US07727208B2
The present invention is directed to an ergonomically improved tampon applicator having a plunger and a barrel. The barrel has four distinct sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section. The reverse taper section is tapered towards the fingergrip section and the main body section is tapered in an opposite direction towards the insertion tip section. A maximum diameter is formed where the reverse taper section and main body section meet on the barrel. The maximum diameter provides a sensory means to the user to alert the user when the applicator has been inserted at the proper depth in the vagina.
US07727207B2
The present invention provides an absorbent garment subassembly for attaching to an absorbent garment, the absorbent garment having a front portion, a back portion and two side portions. The subassembly has a first carrier layer and an elastic member operatively associated with the first carrier layer. The elastic member has a center portion and two end portions. The center portion has a greater area than either of the end portions.
US07727206B2
The invention provides for a urinary monitoring device to monitor for the presence or absence of markers indicative of a urinary tract infection (UTI). The invention also provides for methods of using such a device.
US07727205B2
An ostomy device including a collecting bag and a base plate with an adhesive plate for being fastened on the user, the base plate having a stomal opening and a first flange for repeated and removable adhesive connection to a coupling element on the collecting bag which has a second flange. The adhesive connection is provided by at least one layer of an adhesive. Furthermore, the device includes a further flexible layer placed between the adhesive layer and the one of the first and second flanges having the lower tensile strength, the flexible layer having a yield strength exceeding the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer.
US07727196B2
A contrast media injection system detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US07727193B2
A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as when an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system of the present invention predicts the temperature of the eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system of the present invention monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
US07727191B2
A catheter includes a first expandable membrane having a first pressurization limit and a second expandable membrane, having a second pressurization limit, wherein the second pressurization limit is greater than the first pressurization limit, the first expandable membrane defines a cooling chamber, the second expandable membrane being disposed around the first expandable membrane to define an junction therebetween. The catheter includes a coolant injection lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet port and the cooling chamber, and a primary coolant return lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet port and the cooling chamber. The coolant injection tube, the cooling chamber, and the primary coolant return lumen define a first fluid pathway. The catheter further includes a secondary coolant return lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet port and the junction. The junction and the secondary coolant return lumen define a second fluid pathway. The catheter provides a fail-safe feature by selecting the appropriate first and second pressurization limits for the first and second expandable membranes.
US07727188B2
The invention relates to a balloon catheter in which the balloon is mounted on the end of the catheter in a manner that creates a recess or pocket between the catheter wall and balloon wall. The recess or pocket opens toward the proximal end of the catheter. The rigid end of an introducer element or finger is received in the recess to attach it to the catheter. The distal end of the catheter, with the end of the introducer element in the recess, is inserted and positioned within the bowel by manipulating the introducer element or finger. After the catheter is properly positioned in the bowel, the introducer element or finger is withdrawn, detaching it from the catheter as the end of the introducer element slides out of the recess and then out of the bowel. The balloon is inflated prior to or after the withdrawal of the introducer element to anchor the end of the catheter in position within the bowel. Since the distal end of the catheter is made entirely of soft, compliant material, no soft tissue damage can occur from use of the device, even when the catheter remains in place within the body over an extended time period.
US07727186B2
Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.
US07727181B2
A micro fluid delivery device is particularly useful in medical applications. The device may be worn or carried by the user and may deliver drugs or other medicaments to the user or patient. The device has a control system that accepts input from the user and controls all aspects of operation of the device. The control system measures the output of the pump and adjusts the output of the pump to achieve the desired dosage rate and size. This eliminates differences from pump to pump that result from inevitable variations in the manufacturing of such small scale affordable devices.
US07727176B2
The invention relates to support element (4) comprising a main body (6) having a front wall (25) and a peripheral wall (32) projecting away from the front wall. The front wall and the peripheral wall define a housing compartment (33) designed to receive a fluid distribution circuitry cooperating with a treatment unit for defining an integrated blood treatment module.
US07727175B2
A surgical device for applying a bandage onto tissue is disclosed. The surgical device has an actuator and contains one or more releasable bandages and an adhesive. Actuation of the actuator releases the adhesive, saturates the bandage with the adhesive, and releases the bandage onto tissue. The actuator can be squeezed, moved linearly, or rotated to dispense the adhesive onto the bandage and release the saturated bandage. The adhesive can be stored in an ampoule, or a sealed chamber. Actuation of the surgical device breaks the ampoule and/or seal and releases the adhesive for use. In addition to the adhesive, additional fluids or additives can be mixed with the adhesive or stored in separate chambers of the ampoule or surgical device. These additives can include drugs, image enhancing agents, necrosing agents, sclerosing agents, and the like.
US07727171B2
A vehicle seat may include a seat back that has a back frame, a cushion pad attached to the back frame, and a massaging unit having a plurality of massaging elements. The cushion pad has a plurality of through bores that pass therethrough in the direction of thickness thereof. The massaging elements are constructed so as to be elastically deformed or compressed along moving axes and to be pneumatically expanded and contracted along the moving axes. The massaging elements are disposed in the through bores in a manner that the moving axes of the massaging elements extend along longitudinal axes of the through bores. The massaging elements have deformability or compressibility identical with or greater than the deformability or compressibility of the cushion pad when the massaging elements are not operated.
US07727170B2
An apparatus for elastic hysteretic palpatory training includes a wire or a computer controlled actuator having a plunger that at least partially elastically resists the application of a palpatory force. In use of the apparatus, an increasing palpatory force is applied to an end of the wire transverse to its axis or an end of the plunger of the actuator in a first direction. In response to the applied palpatory force, the wire or the plunger elastically resist displacement from a first position to a second position. The palpatory force is then withdrawn whereupon the elasticity of wire or the elasticity emulated by the plunger causes it to return toward the first position. The applied palpatory force versus displacement is detected in response to applying and withdrawing the palpatory force to the wire or the plunger.
US07727166B2
A lancet assembly has a lancet body with a needle end, a sinuous portion end, and a slot, a lancet tip connected to the needle end, a sinuous portion connected to the sinuous portion end, an anchor structure connected to the sinuous portion. The lancet assembly may also include a lancet enclosure having an elongated chamber with a needle end, an anchor end in communication with the elongated chamber opposite the needle end, and a lancet enclosure slot in communication with the elongated chamber and spaced from the needle end. The anchor end is configured to receive and hold the anchor structure in a substantially static position. The elongated chamber is sized to receive in sliding engagement the lancet tip, the lancet body where the lancet body slot is in communication with the lancet enclosure slot and the sinuous portion and to permit slidable movement of the lancet tip through the open end between a retracted position and an extended position.
US07727164B2
A biopsy device is provided. The biopsy device can include a cutter which is advanced through a first portion of its stroke by a differential fluid pressure acting on a piston. A mechanical drive can be used to translate and rotate the cutter during tissue severing.
US07727163B2
A body structure is manipulated by first introducing a bulking material, such as a length of material, into an interior of the body structure in either open or laparoscopic surgical procedures. After the bulking material is introduced, an exterior region of the body structure may be manipulated while the material remains within the interior of the body structure. Typically, manipulation comprises resection of the body structure from surrounding tissue. The resected body structure may then be removed.
US07727141B2
An implantable artificial sphincter system provides long-term adjustment via transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), minimizing invasive adjustment through adding or removing fluid via a syringe. An infuser device provides bi-directional fluid transfer via a flexible conduit to a sphincter band, such as a gastric band. Materials are nonferrous and nonmagnetic so as to be magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe, being substantially immune to strong magnetic fields and not introducing an electromagnetic interference/compatibility (EMIC) hazard.
US07727128B2
A leg press exercise machine that provides translational and rotational motion of the user support structure by translating the user support structure along two intersecting non-orthogonal linear paths. A front portion of the user support structure travels along an inclining linear path and a rear portion of the user support structure travels along a declining linear path. The translation of the user support structure along the inclining and declining linear paths results in the user support structure exhibiting a rational motion, defining an arcuate path.
US07727126B1
An automated jump rope exercising device includes a frame, a power operated primary drive pulley system, and a plurality of auxiliary driven pulley systems that may be operably coupled to the primary drive pulley system. Each of the auxiliary driven pulley systems may be simultaneously rotated in a first synchronous path during operating conditions based upon input from the primary drive pulley. The device may further include a plurality of arms that may be conjoined to the auxiliary driven pulley systems respectively. A plurality of ropes may be detachably anchored to the arms, and each of the ropes may be simultaneously rotated during operating conditions. A user interface may be coupled to the primary drive pulley system thereby permitting the user to selectively adjust a tension level and rotational speed of the ropes during operating conditions.
US07727124B1
A bicycle trainer includes a frame and a resistance unit movably interconnected with the frame by an adjustment arrangement for movement through a range of operative positions and to an inoperative position. The adjustment arrangement includes an adjustment member that is selectively engaged with, and disengaged from, an engagement member. When disengaged, the adjustment member slides relative to the engagement member. The sliding movement of the adjustment member provides a first mode of operation to move the resistance unit to an initial engagement position adjacent the wheel, and the adjustment arrangement can be operated in a second mode of operation, such as by cam-type movement, to advance the resistance unit from the initial engagement position toward and against the wheel.
US07727122B2
A foldable treadmill includes a base frame, a front frame pivotally mounted on the base frame, a rear frame pivotally mounted on the front frame, a movable frame pivotally mounted on the front frame and slidably mounted on the base frame, a driver mounted on the front frame and provided with a retractable inner tube, and a connecting bracket secured on the movable frame and pivotally mounted on the inner tube of the driver. Thus, the rear frame is folded when not in use to reduce the whole volume of the treadmill efficiently. In addition, the front end of the rear frame is lifted to change the inclined angle of the rear frame, so that the user can practice running or walking on a slope.
US07727120B2
A mechanism for an elliptical exerciser comprises a crank rotatably connected to a frame so as to have a free end rotatable in a circular path. A restriction member is rotatably connected to the frame. A transmission member is connected to the restriction member, and a central portion thereof is rotatably connected to the crank, whereby the central portion of the transmission member moves along said circular path while the first end of the transmission member is constrained by the restriction member to move along a reciprocating arcuate path, such that a free end of the transmission member moves along an elliptical path. A reciprocating member has a first end rotatably connected to the transmission member, with a second end of the reciprocating member being operatively mounted to the frame, such that a reciprocating movement of the second end of the reciprocating member along the frame causes the first end of the reciprocating member to move along said elliptical path by the combined constraints of the crank, the restriction member and the transmission member. A foot pedal is connected to the reciprocating member, whereby the foot pedal moves along another elliptical path.
US07727117B2
A safe, physically demanding interface device for children or other users to play video games according to the present invention includes a base and a joystick or control rod. The base supports a significant portion or the entirety of the child weight (e.g., supports a child in a seated or standing position), while the joystick is manipulable by the child to play the games. The device is configured to force the child to utilize many of the large muscle groups to interact with the game. Since the child weight is supported by the base, the interface device is stable (e.g., unlikely to tip or move) and, therefore, provides for safe, compelling video game play for users either alone or with other users.
US07727116B2
Apparatus and method for the treatment of computer vision syndrome using a computer including a screen, a processor, memory and an I/O device. A set of instructions for the computer that includes programs for conducting hand-eye exercises in preselected sequences are loaded into the computer and run. Alternately, a pair of hand wands having a handle at one end and an LED light positioned on the other end are held by a user in front of the computer and a plurality of slap switches having means for detachably attaching the slap switches to a surface are positioned relative to the user and the computer. The user through the use of the slap switches and the hand wands carry out sequences of exercises that will rehabilitate the user regarding computer vision syndrome. The results of the exercises are communicated wirelessly from the hand wands and the slap switches to the computer.
US07727108B2
A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.
US07727104B2
A power train of an automatic transmission with eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds includes: a speed reduction unit including a first variable input member connected to an input shaft via a first clutch, first and second variably stopped members connected to a transmission case, and a reduced speed output member; an output unit including a reduced speed input member connected to the reduced speed output member, second and third variable input members connected to the input shaft via second and third clutches, respectively, a third variably stopped member connected to the transmission case, and a shifted speed output member connected to an output gear. A first brake variably stops the third variable stopped member; a second brake variably stops the first variable stopped member; and a third brake variably stops the second variable stopped member.
US07727102B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes four planetary gear sets having five torque-transmitting devices, two fixed interconnections and two grounded members. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The five torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and are operated in combinations of three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07727096B2
A handle end is adapted to be held by a player and a striking end is adapted to contact and propel an object. The stick includes a shaft coupling the handle end and the striking end. The shaft is fabricated of a relatively rigid material with limited flexibility. The shaft has a hole extending there through with a cylindrical wall defining the hole for varying the playing characteristics of the system.
US07727093B2
A lacrosse stick including a lacrosse head attached to a handle, wherein the lacrosse head has a taller, or thicker, ball stop, wherein a portion of the ball stop portion is lowered with respect to the immediately adjacent portions of the sidewall portions relative to a centerline of the handle. The net securing structures in the ball stop are preferably located in the lowered portion and therein provides increased ball retention characteristics. The lower portion of the ball stop portion includes a concave inner surface that is preferably flared, or sloped, slightly outwardly along its interior surface from its front side to its back side. The openings for attaching the netting in the ball stop are preferably slightly recessed with respect to the upper surface.
US07727091B2
A novel and versatile table tennis game and method of play thereof is disclosed. The table tennis table game is played on a playing surface in the shape of a hexagon having three pairs of equal length opposing edges. A net is placed in the center of the table to divide the playing surface into two or three separate playing areas. Two playing areas accommodates a maximum of three individuals on both sides of the net. Three playing areas accommodates either three individuals playing against each other or three teams of two individuals playing against each other. A folding support mechanism provides both support and storage for either a 2-piece or a 6-piece table top.
US07727083B2
A golf club shaft having at least six full-length layers composed of prepregs. The full-length layers are divided into an inner-layer part including a half of the full-length layers and an outer-layer part including a remaining half of the full-length layers. At least one pair of the full-length layers is formed as a bias set layer in each of the inner-layer part and the outer-layer part by layering two bias layers with each other, with reinforcing fibers of the bias layers intersecting with each other at an orientation angle of ±θ° which fall in a range from ±25° to ±65° with respect to an axis of the golf club shaft. A straight layer is formed as an outermost full-length layer of the outer-layer part with reinforcing fiber thereof orienting at the range from 0° to ±10° with respect to the axis of the shaft.
US07727079B1
A portable, expandable laser golf training device that can be placed on the ground to provide alignment. The present invention can supply a plurality of light beams produced by lasers or other light sources, switchable on and off, that can be projected along the ground both in the direction of play and perpendicular to it. In a folded configuration, the device can project in four directions creating a pair of axis lines running at right angles to each other. In an expanded configuration, one of the major axis lines can be separated into two parallel lines for putting alignment by sliding the halves of the device apart. The device can be used by placing it on the ground in front of the golfer (between the golfer's feet and the ball. Two lines project outward perpendicular to the direction of play, and two or four lines project into and away from the direction of play. These lines provide alignment for the golfer. Various combinations of beams on or off can be selected by a selector switch under control of the user. The device can contain a rechargeable battery.
US07727077B2
A water amusement ride system is disclosed. The system may include a device or apparatus, including a water bypass channel in fluid communication with a channel of water. The water bypass channel may include a water entrance, a water exit, and an adjustable valve. The water entrance is in fluid communication with water upstream of the apparatus. The water exit is in fluid communication with water downstream of the apparatus. The adjustable valve may be located between the water entrance and the water exit. The adjustable valve may be adjusted to control an amount of water exiting the water bypass channel. The water bypass channel may increase the flow rate of water between the water entrance and the water exit of the water bypass channel. The water bypass channel may assist in controlling a water effect.
US07727072B2
A gaming system having a plurality of primary game devices sharing a secondary bonus station is disclosed. The secondary game station comprises a secondary game which is configured to provide play pursuant to a triggering event originating from any one of the primary game devices in the gaming environment. The secondary game station is equipped with controls suitable for playing the secondary game. During play of the secondary game station, the triggering primary game device may also be “locked” so that the player may resume playing the primary game subsequent to playing the secondary game.
US07727057B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for heating an aircraft cabin and comprises a first hot air supply line (12) that leads to an air conditioning unit (14), a flow control valve (16) that is disposed in the first hot air supply line (12) upstream from the air conditioning unit (14), and a second hot air supply line (18) that branches off from the first hot air supply line (12) between the flow control valve (16) and the air conditioning unit (14) and bypasses the air conditioning unit (14). In order to assure air conditioning of the aircraft cabin in the event of a failure of the air conditioning unit (14) a third hot air supply line (20) branches off from the first hot air supply line (12) upstream from the flow control valve (16), which third hot air supply line (20) connects the first hot air supply line (12) to the second hot air supply line (18). Further a first close off mechanism is disposed in the second hot air supply line (18) upstream from the junction with the third hot air supply line (20), which first close off mechanism in its closed position prevents a flow from the second hot air supply line (18) back into the first hot air supply line (12). Finally a second close off mechanism is disposed in the third hot air supply line (20) upstream from the junction with the second hot air supply line (18).
US07727049B2
A system. method and apparatus to monitor a frictional coefficient of a substrate undergoing polishing is described. A polishing pad assembly includes a polishing layer including a polishing surface, and a substrate contacting member flexibly coupled to the polishing layer having a top surface to contact an exposed surface of a substrate. At least a portion of the top surface is substantially coplanar with the polishing surface. A sensor is provided to measure a lateral displacement of the substrate contacting member. Some embodiments may provide accurate endpoint detection during chemical mechanical polishing to indicate the exposure of an underlying layer.
US07727048B2
A pad for a brassiere having a foam layer; a liner layer and a shaped cover positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer is provided. The shaped cover is positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer to provide enhanced coverage to the brassiere. A brassiere having a pair of breast-receiving cups is provided. Each of the pair of breast-receiving cups has a pad having a foam layer, a liner layer, and a shaped cover positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer. The shaped cover is positioned between the foam layer and the said liner layer to provide enhanced coverage to the brassiere.
US07727044B1
An animal call includes a mouthpiece, a barrel, and a reed. The mouthpiece defines an air channel therein and has a reed bed proximate the air channel. The barrel is coupled to the mouthpiece and has an internal chamber that is fluidically coupled to the air channel of the mouthpiece. A surface comprising the air channel varies in order to maintain a substantially constant cross-sectional area magnitude along a length of the channel. The reed is disposed adjacent the air channel and proximate the reed bed.
US07727042B2
A method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp is provided. One of a dispersed metal oxide precursor sol prepared by a sol-gel reaction and a fluorescent substance slurry is coated on a glass tube having at least one open side and then the other of the fluorescent substance slurry and the dispersed metal oxide precursor sol is coated on the glass tube. Next, passivation and fluorescent layers are simultaneously formed by baking the coated layers. Then, air is exhausted out of the glass tube and a discharge gas is injected into the glass tube. Finally, the glass tube is sealed.
US07727039B2
A method of aging a field emission device including a cathode and an anode arranged parallel to each other, an emitter arranged on the cathode to emit electrons to the anode, and a gate electrode arranged on the cathode adjacent to the emitter, the method including: supplying a voltage to the cathode; supplying a voltage to the gate; and then supplying a sufficiently low voltage to the anode so as to prevent a short-circuited portion between the cathode and the gate electrode from being permanently damaged due to an overcurrent.
US07727017B2
An electrical connector having a plurality of connector units each having a pair of columns of edge coupled differential signal pairs separated by a ground shield terminal. The ground shield terminals each face a different signal pair of terminals in an adjacent column. Notwithstanding the different size and configurations of the ground and signal terminals, the terminals have mounting tail portions that are disposed in a uniform array different from the arrangement of the body portions of the terminals of the connector unit. The mounting tail portions are of a reduced length which benefit the electrical performance of the connector where it meets its supporting circuit board.
US07727016B2
In a plug for an electrical plug connection, having a contact carrier joined together of an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part having plug chambers that are aligned with one another, and the plug chambers of the lower part having electrical contacts for contacting by electrical contacts of a mating connector that reach through the plug chambers of the upper part, having a matting seal for sealing the plug chambers and having a pressure plate pressing on the matting seal, it is provided that the matting seal is situated between the upper and lower parts of the contact carrier, and the pressure plate is integrated into the upper part.
US07727013B1
A coupling arrangement between a coaxial connector body and an outer conductor of a coaxial cable that includes an annular contact groove provided in a bore of the connector body. The contact groove has a groove bottom, a connector end sidewall and a cable end sidewall. The connector end sidewall is angled to transition between a groove bottom width that is less than a groove top width. A spring contact has a non-deformed state width seated within the contact groove. The non-deformed state width is greater than the groove bottom width and less than the groove top width. In a non-deformed state the spring contact contacts the connector end sidewall, without contacting the groove bottom.
US07727011B2
The invention is directed to a clutching mechanism for a coax connector. The device comprises an extended nut having a standard connector contained within. The extended nut comprises internal threads and a first clutch face and the internal standard connector comprises a connector body having a second clutch face. In operation, the first clutch face and the second clutch face are engaged by forcing the nut toward the connector body/cable, thereby serving as an interlocking mechanism. The device further comprises a compression sleeve between the nut and the connector body, serving to secure the cable to the connector.
US07727007B2
A mounting apparatus for mounting a battery includes a base and a bracket. The bracket is configured for receiving the battery. The bracket is rotatably mounted to the base.
US07727004B2
An apparatus and associated method for analyzing a communications link between two components on a common PCB. The communications link has a pair of through-board conductors connected by a first conductive etching on one side of the PCB. The communications link further has second etchings on an opposite side of the PCB respectively connecting each of the through-board conductors to one of the components. The first conductive etching can operably be open-circuited and connectors of an analyzer can be fitted to the through-board conductors to test the communications link between the components.
US07727001B2
A receptacle for an electrical connector assembly is provided and includes a housing having a contact retention portion for holding an electrical contact. The contact retention portion includes a connector face for engaging a plug assembly and a side proximate to the connector face. The receptacle also includes a guide post that is located adjacent to the side and extends along the side toward the connector face. The guide post includes a base and a tip. The guide post also has a curved contour and a planar side that extend from the base to the tip.
US07726997B2
An electrical connector assembly for a cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprises a body having a respective recess for receiving a terminating pin each of the conductors. A respective spigot sealingly engages within each of the recesses and has a passage for receiving an associated one of the terminating pins. Furthermore a seal is associated with each of the spigots for sealing the spigot relative to the associated terminating pin. The provision of a separate spigot for each of the conductors and for sealing engagement within a respective recess in the body enables the spigots to be sealingly fitted to the conductors prior to each spigot being introduced into its recess and sealingly engaged therein. This provides improved insulation of the conductor and increased creepage distance between the mating electrical parts and the outer surface of the housing of the assembly. It also provides the additional advantage that the seal on the conductor tends to be smaller than in prior arrangements so that there is less thermal expansion of the seal when the parts get hot in a downhole environment.
US07726988B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a plug assembly for mating with a header. The plug assembly includes a plug housing and a lever, where the lever includes gear teeth which cooperate with a tooth on the header in a rack and pinion fashion. The lever is locked to the plug housing when the lever is poised for the plug housing to be inserted into the header. A release member on the header releases the lever from the locked position allowing the lever to be rotated to the position where the lever gear teeth mesh with the header tooth, to draw the plug assembly into the header. A cam on the lever also contacts a contact surface in the header, which pre-lifts the plug assembly during disconnection.
US07726987B2
A card fixer is suitable to assist a card to be fixed in a slot of an electronic device. The card fixer includes a body and a clipping structure, wherein the body has a first side and a second side parallel to the first side. A hook is disposed on the first side of the body. The clipping structure extends out of the second side of the body for clipping the card thereon. When the clipping structure of the card fixer clips the card and the assembly of the card fixer with the card is inserted into the slot, the hook is locked on an inside wall of the slot.
US07726975B2
A lithium-ion battery cell includes at least two working electrodes, each including an active material, an inert material, an electrolyte and a current collector, a first separator region arranged between the at least two working electrodes to separate the at least two working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes are electronically connected within the cell, an auxiliary electrode including a lithium reservoir, and a second separator region arranged between the auxiliary electrode and the at least two working electrodes to separate the auxiliary electrode from the working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes is electronically connected to the auxiliary electrode within the cell.
US07726970B2
A temporary or long-term provisional crown includes a shell having a top wall defining an occlusal surface, a buccal sidewall, a lingual sidewall, and opposite mesio-distal sidewalls, connected to the top wall and buccal and lingual sidewalls and spaced apart to define a central cavity to fit over a prepared tooth. A quantity of resin is disposed in the central cavity of the shell and is preferably shaped to conform to a prepared tooth. A partial opening is preferably arranged in one or more of the mesio-distal sidewalls to permit resin to protrude mesio-distally from the cavity to contact an adjacent tooth.
US07726966B2
An exemplary mold unit includes a first mold module and a second mold module adjacent to the first mold module. Each of the first mold module and the second mold module includes a fixed mold and a movable mold capable of moving toward and away from the fixed mold. The fixed and movable molds are configured to form a plurality of shaping chambers therebetween when the fixed and movable molds are in a closed position. The fixed mold defines a main runner having an inner end capable of communicating with the shaping chambers for supplying molten material into the shaping chambers.
US07726963B2
Disclosed is a soap making split mold composed of a set of splits 1A and 1B adapted to be assembled together to form a molding cavity 1C. The split 1A has a larger surface area in its recess 11A defining part of the cavity 1C than the other split 1B does in its recess 11B defining the other part of the cavity 1C. The ratio of the surface area of the recess 11A of the split 1A to that of the recess 11B of the split 1B ranges from 52:48 to 66:34. Otherwise, the split 1A has a larger surface roughness Ra in its recess 11A defining part of the cavity than the other split 1B does in its recess 11B defining the other part of the cavity. The difference of the surface roughness Ra between the recess 11A and that of the recess 11B is 0.1 to 30 μm.
US07726962B2
An apparatus and method for molding composite material with a selectable uniform predetermined temperature during most of the curing time. The mold apparatus has two cooperating and complementing mold bed assemblies hingedly mounted to each other and movable between two extreme positions, open and closed. A composite inner skin and outer skins sandwich a spacer in between. The spacer member includes interconnecting passages throughout. An outer perforated composite skin member covers the spacer member. A source for pressurized gas is applied to the mold assemblies when in the closed position. A predetermined cooperative temperature is selectably used to uniformly control the curing characteristics of the first and second skin members as the pressurized hot gas or air forced to pass through the outer skin and the spacer member adjacent to the inner skin thereby exposing the form being molded to a uniform temperature gradient. A mechanism for moving the upper mold bed assembly is provided with skates to permit its stress free movement in response to temperature expansion and contraction forces.
US07726949B2
A variable displacement compressor capable of controlling a piston stroke by openably controlling a displacement control valve to regulate a pressure in a crank chamber, comprising the displacement control valve disposed in a passageway from a discharge chamber to the crank chamber, and a fixed orifice provided in a passageway from the crank chamber to a suction chamber, the displacement control valve further comprising a pressure sensing member for the pressure in the suction chamber or the crank chamber, a valve element having a valve part opened and closed in response to the operation of the pressure sensing member, a valve chamber for disposing the valve part therein and allowing the pressure in the crank chamber to act therein, a partition wall disposed around the valve element, a pressure chamber partitioned from the valve chamber by the partition wall and allowing the pressure in the suction chamber to act therein, and a solenoid provided to the other end of the valve element, wherein a flow passage of non-contact structure is formed in the partition wall, and the number of sliding parts is reduced to lower a sliding resistance.
US07726944B2
A gas turbine engine has a turbine blade having a tip cap to close off internal cooling passages. The tip cap is formed with a plurality of purge holes, with there being at least two rows of purge holes. The increased number of purge holes spreads the cooling air outwardly across more of the surface area of the tip cap, and provides the tip cap with a better ability to withstand the extreme temperatures it faces in use.
US07726940B2
Assembly of segmented seals can be problematic in areas of limited space for an introductory tapered mandrel and where there are the problems with damage to the seal surfaces 23, 24. By the present method and arrangement, a seal formed from segments 22 is expanded to an expanded state and then retained at that state by the use of a sacrificial material 26 in the gaps 25 between the segments 22 opened by expansion. The sacrificial material 26 is typically a low melting temperature wax and so is removed when the seal arrangement reaches its operating temperature.
US07726934B2
A vertical axis wind turbine having a plurality of blades spaced from a rotatable around a rotor shaft vertical to the ground. The plurality of blades are arranged in a helical pattern about the rotor shaft. Each blade is flexible to move in response to wind and has a top, bottom, leading edge, and trailing edge wherein the leading edge is in the shape of an airfoil. A hub having a plurality of blade attachment rods radially extending from the rotor wherein in one blade is secured to one of the attachment arms. The hub has a plurality of attachment rods radially extending from the rotor wherein one blade is secured to one of the attachment rods near the center and wherein the top of each blade is closer to the rotor than the bottom of each blade.
US07726928B2
A binding processing apparatus 1 is provided with a punch mechanism 2 and a binding processing mechanism 3 for executing a binding processing by a binder. When a sheet P is fed from a printing apparatus 50 of a copier or the like, the sheet is butted to a stopper plate 9 of the punch mechanism, sheet aligning sliders 10 push both left and right sides thereof to position and punch holes are formed by a punch block 7 and a die 8. Thereafter, the sheet is fed to a sheet tray 15 of the binding processing mechanism, one set of the sheets are aligned and a ring shape binder is pinched by a pusher 17 to fit the ring shape binder to the punch holes of the sheets, and a brochure subjected to a binding processing is discharged to a stack tray 4. A binder cartridge 16 can contain a number of the binders and the binding processing can be executed continuously.
US07726920B2
A method and apparatus for stabilizing cargo within a transport container. First and second tubular elements are provided having generally cylindrical bodies and bearing members are mounted at a terminal end which can react against opposing surfaces within the transport container and stabilize cargo within the container. An extension mechanism allows for the extension and selective translation between the first and second tubular members allowing the apparatus to extend and fill the space between opposing surfaces within the transport container and stabilize the cargo. At least one of the tubular members is composed with two elongate halves. A method for stabilizing cargo within a transport container includes providing an extensible load stabilizer having first and second tubular elements, each having a bearing member. Forming at least one of the tubular members by mating together two tubular halves. The method further includes positioning the load stabilizer between opposing surfaces within the transport container and extending the tubular members with respect to each other, and stabilizing a surface of cargo against an opposing surface.
