US08029592B2
A diesel particulate filter assembly configured to be incorporated into an exhaust treatment device, the diesel filter assembly comprising: a ceramic media disposed about a center support defining an outlet flow path; a pair of end supports secured to the center support and the ceramic media; and an end cone secured to one of the pair of end supports.
US08029587B2
A strainer provided in a refrigerant piping of an air conditioning device through which refrigerant flows includes a cylindrical shell disposed in the refrigerant piping, a cage type filter which includes an opening at one end and a bottom at the other end facing with each other relative to the flowing direction of the refrigerant and a meshed circumferential portion for allowing the refrigerant to pass through, but preventing sludge to pass through an annular passage provided between an outer circumferential portion of the filter and an inner circumferential portion of the cylindrical shell for the refrigerant to flow through and a leading pipe inserted into the refrigerant piping for letting the refrigerant and sludge and having an opening disposed in the cylindrical shell adjacent and opposing to the bottom of the filter and an inner circumferential wall along which sludge flows.
US08029579B2
Provided herein are blends oils or fatty acids comprising more than 50% medium chain fatty acids, or the fatty acid alkyl esters thereof, and having low melting points. Such blends are useful as a fuel or as a starting material for the production of, for example, a biodiesel. Also provided genetically altered or modified plants, modified such that the amount of medium chain fatty acids generated by the plant are increased. Further provided is a method of predicting the melting point of a blend of fatty acid methyl esters and the use of such a method for identifying blends suitable for use as, for example, a biodiesel.
US08029573B2
Methods and apparatus of the present invention provide for orthopedic total replacement of the hip while substantially preserving muscles and soft tissues around the hip joint resulting in reduced healing time and decreased risk of dislocation following the procedure. In an exemplary embodiment, the acetabulum is prepared and fitted with a prosthetic acetabular cup 702 and a prosthetic femoral head 1102 is fitted into the prosthetic acetabular cup 702. An intramedullary rod 1502 is inserted longitudinally into the femur. A prosthetic femoral neck 3102 is then inserted from a point along the side of the patient's body and into the side of the femur and through a pre-existing lateral bore in the intramedullary rod 1502 and through the remainder of the femur to join the prosthetic femoral head 1102. The methods and apparatus include structures and techniques for fixing the prosthetic femoral neck 3102 in relation to the intramedullary rod 1502.
US08029572B2
Methods, systems and devices for preventing prosthetic articulating surfaces from separating from each other. A containment system according to one embodiment seeks to prevent an implant stem head from dislocating from a prosthetic component while providing an increased range of motion over conventional constrained components. In one embodiment, an implant structural member includes a cavity and an opening having a lip, including a web along a portion of the lip. An implant stem head has a cooperating surface that corresponds with the web, so that when the cooperating surface of the implant stem head is aligned with the web, the head may be inserted into the implant structural member. The implant stem head is then rotated and the femoral stem component attached, thereby preventing dislocation of the head.
US08029570B2
Permanent magnets are implanted in bone to unload compressive forces at joints using the repulsive force therebetween. A porous metal container is implanted first and becomes fixed in place by bone growth. The permanent magnet is then inserted in the container and retained in place. A magnet prescription system includes a display and input device which enables a user to alter parameters such as magnet size, strength and placement and calculate and display the repulsive force that will result.
US08029565B2
The invention is directed to two minimally invasive therapeutic procedures, particularly for patients with congestive heart failure, and devices and systems for such procedures. One procedure involves providing a valved passageway through the patient's left ventricular wall at the apex of the patient's heart and advancing instruments through the valved passageway to connect the valve leaflets of the patient's heart valve, e.g. the mitral valve, in a “Bow-Tie” configuration to prevent or minimize regurgitation through the valve. The second procedure involves advancing a pacing lead and a pacing lead implanting device through a trocar in the patient's chest and implanting the pacing lead on an exposed epicardial region of the patient's heart wall. The pacing lead has a penetrating electrode which is secured within the heart wall. One or both procedures may be performed on a patient with CHF.Improved devices for these procedures include a minimally invasive grasping device having an inner lumen for advancing connecting members and other instruments through the device to the distal end thereof. Other improved devices include a pacing lead implant instrument which is releasably secured by its distal end to the exposed heart wall to facilitate penetration of the pacing lead electrode into the heart wall. Other improved instruments include a leaflet connector with an artificial cordae tendenae strand secured to an end of the leaflet connector.
US08029560B2
Described are methods, devices, and systems for occluding or ablating vascular vessels. Noninvasive procedures can be used to occlude and obliterate the greater saphenous vein, for example in the treatment of varicose vein condition caused by venous valve insufficiency. Further described is the cooperative use of an angiogenic remodelable material with one or more sclerosing agents to cause closure of a targeted bodily vessel.
US08029552B2
The cranium fixation device (1) includes a cranium clamp (2) having a first clamping element and a second clamping element (3, 4) and also a rod (5), with the rod (5) extending from the first clamping element and ending in an end portion (5d). The second clamping element (4) is displaceably arranged in the direction of extent (53) of the rod (5). A hand actuatable applicator (7) is provided and has a holding part (7a) and a thrust part (7b). The holding part (7a) and the thrust part (7b) are connected to one another via a connection part (7c). The end portion (5d) of the bar (5) is held by the holding part (7a) and the thrust part (7b) is arranged such that it can exert a force on the second clamping element (4) directed towards the first clamping element (3). The connection part (7c) extends partly spaced from the rod (5) such that a displacement of the connection part (7c) towards the rod (5) increases the distance between the holding part (7a) and the thrust part (7b) in order to thereby displace the second clamping part (4) via the thrust part (7b) acting thereon in the direction of the first clamping element (3).
US08029546B2
Connector assemblies are provided to couple an elongate member extending along the spinal column to a bone engaging implant engaged to the spinal column. The connector assembly includes a coupler having an implant coupling portion and an elongate member coupling portion. The positioning and orientation of the coupler relative to the implant and elongate member can be adjusted to facilitate engagement of the connector assembly between the implant and elongate member.
US08029540B2
Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.
US08029537B2
A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor. The method includes forming a borehole in the first tissue; threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions; attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor.
US08029533B2
An apparatus for sealing a puncture includes a positioning member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a puncture, an expandable element on the distal end, and a tension indicator on the proximal end. The tension indicator includes a distal housing portion fixed relative to the proximal end, and a proximal housing portion or handle movable proximally relative to the distal housing portion. The handle is biased towards the distal housing portion such that, when sufficient tensile force is applied between the expandable element and the handle, the handle moves away from the distal housing portion. During use, the distal end is introduced through a puncture into a vessel, the expandable element is expanded, and the positioning member is partially withdrawn until the expanded element contacts a wall of the vessel and the handle separates from the distal housing portion, indicating that sufficient tension is applied.
US08029529B1
A vessel filter including a plurality of struts forming a first collapsible cone expanding radially outward in a proximal direction and a second collapsible cone expanding radially outward in a distal direction. A slidable member is disposed over the plurality of struts to collapse the struts toward a longitudinal axis of the vessel filter.
US08029525B2
An arrangement comprises a puncturing instrument including a cylindrical box, a plurality of puncturing needles held in an axially serially connected state, a locking member for locking the puncturing needle cartridge at an axial predetermined position, and an elastic urging member urging the puncturing needle cartridge in one direction, and a puncturing needle replacing jig which allows the setting of a puncturing position for the puncturing needle cartridge and the discarding of used puncturing needles, in order to enter into a subsequent puncturing action after the puncturing of the puncturing needle. Thus, it is an object to provide, in an instrument for puncturing the surface of a living body, a highly safe puncturing instrument set having a plurality of puncturing needles, capable of continuous puncturing action by a simple operation.
US08029520B2
A method for performing trans-anal resection is achieved by applying a first stitch about the rectum, wherein deep bites of the first stitch capture and fold a rectum wall, creating a longitudinal staple line in the rectal wall at a position adjacent the first stitch, positioning a curved surgical stapler instrument in the rectum for capturing the rectal wall held by the first stitch, firing the surgical stapler instrument creating a circumferential first staple line approximately along the arc defined by the first stitch, and repeating the procedure about the circumference of the rectum until a predetermined portion of the rectum is fully resected.
US08029506B2
A bone treatment device comprises a shaft having a tubular wall, a lumen extending within the tubular wall, openings through the tubular wall, and anchoring elements adjacent the openings that can be deployed out of the openings in the presence of an actuating force within the shaft lumen. The bone treatment device may further comprise an actuator configured to be received within the shaft lumen to deploy the anchoring elements out of the openings.
US08029491B2
Method and apparatus for preventing air embolisms during surgical procedures which involves providing a fluid source in communication with an aperture extending into an anatomical cavity such that fluid may be delivered into the cavity when a condition of negative pressure exists in the cavity, thereby preventing the introduction of air into the cavity.
US08029481B2
A catheter enables measuring and approximating its distal end position within the body to facilitate catheter insertion and improve accuracy and control. By wrapping a long infusion catheter with an outer coating, the catheter can be guided into a vein or vessel by pulling on the outer coating and forcing its separation in a Y-shaped separation housing anchored close to the insertion point. Since there is no need for a guidewire or stylet and the outer coating acts as a sterile peel package, the catheter can be placed while infusing and maintain its own closed sterile environment during insertion.
US08029480B2
An injection volume regulating device for liquid medicine, including a fixing member, a regulating member, a passage recess-sealing member, an outflow hole-sealing member, and a fastening member. The fixing member includes an inlet connected to a medicine supply hose, an inflow hole to deliver the medicine to the regulating device, an outflow hole to be supplied with the medicine from the regulating member, an outlet to discharge the medicine to the hose to allow the medicine to be supplied to a needle, and an insertion hole to be equipped with the fastening member. The regulating member includes a passage recess that is connected to the inflow hole, a liquid medicine-delivering groove connected to the outflow hole, and an insertion hole to be equipped with the fastening member. The passage recess-sealing member communicates the inflow hole with the passage recess. The fastening member fastens the fixing member to the regulating member.
US08029479B2
An intravenous bandage having a first component defining an adhesive area for attaching the intravenous bandage to a patient and a second component secured to the first component so as to define a port pocket therebetween for providing stability and sterility to a catheter lumen.
US08029474B2
The present invention relates to a trocar for laparoscopic surgery for performing the laparoscopic surgery through a surgical instrument by making a puncture in the abdomen of a patient, the trocar including: a head unit 10 including an upper case 11 and a lower cover 12; a base unit 20 including a lower case 24 having a trocar sleeve fixing protrusion 21 in a lower part thereof and a coupling member 25 installed at an upper surface thereof; a trocar sleeve 17 installed at the trocar sleeve fixing protrusion 21; a lip valve 60 installed within the head unit 10 and having a tapered lower part; an insertion unit 30 installed at the upper part of the lip valve 60; a button unit 40 including a button 41 elastically installed at an elastic bush 43; and a trocar needle 50 introduced into the trocar sleeve 17 through the lip valve 60 or the insertion unit 30.
