an error-averager, and a determiner and methods for the same. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, cyclical characteristics of a signal may be used to obtain an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Exemplary embodiments of the generator may generate a signal output from an equalizer and may transmit the signal to a decoder, which may calculate a metric. The signal may be proportional to the reliability of a symbol.
US07715491B2
A system for transmitting a digital broadcasting signal includes a supplementary reference signal (SRS) inserter receiving a dual transport stream in which a normal stream and a turbo stream are multiplexed, and inserting an SRS into a stuffing region provided in the dual transport stream, a Reed-Solomon encoder encoding the dual transport stream having the SRS inserted therein, an interleaver interleaving the encoded dual transport stream, a turbo processor detecting and encoding the turbo stream from the interleaved dual transport stream, stuffing the dual transport stream with the encoded turbo stream, and compensating for a parity corresponding to the encoded turbo stream, and a trellis/parity corrector performing a trellis encoding of the dual transport stream processed by the turbo processor, which can robustly process a turbo stream included in the dual transport stream and easily confirm the channel state between a transmitter side and a receiver side.
US07715489B2
A Space Time Transmit Diversity (STTD) Decoder includes a physical channel despreader, a delay buffer, an upper processing branch, a lower processing branch and a combiner. The upper processing branch is operable to apply a conjugate of a first channel estimate to the delay buffer symbol output and produce non STTD encoded symbols. The lower processing branch is operable to read delayed delay buffer symbol outputs and apply a conjugate of a second channel estimate when active in the STTD mode. The lower processing branch then may apply an STTD decoder scheme to the delay buffer symbol output to produce non STTD encoded symbols. The combiner then combines the non STTD encoded symbols of the upper processing branch and non STTD encoded symbols of the lower processing branch to produce a single set of non STTD encoded symbols.
US07715478B2
A moving picture coding apparatus (10a) according to the present invention includes a level analyzer (100a) that decides the maximum number of intra frame pixels which can be coded (Nfpx) and the maximum number of storage pixels which can be stored in a picture memory of a decoding apparatus (Nspx) on the basis of a level identifier (Lst) indicating a coding level that is designated by the user, thereby judging whether coding of an input image is possible or not and calculating the maximum number of reference pictures (Nrpn) as the number of reference candidate pictures which can be referred to at inter picture prediction coding, on the basis of the maximum number of intra frame pixels (Nfpx) and the input image size (the number of vertical pixels (Nhpx) and the number of horizontal pixels (Nwpx)). A decoding apparatus to which a bit stream from the moving picture coding apparatus (10a) is supplied can always decode the bit stream satisfactorily, and perform inter picture prediction decoding corresponding to the inter picture prediction coding on the coding end. Consequently, memory areas of a coding apparatus and a decoding apparatus that are adapted to a coding method in which there is no restraint on the capacity of the memory area can be designed.
US07715472B2
An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.
US07715470B2
A receiver for receiving transmitted signals comprising reference information known to said receiver, said receiver comprising means for estimating said reference information and non reference information to provide estimated information, said non reference information being at least one of immediately preceding and immediately succeeding said reference information; and means for using the estimated information to determine an error said received signals and to compensate for said error.
US07715458B2
A semiconductor optical device includes a silicon substrate and a Group III-V semiconductor gain layer. The Group III-V semiconductor gain layer is formed on the silicon substrate. The silicon substrate or the Group III-V semiconductor gain layer has a dispersion Bragg grating formed therein. In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor optical device, a Group III-V semiconductor gain layer is formed on a silicon substrate. A dispersion Bragg grating is formed on the silicon substrate or the Group III-V semiconductor gain layer.
US07715454B2
A laser includes a laser source and an power source arranged such that both components have substantially the same cross-section, with cooling fins arranged axially along the length of each element. The components are arranged end-to-end in a series to form an assembly with substantially the same cross-section along the entire length of the assembly. A shroud mounted along the assembly forms a single air channel directing air from a fan along the entire length of the assembly, for cooling both the power source and the laser source with the total air flow from the at least one fan. The laser source and the power source are arranged in series such that the laser source is cooled first, and the subsequent air flow, although slightly warmer from cooling the laser source, is sufficient to cool the power source.
US07715453B2
Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to semiconductor lasers and laser scanning systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a laser is configured for optical emission of encoded data. At least one parameter of the optical emission is a function of a drive current IGAIN injected into the gain section of the semiconductor laser and one or more additional drive currents I/VPHASE, I/VDBR. Mode selection in the semiconductor laser is altered by applying a phase shifting signal I/VΦ to the phase section that is synched with a wavelength recovery portions in drive current IGAIN such that a plurality of cavity modes are shifted by one half of the free spectral range at each wavelength recovery portion. In this manner, patterned variations in the wavelength or intensity profile of the laser can be disrupted to disguise patterned flaws that would otherwise be readily noticeable in the output of the laser.
US07715449B1
A network device includes one or more sprayers, multiple packet processors, and one or more desprayers. The sprayers receive packets on at least one incoming packet stream and distribute the packets according to a load balancing scheme that balances the number of bytes of packet data that is given to each of the packet processors. The packet processors receive the packets from the sprayers and process the packets to determine routing information for the packets. The desprayers receive the processed packets from the packet processors and transmit the packets on at least one outgoing packet stream based on the routing information.
US07715443B1
The techniques described herein allow a more efficient transmuxing operation for transferring data from a synchronous domain (e.g., SONET) to a plesiochronous (e.g., PDH) domain as compared to the prior art, in which extraction of data streams, jitter filtering and stuff bit generation are processed separately. The techniques described herein include extraction of data from the plesiochronous data stream without complete extraction of the underlying native data stream. Filtering is performed based on synchronous timing, which results in a simpler filter design.
US07715434B2
A technique is disclosed involves a station (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 station, etc.) requesting that one or more frames be transmitted from an access point to the station. The station might have been in power save mode during Bluetooth operation for the purpose of causing the access point to queue frames that are intended for the station. The station making the request is collocated with the Bluetooth station or is, in fact, a single station that supports two protocols (i.e., has two parts), and is able to determine the regular timing of the Bluetooth synchronous connected oriented (SCO) packet transmissions. The requests to the access point for IEEE 802.11 frames are timed to cause the access point response frames to fall between the Bluetooth messages, thus managing potential interference.