US07726917B2
A drill chuck has a chuck body having a forwardly open large-diameter threaded bore centered on an axis and a rearwardly open bore also centered on the axis and of small diameter. A power-unit spindle end is threaded into the small-diameter bore and projects axially forward into the large-diameter bore. A sleeve assembly axially fixed but rotatable on the chuck body is formed centered on the axis with a plurality of axially extending, angularly spaced, and forwardly open angled guides slidably receiving jaws. A coupling body has a large-diameter rear end threaded into the forwardly open large-diameter bore of the chuck body and a front end fitted to and angularly coupled to the jaws so that rotation of the sleeve assembly, jaws, and coupling body relative to the chuck body axially shifts the jaws.
US07726899B2
A coupling device for driving an engraved cylinder of a printing device. The coupling device comprises a single part of chromium, nickel and molybdenum alloyed steel having undergone core hardening. The coupling device includes a central cylindrical portions, first and second flanges at the respective first and second ends of the cylindrical portion, each flange having a side portion operable to distort under stress and act as a membrane. The ratio of the difference between the diameter and the flange and the diameter of the central portion divided by the average thickness of the side portion of the flange is between 7 and 15.
US07726895B2
A pen retention device for releasably securing a pen to a tether is disclosed. The device includes the pen having an end and an annular interior surface defining a bore, a cap comprising an expandable retention interface disposed within the bore proximate the end, and an anvil securedly attached to the tether. The expandable retention interface includes a radially outwardly directed surface in contact with the annular interior surface. The expanding retention interface further includes a radially inwardly directed surface in operable communication with the anvil. The expanding retention interface is responsive to an application of force less than a release force by the tether via the anvil to expand and secure cap to the pen, and is responsive to an application of force greater than the release force to release the cap from the pen.
US07726893B2
When a label tape 36 after the printing on a label 39 has been fed to a tape cutting position, heating elements R1-Rn of a thermal head 9 is situated to face a position slightly on the upstream side of a label front end position (at the downstream end in the feeding direction) of the next label 39 which will be printed on next and to face a position on the downstream side of a print start position of the next label 39 (a
US07726889B2
Foreign substances adhered to a focal plane shutter are shaken off by vibrationally driving the shutter a plurality of times in succession while the focal plane shutter, which controls the incidence of light on a photoelectric transducer converting an optical image of a photographic object into an electrical signal, shields the photoelectric transducer from light incident thereon. In other words, implementing vibrational removal of adhered foreign substances by means of overloading the focal plane shutter.
US07726885B2
An optical connector of a fitting pin positioning type includes multiple optical fiber insertion holes arranged in one row and fitting holes or fitting pins. The fitting holes or the fitting pins for positioning are respectively disposed on mutually opposite sides of a straight line connecting centers of the optical fiber insertion holes and are located point-symmetrically with respect to a center of the row of the entire optical fiber insertion holes arranged on the straight line.
US07726863B2
A medical handle device having an illumination apparatus with at least one optical semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing such a hand-held device are displayed. It is proposed that in order to adapt the hand-held device to the specific requirements of a medical application such as uniformly high light emission, high mechanical resistance, sterilizability and electric safety, the illumination apparatus is provided with a base body, at least one blind hole arranged in the base body, a light-emitting window which is formed by the part of the base body extending from the bottom of the blind hole to the first end of the base body and is connected to a cover device which is connected to the base body and with which the blind hole forms a hermetically sealed interior, whereby the at least one optical semiconductor component is arranged in the hermetically sealed interior and the base body and the cover device are made of an electrically non-conducting material that can withstand sterilization. In some embodiments, at least one optical semiconductor component is encased in a transparent thermoplastic material.
US07726862B2
An annular light guiding unit for portable electronic device comprises a first surface, a second surface located opposite to the first surface, and a wall connecting the first surface and the second surface together. The wall is defined a plurality of first wedged walls therein.
US07726857B2
A lamp unit for a headlamp of a vehicle includes a projection lens, a light emitting device disposed on a rear side of the projection lens, a reflector, and a mirror member having an upwardly reflecting surface. The reflector forwardly reflects light from the light emitting device toward an optical axis, and the upwardly reflecting surface upwardly reflects part of the light reflected by the reflector. The upwardly reflecting surface includes a first horizontal surface disposed on a self-lane side of the optical axis, a second horizontal surface disposed on an opposing-lane side of the optical axis, and an intermediate slope surface connecting the first and second horizontal surfaces. The intermediate slope surface includes a front slope surface and a rear slope surface on the rear side of the front slope surface, and the rear slope surface is curved.
US07726852B2
A canopy lighting device comprising a body having a light source and a base that magnetically couples to the body. The body and the base can be located on opposite sides of a fabric sheet to magnetically clamp the lighting device to the fabric sheet. The base may have an energy source, first electrical connection features coupled electrically to the energy source, and first magnetic connection features. The body may have a light source, second magnetic connection features for cooperating with the first magnetic connection features to clamp the body to the bases and second electrical connection features. The second electrical connection features cooperate with the first electrical connection features of the base when the body and the base are clamped together.
US07726849B2
A luminaire adapted to being mounted at the top of a post having a design reducing maintenance costs. The luminaire has a capital with a globe mounted thereon forming an optical chamber, the capital has a front access area with a front access door hingedly attached thereto and optionally has a tool-less latch capable of holding the front access door over the front access area. The capital has an opening in a top portion thereof into the optical chamber, optionally, a relamping module extends from the inside of the capital, through the opening and up into a central portion of the optical chamber and has a lamp socket thereon. The relamping module may be removed without manipulation of the globe or globe roof. The luminaire may also have electrical gear within the capital attached to a tray wherein the tray is removably attached to an internal portion of the capital. The globe and globe roof may remain stationary during typical maintenance processes such as relamping or maintenance of electrical gear.
US07726843B2
A lamp unit with a relay lens that allows two different focus points. Two different optical altering elements are hence simultaneously in focus. The elements can be taken in and out of focus to allow different effects.
US07726842B2
The present invention discloses a structure of a single-sided PCB within an ExpressCard with SMD LEDs arrangement formed thereon. The SMD LEDs are act as status indicators for the electronic devices with small, thin and compact size. The structure is expected to form SMD LED illuminating light to the top surface of the PCB with SMD LEDs connecting to the bonding pads on the bottom surface of the PCB. The method comprises forming through-holes on the PCB, placing SMD LEDs over the through-holes with their illuminating heads facing toward the top surface of the PCB, soldering the SMD LEDs with the bonding pads on the bottom surface of the PCB.
US07726841B2
An LED light device with a changeable geometric system has locks by which at least one LED or LED-unit installed within a housing-unit or joint-may be connected to deliver electric signals from a power source to desired LEDs. The LED light device's geometry will be changed when any variation is made to the positions of the original housing-units or joints.
US07726836B2
A light bulb apparatus mounted within existing incandescent bulb sockets is comprised of a plurality of interconnecting printed circuit boards (PCBs). An outline shape of any individual PCB is defined in essentially two dimensions a shape or a size of which may vary from one PCB to another. A first portion of this apparatus is equivalent to light bulb cap and is shaped and sized to be fitted into a conventional incandescent bulb socket. At this portion, at least three PCB side edges are lined up against with an inner side wall of a bulb socket. At least one PCB has a tip edge. A second portion of this apparatus is equivalent to a conventional bulb's glass bulb, and a plurality of light emitting devices are mounted on surfaces of the said PCBs and are connected to the circuit laid on boards.
US07726832B2
A showerhead and fluid-driven lighting system is described herein. The showerhead has a hollow body configured to receive incoming fluid and a fluid distribution element configured to release outgoing fluid from the hollow body. The fluid driven turbine unit is configured to receive incoming fluid and release outgoing fluid to the showerhead, and one or more lights are electrically connected to the fluid driven power supply. The illumination of the water droplets and/or the translucent showerhead body by the lights creates a pleasant showering experience for the user.
US07726831B2
There is disclosed a showcase provided with a light device capable of simplifying a maintenance operation and improving a cooling efficiency in a display chamber. In a showcase 1 of the present invention, a display chamber 11 is formed in an insulating wall 2 to display commodities in the display chamber 11 while cooling the commodities, the showcase includes LED lights 40 which illuminate the inside of the display chamber 11, and a light transmitting shade 46 which covers the LED lights 40, and the shade 46 has a structure to diffuse light from the LED lights 40.
US07726830B2
A fiber optics decoration includes a base that includes a light source and an element that induces an electrical resistive effect to generate heat upon being energized, a decoration body, and optic fibers. The decoration body forms at least one bore extending therethrough for receiving and retaining the optic fibers therein. A container is formed around the bore and receives therein a low boiling point liquid. The container has a bottom positioned against the element that generates heat. As such, when the bottom of the decoration body is subjected to heat generated by the element arranged in the base, a liquid flow of the low boiling point liquid is caused. At the same time, the light source of the base emits light that is transmitted through the optic fibers to realize lighting decorative effect of the fiber optics decoration.
US07726829B2
A lighted background for mounting on a wall of an aquarium fish tank or the like includes a front panel having an image formed thereon. Light apertures are formed through the front panel and lighting is provided behind the panel to direct light through the apertures. Translucent material covering the apertures and reflective material behind the lights enhances the lighting effect.
US07726828B2
The present invention provides a planar illumination light source device by which uniform illumination light can be obtained over a wide area without increasing the thickness of LEDs in the radiation direction even when a highly directional light source such as LEDs is used, and a planar illumination device using this. The present invention includes a highly directional light source, a light guiding body having a radiation plane in a radiation direction of the light source, a casing that encloses the light source and seals planes other than the radiation plane of the light guiding body, inside reflection means provided in the entirety of the area between the casing and the light guiding body, and radiation side reflection means provided on the radiation plane and reflecting light from the light source at a prescribed ratio. A light emitting diode group consisting of one or a plurality of light emitting diodes is used as the highly directional light source.
US07726815B2
The invention relates to a device for observing the ocular fundus, in particular to a fundus camera. Said device comprises a light source (1b) for the provision of illumination radiation, an illumination optical path for directing the illumination radiation onto the ocular fundus and observation optics for reproducing the illuminated ocular fundus, the observation optics comprising a module (16b), whose refractive power can be electrically adjusted.
US07726809B2
A contact lens (4) comprises a solid component capable of imparting shape and structure to said lens, and a liquid component, at least partially contained in the solid component, capable of favoring the compatibility between said lens and the eye of a user of said lens, wherein the liquid component comprises a solution capable of being used as a lachrymal substitute.
US07726807B2
A sports glasses construction includes an eyeglass frame for semi-rimless lenses having a pair of channels for receiving a first pair of selectively removable lenses or lens adapter frames, and a pair of lens adapter frames having respective upper connection members sized and shaped to fit into the respective pair of channels in the eyeglass frame. The pair of lens adapters each has a lower portion sized and shaped to couple to a second respective pair of lenses leaving the lower edges of the lenses exposed to provide a semi-rimless construction.
US07726805B2
A printing unit includes a support structure. The support structure includes a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a connector positioned at an opposing end of the body portion. A media supply cartridge is mounted on the body portion and is suitable for storing a stack of print media. A feed arrangement is mounted on the body portion and is configured to feed print media from the stack for printing. A print head assembly is mounted on the tray and is configured to print upon the fed print media.
US07726796B2
A magnetic wire application apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a drum using a solid ink; a magnetic wire application unit that applies a magnetic wire on the image formed on the drum by the image forming unit using the solid ink; and an image transfer unit that transfers the image, which is formed by the image forming unit on the drum by the solid ink and applied with the magnetic wire by the magnetic wire application unit, to a printing paper.
US07726786B2
A device is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the device includes a fluid ejection mechanism, a reservoir, and a pump configured to pump fluid between the fluid ejection mechanism and the reservoir. A vent chamber is fluidly coupled to the reservoir.
US07726784B2
A liquid ejection head according to one aspect of the invention comprises: a channel unit that comprises: a plurality of individual liquid channels each including a pressure chamber; and a first surface having a plurality of openings corresponding to a plurality of the pressure chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator unit having a second surface that is bonded to the first surface of the channel unit via an adhesive to cover the plurality of pressure chambers. One or more grooves are formed in the first surface of the channel unit to surround the plurality of pressure chambers. An outer edge portion of the second surface the piezoelectric actuator unit faces the groove. A supporting portion that faces the outer edge portion of the second surface of the piezoelectric actuator unit to support the piezoelectric actuator unit is provided in the groove.
US07726776B2
An inkjet printer cartridge has a printhead integrated circuit with a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements. A rotor element is rotatable, in use, between a blot position where the element blots the printhead integrated circuit, a seal position where the element seals the nozzle arrangements, and a platen position where the element supports and positions a printing medium proximate the printhead integrated circuit. An air distribution channel is configured to deliver air evenly along a length of the printhead and is communicable with a pressurized air supply. A plurality of reservoirs discretely store printing fluids for supply to the printhead integrated circuit. A refill port is arranged in fluid communication with printing fluid conduits each leading to a respective reservoir. The port facilitates refilling of the reservoirs from a refill cartridge. A power and data interface interfaces the cartridge with a controller board to control operation of the printhead integrated circuit and the rotor element.
US07726773B2
A waste liquid tank is arranged outside a printer. A connection port arranged at an upstream end of a duct extending from the waste liquid tank is connected to a transfer device. The transfer device is connected to a discharge side of a suction pump for drawing in ink from a nozzle of a recording head of the printer through a duct.
US07726770B2
An inkjet printer includes: a print head; a maintaining unit; a timing unit; a notifying unit; a maintenance command determining unit; and a maintenance operation executing unit. The print head is formed with one or more ink ejection opening for printing a printing medium by ejecting ink through the ink ejection opening. The maintaining unit restores the ink ejection state of the print head by flowing ink through the ink ejection opening. The timing unit keeps track of an elapsed time after the maintaining unit has executed a maintenance operation. The notifying unit notifies a user when it is time to execute a maintenance operation if the elapsed time measured by the timing unit exceeds a prescribed time. The maintenance command determining unit determines whether or not the user has issued a command to execute a maintenance operation with the maintaining unit after the notifying unit has issued a notification. The maintenance operation executing unit executes a maintenance operation with the maintaining unit when the maintenance command determining unit determines that the user has issued a command to execute the maintenance operation.
US07726764B2
A method of using a mobile device to determine a position of a print medium, the print medium configured to be printed on by the mobile device in a print direction, the mobile device including a printer, a first sensor and processing means, the print medium comprising a substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the first face bearing coded data indicative of at least one location, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using the first sensor to capture a first image of at least some of the coded data when the print medium is at a position within a media feed path within the mobile device; (b) using the processing means to decode at least some of the sensed coded data, thereby to determine at least one location; and (c) determining the position of the print medium based on the at least one location determined in step (b).
US07726760B2
A printing apparatus records a predetermined test pattern on printing paper, and reads the test pattern by means of a scanner. The scanner reads the test pattern at a resolution lower than the resolution of a recording head. This allows the automatic and fast reading of the test pattern. Additionally, the printing apparatus performs an interpolation process on read data, and judges whether there is an abnormality in nozzles or not, based on the read data subjected to the interpolation process. This reproduces the positions of and spacing between lines recorded on the printing paper with high accuracy to achieve the exact judgment as to whether there is an abnormality in the nozzles or not. Therefore, an inspection with a high degree of reliability is accomplished.
US07726758B2
A method and device for providing a plurality of fire pulses in an ink jet printer, which includes a production of a plurality of fire signals. Each fire signal of the plurality of fire signals are asserted at a different timing than the other of the plurality of fire signals. The plurality of fire signals are combined to form a composite fire signal that maintains the different timing.
US07726754B2
The invention relates to a refrigerator having two movably connected housing parts that delimit a heat-insulated interior and a seal member that is fastened to a first of the housing parts and contacts the other of the housing parts in an airtight manner in the closed disposition of both housing parts. A lifting element lifts the seal member from a contact surface on the second housing part to permit pressure compensation between the inner chamber and the surroundings of the refrigerator. The lifting element is at least in part formed by a thermally deformable material and, in a first shape thereof, it establishes a sealed contact between the seal member and the contact surface, and in a second state resulting from the effect of heat or cold, it lifts the seal member from the contact surface in order to ensure pressure compensation.
US07726752B2
An exemplary computer enclosure includes a chassis, a pair of fixing members, a plurality of slats, and an actuating member. The chassis includes a pair of first parallel panels, and a second panel perpendicular to the first panels. The first panels and second panel cooperatively define an opening therebetween. The fixing members are attached to the first panels. The slats are pivotably attached to the first panels to adjustably shield the opening. Each of the slats includes a gear shaft fixed to an end thereof. The actuating member includes a rack bar slidably attached to one of the first panels to mesh with the gears shafts. The slats are rotatable clockwise or anticlockwise. Thus, the opening may be adjustably exposed to control an amount of air entering the chassis for dissipation of heat.
US07726750B2
An enclosure includes a back enclosure unit, a front enclosure unit hinged to the back enclosure unit, a rod coupled to the front enclosure unit, and a spring latch coupled to the back enclosure unit, wherein the rod engages the spring latch when the front enclosure unit is closed upon the back enclosure unit.
US07726745B2
An adjustable armrest mechanism is provided, which is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle frame. The armrest mechanism comprises a base fixed to the vehicle frame, armrest apparatus movably coupled to the base such that the armrest apparatus pivots about a virtual pivot point located in front of the armrest apparatus and the base, and a locking device for releasably locking the armrest apparatus to the base in one of at least two positions.
US07726742B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back that is pivotally connected to a seat bottom, a lock mechanism that is configured to inhibit the seat back from pivoting when locked and to permit the seat back to pivot when unlocked, and a release and drive mechanism. The release and drive mechanism includes a mounting member, a drive gear that is rotatable with respect to the mounting member and that is connected to the lock mechanism, and a motor that is connected to the drive gear. The drive gear is rotationally limited to a defined angular range. The motor rotates the drive gear through the defined angular range which moves the lock mechanism to an unlocked state and thereafter causes the seat back to pivot.
US07726724B2
An aerodynamic device is disclosed for limiting aerodynamic drag on the rear surface of various types of trucks with trailers. The aerodynamic device includes a plurality of rigid members and a flexible sheet designed to create a pyramid-shaped projection pointing away from the rear surface of the trailer. The device members can be quickly disassembled and the flexible sheet collapses so that the aerodynamic device lies flat against the rear surface of the trailer. The aerodynamic device can be attached directly to doors on the rear surface of a trailer or to a mounting frame that may rotate around to the side of the trailer where a roll-up style door is present.
US07726710B2
Embodiments described herein provide a cover, and a method for using the cover with a surface. One embodiment of the cover comprises a flexible, substantially planar member. A plurality of reinforcing members is attached to the flexible, substantially planar member. The plurality of reinforcing members is arranged on the flexible, substantially planar member so that the flexible, substantially planar member can reliably support a load. A plurality of manipulation members is operatively associated with the plurality of reinforcing members. The plurality of manipulation members is accessible to a lifter so that the lifter can apply force to the plurality of reinforcing members and can move the load reliably supported by the flexible, substantially planar member. In a method of using a cover with a surface, a cover having a flexible, substantially planar member, a plurality of reinforcing members attached to the flexible, substantially planar member, the plurality of reinforcing members being arranged on the flexible, substantially planar member so that the flexible, substantially planar member can reliably support a load, and a plurality of manipulation members operatively associated with the plurality of reinforcing members is provided. The cover is placed on the surface. The load is allowed to accumulate on the cover. The plurality of manipulation members is accessed with a lifter. A force is applied to the plurality of reinforcing members with the lifter. The load reliably supported by the flexible, substantially planar member is moved with the lifter.
US07726703B2
A pipe coupling for joining pipe elements end-to-end is disclosed. The pipe coupling is formed of segments attached to one another circumferentially straddling the pipe elements. The segments are formed from sub-sections connected to one another end-to-end. Each sub-section has a surface region disposed to engage the outer surfaces of the pipe elements. Each surface region has a different radius of curvature from a surface region on a neighboring sub-section. The radii are selected so that when the coupling segments are deformed around the pipe elements, portions of surface regions of selected sub-sections contact the pipe elements, while portions of surface regions of those sub-sections between the selected portions remain in spaced relation away from the pipe elements. A constant and minimal torque is required to bolt the segments together as a result.
US07726702B2
Assembly for connecting a pipe having a flanged end in fluid communication with an opposing part. The assembly includes an insert received coaxially within the pipe end and having a forward end face extending axially beyond the pipe end, a clamp ring received coaxially over the pipe end, and a flange piece which is fastenable to the opposing as received coaxially over the clamp ring. As the flange piece is fastened to the opposing part, the forward end face of the insert is urged into a sealable engagement against a confronting surface of the opposing part.
US07726696B2
A label assembly that includes a face sheet with at least one label shape defined by one or more tearable lines of separation, a back sheet adjacent to the face sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the face sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a removable panel disposed over the label shape adhesive material and a registration structure aligned with the label shape. The registration structure is raised or raisable above the back sheet to allow an object for labeling to be positioned against the registration structure for proper alignment with the label.
US07726694B2
A user supported portable sail assembly and method uses the force of the wind to help propel a user on a mobile device such as skis, snowboards, skateboards, in-line or ice skates, for example, in a controlled and safe manner. A sail is attached to the ends of a pair of parallel, flexible poles which the user holds onto, usually one pole in each hand. The user orients the sail to optimize direction and speed. As the sail catches wind currents, the poles flex and form an optimal airfoil. Should the user wish to stop using the sail assembly, the user simply brings the poles together and brakes or glides to a gentle stop. The poles may be constructed of multiple interlocking segments for easy and quick disassembly and compact stowing.
US07726693B2
When the worn state of the webbing is lifted, current of a current value I0 corresponding to the appropriate storing speed of the webbing is supplied to the motor, whereby a take-up shaft rotates and the webbing is taken up. At a point in time when the webbing has been taken up to the extent that the webbing does not hinder the exiting of a vehicle by a passenger, the size of the supply current to the motor is reduced from the initial current value I1 to a current value I1. A reference current value IL of a stall current for determining whether to stop the motor when a foreign object or the like has become entangled between the webbing and an in-vehicle part can also be set to be small in correspondence to the reduced current value I1.
US07726691B2
A structure of the steering column device for clamping the outer column to the inner column is simple and its manufacturing cost is reduced. The outer column 1 and the bushing are stopped against rotation to the clamp members and at the same time when the outer column is adjusted in its telescopic position in respect to the inner column, the outer column, clamp members and bushing can be integrally and axially slid. Since the bushing having a low frictional coefficient is present between the inner circumference of the outer column and the outer circumference of the inner column, the outer column can be moved with a light force in respect to the inner column.
US07726679B2
An apparatus and method for maneuvering a trailer having jockey wheel assembly comprising a ground engaging wheel (33) rotatably mounted on an axle (34). The apparatus comprising a link member (20) which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the jockey wheel assembly adjacent the axle (34) and a lever assembly (10) removably securable to said link (20) and adapted to engage a peripheral surface (39) of said wheel (33), whereby movement of said lever (10) rotates said wheel (33).
US07726668B2
A creeper is disclosed for protecting a user in a supine position when manoeuvring under a raised object. The creeper comprises a user support surface and a safety structure. The safety structure comprises at least one upwardly projecting rigid element defining a protective space above at least a portion of the support surface. A foldable creeper which folds into a work bench and comprises a similar safety structure is also disclosed.
US07726657B2
A target stand system having at least two stand assemblies is provided. Each stand assembly comprises a post member configured at one end for insertion into a support surface and a support member connected to the post member by an attachment portion such that a gap is formed between the post member and the support member. The gap has a width sufficient to support a target. The stand assemblies are spaced apart a distance to support a target.
US07726652B2
A system, method and lottery ticket that implement a lottery game that uses a geometric figure having a plurality of selection spaces from which a player selects at least one selection space. The selection spaces are then populated with one or more game indicia, with each game indicia having a point value, and prizes are awarded based upon the total number of points associated with the game indicia populated into the player-selected selection spaces. Other lottery games can also be played simultaneously therewith on the same ticket or round of play.
US07726650B2
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder having a mechanism for releasing paper jam by disconnecting the transmission device. The automatic document feeder includes a driving motor, a transmission device, a plurality of paper transfer rollers, a swing arm and a releasing arm. The driving motor is used for providing driving power. The transmission device and is coupled to the driving motor for transmitting the driving power. The swing arm is coupled to some of the transmission elements and operated in either a connection state or a disconnection state. The releasing arm is selectively contacted with the swing arm to have the swing arm enter the disconnection state or separated from the swing arm to have the swing arm enter the connection state. The paper jam is released when the swing arm is operated in the disconnection state.
US07726647B2
A sheet feed mechanism includes a chassis for supporting a stack of sheets; a top sheet engaging member for engaging a top most sheet of the stack; a stack engaging structure for engaging the stack and biasing the top most sheet against the top sheet engaging member, the stack engaging structure hingedly connected to the chassis at a hinge axis; a friction surface extending from the stack engaging structure, the friction surface extending in a curvature parallel to a locus of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; a lock mechanism having a lock arm hingedly connected to the chassis at the hinge axis, the lock mechanism further having a biased contact foot for engaging the friction surface to retard a movement of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the contact foot from the friction surface. The friction surface is arranged to extend beneath the biased contact foot, and the actuator is adapted to pivotally actuate the biased contact foot upwards and downwards to respectively disengage and engage the biased contact foot with the friction surface.
US07726646B2
A sheet in accordance with the present invention includes sheets as print mediums for a printer and a package member surrounding the sheets which have been stacked up. The sheet package is configured so that the sheets can be set in the printer together with the package member exposing part of the sheets. The package member is integrally provided with a flap part which can expose part of the sheets by being opened when the sheet package is set in the printer and cover the exposed part of the sheets by being closed when the sheet package is not used.
US07726639B2
When a new paper sheet is supplied onto a compiling tray, a sub-paddle holds down paper sheets having already been stacked on the compiling tray until a leading edge of the new paper sheet S touches the stacked paper sheets. Thereafter, the sub-paddle gets apart from the sheets stacked on the compiling tray with timing, with which the rear edge of the new paper sheet falls on the compiling tray.
US07726636B2
A quiet, non-binding collapsible spring mechanism for resiliently supporting a mattress includes a system of collapsible, sinuous springs, each having hooked ends for silencing the mechanism during use or collapse, as well as central offset portions for enabling the sinuous springs to compress to a greater extent than heretofore. Both rigid and yieldable support structures connect the spring mechanism to an item of furniture.
US07726630B2
A valve flow-directing vessel (42) comprising a sleeve (44) having a threaded installation portion (84) for connection to a receiving member, a plunger (46) movable within the sleeve (44) between a closed position and an opened position, and an orifice insert (48/50) fixedly attached to the sleeve (44). The orifice insert (48/50) defines an orifice (132) that is sealed when the plunger (46) is in the closed position and unsealed when the plunger (46) is in the opened position. The orifice (132) is the entrance to a passageway (130) having an exit (134) communicating with a delivery passage of the receiving member, and this exit (134) is positioned beyond the threaded installation portion (84) of the sleeve (44).
US07726627B2
A damper device may include a frame, a baffle turnably supported on the frame for opening and closing a passage through which fluid is passed, and a drive unit for turnably driving the baffle. The drive unit may include an output member whose tip end side structures a slide mechanism together with the baffle, and a driving part which causes the output member to linearly advance and retreat to and from the baffle. The slide mechanism includes a groove formed in one of a tip end side of the output member and the baffle so that the groove is extended to move the baffle, and a slider part provided in the other so that the slider part is fitted into the groove, and the groove is formed in which at least one of both end portions of the groove is formed in an open end.
US07726622B2
The present invention relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.
US07726601B2
A system for affecting a local parameter, the system comprising a sunlight radiation reflecting surface, and a propulsion mechanism, the propulsion mechanism being adapted to move the reflecting surface to a predetermined position being chosen based on the effect of the system on said local parameter at the position.
US07726600B2
The present invention provides a stretch film dispenser, which includes a base, a reel device, and a brake device. The reel device has a reel and a connecting member pivotally connected to the base, and the brake device is connected to the base and is fitted to the connecting member of the reel device. The base and the brake device form a holding member of the stretch film dispenser to be grasped by an operator. The present invention further provides a second reel to be fitted to the reel of the reel dispenser to dispense the stretch film rolls with different core diameter.
US07726598B2
The unwinding device comprises: a rotating element (3) with supports (13, 15) for at least two reels (B1; B2; B3); a splicing member (31, 33, 35) to join a first web material (N1) coming from an expiring reel (B1) to the initial free end (T) of a second web material (N2) wound on a new reel (B2). At least one mechanical member (21) is associated with each support (13; 15), to retain the initial free end (T) of the reel disposed on the support, to hold the initial free end until splicing of the two web materials.
US07726596B2
A fibrous slurry refiner includes a casing, a rotor secured to a rotor shaft, and first and second pluralities of grinding surfaces. The rotor is disposed within the casing and is rotatable via the rotor shaft. The first plurality of grinding surfaces is secured to the rotor, and the second plurality of grinding surfaces is disposed facing the first plurality of grinding surfaces and fixed in the casing. An inlet plate for each of the plurality of grinding surfaces directs the fibrous slurry toward a set of facing first and second grinding surfaces and imparts a rotary flow to the fibrous slurry.
US07726593B2
The device for the disposal of sanitary waste consists of a fixed drum-type container (20) with a horizontal central axis (MA) and with inlet pipes for dosed wash liquid (WF), for sanitary liquid (HF) and for dosed chemicals (CH), whereby a discharge duct (65) for the carrying-off of the comminuted sanitary waste interspersed with wash liquid from the bottom area of the container (20) is provided in the bottom area of the container (20), in the inner space (27) of which a knife disk (30) which can be rotatably driven is placed in the area of one of its both vertical front walls (21; 22) with shearing knives (31) turned to the inner space (27) of the container (20), whereby an ascendingly guided compressor screw (60) follows the conveyor screw (65), compressor screw which forms with a shear sieve sheet (70) a functional unit for separating the comminuted sanitary waste containing solid components from the wash liquid (WF) with the constituents of the sanitary waste which are dissolved therein and the wash liquid is supplied to a drain (85) over a discharge duct (80), whereby the rest of the comminuted sanitary waste freed from the liquid and containing solid constituents is fed in the upper area (61b) of the housing (61) to a collecting container (95).