US08029450B2
A compression device for applying compression treatment to a part of a wearer's body includes bladder material defining at least one inflatable bladder and a breathable wicking layer connected to the bladder. A plurality of openings extend through the bladder material to the wicking layer. A breathable outer cover overlies the bladder. In use, the wicking layer wicks moisture from the wearer's skin and heat and the moisture is allowed to dissipate through the device through the wicking layer, the openings and the breathable outer cover. A garment includes a sheet of mesh material formed with loops for use in a hook and loop fastener.
US08029444B2
A method is disclosed for estimating tissue velocity vectors and oriented strain from ultrasonic diagnostic imaging data. Reference points are defined from evaluation of image data derived from reflected ultrasonic beams in order to determine the direction of motion and the velocity vector of the reference points. The velocity of motion for corresponding reference points between two successive image frames is determined by applying a particle image velocimetry technique. Components of the tissue strain is then obtained from time integration of the strain-rate that is determined from the gradient of velocity estimated from the velocity data in two or more reference points.
US08029441B2
Method and system for providing analyte sensor alignment and retention mechanism for improved connectivity with a transmitter unit for electrical connection, and further including transmitter unit contact pins with metal components to improve electrical conductivity with the analyte sensor in an analyte monitoring and management system is provided.
US08029438B2
An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject; an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion; an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits; a first hydrophilic portion that is film-formed at least on a surface of the optical member; a second hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a first surface of the distal end portion in which the optical member is disposed; and a third hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a second surface separate from the first surface of the distal end portion.
US08029437B2
An endoscope has a tubular shaft whose interior contains components, in particular lenses, spacers, diaphragms, prisms and filters of an optical system, said components being at least partially surrounded by a support piece made of shrunk material. It is proposed that the components be surrounded by a transparent and tube-sleeve-shaped shrunk material which has been shrunk before the components are introduced into the tubular shaft.
US08029436B2
A power supply apparatus supplies power to a body-insertable apparatus from outside a subject. The body-insertable apparatus is introduced into the subject and obtains intra-subject information. The power supply apparatus includes a first electric cable which is wound around a circumferential surface of a garment and forms a coil, the garment covering the subject, the coil having a non-directionality at a time of power supply; and a power supply unit which supplies power to the body-insertable apparatus in a contactless manner through the coil.
US08029433B2
A tunneling device is provided to assist in passing a suture or tape into a body. The tunneling device includes an outer assembly and an inner member or stylet, having a light transmissive distal tip, positioned within the outer assembly. The outer assembly is provided with a light port or guide to transmit light towards the distal tip of the stylet. The disclosed illuminated tunneling device is particularly adapted for use in an Intravaginal Slingplasty procedure. The illuminated tunneling device can be provided with an external source of light or may include an integral self-contained source of light. Additionally, a light guide, or light tube, may be formed integral with the outer tubular member or may be provided as a separate element.
US08029426B2
Disclosed is a mat for exercise. The mat comprises a main mat having a foot hanger for a sit-up at a top surface of one side thereof and a plurality of grooves at a bottom surface of both lateral sides thereof, a plurality of sub-mats coupled with the main mat in use, and a plurality of attachment plates installed at corners of a bottom surface of the main mat and corners of bottom surfaces of the sub-mats, wherein the main mat is provided with female fabric hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro) tapes mounted at the grooves thereof, and the sub-mat is provided with male fabric hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro) tapes that laterally protrude corresponding to the grooves of the main mat.
US08029422B2
A martial arts striking device and method of use that overcomes the relatively hard force impact and resistance disadvantages of all prior striking devices for martial arts, boxing, and physical fitness by allowing visibly targeted “non-force impact” (meaning relatively less forceful impact) striking at relatively “non-resistant contact” targets to enhance speed and power while using less effort. Said striking targets can be substantial in size and made of a lightweight flexible material or fabric that reacts with a spontaneous refresh rate when struck, thereby simulating a live opponent. Said striking targets can be easily suspended from a variety of existing structures or specially produced frames and supports to form familiar punching bag shapes, enclosures, or to simulate being surrounded by multiple opponents. In contrast to prior art objects, said striking device is light in weight, easier to mount, noiseless when used, and suitable for safe home use.
US08029394B2
An inflatable game ball containing a noise suppression device and a method for inflating the game ball are described. More particularly, a free standing, noise suppression disk is fit snuggly within a central area of the hollow internal cavity formed by the bladder of the game ball. The diameter of the noise suppression disk is slightly larger than the diameter of the hollow internal cavity of the ball, while the thickness of the disk is sufficient to provide necessary rigidity to the game ball noise suppressor without adding excess weight to the ball. An exact amount of SF6 is pre-filled in the balls, when combined with subsequent air, is determined to create the ultimate SF6 to air ratio range at various altitude levels. Subsequently, the balls are only partially inflated at the time of manufacture with the SF6 gas, and no air.
US08029392B2
An expandable broadhead and blades therefor that are configured to break or fracture upon contact with bone or the like to reduce the size of the blade and improve broadhead penetration.
US08029390B2
A reinforced lacrosse head having improved strength can include the following frame elements: a pair of opposing sidewalls each having a top end and a bottom end, a scoop extending between the sidewalls, a base extending between the bottom ends of the sidewalls, and a throat extending from the base for attachment to a lacrosse handle. The head can include at least one reinforcement member that is located at least partially in a frame element. The frame element can be constructed from two or more parts that are sonic welded or hot plate welded together around at least a portion of the reinforcement member. Methods of sonic welding or hot plate welding components of a reinforced frame element also are provided.
US08029385B2
A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention comprises a striking surface having a face center, a crown portion, and a sole portion, four quadrants, and a linear stiffening element coupled to at least one of the crown portion and the sole portion. The linear stiffening element may extend from the heel region to the toe region of the club head. The stiffening element is disposed in at least three of the four quadrants, at an angle between 50° and 85° relative to an imaginary vertical plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the striking surface and containing the face center. The stiffening element has a survey length, the ratio of the overall width to the survey length being less than 0.97.
US08029379B1
A golf putting training apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball. The golf training apparatus includes a pair of upright supports and an eye alignment tool for aligning a user's eyes above the apparatus and in a vertical plane that includes the golf ball and the line of intended travel. The eye alignment tool is supported by and connected between the supports and above the golf ball and includes a substantially linear top edge and pair of generally parallel planar sides depending from the top edge toward a bottom edge. A method of training a golfer to use a putter used by the golfer during a golf putting stroke is also disclosed.
US08029375B2
A slidable constant velocity universal joint holds an elastic member (coil spring) in a stable attitude even if an associated shaft makes an oscillating motion, thereby achieving an improvement in terms of stability in torque transmission. The slidable constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member connected to a power transmission member, and an inner joint member connected to an end portion of a shaft, with torque transmission being possible between the outer joint member and the inner joint member while allowing angular displacement and axial displacement. At a forward end of the shaft, there is provided an elastic member for elastically urging the outer joint member toward the power transmission member, and, between the elastic member and the forward end of the shaft, there is interposed a bearing member for guiding the forward end of the shaft while in contact therewith.
US08029371B2
A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast.
US08029363B2
A computerized wagering game table system includes a wagering game module that is operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio system. The audio system is operable to pan sounds associated with a wagering game object on multiple wagering game machines in a group of wagering game machines, wherein each of the multiple wagering game machines has one or more local speakers, and wherein the panning across multiple wagering game machines' local speakers is based on the game object's coordinate position on a community display.
US08029357B2
A system installed in a casino allows gambling chips in the casino to have variable values. Each chip has an electronic circuit installed in it to store a chip identifier and data indicative of a value currently associated with the chip. Slot machines and other devices are arranged to interact with the gambling chips to read and write data from and into the chips. A central controller is connected to the slot machines and other devices that interact with the chips. The chips carry a display and/or an audio device to apprise players of the value currently associated with the chip.
US08029355B2
An apparatus and method for configuring a gaming device that provides a player selectable award profile. The award profile is further selectable by the player with respect to a payout scheme, a bonusing option or both. A player may select a preferred bonusing option form a group of available bonusing options prior to commencing play of the gaming device. A gaming device is provided that offers the player a choice of several bonusing options from a single source gaming device. Additionally, the player may also select a modified payout scheme that suits the player's preferences.
US08029350B2
Embodiments of the invention described herein include, in a pick-based gaming machine, a method of displaying a gaming outcome. The method includes displaying an image having a plurality of picks arranged adjacent to a plurality of objects; receiving a pick selection; simulating, as a function of the pick selection, a drop of fluid falling through the plurality of objects to fall in or past receptacles; and determining a gaming outcome as a function of fluid accumulated in the receptacles.
US08029349B2
A method includes receiving a game play input preferably in a gaming network. This game play input specifies a wager in a primary game in which a player is participating through the network, and is typically entered through a player station connected in the network. A secondary game play is generated in response to the game play input. This generation of the secondary game play is separate from any actions taken in the gaming network in connection with the primary game in response to the game play input. The secondary game play includes one or more entries in a secondary game that is distinct from the primary game, and the number of entries included in the secondary game play is determined by the wager in the primary game. Each entry included in the secondary game play is associated with a chance in the secondary game and is ultimately analyzed to identify a result of the secondary game play for the secondary game. This secondary game result may then be presented to the player preferably at the same player station at which the game play input was made.
US08029347B2
The invention relates to a crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine, with a straw chopper (60) and two distribution blowers (100) arranged laterally alongside one another, on the periphery of which is provided a respective first shield (144), adjustable about axis of rotation (108) for modifying the distribution characteristics, that can be brought into an active position. It is proposed that the first shields (144) are respectively mounted on a rotary holder (176) rotatable about axis of rotation (84) of the associated distribution blower (100) and additionally carrying a second shield (146), which has a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction than first shield (144), so that second shield (146) can selectively be brought into an active position instead of first shield (144).
US08029345B2
A fire stop apparatus for a small duct, high velocity air distribution system is assembled to a duct opening and includes a cylindrical support wall that supports a cylindrical band of intumescent material that expands and closes the duct opening when subjected to the heat of a fire.
US08029338B2
Iron and steel rolls are ground to production quality requirements with a grinding wheel that requires minimal wheel wear compensation, profile error compensation or taper error compensation during the grinding process. The grinding wheel consists essentially of a superabrasive material selected from the group of natural diamond, synthetic diamond, cubic boron nitride, and mixtures thereof, in a bond system, for a grinding wheel with extended wheel life, and which removes minimum amount of stock off the roll to achieve desired roll geometry.
US08029330B2
A remote control unit is electrically connected to a toy only by a two conductor cord. An electronic control unit located within the toy includes a signal generator and a controller for receiving the output signals and controlling at least two actions of the toy by detecting predetermined period variations in the received output signals, a first action enabled by a first predetermined period variation and a second action enabled by a second predetermined period variation. The remote control unit is electrically connected to the signal generator only by the cord and includes a switch array having at least a first switch in parallel with a second switch so that when the first switch is closed to cause the first predetermined period variation and when the second switch is closed to cause the second predetermined period variation.