US07715433B2
A universal controller supports multiple different computer protocols to enable endpoint communications between two or more electronic devices according to a desired protocol. Controller firmware modules embedded in an integrated circuit identify a particular protocol in a data communication received from a first external device, select from among multiple protocol drivers embedded in the modules a protocol driver corresponding to the particular protocol identified, and transmit content of the received data to one or more second external devices according to the particular protocol. The universal controller includes a bus translator module parsing bit streams received from the first external device into protocol data, status data, and content data, a protocol firmware module providing multiple different protocols drivers, and a control interface selecting, responsive to protocol data parsed, a particular protocol driver to establish data communication with a second external device according to the desired communication protocol. Data communication may originate from any of multiple second external devices, and different protocols may be transmitted simultaneously for multi-channel or redundant communication between the external devices.
US07715409B2
A method and system for data link layer address classification. Data link layer address information is received from a device over a local area network (LAN), wherein the LAN is partitioned into a plurality of domains. The data link layer address information is classified as being associated with a domain of the plurality of domains based on a source address of the device. The data link layer address information is assigned to the domain.
US07715408B2
A method for establishing communication schedules for a distributed real-time computer system comprising nodal computers, wherein: a) a grid (RAS) is created, which contains all of the parameters necessary to enable basic communication between nodes (KR1 . . . KR5) of a cluster (CLU); b) nodal communication schedules (KPG; KP1, KP2) for all nodes planned to be used as invariant components (KR2; KR2, KR3) are derived from the grid (RAS) and all parameters of the grid are copied and node-specific parameters are added; and c) cluster communication schedules (CP1, CP2; CL1, CL2) are derived from the nodal communication schedules (KPG; KP1, KP2), which contain, in addition to all parameters of the grid and the node-specific parameters of the invariant components, those parameters which are relevant to the remaining nodes of the cluster.
US07715400B1
An example embodiment of the present invention provides processes relating to a connection/communication protocol and a memory-addressing scheme for a distributed shared memory system. In the example embodiment, a logical node identifier comprises bits in the physical memory addresses used by the distributed shared memory system. Processes in the embodiment include logical node identifiers in packets which conform to the protocol and which are stored in a connection control block in local memory. By matching the logical node identifiers in a packet against the logical node identifiers in the connection control block, the processes ensure reliable delivery of packet data. Further, in the example embodiment, the logical node identifiers are used to create a virtual server consisting of multiple nodes in the distributed shared memory system.
US07715395B2
A system and method of expanding the range of a mesh network by determining whether a route through a local Internet service provider is an optimal path between two nodes. If the route through a local Internet service provider is an optimal path, a routing table is updated to include the optimal path so that mesh nodes on the mesh network have access to the routing table.
US07715380B2
Methods and apparatus for performing NAT are disclosed. Specifically, NAT is performed at a service provider network device associated with an interface of a service provider network. When a packet is sent from a VPN to a node outside the service provider network (e.g., to access a shared service), the packet includes a VPN identifier (or VRF identifier) In accordance with various embodiments, each packet includes an MPLS tag that includes the VPN identifier. The VPN identifier is stored in a translation table entry. The storing of the VPN identifier will enable a reply packet from the shared service network to the customer VPN to be routed using a routing table identified by the VPN identifier.
US07715375B2
A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.
US07715357B2
A radio LAN system includes a server configured to hold a file; an access point connected with the server; a LAN terminal connected with the access point by radio; and a client terminal configured to issue a file transfer request to the server. An operation mode between the access point and the LAN terminal is set to a non-compression mode in which compression of the file is not performed, when the file is in a compressed state, and to a compression mode in which compression of the file is performed, when the file is in a non-compressed state. The file is transferred from the server to the client terminal in the operation mode in response to the file transfer request.
US07715348B2
The object of the invention is to prevent reduction of the system capacity caused by the use of a channelization code belonging to the secondary scrambling code. Instead of trying to select a channelization code belonging to each of the primary and secondary scrambling codes for one cell in a conventional manner, selection of a channelization code belonging to the primary scrambling code is tried sequentially for a plurality of cells (S02, S04). If the selection of the code has been failed, it is determined whether selection is tried again under a different condition (S06). Then, when trying again, selection of a channelization code belonging to the secondary scrambling code is tried sequentially for the plurality of cells (S07, S09).
US07715342B2
A system for compressing an Internet Protocol (IP) header for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) is provided. The system includes an access gateway and a plurality of cells, each of which has an enhanced node B (ENB). When the quantity of cells that will provide the MBMS is known to be one, execution of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)-based data compression function for the IP header occurs in the ENB of the one cell. When the quantity of cells that will provide the MBMS is not known to be one, execution of the PDCP-based data compression function occurs in the access gateway.
US07715337B2
A wireless communication system is constructed by autonomous distributed operation of communication stations without having a relation of a controlling station and controlled stations. In the wireless communication system, each communication station checks a state of time synchronization with a neighboring station, determines whether the time synchronization needs to be corrected, and carries out one of methods of surely performing a time synchronization correcting process and performing the correcting process with a predetermined probability when the time synchronization needs to be corrected.
US07715335B2
In order to prevent a receiving terminal from wasting system resource and power, the present invention provides a method of acquiring point-to-multipoint MBMS service information for the receiving terminal in a wireless communications system. The method includes the following steps of determining an activation state of MBMS services in the receiving terminal before the receiving terminal performs an MBMS point-to-multipoint Control Channel (MCCH) acquisition procedure, and performing the MCCH acquisition procedure by the receiving terminal if at least one MBMS service has been determined activated.
US07715332B2
An Internet Protocol Network Telephony call center having a plurality of agents for serving clients also processes e-mails addresses to the call center, but not to specific agents. An e-mail server receives and routes the e-mail, and includes a router and a database storing skill set information regarding agents. The router extracts information from the e-mails, matches key words in the extracted information with key words from the skill sets, and routes the e-mails to appropriate agents having the necessary skills to respond to the service requirements in the e-mails.