US07726581B2
An HVAC controller may include an upper housing having a front and a back, the back including a center. A lens dial including an engagement portion may be rotatably secured relative to the upper housing. A set point operator may include a first portion that is disposed about the upper housing center as well as a second portion that is adapted to interact with the lens dial engagement portion. A mechanical movement to electrical signal converter such as a potentiometer may be disposed within the HVAC controller such that the first portion of the set point operator communicates with the potentiometer.
US07726577B2
The present invention aims at providing a contactless card that enables a reader/writer to identify which card such reader/writer is communicating with in a set of card identification processes and that improves the possibility of protecting the cardholder's privacy. Contactless card (200) includes: power detection unit (203); random number ID generation unit (210) that determines an identifier that identifies card (200), every time power detection unit (203) detects that electric power has been supplied; ID storage unit (2081) that holds the determined identifier; sending/receiving circuit (204) that receives a command requesting that the identifier that identifies card (200) should be sent to reader/writer (100), and sending/receiving circuit (204) sends, to reader/writer (100), the determined identifier in the case where the received command is a first-received command, and the held identifier in the case where the received command is a second- or later-received command.
US07726574B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems used to reduce the time needed to process images of a bar code or optical code captured by a image bar code scanner. Image bar code scanners read bar codes or optical codes by capturing digital images of the codes using an image capture device and then processing the captured images to decode the optical code or bar code. The processing time is reduced by rotating the images to align the axis of the codes contained in the captured images with the rows of photo detectors in the image capture device.
US07726571B2
Described is a system and method for bar code decoding. The system comprises first and second digitizers and a processor. The first digitizer outputs a first digitized representation of a bar code. The second digitizer outputs a second digitized representation of the bar code. The processor compares the first and second digitized representations to yield a set of parameters. The processor selects one of the first and second digitized representations to be decoded as a function of the set of parameters.
US07726568B2
A method is provided for facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card. The computer device includes a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader. The reader sends multiple commands based on the state of the smart card prior to receiving the commands.
US07726567B2
An embedded device includes a web interface configured to receive a request for an electronic product information (EPID) report, and send the request to a request handling service. The embedded device further includes the request handling service, configured to deploy one or more event handling components based on the request. The embedded device further includes the one or more event handling components configured to generate an EPID event cycle based on an EPID read cycle, according to an event cycle boundary condition, generate the EPID report based on the EPID event cycle, and transmit the EPID report to a client. The embedded device further includes a reader adapter configured to obtain the EPID read cycle, and transmit the EPID read cycle to the one or more event handling components.
US07726566B2
A system includes a wireless-enabled smart card reader able to be connected concurrently to at least two devices and a mobile device able to be connected wirelessly to the smart card reader and to control connections of the smart card reader.
US07726562B2
A vending machine handles a purchase transaction by receiving a payment, receiving a product selection from the customer, and dispensing the product indicated by the product selection. As part of the same transaction, the vending machine offers an information item such as an audio recording or a video recording. The vending machine also receives from the customer a destination address, which may be an e-mail address. The vending machine or a system of which it is part transmits the information item to the received destination address.
US07726556B2
A system for reconciling a bill for the usage of a metered device includes an image capture device for generating an electronic image of a machine readable code associated with a hardcopy bill for the use of a metered device, a decoder for decoding at least one reconciliation instruction from the electronic image and a reconciliation controller for executing the at least one reconciliation instruction to enable a reconciliation of the hardcopy bill for the use of the metered device with stored metered device usage data.
US07726554B2
A multiple punch and multiple die assembly has a workpiece protector which is a punch lifter that is operatively associated with each punch for supporting each of the punches in an inactive position as an active punch is moved by the ram to the active, i.e. operating position to thereby eliminate scoring or marking of the sheet material or other workpiece that is being punched. To eliminate the need for hand tools and hand assembly or disassembly, a manually moveable retainer on the punch assembly is provided that can be moved by hand between a punch-releasing and punch-retaining position for holding the punches within the multi-punch assembly during operation. To prevent stress fractures that formerly occurred in die carriers, support of each die is distributed between two different die components thereby reducing impact stress on the carrier as the ram drives the punch through the workpiece.
US07726552B2
The invention disclosed herein provides an apparatus and method for securely collecting, storing, and disposing of documents by attaching a reusable, secure, lockable closure to a cardboard receptacle box. The lockable closure has a slot in the top to allow documents to be deposited in the box. Two opposing side surfaces of the lockable closure have an interior lip that engages the box flap in such a way as to prevent the unwanted removal of the closure. The closure can be secured to the box with a locking seal such as a cable tie through locking holes located on the top surface and two opposing sides of the lockable closure as well as the box flaps and box sides. A hole allows removal of the lockable closure by exerting pressure on the flap. The disclosed method provides the steps of providing a single lockable closure, a plurality of receptacle boxes, and a number of locking seals capable of fitting through the holes. The single, reusable, locking closure is placed on a receptacle box, which is sealed, documents are placed into the box through the slot. When the box is full, the locking seals are removed and the box is closed secured with its internal flaps and shipped for destruction or recycling. The same lockable closure is then placed on a different box bottom to repeat the process.
US07726547B2
The present invention provides a multifunction and low-cost photoprint storage bag. When paper is die-cut along a pattern to produce development sheets, folds are created simultaneously, thereby achieving simple manufacturing. A multifunction photoprint storage bag can be realized by folding along folds on the die-cut development sheet, which is used as a photoprint storage bag and a photo stand, and further as a sealed letter by folding back in the opposite direction.
US07726533B2
A magazine for a fastening tool drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece. The magazine generally includes an outer case and an inner rail movable relative to the outer case. The inner rail is extendable from the outer case to permit adding the one or more fasteners to the magazine. A bar extends between a front end and a rear end of the inner rail. A pusher bearing slidably receives the bar. A spring biases the pusher bearing toward the front end. A pusher block is coupled to the pusher bearing and disposed over the bar. The pusher block is operable to rock about the pusher bearing as the pusher block is sliding through the inner rail to urge the one or more fasteners toward the front end.
US07726519B2
A fluid dispenser device, comprising: a dispenser orifice (5); a reservoir (10) containing at least one dose of fluid; at least one piston (15) axially slidable in said reservoir (10) so as to dispense said fluid; a dispenser member (20) co-operating with said piston (15); and an actuator element (30) co-operating with said dispenser member (20); said device being characterized in that said dispenser member (20) is displaceable between a blocking position, preventing said actuator element (30) from being actuated, and a release position in which the actuation of said actuator element (30) displaces said dispenser member (20) so as to dispense a dose of fluid, said dispenser member (20) being displaced manually from its blocking position to its release position before said device is actuated.
US07726518B2
A dispenser, particularly suitable for a liquid container, comprising a liquid pump provided with an inlet having an inlet valve and an outlet having an outlet valve, an air pump provided with an inlet having an inlet valve and an outlet having an outlet valve, a mixing chamber which is in communication with the outlet of each pump, and a dispensing part provided with an outflow channel with an outflow opening, wherein the outflow channel is in communication with the mixing chamber, and wherein the outlet valve of the air pump is arranged adjacent to the outlet of the liquid pump.
US07726514B2
Disclosed is a system for collecting, sorting, counting and consolidating an unorganized pool of solid or semi-solid articles such as pills for dispensation. Specifically, the articles are extracted from inside a bin using attraction points on a transport substrate and sorted into containers in finite quantities. The system consists of several components, preferably including a torque source, a counter and a vacuum source, which are uniquely integrated onto a single end-effector to reduce cost and redundancy by servicing several bins. Further, the system presents a method of attracting and carrying pills using negative vacuum pressure, gravity and centrifugal force. This centrifugal force holds articles to the local attraction points and is provided by the spinning of the transport substrate. Pills are collected from the bin or plenum at the local attraction points, counted, cleaved from the local attraction points and guided to a container or vial.
US07726513B2
A product for hanging from a paper roll holder having at least one arm including a sheet-material dispenser and at least one hanging member for attaching the sheet-material dispenser to the at least one arm. In one embodiment of the invention, the second end of the hanging member that is removably attachable to the arm of the paper roll holder included an elastomeric strap for wrapping about both arms of a toilet paper holder. Since the sheet-material dispenser is attached to the arms of the paper roll holder, it is not necessary to remove the sheet-material dispenser when removing the spindle of the paper roll holder to change the paper roll.
US07726512B2
An aid for dining in stand-up and similar situations where a person may simultaneously support a plate and a beverage container by a single hand. The invention comprises a universal food holding receptacle that is stably mountable on upright beverage containers of widely diverse shapes and sizes. The user holds a lower portion of the beverage container in one hand and uses the other hand for other activities such as taking food items from the food holding receptacle that is supported on the beverage container. The food holding receptacle is stably mounted on the beverage container in loose-fitting relationship so that the receptacle can be repeatedly mounted on and demounted from the beverage container in a facile manner while dining. The same food holding receptacle may also be used, after turning upside-down, to stably support beverage containers of diverse shapes and sizes.
US07726511B2
A reverse osmosis product water storage tank having first and second molded shells coupled together to form an enclosure, a bladder within the enclosure and coupled to separate product water from squeeze water within the enclosure, a first port through a wall of the enclosure to provide water access to the product water side of the bladder, a second port through a wall of the enclosure to provide squeeze water access to the squeeze water side of the bladder and wherein the inner surfaces of the enclosure having a topography configured to define a plurality of channels between the inner surfaces of the enclosure and the bladder when the bladder is full of product water for accommodating squeeze water flow into the enclosure between the enclosure and the bladder when the bladder is full of product water.
US07726504B2
A packaging system or method for protecting combustible material in a sprinkler-provided environment has an outer layer with a combustible surface covering a fire-retardant protection layer. Combustion of the surface of the outer layer promotes effective sprinkler operation, while combustible material is protected by the fire-retardant protection layer.
US07726503B2
A packing that includes a bottle and/or a bottle and box combination wherein the container may have a first handle portion, a second handle portion, and a bottom grip portion. The first handle portion can extend in a front to back direction and the second handle portion can extend in a transverse direction to the first handle portion. The bottom grip may include a protrusion and recess on the bottom of the container. The box can be configured to have openings to provide access to the first and second handle portions such that the container need not be removed from the box to utilize the contents contained therein. The box may also include a bottom opening and a push-up portion to provide access to the bottom grip portion.
US07726499B2
A bottle holder with an indented base, which has a body sized and shaped to receive a bottle. At least a portion of the body is radially expandable. A grip is attached to the exterior of the body and a securing base is located within the interior of the body. The securing base is sized and shaped to receive the indented base of a bottle and, when in use, to prevent radial movement of the bottle. When a bottle is inserted into the body, it is received by the indented base and is securely held in the bottle holder by the grip.
US07726497B1
A slewing crane is assembled and installed at the end of a shipping and stowage container having block-shaped corner fittings. Left and right rotatable mounts engage top corner fittings on the container, and a cross piece section engages the rotatable mounts. A boom section has upper and lower hinges rotatably mounting it on the cross piece section via the hinges' axially aligned pins to extend outwardly from the cross piece section. A hoist on the boom section lifts and moves loads, and first and second displacement mechanisms connected to the boom section linearly displace the hoist and angularly displace the hoist and boom section in a slewing motion around the axis of the axially aligned pins. An element connected between the cross piece section and a corner fitting is tensioned by a turnbuckle to securely engage both rotatable mounts and hold the slewing crane on the container.
US07726481B2
A packaging container having a first housing member that includes walls that fit within an area defined by the walls of a second housing member, and a chamber cover that includes an area for housing or displaying goods. In one embodiment, the chamber cover is substantially surrounded by the opening of the first member of the housing, and includes a flange that abuts against the bottom of the first member of the housing to secure the chamber cover with respect to the housing, wherein the cover includes an area for housing or displaying goods. The chamber may also be integrally formed with the first housing member. The housing members may be made from a paper material that can include a substantially tear-resistant material.
US07726479B2
A tool case has a lid and a base, and a panel arranged therebetween. Various structures are used to trap or otherwise retain tools, tool items or other stored items, such that they cannot accidentally fall out of their “home” positions, but such that they are readily removable by the user when desired. Such structures include, for example, retractable stops, depressions beneath stored items, weight-biased pivoting of holders, spring biasing of holders, trapping of items by the lid or by other item holders within the case, and various clip arrangements. Preferably the lid is transparent, and the tools or other items are arranged by height in step-wise fashion, the panel being stepped accordingly, to maximize visibility.
US07726477B1
The media disc package is a container for holding a media disc, a media disc with fine prints on top, and a magnifier formed of a transparent plastic material with a bar shape, a length of at least 4 inches, and a width of at least ½ inch.
US07726476B2
A media disc storage package includes: a folder including at least first and second spaced-apart panels defining a space for enclosing a media disc; and a substantially rigid insert disposed between the panels. The insert spans the distance between the panels to provide structural support to the folder, and includes an open disc well adapted to hold the media disc in the space between the panels.
US07726467B1
A conveyor coupler system for efficiently increasing the longevity and productivity of the conveyor. The conveyor coupler system generally includes a coupler including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the second portion. The first portion includes a first connecting portion, wherein the first connecting portion extends within the first portion and includes at least one slot. The second portion includes a second connecting portion extending within the second portion and including a plurality of ridge members. The first connecting portion connects to a first planetary gear structure of a conveyor unit and the second connecting portion connects to a second planetary gear structure of the conveyor unit.
US07726465B2
A bench mining system and mining method, particularly useful for open pit bench mining, employs a combination of bulldozers and transversely movable apron feeders to provide the primary mechanism for removal of overburden. The apron feeders are preferably equipped with a self-cleaning arrangement to facilitate continuous operation without undue stoppages.
US07726461B2
In one embodiment, apparatus for controlling spacing of objects conveyed by an object conveyor and for selectively ejecting objects from the object conveyor include flights that extend transversely across the object conveyor to limit travel of the objects to control their relative spacing, and ejectors associated with the flights that can be selectively actuated to eject the objects whose travel has been limited by the associated flights.
US07726458B2
A structure maintains a gap in a paper money discriminating apparatus that may be provided in an automatic teller machine. The structure may include a paper money discriminating sensor that is provided in an upper body to discriminate whether a paper money to be conveyed along a conveyance path is counterfeit money, a lower body that is provided so as to face the paper money discriminating sensor with a predetermined gap therebetween, and spacing protrusions that protrude upward from an upper surface of the lower body and come in contact with both end portions of the paper money discriminating sensor so as to maintain a constant gap between a lower surface of the paper money discriminating sensor and the upper surface of the lower body.
US07726456B2
A linear electromotive actuator mounted on an input shaft of a manual transmission clutch system and a clutch operation is controlled by a current signal applied in response to an operating stroke of a clutch pedal. In addition, according to the clutch system and a method for controlling the same, a vehicle weight is reduced and a clutch vibration or an impact can be reduced.
US07726454B2
A free coaster bicycle wheel driving apparatus is provided with a clutch that employs radially acting, rather than axially acting components. An annular drive sleeve projecting inwardly from a drive sprocket is disposed within multiple transmission power transmission sleeves, which are disposed within a cylindrical wheel hub shell. The drive sleeve defines multiple cam lobes and the power transmission sleeves define multiple cam lobes and multiple pockets. When the drive sleeve cam lobes are disposed in the power transmission sleeve pockets, the driving apparatus is disengaged and allowed to free coast. Upon forward rotation of the driving apparatus, the drive sleeve cam lobes rotate toward and engage the power transmission sleeve cam lobes, thereby forcing the power transmission sleeve radially outward towards the wheel hub shell, thereby allowing the sprocket to engage the wheel hub.
US07726451B2
A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a piston rod carrying a piston arrangement axially movably arranged in a cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two working spaces. A flow connection is present between the working spaces and controlled by an axially movable switching ring which cooperates with a working surface which faces the ring to define a pilot opening cross section. A bypass channel with at least two connecting openings to the flow connection is provided hydraulically in parallel to the flow connection. At least one connecting opening upstream of each of two stop surface of the switching ring. A check valve arrangement separates the bypass channel and the flow connection from each other in the different flow directions as a function of the movements of the piston rod, the check valve arrangement having two check valves which close in opposite directions.
US07726447B2
A scaffold assembling of a large component for a boiler requiring inspection is not performed by a high-place work but assembled safely and in a short time. The scaffold is assembled to the large component for the boiler supported by a component supporting beam at the ground side before it is attached to a steel frame main-beam 16. Scaffold lifting/supporting beams interposing coil spaces of a superheater 14 are suspended on wires 36 lifted down from spaces of a ceiling tube wall 34 being a horizontal member of the superheater 14. The scaffold lifting/supporting beams 32 are lifted to raise little by lithe within the superheater, and scaffold components are assembled sequentially toward downward. After a required number of steps of scaffolds are assembled, the scaffold lifting/supporting beams 32 are coupled to the ceiling tube wall 34 to be supported. Finally, the superheater 14 is raised by a lifting means to install to the main-beam.
US07726442B2
The present invention relates to an acoustic baffle device for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section of the cavity, comprising a piece of sealing material that is formed in a shape corresponding to but being smaller than the shape of the cross section of the cavity. The acoustic baffle device of the invention is characterized in having a flap assembly having a lower neck defining a passage for a flexible tube or a similar device, said lower neck having a flap secured in closed position by a locking device and being connected preferably to the lower end of the lower neck through means that permit the reversible opening of the above-defined passage. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a flap assembly useful for such an acoustic baffle device, and to a process for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section of the cavity.
US07726432B2
A seat includes a seat frame and a resilient web supported by the seat frame. The web is adapted for movement between an at rest condition in which no operator is seated on the seat, and a deflected condition in which the web is deflected with respect to the frame in response to an operator seated on the seat. A switch actuator is mounted to the web and is movable between a non-actuating position when the web is in the at rest condition and an actuating position when the web is in the deflected condition. A switch is mounted to the frame, the switch includes first and second parts movable with respect to each other to open and close an electrical circuit in response to the switch actuator moving between the non-actuating and actuating positions.
US07726428B2
A device protects at least a portion of an A/C condenser of an automotive vehicle against damage from stones and other road debris. The device includes a guard having a plurality of spaced apart louvers for intercepting and deflecting the stones and other road debris but permitting air to pass through the guard between the louvers.
US07726426B2
A hub drive includes an in-hub motor and a shifting in-hub transmission coupled with the motor. A hub drive wheel assembly includes a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel. A vehicle includes a chassis, a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel for rotating the wheel with respect to the chassis. A method includes providing a shifting transmission and a motor coupled with the transmission in a hub of a wheel, providing electrical power to the motor, and rotating the motor with the electrical power. The method further includes rotating the transmission with the motor and rotating the wheel with the transmission.
US07726414B2
An air spring hammer device that includes a drive piston, moving axially back and forth, with a front face of hollow embodiment and a hammer piston moving in said hollow. A ventilation slot is embodied in a guide wall of the drive piston. The drive piston may be guided in a guide tube. The guide tube comprises several idle openings. A moving control element is arranged on the exterior of the guide tube, in which control openings, corresponding to the idle openings, are provided. In an idle operating mode, the control element is in an open position, via which the ventilation slot, the idle openings and the control openings can be brought into connection with the environment.
US07726408B2
A fire suppression system is disclosed. The system includes a source of pressurized gas and a source of pressurized liquid. At least one emitter is in fluid communication with the liquid and gas sources. The emitter is used to establish a gas stream, atomize and entrain the liquid into the gas stream and discharge the resulting liquid-gas stream onto the fire. A method of operating the system is also disclosed. The method includes establishing a gas stream having first and second shock fronts using the emitter, atomizing and entraining the liquid with the gas at one of the two shock fronts to form a liquid-gas stream, and discharging the stream onto the fire. The method also includes creating a plurality of shock diamonds in the liquid-gas stream discharged from the emitter.
US07726406B2
A trigger device for setting a downhole tool is disclosed. The trigger device includes a retaining member that prevents the downhole tool from setting until it is properly positioned within the well. Regardless of the type of downhole tool or the type of trigger device, the retaining member includes a dissolvable material that dissolves when contacted by a solvent. The dissolvable material is preferably one that dissolves at a known rate so that the amount of time necessary for the downhole tool to set is pre-determined. Preferably, the solvent is a water-based or hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid or mud.
US07726405B2
A utility line connector assembly having a male stab having a central bore with a port that communicates with a second bore in a receptacle where the stab is fixedly inserted into a receiving female opening in the receptacle, the receptacle has an L shaped opening with a protruding partial spherical pocket, a ring groove for sealing said stab to a riser package, and where the stab and receptacle are placed between a lower marine riser and the blow out preventer in fluid communication therebetween. The stab and receptacle may be sealed with ring seals and the assembly may be used in riser auxiliary line connections, sub sea production tree connections, drape hose connections and surface bop auxiliary line connections.
US07726404B2
A method of treating a shale-containing subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is accomplished by forming a carbon dioxide treatment fluid having a viscosity of less than about 10 mPa-s at a shear rate of about 100 s−1. The carbon dioxide treatment fluid is introduced into the formation through the wellbore at a pressure above the fracture pressure of the formation. In certain embodiments, the treatment fluid may be comprised of from about 90% to 100% by weight carbon dioxide and may contain a proppant. A method of treating hydrocarbon-bearing, shale-containing subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore may also be carried out by forming a carbon dioxide treatment fluid and introducing the carbon dioxide treatment fluid into the formation through the wellbore at a pressure above the fracture pressure of the formation. The formation being treated may have a permeability of less than 1 mD.
US07726400B2
A cement system for use in treating lost circulation includes a slurry of cement, water and a super-absorbent polymer which absorbs free water in the slurry to form a gel—ore preferably a solid-like structure—when placed in the well, and which releases the absorbed water to the cement hydration reaction as the cement sets. The absorption of water causes the slurry to develop a solid-like structure. In one embodiment, the superabsorbent is polyacrylamide or modified crosslinked poly(meth)acrylate. Also presented is a method of treating lost circulation by pumping the above-mentioned cement system.
US07726399B2
A subterranean formation having natural fractures, which is to be subjected to hydraulic fracturing, is first pre-treated with an ultra lightweight (ULW) proppant having an average particle size between from about 12/20 to about 40/70. The small ULW proppant flows into the natural fractures and packs the fractures. The formation is then subjected to hydraulic fracturing. The pre-treatment serves to enhance the effective propped fracture length of the formation during the hydraulic fracturing by reducing the loss of fluid from the subsequently pumped fracturing fluid. The method is applicable to hydrocarbon bearing formations as well as non-hydrocarbon bearing formations and has particular applicability to coal beds.
US07726398B2
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a porous subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by: (a) reducing the salinity of a saline source water by reverse osmosis using a membrane having a first surface and a second surface by (i) feeding the saline source water to the first surface of the membrane, and (ii) removing treated water of reduced salinity from the second surface of the membrane; and (b) injecting the treated water into the formation; wherein the membrane is selectively permeable to water over dissolved solids such that when (i) the saline source water has a total dissolved solids content of at least 17,500 ppm, and (ii) the applied pressure across the membrane is greater than the osmotic pressure across the membrane and lies within the range 45 to 90 bar (4.5 to 9.0 M Pa), the total dissolved solids content of the treated water is in the range 500 to 5000 ppm.
US07726396B2
A field joint used to connect downhole tool modules. The field joint includes a bulkhead, a connector block, and various electrical connections. The bulkhead couples to a first tool module and has a first connection face, which partially defines an exterior of the first tool module and has a first conduit aperture that receives an electrical connector assembly. An electrical connector assembly received in the first conduit aperture is releasably coupled to the exterior of the first tool module, and includes a first connector. The connector block is coupled to a second tool module and has a second connection face defining a second conduit aperture positioned to face the first conduit aperture when the tool modules are joined. A second electrical connector disposed in the second conduit aperture establishes electrical contact with the first connector when the first and second tool modules are joined.
US07726395B2
Apparatus for expanding first and second portions of a downhole tubular in a single trip comprises a support and first and second expansion devices. The first expansion device is mounted on the support and is operable to expand a first portion of tubular. The second expansion device is mounted to a second portion of tubular and is adapted to be engaged by the support following the expansion of the first portion of tubular, and is then used to expand the second portion of tubular.
US07726390B2
The invention relates to a hollow chamber profile made of metal, especially for heat exchangers. Said profile is made of an extruded base profile (10) having two broad parallel sides and two narrow sides or is made of a base profile which is a circular tube type or coaxial tube type. At least one channel (11) extends inside said base profile in the longitudinal direction thereof. The hollow profile has improved heat transfer properties on the sides and webs (13) which are deformed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof.
US07726386B2
A shield for placement around burner ports in a hot air furnace for reducing turbulence in the flow of secondary combustion air entering a heat exchanger. The shield also provides for intercepting moisture that condenses along the walls of the vertically oriented heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is part of a furnace. The drip shield includes a plate having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of through-openings placed in the plate along and/or parallel to its longitudinal axis. The through-openings are spaced apart so as to be positioned between and aligned with burner ports and respective heat exchanger tube inlets of the heat exchanger. The plate is preferably profiled to have a peak to encourage condensate run-off with the plurality of through-openings being placed along or generally parallel to the peak of the plate.
US07726380B2
A method of producing a sand mold, comprising: after defining a mold space at least by a pattern plate, a flask, and a squeeze means, and after blow-charging molding sand held in a sand blowing device located above the mold space into the mold space by ejecting a first compressed air near sand ejecting ports of the sand blowing device thereby fluidizing the molding sand near the sand ejecting ports, while supplying a second compressed air to a surface of the molding sand held in the sand blowing device, moving the squeeze means toward the pattern plate, where in the pressure of the first compressed air and the period of time for supplying the first compressed air are adjusted to produce a good sand mold. To determine the period of time for ejecting the first compressed air, the distance of the movement of the squeeze feet toward the pattern plate is measured when the squeeze of the molding sand in the mold space is completed, and the difference between the measured distance and a target distance is calculated. The period is adjusted to be a shorter or lengthened one based on the result of the calculation.
US07726376B2
The present invention relates to a locking device design to act between a tire and its respective wheel rim for dynamically balancing a tired wheel. The locking device is arranged to be installed on a tired-wheel maintenance machine having a support frame and a rotatable support for a wheel rim of a deflated tired wheel and locking-unlocking means for locking-unlocking the wheel rim to and from the rotatable support. The locking device comprises holding belt anchorable to the support frame and an engaging group designed removably to engage the tire of the deflated tired wheel, while its respective wheel rim is controllably angularly shifted.
US07726375B2
A laminator 100 in which the diaphragm can be mounted simply and easily without the use of a mounting frame. The laminator 100 includes an upper chamber 110, on the bottom surface of which is mounted the diaphragm 140, and a lower chamber 120 on which the upper chamber 110 is stacked and in which is disposed a support base 130 on which a workpiece A that is to be laminated is set. The diaphragm 140 is larger than the upper chamber 110, and an excess portion of the diaphragm that protrudes outside the upper chamber when the diaphragm is mounted on the upper chamber is folded upward and clamped against the sides of the upper chamber by multiple clamps to fix the diaphragm in place on the upper chamber.
US07726374B2
An apparatus for obtaining “shrink sleeve” labels, comprises a carousel that is provided peripherally with a plurality of spindles configured for being wound from portions of plastic film, a sealing device cooperating with said spindles means for sealing opposite edges of said portions for obtaining said “shrink sleeve” labels, said sealing device comprising a laser device; a method for labelling containers, comprises in sequence: advancing a plastic film in an advancing direction; cutting said plastic film transversely to said advancing direction to obtain a portion of plastic film; winding said portion in such a way as to make opposite edges of said portion overlap one another; joining together said edges to obtain a “shrink sleeve” label, said joining comprising sealing by means of a laser beam.
US07726373B2
The invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a pellet which has not quality deterioration and a great apparent specific gravity. The apparatus is provided with (a) bunching portions (16) bunching band-like long continuous material(s) (R) and/or a plurality of filamentous long continuous materials (R) to a narrow width so as to form a cord-shaped bunched material (R′), (b) compressing portions (22) having compressing rollers (50a, 50b) with an uneven outer surface and form a cord (S) by point compressing a twisted cord material (R″), (c) rotation portions (14) twisting the cord-shaped bunched material (R′) by relatively rotating the bunching portions (16) or the compressing portions (22) so as to form the twisted cord material (R″), and (d) a cutting portion (102) provided in an outlet side of the compressing portion (22) and cutting the cord (S) formed by the point compressing to a pellet shape.
US07726371B2
The invention is a high-efficiency wheel product for use with various ground vehicles. The product is designed to provide rolling support to the vehicle and to accommodate various surface conditions, for example, smooth pavement, rough pavement, potholes, dirt roads, and other conditions. The wheel product includes a multi-chambered pneumatic tire designed to minimize energy loss between the tire and a rolling surface by substantially reducing tire flex, a main source of energy loss in ground vehicles. Additionally, the product can reduce the need for conventional drive train elements such as shock absorbers.
US07726369B2
A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with at least two circumferential grooves and lateral grooves extending from the circumferential grooves so as to form blocks which are circumferentially divided by the lateral grooves and arranged in at least three circumferential rows axially divided by said at least two circumferential grooves. Each of the lateral grooves is provided with a tie-bar rising from the groove bottom to a certain height as to connect the opposite groove walls with each other. The tie-bars in the lateral grooves extend towards the adjacent circumferential grooves but terminate before the circumferential grooves so as to provide certain distances therebetween, and the distances are gradually decreased from the axially outside to the axially inside of the tread portion. The inclination angles of the lateral grooves are gradually decreased from the axially outside to the axially inside of the tread portion.
US07726367B2
A method of processing a wooden piece into a predetermined shape by compressing the wooden piece, includes bending a raw-material piece which is a wooden piece to be processed and is placed in a humid condition of high temperature, cutting out a blank-material piece from the raw-material piece bent in the bending so that the blank-material piece includes at least a part of a bent portion of the raw-material piece, and compressing the blank-material piece cut out in the cutting out in a water vapor atmosphere of a temperature and a pressure higher than those of an atmospheric air.
US07726361B2
A bypass for a tube set for directing the flow of a fluid component includes an inlet passage for fluid connection with a source of said fluid component, an outlet passage for fluid connection with a first bag compartment, and a bypass passage for fluid connection with a second bag compartment. A flow control device in the bypass passage is operable in a first position in which the flow control device seals the bypass passage, and a second position in which the flow control device unseals the bypass passage to receive a tubing line connected with said second bag compartment.