US08029326B2
An electrical contact includes an at least partially cylindrical body having a terminating segment and an end segment. A contact arm extends from the terminating segment to the end segment. The contact arm includes a contact tip that is configured to engage a mating contact to electrically connect the body to the mating contact. The contact arm defines a portion of a circumference of the body. The contact arm extends from the terminating segment and the end segment at corresponding ends of the contact arm. The contact arm includes an intermediate point that is located between the ends and that is offset from at least one of the ends along the circumference of the body.
US08029325B2
The invention relates a connection unit comprising an insert provided a front part and a back part provided with longitudinal through holes. At least one longitudinal through hole in the front part of the insert coincides with a longitudinal through hole in the back part. The connection unit includes at least one contact extending through a longitudinal through hole in the front part and through a longitudinal through hole in the back part of the insert. A front portion of the contact is provided with a stop pressing on a stop in the longitudinal hole in the front part of the insert. A back portion of said contact is provided with retaining means which require said back portion be forced into the longitudinal hole in the back part of the insert. The invention also relates a mounting process of such a connection unit, as well as a connection kit.
US08029324B1
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing that has an insert and an organizer separate from, and coupled to, the insert. The insert and the organizer have insert openings and organizer openings aligned with corresponding insert openings. The organizer openings have a smaller diameter than the insert openings and the insert openings have a lip that extends into the insert opening. Electrical connectors are received in the housing that have shells and include clips surrounding corresponding shells. The clips engage the lips of the insert openings for securing the electrical connectors in the insert openings. The organizer openings circumferentially surround the shells and restrict lateral movement of the electrical connectors.
US08029319B2
A shielded connector structure includes a first connector and a second connector, each having a metal terminal element, an insulating connector housing that has a terminal container for accommodating the metal terminal elements, and a conductive shield shell which covers the terminal container of the connector housing. The shielded connector structure further includes a conductive connector mounting portion which contacts the shield shell of at least one of the first and second connectors to ground the shield shell; and a connecting portion which is provided on each of the shield shells of the first and second connectors, and is coupled to the connector mounting portion when the first and second connectors are engaged to shield-connect the shield shells each other.
US08029315B2
A coaxial cable connector for connecting a coaxial cable to an interface port and extending an RF shield therebetween is provided. The connector includes a connector body having a first end and a second end, a post, attached to the connector body, a threaded nut, rotatable with respect to the post and also axially movable with respect to the connector body between a first position and a second position, a biasing member, operable to move the nut, and a joint stop element, located to interact with the biasing member and introduce obstructive structure that impedes axial movement of the nut.
US08029311B2
A female connector structure includes a plurality of pin insertion holes arranged in a row to correspond to a plurality of columnar connector pins arranged in a male connector section and adapted to receive the respective connector pins individually inserted thereinto. A pair of connector inner walls is formed externally of the pin insertion holes of opposite ends extending in a depth direction of the pin insertion holes. A pair of grooves is formed on an inner surface of the connector inner wall to be gradually shallower as the groove goes from an opening side of the pin insertion hole toward a deepest side thereof.
US08029310B2
In an electrical connector, a female housing is made to mate with a male housing. The female housing has guide ways each formed perpendicularly to a direction of mating of the male housing with the female housing. In the guide ways, a latch metal is disposed. The guide ways of the female housing respectively have opening portions from each of which the corresponding latch part of the latch metal is capable of projecting toward the male housing. When the male housing is inserted into the female housing, the latch parts are respectively projected from the opening portions of the female housing toward the male housing. The latch parts are respectively locked at predetermined inclined planes a formed on the male housing.
US08029294B2
A connector set includes at least one of a header and a socket and a jointer. The jointer extends in a direction and is configured to couple the header and the socket so as to be in parallel with each other. The jointer includes first jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions thereof and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header, and second jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions of the jointer body and extending in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket.
US08029291B2
A coil spring, a pogo pin having the coil spring, and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The method for manufacturing a coil spring includes i) preparing a metal strip 200 with a periodically repeated U- or S-shape pattern, and ii) bending the metal strip 200 at one or more inward bending points 210 and at one or more outward bending point 220, which are formed on the metal strip 200, in opposite directions, the inward bending point and the outward bending point being spaced apart from each other. The coil spring and the pogo pin may be manufactured to be small in size and low in manufacturing costs as compared with conventional ones. Further, the coil spring and the pogo pin may provide a sufficient maximum range of motion and spring force of a probe.
US08029288B2
Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the performance of systems. Energy systems, specifically renewable energy generation systems, are used as examples. The aggregated data serve as the basis for a variety of services that facilitate the adoption and deployment of these systems. Services are provided that aid in enhancing energy educational activities. The services represent the quantity of energy generation as energy demands that the students may appreciate. Furthermore, the services are interactive and may allow the students to change System Parameters so that they more fully understand the influence of these parameters on the energy generation efficiency.
US08029287B2
A riding simulation system includes a steering handle mechanism capable of being gripped by an operator for steering a front wheel of a motorcycle displayed on a display of a personal computer or the like. The system also includes a frame body for rotatably holding the steering handle mechanism, and a control unit mounted to the frame body for performing control based on the operation amounts of the steering handle mechanism, a clutch lever and a brake lever, with a circuit substrate being incorporated in the control unit and being connected to the detection units through connection cables. The riding simulation system provides a relatively small system with a control unit that is easily mounted to enhance maintenance and installation of system components.
US08029284B2
Apparatus is provided that includes a dental implant having a proximal implant end and a lateral external surface. The implant is shaped so as to define a lumen therethrough having a lateral opening through the lateral external surface. The apparatus further includes an applicator, which is removably coupled to the proximal implant end. The applicator includes a delivery tube having a distal tube end that is removably coupled to the implant such that the delivery tube is in fluid communication with the lumen via the lateral opening. Other embodiments are also described.
US08029280B2
An intra-oral device includes a tongue shield aspirator, a bite member, a bite grip, and an evacuation tube. The tongue shield aspirator may include a tongue retractor portion and a cheek retractor portion, and may be an open, unitary, and/or flexible component made of position-memory material. The bite member includes a conduit which receives the tongue shield aspirator through one end and the evacuation tube through the opposite end. The free end of the evacuation tube is connectable directly to a HVE valve to aspirate fluid/debris from the mouth. The device may be positioned in the mouth by bending the distal (free) end of the tongue shield aspirator, inserting the bite member into the mouth first, followed by the tongue shield aspirator as the device is moved towards the patient's cheek, releasing the free end of the tongue shield aspirator, and having the patient bite down on the bite member.
US08029276B1
According to one embodiment of the invention, a self-ligating orthodontic bracket apparatus has a body with an archwire slot, a lingual surface for mounting to a tooth and a guide track. The body and guide track form facing surfaces. A clip is engaged between the facing surfaces and is slideably movable in the guide track between an open position such that the archwire slot can receive an archwire and a closed position in which the clip can retain the archwire in the slot. The clip is dimensioned to extend the entire length and height of the slot in the bracket when in the closed position.
US08029273B2
A burner is disclosed which includes a vortex generator for a combustion air stream, means for the admission of fuel into the combustion air stream and air inlet ducts, the combustion air stream enters a vortex chamber of the vortex generator via air inlet ducts. The fuel is injected into the combustion air asymmetrically via the injection means.
US08029269B2
Inner surface strain of a container is reduced by suppressing a temperature drop of blow air, and heat resistance of the container is increased by enhancing the degree of crystallization. A blow air supply unit for a blow molding machine for molding a hollow bottle container 1 by supplying heated blow air into a preform includes: a high-pressure air source 11 for generating high-pressure blow air; a high-pressure gate valve 12 for opening/closing a blow air channel on the downstream of the high-pressure air source 11; a heat exchanger 13 for heating the blow air on the downstream of the high-pressure gate valve 12; a throttle valve 14 for throttling the flow rate of blow air on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 13; and a switchover valve 15 for switching the blow air on the downstream of the throttle valve 14.
US08029266B2
A mould member for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of one or more food starting materials, which are suitable for consumption, in particular human consumption, comprises a body having a porous structure and a plurality of mould cavities, which mould cavities each have a mould cavity wall defined by the body and an opening in a surface of the body, wherein the body comprises at least one essentially fluid tight barrier.
US08029260B2
An apparatus is disclosed for extruding cellulose fibers. The apparatus includes a first member, a second member and a third member all secured together. Multiple nozzles extend outward from the first member and each is designed to direct an aqueous cellulose solution therethrough. As the aqueous solution is extruded, it is accentuated and accelerated by pressurized gas flowing through the first member and the second member and out through first openings formed in the third member. The pressurized gas at least partially surrounds each nozzle and shelters the molten filaments extruded therefrom. The third member also has multiple second openings formed therethrough which are also connected to a source of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas streams exiting each of the second openings function to keep each of the molten filaments from contacting an adjacent molten filament.
US08029258B2
An apparatus may include a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet; and a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly, the robotic arm having at one end a gripper configured to pick up an element and deposit the element at a desired position relative to the extruded material. The element may be one of: a reinforcement member for a structure being constructed; a segment of a plumbing pipe; an electric network component; and a tile.
US08029255B2
It provides at a low price a compressor capable of preventing a waste oil pipe from falling off and curbing leakage of lubricating oil and oscillation of the pipe. An L-shaped waste oil pipe 8 for returning lubricating oil 20 to a bottom of a motor chamber 22 is connected to a waste oil passage 33 of a main frame 3 so as to put at least a part of the waste oil pipe 8 in elastic contact with an internal surface of an airtight container 2.
US08029248B2
An integrated pumping module for use in a thermal management system, for example for a fuel cell. The integrated pumping module includes a diverting or mixing valve closely coupled to a pump element, such as the volute chamber of a centrifugal pump. The valve chamber and the pump chamber are closely and directly coupled through a connecting passage so as to minimize pressure drop as a liquid coolant passes through the connecting passage from the valve chamber to the pump chamber. A bypass inlet and outlet opening are provided in the valve chamber to permit all or a portion of the coolant flow to be diverted to a radiator once the coolant reaches a predetermined temperature. The integrated pumping module may also be provided with a filter housing into which a portion of the coolant flow may be diverted.
US08029246B2
A pulley is fixed to a housing of a water pump, the pulley being connected to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine so that the pulley is driven through the output shaft. In the housing, a slider moves to and fro due to a change in pressure in a pressure chamber, which causes the magnetic flux passing through a magnet and an inductor ring of a rotary cylinder to vary, so that the driving force of the internal combustion engine is variably transmitted to the rotary cylinder. The pressure chamber is connected to an intake air passage and an atmospheric air introducing portion through a pressure path, and the state of communication is changed by a VSV. The pressure passage is provided with an orifice for preventing rapid change in pressure in the pressure chamber when the VSV is switched.