US07715331B2
An improved networked computer communications system handles arbitrary streams of data, and transports at varying speeds those streams where intermediate updates can be dropped if they are made obsolete by later arriving data updates, optimizing the utilization of network and node resources. Complex buffering by system server software allows distributed, parallel, or redundant processing, transmission, and storage for performance, reliability, and robustness. Various parameters of the system can be monitored, and the system can be reconfigured automatically based on the observations. Varied techniques reduce the perceived end-to-end latency and take advantage of software and hardware capabilities that assets connected to the system may possess. One conferencing system allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the display seen on their computer screens. The conferees may be at sites removed from each other, or may view a recorded presentation or archived conference at different times. Conference participants are either “presenters” who can modify the display or “attendees” who cannot modify the display. A pointer icon, which can be labeled to identify the conferee, is displayed on the shared image area. Each conferee can modify the position of his or her own pointer, even when not presenting, so that every participant can see what each conferee is pointing to, should a conferee choose to point to an element of the display. These and other features apply to other data streams shared in the conference or in meetings where there is no shared-image data stream.
US07715329B1
A method of obtaining router information in a multicast network, including transmitting a routing table query and a router name query, receiving router state data associated with a multicast router in response to the routing table query, and receiving a router identifier associated with the multicast router in response to the router name query, the router identifier being distinct from any IP address associated with the multicast router. Also disclosed is a system using a processing device adapted to perform the above method and transmit the router state data to a graphical user interface. The queries are preferably transmitted in Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Further, a part of the displayed data can include hypertext links on router names adapted to display router state data associated with a second multicast router.
US07715328B2
A method of mirroring data to a mirrored to port in a plurality of switches. The method has the steps of determining if data was sent to all of said plurality of switches; determining if said data was sent to a mirrored to port (MTP); and resending said data to all of said plurality of switches if mirroring is enabled and said data was not sent to said MTP.
US07715326B2
A system and method for preventing unauthorized access to a website's sensitive information in which a website web server is located on a public network with a public IP address and known port number, but only performs a listening function. The responding function is located on a separate device on a private network with a private and dynamic IP address and having a randomly assigned port number. The responder has no listening sockets (open ports expecting to receive from client application) and therefore does not listen to the public network, and therefore is not accessible to unauthorized access, much in the way that a private user's PC is not accessible to unauthorized access. The web server having the listening function does not initiate connection with the device having the responding function because its private IP address is unreachable from the public network and unknown, even to the web server, and by virtue of the fact that there are no listening sockets to accept any requests. Instead, the communication link between the device having the responder function and the web server having the listening function is initiated by the device having the responder function.
US07715324B1
In one embodiment, a system for adapting the interoperation of nodes in an information processing system is disclosed. The system includes a protocol handler, a protocol attribute information store and a protocol attribute selector. The protocol handler manages a first connection and a second connection over the network using a protocol. The protocol attribute information store holds a plurality of attributes. The protocol attribute selector evaluates first information related to a first connection, utilizes the protocol attribute information store to determine first protocol attributes corresponding to the first connection, and communicates the first attributes for the first connection to the protocol handler. Additionally, the protocol attribute selector evaluates second information related to a second connection, utilizes the protocol attribute information store to determine second attributes corresponding to the second connection, and communicates the second attributes for the second connection the protocol handler. The protocol handler uses first attributes for the first connection and second attributes for the second connection.
US07715322B2
Systems and methods for the implementation of a remote test access feature using virtual connection points and sub-network connections by the merge-and-split of flexible permanent virtual circuits. A sub-network connection is created between a remote test set and a connection termination point of a circuit of interest through the provision of two endpoints of interest. Subsequently, monitoring and management capabilities are established and operation, administration, and maintenance functions are performed at a centralized location using a network management system. The remote tap used may employ any protection scheme and mesh restore, as necessary, either manually or automatically, in the event of signal degrade or failure scenarios. The endpoint of the remote tap may be selectively changed, and the remote tap re-groomed for a different circuit of interest via a simple point-and-click.
US07715317B2
Provided is a flow generation method for Internet traffic measurement. In the flow generation method, dependency between packet collecting time and flow generating time is removed using a virtual timer and a flow generation completion processing interval is controlled to skip by a unit time in response to a user's request. Also, a fragmented packet processing method is selectively used at need and a FIN timeout is applied selectively to a timeout mechanism used in flow generation completion. Thereby, this invention can improve accuracy and efficiency of Internet traffic measurement.
US07715316B2
A method for improving network performance using a virtual queue is disclosed. The method includes measuring characteristics of a packet arrival process at a network element, establishing a virtual queue for packets arriving at the network element, and modeling the packet arrival process based on the measured characteristics and a computed performance of the virtual queue.
US07715313B2
Residential Ethernet stream transmitting method and apparatus are provided. The residential Ethernet stream transmitting method includes transmitting a data frame comprising multi-cycle traffic information and receiving the data frame within an admission control condition based on the multi-cycle traffic information.
US07715311B2
The initial transmission of data packets in a point-to-multipoint communication network may often be delayed when retransmissions of erroneously decoded data packets are required. According to an aspect of the present invention, point-to-multipoint data transmission and retransmission of erroneously decoded data from a transmitting station to a plurality of receiving stations is performed, where retransmitted data is sent via at least one communication channel, which is different from the one used for the initially transmitted data. Advantageously, due to this there may be no need for further communication between the transmitting station and the receiving stations. Furthermore, according to an aspect of the present invention, the initial transmission of data packets is not delayed by retransmissions.