US07726357B2
Disclosed is a uniquely configured medicament vial assembly which includes a storage vial, a stopper member and a securing ring. The vial assembly is configured to improve healthcare worker safety by providing a shielded gripping location to aid in the reduction of accidental needle sticks. The storage vial has a body portion which defines an interior chamber for storing a predetermined medicament and a neck portion through which medicament is received into and withdrawn from the interior chamber. The stopper member is inserted into the mouth of the vial and establishes a first seal. The securing ring is engaged with the mouth of the vial and adapted and configured for retaining the stopper member within the vial mouth and effectuating a second seal. The securing ring is formed from a thermoplastic and/or elastic material. Preferably, the securing ring is formed by molding the thermoplastic and/or elastic material over a portion of the storage vial and stopper member when engaged within the vial mouth.
US07726350B2
A tear-away energy absorbing webbing (10) is a one-piece webbing. The tear-away energy absorbing webbing (10) has a top layer load-bearing web (12) and a bottom layer load-bearing web (24). An energy absorbing portion (38) of the webbing has binder yarns (36) interlaced with the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs (12, 14). A sufficiently high load force applied to the webbing breaks the binder yarns (36) and tears apart the top and bottom layer load-bearing webs (12, 14). The energy absorbing portion (38) absorbs energy as it tears apart. The top and bottom layer load-bearing webs (12, 14) support the load force when the shock absorbing portion is torn apart.
US07726347B2
The heald shaft (1) for weaving machines is divided into a machine-resident frame part (14) and a removable frame part (15). While the removable frame part (15) supports a heald mounting rail (30) that must be released from said frame part for a heald change, said removable frame part is associated with an additional heald mounting rail (33) that is releasably held on the lower shaft rod (16). The upper shaft rod (25), together with the two heald mounting rails (30, 33), forms a removable frame part (15). The lower shaft rod (16), together with the lateral supports (19, 20), forms a machine-resident frame part. Preferably, the lateral supports (19, 20) and the lower shaft rod (16) are rigidly connected to each other.
US07726340B2
A torque motor (10) includes a support (20), a jet tube passage (42) in the support having a first end opening (43) and a second end opening (45), a jet tube (30) extending into the jet tube passage (42) through the first end opening (43) for directing a flow of fluid into a chamber (40) in fluid communication with the jet tube passage second end opening (45), and a flexible, convoluted, seal (46) hermetically connected to the jet tube passage (42) and the jet tube (30) for sealing the jet tube passage first end (43) while permitting at least a portion of the jet tube (30) to move relative to the jet tube passage (42).
US07726336B2
A submersible turbine pump (STP) is provided. The STP includes a manifold having an integral siphon connection coupled to a fuel flow path in the STP and a siphon cartridge removably inserted into the manifold via the siphon connection. In general, the siphon cartridge includes a nozzle that directs fuel from the fuel flow path through a venturi when the STP is energized, thereby creating a vacuum in a chamber within the siphon cartridge. A connection point of the siphon cartridge is fluidly coupled to the chamber such that a fluid connection is provided from the exterior of the siphon cartridge to the vacuum.
US07726332B2
A durable water heating system providing rapid hot water delivery includes a water heating unit connected to a water source. A hot water line connects the water heating unit to at least one water delivery fixture. A return line of substantially the first cross-section connects to the hot water line adjacent the water delivery fixture located at a greatest distance from the water heating unit. A flow velocity reduction device has a first end, a second end, a first cross-section, an aperture and that extends from the first end to the second end. The aperture and has a second cross-section smaller than the first cross-section. Attachment fittings are provided adjacent the first and second ends. When the device is installed in the return line, velocity of water circulating through the system will be substantially reduced, thereby reducing wear on the system while providing rapid hot water delivery at the fixture.
US07726328B2
An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure. To facilitate the infusion process, an automatic flow control device may be included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder. Subsequent to a period of time in which to make a pressure measurement, preferred embodiments of the urine valve automatically return to a bladder draining position.
US07726316B1
A female condom and an improved method for manufacturing a female condom is disclosed. The invention provides a device that is effective in both acting as a contraceptive and inhibiting the transmission of disease during coitus. The invention employs synthetic latex in an efficient and cost effect manufacturing method that results in an improved product.
US07726314B1
The present invention is a generally conical nebulizer, aerosol, filter or inhalant face mask for sealing against the atmosphere a wearer's mouth and nose, the improvement comprising a representation of a face on the outside surface with an exhaust valve located where the mouth would be located. The exhaust valve is adapted to visibly lift outward and up from the outside mask surface to imitate a flapping tongue.
US07726311B2
A method of applying total liquid ventilation to a patient according to a ventilation cycle including inspiration and expiration profiles, comprises supplying oxygenated liquid to the patient's lungs, withdrawing liquid from the patient's lungs, and controlling independently supply of oxygenated liquid to the patient's lungs and withdrawal of liquid from the patient's lungs. This supply and withdrawal independent control comprises producing a ventilation cycle having independently controlled inspiration and expiration profiles. To carry out the method, a total liquid ventilator system comprises an inspiration pump for supplying oxygenated liquid to the patient's lungs, and an expiration pump for withdrawing liquid from the patient's lungs. A ventilation cycle control comprises first and second pump controllers connected to the inspiration and expiration pumps, respectively, to produce a ventilation cycle having independently controlled inspiration and expiration profiles.
US07726310B2
A flexible bag aerosol holding chamber is sealed around the outlet passage of the actuator for a pressurized metered-dose inhaler. An elastic-loaded mouthpiece is sealed around the inlet passage of the actuator so that the user may intermittently break the seal around the inlet passage by withdrawing the mouthpiece, thus allowing inhalation of a portion of the aerosol contents of the chamber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aerosol contains a compound which has traditionally been smoked such as nicotine or a cannabinoid. The user may draw upon the chamber's contents a number of times at a frequency analogous to smoking until the chamber is fully collapsed. One inhaler actuation, and one filled chamber, are comparable to one cigarette. The collapsible bag chamber allows for economy of inhaler actuations relative to user inhalations, without the aerosol being diluted by ambient air.
US07726306B2
An improved nebulizer places a venturi in a rainfall chamber and in close proximity to or inside a patient's oral cavity. One or more medicine feed lines feeds the medicine to a location proximate to a venturi. The rainfall chamber contains a sump communicating with the venturi for collecting medication not delivered to the patient and for recycling that medication for delivery to the patient. A medicine receiver may be pre-filled with a standard unit dose of medication.
US07726304B2
Dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having a first part (2) and a second part (3) together defining an interior of the housing for receiving a dispensing container, the first and second part being movable from an open position to permit insertion of said dispensing container into the interior of the housing to a closed position in which removal of said dispensing container from the interior of the housing is prevented, the dispensing apparatus further comprising a mouthpiece (4) which is removably connectable to the housing, wherein when connected to the housing the mouthpiece defines an outlet for a product dispensed, in use, from said dispensing container, and wherein when the mouthpiece is disconnected from the housing the first and second parts substantially enclose the interior to prevent access to and removal of said dispensing container received in the interior.
US07726295B2
An oven door has an outer door panel, an inner door panel, and a viewing panel being disposed intermediate the outer and inner door panels. The oven door is provided with an air deflection assembly disposed intermediate the outer door panel and the viewing panel. The air deflection assembly deflects a first portion of an entry air stream of air from outside the oven into a first branch path extending vertically along a left hand side and deflects a second portion of the entry air stream into a second branch path extending vertically along a right hand side.
US07726289B2
In at least a first cycle at startup, an opening timing of an exhaust valve is controlled to 45 degrees before-bottom-dead-center of an exhaust stroke, or to a retard side of the normal closing timing that is set after warm-up is complete. Also, the closing timing of the exhaust valve is preferably controlled to an advance side of top-dead-center in a second cycle at startup and thereafter at the latest. Accordingly, the amount of unburned HC discharged during a cold start of an internal combustion engine is reduced.
US07726286B2
A housing for a supercharger assembly is provided having an inner wall at least partially defining a rotor cavity. A layer is formed from a sacrificial polymeric material and is provided on at least a portion of the inner wall. The layer is operable to provide approximately zero running clearance and improve scuff resistance between the first and second rotors and the inner wall. The sacrificial polymeric material is applied to the inner wall by insert molding to form the layer. A method of forming the housing is also provided.
US07726284B2
The fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit (ECU) for transferring the engine from a state in which a high-pressure fuel pump does not deliver any pressurized fuel to a state in which the high-pressure fuel pump begins to deliver the pressurized fuel by gradually varying an output period of a drive signal for controlling opening/closing behavior of a solenoid valve while monitoring changes in fuel pressure detected by a pressure sensor, and for estimating a mounting error between angular mounting positions of the high-pressure fuel pump and a pump actuating cam with reference to a rotation signal from a state of the solenoid valve drive signal when a change in the fuel pressure has been detected. The solenoid valve drive signal is corrected based on the value of the mounting error estimated by the ECU.
US07726283B2
The invention relates to a pressure booster arrangement for high-pressure injection systems or high-pressure injection system parts of internal combustion engines. A differential piston which operates with a large cross section in a medium-pressure reservoir and with partial cross sections is operative in terms of positive displacement in associated control and work pressure chambers that are separate from the medium-pressure reservoir and that are disposed in a guide body. The guide body guides the differential piston in its strokes and in turn axially adjoins a valve body. The valve body receives control and check valves for controlling communicating lines of the guide body and of the valve body for controllably connecting the control and work chambers to the medium-pressure reservoir or to a relatively pressureless fluid reservoir. It is essential to the invention that the valve body and the guide body separate from it, which at least on its end remote from the valve body is acted upon by the pressure in the medium-pressure reservoir, adjoin one another axially with end faces facing toward one another. Between these end faces, a spacer chamber or hollow chamber communicating with the relatively pressureless reservoir is embodied.
US07726273B2
A diesel engine is fitted with a thin-walled wet liner fabricated of steel. The liner has a hardness that is within 10-20 Rc of the hardness of the piston rings carried on a piston within the liner. The inner surface of the liner is manufactured with a TRD=5Rvk (100−Mr2) of between 30 and 400 μm, and a compound liner thickness to bore diameter in the range of 1.5 to 4 percent.
US07726270B2
When cranking is started, a control unit of an ECU determines an advance amount by which an intake valve closing timing is advanced from a fully retarded position toward a bottom dead center, and transmits the determined advance amount to a variable valve timing mechanism. After cranking is started, the control unit determines that there is an abnormality in the variable valve timing mechanism, when the advance amount is larger than 0, and when an actual intake valve closing timing, determined using an intake cam angle from a cam angle sensor and a crank angle from a crank angle sensor, is not advanced from the fully retarded position. When it is determined that there is an abnormality in the variable valve timing mechanism, the control unit outputs a control signal to an inverter to increase an output torque of a motor, which is a driving source for cranking.
US07726268B2
An internal combustion engine includes an arrangement of cylinders each having a reciprocating piston operatively linked to a crankshaft. The cycle for each cylinder includes an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, an exhaust stroke, and two free strokes during which the exhaust valve or a separate clean air valve is left open. The power stroke of each cylinder fires simultaneously with the free stroke of another cylinder. The engine and method of operation provides a six stroke cycle for each power stroke to yield three revolutions of the crankshaft per cycle, thereby increasing fuel efficiency.
US07726258B2
A highly automated method and system for providing individual animal electronic identification, measurement and value based management of cattle in a large cattle feedlot. Through the use of (1) a computer system integrated with (2) automatic individual animal identification (3) multiple measurement and remeasurement systems with automatic data input and (4) a cattle handling and sorting system, animals are individually (a) identified and (b) measured by weight, external dimensions and characteristics of internal body tissue. With this information together with animal physiological characteristics and historical data, the computer system calculates the optimum (c) slaughter weight, (d) economic end point and (e) marketing date for shipment to a packing plant. After measurement, individual animals are (f) sorted by direction of the computer in response to calculations from the measurements. The computer system also calculates from individual animal data and other data (g) each animal's pro rata share of total feed intake for the animal's feed group. The computer system (h) stores individual animal measurement, performance and location data, which is used by management to (i) select animals for shipment from the feedlot for slaughter at the optimum time. Following an animal's shipment to a slaughter facility, its identification in the computer system is used to (j) correlate the live animal physical characteristics and performance data to the measured and evaluated carcass characteristics data obtained during the slaughter process and (k) build a data base to more accurately identify and measure value-based characteristics in subsequent animals produced and fed for more effective value-based selection and management of those animals.
US07726242B2
A bore seal includes a polymeric interface portion adapted for coupling so an initiator activation signal transmission medium, and an initiator-receiving portion adapted for receiving an initiator therein. The bore seal generally houses a pyrotechnic initiator or igniter therein, for incorporation into a gas generating system or other system having a pyrotechnically actuatable element.
US07726239B2
Controlled depositing of a printing material on a substrate is provided. A stencil is disposed adjacent to the substrate. The stencil includes a number of apertures to allow printing material to pass therethrough. Printing material is deposited onto and spread across the stencil with a squeegee blade. To increase the volume of printing material over a set of selected apertures, the squeegee blade includes a printing edge having a profile feature.
US07726237B2
A printing station for producing a layer of coloring for a contact lens, comprising a transport system to carry and transport a molding tool which comprises at least one contact lens forming mold, a pad unit comprising at least one pad, and a blade unit suitable to carry and ink a cliché with an ink. When in use the pad transfers an inked image from the cliché to the contact lens forming mold. The printing station further at least partially cures the inked image after it has been transferred to the mold and cleans the pad.
US07726236B2
A sandwich maker includes a base and a perforating member. The base includes a base cavity into which a portion of a sheet of dough can be positioned, the base cavity including a plurality of slots positioned in a spaced fashion therein and extending through the base cavity. The perforating member is separably coupled to the base external to the base cavity and moveable between a normally retracted position and an extended position, wherein the perforating member includes a plurality of teeth spaced along the perforating member such that each tooth of the plurality of teeth aligns with a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein each tooth is configured to extend into the base cavity via the corresponding slot when the perforating member is in the extended position so as to cut slits in the portion of the sheet of dough positioned within the base cavity.
US07726227B2
A method of forming a base (118) for a paper punch (154) is disclosed as including the steps of (a) providing a cast iron core (102) with a wall (104) and a plate (106) with a hole (108); (b) providing two generally U-shaped cast iron plates (110); (c) positioning the plates (110) spaced apart from and on opposite sides of the core (102); and (d) insert-molding the core (102) and plates (106) with a plastics material, e.g. ABS.
US07726225B2
A miter saw includes a base section on which a workpiece is mounted, a saw blade section supporting a circular saw blade having a rotation axis extending in a lateral direction, a holder shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a holder tiltable about the holder shaft, two parallel guide bars disposed slidable with respect to the holder and extending toward the rotation axis, a support segment fixed to the guide bars and supporting the saw blade section, a pivot shaft disposed between the saw blade section and the support segment and extending in parallel with the rotation axis so that the saw blade section is pivotable about the pivot shaft, and a holder fixing mechanism that fixes a tilting posture of the holder and includes an operation member supported to the holder and having a rotatable shaft passing through a space between the two guide bars.
US07726223B2
Apparatus and methods of accessing a packaged medicament include placing a blister-type package containing the medicament onto a receiving area of a holder with a blister portion of the package extending into an opening in the holder. The blister-type package is held in place while a severing device is moved relative to the opening to separate at least a part of the blister portion from the blister-type package in order to access the medicament.
US07726222B2
A cutting device comprises a support to hold a roll of rolled media, a surface upon which the media is unrolled, and first and second cutting guides, each oriented substantially perpendicular to the media's unrolling path and supporting first and second cutters. The first cutter is movably supported by the first cutting guide and is capable of cutting the rolled media substantially parallel to the unrolling path. The second cutter is movably supported by the second cutting guide and is capable of cutting the rolled media substantially perpendicular to the unrolling path. The cutting device further includes a computing system to calculate the amount of rolled media to be dispensed and how best to cut the rolled media.
US07726221B2
A dicing tool having: a foodstuff holder for holding a block of foodstuff and a cutting base; the cutting base having: a rectangular framework for sliding the foodstuff holder therealong; a first part having an triangular shaped front edge, equally spaced triangular cutting blades being arranged in a triangular arrangement that follows the profile of the triangularly shaped front edge; a handle; a second part having a second upper surface and a right front edge and a left front edge arranged in a deep V shape, with continuous blades attached to the right and left front edges; wherein the second upper surface is always parallel to the first surface and can be slidingly reciprocated between an upper position and a lower position where the horizontal blade is substantially on a level with the first surface and the base of the triangular cutting blades.
US07726218B2
The present invention relates to a clamp mechanism which prevents a tip body from being greatly cut out by a fitting hole to secure strength of a tip without complicating the shape of a head portion of a clamp member or a fitting hole of a tip body. There is provided a clamp mechanism of a tip for pressing the tip, in which a fitting hole is formed through a tip body, by the use of a clamp member having a shaft portion inserted into the fitting hole and a head portion with an outer diameter equal to or larger than that of the shaft portion and thus clamping the tip to a tip fitting seat. In the clamp member, a section, which is perpendicular to the central axis line, of the back surface of the head portion has a circle shape centered at the central axis line. In the tip body of the tip, the head portion of the clamp member can pass through the fitting hole, and a contact portion with which a part of the back surface of the head portion comes in contact at the time of advancing the clamp member is formed in an opening of the fitting hole.
US07726207B2
A generally flexible pressure sensing mat for a vehicle seat includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer. The mat includes a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by a respective opening of the spacer. In each cell, at least two electrodes are arranged between the first and second carrier foils and, in response to pressure acting on the pressure sensing mat at a cell, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the carrier foils thereby causing variation of an electrical resistance between the at least two electrodes of the cell. The pressure sensing mat includes at least one rigidifying element, the least one rigidifying element being associated to an individual cell for locally reducing flexibility of the pressure sensing mat at the individual cell.
US07726206B2
This invention relates to a system that continuously monitors pressure and force on the foot, analyzes and visualizes the pressure and force exerted on said foot in real-time. The invention measures pressure and force applied to a plurality of sensors placed in various points of an orthotic, shoe, shoe lining, insert, sock or sock type device. If the sensors detect pressure or force, the sensors send a signal to a microcomputer processor located in the shoe that subsequently analyzes and sends the data wireless to either a handheld electronic device, a personal computer, an electronic data capture system or a software program. The handheld electronic device or the personal computer then displays the data to an operator of the device or computer instantaneously; while the data capture system or program forwards the information to a handheld device and/or personal computer.
US07726203B2
A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable flowtube, and a driver connected to the flowtube that is operable to impart motion to the flowtube. A sensor is connected to the flowtube and is operable to sense the motion of the flowtube and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to determine a first flow rate of a first phase within a two-phase flow through the flowtube and determine a second flow rate of a second phase within the two-phase flow.
US07726202B2
A tertiary mode vibration type Coriolis flowmeter includes a flow tube, a drive device driving the flow tube, and a pair of vibration detecting sensors detecting a phase difference in proportion to a Colioris force acting on the flow tube. The drive device drives the flow tube by bending vibration in a tertiary mode. The flow tube further comprises an approximately loop-shaped body part. A pair of parallel leg parts deflected in a direction approximately orthogonal to the vibrating direction of both end parts of the body part, namely, to the outside of the both end parts are formed continuously with the both end parts of the body part. Fixed end parts supporting the flow tube are formed at the leg parts.
US07726199B2
An apparatus and method directed to a solid-state capacitance sensor for measuring a strain force on a dielectric including at least one pair of electrostriction sensors each sensor having at least two electrodes and each having a central axis. The central axes are disposed in a common plane and are oriented substantially mutually perpendicularly to one another. Preferably, at least two pairs of sensors, forming a rosette, are provided to facilitate multi-component analysis of a sample having dielectric properties under stress/strain.
US07726198B2
A strain sensor comprises a capacitor formed on a substrate, the capacitor having a layered structure in which a lower electrode, a metal oxide film of perovskite structure and an upper electrode are laminated consecutively on the substrate, the capacitor being adapted to be mounted upon a specimen, and a measuring circuit that measures a leakage current flowing through the capacitor between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.
US07726193B2
The electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) transducer disclosed herein is useful for the non-destructive analysis of objects. The transducer comprises a core having a winding and a coil disposed between the core and the object to be analyzed. One transducer can be used as a transmitter and another transducer as a receiver. Then selectively switching static magnetic field in either transmitter or receiver and processing data with and without static magnetic field allows for eliminating artifacts due to parasitic coupling between the transmitter/receiver pair. The switching of the static magnetic field can be implemented either by using electromagnet or a pair of permanent magnets where magnetization of one permanent magnet is reversed to provide cancellation of the static magnetic field.
US07726184B2
The SAW sensor in a stainless steel button package having a diaphragm and mounted on a threaded port. Package can hermetically seal a sensor and RFID-antenna assemblies from media. Sensor diaphragm is exposable to media. Sensor and RFID antennas communicate electrically with SAW sensor and RFID device, respectively, for sensor measurements and identification. Antennas receive RF interrogation signal from a nearby interrogator/transceiver and send reflected RF signals back to the interrogator unit containing sensor measurement and sensor ID. TRF signal excites a SAW resonator inside the sensor and causes the SAW to resonate wherein resonant frequency changes with pressure and temperature applied to the sensor. Antennas could be printed circuit board antennas, helical antennas, loop antennas, any other commercially available off-the-shelf antennas or a combination of these.
US07726168B2
An adjusting cylinder for long, rapid lifting movements in rolling stands, includes vertical edging stands, wherein each cylinder has at least one piston, which acts through the bearing chocks of at least one work roll or of an interposed roll to adjust a work roll on both sides, wherein each adjusting cylinder has a piston that is equipped with two oppositely directed piston rods, and each piston is inserted in a recess in the cylinder base or cylinder cover, such that the base and cover have coaxially arranged bores through which the piston rods pass. The surface formed by one piston and the piston rod is smaller than the surface formed by another piston and the piston rod.
US07726154B2
Disclosed is a method for producing single microlenses or an arrays of microlenses composed of a glass-type material, in which method a first substrate is provided with a surface containing impressions over which a second substrate composed of a glass-type material is placed at least partially overlapping it and is joined therewith under vacuum conditions. The substrate composite is tempered in such a manner that the second substrate softens and flows into the impressions of the first substrate, thereby structuring the side of the second substrate facing away from the first substrate in order to form at least one microlens surface.
US07726149B2
The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can perform direct cooling of circulating cool air by natural convection in a freezing chamber (F) and a refrigerating chamber (R), and which can selectively perform indirect cooling of circulating cool air by forcible convection in the refrigerating chamber. It is like that, frost or condensed water formed in the refrigerating chamber (R) of the direct cooling type refrigerator does not Influence the inside of the refrigerating chamber. In addition, the refrigerator efficiently performs a defrosting operation of the refrigerating chamber (R), sanitarily performs a cooling operation, and maintains uniform cooling performance.
US07726147B2
A refrigerator includes a storing unit for storing vegetables; a light emitting unit for irradiating light onto the vegetables stored in the storing unit to promote photosynthesis of the vegetables; an input unit for receiving an operation instruction on whether the light emitting unit is to be turned on or off; a timer for detecting a current time to output current time information; and a control unit for controlling the light emitting unit in response to the operation instruction. If the operation instruction requests that the light emitting unit be off, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to be off; and if otherwise, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to be on or off depending on the current time information.
US07726143B2
A glove box assembly for a vehicle is provided and includes a storage bin, a dedicated climate controlled bin, and an air flow manifold. The air flow manifold is arranged to receive cooled air from a vehicle heating ventilation and air conditioning unit and direct the flow of cooled air into the climate controlled bin for cooling the climate controlled bin independent of the storage bin. The air flow manifold is further arranged to draw cooled air from the heating ventilation and air conditioning unit upstream of a blend door when air conditioning is operating so as to provide cooled air to the climate controlled bin independent of a vehicle cabin temperature setting.
US07726126B1
A drive apparatus includes a pair of axial piston pump assemblies in an inline relationship, each pump assembly having an end cap mounted to a pump housing to form a sump. The pump assemblies are mounted to a gearbox at one end thereof, and an input shaft extends into both pump housings and the gearbox to drive the axial piston pumps and one of the gears. A power take off mechanism is also engaged to the gearbox at another end thereof and includes a drive shaft at least partially disposed in the gearbox and driven by one of the transmission gears, and an output shaft extending in the opposite direction from the drive shaft.
US07726124B2
A high velocity actuator, which may be used as a blast simulator, is provided with an actuator cylinder tube having an opening at first and second cylinder ends, and an actuator piston rod slidably mounted within the actuator cylinder tube and extending through the opening in the first cylinder end. A control valve concentric to the actuator cylinder tube is configured to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid and controls admittance of the fluid under pressure to the actuator cylinder at the second cylinder end to act on the actuator piston rod to extend the actuator piston rod towards the first cylinder end.
US07726119B2
A plurality of upstream main exhaust passages extend from cylinders of an engine. A downstream main exhaust passage is connected to the upstream main exhaust passages. A main catalytic converter is mounted in the downstream main exhaust passage. A plurality of upstream bypass exhaust passages extend from the upstream main exhaust passages. Each upstream bypass exhaust passage has a sectional area smaller than that of the corresponding upstream main exhaust passage. A downstream bypass exhaust passage is connected to the upstream bypass exhaust passages and has a downstream end connected to the downstream main exhaust passage at a position upstream of the main catalytic converter. An auxiliary catalytic converter is mounted in the downstream bypass exhaust passage. A gas flow switching device is provided which is capable of forcing the exhaust gas from the cylinders of the engine to flow toward the upstream bypass exhaust passages when assuming a given operation position.
US07726112B2
A method for purging fuel from a fuel system of a gas turbine engine on shutdown of the engine comprises, in one aspect, terminating a fuel supply to the fuel system and using the residual compressed air to create a reversed pressure differential in the fuel system relative to a forward pressure differential of the fuel system used to maintain fuel supply for engine operation, and under the reversed pressure differential substantially purging the fuel remaining in the system therefrom to a fuel source.
US07726109B2
A suspension system for agricultural implements having at least one floating head using a four-bar linkage and permitting the floating head to accommodate variations in ground surface elevation in a lateral or transverse direction. By permitting the floating head to float, a more consistent cutting height is realized when ground surface elevation varies in a transverse direction. A main frame is provided to which the ground engaging wheels are attached. A sub-frame is connected to the main frame via the four-bar linkage. The sub-frame is pivotally attached to the arms of the four-bar linkage by spherical bearings.
US07726107B2
A hydraulic system for an agricultural working machine composed of a carrier vehicle and at least one adapting device has one or more hydraulically driven consumer included in each of the carrier vehicle and the at least one adapting device, and a common hydraulic pressure line, wherein the consumers are connected to the common hydraulic pressure line, and a constant hydraulic pressure is applied to the common hydraulic pressure line.
US07726102B2
A method and machine for filling capsules with at least one product, whereby the bottom shell of each capsule is fed along a given path in time with a relative metering device having a metering chamber for transferring a given quantity of product from a tank into the bottom shell; the metering chamber having a weighing device for weighing the product contained in the metering chamber.
US07726101B2
A method and machine for filling capsules with at least one pharmaceutical product, whereby the bottom shell of each capsule is fed along a given path in time with a relative metering chamber for transferring a given quantity of product from a container into the bottom shell; a control device weighing the product in the metering chamber to cut off supply of the product into the metering chamber, when the weight of the product substantially equals a given reference value.
US07726076B2
A gutter cover with clip is provided that operates with a variety of gutter styles to capture roof runoff while preventing debris from entering the gutter. The gutter cover is an elongated panel of sufficient width to bridge a roof to the far side of the gutter. A radiused edge is provided to direct roof runoff into the gutter. The clip includes a mounting tab and an upward rising arm. A tooth on the arm positively engages an aperture in the radiused edge to facilitate extremely accurate, fast, and resilient installation of a gutter cover system.
US07726074B2
The present invention relates to a window-winding arrangement (1) as well as a motor vehicle door containing this window-winding arrangement. The window-winding arrangement contains a drive means (5) as well as a guide means for the drive and for guiding a pane (2) belonging to the window-winding arrangement. The drive means and guide means is designed in a manner such that the drive force for movement is applied onto the pane such that this (4.1; 4.2) independently of its movement direction is always pressed against a certain guide edge (6c) of the guide means. With this it is rendered possible on manufacture of the window-winding arrangement to envisage greater tolerances as well as to do away with the costintensive installation of additional guide rails in the door inner space. Furthermore one achieves a reduction in friction as well as a reduction in weight.
US07726071B2
A vegetation roofing tray comprising an interconnecting lip is provided. The interconnecting lip on the sidewall of a tray engages with a sidewall of an adjacent tray, securely interconnecting the adjacent trays side-by-side together. A securing device penetrating the sidewalls of adjacent trays may also be used to secure the adjacent trays together. A vegetation roofing system is also provided. The system includes two or more trays and an irrigation hose disposed across the trays.
US07726069B1
A horticulture growing medium mixture or so-called “potting soil” provides a generally soil-less medium that does not rely on the use of peat moss, soil or compost. A unique combination of anaerobically digested solids, perlite, vermiculite, and various additives and amendments provides a growing medium with a surprisingly high acid-buffering coefficient. Although the growing medium is particularly suited for orchids, the medium can be tailor-mixed for various other plants as well.
US07726067B2
A hydromulch root ball includes a root system and hydraulically compactable mulch interspersed into the root system. The hydraulically compactable mulch is interspersed into the root system by soaking the root system in an aqueous mixture of water and mulch, then draining the water away from the root system to hydraulically compact the mulch into and around the root system.
US07726055B2
The invention relates to an electronic button tag for tagging and identifying cattle and other animals, of the type which is intended to be placed on one of the ears of the animal. The inventive button tag includes a transponder which is enclosed in a shell. The shell is made from two half-shells, namely a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell, which are assembled together at a median plane. The transponder is fixed in place, without compression. between the two half-shells using a glue; and the two half-shells are assembled by a laser weld.
US07726041B2
A ventilation sole for shoes is disclosed. The ventilation sole of the present invention has a vent hole (110), which is formed in a sidewall of the sole, an air supply hole, which is formed in the upper surface of the sole (100), and an air passage, which communicates the air supply hole with the vent hole, such that outside air is supplied into the shoe. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that a vent hole control device (200), which is opened or closed by a knocking operation, is installed in the vent hole (110) such that part thereof protrudes outside the sole (100), thus making it possible for a user to selectively open or close the vent hole (110), as necessary.
US07726037B1
A fence post centering assembly and method includes an elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A first head member and second head member are provided. Each of the first and second ends is removably engaged with one of the first and second head members. Each of the first and second head members includes a receiving slot. A first post is positionable in the receiving slot of the first head member and a second post is positioned in the receiving slot of the second head member to ensure a proper positioned between the first and second posts.