US08029241B2
A wind turbine includes a plurality of rotor blades, with each blade having a root portion connected to a rotor hub and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the rotor hub. The airfoil portion further includes a main foil section and a winglet pivotally connected to the main foil section so as to pivot from an in-line position wherein the rotor blade has a first sweep length to an articulated position wherein the rotor blade has a second sweep length. In the articulated position, the winglet may pivot to not more than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the main foil section. A deployable sleeve may be connected to the winglet so as to extend between the winglet and the main foil section in the articulated position of the winglet. The sleeve is stowable within either or both of the main foil section or the winglet in the in-line position of the winglet.
US08029237B2
A centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan has at least one air inlet and one air outlet, and at least one set of rotor blades. A sidewall extends downward from an inner margin of the air inlet to define an air-gathering chamber in the housing of the centrifugal fan for increasing airflow pressure and heat dissipating efficiency.
US08029232B2
A sanitary air jet device [1000] is operated by a user blowing air into its first stage inlet [1111] of a mouthpiece [1110]. The air stream causes a first stage turbine [1130] to rotate and spin a shaft [1205]. The shaft passes through a separator wall [1140]. A second stage turbine [1230] is connected to the shaft [1205] on the other side of the separator wall [1140] in a second stage chamber [1201]. The shaft [1205] causes second stage turbine [1230] to spin and draw air in through a number of second stage inlets [1211] in the second stage chamber [1201]. The second stage turbine [1230] blows the clean air out of a second stage exhaust [1221]. The second stage chamber [1201] is separated from the first stage chamber [1101] such that it does not receive the air blown in by the user. Therefore, one may blow out candles on a cake with clean air and no longer spray saliva droplets and microbes on the cake.
US08029225B2
Methods and systems are provided for a vacuum-based semiconductor handling system. The system may be a linear system with a four-link robotic SCARA arm for moving materials in the system. The system may include one or more vertically stacked load locks or vertically stacked process modules.
US08029215B2
A spiral drill bit for forming holes of a variety of sizes has a main body which provides first and second helical grooves. First and second flutes extend along the length of the main body to provide first and second helical groove segments. Cutting segments are provided between the helical groove segments. The method for forming the spiral drill bit includes turning the helical groove segments onto a round stock. An axial clearance and an initial diametral clearance are provided upon turning the helical grooves. A grinding process is used to form a radial clearance and a final diametral clearance. The reduction to the amount of grinding required to form the spiral drill bit results in a reduction to the cost of production and a reduction in the time necessary to produce the spiral drill bit.
US08029209B2
A load absorbing device or other resilient device, such as a fender, bumper, or rub rail, for protecting an object, such as a dock or boat, from an impact force delivered by another object includes a leaf spring portion connected to the object. The leaf spring portion includes a fixed end and a free end operable to transmit to the object a fraction of the impact force and is designed to collapse upon loading with the impact force to thereby absorb energy that would otherwise be transferred directly to the object. In a preferred embodiment, the leaf spring portion is extruded of a high-strength abrasion-resistant plastic material having a low coefficient of friction, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The leaf spring portion may include multiple mounting holes sized to receive mounting fasteners for rigidly connecting the device to the object.
US08029203B2
A printing device provided with a conveyer roller pair for holding sheet paper drawn out from a recording paper roll to feed the sheet paper forward or backward. The device includes a feeding roller pair disposed between the recording paper roll and the conveyer roller pair for drawing out the recording paper and feeding it to the conveyer roller pair and a color recording unit disposed downstream of the conveyer roller pair in the direction of conveyance of the recording paper for recording a color image on the recording paper that is being moved backward. A guide unit with pivotable guide member is disposed between the feeding roller pair and the conveyer roller pair for bending and guides the recording paper in an arc-shape at an acute angle. A reservation space is provided outside of the arc-shaped recording paper guiding path for accommodating the sagged recording paper therein.
US08029201B2
A rewinding reel for rewinding a carbon ribbon or a label carrier in a label printer is provided, including a shaft, a gear, at least two sliding bases, at least two outer casing members, a resilient element, and a knob. The gear is mounted to the shaft to mate a transmission of the label printer for driving rotation of the shaft. The sliding bases are mounted to the shaft and are rotatable by the shaft. The sliding bases include movable portions that form camming projections and follower projections respectively in camming engagement with follower projections and camming faces formed on the outer casing members to radially move the outer casing members away from and toward the sliding bases for expanding and contracting the outer casing members in order to selectively loosen the carbon ribbon or the label carrier wound around the outer casing members. The knob is fixed to the movable portions and is manually depressible to move the movable portions. The resilient element provides a biasing force that sets the movable portions at a position where the outer casing members expand.
US08029195B2
There is provided a vehicular-wheel bearing assembly. The vehicular-wheel bearing assembly includes an inner shaft (1), an outer ring (2) provided around the inner shaft (1), and two rows of balls (3aand 3b) provided between the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2) in angular contact with the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2). An annular raceway member (4) with a curved section that is a separate member from the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2) and has a raceway surface for the rolling element is provided on an outer peripheral surface (11) of the inner shaft (1) and an inner peripheral surface (12) of the outer ring (2).
US08029191B2
A system and method for controlling a temperature indicator stick includes a housing having an interior configured to receive the temperature indicator stick configured to indicate a predetermined temperature through a physical change or a chemical when exposed to the predetermined temperature. A roller drive is supported by the housing to engage the temperature indicator stick. Accordingly, rotation of the drive roller causes a retraction or advancement of the temperature indicator stick to and from the interior of the housing. Additionally, the housing and temperature indicator stick may include a key system to keep the temperature indicator stick in a substantially fixed rotational position with respect to the housing as the temperature indicator stick advanced from and retracted into the housing.
US08029187B2
A temperature measuring and identification (TMID) device obtains identification information and temperature information of a connected device having a temperature sensing circuit (TSC). The TSC includes a temperature sensing element (TSE) connected in parallel with a voltage clamping network (VCN) that limits the voltage across the TSE to an identification voltage within an identification voltage range when the voltage is greater than or equal to a lower voltage of the identification voltage range. When a voltage below the lower range is applied to the TSC, the VCN appears as an open circuit and the resistance of the TSC corresponds to temperature. A translation circuit within the TMID shifts TSC voltages within the identification voltage range to a normalization voltage range. Accordingly, voltages corresponding to temperature as well as voltages corresponding to identification are within the normalization voltage range. As a result, the resolution of a voltage sensing device used for measuring the temperature and identification voltages is maximized. In addition, the translation circuit maintains a minimal current during a rest state. For cost or other concerns, a first TSC may omit the VCN to provide a maximum identification voltage and other TSCs may include VCNs with lower identification voltage ranges.
US08029183B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming a mixed material. For example, two components of a bone cement may be positioned in the apparatus and mixed under vacuum. An increase in pressure on one side of a movable piston can move the material for ease of access and reducing voids in the mixed material.
US08029176B2
A vehicle headlight capable of compensating for light intensity of a dark region includes a lamp holder, a light source, a light shield, and a light guide. The lamp holder defines an accommodation space, and includes a reflector and a lens disposed on a front side of the reflector. The light source is installed in the accommodation space and disposed along an optical axis, and light rays emitted from the light source are refracted by the lens and emitted forwards. The light shield is assembled on the lamp holder and located between the light source and the lens, and the light shield is used to shield some of the light rays emitted from the light source. The light guide conducts some of the light rays towards the lens, such that the light rays are emitted forwards and upwards, thereby compensating for the light intensity of the dark region above the optical axis.
US08029173B2
A structure of overhead lamp and mounting bracket for constructional vehicle has developed to tilt the illuminating angle by controlling the position of slits at the lateral sides of bracket. The lamp is securely fixing at the controlled position at one of 4 positions and the position controlling slits. The main case is securely fixed to the bracket by installing a connection screw and a hinge bolt for restricting unwanted rotation of the hinge bolt. Accordingly, since a position controlling rib having a position controlling slit is extended rearward from side supporters, the illumination angle can be controlled within a greater range. The main case can be supported at 4 points through the plurality of position controlling slits. Furthermore, by fitting the connection screw with an outer circumferential recess of a hinge bolt fastening lever, rotational separation of the hinge bolt and change of the illumination angle of the main case can be prevented.
US08029161B2
A reading light incorporates a light fitting containing a light source, a light main body and a spring. The cover of the light fitting includes an outer surface formed of a part of a spherical surface. The body of the light fitting is formed of a metal, and includes a back surface formed of another part of the spherical surface. The light main body includes a receiving/guiding portion that supports the outer surface. The receiving/guiding portion supports the light fitting so that the light fitting is rotatable, thereby enabling the direction of light emitted from the light fitting to be changed. The light fitting is fitted in the light main body by pressing the back surface using the spring. Either the receiving/guiding portion or cover is formed of a metal, and the other is formed of a resin.
US08029156B2
An optical module for LED luminaire is provided. The optical module can be used with LED arrays so that the luminaire with LED arrays can utilize the present invention to improve the luminance, brightness, luminance uniformity and coefficient of utilization to meet the user's demands. The optical module includes at least a radiation guiding unit and at least an anti-glare unit. The radiation guiding units are arranged abreast to adjust the radiation pattern to fit the coverage range. The anti-glare unit is formed on the both sides of the radiation guiding unit to prevent glare. The optical module of the present invention, when used in a luminaire, can form the expected distribution curve according to the objects to be lighted.
US08029155B2
There is provided a lighting device comprising one or more groups of solid state light emitters and one or more groups of lumiphors, which emits mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates within a region defined by (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.38), (0.41, 0.455), and (0.36, 0.48). Also, such lighting devices which emit light having x, y color coordinates within other specified regions. Also, such lighting devices with respective groups which emit light within two specified regions, and which mix to produce light within such regions. Also, methods of lighting light from such emitters and/or lumiphors.
US08029154B2
A solar-powered street lighting system includes a flexible panel of amorphous photovoltaic adhesively connected to the outside surface of a light pole, at least one battery to be charged by the flexible panel, and an LED light fixture extending from the upper region of the pole. A controller controls the charging of the battery by the flexible panel, the battery powering the LED light fixture, and a minimum battery voltage by dimming the LED light fixture during at least a portion of nighttime to prevent excess battery drain.
US08029148B2
A projecting apparatus includes a casing, a projector and a foldable arm set. The foldable arm set is connected with the projector and selectively in a folded state or an unfolded state. The projector is capable of performing a projecting operation when the foldable arm set is in the unfolded state. A containing space is defined by the foldable arm set and the casing for containing the projector therein when the foldable arm set is in the folded state.
US08029143B2
An illumination system for providing an illumination beam to a light valve is provided. The illumination system includes a light source, a light integration rod, a color wheel, a first focusing unit and a second focusing unit. The light source is capable of generating the illumination beam, and the light integration rod is disposed on the transmission path of the illumination beam. The first focusing unit is disposed between the integration rod and the color wheel and is capable of focusing the illumination beam onto the color wheel. The second focusing unit is disposed between the color wheel and the light valve and is capable of focusing the illumination beam onto the light valve.