US07715310B1
Redundancy for Virtual Private Network (VPN) service with an Ethernet access network is provided by a full-mesh of dedicated pseudowires connected among the network-facing provider edge (n-PE) devices, each of which is associated with the same Ethernet access network. A provider Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) generated by a provider bridge node in the Ethernet access network and received at an input interface of one n-PE device is relayed (without being processed) to all other n-PEs associated with that access network over the full-mesh of dedicated pseudowires. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07715303B2
A recording apparatus for optical data includes a photo detection IC for producing a plurality of phase signals; a plurality of sample/hold (S/H) circuits electrically connected to the photo detection IC; a plurality of limiter circuits electrically connected to the photo detection IC; a channel signal generator connected to the S/H circuits; and a level shift circuit connected to an output of the channel signal generator. The recording apparatus for optical data prevents the interference of servo signal during high speed operation and ensures normal operation of S/H circuits thereof.
US07715301B2
An optical element having an optical multi-layer coating which can function as a phase plate without using quartz crystal or an optical film. The optical multi-layer coating is deposited on a plane which is set up on the optical element by way of a perpendicularly intersecting plane located on perpendicularly intersecting X- and Y-axes in perpendicularly intersecting relation with optical axis of an incident light beam on the optical multi-layer coating, the perpendicularly intersecting plane being inclined through a predetermined angle about the X- and/or Y-axis to establish a phase differential between two linearly polarized components of the incident light beam.
US07715297B2
An optical pickup apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing information onto and/or from optical discs having diverse specifications. Particularly, a diffraction grating for use in the optical pickup apparatus includes a substrate for refracting an output beam from a laser diode at a predetermined refractive index, a liquid crystal for refracting the beam, which is transmitted through the substrate, at a different refractive index and direction according to a track pitch of the optical disc, an electrode material for supplying power to the liquid crystal, and a switch for controlling power supply to the electrode material. Electrode materials are aligned with various spacing in order to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal according to the wavelength of a laser and the specification of an optical disc used. Also, power supply to the electrode materials is controlled depending on the optical disc specification.
US07715295B2
An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes an A/D converter; an asymmetry compensator for detecting 4T sampling signals; a phase locked loop including a frequency detector that counts and detects run-length signals from the digital signals and compensates frequency errors of the digital signals; a binary module including a Viterbi decoder, a slicer, and a minimum T compensator that compensates the digital signal with a minimum signal having a unit cycle; an equalizer; an adaptive level error detector detecting a base level of the Viterbi decoder from both an input signal into the equalizer and an output signal from the Viterbi decoder, and computing a filtering coefficient of the equalizer from the base level; and a signal quality measurer measuring a jitter or an SbER of the digital signal.
US07715292B2
The present invention relates to a drive for accessing an optical record carrier (2) comprising means (4) for determining the type of record carrier, in particular for distinguishing a read-only record carrier from a recordable or rewritable record carrier having a wobbled groove in the lead-in zone, said means comprising: a DPD measuring unit (41) for measuring the differential phase detection (DPD) signal, a PP measuring unit (42) for measuring the push-pull (PP) signal in case no DPD signal could be measured, a wobble locking unit (43) for locking, in case a PP signal could be measured, to the wobble embedded in said wobbled groove using a first and/or a second polarity setting, and an indication unit (44) for generating a first indication signal indicating that the record carrier is a read-only record carrier if a DPD signal could be measured and that the record carrier is a recordable or rewritable record carrier if no DPD signal but a PP signal could be measured and if locking to the wobble has been successful. In a further embodiment a second indication signal in generated indicating the type of polarity in case of a recordable or rewritable record carrier.
US07715281B2
The alarm watch includes a mechanical movement, which drives a time display mechanism including at least a first hour hand (17) and a first minute hand (13) mounted above a first dial. The alarm watch also includes an alarm mechanism able to release an alarm at a predetermined alarm time, manually determined every twenty-four hours, and a mechanism for displaying the predetermined alarm time. The alarm time display mechanism includes at least a second hour hand (33) provided for displaying the alarm time in twelve hours, and an indicator (52) with two positions provided for specifying whether the alarm time is situated between midnight and midday (AM) or situated between midday and midnight (PM).
US07715272B2
A semiconductor device includes a latency setting circuit setting the latency, an input command circuit outputting a normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal obtained by capturing an input command signal using a normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, first and second counter circuits each including latch circuits for sequentially shifting the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal based on the normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, a selector circuit controlling a signal path so that the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted through the first (second) counter circuit when an even latency is set and the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted so as to be shifted from the first (second) counter circuit to the second (first) counter circuit when an odd latency is set, and a control circuit controlling so that the latch circuits of the first (second) counter circuit are activated in response to the input command signal and stopped after an operation period is elapsed.
US07715271B1
A memory unit includes width decoding logic enabling data to be accessed in a memory array at different data widths. To improve memory access speed, the memory unit also includes dedicated read output paths for accessing data at the full data width of the memory array. The dedicated read output paths bypass the width decoding logic and provide data from the memory array directly to a data bus, thereby providing improved memory performance when width decoding is not needed. The memory unit can be incorporated in programmable devices and a programmable device configuration can select either the read bypass paths or the width decoding logic. Hardware applications that require width decoding and improved memory access speed can utilize additional programmable device resources outside the memory unit to register the full width data from the memory unit and convert it to a different data width.
US07715269B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) ports, a plurality of memory cell arrays and a region configurator. The region configurator is adapted to hold share region information about at least one share region. In the memory cell arrays, at least one share region accessible through the I/O ports is configured on the basis of the share region information.
US07715265B2
A differential latch-based one time programmable memory cell is provided. The differential latch-based one time programmable memory cell includes a differential latching amplifier having a first set of fuse devices coupled to the first input and a second set of fuse devices coupled to the second input. Only one set of fuse devices can be programmed in a memory cell. If one or more fuse devices in a set of fuse devices are programmed, the side having the programmed fuse will present a lower voltage at its input to the differential latching amplifier. Differential latching amplifier outputs a “0” or a “1” depending on the side having the programmed fuse.
US07715260B1
An operating voltage tuning method for a static random access memory is disclosed. The static random access memory receives a periphery voltage and a memory cell voltage. The steps of the method mentioned above are shown as follows. First, perform a shmoo test on the static random access memory to obtain a shmoo test plot and a minimum operating voltage. Compare the minimum operating voltage with a preset specification. Position a specification position point on the line which the periphery voltage is equal to the memory cell voltage in the shmoo test plot corresponding to the preset specification. Fix one of the memory cell voltage and the periphery voltage and gradually decrease the other to test the static random access memory and obtain a failure bits distribution. Finally, tune process parameters of the static random access memory according to the specification position point and the failure bits distribution.