US07726023B2
In order to create titanium components with a titanium composite insert, a method is provided whereby an initial pre form 1 has a groove 2 formed in it. An encapsulating member 4 is then provided about the groove 2 in order to create a cavity 5 which is filled with titanium alloy powder 6. This titanium alloy powder 6 is densified and then accurately machined in order to create a groove insert form 7 which can accommodate a titanium composite material pre form insert 8 and further titanium alloy powder 9 such that through a high temperature isostatic pressing (HIP) process, the insert 8 is embedded. The original component form 1 can then be machined in order to create the final component elements such as aerofoils 13.
US07726017B2
A method and apparatus for electrically interfacing between two or more distinct environments. The method and apparatus are directed to an electrical feedthru with exterior traces traversing a core. The electrical feedthru may be very small, facilitating its use in MEMS devices. The electrical feedthru may also include an over-mold shaped to create a mechanical seal between the two or more distinct environments without the use of an O-ring. The electrical feedthru is not limited to any particular geometry, it may be adapted to fit between any two environments, and thus the traces are not necessarily parallel to a central axis of the core.
US07726013B2
A circuit board manufacturing method, including forming a transfer chip, the forming of the transfer chip including, forming a wiring above a first substrate, forming a plurality of first pad electrodes so as to be connected to the wiring and so as to be included in the transfer chip, and joining the transfer chip with a member such that the plurality of first pad electrodes contact the member.
US07726012B2
A component-mounting apparatus and a component-positioning unit for positioning a component, having a simple structure with reduced manufacturing cost and a significantly higher component-mounting speed. The component-mounting apparatus includes a holding device that holds a component and moves horizontally and a positioning device having a sloped portion for positioning the component held by the holding device when the component comes into contact with the sloped portion. The positioning device comprises a first rotatable roller member having a sloped side surface with which the component comes into contact; and the horizontal movement speed of the holding device substantially agrees with the horizontal component of the peripheral velocity of the first roller member, with which the component comes into contact.
US07726007B2
A method of manufacturing a winding includes steps of twisting U-shaped conductor segments, inserting straight portions of the twisted conductor segments in slots of a stator core, bending ends of the straight portions in a circumferential direction of the stator core and joining the ends. The method further includes a step of pressing turn portions of the U-shaped conductor segments by a turn portion twisting apparatus such that widths of the turn portions reduce in radial directions. The pressing step is performed simultaneously with the twisting step. Alternatively, the pressing step is performed after the twisting step.
US07725994B2
A plug (20) has a guide bar (24) to be inserter in a socket (30). The guide bar (24) has a to-be-held section (241) at a tip end thereof, a dent (244) at a middle portion thereof, and a sub to-be-held section (242) at a base end thereof. When making an engagement, the plug (20) is slanted relative to the socket (30), so that the guide bar (24) contacts contact points (P1), P2). When the plug has been inserted into a depth end of the socket, the to-be-held section (241) and the sub to-be-held section (242) are held by a holding section (342) and a sub holding section (343) of the socket (30), thereby stabilizing engagement posture.
US07725989B2
An exemplary dual-axis hinge mechanism includes a base seat, a first rotatable assembly and a second rotatable assembly. The first rotatable assembly includes a rotary member rotatably assembled in the base seat, a steady member and an elastic member non-rotatably received in the base seat, and a fastening member. The rotary member includes a rotational shaft configured for extending through the steady member, the elastic member, the base seat, and then engages with the fastening member. Each of the rotary member and the steady member defines an engaging surface. The engaging surfaces movably engage with each other. The fastening member is rotatable along the rotational shaft for adjusting an external force for rotating the rotary member. The second rotatable assembly includes a pivotal shaft fixed to the rotary member, and a bracket pivotally assembled on the pivotal shaft.
US07725971B2
A cleaning device for cleaning sidewalls of a liquid container. The cleaning device includes a cover that can be removably disposed over a flotation device. The cover has a lower cleaning portion that cleans the sidewalls of the container upon contact with the sidewalls. The cover also has an upper noncleaning portion.
US07725968B2
An ambulance cot is disclosed and the ambulance cot having a base frame configured for support on a surface, a litter frame configured for supporting thereon a patient and an elevating mechanism interconnecting the base frame and the litter frame and configured to interconnect the litter frame and the base frame in order to facilitate movement of the base frame and the litter frame toward and away from each other. A control mechanism is provided on the cot which is configured to facilitate the movement of the base frame and the litter frame toward each other and at differing speeds predicated on at least one of whether the base frame is supported on the surface and the litter frame is supported by an external support separate from the elevating mechanism.
US07725966B2
A temperature controlled stroller blanket for controlling the ambient temperature around a child in a stroller is disclosed. The blanket is configured to be placed beneath the child within the stroller compartment. The blanket is constructed with a plurality of sealable pockets. The pockets are sized to receive and hold temperature packs for producing heat or extracting heat (cooling). The blanket also preferably includes a plurality of slits configured to permit passage of the straps of the stroller harness system to secure the child in the stroller. The temperature packs act to warm or cool the ambient air around the child, creating a comfortable environment within the stroller compartment. Once the packs expire, they may be removed and recharged or replaced.
US07725962B1
A massaging sink pillow structure disclosed herein designed to be placed over the edge of a standard sink used by a barber or beautician for shampooing or rinsing hair. The sink pillow is a waterproof, saddle-shaped structure with a front section designed to be placed against the front outside surface of the sink and a rear section designed to be placed against the front, inside surface of the sink. The sink pillow includes an upper, U-shaped indented section designed to fit into the U-shaped opening on the sink. Mounted inside the sink pillow is a plurality of page motors aligned in rows that are selectively activated to massage the user's neck in one direction or in alternative directions from front-to-back and back-to-front directions when the user's neck is placed over the U-shaped indented section.
US07725954B2
An apparatus for retaining a pacifier within reach of a mouth of a child is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cord connected at both ends to a garment, wherein a first end of the cord is detachably coupled to the garment so as to allow the insertion of the cord into a pacifier ring when the first end of the cord is detached from the garment. The cord may be positioned horizontally across a chest area of the child's garment, such that a midpoint of the cord is located substantially on a midpoint of the garment. Further, the cord may be an elastic cord covered in an inelastic fabric. Also, the first end of the cord may be a piece of hook and loop fabric for coupling with a hook and loop fabric on the garment.
US07730545B2
Test access to an integrated circuit 2 is controlled by the use of test access enabling keys. A plurality of different test access enabling levels may be supported corresponding to different keys. The test access control may be performed by dedicated hardware or software executing a secure privilege mode.
US07730542B2
A method for anti-piracy protection of a software application by obfuscation of the execution of portions of the applications code is described. The method includes providing a language specification and library to implement the functions of the language, providing a compiler to translate the language into byte codes, and providing an interpreter to execute the byte codes using the library. The method further includes providing the language specifications, library, compiler, interpreter, and instructions to a software publisher, where the software publisher embeds the library and interpreter in the application to be protected, and selects and prepares application code segments for processing into byte codes by the compiler. The application is then executed using the embedded library and interpreter, where the execution of the application is obfuscated by the use of byte codes.
US07730533B1
A computer includes a filter module providing a standardized interface for intercepting file access requests. The computer also includes a cache manager that manages the caching mode used with the requests. An application on the computer issues a file access request and explicitly or implicitly specifies a cache hint informing the cache manager of a desired caching mode. A security scanner module scans files on the computer for malicious software. The security scanner module intercepts a file access request and alters the caching mode, if necessary, to one optimized for security scanning. The security scanner module performs the file scan using the optimal caching mode, and, if necessary, resets the caching mode to its original state.
US07730528B2
A data manipulation appliance can be installed or plugged into a computer network between business partners, and can perform many of the difficult and tedious data manipulation operations in a substantially automated manner. Examples of operations that can be performed by an embodiment of the apparatus include, but are not limited to, encryption, authentication, auditing, shaping data to a common intermediate format for exchange between partners, other auditing of data exchanges in transaction logs, filtering data for privacy compliance and risk management, error detection and correction, mapping internal non-standard data elements to external standard code sets, proxy and protocol re-writing, and so on. The appliance can be embedded with various tools to perform these operations, and therefore appears to be “intelligent.”
US07730525B2
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for limiting authorization of an executable action to an application session. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises: generating an alert in response to an execution of an action in an application; and allowing a user to temporarily authorize the execution of the action for a current session of the application. The authorization for the execution of the action is removed when the current session of the application ends.
US07730517B1
A method of transmission of digital information in a digital communication network, the network comprising at least one transport stream carrying one or more bouquet related tables such as BAT tables (53, 54) containing information regarding the services provided in a commercial bouquet and characterised in transmitting at least one table (51) comprising a list of bouquet identity values of some or all of the bouquet association tables together with an indication of the or each transport stream carrying that table or tables. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the table (51) containing a list of bouquet identity values may correspond to the Network Information Table of a network. The present invention also extends to the identification of any fixed PID, TID tables that may only be distinguished by their TID extension values. The present invention is particularly applicable to digital television systems conforming to the MPEG-2 and DVB proposed standards.
US07730515B1
The present invention relates to the demultiplexing of a digital data stream in a receiver so as to retain only those parts of the digital data stream required by the receiver. Such demultiplexing is particularly useful when applied to a receiver circuit in a television system having a digital set-top-box.A memory in the receiver stores packet identifiers of data packets required by the receiver, which are stored in the memory under the control of a first control circuit. A second control circuit extracts packet identifiers from incoming data packets in an input digital data stream. A third control circuit receives the extracted packet identifier and determines whether this matches one of the packet identifiers stored in the memory. A match signal is set by the third control circuit to the second control circuit responsive to a match. The second control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal.
US07730512B2
A system of distributing video and/or audio information employs digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The compressed and encoded audio and/or video information is sent over standard telephone, cable or satellite broadcast channels to a receiver specified by a subscriber of the service, preferably in less than real time, for later playback and optional recording on standard audio and/or video tape.
US07730510B1
Methods and systems for controlling entertainment systems are described. In accordance with one embodiment, one or more conditional directives are developed and injected from externally of an entertainment system into the system. The conditional directives direct the entertainment system to conditionally perform some action that is directed to enhancing the user's experience. Typically, the conditional directives come from an external third party. A conditional directive comprises one or more conditions and one or more actions. The conditions define conditions that are to be met before an action is performed. The actions define actions that are to be performed in the event that one or more associated conditions are met.
US07730508B2
A data transport device for transporting a data stream, the device including: a data stream processing unit for receiving an input data stream including a plurality of data items, performing processing in dependence on the content of the items and forming an output data stream including at least some of the data items; and a data item injection unit including a memory for storing a plurality of injection data items and associated with each injection data item an injection action, and an injection processor arranged to retrieve the injection action for each of the injection data items in turn and in dependence on the retrieved injection action to inject the associated injection data item into the output data stream.
US07730504B2
A disc cartridge is provided. The disc cartridge in which is housed an optical disc includes a main cartridge body unit, rotatably housing an optical disc, and having an aperture for a head part for exposing a part of the optical disc to outside across the inner and outer rims of the optical disc, and a shutter unit mounted for movement to this main cartridge body unit for opening/closing the aperture for the head part. A recess into which is introduced a portion of a head part of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is formed in continuation to the aperture for the head part in a surface of the main cartridge body unit on which slides a shutter unit in an area opposite to the area of movement of the shutter unit with the aperture for the head part in-between.
US07730497B2
The present invention provides a common interface among device drivers 5 operating in the kernel 8, for increasing data transfer speeds and improving data integrity. A common interface driver 7 is provided among device drivers 5, which control devices 6 connected to a computer. The common interface driver 7 operates in the kernel mode 8 and provides an interface with the application program 4. The common device driver 7 receives and analyzes commands from the application program 4 and outputs instructions to each of the device drivers 5.
US07730494B1
Service and network management events are correlated, enabling a user to correlate all the application and network events that stem from a common fault without requiring repeated and exhaustive capturing of detailed knowledge of the network assets, the topological relationships and all possible events.
US07730493B2
A technique for facilitating coordination of actions by multiple programs involves providing an execution environment for active objects. The execution environment may be an object space. Client programs may write active objects to the object space, which execute on behalf of the client programs. The client programs may obtain the results of the executed active objects, even if the client program is disconnected from the object space while the active object is executing.
US07730490B2
An image-forming apparatus configured to be controlled based on access-control information and to perform a flow which includes performance a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus based on flow setting information, where flow setting information designates an order of performance of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus. The image-forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire the access-control information based on a signature included in the flow setting information if the flow setting information includes the signature, and a flow-performing unit configured to perform the flow based on the access-control information acquired by the acquisition unit.
US07730479B2
In a cell-phone terminal for receiving an event and detecting an application corresponding to the event to notify and manage the event, a conflicting condition and a return priority are set to each of multiple applications in advance. On receiving the event making a request for activation of an application later in a status of having an application running in advance, an application management portion suspends the application based on a conflicting condition about the application, and stores return information on the application necessary to activate it again for each return priority in the case of operating the application. When the application is finished, the application management portion reads the return information in lowering order of the return priority and activates a corresponding application by using the return information.
US07730478B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for allowing access to developed applications via a multi-tenant on-demand database service, in a controlled environment. These mechanisms and methods for providing such access can enable embodiments to provide additional control over the development process as well as the access of such developed applications. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional control may lead to an improved application development framework, etc.
US07730471B2
A method, system and computer readable storage medium for storing instructions for processing COBOL language record description entries that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic are provided. The method includes providing COBOL language record description entries that specify data items that include a varying length characteristic and a plurality of subfields including a length subfield. The method further includes processing the COBOL language record description entries to create at least one of a compiled specification and compiled data. The subfields are treated as a single composite field, and the length subfield is automatically set to the appropriate corresponding value during processing.
US07730463B2
A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for automatically generating SIMD code. The method begins by analyzing data to be accessed by a targeted loop including at least one statement, where each statement has at least one memory reference, to determine if memory accesses are safe. If memory accesses are safe, the targeted loop is simdized. If not safe, it is determined if a scheme can be applied in which safety need not be guaranteed. If such a scheme can be applied, the targeted loop is simdized according to the scheme. If such a scheme cannot be applied, it is determined if padding is appropriate. If padding is appropriate, the data is padded and the targeted loop is simdized. If padding is not appropriate, non-simdized code is generated based on the targeted loop for handling boundary conditions, the targeted loop is simdized and combined with the non-simdized code.
US07730458B2
A system and method facilitating diagnostics support is provided. The system includes application(s) instrumented in accordance with a built-in diagnostics (BID) framework, and, trace component(s). The trace component can selectively employ none, some and/or substantially all of the trace point(s) associated with the application. The system can facilitate instrumentation of a managed data access stack, for example, to enhance supportability of the application.
US07730451B2
A method and system for accessing at debug time the source code used to create a binary. During or shortly after compilation, an extractor extracts the names of source code files used to create the binary, communicates with a version control server to obtain information that identifies the versions of source code files used to create the binary, and stores the information in the binary or in a file associated with the binary. At debug time, the information is retrieved and used to obtain copies of the source code files from the version control server. The copies of the source code files are placed in a directory where the debugger expects to find them. The debugger may then show the source code corresponding to the binary instructions of the binary during debugging.
US07730448B2
The subject disclosure pertains to layering of a plurality of type systems. A development environment and language compilers can support multiple data models and their type systems in the same program. Elements of a program such as expressions can then be associated with several types from the multiple type systems. Compilers can employ the information provided by additional type systems to improve static type checking. Furthermore, the information can be bubbled up to a user in a plurality of forms including but not limited to intelligent assistance, auto-completion, tool tips, error information, and return types to enhance the program development experience.
US07730445B2
A pattern data verification method for a semiconductor device, including extracting, from design data, design data corresponding to an edge portion of a mask pattern to obtain an edge portion of a pattern on a substrate to be processed, when the pattern is obtained on the substrate to be processed by using at least two masks each having the mask pattern corresponding to the design data, setting allowable errors with respect to the extracted design data and the design data which is not extracted, respectively, calculating a pattern formed on the substrate to be processed by using at least one mask by process simulation, and comparing an error between the pattern calculated by the simulation and the design data with the allowable error set for the design data.
US07730436B2
A simultaneous satisfiability algorithm, or SSAT, allows simultaneous checks to be made efficiently for a number of literals, x1, . . . ,xn whether x1 is true under any satisfying assignments of a formula (written in conjunctive normal form) built from the variables of these literals and other variables (or, equivalently whether x1 is a logical consequence of the formula). Thus, several related satisfiability checks are performed simultaneously in SSAT. Temporal induction algorithms allow the verification of the sequential behavior of finite state machines, e.g., hardware. Temporal induction algorithms may employ a SSAT solver to perform simultaneous model checking of several invariant (or safety) properties efficiently. These SSAT-based temporal induction algorithms are double-incremental, such that all learned clauses in the SSAT solver are re-used both across verified properties as well as across time frames.
US07730425B2
A function-oriented user interface presents users with selections related to what they want to do, rather than selections related to what tool they want to use. Functions may be dragged onto elements (data objects) or elements may be dragged onto functions to initiate activity. The elements themselves may present icons representing functions that are available such as adding a voice note or addressing to another person.
US07730421B2
A method for controlling a screen display system in vehicles is provided, including a setting element or actuator that can be arbitrarily operated, and information that can be displayed on a screen according to the setting of the setting element. According to the invention, the amount of image information contained in the image information is set by using the setting element. The method graphical displays a hierarchical menu structure consisting of menus, submenus, functions and/or a functional value. The assignment of different menu items to the amounts of image information assigned to the settings of the setting element ensues according to the frequency with which the respective menu item has been selected during preceding operations.
US07730399B2
A system and process for enabling programmatic access to the contents of documents containing electronic ink are described.
US07730396B2
A system and method that converts legacy and proprietary documents into extended mark-up language format which treats the conversion as transforming ordered trees of one schema and/or model into ordered trees of another schema and/or model. In embodiments, the tree transformers are coded using a learning method that decomposes the converting task into three components which include path re-labeling, structural composition and input tree traversal, each of which involves learning approaches. The transformation of an input tree into an output tree may involve decomposing the input document, labeling components in the input tree with valid labels or paths from a particular output schema, composing the labeled elements into the output tree with a valid structure, and finding such a traversal of the input tree that achieves the correct composition of the output tree and applies structural rules.
US07730395B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for transformation of an electronic document through learning transformation rules during training from the original electronic document using visual user feedback and applying the learned transformation rules to either the original electronic document or a second electronic document having a similar structure as the original document or all future instances of the original electronic document. Accordingly, the transformed document is customized to the user's preference learned during training. Preferably, the transformed document is created in a queriable form. For example, the original electronic document can be defined any type of mark-up language or electronic document generation language, such as Hypertext mark-up language (HTML), extended mark-up language (XML), portable data file (PDF) or Microsoft® Word, and the like and the transformed document is defined in a queriable language such as (XML) views and the like. For example, a virtual page can be a customization of an instance of a Web page which can be used to transform all future instances of the original Web page. Alternatively, the virtual page is formed form a customization of an original electronic document, such as a chapter in a book, which is applied to a second electronic document having a similar structure, such as all chapters in the book.
US07730388B2
An electronic paper file is generated from an enhanced metafile such that data may be converted from multiple applications with different data descriptions to a single electronic paper format having a particular data description. The enhanced metafile includes a series of individual records that provide a sequence of graphic instructions to render properties associated with objects in the document in an output format. The enhanced metafile is parsed into a series of state independent objects to generate an intermediary representation of the document. The objects and corresponding identifying information are temporarily stored in an object storage structure before using the objects to generate the electronic paper file. The object storage structure provides a stateless model of the enhanced metafile such that the objects may be randomly accessed and applied to any output format.
US07730387B2
A packet including data and a cyclic redundancy check code is encoded by using a selectable one of N scrambling codes (N>1). The encoded packet is transmitted and received, then decoded N times by using the N scrambling codes. The cyclic redundancy check code is used to decide which one of the N scrambling codes enabled the encoded packet to be decoded correctly, and the correctly decoded data are used. Packets with different formats, in particular with headers of different lengths, can be distinguished by the use of different scrambling codes, so that different formats can be employed without the need to transmit extra data to indicate which format has been used.
US07730368B2
Methods, systems and devices for testing flash memory dies are disclosed. According to some embodiments, during the post-wafer sort stage of device manufacture, a plurality of flash memory devices, each of which includes a flash controller die and at least one flash memory die associated with a common housing, are subjected to a testing process, for examples, a batch testing process or a mass testing process. During testing, a respective flash controller residing on a respective flash controller die executes at least one test program to test one or more respective flash memory dies of the respective flash device. A testing system including at least 100 of the flash memory devices and a mass-testing board is disclosed. Furthermore, flash memory devices where the flash controller is operative to test one or more of the flash memory dies are disclosed. Exemplary testing includes but is not limited to bad block testing.
US07730362B2
A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules is provided. The design comprises providing a media connection between software modules, wherein the software modules employ a communications protocol and participate in a bi-directional master-slave relationship between a master module and a slave module. The design further comprises sending arbitrary data between the master and slave modules, wherein the arbitrary data is used by the master module to control and obtain status from the slave module, and sending arbitrary data further enables the slave module to return data and status information to the master module. The design also employs a communications watchdog between the master and slave modules, wherein the communications watchdog monitors communications quality between the master and slave modules and impairs functionality in the master and slave modules when communications quality degrades. The bandwidth efficient communications protocol comprises bytes transmitted using a packet consisting of a start indication, a message identifier, an optional service identifier, a class identifier, an optional length of data pertinent to the medical device, a checksum, and a checksum complement.
US07730357B2
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an integrated memory system comprising at least a non-volatile memory and an automatic storage error corrector, and wherein the memory is connected to a controller by means of an interface bus. Advantageously, the system comprises in the memory circuit means, functionally independent, each being responsible for the correction of a predetermined storage error; at least one of said means generating a signal to ask a correction being external to the memory.
US07730352B2
Techniques and technologies are provided for testing network applications without communicating over a network layer communication link. For example, in one implementation, a system for testing network applications within a process is provided which includes at least one client user instance (CUI) module configured to execute in the process, a performance testing engine module (PTEM) configured to execute in the process, and a network application module configured to execute in the process. The CUI module has state information associated therewith. The PTEM includes a Request Driver Module (RDM) which generates information requests based on the state information received from the CUI. The network application module generates responses to the information requests.
US07730351B2
A method for dirty region logging of a file that includes receiving a request to open the file, determining each of a plurality of component files associated with the file, opening each of the plurality of component files, writing to a region of the at least one of the plurality component files, and updating a dirty region log (DRL) associated with the one of the plurality of component files to reflect the write to the region.
US07730348B2
A device records information in blocks having logical addresses at a physical address in a track on a record carrier. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, which includes defect entries indicating locations for replacing defective physical addresses. A read-only state of the record carrier is obtainable via a no-replacement state indicated by substantially none of the defect entries being free for use. The device has a read-only unit for setting the record carrier to the read-only state by reading original replacement information indicating a writable state, storing the original replacement information in a hidden area, and writing defect management information that is modified to the no-replacement state. The record carrier may be re-opened by retrieving the original replacement information from the hidden area.
US07730341B1
A system for transitioning from a first logical state to any second logical state of a plurality of logical states includes a first circuit. The first circuit is associated with a first clock domain. The first circuit includes a first state machine. The first state machine includes a plurality of logical states. Each of the plurality of logical states is associated with a plurality of physical states. A single state element in one of the plurality of physical states associated with a first logical state is modified to transition from the first logical state to any second logical state.
US07730339B2
A method and apparatus for communicating with a device is provided. A user views a graphical user interface displayed on a client. For example, the graphical user interface may correspond to a web page or a graphical user interface of an operating system. The graphical user interface may display an icon. The display of the icon may indicate, to the user, whether a device, associated with the icon, is in an energy-saving mode. The user may configure the icon to cause the client to issue requests to the device. A request, sent from the client to the device, may instruct the device to exit the energy-saving mode. In this way, the user may instruct a device to exit the energy-saving mode (i.e., to “wake-up”) prior to issuing a request for the performance of a service (such as a request to print an electronic document) to the device.
US07730327B2
Embodiments of methods, devices and/or systems for managing the encryption of data are described.
US07730316B1
Methods and computer program products for creating sketches of a document, which are compared with sketches of other documents, in order to determine the documents' degree of similarity. A sketch is a digest of information from random locations within a document. A document is divided into a set of shingles. Each shingle is converted into a set of fingerprints. A sketch is determined based on one bit fingerprints thus created. In order to create additional sketches of the document, a new set of fingerprints are created by randomization techniques.
US07730315B2
A cryptosystem has a secret based on an order of a group of points on a Jacobian of a curve. In certain embodiments, the cryptosystem is used to generate a product identifier corresponding to a particular product. The product identifier is generated by initially receiving a value associated with a copy (or copies) of a product. The received value is padded using a recognizable pattern, and the padded value is converted to a number represented by a particular number of bits. The number is then converted to an element of the Jacobian of the curve, and the element is then raised to a particular power. The result of raising the element to the particular power is then compressed and output as the product identifier. Subsequently, the encryption process can be reversed and the decrypted value used to indicate validity and/or authenticity of the product identifier.
US07730307B2
A secure system for authenticating the identity of ADS-B systems, including: an authenticator, including a unique id generator and a transmitter transmitting the unique id to one or more ADS-B transmitters; one or more ADS-B transmitters, including a receiver receiving the unique id, one or more secure processing stages merging the unique id with the ADS-B transmitter's identification, data and secret key and generating a secure code identification and a transmitter transmitting a response containing the secure code and ADSB transmitter's data to the authenticator; the authenticator including means for independently determining each ADS-B transmitter's secret key, a receiver receiving each ADS-B transmitter's response, one or more secure processing stages merging the unique id, ADS-B transmitter's identification and data and generating a secure code, and comparison processing comparing the authenticator-generated secure code and the ADS-B transmitter-generated secure code and providing an authentication signal based on the comparison result.
US07730300B2
According to one embodiment, a method for scrambling and descrambling program data comprises the receipt of a mating key generator message including a manufacturer identifier. The mating key generator message is transmitted to a first remote source identified by the manufacturer identifier. In response, a mating key is received from the first remote source. Then, the mating key is supplied to a second remote source, the mating key being subsequently used to encrypt a service key used for scrambling program data.
US07730288B2
A method and apparatus for executing instructions. The method includes receiving a first load instruction and a second load instruction. The method also includes issuing the first load instruction and the second load instruction to a cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit having at least a first execution pipeline and a second execution pipeline, wherein the second execution pipeline executes an instruction in a common issue group in a delayed manner relative to another instruction in the common issue group executed in the first execution pipeline. The method also includes accessing a cache by executing the first load instruction and the second load instruction. A delay between execution of the first load instruction and the second load instruction allows the cache to complete the access with the first load instruction before beginning the access with the second load instruction.
US07730287B2
Methods and software are presented for processing data in a programmable processor, involving (a) decoding instructions for execution using an execution unit operable to execute instructions by partitioning data stored in registers in a register file into multiple data elements, the instructions selected from an instruction set that includes group arithmetic instructions and group data handling instructions, (b) in response to decoding different group data handling instructions, executing group data handling operations that re-arrange data elements in different ways, and (c) in response to decoding different group arithmetic instructions, executing a plurality of different group floating-point and group integer arithmetic operations that each arithmetically operates on the multiple data elements stored in registers in the register file to produce a catenated result that is returned to a register in the register file, wherein the catenated result comprises a plurality of individual results.
US07730247B2
A bus of a SoC (system on chip) includes a system arbiter for controlling not only a command arbiter but also a read information arbiter, a write data control circuit, a write complete notice arbiter and the like. A sequential table containing a series of system operations including activation processing and application processing and an operation clock information circuit or the like that becomes effective when a SoC bus region is divided by an operation clock frequency are utilized in assignment of priority of buses of the system arbiter. Thus, the information transfer efficiency of the whole system bus and the information transfer efficiency of every transfer originator can be improved.
US07730245B2
A system for setting addresses includes a master device, a plurality of slave devices, and a bus. The master device includes a broadcasting module, a reading module, a responding module, an address assigning module, and a first judging module. Each slave device includes a performing module and a requesting module. The broadcasting module is configured to send messages to the slave devices. The performing module is configured to put the slave device be in an address setting mode. The reading module is configured to read a time assignment for each slave device from a timing module. The requesting module is configured to send an address request. The responding module is configured to respond to the address request. The address assigning module is configured to assign an address to the slave device. The first judging module is configured to check if all the time windows for the slave devices have elapsed.
US07730244B1
Command translation of burst commands is described. A slave processor local bus (“PLB”) bridge, part of a processor block core embedded in a host IC, has a data size threshold to allow access to a crossbar switch device. A master device, coupled to the slave PLB bridge, has any of a plurality of command bus widths. A burst command is issued via a command bus, having a command bus width of the plurality, from the master device for the slave PLB bridge. The burst command is converted to a native bus width of the slave processor logic block if the command bus width is not equal to the native bus width. The burst command is translated if execution of the burst command will exceed the data size threshold and passed without the translating if the execution of the burst command will not exceed the data size threshold.
US07730242B2
A communication converter includes: a first communication interface making capable of communicating with a medical control device through a predetermined communication cable; a second communication interface making capable of making a connection to a signal distribution unit which is provided in a housing device capable of housing one or more communication converters, and distributes a signal from the medical control device to each of the communication converters; a switch unit for switching communication lines to either a communication line through the first communication interface or a communication line through the second communication interface; a detection unit for detecting whether or not the signal distribution unit is connected to the second communication interface; a switch control unit for controlling the switch unit based on a detection result; and a third communication interface making capable of performing communications with a medical device.
US07730225B2
An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, application information indicating a type of each application program installed on the plurality of image forming apparatuses, an application selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of an application program corresponding to the acquired application information, a setting information selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of setting information used in the application program whose selection has been received, an apparatus selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of an image forming apparatus as a destination to which to transmit the setting information from among image forming apparatuses installed with the application program whose selection has been received, and a transmission control unit configured to control processing for transmitting, to the image forming apparatus whose selection has been received, the setting information whose selection has been received.
US07730221B2
A network controller with a bootable Host Bus Adapter, particularly suitable for iSCSI applications is described. In one example, this includes, a host bus interface, a register to the host bus indicating a mass storage device, a network interface, and a boot memory extension including a driver for the mass storage device that binds to a BIOS.