US08029134B2
A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08029133B2
A pair of eyeglasses include a frame having two endpieces and two temples each pivotally mounted on the respective endpiece of the frame. Each of the endpieces has a T-shaped receiving slot, and each of the temples has a T-shaped retaining flange mounted in the receiving slot of the respective endpiece. The retaining flange of each of the temples has a pivot shaft pivotally mounted in the receiving slot of the respective endpiece. Thus, a user only needs to rotate each of the temples relative to the respective endpiece to attach each of the temples to the respective endpiece so that the eyeglasses are assembled easily and quickly. In addition, each of the temples is combined with the respective endpiece without needing co-operation of any screw member and hand tool.
US08029129B2
A cover support mechanism regulates an opening angle of an openable cover with respect to a chassis of an electronic device. The cover constitutes a portion of the chassis. The mechanism has a cord shaped or tape shaped stopper, and a support unit. The stopper has a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being fixed to the cover. The support unit supports the second end portion of the stopper. The support unit is provided to the electronic device. The support unit has a receiving portion, a biasing member, and a braking unit. The receiving portion has a space for pulling in the second end portion of the stopper. The biasing member applies force to the stopper for pulling in the stopper into the receiving portion. The braking unit applies frictional force to the stopper when the cover is opened.
US08029127B2
The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.
US08029125B2
An apparatus for ink jet printing, as well as corresponding method and system are described. The apparatus includes a source of fluid film, a fluid film metering roller supported for contact with the source of fluid film, a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the fluid film metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities, a donor roller supported in contact with the fluid film metering roller, an ink jet printhead configured to emit ink, and a print assembly rotatably supported in the apparatus, the print assembly having a print assembly surface coupled to the donor roller, the print assembly configured to receive ink from the ink jet printhead and produce an image on media using the ink, wherein the donor roller is configured to convey the fluid film from the fluid film metering roller to the print assembly surface at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the fluid film metering roller, and at least one of the following: an amount of fluid film left on the donor roller, a film thickness of the fluid film on the fluid film metering roller, and a speed ratio between the fluid film metering roller and the donor roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the print assembly.
US08029123B2
A material set for recording includes: ink receiving particles that include a resin having an acid value of from about 50 mg KOH/g to about 750 mg KOH/g, and have a neutralization degree of from more than 0 to less than 1; and an ink that includes at least a colorant, a water-soluble solvent, and water, a value obtained by multiplying an electrical conductivity σ (S/m) of the ink by a viscosity η (mPa·s) of the ink being from about 0.02 to about 5.0.
US08029122B2
A recording ink containing at least: water; a water-soluble organic solvent; a surfactant; and a carbon black having a hydrophilic group on a surface thereof, wherein at least part of a terminal of the hydrophilic group on the carbon black is substituted with an alkali metal, wherein the carbon black releases humic acid in an aqueous dispersion of the carbon black, which is recovered from the recording ink, a concentration of the humic acid released in the aqueous dispersion containing 20% by mass of the carbon black of is expressed with a maximum absorbance at a wavelength of 230 nm to 260 nm, and the recording ink has the maximum absorbance of 5.0 to 20.0 at the wavelength of 230 nm to 260 nm.
US08029120B2
A liquid container includes: a bubble trapping section, disposed upstream of the upstream buffer chamber. The bubble trapping section includes: a bubble trapping chamber, adapted to trap bubbles upside by allowing the liquid level to be lowered with reduction in an amount of remaining liquid at a time of consuming the liquid; an inlet, communicating at a vertical upper position of the bubble trapping chamber to introduce the liquid at the time of consuming the liquid; and an outlet, communicating at a vertical lower position of the bubble trapping chamber to discharge the liquid at the time of consuming the liquid.
US08029119B2
Ink jet print head comprising a substrate with an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of actuators with ejection chambers and ink supply passages, an ink distribution slot formed in the substrate between the lower surface and the upper surface; a manifold formed in the substrate of the upper surface around the slot for the feed to the actuators; and a plurality of bubble prevention elements formed in the feed manifold. The plurality of bubble prevention elements is provided only for a marginal set of actuators remote from the distribution slot.
US08029115B2
A liquid ejection device of a first aspect of the invention includes a sub tank capable of fluid communicating with the main tank removably mountable to the liquid ejection device. The sub tank is configured to satisfy the formula: SH−SL≦MH−MN where SH is a liquid amount in the sub tank in a balanced state at which the liquid has flowed into the sub tank by a hydraulic head pressure on mounting the main tank with the liquid fully filled; SL is a liquid amount in the sub tank in a state where the liquid level is positioned at the outlet of the sub tank; MH is a liquid amount in the main tank when the liquid is fully filled in the main tank; and MN is a liquid amount in the main tank in a state where the liquid level is positioned at a threshold level.
US08029113B2
A printing system is provided having a fluid delivery member, a fluid ejection nozzle integrated circuit, and a fluid distribution member incorporating a laminated stack of layers for distributing fluid from the delivery member to the nozzles of the integrated circuit via distribution apertures. The distribution apertures of each successive layer of the stack from the delivery member to the nozzles having a successively smaller diameter.
US08029106B2
An inkjet printhead having an array of ink chambers is disclosed. Each ink chamber has a nozzle and a heater element for generating vapour bubbles to eject ink through the nozzle. The heater element has multiple current paths connected in parallel. Each current path has at least one portion with a reduced cross-section relative to the remainder of the current path. A cross bracing structure is also provided for connecting intermediate portions of the current paths.
US08029104B2
A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.
US08029102B2
A printhead is provided having chambers for fluid, ejection ports defined in the chambers, and ejection arms positioned in the chambers, each arm having a displacement area which is displaced against fluid in the respective chamber to eject the fluid from the respective ejection port. Each displacement area is greater than half an area of the respective ejection port and less than twice the area of that ejection port.
US08029098B2
A printhead integrated circuit that has an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle. The nozzle has a nozzle rim defining a nozzle aperture and a localized irregularity on the nozzle rim extending toward the centre of the nozzle aperture.
US08029091B2
The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head, a conveyor, a printing controller, an image sensor, a blocking object determining unit, and a blocking object dealing unit. The inkjet head has an ejection surface in which plural ejection outlets ejecting ink are formed. The conveyor has a placing member on which a recording medium is placed and conveys the placing member to a position opposing the ejection surface. The printing controller causes the conveyor to convey the placing member to the opposing position and causes the inkjet head to eject the ink towards the opposing position. The image sensor captures an image of at least one of (i) a surface of the recording medium placed on the placing member, (ii) a surface of the placing member, and (iii) the ejection surface. The blocking object determining unit determines, based on the image captured by the image sensor, whether an object which blocks the flight of the ink exists between the ejection outlets and the opposing position so as to obstruct at least two neighboring ejection outlets among the ejection outlets. The blocking object dealing unit carries out a predetermined blocking object dealing operation when the blocking object determining unit determines that the object blocking the flight of the ink obstructs at least two neighboring ejection outlets among the ejection outlets.
US08029089B2
A position detecting device for detecting a position of an object, includes a light emitting portion that emits light, a light receiving portion that receives the light from the light emitting portion, and a scale that is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and includes a position detecting pattern and a smear detecting pattern. The position detecting pattern has a first light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a first light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged in a detection range of the object. The smear detecting pattern for detecting smear of the scale has a second light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a second light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged.
US08029084B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image forming apparatus which can form a stable dot pattern to be used with a digital pen. The dot pattern used by a digital pen can be formed by changing an image forming condition, which is read by the digital pen. The image forming condition can be set based on a reading of an experimental test dot pattern.
US08029077B2
A computer housing includes a frame and a face panel. The frame includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected frame panels such that the frame is convertible between an assembled state and a flattened state. In the assembled state, the frame panels form a rectangular frame for mounting electronic components, such as a motherboard, a disk drive and a hard disk. In the flattened state, the frame can be flattened out so that the frame panels lie in substantially the same plane, thereby reducing the space occupied by the frame.
US08029075B2
A brake control apparatus includes a fluid pressure sensor to sense an actual master cylinder pressure, a pump to suck a brake fluid from the master cylinder through a hydraulic circuit connecting the master cylinder to a wheel cylinder and a controller to perform a brake assist control to supply a discharge pressure of the pump to the wheel cylinder in accordance with the sensed actual master cylinder pressure signal. The controller calculates a modified master cylinder pressure by modifying the actual master cylinder pressure in accordance with an operating condition of the pump, calculates a base pressure in accordance with a variation of the modified master cylinder pressure, and calculates a target wheel cylinder pressure in accordance with the base pressure, to control a braking force by controlling an actual wheel cylinder pressure of the wheel cylinder in accordance with the target wheel cylinder pressure.
US08029074B2
A method for providing anti-skid braking control for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel including a corresponding wheel speed sensor and brake, wherein when velocity data from at least one wheel speed sensor is lost, velocity data from a wheel speed sensor coupled to a different wheel is used as the wheel speed for the wheel with the non-operational sensor.
US08029070B2
A surface finishing ball of compressible material, adapted to be driven on a rotational axis is made from a layered body of compressible material that is formed in multiple disk-like layers that are separated in planes generally perpendicular to the rotational axis. Layers are also slit on circumferentially spaced planes that extend generally radially from an outside surface to define a plurality of foam fingers. A clamping system is used to compress and hold a center portion of the layered body in a direction along the axis of rotation such that the uncompressed outer ends of the fingers define a generally spherical ball.
US08029066B2
A backrest assembly includes an annular front frame having a front surface on which inner and outer annular flanges are formed, defining a first annular groove therebetween. A plurality of pegs is formed in the annular groove. A net is mounted in front of the front frame in a tightened state and includes a plurality of peg holes. A periphery of the net covers the outer annular flange of the front frame and is received in the first annular groove. Each peg of the front frame extends through one of the peg holes. Inner and annular wall are formed on a front face of an annular rear frame and define a second annular groove therebetween. A plurality of stubs is formed in the second annular groove. Each stub includes a receptacle receiving one of the pegs. Fasteners are extended through engaging holes in the front and rear frames.
US08029049B2
The fender panel structure includes a fender panel formed of resin, disposed above a vehicle's wheel, and forming an outer plate on the side face of the vehicle. The fencer panel has an outer plate part exposed to the side face of the vehicle, and a reinforcement part disposed in the rear face of an adjacent member next to the outer plate part and extending along an edge of the outer plate part, both of which are integrally formed. The fencer plate has a fitting part, into which the adjacent member fits, formed along the interstice between the edge of the outer plate part, and the reinforcement part.
US08029046B2
Dashboard panel, partitioning between an engine compartment and a passenger compartment, includes a reinforcing frame structure or connection member that extends, through the interior space of the dashboard panel, to linearly interconnect a horizontal rear end portion of each of left and right front side frames and a front end portion of a corresponding one of left and right side sills.
US08029043B2
For the reinforcement of a body structure of a motor vehicle which extends adjacent to a front side door of the vehicle, a hollow member structure formed by channel reinforcements is arranged in the body structure. The hollow member structure extends approximately in a horizontal plane from the B pillar into a rear region of the body structure. The channel reinforcements are intended to absorb, in a stable fashion, the forces which enter into the side part via the door in the event of a frontal crash.