US07715259B2
A method of testing a word line using a word line driving circuit comprising; activating a word line by activating a word line driving signal; floating the word line by activating a test mode signal after the activating of the word line; recording data having a predetermined logic value into a memory cell by inputting a write command while the word line is floated; and reading out data from the memory cell by inputting a read command after the recording of data.
US07715254B2
The data output circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first control signal generating unit configured to generate a first control signal according to a row address and a read command; and a data selecting unit configured to select data from a data line corresponding to a presently selected unit data output mode among data lines according to the first control signal or a second control signal, and output the data.
US07715253B2
Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same comprise an auxiliary driver configured to output an internal strobe signals generated corresponding to a read command as a plurality of auxiliary strobe signal in response to a control signal, wherein the auxiliary driver bypass a first output auxiliary strobe signal, and delay to output the rest of the auxiliary strobe signal among the outputted auxiliary strobe signal and a strobe signal generator for driving the auxiliary strobe signal to output the delayed auxiliary strobe signal as a data strobe signals.
US07715242B2
An erasing method of a non-volatile memory is provided. The non-volatile memory includes a control gate disposed in a substrate, a floating gate, a gate oxide layer disposed between the floating gate and the substrate, a source region disposed in the substrate, a drain region disposed in the substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed on the floating gate, a second dielectric layer disposed on sidewalls of the floating gate, and an erase gate. The erasing method includes applying a first voltage on the control gate, applying a second voltage on the drain, applying a third voltage on the source, applying a fourth voltage on the erase gate, and applying a fifth voltage on the substrate, such that electrons are drawn from the floating gate to the erase gate to be erased.
US07715239B2
The present disclosure includes various method, device, system, and module embodiments for memory cycle voltage adjustment. One such method embodiment includes counting a number of process cycles performed on a first memory block in a memory device. This method embodiment also includes adjusting at least one program voltage, from an initial program voltage to an adjusted voltage, in response to the counted number of process cycles.
US07715237B2
As part of the present invention, a memory cell may be operated using reference cells having a threshold offset circuit. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a threshold offset value may be determined for a memory cell to be operated based on a location (e.g. memory segment within a memory array) of the memory cell. An input offset circuit of a global reference cell may be adjusted by the threshold offset value for the memory cell; and the memory cell may be operated (e.g. read, written or erased) using the global reference cell whose input offset circuit has been adjusted by the threshold offset value. According to some embodiments of the present invention global reference cells may consist of multiple sets of reference cells, wherein, according to some aspects, each set of the multiple sets of reference cells may be used for operating a different memory array segment. According to other aspects, each set of the multiple sets of reference cells may be used for operating a different state of memory array cells.
US07715235B2
A ramp-down programming voltage is used to program a group of nonvolatile memory cells in parallel, step by step from a highest step to a lowest step. Overall programming time is improved when a conventional setup for program inhibit together with a verify after each program step are avoided. A program voltage estimate is provided for each cell indicating the programming voltage expected to program the cell to its target. Initially, all but those cells having estimates at or above the current program voltage step will be program-inhibited. Thereafter, with each descending program voltage step, additional cells will be un-inhibited. Once un-inhibited, a cell need not be re-inhibited even if programmed to its target. This is because subsequent program steps are at lower voltages and ineffective in programming the cell beyond its target. The un-inhibit operation in one implementation amounts to simply pulling the associated bit lines to ground.
US07715230B2
A method of operating a flash memory device wherein the width of threshold voltage distribution of memory cells is adjusted by setting different conditions of a program operation in accordance with levels of threshold voltages of the memory cells. As a result, width of the threshold voltage distribution of memory cells may be narrowed.
US07715228B2
A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory system having memory cells interconnected in a grid that are selected through voltage values supplied coincidently on interconnections made thereto for changing states thereof and determining present states thereof through suitable biasing of grid interconnections.
US07715220B2
A memory apparatus is provided that includes a storage element configured to store and retain information based on the state of an electric resistance, and a circuit element connected in series to the storage element as a load. In the memory apparatus, a resistance value is set to one of a plurality of different levels by controlling a voltage or a current applied to the circuit element or the storage element upon the writing. The storage element includes levels having low resistance values and levels having high resistance values obtained after erasing, to each of which different information is allocated. One storage element may store information having a ternary value or more. When erasing the information from the levels excluding the level having the lowest resistance value, a level is initially changed to the level having the lowest resistance value, and subsequently changed to that having a higher resistance value.
US07715210B2
A patch panel system including a chassis and a plurality of modules. The chassis includes elongated structures configured to interconnect top, bottom and side portions of the chassis. The elongated structures are also configured to receive and secure a printed circuit board and the plurality of modules to the chassis. The modules include a housing and a module card. The card can include a variety of connections that provide communication to connections located on a back plane of the chassis. The system can include a combination of passive and active modules that are interchangeable to provide a variety of interface configurations.
US07715209B2
An exemplary retention assembly includes a latch structure and a latch holder. The latch structure is formed on a platform. The latch structure has an engaging portion and a latching portion. The latch holder has a holding protrusion, a pushing portion, and an engaging portion. The holding protrusion is configured for engaging with the latching portion of the latch structure. The elastic pushing portion is configured for causing the latch holder to engage with or disengage from the engaging portion of the latch structure. The engaging portion is configured for engaging with the engaging portion of the latch structure. The latch holder is rotatable around the latching portion of the latch structure.
US07715207B2
One embodiment of the invention provides a fully distributed, scaleable and modular rack architecture and management system. One feature of the invention provides device management throughout the rack system with a vertical interface column integrated into the rack cabinet. Within each rack unit (U) of the vertical interface column, the vertical interface column may deliver connectivity to a device housed within the rack cabinet thereby eliminating runs of cable typically necessary for management of such devices. The vertical interface column can be expanded as necessary to provide connectivity to more devices using hot-swappable interface modules. A rack management system allows both local and remote management access to all devices mounted in the rack cabinet and coupled to the vertical interface column. The rack management system may also access to devices mounted in other rack cabinets.