US07730214B2
A method and apparatus are provided for selecting an optimal communication path between an IB computer and a non-IB computer. All gateways that join the network multicast their presence on the network. The data associated with the multicast transmission are retained by each member of the network in the associated cache. The retained multicast data is leveraged to select an optimal transmission protocol between the host and target computers, and a gateway configured to support the selected transmission protocol.
US07730209B2
Various embodiments utilize information contained in a message, such as addressing and other information, to derive a unique identifier. The unique identifier is then used as a means to route an associated message to an appropriate component for processing. In at least some embodiments, the unique identifier is derived using hash-based techniques which are applied to various portions of the message header. Once the hash-based techniques have been used to produce the unique identifier, the unique identifier can be used in a look up process to look for the appropriate component to which the message is to be routed.
US07730208B2
An approach is provided for communicating in a meshed network including a first terminal and a second terminal. A request from the first terminal for obtaining address information of the second terminal is submitted to a hub. The hub generates a response including the address information and the context information that specifies capabilities of the second terminal. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network (e.g., Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network) that provides data communication services.
US07730207B2
Routing in a peer-to-peer network is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving at one of a plurality of nodes in a peer-to-peer network, an indication of a change in membership in the peer-to-peer network by another node in the peer-to-peer network. A report is broadcast that describes the change. The report is for receipt by each node referenced in a routing table included in the one node.
US07730205B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for sharing resources across a plurality of computing platforms. Firmware provided on each platform is loaded for operating system runtime availability. Shared resources are presented to operating systems running on the platforms as local resources, while in reality they are generally hosted by other platforms. An operating system resource access request is received by a requesting platform and rerouted to another platform that actually hosts a target resource used to service the resource access request. Global resource maps are employed to determine the appropriate host platforms. Communications between the platforms is enabled via an out-of-band (OOB) communication channel or network. A hidden execution mode is implemented to effectuate data rerouting via the OOB channel such that the method is performed in a manner that is transparent to operating systems running on the platforms. The shared resources include storage, input, and video devices. The method can be used to support shared KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) resources.
US07730201B1
A method and apparatus for communicating and utilizing control plane congestion information in a communication network that utilizes a source routed signaling protocol is presented. When control plane congestion is detected at a network element within the communication network, a congestion notification message is generated corresponding to the detected control plane congestion. The congestion notification is then provided to at least one additional network element within the communications network. The at least one additional network element can then utilize this knowledge of the congestion within the network to perform various network functions, including the routing a connection set-up message.
US07730190B2
Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.
US07730185B2
In a computer system including a set of resources for allocation to, and access by, a plurality of consumers, a method for allocating a resource to a requesting consumer comprising: calculating a suitability rating for each resource in the set of resources as a value in a range from least suitable to most suitable, the suitability rating being calculated from: a) a measure of recency of access to the resource; b) a measure of a number of times the resource has been accessed by a consumer other than the requesting consumer since a previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; and c) a measure of a number of times the resource is accessed by a different consumer since the previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; identifying a resource having a suitability rating which is closest to most suitable; and allocating the identified resource to the requesting consumer.
US07730181B2
Methods and systems of providing security backup services to a home network are described. In one embodiment, the gateway for a home network is registered with a service provider. A network device is enrolled with the home network, and periodically reenrolls. The device detects whether the gateway has been replaced between enrolling and reenrolling, and if it has been replaced, determines whether the new network gateway has been endorsed by the service provider.
US07730179B2
A system and method for policy-based registration of client devices is provided. Policy-based registration may use registration keys to register devices on a network. For example, registration keys may include policy assignments, folder assignments, group assignments, or other assignments for registering, identifying, and managing the device on the network. Devices can register one or more times (e.g., using one or more registration keys), resulting in the device being added to any number of folders and groups. Further, the policies may be used to control a registration process or to enforce registration rules. As such, administrators can construct folders or groups of devices with a set of keys, providing a consistent mechanism to easily register and manage a device.
US07730166B2
A system generates an executable process for execution by a concurrent computing environment, generates a configuration that specifies configurable properties of the concurrent computing environment, and initiates execution of the executable process, with the concurrent computing environment, to initiate configuration of the concurrent computing environment based on the configurable properties of the configuration.
US07730149B2
An interactive system and method for controlling access to a plurality of communications sessions involving a plurality of users including controlling access to a plurality of communications sessions, each of said communications sessions being for access by a plurality of users, wherein data identifying said plurality of communications sessions have been stored in association with data indicative of one or more characteristics thereof. The method includes receiving a request to initiate communications among members of a group of users, wherein said request includes data identifying the group of users, responsive to receiving said request, selecting a communications session on the basis of data identifying the group and at least some of said stored data indicative of characteristics of a given communications session, and transmitting messages to at least some members of the group. Each message has a message body including data providing access to the selected communications session and a destination address determined from data indicative of a given member of the group.
US07730148B1
An email archive system and associated techniques are described. Archived emails may be stored locally on a user's client computer in a local archive store. The email archive system and associated techniques may interact with an email message system and an email client application.
US07730138B2
Example embodiments provide for processing policies that include policy assertions associated with incoming or outgoing messages of an application in a distributed system, without having to have code within the application for executing the policy assertions. When a message is received by a Web service engine, a policy document associated with an application may be accessed for identifying objects corresponding to policy assertions within the policy document. The objects identified can then be used to generate assertion handlers, which are software entities that include executable code configured to determine if messages can satisfy requirements described by the policy assertions.
US07730123B1
A repository of services, a system for building a repository of services, a method of building a repository of services, a software application that interfaces with a services repository and various other embodiments associated with the repository are disclosed. The method relates to a method of building a repository of services using a target services roadmap. The method comprises receiving from a user an identification of an implemented service and zero or more target services and mapping the implemented service to the zero or more target services. The target services and/or mapped implemented services are added to the repository.
US07730117B2
A system for performing floating point arithmetic operations including an input register adapted for receiving an operand. The system also includes a mechanism for performing a shift or masking operation in response to determining that the operand is in an un-normalized format. The system also includes instructions for performing single precision incrementing of the operand in response to determining that the operand is single precision, that the operand requires the incrementing based on the results of a previous operation and that the previous operation did not perform the incrementing. The operand was created in the previous operation. The system further includes instructions for performing double precision incrementing of the operand in response to determining that the operand is double precision, that the operand requires the incrementing based on the results of the previous operation and that the previous operation did not perform the incrementing.
US07730116B2
A processor includes a multi-stage pipeline having a plurality of stages. Each stage is capable of receiving input values and providing output values. Each stage performs one of a plurality of data transformations using the input values to produce the output values. The data transformations collectively approximate at least one of: a discrete cosine transform and an inverse discrete cosine transform. The stages do not use any multipliers to perform the data transformations.
US07730102B2
A method and system for organizing nodes within a program tree. The system allows various child node categories to be defined for node types of a program tree. When a child node is added to a parent node, the system identifies the category of the child node. The system then instantiates a category data structure for the identified category. The system stores a reference to the instantiated category data structure in the parent node and stores a reference to the child node in the instantiated category data structure.
US07730095B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling transactions in accordance with role based security. A first transaction related component receives a transaction related message from a second transaction related component. The transaction related message indicates a request by the second transaction related component to perform a transaction related operation that is to involve the first transaction related component. The first transaction related component authenticates the second transaction related component. The first transaction related component refers to transaction control information indicating roles the second transaction component is permitted to assume relative to the first transaction related component. The transaction related operation indicated in the request is compared to the permitted roles for the second transaction related component. The transaction related operation is implemented in accordance with the results of the comparison.
US07730092B2
A system and a method for managing user and data profiles utilizing a web-enabled interactive database to organize, store and retrieve the information to create a consistent security model through centralized administration, are disclosed. The system captures various rules and pre-determined methodologies to provide on-line, up-to-date decisions to the users when users request access to a set of specific data or an application. The system further provides the capability to the user to request access to information that the user currently does not have access to, tracks the status of the request, obtains approval/disapproval decision from the data owner, implements the decision, and notifies requester within a reasonable time.
US07730074B1
A method for efficiently choosing optimal weights in a distributed manner may include optimizing weights in a predefined order while preventing or reducing the likelihood that interacting weights are concurrently optimized. In this manner, divergence and deadlock during optimization may be avoided.
US07730067B2
Database interaction is facilitated by graphically presenting database objects in groups that are not necessarily dictated by object types of the database objects. In an example implementation, database navigation is facilitated by determining object dependency groups for a database in which each object dependency group corresponds to a database source object and includes at least those database objects that depend directly or indirectly from the corresponding database source object. When these data source object-based dependency groups are graphically displayed, selecting a database object thereof provides access thereto. In another example implementation, a user can designate an attribute associated with database objects by which the database objects are to be grouped. Thus, the database objects are grouped by various values that the user-designated associated attribute takes. These designated attribute-based value-driven groups may also be graphically displayed to enable navigation of and access to the different database objects assigned to them.
US07730063B2
Methods, program storage devices and systems for developing a Personalized Medicine Service for an individual or group of individuals that can support the operation, customization and coordination of computer systems, software, products, services, data, entities and/or devices.
US07730062B2
Enabling text searching that accommodates a search criteria corresponding to a capitalization characteristic. One or more search terms are received, and a determination is made as to a capitalization characteristic of at least one search term. One or more documents are identified from a collection of documents. The identification is based at least in part on the determination of the capitalization characterization of the search term, so that the search result satisfies the criteria of the capitalization characteristic.
US07730057B2
Virtual solution architecture for computer data systems. In one aspect, providing an architecture for a computer data system includes creating a virtual solution architecture that includes a plurality of building blocks, each building block characterized by balanced operation, and mapping the virtual solution architecture to a physical solution architecture for the computer data system. Another aspect includes providing at least one balanced configuration unit (BCU) in a computer data system, the BCU including at least one balanced partition unit (BPU) that includes computer resources to provide balanced operation for the BPU.
US07730054B1
A system may obtain search results associated with a search performed using a search query. The system may modify the search results, if necessary, based at least in part on information associated with prior document accesses by a user and present the modified search results to the user. The modification of the search results might including adding, deleting, and/or reordering items in the search results. One or more advertisements relevant to the search query may also be presented to the user along with the modified search results.
US07730053B2
Method and computer system for logically evaluating a Boolean expression used in a query statement to optimize the query. The Boolean expression refers to an attribute and includes a plurality of conditions. The Boolean expression is received (410) and decomposed (420) into the plurality of conditions. For each condition at least one condition value referring to the attribute is extracted (421) from the condition. The at least one condition value is then inserted (422) into a condition value list in sorted order. A relationship vector of the at least one condition value is initialized (423). Then the relationship vectors of the at least one condition value and of each further condition value that is in the condition list and that is in the value range of the condition are adjusted (424). After having processed all conditions the Boolean expression may be reducing (430) according to each relationship vector.
US07730043B1
A system for incremental batch-mode editing of digital media objects includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores program instructions executable by the processors to implement a media management tool. The media management tool is configured to receive a batch request indicating a plurality of modification operations to be performed on a plurality of digital media objects, and to perform the modification operations in a particular sequence. After a particular modification operation is performed, the media management tool is configured to provide a representation of one or more digital media objects affected by the modification operation, and receive input or feedback pertaining to the modification operation. The input may, for example, indicate respective versions of one or more digital media objects on which the next modification operation in the particular sequence is to be performed.
US07730040B2
Embodiments of a feedback-driven malware detector are directed to protecting a computer from programs that perform actions that are malicious or not expected by a user. In one embodiment, the feedback-driven malware detector performs a method that initially determines whether the state of an application program scheduled to be added to an extensibility point on a computer is already known. If the state of the object is not already known, the user is informed that an application program is being installed on the computer and that the application program is being added to an extensibility point. Then, input is obtained from the user that assists in determining whether the application program is malware.
US07730039B2
Methods and systems for proactively processing errors in customs data transmitted to a customs broker are disclosed. A computer receives multiple sets of customs data from multiple importers, each set of data having its own format. The customs data are intercepted by the computer at a central processing division before the customs data are delivered to customs brokers from each of the importers. The computer converts the customs data to have a universal format, then processes the data to detect errors. Information about a detected errors, including correction data to resolve the error, may be transmitted to a customs broker before the customs broker detects the error in his own set of customs data received from the importer.
US07730038B1
A method for locating a resource involves maintaining a capacity object configured to store server information for a plurality of servers, transmitting a resource request from a client to an indirection server comprising the capacity object, selecting one of the plurality of servers to service the resource request using server associated with the capacity object to obtain a selected server, and redirecting the resource request from the indirection server to the selected server.
US07730036B2
Various embodiments of the present invention pertain to the organizing of digital content by events, so that retrieval of such digital content in a manner meaningful and logical to users is achieved. In this regard, an event may be defined at least by event boundaries, such as a span of time, a geographic area, an acquirer of digital content, or a subject of digital content. Digital content that can be deemed to accord with the event boundaries may be associated with the event and made available for access and retrieval.
US07730032B2
Efficient evaluation of resource version history queries is enabled by using a data container storing records corresponding to links between successive versions of a resource. The records include: (a) a record identifier, (b) a predecessor identifier, (c) a successor identifier, (d) a predecessor rowset, which comprises the record identifier of each record in which the predecessor identifier in this record is the successor identifier, and (e) a successor rowset, which comprises the record identifier of each record in which the successor identifier in this record is the predecessor identifier. Depending on the nature of a request, a record is identified in which a particular version is identified by either the predecessor identifier or the successor identifier. Either the predecessor or successor rowsets are recursively read, while the predecessor or successor identifiers corresponding to each record read are added to a result set, thereby forming the ancestor or descendant version history.
US07730027B2
A system and method for transforming data from a data source for use in a target application are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a user interface and a global data flow model representing a process of moving the data from the data source to the target application. The system further includes a graphical view generator that generates a local view of at least a portion of the global data model for the use interface. The local view is configured for manipulation by a user of the user interface. The system further includes a transformation engine configured to integrate a manipulated local view into the global data flow model. In one method, receiving data from a data source is received, and one or more entities associated with the data are determined, where each entity defines a storage structure. At least a portion of the one or more entities is selected for defining a storage structure of a target system, and a target storage is generated based on the at least portion of the one or more entities.
US07730025B1
A source document set including one or more source documents to be migrated from a source application package to a destination application package can be analyzed for migration issues. The migration issues can be reported to a user and/or resolved prior to migration by software. Software can also be provided for the extraction of a source macro from a source document, parsing of the source macro, mapping of specific source APIs to destination APIs and the generation of destination macro code.
US07730023B2
A computer-readable medium to direct a computer to function in a specified manner includes executable instructions to construct a strategy map characterizing a presumed causal link between a first business metric and a second business metric. A first pattern within data associated with the first business metric is identified; a second pattern within data associated with the second business metric is located. Any relationship between the first pattern and the second pattern is specified.
US07730022B2
The data processing system has an online transactional processing (OLTP) system for receiving of reporting data from work centers of a production line. The production line is logically divided into shop areas. At the exits of each shop area where an intermediate product is completed one reporting point serves as exit point in order to report the completion of an intermediate production step. This data is stored in the OLTP system and retrieved at a later point of time in order to generate a table containing aggregated intermediate product quantities per shop area. This table is transferred to a financial data server for calculation of the value of work in progress.
US07730016B2
Techniques for memory management or analysis with conservative garbage collectors is provided. The native stack is analyzed during runtime to identify within frames references to objects in the heap space. An amount of memory is calculated that represents the memory implicated by the reference. A log can be generated that conveys the frame, location of the reference in the frame and amount of memory implicated by the reference.
US07730014B2
An affiliation manager provides each of typically hundreds of users with a calendar of appointments and a task list each including icons for capturing time and expenses accrued by the user when attending a particular appointment or performing a particular task. A subset of collected captured time and expenses may be transferred to each requesting client for use by independent accounting systems. Management of appointments and tasks from a central database promotes collaboration among users, simplifies sharing of schedule information among users, and provides context for data entry. Each user may create any number of affiliations, each affiliation describing affiliations of the user in numerous projects, organizations, employments, and activities. Each user may admit other users to share his or her affiliations, thereby promoting collaboration of many users for jointly attending meetings and jointly performing tasks. Context permits automatic intuitive association of email, chat messages, notes, and documents to records for persons, locations, resources, appointments, tasks, and projects for integrated affiliation management services. Requests for queries and forms are interpreted according to the context in which the user issued the request. Requests are made via a common set of icons and links on each item of a list provided by a prior query.
US07730009B1
A system and methods for enhanced search are enabled by archetypes that improve the relevancy of the search arguments utilized, as well as the search results received, in response to a query. The system in preferred embodiments applies archetypes to several points within the total search process. The system receives and evaluates a query, and in response to that query may generate additional suggested areas for investigation, as embodied in additional queries, knowledge constructs, or other data items. The system generates additional search arguments, which may be multiple, and may relate the search arguments in a search structure. The system in some embodiments applies archetypes to improve filtering, ranking or otherwise prioritizing search results. The system in some embodiments applies archetypes to format search results. The system may be used in conjunction with a system to facilitate user thinking about an arbitrary problem.
US07730000B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for the online convex optimization problem, in which the decision maker has knowledge of the all past states and resulting cost functions for his previous choices and attempts to make a new choice that results in minimum regret. The method does not rely upon the structure of the cost function or the characterization of the states and takes advantage of the similarity between successive states to enable the method to converge to a reasonably optimal result.
US07729966B1
A telephone interface to an Internet payment processing system. The interface may be installed on equipment used to process a card transactions. When a request for authorization is initiated, the interface dials a telephone number and establishes a connection to a communications server. The interface creates a message comprising the transaction data that conforms to the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) and transmits it over the telephone line to the communications server. The communications server establishes a TCP/IP connection to a web server and the HTTP message is forwarded to the web server where transaction data is extracted from the HTTP message and formatted for submission to a card transaction processing network. The transaction is submitted and an authorization code approving or denying the request is returned from the network to the web server, to the communications server, and then to the merchant terminal using the telephone line.
US07729938B2
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
US07729936B2
A system and method for lot priority adjustment. The system includes a database, a calculation unit and an adjustment unit. The database stores at least a committed date for a lot, a throughput rate and a cycle time for respective route operations in a production line, and Work-In-Process (WIP) information of the production line. The calculation unit calculates an x-ratio for the lot on a target route operation according to a current time, the committed date and a remaining cycle time for the lot, calculates a lot weight for the lot according to current loading of a predetermined number of route operations subsequent to the target route operation, and calculates a weighted x-ratio according to the x-ratio and the lot weight. The adjustment unit adjusts a priority for the lot according to the weighted x-ratio.
US07729935B2
A workflow process management application (WPMA) for a specific organization is created via a web application that can be implemented using a web server front end and a database back end. An administrator user operates the application by using a built-in administrative function to create objects such as users, groups, departments, locations, acuities, activities, and skills. The administrator or another suitable user can then use a built-in defining function to finalize objects and create instances of the objects corresponding to the organization. Appropriate users can use the plan function to allocate specific users to specific departments to ensure that all activities are assigned an appropriate amount of workers having the appropriate skills. When (or after) the work is performed the actual workflow data can be electronically gathered (if possible), or manually entered. Reports can then be generated to show differences between the planned workflow and the actual workflow.
US07729932B2
A computer readable storage medium encoded with a project assessment program for assessing a project including a plurality of processes when executed by a computer computing forecasts of the project based on a set of information. At least one scheme by a user input is selected from a group of schemes including an estimation of mutual-correlation of estimated value pattern. Process planning information, up-to-date actual process information and forecast model information of each process included in the project is retrieved. The forecast model information of each process of the project is defined as probability distribution variations of a plurality of parameters of the processes, wherein the probability distribution variations are quantitative values of the project. Estimated values of variations in at least two parameters of the processes using the process planning information, the up-to-date actual process information and the forecast model information are computed.
US07729929B2
A method for dispensing medical items designated in a prescription, such as an electronic prescription, including providing the electronic prescription to a server, and the server providing the electronic prescription to a pharmacy or other agent that fills the prescription and provides the medical items to the patient. A consent statement is provided by the patient for permission to the pharmacy to receive and fill the prescription and for permission to the server to receive and forward the prescription. Secure communications are provided for key communications to establish trust of identity of the parties and entities.
US07729926B1
A system for backing up and restoring data operates by persistently storing or backing up data from a first medium to a second medium for subsequent access by a user. In one configuration, the backup process is performed at no monetary fee or charge to the user for backup, but only charges for restoration of data. The system receives a request to restore the data and obtains or calculates a restore cost to restore the data. The system identifies a set of restoration parameters associated with the data to be restored and computes the restore cost of the data based on the set of restoration parameters. The system receives an indication that payment of a restore cost has been made to restore the data and in response, performs a restoration operation on the data to restore the data for access by a user.
US07729920B2
Systems and methods are provided for processing and executing commands in automated systems. For example, command processing systems and methods are provided which can automatically determine, evaluate or otherwise predict consequences of execution of misrecognized or misinterpreted user commands in automated systems and thus prevent undesirable or dangerous consequences that can result from execution of misrecognized/misinterpreted commands.
US07729906B2
In a method (M) to detect a noise signal (PS1, PS2, PS3) in a digital audio signal (EAS), it is provided that the audio signal (EAS) is divided into successive signal sections (SAS), and the energy contents of successive signal sections (SAS) are determined, and the energy contents of a signal section (SAS) are evaluated in relation to an energy threshold (ET), and that the occurrence of at least one high-energy signal section having an energy content above the energy threshold (ET), and the occurrence of at least one signal section (SAS) preceding the at least one high-energy signal section and having an energy content below the energy threshold (ET), and the occurrence of at least one signal section (SAS) following the at least one high-energy signal section and having an energy content below the energy threshold (ET) are detected, and that a quantity of signal sections (SAS) that precede the at least one high-energy signal section and a quantity of high-energy signal sections and a quantity of signal sections (SAS) that follow the high-energy signal section are counted.
US07729905B2
A speech coding apparatus includes a base layer coder that codes an input signal and generates first coded information. A base layer decoder decodes the first coded information and generates a first decoded signal. The base layer decoder also generates long term prediction information comprising information representing long term correlation of speech or sound. An adder obtains a residual signal representing a difference between the input signal and the first decoded signal. An enhancement layer coder calculates a long term prediction coefficient using the residual signal obtained in the adder and a long term prediction signal fetched from a previous long term prediction signal sequence based on the long term prediction information. The enhancement layer coder further codes the long term prediction coefficient and generates second coded information.
US07729894B1
The present invention provides methods and systems for using a element in a graphical model to represent and identify a postcondition for use by a verification tool in verifying an executable form of the design represented by the graphical model. The postcondition element comprises desired result for verification without affecting the behavior of the design. The desired result is to be achieved or tested for in verifying the design. As such, the postcondition element of the present invention provides a mechanism and formalism in a model-based design approach that is used to direct automatically generated tests or verification of the design represented by the graphical model.
US07729893B2
Methods, media, and means for forming asynchronous logic networks are provided. In some embodiments, methods for forming an asynchronous logic network are provided. The methods include: receiving a logic network including vertices and signals, wherein the vertices include vertices with multiple output signals; determining a set of signals of the signals included in the logic network to be covered; selecting at least one vertex in the logic network to cover each signal in the set of signals; replacing the at least one selected vertex with a robust vertex; and replacing at least one non-selected vertex with a relaxed vertex.
US07729888B2
Provided is a method and system for signal-driven recovery of a digital pulse stream. The method includes receiving initial parameters including the base characteristics of a pulse signal, the characteristics including the maximum pulse interval. An incoming analog signal is converted to a digital signal and sampled a predetermined number of times at intervals greater than the maximum pulse interval to record a set of minimum signal values and a set of maximum signal values. Each set is averaged to provide an average minimum value and an average maximum value. Based on these values at least one threshold value is then determined, and the digital pulse stream is identified based on the threshold values. The method is repetitive, continually re-determining the threshold values so as to adapt to changes in the incoming signal. A system for performing the method is also provided.
US07729878B2
A probe card assembly, according to some embodiments of the invention, can comprise a tester interface configured to make electrical connections with a test controller, a plurality of electrically conductive probes disposed to contact terminals of an electronic device to be tested, and a plurality of electrically conductive data paths connecting the tester interface and the probes. At least one of the data paths can comprise an air bridge structure trace comprising an electrically conductive trace spaced away from an electrically conductive plate by a plurality of pylons.
US07729877B2
Verification of external interfaces of cores on system-on-chip (SOC) designs frequently entails the purchase of costly standardized software models to test the external interfaces. Typically, the standardized models provide more functionality than is needed. Instead of standardized models, test models may be developed and utilized, but this also incurs cost and delay. The present invention provides an efficient and economical alternative. A mirror interface, or copy of the external interface undergoing verification, is used with a standardized control mechanism to verify the external interface. Because all interface I/O connections can thereby be utilized, a cost-effective and highly reusable way of verifying such interfaces is provided.
US07729874B2
An HDMI cable carries high speed encoded data which are transmitted differentially over data channels, along with a clock. High-frequency loss and differential skew within a differential signal may be compensated by analog circuits embedded in the cable. These embedded circuits are tuned at production for best performance by observing the quality of the recovered analog signal. The embedded circuits are powered by a combination of power sources, both carried within the cable, and harvested from the high-speed signals themselves. Corresponding method and system for calibrating the cable are also provided.
US07729865B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for automated correlation of genetic test results. The method includes: receiving a first genetic test result from an individual's genetic history and receiving a second genetic test result for the individual. The method further includes determining based on result criteria if the second genetic test result should be identified as the primary genetic test result for the individual and, if so, identifying said second genetic test result as the primary genetic test result in the individual's genetic history.
US07729864B2
Methods, computer program products and systems for identifying cellular constituents in a secondary tissue that serve as surrogate markers for a target gene expressed in a primary tissue of a species are provided. A classifier is constructed using cellular constituent abundances of cellular constituents in a first plurality of cellular constituents measured in the secondary tissue in a population. This population comprises a first and second subgroup. The classifier is based on a second plurality of cellular constituents that comprises all or a portion of the first plurality of cellular constituents. Abundance levels of each cellular constituent in the second plurality of cellular constituents varies between the first and second subgroup. All or portion of the population is classified into a plurality of subtypes using the classifier. Then, one or more cellular constituents that can discriminate members of the population between a first subtype and a second subtype in the plurality of subtypes are identified.
US07729863B2
In one aspect, the invention provides methods for determining the contributions of canid populations to a canid genome. The methods comprise the steps of: (a) obtaining the identity of one or both alleles in a test canid genome for each of a set of markers; and (b) determining the contributions of canid populations to the test canid genome by comparing the alleles in the test canid genome to a database comprising canid population profiles, wherein each canid population profile comprises genotype information for the set of markers in the canid populations.
US07729862B2
A method of locating subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs includes acquiring seismic data, dividing the seismic data into time windows, applying a data transform to the seismic data having a plurality of components to obtain a smoothed frequency spectrum, selecting one or more local maxima and minima, determining a frequency product as a function of the maxima and minima in a form for display. Lower and higher ratio thresholds may be selected to further discriminate frequency product selection for display. A display or map of frequency products over a survey area may indicate the presence of subsurface fluid reservoirs.
US07729860B2
A method and system is provided for determining the value of an attribute of ambient energy at a drilling assembly at the bottom of a borehole. Ambient energy includes kinetic energy, hydraulic energy and thermal energy. Attributes include vibration frequency spectrum, pressure difference, and temperature difference. The method uses energy harvested by at least one energy-harvesting sensor to power the system. The system generates data signals from at least one energy-harvesting sensor at one or more locations along a downhole drilling assembly, and transmits data up the borehole.
US07729859B2
A driving assistance system for regulating an operation of a vehicle in a discrete manner according to different ranges of risk potentials associated with the vehicle, such that different risk potentials in different ranges are conveyed to the driver in a different and discrete manner. The system includes a device for calculating a risk potential associated with the vehicle, and a data processor for regulating an operation of the vehicle, such as a reaction force applied to the acceleration pedal, based on a control parameter assuming one of a plurality of values according to the calculated risk potential associated with the vehicle, wherein each of the values is assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of risk potentials.
US07729858B2
A travel safety apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus includes: a first detector detecting an object in a first detection area; a second detector detecting the object in a second detection area; a braking device decelerating the vehicle; an alarm device which outputs an alarm to an occupant of the vehicle; a third detector measuring the traveling state of the vehicle; a collision determination device which determines a possibility of a collision between the vehicle and the object based on the traveling state; and a controller which operates at least one of the braking device and the alarm device when there is the possibility of collision, wherein the controller changes at least one of operation timing of the alarm device, operation timing of the braking device, and deceleration degree made by the braking device in accordance with whether or not the first detector and the second detector detect the object.
US07729856B2
A method and a device for detecting objects in the blind spot of a vehicle are provided, which make it possible, through an adaptively decreased measuring time, to achieve a shorter response time for alerting a driver in the event of an imminent collision with an object in the blind spot. Due to the fact that the frequency and/or the width of a measuring signal is/are set as a function of the previously determined distance between the vehicle and the object, it is possible to increase the sampling rate proportional to the decrease in the distance between the vehicle and the object. This makes it possible to detect the closest object more rapidly, i.e., for the most relevant object for a potential collision to be evaluated, thereby generating an adequately early collision alert. The frequency of a measuring signal is preferably set reciprocally proportional to the determined distance between the vehicle and the object.
US07729855B2
Techniques are provided for displaying a route symbol with narrative driving directions. A route symbol for a particular maneuver may be used to represent the road to which the maneuver relates. For example, one type of a route symbol that may be used to represent a road may be an interstate route symbol that has substantially the same appearance (e.g., substantially the same or similar shape, and/or substantially the same coloration) as an interstate route sign used to mark the interstate itself. Another example of a type of a route symbol that represents a road is an highway route symbol that looks substantially the same as a highway route sign used to mark a state highway. A route symbol used for the display of a maneuver also may include route symbols that are related to the type of maneuver, such as the type of a turn, described by the maneuver.
US07729845B2
A fuel injection control device that prevents a misfire is provided. The fuel injection control device comprises: target injection amount determination means 3 for determining a target injection amount of each fuel injection, so that the amount of fuel to be supplied to a cylinder in one combustion cycle is supplied in a plurality of fuel injections; and fuel injection correction amount determination means 4 for determining a fuel correction amount of one combustion cycle, wherein the fuel injection correction amount determination means 4 distributes the correction amount among each fuel injection in accordance with the ratio of a target injection amount of each fuel injection in the cylinder.