US08029035B1
A reach extension device for use inside of motor vehicles intended to provide increased reach is herein disclosed. The device comprises a telescoping handle and an operable spring-style clamping device on its outward end, particularly suited for holding and receiving items often extended out of a car window such as electronic parking passes, tickets, credit cards, paper currency. Additionally, the device is provided with a cup-shaped lower section for paying tolls or receiving change.
US08029034B2
A hand tool for lifting and moving a car stop, the tool having a handle, a rod member with a main section perpendicularly fixed to the handle, and an engagement section angled relative to the main section. A bracing member is fixed to the rod member for prevention of movement of the car stop relative to the rod member. According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, a pointed nosepiece is fixed to the rod member and may be used for clearing the retaining holes of a car stop of debris.
US08029031B2
A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latch mechanism in the housing operable to unlock a vehicle door, and an actuating element. A linkage in the housing is engageable between the actuating element and the latch mechanism and shiftable between a coupled position for operation of the latch mechanism by the actuating element and a decoupled position operatively disconnecting the actuating element from the latch mechanism. A blocking element connected to the linkage is operable to shift the linkage between its coupled and decoupled positions. A drive motor operates the blocking element. A quick-unlock element bears via the blocking element on the linkage.
US08029029B2
A rotary latch for selectively locking a closure, such as a tonneau cover, is provided with a joystick or toggle release lever. The joystick release lever enables the rotary latch to be installed in any position with respect to a remote handle because the joystick can be pulled in any direction, 360 degrees, to release the rotary latch. The joystick includes a trapped base supporting a spherical portion that is nested in a circular opening in the housing of the latch. The joystick is spring loaded, and is movable about its central axis in any direction, causing the base to pivot against the inside of the housing. The base of the joystick is positioned over a spring-loaded catch locking the rotary latch. As the base of the joystick rotates against the inside of the housing, it depresses the spring-loaded catch, releasing the rotary latch.
US08029028B2
A door lock device includes an electrical drive source, which pivots a drive member from a predetermined neutral position, and a return urging member, which returns the drive member to the predetermined neutral position. The drive member pushes a locking lever with a first engagement portion and moves the locking lever to a lock position when the drive member moves from the predetermined neutral portion in a first direction in a state in which the locking lever is arranged at an unlock position. The drive member allows the double lock lever to move to the second position and disengages the first engagement portion from the locking lever when subsequently returned to the predetermined neutral position. The drive member pushes the double lock lever with a second engagement portion when moved again from the predetermined neutral position in the first direction.
US08029026B2
Systems related to threaded connections whereby off-center axial alignment of connected components is maintained. In one embodiment, threads on one connection component are timed to match the timing of the threads on the other connection component. The one component has a connection sleeve screwed thereon. Once the one component and the other component are mated in the desired axial alignment such that the threads on each joint form a continuous, unbroken thread, the connection sleeve is screwed onto the other component to form the threaded connection.
US08029018B2
An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant.
US08028999B2
An axle boot for joint sealing, in particular on the drive train of motor vehicles, includes a substantially axisymmetric bellows, which is designed as a single piece with a connecting collar. The connecting collar has a plurality of indentations projecting towards the inside that are adapted to radial recesses in the external contour of the joint housing. To the outside of the connecting collar are attached compensating pieces that complete the external contour, forming a cylindrical circumferential surface on which a clamp is located.
US08028997B2
The present invention provides a seal ring which can be prevented from being broken by an expansion and a shock applied thereto when the seal ring is fitted on a rotary shaft and does not have a configurative disadvantage such as a burr. Therefore no post-processing is required. The present invention also provides materials of the seal ring and a method of manufacturing the seal ring. The seal ring is made of resin and having two abutments confronting each other and a gate mark formed in an injection molding operation.
US08028992B2
A recording sheet transporting apparatus includes a first roller which transports a recording sheet, a first transmitting gear to which a drive force is transmitted from a drive source, a second roller which is movable in a radial direction with respect to the first roller, a second transmitting gear which is engaged with the first transmitting gear and which transmits the driving force to the second roller, a universal joint which connects an end portion of the second roller and one end portion of the second transmitting gear, a bearing member which has a cylindrical surface and rotatably supports the other end portion of the second transmitting gear by the cylindrical surface, and a supporting member which tiltably supports the bearing member in a movement direction of the second roller.
US08028978B2
A semiconductor wafer processing system has a carrier including wafer slots. A process robot engages the carrier and installs the carrier into a rotor within a process chamber. The rotor has a tapered or stepped inside surface matching a tapered or stepped outside surface of the carrier. Wafer retainers on the carrier pivot to better secure wafers within the carrier.
US08028977B2
The invention relates to a device for supporting sheet-like materials for at least one separating process in the sheet-like materials, with at least one jet cutter device which may be displaced in the Y-direction during a separation process, with a first and second support surface together forming a support table for supporting the sheet-like material and with a jet trapping device, arranged between the first and second support surfaces and provided to be able to be displaced in the X-direction. The first and the second support surfaces are made from a flexible material forming part of at least one enclosed chamber, filled with a gas under pressure.
US08028974B2
There is provided a fence post having a web and locating elements for engagement with an end portion of a barrier panel. The web has opposite inner and outer surfaces, and is profiled to facilitate alignment of the fence post with another said post when those posts are arranged back to back with the outer surfaces of the webs in abutting relation. The web incorporates at least one longitudinal groove that in use provides a channel between the abutting webs of fence posts for drainage of water from between the posts. There is also provided an intermediate fence post assembly having two of the posts arranged back to back with their respective webs in abutting relation, as well as a fence incorporating a plurality of the fence posts and/or fence post assemblies.
US08028973B2
An electric actuator motor drives an actuator leg between inner and outer limits of an actuator stroke relative to an actuator base. A controller detects when the actuator leg is at one of the inner and outer stroke limits by monitoring and comparing actuator motor power draw to known actuator motor power draw values associated with the operation of an electric actuator when its leg has reached an actuator leg stroke limit. A position sensor senses changes in the position of a monitored actuator component and provides corresponding signals to the controller. The controller calculates the position of the monitored actuator component relative to the position that the monitored actuator component was in when the actuator leg was in a predetermined home position. The controller recognizes and records the concurrent position of the monitored actuator component as indicating that the actuator leg is in the home position whenever the leg reaches a stroke limit.
US08028970B2
A movable iron core unit includes a movable iron core, which is attracted toward a fixed iron core under excitation of a coil, and a guide member made from a resin material and mounted on an outer circumferential side of the movable iron core. The guide member is constructed from a pair of ring members and connecting members that interconnect the ring members. The ring members and the connecting members are mounted in mounting grooves, which are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the movable iron core, and project only slightly from the outer circumferential surface.
US08028951B2
Disclosed is an aircraft, configured to have a wide range of flight speeds, consuming low levels of power for an extended period of time, while supporting a communications platform with an unobstructed downward-looking view. The aircraft includes an extendable slat at the leading edge of the wing, and a reflexed trailing edge. The aircraft comprises a flying wing extending laterally between two ends and a center point. The wing is swept and has a relatively constant chord. The aircraft also includes a power module configured to provide power via a fuel cell. The fuel cell stores liquid hydrogen as fuel, but uses gaseous hydrogen in the fuel cell. A fuel tank heater is used to control the boil-rate of the fuel in the fuel tank. The fuel cell compresses ambient air for an oxidizer, and operates with the fuel and oxidizer at pressures below one atmosphere. The aircraft of the invention includes a support structure including a plurality of supports, where the supports form a tetrahedron that affixes to the wing.
US08028946B2
A refining surface (2) of a refiner stator (4) for a refiner for defibrating lignocellulose-containing material has a feed edge (17) oriented in the direction of the feed flow of the material to be refined, and a discharge edge (16) oriented in the direction of the discharge flow of the material refined. The surface (2) has blade bars (10) with grooves (11) therebetween, and at least one dam (12) in a groove (11). The dam has an upwardly rising guiding surface (13) from the blade groove bottom (15) for guiding the material to be refined and the material already refined out of the blade groove. The upward direction of the guiding surface (13) is from the direction of the discharge edge (16) of the refining surface (2) in the direction of the feed edge (17) of the refining surface (2).
US08028945B2
A refining plate for refining lignocellulosic material including: a radially outer peripheral edge and a substrate surface; a refining zone having a plurality of substantially radially disposed bars and grooves between the bars, wherein the bars protrude upward from the substrate surface and the grooves each have a groove width, and a steam channel traversing the bars and grooves of the refining zone, wherein the steam channel has a radially outer end radially inward of the outer peripheral edge of the plate and the steam channel has a width substantially greater than the groove width.
US08028936B2
A spray nozzle, particularly well adapted for use in compressor spray cleaning systems, has a nozzle body with a right angle fluid delivery bore having a first passageway section extending longitudinally and at least one connected transverse nozzle bore section terminating in a reduced diameter spray bore at a sidewall of the nozzle body. A swirler is mounted in the nozzle bore section, and has a head section with a plurality of passageways formed between swirl vanes arranged about a periphery of the head section to pass fluid to the spray bore and an adjacent neck section of a reduced diameter. The neck forms an annulus between the neck and the nozzle body in fluid-passing contact with the first passageway section and head section to direct fluid from the first passageway through the head passageway for exit through the spray bore. The nozzle can be used in spray systems over a wide range of fluid delivery volumes and pressures.
US08028934B2
An atomizing nozzle for two substances, which is used for spraying a liquid with the aid of a compressed gas, is provided. The atomizing nozzle includes a mixing chamber, a liquid inlet that extends into the mixing chamber, a compressed gas inlet which extends into the mixing chamber, and an outlet located downstream from the mixing chamber. An annular gap is provided which surrounds the outlet and discharges compressed gas at a high speed. The atomizing nozzle is used for purifying flue gas.
US08028931B2
A liquid discharge device (1) has a pressure chamber (3), a nozzle (4), and a communication path (5) that interconnects the pressure chamber (3) and the nozzle (4). A region that has a specific length L1 and lies from the position (8) of the boundary between the communication path (5) of the pressure chamber (3) toward the nozzle (4) is formed as a narrow section (9) that has an opening area S1 smaller than the opening area S0 of a region closer to the nozzle (4) than the narrow section (9). In the liquid discharge device (1), the narrow section (9) functions to damp micro vibration that occurs in liquid in the communication path (5), and this allows liquid drops having a pre-designed volume and flying speed to be discharged from every nozzle (4) on a board (2)
US08028925B2
A substrate having a coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof is disclosed. The coding pattern has target elements defining a target grid. The target grid has cells, wherein neighboring cells share target elements. A plurality of data elements are contained in each cell. Tags are defined by a plurality of contiguous cells and each tag has respective local tag data encoded by a respective set of the data elements. Each tag has at least nine target elements, which facilitates accurate observation of a perspective distortion of the target elements.