US07715201B2
A housing or a frame-like holding element for, in particular, electronic or electrical components, including a frame that surrounds an opening, a holding fixture that, while extending in a longitudinal direction, is formed in the front side of at least one profile. An inscribed strip is placed inside the holding fixture and supports a holding strip that forms a viewing surface on the front side. This invention provides a holding element that can be easily assembled while having a visually appealing layout of the inscribed strip. This invention provides frame limbs forming the frame in the form of frame profiles, of which the holding fixture for the inscribed strip is formed on at least one, and the holding strip, on a rear side facing away from the viewing side, has two longitudinally extending resilient detent webs which are parallel to one another and which have detent elements that engage in a locking manner within detent mating elements formed on the holding fixture.
US07715191B2
A handheld electronic communication device that is transitionable between compact and expanded configurations is disclosed. The device includes a display panel positioned adjacent and parallel to a keyboard panel in the compact configuration. The display panel and keyboard panel are coupled together by one or more connectors. In at least one embodiment, the at least one connector enables relative x and z direction motion between the panels, while maintaining them in parallel. In at least one other possible embodiment the display panel can be shifted sideways from the keyboard to expose one or more keys. This other at least one possible embodiment is particularly useful when the device is used as a multimedia player and it is undesirable to expose the entire keyboard panel.
US07715188B2
A disk array apparatus includes a plurality of disk drives arranged in at least one disk drive line in a direction of an airflow, at least one shield plate, a housing containing the disk drives and the at least one shield plate therein, and flow passages arranged between an upper surface of the disk drives and an inner wall of the housing for enabling the airflow to pass through. The at least one shield plate is arranged between at least two of the disk drives of the at least one disk drive line for controlling the airflow on a downstream side of the flow passages.
US07715184B2
An assembling and dissembling mechanism for a data storage device suited to assemble and disassemble a data storage device in a casing having an opening includes a fastener having a connecting portion and a first fastening portion and a push button slidingly disposed at the opening of the casing. The connecting portion is fixed at the data storage device and is connected to the first fastening portion. The push button has a second fastening portion and a pushing portion which are disposed in the casing. The second fastening portion is suitable to be fastened with the first fastening portion to install the data storage device in the casing. When the push button slides by a predetermined distance, it drives the second fastening portion to be separated from the first fastening portion, and the pushing portion pushes the first fastening portion to disassemble the data storage device.
US07715178B2
The invention provides a digital signage replacement module. The digital signage has a main circuit board and a plug-board disposed therein and connected to each other. The plug-board has a plug-card with a plug-slot, and a track disposed on each side thereof. The digital signage is covered up by a back cover so that an opening can be formed at one side edge of the digital signage. The computer module has a frame and a motherboard. The frame has a rail disposed on each side thereof and the motherboard has a slot and a connecting terminal disposed thereon. The slot has an interface socket card. The computer module can be placed into the digital signage through the opening with the rail placed into the track. Therefore, the connecting terminal is connected to the plug-slot and the computer module can be drawn out for maintenance.
US07715165B2
A powered device includes a first supply terminal, a second supply terminal, and at least one input pin coupled to the first supply terminal. The powered device further includes an external capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first supply terminal, a switch coupled to the second supply terminal and coupled to a second terminal of the external capacitor, and power surge detection logic coupled to the switch. The external capacitor is charged in response to a detected power surge that exceeds a threshold.
US07715163B2
An electronic system and a cell module thereof are provided. The electronic system includes an electronic device and a cell module. The cell module includes a cell, a discharge switching circuit, and a surge current suppressed and controlled circuit. The discharge switching circuit is coupled to the cell. The surge current suppressed and controlled circuit is used for controlling the discharge switching circuit, so that the current flowing from the cell into the electronic device gradually increases by the discharge switching circuit when the electronic device is coupled to the discharge switching circuit.
US07715152B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic writing head with a suppressed effective track width to be written on a magnetic medium while increasing writing magnetic field gradient. In one embodiment a trailing side shield is disposed by way of a gap film to a main pole of a perpendicular writing magnetic head. A gap distance (Gt) on a trailing side of the main pole and a gap distance (Gs) on a lateral side of the main pole is defined as Gt
US07715142B2
A hard disk drive controller including a determining unit that determines an external dimension of a hard disk drive that is provided with a motor for rotating a hard disk and a head that is retractable from the hard disk; and a changing unit that changes control of the hard disk drive device according to the external dimension that has been determined by the determining unit. An image forming apparatus is also disclosed which includes the determining unit, the changing unit, and an energy saving shifting unit that shifts the image forming apparatus into an energy saving mode in certain conditions which have been determined in advance. A storage medium on which a program for execution on a computer is stored, the program having the function of the determining unit and the function of the changing unit, is also disclosed.
US07715138B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks that form a plurality of servo zones. The disk drive further comprises a head actuated radially over the disk for generating a read signal, and control circuitry including a timing circuit. The timing circuit is initialized with a nominal center frequency that approximates an average servo data rate out of the plurality of servo zones. The timing circuit is synchronized to the read signal to generate synchronous read signal samples. A servo sync mark is detected from the synchronous read signal samples, and the servo zone the head is reading is estimated after detecting the servo sync mark.
US07715136B2
A disk drive controller including a preamplifier and a controller is disclosed, in which communications between the controller and the preamplifier are carried out over at least some shared terminals and conductors. A first pair of differential lines is provided to communicate data, sensed at read/write heads of the disk drive, from the preamplifier to the controller, and a second pair of differential lines communicates data to be written to the disk drive from the controller to the preamplifier. Control signals are communicated over a serial interface between the controller and preamplifier, over the first pair of differential lines, so that serial communication can be carried out simultaneously with the writing of data from the controller to the preamplifier. Alternatively, the control signals are communicated over the second pair of differential lines, simultaneously with the reading of data from the preamplifier to the controller.