US07729841B2
In a method and a device for predicting movement trajectories of a vehicle to prevent or reduce the consequences of an imminent collision, in which for predicting the movement trajectories, only those trajectories are considered for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the forces occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are within the range corresponding to the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road. Particularly for systems which provide an automatic braking and/or steering intervention for avoiding a collision or reducing the severity of a crash with another object, an automatic braking and/or steering intervention is carried out as a function of the pre-calculated movement trajectories.
US07729830B2
A vehicle control system includes a steering wheel, such as an steering wheel, an adjusting device, a sensor and a control unit. The steering wheel may be actuated by the hand of an operator to set a state variable of the vehicle. The adjusting device applies a force to the steering wheel. A sensor senses a variable representing a state variable of the vehicle and transmits a sensor signal to the control unit. The control unit determines a state variable of the current operating state of the vehicle. The control unit, depending on the current operating state of the vehicle, controls the adjusting device so that a predetermined force is applied to the steering wheel, in order to make the operator aware of an unsafe operating condition.
US07729826B2
A system and method for remotely monitoring the status of a hydrogen vehicle includes a data acquisition/communication module configured to receive a plurality of signals representing one or more status conditions associated with the vehicle. The data acquisition/communication module is further configured to report one or more of the status conditions to a computer remote from the vehicle. The system is further configured to receive one or more signals from the remote computer in response to the reported status condition wherein the received signal represents an action to be taken in response to the one or more status conditions. The data acquisition/communication module is also configured to initiate the action to be taken. A computer remote from the vehicle is configured to monitor the one or more status conditions reported by the data acquisition/communication module and determine if an action must be taken.
US07729821B2
When dot-sequential data indicating a temporal variation in position, speed, or acceleration is stored in a memory in an automated guided vehicle as it is, the capacity of the memory is insufficient and thus needs to be increased. A pattern is mounted in a stacker crane 1; the pattern is drawn by dot-sequential data indicating a temporal variation in acceleration (FIG. 2C), and corresponds to an instruction value provided to an actuator installed in the stacker crane 1. In this case, a curve function corresponding to an approximate expression for the dot-sequential data is derived in a form of a Fourier series having a finite number of terms and using time as an independent variable and the position, speed, or acceleration as a dependent variable. Data identifying the Fourier series, having a finite number of terms, is stored in a memory 5 mounted in the stacker crane 1.
US07729819B2
A track identification system for a plurality of locomotives moving on defined plurality of tracks of a railway network wherein the system consists of on board computers with track data and identifiable switching locations data and the parameters of movement of the locomotives along the said tracks, the computers receiving reference location signals of the locomotive from a global positioning system and different geographical locations of the locomotives and digitally map the determined geographical locations on the stored route and track data, the computers continuously monitoring the movement of the locomotives with reference to specific parameters to compute the angular velocity change profile to determine switching actions at the said switching locations and generate signals relative to the angular change profile relating to switching actions at the switching locations to determine the tracks on which the movement of each of the locomotives is occurring and the velocity of such movement.
US07729812B2
A system for providing field deployable electrical power distribution is provided. The system includes a plurality of power sources providing electrical power to meet the electrical needs of a field operations camp. The power sources include at least one regenerative fuel cell that is arranged to provide a electrical power when renewable energy sources are unavailable. Also provided is at least one generator and one regenerative fuel cell electrically connected to the plurality of loads. Also provided is a plurality of power converters, each of the plurality of power converters being electrically connected between the at least one generator and regenerative fuel cell and one of the plurality of loads. An arrangement is also included for providing a high availability battery charging station.
US07729810B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a power adjustment process. The process for power distribution regulation includes filtering data from electrical sensors to provide conditioned data representative of a portion of a power distribution grid and determining, by a controller and based in part on the conditioned data, when an increase or decrease in an output parameter from one regulator of a plurality of regulators in the power distribution grid will reduce system power consumption. The process also includes increasing or decreasing the associated output electrical parameter in response to the controller determining that such will reduce system power consumption.
US07729809B2
Systems, methods, and program product to calculate global energy utility targets and to model and determine an optimal solution for a non-thermodynamically constrained process or cluster of processes subject to non-thermodynamic constraints under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approaches, are provided. An exemplary system can utilize thermodynamic constraints exhibited in stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ΔTmini as optimization parameters, in addition to other process conditions degrees of freedom including the addition of new waste heat carrier streams to target for minimizing energy consumption of the non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery problem and to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in desired minimum energy consumption subject to the non-thermodynamic constraints.
US07729806B2
In an elevator control apparatus, a control apparatus main body includes a program storage portion for storing a program concerning operational control of an elevator and a processing portion for performing a plurality of calculation processings based on the program. Further, the control apparatus main body writes pieces of processed information corresponding to the calculation processings, respectively, into the RAM when the calculation processings are performed, and monitors whether or not a sequence of performance of the calculation processings is normal by reference to a pattern of the pieces of the processed information written into the RAM.
US07729803B2
A system for returning a robot to a charger includes: a homing signal transmitter, including at least first, second, and third signal transmitters, each adapted to be provided at a front side of the charger and to respectively transmit signals which are different from each other in at least one of a code and a transmission distance, and a fourth signal transmitter, adapted to be provided on at least one lateral side of the charger and to transmit a signal which is different from the signals of the first, second, and third transmitters in code; a homing signal receiver provided at the robot and to receive at least one signal transmitted from the homing signal transmitter; and a controller adapted to identify the at least one signal and to control the robot to return to the charger based at least in part on the at least one signal.
US07729799B2
Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for processing mailpiece information in a mail processing device using sorter application software. In one embodiment, a mail processing device uses the sorter application software to communicate with an identification code server. In this embodiment, different types of mail processing devices can use the common sorter application software to communicate with the same or different identification code servers.
US07729795B2
The present invention includes a method of verifying a Site-Dependent (S-D) wafer that includes receiving a first set of S-D wafers by one or more S-D processing elements in one or more processing subsystems, creating a first set of unverified S-D wafers by performing a first S-D creation procedure, establishing S-D wafer state data for each unverified S-D wafer, establishing a first set of evaluation wafers comprising a first number of the unverified S-D wafers, establishing first operational states for a plurality of S-D evaluation elements, determining a first number of available evaluation elements, establishing a first S-D transfer sequence, transferring the first set of S-D evaluation wafers to the first number of available evaluation elements in one or more evaluation subsystems and applying a first corrective action when the number of S-D evaluation wafers is greater than the first number of available evaluation elements.
US07729793B2
A system and method provides computer-assisted organization of workpieces to be processed in a production process, wherein the workpiece in question is subjected to at least one processing, preferably to a plurality of different processings. A workpiece position is assigned to each workpiece, and at least one, preferably several, workpiece positions are combined in a magazine. Each workpiece position includes a device for status determination of the respective workpiece position. A control unit is provided for controlling the individual workpiece positions, and a data-processing unit is provided, which communicates with the control unit and in which the information queried from the individual workpiece positions is processed and status data is generated.
US07729788B2
There is described a method and a device for positioning an element of a machine. A setpoint position variable is generated, said setpoint position variable is reduced by means of a limiting variable and a modified setpoint position variable which is forwarded as a setpoint variable to a controller for positioning the element is formed in this manner. An expected setpoint position variable is determined from the modified setpoint position variable, the braking distance of the element is determined from the expected setpoint position variable, and a braking process of the element is initiated if the braking distance matches a target position which is reduced by the expected setpoint position variable. An element of a machine can so be positioned with accuracy.
US07729782B2
A catheter used to deliver a medical electrical lead to a right atrium of a heart in close proximity to a His bundle. The catheter is adapted such that the distal tip confronts the His bundle generally perpendicularly. The catheter includes a proximal portion and a generally hook-shaped distal portion. The distal portion may include curves that direct the distal tip at an angle of over 180 degrees from the direction of the proximal portion.
US07729776B2
A telemetry system enabling radio frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device, or programmer, in which the RF circuitry is normally maintained in a powered down state in order to conserve power. At synchronized wakeup intervals, one of the devices designated as a master device powers up its RF transmitter to request a communications session, and the other device designated as a slave device powers up its RF transmitter to listen for the request. Telemetry is conducted using a far field or near field communication link.
US07729775B1
Psychophysical tests are administered to cochlear implant (CI) users to determine a spectral modulation transfer function (SMTF), the smallest detectable spectral contrast as a function of spectral modulation frequency, for each individual CI user. The determined SMTF for individual CI user is compared against a SMTF of a normal hearing person to determine the specific enhancements needed. A spectral contrast enhancement that best fits the needed enhancements for the individual CI user is selected, and a sound processing strategy is adjusted to provide customized spectral contrast enhancement for the individual CI user. The sound processing strategy implemented includes an outer hair cell model.
US07729774B1
Detachable shells on hearing system components are used to provide protection to the hearing system components, to be visually pleasing, to provide visibility and to increase system attachment stability, among other functions. The detachable shells allow the overall shape and appearance of the components to be changed, thereby complementing a variety of activities that constitute a hearing system user's unique lifestyle.
US07729759B2
Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.
US07729753B2
Systems and techniques relating to locating cardiac wave forms in a cardiac signal, and to detecting a physiological condition, such as ventricular fibrillation. In general, in one aspect, a machine-implemented method includes obtaining a sensed cardiac signal of an organism, the sensed cardiac signal comprising a time series x(t); applying a Hilbert (H) transform to the time series x(t) to obtain H(x(t)), wherein x(t) and H(x(t)) together forming a partial state space trajectory; determining a speed of trajectory, for the sensed cardiac signal, from the partial state space trajectory; and identifying physiological information concerning the organism based on a combination of first and second signal elements, the first signal element including a phase property or an amplitude property of the speed of trajectory, and the second signal element including an amplitude property of the partial state space trajectory.
US07729744B2
A patient's lesion is localized for the purpose of administering radiation treatment by obtaining a beam shape representation along one or more beam directions of a radiation treatment device. An image corresponding to the lesion is obtained from each beam direction, and the beam shape and image are fixed to a common coordinate system to facilitate alignment.
US07729738B2
A tissue penetrating catheter that is usable to advance a tissue penetrator from within a blood vessel, through the wall of the blood vessel to a target location. The catheter includes at least one stabilizing device thereon for stabilizing catheter prior to advancing the tissue penetrator. The tissue penetrator may extend through a lumen in the body of the catheter and project transversely through an exit port. The stabilizing device may be located closely adjacent to the exit port, or may surround the exit port. The stabilizing device may be one or more balloons, or other mechanical structure that is expandable into contact with the inner luminal wall of the blood vessel. Desirably, the exit port is forced into contact with the blood vessel wall to shorten the distance that the tissue penetrator projects from the catheter body to the target location. The catheter is particular useful for forming blood flow tracts between blood vessels, in particular in coronary revascularization procedures. Methods of utilizing such a catheter to bypass an arterial obstruction is also disclosed.
US07729723B2
A dual-mode mobile terminal, which can access synchronous and asynchronous mobile communication systems, includes a key input panel and a controller. The key input panel includes a call switching key for switching between calls from the two systems and a call end key for ending calls from the two systems. While the terminal performs communication of one call received from one of the two systems in a general communication mode over a communication channel currently established by the one system, the controller determines whether an incoming call is received from the other system. If the incoming call is received, the controller notifies the user of receipt of the incoming call. If the call switching key is pressed, the controller prepares a communication environment for communication of the incoming call, allowing the user to perform the communication of the incoming call while maintaining the currently established communication channel.
US07729722B2
A wireless communication device includes an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna system. The IC includes a baseband processing module, a network processing module, a calibration processing module, a receiver section and a transmitter section. The network processing module establishes a wireless communication protocol and operational parameters based on the wireless communication protocol. The calibration processing module generates RF receiver calibration information based on the operational parameters and RF receive feedback and generates RF transmitter calibration information based on the operational parameters and RF transmit feedback. The receiver section provides the RF receive feedback and converts an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream. The transmitter section provides the RF transmit feedback and converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna system provides the inbound RF signal to the receiver section and receives the outbound RF signal from the transmitter section.
US07729719B2
A telecommunications device comprises a transceiver (33); a radio link control entity (50); and, a radio link control (RLC) buffer memory (150). The transceiver (33) which enables the device to communicate over an air interface (32). The radio link control entity (50) forms uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) for transmission over the air interface (32) and receives downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) over the air interface (32). The radio link control (RLC) buffer memory (150) is configured to include a transmitter buffer for storing the uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) and a receiver buffer for storing the downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs). The radio link control entity includes RLC reconfiguration logic means (200) which reconfigures at least one of a size of a transmitter buffer window and a size of a receiver buffer window. In performing the reconfiguration, the RLC reconfiguration logic means implements a strategy for handling at least one of (1) downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) which are outside a new receiver buffer window; and (2) uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) which are either outside a new transmitter window or whose receipt by the radio access network has not been positively acknowledged.
US07729714B2
A method and system for reverse link transmit beam-forming. One method comprises using a plurality of antennas at an access terminal to wirelessly transmit signals to one or more base stations; receiving an input indicating a reverse link signal quality at the one or more base stations; and adjusting at least one of a gain and a phase of a signal to be transmitted on one or more antennas. The input may be a reverse power control (RPC) value sent from one or more base stations or a measurement of the closed-loop pilot transmit power.
US07729710B2
A method for filtering spam directed at mobile phones in a short message system (SMS). A short message includes message content, and both a mobile phone number and a first authentication code of a destination mobile phone. A second authentication code of the destination mobile phone is stored in a memory. The short message is received and the first authentication code and the second authentication code are extracted from the short message and the memory, respectively. If it is ascertained that the extracted first authentication code does not match the extracted second authentication code, then the short message is determined to be SMS spam and is prevented from being subsequently received by the destination mobile phone. Otherwise the short message is determined to not be SMS spam and is not prevented from being subsequently received by the destination mobile phone. An authentication apparatus within the SMS performs the method.
US07729709B1
A system and method is disclosed for promoting offered products and services to a plurality of mobile device users. The method generally comprises the steps of generating at least one general broadcast message directed to commercial offers of at least one provider (i.e., retailer) of the offered products and services. The general broadcast message is preferably broadcast from a central server over a prescribed geographic area. Responses from end users to the broadcast message are monitored at the central server to create profile information of the responding users for use in qualifying business relationships with the providers of said products and services. The responses may be further utilized to construct a market directed to inducing the providers of the offered products and services to purchase broadcast message blocks for future promotions. Establishment of such a market includes the establishment of pricing criteria based on user response rate statistics.
US07729702B2
A method and system are disclosed for controlling radio communications between a terminal (MS, TE) and a communications system (CN, GRAN). A communications connection between the system and the terminal is established by an active radio network controller (RNC) and an active base station (BS). In one embodiment, data communications within the communications connection is directed to the active radio controller by a second radio network controller.
US07729701B2
A method and system include de-keying a base station in a conventional TDMA communications system and staffing a timer in the base station when the base station de-keys. The method and system further include receiving a transmission from a mobile station and re-keying and repeating the transmission, if the transmission is received with proper synchronization before expiration of the timer.
US07729689B2
A mobile wireless device, such as a mobile wireless phone, is adapted based on a user's current abstracted contextual situation, where the context of a user is determined using devices enabled with near-field communication technology. Dynamic information of a user of a mobile device, such as the identity of his or her current environment, is determined using near-field communication, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. Static information regarding the user is also determined, where such static information can include the user's preferences regarding how the mobile device should adapt to certain environments. An abstracted contextual situation of the user is synthesized based on this dynamic and static information. One or more adaptation directives for the mobile device of the user are determined based on the user's abstracted contextual situation. The adaptation directives are implemented for the mobile device, without user interaction, or by instructing the user to appropriately configure the mobile device.
US07729680B2
A noise suppresser is provided which does not generate steady noise generated by a drop in the receiving field strength, pulse-type unsteady noise generated in a multipass environment and the like as well as musical noise due to excessive subtraction and the like.The noise suppresser (100) includes a field strength analysis unit (3) which analyzes change in a field strength d of a digital signal x, and a frame generation unit (1) which generates a frame made up of signal values accumulated within a range which does not exceed a predetermined threshold value when the analyzed field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value. Further, the noise suppresser (100) includes a noise estimation unit (4) which estimates a noise pattern |N|n′ mixed in the input signal x when the field strength has changed and exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and a noise suppression unit (5) which suppresses the noise included in the generated frame using the estimated noise pattern.
US07729679B1
In an apparatus, method, and system for reducing interference with an input signal to an FM receiver, a plurality of inputs are filtered by a first stage of filters. The outputs are received by an interference detector and further processed by a second filtering stage, an energy calculation stage, and a comparator stage. A switch, responsive to the outputs of the comparator stage, may output one of the first stage filter outputs based on a first set of comparator outputs and may output an interpolated value determined by the first stage filter outputs and based on a second set of comparator outputs.
US07729677B2
The invention relates to the field of wireless communications, more particularly to a method of and device for switching between antennae in communication with a diversity receiver, each of the antennae receiving signals transmitted from a single source. A packet from a transmitter is received by respective antenna communicating with a diversity receiver. The signal strength of the preamble of the packet received in a first antenna is sampled. If the signal strength is of sufficient magnitude to affect reliable reception, the associated antenna is selected for the duration of the packet transmission. If the signal strength is below a predetermined threshold the signal strength of the preamble of the packet received in a second antenna is sampled and compared to the sample associated with the first antenna. If the magnitude of the second sample is greater, the signal associated with the second antenna is selected. To determine the signal strength, the arithmetic average of the signal power over a given period of the preamble is used.
US07729664B2
During a telephony session, a determination is made on a mobile computing device that one or more designated conditions exist by which radio interference generated from the mobile computing device is to be reduced. In response, a power state of a set of one or more components of the mobile computing device is lowered. This reduces radio interference from those components. The set of components are ancillary to the mobile computing device's ability to maintain the telephony session, so that the telephony session is not affected by the reduction of power to the components.
US07729662B2
A method for radio communication in a wireless local area network including at least one transceiver equipped with an antenna with a controlled directivity pattern, according to which, in addition to the assignment in advance of the threshold value of communication quality H0 corresponding to the minimum pre-specified communication quality, the current value of communication quality Qcur is periodically determined based on the signal being received, the threshold value of the communication quality Hmax (corresponding to the pre-specified maximum communication quality) is also additionally assigned in advance. With the current value of communication quality Qcur being grater than or equal to the upper threshold value Hmax, the information exchange is continued, while with the current communication quality value Qcur being less than the upper threshold value Hmax, but greater than or equal to the lowest threshold value H0, the information exchange is also continued and the procedure for the optimization of antenna beam direction is carried out after a pre-specified time interval T.
US07729661B2
A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user's own apparatus, and the user's own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user's own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user's own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.
US07729660B2
A communication device able to share one antenna and in addition able to sufficiently exhibit characteristics of a function as a reader, writer and a card function, a non-contact type IC card provided with that, and an information apparatus, wherein the device has a first transmission circuit 220 having first and second output terminals and outputting a carrier from the first and second output terminals in a first mode; an antenna circuit 210 including a node ND210, an inductor 211 having one end connected to the node, and having the other end connected to the second output terminal of the first transmission circuit, and a capacitor 212 connected between the node and the first output terminal of the first transmission circuit; a second transmission circuit 230 connected to the node of the antenna circuit and outputting the transmission data in a second mode; at least one reception circuit 240 connected to the node of the antenna circuit and performing reception processing with respect to data received at the antenna circuit; and a circuit switch unit 280 forming the antenna circuit as a serial resonance circuit including the inductor and the capacitor in the first mode and forming the antenna circuit as a parallel resonance circuit including the inductor and the capacitor in the second mode.
US07729658B2
Reference dictionaries and data dictionaries are used in order to analyze data in data formats, which cannot be directly processed and which are communicated between geodesic units. These dictionaries are transmitted preferably in conjunction with the transmission of the data and they index analyzable data fields in data formats. When a geodesic unit receives a data format that cannot be directly processed, data fields, which can be analyzed by the reference dictionary, can be found and data fields, which cannot be analyzed by a data dictionary, can be utilized.
US07729651B2
A web cleaning system for a fuser system includes a web which is biased into contact with a rotating cylindrical member, such as a fuser roll, as the fuser roll is rotated about its axis of rotation. A lateral displacement system displaces the web, relative to the cylindrical member, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member. In this way, regions of the web which have become contaminated with collected toner are shifted laterally, thus avoiding oversaturation of the web.
US07729650B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrying member for carrying a first toner image; a second image carrying member for carrying a second toner image in a maximum amount, of the second toner image carried on the second image carrying member, larger than a maximum amount of the first image carried on the first image carrying member; a first transfer member for electrostatically transferring the first toner image onto a transfer medium in a first transfer nip formed by bringing the transfer medium into contact with the first image carrying member; and a second transfer member for electrostatically transferring the second toner image onto the transfer medium in a second transfer nip formed by bringing the transfer medium into contact with the second carrying member so that a length of the second transfer nip with respect to a movement direction of the second transfer member is longer than a length of the first transfer nip with respect to the movement direction.
US07729646B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of vibration members configured to vibrate a regulating member that regulates a developer layer thickness on a developer bearing member, and a control unit that can execute a vibration mode which vibrates the plurality of vibration members during different periods so that the plurality of vibration members do not vibrate simultaneously when an image is not being formed.
US07729645B2
A developer cartridge detachably mounted to a device main body includes a tubular cartridge main body that houses a developer and an extending portion that communicates with the cartridge main body, which extends from an end portion in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body. An outside shape of a section of the extending portion, along a direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, is smaller than that of the cartridge main body. A cartridge-side opening portion is provided at a side wall of the extending portion, and a cartridge-side shutter is provided at an outside of the side wall of the extending portion, which moves in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction along the side wall to thereby open and close the cartridge-side opening portion.
US07729644B2
A toner cartridge including a container body having a discharge opening. A drive transmitting member is fixedly coupled with the container body near the discharge opening. The drive transmitting member is sized and shaped to transmit rotational movement to the container body. A collar is moveably coupled along the container body, and the collar closes the discharge opening in a first position, and opens the discharge opening in a second position. The cartridge further includes, in one example, a biasing element sized and shaped to bias the collar toward the first position. In another example, the drive transmitting member includes at least one deflectable support member, and the deflectable support member includes a ramped drive element. The ramped drive element includes a first ramp face, a second ramp face, and at least one driving face. Optionally, the first and second ramp faces are sloped with respect to the support member.
US07729638B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that rotates; and a charging member that is provided opposingly to the image carrier, and that charges a surface of the image carrier, wherein a discharge inhibitor that suppresses a discharge in an axial end portion is interposed in a portion where the charging member is opposed to the image carrier.
US07729634B2
An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge have high-durability and stably form high quality images under long-term use without reducing image density even when concentration of discharge products at the surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor becomes uneven in a discharge region of a charging unit. The apparatus employs an image forming method and has a corona discharge type charging unit discharging in a non-contact manner, the photoconductor placed to face the charging unit and the outermost surface layer thereof contains a filler and an amine compound with a specific structure, and an airflow adjusting device which carries air taken from the outside of the apparatus to the vicinity of the charging unit or the photoconductor so that ozone concentration and unevenness thereof are maintained at an average of 30 ppm or less and 15 ppm or less respectively at the surface of the photoconductor in the discharge region.
US07729629B2
A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has: an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section.
US07729626B2
In order to conform a specific correction table to the characteristics of a liquid developer to be used, the specific correction table is created by calibrating a standard correction table stored in advance by using a viscosity property value of a liquid developer for calibration at a current temperature. A concentration adjustment is performed by comparing a measured viscosity property value with a target viscosity property value which is temperature-corrected based on the specific correction table. Further, the viscosity property value of a liquid developer is detected by measuring the current of a motor for stirring the liquid developer, where a no-load stirring current value is measured in the absence of a liquid developer, and one or both of a measured current value and target current value is corrected based thereon.
US07729623B2
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which comprises a cartridge having a toner therein to form an image and a controller to control the image forming unit to increase a density of the image to be formed, if it is determined that a standard of the cartridge does not meet a usage requirement.
US07729619B2
In order to enhance dispersion control, the apparatus includes a dispersion controller; a quality index generator generating a quality index representing a quality of an optical signal output from the dispersion controller; and a searching unit searching for an amount of dispersion control applying to the dispersion controller which amount optimizes the quality index, wherein the searching unit includes a splitting-half searching unit roughly searching, in a splitting half method, a range in which dispersion is controllable by the dispersion controller for an amount of dispersion control such that the quality index generated by the quality index generator becomes preferable, and a sweep searching unit thoroughly searching, by sweeping, a limited range based on the amount of dispersion searched by the splitting-half searching unit for an amount of dispersion control that optimizes the quality index generated by the quality index generator.
US07729603B2
A method and system for enhancing the resolution of a camera are disclosed. For example, a single lens can be placed at a predetermined position and the position of a lens assembly can be adjusted so as to enhance the resolution of the camera. The single lens can then be moved so as to effect focusing of the camera while the position of the lens assembly tends to maintain enhanced resolution thereof.
US07729599B2
A device and a method are provided for determining the after-run voltage of a direct current motor which is operated via cycled control. In normal operation the direct current motor is controlled via PWM control and a first specifiable pulse/no-pulse ratio. An evaluation unit is provided for determining an after-run voltage variable which is representative of the after-run voltage of the motor. Furthermore, for determining the after-run voltage variable the direct current motor is controlled via a specifiable, variable second pulse/no-pulse ratio.
US07729595B2
In the data structure for managing reproduction of text subtitle data, a text subtitle information area stores at least one text subtitle information segment. The text subtitle information segment is represented by a single PES packet of transport packets. In one embodiment, the text subtitle information segment includes an identifier identifying the text subtitle information segment as a text subtitle information segment and includes style information for text subtitle data.
US07729594B2
A buffer initially preloads a text subtitle stream recorded on a recording medium. The preloaded text subtitle stream includes a dialog style segment defining a group of region styles and a plurality of dialog presentation segments, each of which contains at least one region of dialog text. Each region of dialog text is linked to a selected one of the group of region styles defined in the dialog style segment. The dialog style segment and the plurality of dialog presentation segments are encapsulated in a plurality of PES packets, respectively. A text subtitle decoder decodes and presents each dialog presentation segment according to a continuous presentation flag included in each dialog presentation segment. The continuous presentation flag indicates whether continuous presentation is required for each dialog presentation segment with previous one.
US07729592B2
A method for managing the recording capacity of a recording device, independently of user involvement, comprising receiving (104, 154) data representing a plurality of recording modes of the recording device; identifying (114) one or more recording modes which may be used to record an item using the prevailing unreserved recording capacity; and arranging (128, 162) for the recording of the item using a recording mode selected (122, 160) based on a preference, the arrangement including, where necessary, adapting (120, 170) one or more pending or previously recorded items.
US07729579B1
An optical apparatus comprises an optical interconnect structure defining one or more optical source and receiver ports and one or more interconnect optical signal pathways connecting corresponding optical signal source and receiver ports. The optical interconnect structure comprises an optical waveguide defining a portion of each interconnect optical signal pathway. Each interconnect pathway includes a wavefront diffractive transformation region and a corresponding set of diffractive elements thereof. Each diffractive element set diffractively transforms a corresponding diffracted portion of an incident signal with a corresponding design input signal wavefront into an emergent signal with a corresponding design output signal wavefront. For at least one diffractive element set, only one of the corresponding design input or output signal wavefronts is confined in at least one transverse dimension by the optical waveguide, while the other design wavefront propagates without confinement by the optical waveguide.
US07729575B2
A variety of structures, methods, systems, and configuration scan support plasmons for routing.
US07729570B2
The photoelectric circuit board according to the present invention is a photoelectric circuit board, wherein a rigid portion where at least a conductor circuit and an insulating layer are formed and layered and one or more flex portions that are bendable are integrated, external connection portions for mounting an optical element and/or a package substrate on which an optical element is mounted are formed in above-described rigid portion, and an optical circuit is formed in at least one of above-described flex portions.
US07729568B2
The application relates to an optical device for enhancing the stress to be generated in a substrate in comparison with a conventional technique. To this end, the optical device includes a substrate having a photoelastic effect, a first stress layer formed on a first face of the substrate and having a pattern for generating stress which induces refraction index variation by the photoelastic effect in a partial region in the substrate, and a second stress layer formed on a second face which is a reverse face to the first face of the substrate and configured to generate stress for restoring the shape from the deformation caused by the stress generated in the substrate by the first stress layer in the substrate.
US07729557B2
The invention relates to a method for processing video data to be displayed on a display device having a plurality of luminous elements corresponding to the pixels of a video picture, wherein an error diffusion step is applied to at least a part of said video data to refine the grey scale portrayal of said video picture, said error diffusion step comprising, for each current pixel of said part of video picture, a step of truncating the value of the corresponding video data and a step of diffusing the truncation error to at least one neighboring pixel. According to the invention, a noise is inserted on the error before and/or after its diffusion to the neighbouring cells. Owing to this principle no static pattern should be visible, improving the overall picture quality.
US07729551B2
A method is disclosed for controlling the amount of compressed data. One or more viewing condition parameters are specified, and a quantizer step size for each frequency subband is determined that minimizes an amount of data that must be encoded for a compressed representation of the image by using one or more viewing condition parameters and a model that characterizes the human visual system. The image is compressed using the quantizer step size for each frequency subband to produce an amount of compressed data. The presence of a pre-specified maximum amount of compression data is determined. The amount of compressed data is compared to the pre-specified maximum amount. Subsequent discarding of least visually relevant compressed data reduces the amount of compressed data.
US07729547B2
An image forming apparatus and method capable of decompressing and compressing image data. More specifically, the apparatus and method include decompressing first compressed image data, processing the decompressed image data, selecting from among a plurality of quantization tables a quantization table providing a compression ratio lower than a compression ratio of the first compressed image data, and compressing the processed image data.
US07729543B2
In an imaging apparatus, a JPEG coding unit makes JPEG data by respectively compressing plural images obtained from an imaging device. A code retention unit retains each JPEG data. A thumbnail data creation unit creates a thumbnail from each of the images. A thumbnail retention unit retains the thumbnail. A feature point detection unit detects a feature point from the thumbnail. A partial image decode unit respectively decodes zones including the feature points from each JPEG data. A displacement amount calculation unit obtains positional information of feature points in the decoded individual zones and calculates a displacement amount of each JPEG data based on the positional information.