US08028921B2
An optical imaging pen configured to detect information encoded on a page with ink which is substantially invisible to the human eye. The pen includes a housing, an electronics chassis mounted inside the housing, and an infrared LED supported by the chassis for providing infrared radiation for projection onto the page. The pen also includes an image sensor for receiving reflected radiation from the surface, a radio frequency circuit having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver, and a radio antenna mounted within the housing, said antenna in signal communication with the radio frequency transmitter and receiver. Further included are a controller circuit for controlling operation of the LED, sensor and radio frequency circuit, as well as a pair of orthogonal accelerometers mounted in a normal plane of the pen axis, said accelerometers allowing the pen to sense motion without reference to a surface location.
US08028915B2
A current data capture system has a set of configuration parameters operative for enabling the current data capture system to capture transaction data. A configuration host is operative for pulling the set of configuration parameters from the current data capture system, and for pushing a pulled set of configuration parameters to at least one additional data capture system to enable the at least one additional data capture system to capture the transaction data.
US08028907B2
A method of recording receipt of an item, the item comprising a product contained in a package, the package comprising an interface surface having disposed thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface. The method includes the steps of: marking the interface surface using an optically imaging pen having a marking nib; sensing the coded data in the vicinity of the pen; generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data including data regarding the identity of the item and positions of the pen relative to the interface surface; and transmitting the indicating data to a computer system.
US08028903B1
The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method, and more particularly to a system and method of pre-approving card holders for expedited security processing using an emerging country's international travel approval control card, i.e. an electronic data card that includes biometric verification means for verifying a biometric identifier stored thereon, used to uniquely identify the card holder to security personnel as pre-approved for expedited security screening at a country's port of entry.
US08028902B2
The present invention is directed to methods for providing stand-in services for transaction card customization, wherein a transaction card franchiser provides the stand-in services for the transaction card issuer with regard to transaction card applicant email notification with respect to approval/rejection decisions and/or billing the transaction card applicant for the cost of a new transaction card on behalf the transaction card issuer.
US08028888B2
A method of joining a plurality of members to be joined together, by piling the plurality of members on one another and joining together the members with one another at end portions of superposed parts of the members, wherein the superposed parts of the members are held by restraining the superposed parts from both sides thereof, while a pressing tool, which is harder than the members, is pressed to end faces of the superposed parts and the pressing tool is rotated and/or moved relative to the superposed parts, so that the end faces of the superposed parts are rubbed to cause a friction heating which leads to cause a plastic flow, whereby the plurality of the members are joined together at the end portions of the superposed parts thereof.
US08028884B2
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US08028877B2
A connection device for connecting a bag to a bicycle carriage rack includes a transverse bar connected to a back board of the bag and two hook units are connected to the transverse bar. Each hook unit includes a flexible plate and a stud extends from the flexible plate. The stud can be engaged with one of positioning holes defined in the transverse bar by pulling the flexible plate to position the hook unit to the transverse bar. The hook units hook to a side of the bicycle carriage rack. A lower part is connected to a lower portion of the back board and has a second groove with which a sliding member is slidably engaged. Each sliding member has an I-shaped member which has one end pivotably engaged therewith and the other end of the I-shaped member is engaged with a support leg of the carriage rack.
US08028872B2
A utility pocket is shown for use with a tool pouch or bag, or with such items as a brief case, soft sided cooler, or a backpack. The utility pocket has a clam shell shaped outer member which is biased toward an associated sidewall panel by means of elastic webbing. A pair of mating permanent magnets come into contact as the pocket moves from the open position to the closed position and help to bias the pocket to the closed position, as well as imparting a snap-closure action to the pocket. The material chosen for the pocket helps it to retain its clam shell shape without requiring internal reinforcing members, such as wire springs or other metal reinforcing elements.
US08028871B2
A baby carrier comprising a shoulder harness featuring a detachable adjustable pouch system that may be worn or alternatively fastened to a secured object for supporting an infant. The shoulder harness features retractable shoulder straps that may be used to securely extend the detachable adjustable pouch system away from wearer without having to detach the pouch or remove the infant while simultaneously allowing the wearer face to face access with the infant. The detachable adjustable pouch system may encapsulate and support an infant in a substantially upright sitting position. The detachable adjustable pouch system may be adjusted to accommodate infants of varying sizes. The weight of the infant may be incorporated as a design component of the seat portion of the pouch system.
US08028870B2
In an eyeless sewing needle, a periphery of an axial hole at the base end is heated to make a fibrous structure be a granular structure without directionality, and at least a part of a heat-affected zone made between the fibrous structure and the granular structure due to the heating is within a range that is three times the diameter of the sewing needle and that extends from an effective base of the axial hole towards the needlepoint. This allows provision of a flexible sewing needle so that the hole periphery can be processed while keeping a hard state at the position of the needlepoint slightly away from the axial hole.
US08028866B2
An alcoholic beverage dispenser for receiving individual containers and dispensing alcohol from one or more of the received containers comprising a base having multiple compartments therein each for receiving the individual containers therein. A valve having a valve stem extending therefrom is coupled around the opening of each individual container and each container is in turn connected with a dispensing system within the base. The dispensing system receives liquid from each individual container and dispenses the received liquid through a receiving outlet such as a tap, drink dispenser, or an individual glass.
US08028865B2
A two-way dispenser cap has a main cap member and a toggle valve. The main cap member has two passages that allow material from inside an attached container to dispense. The first passage leads to a trap chamber that is defined by the main cap member and the toggle valve walls. The second passage leads to an outlet passage for continuous pouring dispensation. The toggle valve pivots in relation to the two-way dispenser cap between one of three positions: no dispensation, metered dispensation from the trap chamber passage or continuous pour dispensation. When the toggle valve pivots to open the trap chamber passage, the trap chamber inlet is closed off. When the toggle valve pivots to open the continuous pour passage, the trap chamber outlet remains closed. When the toggle valve pivots to the closed position, both the inlet passages are in fluid communication with the attached container's interior, but both outlets are closed. The main cap member has a recessed top portion.
US08028862B2
A pump intended to be mounted on a bottle, so as to allow the dispensing of a liquid contained in the bottle, includes a needle for closing an ejection orifice that is separate from a dosing sleeve. The needle is mounted on the sleeve by a device for the reversible movement of the needle between a closure position and an ejection position, the device being actuated by interference between the sleeve and a piston when a push button is moved on a hoop.
US08028858B2
A compressed gas cartridge is pierced and dispenses its pressurized gas through a permeation element that serves as a way to regulate the rate of gas dispensed out an outlet in the surrounding housing. It has been found that the use of a permeation element can control the rate of dispensation to an almost constant rate over time, which is valuable in applications such as art preservation for just one example.
US08028856B2
The invention relates to a device for the packaging and dispensing of solid shaped bodies, especially oral tablets or/and capsules, which device has a container sealed with a cap suitable for storing shaped bodies, a dispensing opening, and tools forwarding the shaped bodies from the inside of the container to the dispensing opening. The container (5) is constructed in a house (1) in a way that it can be moved like a piston against elastic returning force. The dispensing opening (35) is situated in the bottom (2a) of the house (1); when the device is in a position when it is not used for dispensing, the end-part of the container (5), with an opening (20) for releasing one shaped body at a time situated opposite the end of the container (5) sealed with a cap, fits into the dispensing opening (35) by sealing it, and it is constructed in a way that in the course of the dispensing operations it makes it possible to dispense favourably one shaped body at a time outside of the house (1).
US08028855B2
A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers having one or more passageways that provides a pathway for the containers. The dispenser includes an outlet for dispensing the containers and an inlet or opening for loading containers into the dispenser. The dispenser may include a plurality of shelves stackable on top of each other. The dispenser may include a housing and a moveable door. The dispenser may further include a stopper mechanism for blocking the movement of the containers within the passageway.
US08028853B2
A cryostat comprises a cryogen vessel suspended within an outer vacuum container, the cryogen vessel is supported by an arrangement that includes at least one housing mounted on an exterior surface of the outer vacuum container and arranged to function as a floor mounting foot, for supporting weight of the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container, and at least two mounting points mounted within the housing(s). Each of at least two suspension elements (an upper suspension element and a lower suspension element) extends through a hole in the surface of the outer vacuum container, between the respective mounting point and a respective point on the cryogen vessel.
US08028828B1
An instrument case that is transformable into a stand for holding the instrument includes a base and a movable portion, including of a plurality of panels, attached at one end to the base. To transform the case into a stand, the movable portion is moved toward the base, thereby causing panels to rotate outwardly from a center of the instrument case, creating legs of the stand.
US08028823B2
A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.
US08028816B1
A bench-supported container handling system includes a bottom panel and a container manipulating device. A container conveying assembly is configured for transporting containers along a first direction while a container part conveying assembly is configured for transporting a part of the container along a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The first direction and the second direction are configured so as to create an area where the container manipulating device can be disposed. Additional aspects include a capping assembly and a labeling assembly.
US08028814B1
Conveyor apparatus and method are disclosed for continuous haulage of coal or ore in an underground mine, including a plurality of floor-supported frame members held in position by belt tension and further held in position optionally by bolts or pins. The novel holding frame provides rapid and efficient extendable, retractable construction in the mine. The novel continuous haulage system handles larger and heavier pieces of equipment and can be pulled to a different position in an underground mine as a complete unit.
US08028810B2
A disk brake having a brake caliper, which engages axially in a U shape around a rotatable brake disk is provided. The disk brake includes a caliper bridge, two caliper limbs and at least one actuating device. At least one brake lining is mounted in an axially movable fashion in the brake caliper. The caliper bridge has, in the peripheral direction, at least three substantially axially extending supports, wherein two of the supports are embodied as a main support and one support is embodied as a central support. These supports connect the two caliper limbs and in the process form two windows and axially project beyond the brake disk. The central support projects both beyond the brake disk and beyond the brake lining in the axial direction.
US08028802B2
A method and system for an acoustic panel system are provided. The system includes a plurality of acoustic panel segments aligned circumferentially about an inner diameter of a fan containment case wherein each segment includes a radially inner surface defining a portion of a fluid duct, a radially outer surface defining a gap between the fan containment case and the acoustic panel segment, and an aft end lip configured to be inserted into a mating groove in the fan containment case. The system also includes at least one damping bumper coupled to the radially outer surface wherein the bumper extends from the radially outer surface to the fan containment case and comprises an energy absorbing elastomeric material configured to facilitate dissipating a forced response of a vibratory stimulus.
US08028797B2
The invention includes a joint assembly for connecting first and second longitudinal edges of portions of an acoustic barrel or panel having an open cell core, a perforated inner skin, and an outer skin. The joint assembly includes at least one strip covering a plurality of openings in walls of cells along the first and second longitudinal edges. The strip is separate from the inner and outer skins. A plate includes a first portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the first longitudinal edge, and a second portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the second longitudinal edge.
US08028789B2
An adaptive control VGR steering system that varies the steering gear ratio between a vehicle hand-wheel angle and the road wheel angle based on vehicle speed and one or more of hand-wheel angle, driver attentiveness and a driver's driving style and skill.