US07715127B2
A lens module includes a lens barrel, a ring-shaped magnetic member, and a lens. The magnetic member is received in and attached to the lens barrel. The lens includes a transparent central optical portion and a metallic peripheral portion. The metallic peripheral portion of the lens is magnetically attached to the magnetic member.
US07715121B2
An optical system used for an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup element is provided. The optical system includes a negative lens disposed furthest away on the enlargement conjugation side and satisfies the following condition: 80 degrees<2ω, where 2ω (degrees) denotes an angle of view of the optical system. In addition, the following parameters of the optical system are optimally determined: a lens open angle θ of a surface of the negative lens on the reduction conjugation side, an index of refraction Ndn and an Abbe number νdn of a material of the negative lens for a d-line, and a relative partial dispersion θgFn of the material of the negative lens for a g-line and an F-line.
US07715109B2
An optical system for the production of images, comprising an all optical system is disclosed. Said all optical system manipulates images directly by digital electronics without loss in the number of resolvable spots at higher magnifications.
US07715108B2
In an image forming optical system having a positive lens group, a negative lens group, and an aperture stop, the negative lens group is disposed at an image side of the of the aperture stop, the negative lens group has a cemented lens which is formed by cementing a plurality of lenses, and in a rectangular coordinate system in which, a horizontal axis is let to be Nd and a vertical axis is let to be νd, when a straight line indicated by Nd=α×νd+β (where, α=−0.017) is set, Nd and νd of at least one lens forming the cemented lens are included in both of areas namely, an area which is determined by a line when a lower limit value is in a range of a following conditional expression (1), and a line when an upper limit value is in a range of the following conditional expression (1), and an area determined by following conditional expressions (2) and (3). 1.45<β<2.15 (1) 1.30
US07715106B2
A liquid-control optical element is provided herein. The optical element includes two liquids with different phases. The two liquids are immiscible and have different optical index. By applying a voltage through electrodes to form an electric field, the slope of an interface between the two liquids is changed. The purpose of changing the slope is to change the shape of the interface or the moving or rotating direction. Thus, according to the law of total internal reflection or the law of refraction, the liquid-control optical element can be used as a liquid shutter device, or a liquid scanner device if a scanning is performed after penetrating the element.
US07715105B2
A lens structure and method for manufacture of such a lens. A lens element has multiple sawn planar faces between image forming surfaces so the lens element has a polygonal cross section. The manufacture includes the step of utilizing oversized conventional cylindrical lens elements and other optical elements formed into lens systems. The faces are sawn to reduce the overall size. The sawing can be applied to integral lens elements or assemblies or lens arrays.
US07715102B2
In the present display apparatus, the directivity of light emitted from a backlight is set high in the direction along which a pixel pitch is long, and such light is caused to spread by a lenticular lens. In this manner, in the present display apparatus, the light entering the lenticular lens is parallelized by increasing the directivity of the light emitted from the backlight. For this reason, an amount of light whose traveling direction can be controlled by the lenticular lens (i.e. light focusing on pixels) can be increased, as compared to a display apparatus in which light emitted from a backlight has a low directivity. With this arrangement, both the frontal brightness and the viewing angle of a liquid crystal panel can be increased.
US07715101B2
Apparatus and methods are used for controlling electromagnetic radiation pulse duration in a lithographic apparatus. A dividing element is arranged to divide an electromagnetic radiation pulse into a first portion and a second portion. A prism receives, refracts, and subsequently emits the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation pulse. A directing element is arranged to direct the first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation pulse parallel to a common optical axis. The first portion combines with the second portion to form a combined radiation beam pulse. The combined radiation beam pulse has a longer pulse duration than the divided electromagnetic pulse and experiences no corresponding loss in intensity.
US07715097B2
The screen of the invention comprises an oriented film having a direction of maximum scattering (scattering axis) and a direction of minimum scattering (transmitting axis) for linear polarized light, and containing macromolecular fine particles in a macromolecular matrix, wherein the refractive index of the macromolecular fine particles is within a specified range and the matrix and macromolecular fine particles satisfy a specified relationship. The screen reproduces bright and high-quality projected images with virtually no moire effect or glare, and is therefore highly useful as a transmissive or reflective projector screen.
US07715093B2
A control apparatus comprises a light monitoring unit for dividing a signal wavelength band into at least a band in which output light power of an optical amplifier tends to decrease at an decrease in the number of signal wavelengths and a band including a gain deviation band, and for monitoring inputted light power for the individual divided bands, a calculation unit for obtaining the number of signal wavelengths in the individual divided bands based on a monitor result, and a target gain correction unit for correcting a target gain based on a result of the calculation. This suppresses a transient variation of signal light level due to SHB or SRS at a high speed with a simple configuration without deteriorating noise characteristic, thus enabling optical amplifiers to be further disposed in a multi-stage fashion, which can lengthen the transmission distance of a transmission system including an optical add/drop unit.
US07715092B2
Raman tilt is induced by the propagation of optical signals in optical communication fibers during and after transient events. Certain characteristics of the light are monitored at each amplification node and Raman tilt correction is achieved by spectral tilt control optics. The light is monitored either as total power, and/or the power of light after passing through one or more optical filters. In the case of EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier) the correction is performed by adjusting stage gains and VOA loss distribution within the amplifier. The light detection is relatively fast, whereby the tilt is compensated by fast controlled VOA and pump power adjustment during a transient event.
US07715089B2
An electrophoretic display panel with a fast response speed and its fabrication method are disclosed. The electrophoretic display panel includes a first array substrate including a gate line and a data line extending perpendicularly to each other, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The electrophoretic display panel also includes a second array substrate coupled the first array substrate and including a common electrode capable of forming an electric field with the pixel electrode, a spacer formed on at least one of the first array substrate or the second array substrate to define a charging region in the pixel region; and an electrophoretic medium in the charging region between the first and second array substrates.