US07729540B2
A translation device has a translation processing unit that outputs character-area-character data by performing a translation process on the character-area-character data of an input image representing a figure-containing document, and outputting figure-area-character data by performing a translation process on the figure-area-character data of an input image representing a figure-containing document, a figure identification information searching unit that searches figure identification information used to identify a figure contained in a character area of the figure-containing-translation data, a linked page number searching unit that searches a page number in a character area of the figure-containing-translation data, a page number extracting unit that extracts a page number of a page included in figure area of figure identification information, and a page number rewriting unit that rewrites the searched page number linked to the figure identification information to the extracted page number of a page.
US07729539B2
A fast decoding technique for decoding a position of a bit in a pattern provided on a media surface that can generate large amounts of solution candidates quickly by switching or flipping bits and utilizing a recursion scheme. The fast decoding technique may be employed to simultaneously decode multiple dimensions of a pattern on the media surface.
US07729537B2
Editing of presegemented images/volumes with the multilabel random walker or graph cut segmentations
Presegmentation or prior, pre-existing segmentation of an object obtained through other means will be presented for interactive editing of a segmented object in an image or volume. Prior segmentation will be seamlessly combined with graph cuts or the random walker methods. Editing of the presegmentation is possible, while maintaining the important property of both methods that an arbitrary segmentation may be achieved with enough interaction.
US07729536B2
An edge detecting method detects edge segments by searching all of the search lines forming an image from an end of the image in a direction perpendicular to the edges. If a line whose edge segment cannot be detected exists, a search is made in all of the search lines from the vicinity of the center of the image toward the end of the image, whereby edge segments are detected. A linear edge is determined from edge segments. A plurality of edge candidates are obtained from the edge segments for all of the search lines, and an optimum candidate is selected from among the edge candidates. Ruled lines are extracted from the source document in the image, and an optimum candidate is selected based on a comparison with a ruled line. As a result, an edge of the source document can be detected with high accuracy even if an image on a background side is unstable, or if materials of the background and the source document are similar.
US07729535B2
Color characterization of a high dynamic range (HDR) image capture device is provided. Color checker image data of a color checker at multiple exposures is obtained. Color values for neutral patches and exposure values are extracted. A colorimetrically accurate response curve is determined based on the neutral patch color values and the exposure values. An optimized transformation associated with the device is derived through gamma curve compensation based on the neutral patch data and comparison of color values of the compensated image with known color values of the color checker. A calorimetrically accurate HDR image is generated from scene image data of a scene captured by the device at multiple exposures through extraction of exposure data, modification of color values based on the colorimetrically accurate response curve and the exposure data, averaging the modified color values, and transformation of the averaged color values based on the optimized transformation.
US07729520B2
Biometric writing system having a pen housing (3) for carrying out hand-guided movements on a substrate (4) at least one microphone (5), which is integrated in a housing (3), for acoustic recording of sound signals which are caused by the hand-guided movements; and a data processing unit (ii) for calculation of biometric data as a function of the recorded sound signals.
US07729519B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a pad button section and a switch board. The housing includes a cover member including an opening part. One of a first switch board on which a fingerprint authentication unit is mounted, and a second switch board on which no fingerprint authentication units are mounted is selectively adopted as the switch board. One of a first pad button section including a fingerprint authentication cover between buttons, and a second pad button section in which a pair of buttons are adjacent to each other is selectively adopted as the pad button section. The cover member is identical in shape between a case where the first pad button section is adopted and a case where the second pad button section is adopted.
US07729516B2
An image size changing section obtains a size changed image by changing the size of one of two original images captured by a pair of cameras. If an edge of an object has many oblique components, the edge is difficult to detect as a vertical edge but, when the image is horizontally reduced, an oblique edge becomes close to a vertical edge. For this reason, feature end points are extracted with reliability by a feature extracting section and, thereby, an object is recognized and the distance to the object is determined reliably.
US07729513B2
Two arbitrary points belonging to a single object in an image captured by an camera installed in a vehicle body are extracted as evaluation points, the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values of the extracted two points, which are taken in reference to an arbitrary coordinate axis set on the image, is calculated and a time differential value of the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values of the two points is determined. Based upon the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values and the time differential value, the length of time to elapse before the object containing the two extracted points contacts the vehicle body is calculated.
US07729512B2
A first image and a second image are obtained by sensing an image of a moving object from two different viewpoints using a first imaging device and a second imaging device. A plurality of feature points are detected from the first image. A disparity distribution representing a disparity for each feature point is obtained by performing stereo image processing using the first image and the second image. A threshold is determined for disparities in the disparity distribution. A feature point having a disparity exceeding the threshold in the disparity distribution is classified as an intra-moving-object feature point. An image area of the moving object in the first image is detected by using the intra-moving-object feature point.
US07729493B2
A handheld computer comprises a housing and a cover removably connected thereto by a universal hinge assembly. The universal hinge assembly includes a tubular member or arm having a proximal end fixedly (non-rotatably) secured to an edge of the cover and a distal end pivotally coupled to an edge of the cover. The pivotal coupling may comprise a ball and socket arrangement, a pin and slot arrangement, or any other type of coupling arrangement that enables universal pivoting movement and releasable attachment between the cover and the housing. The cover may include a cushion designed to abut a display screen mounted in the housing when the cover is in a closed position. A method of reconfiguring an encasement of a handheld computer having a cover releasably coupled thereto includes removing the first cover and replacing it with a second cover of a different type.
US07729491B2
A method and a device for amplifying a reception signal are provided, involving the adjustment of a gain by which the reception signal is amplified, in particular as a function of a signal level of the reception signal. For example, lowpass filtering with a variable cutoff frequency is used to filter out a gain-dependent frequency range of the reception signal, which may especially contain an undesirable echo signal. Such a method and such a device are suitable in particular for the reception of ADSL signals in a central office.
US07729490B2
The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When a communication associated with a transaction is terminated prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator. The special treatment includes: (a) maintaining, relative to other transactions, the assigned service priority for the transaction while the communication is disconnected and assigning the assigned service priority to a subsequent inbound communication from the transaction initiator; (b) scheduling a subsequent outbound communication to an external endpoint associated with the transaction initiator; (c) assigning to the transaction initiator a favored service priority when the subsequent inbound communication is received by the contact center; and (d) when, during the first communication, the transaction initiator selected at least one item as part of an electronic order and the first communication was terminated before the electronic order was completed, maintaining the item(s) in memory and providing the item(s) to the transaction initiator when the transaction initiator makes a further communication with the contact center.
US07729486B2
According to one embodiment, a private branch exchange includes a receiver which receives caller ID information divided into a plurality of packets, the caller ID information specifying a caller side telephone set, when receiving an incoming call, a measurement unit which measures an elapsed time after the receiver has received the packets, a reset unit which resets the elapsed time measured by the measurement unit when the receiver receives the packets, and a transmitter which transmits the packets received by the receiver to a private telephone set on an incoming call side, as caller ID information, when the elapsed time measured by the measurement unit exceeds a specified time.
US07729484B1
A method and system for network-based control over voice calling from a client telephony device. A client telephony device receives a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device and responsively sends to a controller, via a packet-data connection, a request for authorization to place the voice call. The client telephony device then receives from the controller, via the packet-data connection, a response to the request. And the client telephony device then sends to a network entity (e.g., a switch) a call origination request message seeking to initiate the voice call, only if the response from the controller indicates that the client telephony device is authorized to place the voice call. Further, the controller can also monitor a account balance for the client telephony device and direct the device to disconnect the call when the balance is exhausted.
US07729483B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for constructing a billing statement from detailed usage file (DUF) records received from an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC). A master file contains routing information associating each of a plurality of telephone numbering plan addresses plus additional telephone number digits (NPA-NXX) with a corresponding local access transport area (LATA). Telephone operator services (TOPS) assignment files are downloaded and used to edit the master file, thereby generating an enhanced master file. DUF records are downloaded. A set of enhanced DUF records is generated by filtering the downloaded DUF records. A rate table of customer price plans is applied to the set of enhanced DUF records and the enhanced master file to construct a billing statement.
US07729482B2
A method for providing communication protocol interoperability may include receiving a request from a first endpoint to establish a communication session with a second endpoint, the request uses a first communication protocol. The method also includes receiving a first response from the second endpoint, the first response uses a second communication protocol different than the first communication protocol. The method may also include initiating a timer for receiving a set of capabilities from the second endpoint and establishing the communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.
US07729476B2
An apparatus and method for testing integrity of a wired communication link includes receiving a plurality of signals, sent by at least one transmitter over the wired communications link, at corresponding multiple receivers. The signals have corresponding frequencies within a frequency range of the wired communication link, such that the frequencies are representative of the frequency range. A signal loss corresponding to each of the frequencies is measured, and an indication of whether each measured signal loss is within an acceptable range is provided. The wired communication link may be a coaxial cable.
US07729475B2
A radiation image capturing apparatus that includes a radiation conversion panel comprises an input device for inputting a first distance from the position of the panel to a position serving as a reference position for a subject, a distance measuring unit for measuring a second distance from the radiation source to the panel, a first radiation field calculating unit for determining a radiation field at the position of the panel based on setting information of the radiation source and the second distance, a second radiation field calculating unit for determining a hypothetical radiation field at the reference position of the subject based on the setting information of the radiation source, the first distance, and the second distance, and a life-size correcting unit for correcting the radiation image information from the panel based on the information of the calculated radiation field and the information of the calculated hypothetical radiation field.
US07729465B2
A system including asymmetric control of high-speed bidirectional signaling includes a slave device and a master device that is coupled to the slave device via a plurality of bidirectional data paths, for example. The master device may control data transfer between the master device and the slave device. More particularly, the master device may adaptively modify transmit characteristics subsequent to adaptively modifying receiver characteristics based upon information received from the slave device via one or more unidirectional data paths.
US07729464B2
An apparatus and method of aiding synchronization between a master transceiver and a slave transceiver is disclosed. The method includes the master transceiver transmitting data signals that are received by the slave transceiver. The slave transceiver locks a slave clock to the data signals with a slave phase-locked loop. The slave transceiver transmits slave clock information to the master transceiver.
US07729462B2
A system and method of performing re-synchronization for a Digital Video Broadcasting over Handheld (DVB-H) receiver comprises performing a time division multiplexing (TDM) data burst transmission sequence on bits of data received by the DVB-H receiver; performing a data bit re-synchronization sequence on the DVB-H receiver; and reducing a re-acquisition time at every stage of the data bit re-synchronization sequence, wherein the reducing process results in a reduction in the time to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver, wherein the reduction in the time to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver is greater than one-half of the time required to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver absent the reducing of the re-acquisition time at every stage of the data bit re-synchronization sequence.
US07729460B2
A method and a device of providing timing information within a wireless communication system is described. The timing information is extracted from a received transmit signal. The inventive method comprises the steps of providing a training signal on the receiver side relating to a known signal portion of the transmit signal, scaling the training signal, quantizing the scaled training signal, correlating one or more parts of the received transmit signal with the scaled training signal to obtain one or more correlation results, and determining the timing information on the basis of the correlation results.
US07729456B2
The present invention discloses a burst detection apparatus and method. The burst detection apparatus of the present invention comprises a power module, a soft-metric RMS module, and a quality determination module. The bust detection method comprises the following steps: At first, a reciprocal value of the received signal's power is calculated. Next, a RMS value of the soft-metrics according to the received signal is computed. At last, a product of the reciprocal value and the RMS value is compared with a given threshold value to generate a Boolean outcome as a quality determination decision. If the product of these values is lower than the given threshold value, it means the received signal is believed as noise; otherwise, it is believed as the real signal.
US07729450B2
A proposed spread spectrum signal receiver includes a radio front-end unit and a processing unit. The radio front-end unit, in turn, has an antenna, a digitizing circuit and a primary buffer unit. The antenna is adapted to receive radio signals (SHF) from a plurality of signal sources, and the digitizing circuit is adapted to downconvert and filter the received signals (SHF), and generate sample values (SBP-D) thereof. The primary buffer unit is adapted to temporarily store the sample values (SBP-D) from the digitizing circuit and allow the processing unit to read out a first set of stored sample values (SBP-D) contemporaneously with the storing of a second set of sample values (SBP-D) in the primary buffer unit. The processing unit is adapted to receive the sample values (SBP-D) from the primary buffer unit, and based thereon, produce position/time related data (DPT).
US07729449B2
A DSP tuner, which is equipped with an A/D converter and a digital signal processing part, is provided to the receiving parts of an in-vehicle equipment and a portable equipment that constitute an in-vehicle equipment remote control system. The A/D converter quantizes analog input signals received by receiving antennas and converts them into digital values. The digital signal processing part always appears, and removes as a noise a frequency band of which spectrum hardly change within a predetermined time period. Moreover, the digital signal processing part sets a frequency band with a comparatively large spectrum change as an FSK modulation signal corresponding to code contents, and outputs binary data corresponding to the frequency band as a code signal.
US07729447B2
A MIMO communication system implements an interleaver design with multiple encoders for more than two transmit antennas for high throughput WLAN communication systems. Multiple encoders are utilized in the transmitter and multiple decoders are utilized in the receiver, wherein each encoder operates at lower clock speed than would be necessary with a single encoder. In conjunction with using multiple encoders, a modified interleaving function for each spatial stream processing allows fully exploring the diversity gains. The provided interleaving function is suitable for transmitter architectures with multiple encoders. Similarly, a modified de-interleaving function is provided that is suitable for receiver architectures with multiple decoders.
US07729435B2
Detecting Null symbols in a video data frame comprises sending OFDM symbols through a sliding windowed correlation process having a correlation window length proportional to a cyclic prefix length and a delay equal to a FFT size of the symbols, wherein output peaks of the process occur where two similar portions of the symbols coincide; checking peaks in windows sized equal to a duration of a symbol; determining whether the peaks are located in the middle of the windows; determining whether a shift has occurred in the location of the peak of a current window compared to in a second immediately previous window; determining whether the peak in a first immediately previous window is weak compared to that in a second immediately previous window; and declaring that a Null symbol exists in the first previous window when the shift has occurred and the determination of a weak peak exists.
US07729425B2
An apparatus and method of detecting editing points of image data in order to select items of information that can be reused according to the status of the image data including the detected editing points is provided. Accordingly, an image processing apparatus may include a data converter for performing at least part of coding processing on the image data, a detector for detecting an editing point of the image data, and a controller for determining, based on the editing point detected by the detector. A reuse disable period is a period in which information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable.
US07729420B1
A technique for a reconditioning equalizer filter for OFDM and non-OFDM signals is described. The input to a transmitter chain is modified by a reconditioning equalizer filter, prior to being applied to the transmitter. The reconditioning equalizer filter modifies and smoothen the amplitude of the signal. The modified and smoothen signal has its peaks reduced which results to lower Crest Factor. The input to the reconditioning equalizer filter could be a baseband, an intermediate frequency (IF) or radio frequency (RF) signal. When the signal is an IF or RF signal it needs to be down converted to baseband before applied to reconditioning equalizer filter.
US07729417B2
There is disclosed a signal having a predefined quality criterion for use with a communication systems, a method of and a system for generating such a signal, a method of testing the operation of a communication system using such a signal and a (tele)communication system arranged for operation such a method. The method for generating the signal having a predefined quality the steps of: —representing a first signal comprising a plurality of frequency components each having spectral amplitude phase properties, and—processing the represented signal by arranging its spectral amplitude properties, and—processing the represented signal by arranging its spectral amplitude properties in accordance with the predefined quality criterion.
US07729411B2
A joint detector that improves the performance of receiving a downlink control channel signal for a near-end mobile terminal in the presence of a stronger control channel signal addressed to a far-end mobile terminal sharing the same OVSF, or channelization, code through the use of orthogonal signature sequences. Depending on the specific embodiment, the joint detector may produce the desired bits for the control signal of interest, or may produce detected bits for all control signals sharing the same OVSF code. The joint detector despreads and combines the received code-multiplexed signal, utilizing knowledge of the cross correlations of the set of signature sequences and time-varying channel coefficients to alleviate performance degradation caused by interference from other signals. In various embodiments, the joint detector may be implemented as a modified decorrelating detector, a modified MMSE detector, a modified LS estimator detector, a successive interference-canceling detector, or a jointly hypothesized detector.
US07729409B2
Apparatuses for achieving high bit densities in a direct-sequence CDMA spread spectrum communication system are disclosed. A table of orthogonal pseudo-noise codes is stored. This table is then partitioned into multiple codebook. Then, the codebook is assigned to a user. The pseudo-noise code contained within the codebooks are used to spread information signal. Information signal for a first user is spread by a pseudo-noise code contained within the codebook assigned to the first user. Multiple bits of information signal may be sent at a time by using the location of the pseudo-noise code within the codebook such that the value of the information signal corresponds the location of the pseudo-noise code within the codebook. The information signal is then despread by using the same pseudo-noise code.
US07729406B2
Detection of a process state change includes, in each of a number of filters having differing time constants, generating an estimated average process state from observed samples of the process. A number of state change decisions are generated by comparing each of the number of estimated process states with a respective one of a number of threshold values. It is then decided that the process has changed state if any one or more of the state change decisions indicates that the process has changed state.
US07729403B2
A pre-ionized medium created by a capillary discharge results in more efficient use of laser energy in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from ions. It extends the cutoff photon energy, and reduces the distortion of the laser pulse as it propagates down the waveguide. The observed enhancements result from a combination of reduced ionization energy loss and reduced ionization-induced defocusing of the driving laser as well as waveguiding of the driving laser pulse. The discharge plasma also provides a means to spectrally tune the harmonics by tailoring the initial level of ionization of the medium.
US07729402B2
A semiconductor laser assembly includes a substrate 10 having a first mount surface 10a and a second mount surface 10b, and a submount 3 which is mounted on the first mount surface 10a and which is separate from a monitoring photodiode 4. A laser diode 1 is mounted on the submount 3. The monitoring photodiode 4 is mounted on the second mount surface 10b, and an electrode 4a formed on the monitoring photodiode 4 is used as a relay electrode for a metal wire 5a connected to an upper-surface electrode of the laser diode 1.
US07729399B2
A laser driving circuit configured to drive a semiconductor laser diode, which is less susceptible to noise interference and capable of achieving the control of laser light intensity with high accuracy. Respective circuit components in the laser driving circuit such as an amplifier circuit, a sample hold circuit, a voltage-to-current converter, and a switching circuit are all integrated into an integrated circuit. A capacitor included in the sample hold circuit is further provided as built-in in the integrated circuit, which is previously attached externally. In addition, by changing the resistance of a resistor which is externally connected between the bias current setting terminal of the amplifier circuit and the ground potential by way of a terminal of the integrated circuit, the current outputting capability of the amplifier circuit can be variably adjusted through the adjustment of the charging time of the capacitor. As a result, the response speed of a feedback control loop for controlling the light intensity of laser diode can be increased with less noise interference and high accuracy.
US07729398B2
A high-power laser system includes a laser master oscillator, a plurality of fiber laser amplifiers producing intermediate output beamlets, a diffractive optical element for combining the intermediate beamlets into a combined output beam, and one or more error controllers for minimizing errors related to beam combination that may degrade the quality of the combined output beam. A piston error controller uses phase modulation to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique dither signal harmonically unrelated to those used for the other beamlets. For each intermediate beamlet, the associated piston error is recovered using a synchronous detector, and an error control signal proportional to the piston error is supplied to a phase modulator to control the piston error for that beamlet. A tilt error controller uses amplitude modulation based on Hadamard code words to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique code sequence orthogonal to those used for the other beamlets. For each intermediate beamlet, the associated tilt error is recovered using a Hadamard decoder, and an error control signal proportional to the tilt error is supplied to a beam steerer to control the tilt error for that beamlet.
US07729397B1
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an optical package comprises one or more semiconductor lasers coupled to a wavelength conversion device with adaptive optics. The optical package also comprises a package controller programmed to operate the semiconductor laser and the adaptive optics based on modulated feedback control signals supplied to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser and the adaptive optics. The wavelength control signal supplied to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser may be adjusted based on the modulated wavelength feedback control signal such that the response parameter of the wavelength conversion device is optimized. Similarly, the position control signals supplied to the adaptive optics may be adjusted based on the modulated feedback position control signals such that the response parameter of the wavelength conversion device is optimized.
US07729396B2
A laser diode device capable of obtaining high light efficiency and improving output by using an AlGaInN compound semiconductor as a material is provided. The laser diode device includes semiconductor layer which has an active layer and is made of a nitride Group III-V compound semiconductor containing at least one of aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), and indium (In) among Group 3B elements and nitrogen (N) among Group 5B elements. The active layer has a strip-shaped light emitting region whose width W is from 5 μm to 30 μm, length L is from 300 μm to 800 μm, and output of laser light from the active layer is 200 mW or more.
US07729393B2
A surface emitting laser (SEL) with an integrated absorber. A lower mirror and an output coupler define a laser cavity of the SEL. A monolithic gain structure positioned in the laser cavity includes a gain region and an absorber, wherein a saturation fluence of the absorber is less than a saturation fluence of the gain region.
US07729390B2
A transmit signal is spread by a plurality of spreading sections 103, 104, 105, and 106, using different spreading codes. A selection section 107 increases the number of spread signals to be output as the number of retransmissions increases. By this means, a retransmission signal spread by means of many spreading codes is code division multiplexed. As a result, retransmission signal error rate characteristics are improved on the receiving side by despreading this code division multiplexed signal using the same plurality of spreading codes as on the transmitting side, and selecting or combining the despreading results with the greatest correlation power thereamong. Also, since the degree of code multiplexing is increased proportionally as the number of retransmissions increases, retransmission signal error rate characteristics can be improved without lowering spectral efficiency unnecessarily.
US07729383B2
A multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention multiplexes a video ES and an audio ES to generate a transport stream TS, and includes a video buffer, an audio buffer, and a multiplexing unit. A multiplexing unit executes simulation of a buffer occupation necessary for a video ES upon decoding the TS, and controls multiplexing of the video ES not to cause overflow of a buffer based on the simulation result. In the simulation, a predetermined time Δt is divided by N ((main buffer leak rate/system clock frequency)×N (N is an integer)=integer), the remainder R is carried over to the next calculation, and a current main buffer leak data amount is calculated by integer arithmetic based on the integral quotient.
US07729373B2
A modified ranging request in a broadband communications system. The modified ranging request includes a header, a management message header attached to the header, a management message payload attached to the management message header, and a CRC attached to the management message payload. The management message header enables bandwidth requests to be made by subscriber equipment without contention. The management message header also includes state of health information on the status of a downstream transmission for enabling a central location to determine how to assign subscribers to queues in an adaptive modulation scheme.
US07729370B1
This invention relates to data networks, and more particularly, to platforms, modules and systems for networking at least one device having Fibre Channel node functionality with another device. Networking of Fibre Channel-enabled devices is provided by an apparatus that includes a circuit board having a first set of signal paths; a first transceiver having a first optical I/O port, a first transceiver output and a first transceiver input; a first I/O connection for coupling to a first Fibre Channel port and for receiving signals transmitted by the first transceiver output via a subset of the first set of signal paths; and a second I/O connection for coupling to a second Fibre Channel port and for receiving signals from the first Fibre Channel Port.
US07729369B1
A method and apparatus for managing packet memory is provided. The apparatus includes an empty list, a storage buffer and apparatus for updating the storage buffer and empty list. The empty list includes a multiplicity of single bit buffers. The storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of the contiguous buffers. The state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer. The updating apparatus stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.
US07729367B1
A system and method for implementing telephony devices in a distributed network environment is disclosed. The present invention provides for voice transmissions to be given a dedicated virtual local area network (“VLAN”) for packet transmission and reception to prevent poor quality of service. Non-voice data packets are transmitted on a separate VLAN.
US07729349B2
A method of transmitting data from a sender to a number of recipients in a system with a multilayer protocol architecture, in which the data are divided for organizational purposes into data packets having header data and payload data, a transmitting and/or receiving unit and a communication system. The transmission of data in the form of a point-to-multipoint transmission over a general channel, in particular in a mobile radio system, is carried out by adding to packet data which are being sent to multicast groups control data for the identification of a specific multicast group.
US07729346B2
Methods and apparatus for transparently switching a local instance of a UMTS protocol-based call from a first card or module of a media gateway to a second card or module of the media gateway, such that the remote end of the call is not aware that the call has been switched between the first and second cards or modules. Moreover, initially establishing call media flow may include implementing two timers of different duration during which call-initialization is retried if no Positive-Acknowledgement of call initialization is received, where a shorter-duration timer is relied upon to attempt retries if a Negative-Acknowledgement is received, and a longer-duration timer is relied upon to attempt retries if neither a Positive-Acknowledgement nor a Negative-Acknowledgement is received.
US07729341B2
A CPU of an IP telephone apparatus transmits, to an ENUM server, a message “Request the NAPTR record” corresponding to the destination terminal. The CPU also receives a message “Respond to the NAPTR information” in response to the message “Respond to the NAPTR record”. Further, the CPU automatically transmits, from a network I/F to the ENUM server, the request for the registration of information regarding the apparatus terminal when the switch is initially turned ON after the IP telephone apparatus is installed and connected to the IP network. The request for the registration is previously stored in a memory. The CPU also receives the message “Respond indicating completion of the registration” in response to the request for the registration.
US07729340B2
In conventional telephone services, methods of response to a call in cases where the destination caller cannot answer the call are limited, such as by playing back an answering machine message or transferring the call to another telephone system in a rigid manner. In such systems, there is no flexibility in choosing the manner of response depending on the situation of the destination caller. The example systems and methods described herein enable the response method to be automatically selected depending on user's current position information in an Internet telephone system in which voice data is transmitted and received via the Internet. The user registers response methods associated with network addresses in a database, and the user's current position is determined from the IP address.
US07729336B2
A bandwidth efficient and robust timing synchronization approach in an ad-hoc network is provided by a mobile ad-hoc network including at least one group of mobile nodes having at least one timing reference (TR) node. Mobile nodes include a controller and a wireless communications device cooperating therewith to generate and transmit timing synchronization beacons having a respective hop count indicating a number of hops to the at least one timing reference node, receive timing synchronization beacons from neighboring nodes, and synchronize node communication timing with neighboring nodes based upon the number of hops to the at least one timing reference node. The timing reference node may cooperate with the other mobile nodes based upon a timing source priority tree including levels defined by hop counts. The timing reference node is at a starting level of the timing source priority tree. The other nodes are at a higher level of the timing source priority tree than the starting level and correspond to the number of hops to the at least one timing reference node.
US07729332B2
A technique for processing data carried by a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) channel in a TDM network. A data stream associated with a TDM channel is monitored to determine if it contains data frames. If so, the channel associated with the data stream enters a clear channel mode which causes data in the data stream to be placed in packets for transfer over the packet network without being modified. Provided the data stream continues to carry data frames, the data stream stays in clear channel mode. After the data stream data no longer carries data frames, the channel exits clear channel mode.
US07729327B2
The particular status of a Multiple Network Interface Mobile Device (MID) is identified and particular problems associated with that status are addressed by activating different modes of operation depending upon whether the MID is stationary or in motion. In particular, when the mobile device is in motion, the multiple network interfaces are used to prevent packet loss, and when the mobile device becomes stationary, the multiple network interfaces are used to enhance bandwidth to achieve superior Quality of Service (QoS). MIDs thus are allowed to utilize multiple interfaces simultaneously for bandwidth incremental increases if the mobile device is stationary. MIDs also are allowed to utilize multiple interfaces simultaneously for packet loss recovery and smooth and seamless transitioning from one interface to another when the mobile device is in motion.
US07729325B2
A system and method that addresses the issue of inducing and exploiting multi-user diversity in, e.g., a WLAN system in a fully distributed and opportunistic manner. In some embodiments, the system includes: an access point having a variable beamformer configured to fluctuate signal strength as perceived by stations within a range of the access point; and a plurality of stations having modified distributed-MAC protocol such as to be channel-aware and opportunistic.
US07729323B2
Method for isochronous data packet transport over a wireless network, comprising the steps of: collecting a plurality of isochronous data packets at a service specific convergence sub-layer of a wireless source device; posting said plurality of isochronous data packets as a whole to a common part convergence sub-layer of the wireless source device, wherein said plurality of isochronous data packets posted to the common part convergence sub-layer corresponds to the amount of isochronous data packets generated by a transmitter over a 2 ms period.
US07729322B2
An HDLC accelerator includes a deframer and framer to respectively accelerate the deframing and framing processes for PPP packets. The deframer includes an input interface unit, a detection unit, a conversion unit, and an output interface unit. The input interface unit receives a packet of data to be deframed. The detection unit evaluates each data byte to detect for special bytes (e.g., flag, escape, and invalid bytes). The conversion unit deframes the received data by removing flag and escape bytes, “un-escaping” the data byte following each escape byte, providing a header word for each flag byte, and checking each deframed packet based on a frame check sequence (FCS) value associated with the packet. The output interface unit provides deframed data and may further perform byte alignment in providing the deframed data. A state control unit provides control signals indicative of specific tasks to be performed for deframing.
US07729317B2
An antenna diversity receiver has a low-IF receiving mode and a diversity selection mode, and a switch arrangement for coupling one of the antennas to the IF channels when in the receiving mode, and coupling each of the channels to a different one of the antennas in the selection mode. A diversity controller compares qualities of signals received simultaneously from the different antennas during the selection mode, and controls the switch arrangement in the receiving mode, to use the better antenna. The quality measurement is carried out during reception of a carrier before a preamble to a desired signal is received, so that there is more time to obtain a better signal quality measurement and to enable better averaging over time. The channels have a polyphase filter with switchable cross coupling between the channels, so that it acts as two independent low pass filters in the selection mode.
US07729314B2
Methods and apparatus for preventing an IP address from being assigned to a client implementing a protocol such as DHCP are disclosed. This is particularly useful in an environment such as a Mobile IP environment in which a network device (e.g., Access Point) performs proxy registration on behalf of the client. When the client transmits a detection packet to detect whether its IP address is still valid (e.g., whether it is on the same sub-network on which the IP address was allocated), a response is transmitted to the client that indicates that the client is still on its home network. This response is transmitted regardless of whether the client is still on its home network. Since the client believes it is still on its home network, a new IP address will not be assigned to the client. As a result, an existing Mobile IP session will not be interrupted.
US07729309B2
A transmission area is specified flexibly in accordance with the contents of a flow. An area identification number (SHOG) is specified for each interlaced stream of wireless base stations. The same flow is sent at the same timing (or substantially at the same timing) in the interlaced stream specified for the same SHOG. A wireless terminal determines a neighbor sector or a neighbor wireless base station sending the same flow, in accordance with information given from the wireless base stations, and receives and combines the flows.