US07715087B2
The present invention relates to novel patterned embossing and patterned filling methods. Both methods are simple, reliable and cost effective ways for manufacturing the segment of signage electrophoretic displays. The displays prepared by the present invention requires only one patterned electrode layer. The undesired visible line traces are eliminated and the manufacture of the present displays does not involve the costly precision registration step used in the previously known assembly processes dealing with two patterned electrodes. Moreover, the electrophoretic fluid is present only in the patterned and switchable area of the display. This not only significantly reduces the material cost, but also improves the overall display quality by reducing defects and non-uniformity.
US07715086B2
The invention provides a display method, and a display medium and a display device using the method thereof. The display method displays an image through a process for depositing fine metal particles, in which fine metal particles are deposited on a solid surface from an electrolyte by giving one stimulus to the electrolyte, wherein the particle size distribution of the fine metal particles that are deposited on the specific area of the solid surface, has one or more maximum peaks, and at least one of the maximum peaks satisfies the following formula (1): Pp(±30)/Pp(T)≦0.5 (1) where, Pp(T) means the height of the highest peak among the maximum peaks, and Pp(±30) means the height of the distribution curve at the particle size that is ±30% from the particle size of the fine metal particles at the height of the highest peak.
US07715084B2
A method and apparatus for reducing speckle in a laser illumination system uses a despeckle device including an optical retarder providing an odd integer multiple of substantially half-wave retardation for light emitted from a coherent laser in the laser illumination system. The near half-wave optical retarder has a substantially constant retardance and a spatially varied slow axis. The spatially varied slow axis imposes a phase mask on the beam of light, which provides sub-resolution optical phase modulation to a resolution spot on the detector. The near half-wave optical retarder is actuated mechanically or electrically to vary the sub-resolution optical phase modulation within an integration time of the detector.
US07715083B2
The present invention aims to provide a light control material capable of optionally controlling the light transmittance in an arbitrary wavelength range among a wide wavelength range, and a light control film formed by using the light control material.
US07715078B2
It is an object to realize smooth switching between free scanning and high speed scanning in a light scanning apparatus and a light scanning microscope. To attain the object, a light scanning apparatus includes at least three mirror scanners disposed at predetermined positions of a light path for light scanning, and a light path switching unit switching the light path between a light path in which a highest-speed mirror scanner among the mirror scanners is valid and a light path in which the highest-speed mirror scanner is invalid. Therefore, the switching between a free scanning mode and a high speed scanning mode is performed by the driving of the light switching unit and involves no movement of galvanometer scanners. In addition, since the resonant galvanometer scanner is invalid during the free scanning mode, it is possible to make the resonant galvanometer scanner on standby.
US07715073B2
A hologram recorder is provided, in which coherent light from a light source is split into a signal beam and a reference beam, and the signal beam is modulated by a spatial light modulator to be directed to a hologram recording medium, while the reference beam is directed to the hologram recording medium to overlap with the signal beam for recording a hologram on the hologram recording medium. The hologram recorder includes a beam phase modulator provided with a plurality of optical devices (20p, 20p′) each configured to assume one of two modes such as ON mode and OFF mode, the ON mode for causing the reference beam to be passed or reflected in a predetermined direction toward the hologram recording medium, the OFF mode for causing the reference beam to be blocked or directed in another direction other than the predetermined direction. Each optical device (20p, 20p′) provides a phase difference 0 or π. A phase modulation controller is also provided for individually controlling the optical devices (20p, 20p′) to cause each of the optical devices to assume the ON mode or the OFF mode, thereby modulating the reference beam into a beam having a predetermined phase pattern.
US07715072B2
Provided is a hologram retrieval method and a holographic recording and reproducing apparatus for preventing an increase in SNR, a decrease in retrieval accuracy, or the retrieval itself from being made impossible, which would otherwise occur because of a small size of data used for retrieval. Digital information is recorded on a holographic recording medium as data pages DP formed of a two-dimensional bit map image with each page being multiplexed. The data page DP is divided into a plurality of equal data blocks DB11 to 13, DB21 to DB23, and DB31 to DB33, and each data block DB is provided with a data image that is encoded by an encoding method for providing a certain number of ON pixels within each data block DB. A spatial light modulator allows the to-be-retrieved data image to be encoded by the encoding method and displayed as block information on a retrieval data block associated with the data block, and a signal beam to be thereby modulated. Of resulting diffracted beams, the diffracted beam of the maximum intensity is used to detect the target data image and the address of the reference beam.
US07715071B2
A white reference value and a corresponding transport speed are stored in memory. A black reference value and a corresponding imaging speed are also stored. Next, a printing operation is started and color values and a corresponding transport speed are stored. Accurately corrected color values are derived from the stored white reference value, transport speed, black reference value, imaging speed, color values and transport speed.
US07715069B2
A method for measuring density, includes: forming on a medium a pattern that consists of a plurality of dot rows formed respectively in a plurality of row regions lined up in a direction intersecting a movement direction in which a plurality of nozzles move, by forming each of the dot rows in the row region arranged in the movement direction by ejecting ink from the nozzles; reading the pattern by a scanner; measuring density of each of the row regions of the read pattern; calculating respective modification values corresponding to each of the row regions, based on at least a part of a measurement result of the density of the plurality of the row regions; and modifying respective measured values of the density of each of the row regions based on the respective modification values corresponding to each of the row regions.
US07715062B2
An image reading apparatus configured to be disposed in an image forming apparatus. An image reading unit is configured to read an image from a document. A light permeable member has a surface configured to face the image on the document, the surface having a roughness of at most 0.5 S. A coating is disposed on the surface of the light permeable member, the coating configured to prevent adherence of contaminants on the surface.
US07715057B2
A system for generating a security mark includes a data reception component that receives information. A security mark generation component in communication with the data reception component generates at least one security mark configuration based at least in part upon the received information. The at least one security mark configuration includes a plurality of marks. An application component applies one configuration of the at least one security mark configurations to a recipient. The applied security mark configuration obeys a predetermined set of rules which include at least one rule which defines a spatial relationship between a first group of the plurality of marks and a second group of the plurality of marks.