US08028787B2
To provide a work machine in which traveling devices and an implement device can be operated by common operating levers, wherein switching operation is easy and a changeover is easily confirmed. Inside a cab of the work machine, there are provided travel pedals, with which the traveling devices can be operated, and operating levers, with which the traveling devices and the implement device can be operated. A changeover switch is provided on a console positioned in the vicinity of one side of an operating sheet. The changeover switch switches over between a traveling mode, in which traveling operation is possible by the operating levers, and a work mode, in which implement operation is possible by the operating levers. The work machine has a controller which makes it possible to work by the operating levers when the travel pedal is not stepped on in the case where the work mode or traveling mode is selected by the changeover switch, and makes it possible to travel by the operating levers only when the travel pedal is stepped on in the case where the traveling mode is selected by the changeover switch.
US08028786B2
A lower rail is fixed to a vehicle floor, and an upper rail is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to the lower rail. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail. A rectangular frame is attached onto the load sensor, a rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring is wound around the rod. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. The coil spring is sandwiched between a flange of the spring holder and the web and is compressed by tightening the nut.
US08028785B2
An electric motorcycle in which the disposition space of a motor is downsized, the number of components is reduced, and the power transmission efficiency is improved. In an electric motorcycle, a swing arm is swingably supported by a vehicle body frame and supports a power generating motor. A driving shaft of the power generating motor and a rear wheel axle of a rear wheel are coupled together. A driving force of the power generating motor is transmitted to the rear wheel. In the electric motorcycle, the driving shaft of the power generating motor is disposed generally in parallel to the rear wheel axle of the rear wheel. A driving gear is provided on the driving shaft. A driving gear is in meshing engagement with a reduction gear provided on the rear wheel axle. The driving gear has a smaller diameter than that of the reduction gear. A driving force of the power generating motor is transmitted to the rear wheel axle through a reduction.
US08028777B2
A coaxial two-wheel vehicle with which a rider stably travels without the upper body being swayed left and right in a riding state of the center of gravity being positioned high. The coaxial two-wheel vehicle includes: a step plate for a driver to ride; a vehicle body that supports the step plate to be capable of changing a posture in a roll direction of rotating around a roll axis as the center, when a traveling direction is made the roll axis; a pair of wheels with one wheel disposed on each side of the body on the same axis in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body and rotatably supported by the vehicle body; a pair of wheel drive means to drive and rotate the pair of wheels independently; and a handle for directly changing a posture of the step plate or indirectly changing the posture through the vehicle body.
US08028766B2
An electrically powered and controlled tractor system includes one or more electric gripper assemblies and one or more electric power train assemblies. Power and control signals for the gripper assemblies and power train assemblies can be delivered from a ground surface via a wireline. The gripper assembly employs a motor-activated lead screw and nut combination to expand passage-gripping elements, preferably by pushing the gripping elements radially outward from locations between opposing ends of the gripping elements. A failsafe mechanism can retract the gripping elements during a power interruption. The power train assembly employs a motor-activated lead screw and nut combination to expand and contract two or more telescoping members. The tractor system can include multiple tractor units that each includes one gripper assembly and one power train assembly. A tractor can include one power train assembly and two gripper assemblies.
US08028761B2
The invention is based on an electric power tool having at least one drive unit and a gear unit, where the gear unit is a drive element for applying force to a piston unit. It is proposed that the drive element and the piston unit be arranged in an axially parallel manner. At least a region of the drive element overlaps axially with a longitudinal portion of the piston unit. The drive unit is arranged approximately centrally in an axial extension of the piston unit and the longitudinal axis of the drive unit is arranged transversely to the piston longitudinal axis.
US08028756B2
A method of curing an inflatable packing is provided that includes providing a packer assembly having an inflatable packer around a mandrel; a polyamide bandage around the inflatable packer; and a sealing layer around both the polyamide bandage and the inflatable packer to from an airtight seal about the inflatable packer, wherein the method further includes curing the assembled packer assembly.
US08028751B2
A signature element is attached to a downhole cable or other protected equipment and the signal from a signature position detector is used, at least in part, to control the orientation of a directed perforating device or other directional device. Signal emitting sources can include a radioactive material added to an encapsulating composition of a downhole cable.
US08028748B2
A control apparatus to receive a tubular member includes a contact member configured to engage the tubular member, and a control mechanism operably coupled to the contact member, wherein the control mechanism is configured to dampen movement of at least one of the tubular member and the contact member as the tubular member engages the contact member.
US08028745B2
A forced convection heat transfer apparatus wherein a large quantity of heat can be efficiently transferred even when a temperature difference is small, by transmitting power to a magnet, which is rotatable along a circulation flow path of a magnetic fluid, and obtaining a magnetic fluid circulation speed in proportion to the rotating speed.
US08028744B2
A heat sink system with reduced airborne debris clogging, for cooling power electronics, the heat sink system including a heat sink having a plurality of fins, a housing configured to direct air flow around the side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink and then through the fins of the heat sink at a back of the heat sink, and an inlet airway passage formed between a wall of the housing and said side, top, and/or bottom of the finned heat sink to allow air to pass within the housing, wherein said side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink comprises at least one of said plurality of fins disposed directly in contact with the inlet airway passage.
US08028743B2
A system for passively cooling an electronic component includes a conduit configured to carry a pressurized cooling fluid. The conduit has a plurality of delivery orifices configured to dispense the pressurized cooling fluid from the conduit to cool the electronic component. Each delivery orifice has a hydrogel mechanism associated therewith, which is configured to individually control each of the plurality of delivery orifices to automatically regulate flow of the cooling fluid in response to a variation in a property of an ambient environment surrounding the hydrogel mechanism. The property of the ambient environment is influenced by an operation of the electronic component.
US08028740B2
A twin roll caster including chilled rolls, side weirs, and a molten-metal delivery nozzle. Baffles, contiguous with bottoms of end faces of the nozzle, project in a casting pool toward the side weirs to suppress stream of the molten metal into a nip between the rolls. Thus, hot molten metal just after poured into the pool does not instantly reach the nip along the side weirs, and molten metal decreases in temperature with lapse of time after the pouring streams into the nip as the rolls are rotated. As a result, belated formation of solidified shells at and adjacent to outer circumferential edges of the chilled rolls is eliminated. Thus, a strip delivered from the nip between the rolls has no reduced thickness at regions adjacent to lateral edges of the strip and has uniform thickness throughout the width of the strip.
US08028733B2
A green tire includes a surface layer defining a green tire surface and made up of a plurality of windings of an unvulcanized rubber tape. A part of each of the windings is exposed on the green tire surface so that the exposed part has a width of from 50% to 80% of the width W1 of the rubber tape. Each of the windings has a substantially rhomboid cross section and has one end at an acute angle corner exposed on the green tire surface and the other end at the opposing acute angle corner. An angle theta of a diagonal line of the rhomboid drawn between the one end and the other end is not more than 30 degrees with respect to a tangential line to a profile line of the green tire surface.
US08028731B2
A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annular reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, a belt structure arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged at a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, and generally having a first elastomeric material incorporating at least one portion substantially of a second elastomeric material. The tread band has at least one groove defined in the at least one portion substantially of the second elastomeric material, wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the second elastomeric material and the modulus of elasticity under compression at 100° C. of the first elastomeric material is not lower than about 1.30, and wherein the ratio between the IRHD hardness at 100° C. of the second elastomeric material, measured in accordance with standard ISO 48, and the IRHD hardness at 100° C. of the first elastomeric material, measured in accordance with standard ISO 48, is lower than about 1.10.
US08028730B2
A purse comprising a base formed of rigid transparent or translucent material, and a removable liner that is to be inserted in the base of the purse so as to be visible from outside the base, the removable liner being provided in a plurality of colors and textures and patterns and being made of a pliable, sturdy material, wherein the liner provider a creative, decorative design for the purse.
US08028727B2
A simple design of an actuating device for a rapid coupling used for transferring gaseous and/or liquid fluids includes a tubular housing and a slide which is movably mounted relative to the housing and is coupled to a lever mechanism that is provided with at least one pivoted lever laterally mounted on the housing. At least one connecting lever extends to the slide on the pivoted lever, thus also obtaining safe handling.
US08028723B2
A receiving container is filled with a predetermined target mass mz of a free-flowing substance from a reservoir with the help of a dosage-dispensing device that dispenses measured doses of the substance. The device has a valve for variably setting the mass flow {dot over (m)} from the reservoir into the receiving container. The device is also able to determine the time t that has elapsed since the beginning of the fill cycle, the mass m of the substance present in the receiving container, and a unit for controlling the valve. The controller unit includes estimating and correction modules. At least once during the fill cycle, the estimating module performs an estimate of the mass {tilde over (m)}(t, t2) that is expected to be present in the receiving container at the end of the fill cycle at the time t2. This estimate is based on the assumptions that from the time t onward the valve is being closed according to a predefined closing-down profile and the fill cycle is completed at the time t2. The correction module compares the mass {tilde over (m)}(t, t2) estimated at the time t to the target mass mz. If the estimated mass {tilde over (m)}(t, t2) is smaller than the target mass mz, the valve is controlled so that the aperture associated with the mass flow {dot over (m)} that exists at the time t will be maintained longer by a differential time segment Δt, and/or the mass flow {dot over (m)} at the time t is increased.
US08028721B2
The present invention is related to a heated garden hose that has a flexible hose with an inlet and an outlet. The garden hose has an inlet coupler and an outlet coupler. A heating cable coupler is connected between the inlet and the outlet of the flexible hose. A heating cable has a first end with an electrical plug and extends through the heating cable coupler into the interior of the flexible hose. The heating cable is free floating inside the flexible hose. A thermostat, attached to the exterior portion of the heating cable, controls the heating cable and is designed to turn the heating cable off just above the freezing temperature of water. A clip is inserted into the flexible hose near the outlet to hold the heating cable inside of the flexible hose.
US08028719B2
A control stop for a flush valve for a urinal or toilet fixture includes a housing defining a flow chamber divided by a valve seat into inlet and outlet sections. A valve structure is biased toward the valve seat by a spring applying a valve closing spring force. The housing is sealed by a diaphragm, and the diaphragm covers the movable valve structure, isolating it from water flowing through the housing. The diaphragm does not impede valve structure movement, and the closing spring force establishes a threshold water supply pressure for opening the control stop during increasing pressure following a no or low supply pressure condition. A plurality of control stops may supply a bank of flush valves and fixtures, and open in a cascading sequence during increasing pressure as a result of having springs with different closing spring forces.
US08028718B2
A coupling element including a body for fastening to a support and a coupling member fitted with a closure valve member and mounted in the body such that the member can pivot, a sealing gasket is disposed between the body and the coupling member and the element also includes a spring which exerts a resilient force on a flange portion of the coupling member, which force is directed towards the rear of the coupling element and is suitable for pressing a first surface of the coupling element against a surface of the body, and the coupling member is provided with a second surface for bearing against an axial abutment in the event of the coupling member moves towards a front of the coupling element relative to the body.
US08028708B2
An appliance for personal care, such as skin, dental or hair treatment, comprising a dispensing structure (30) for automatically dispensing a fluid. The dispensing structure (30) includes a fluid reservoir (10), a discharge opening (11) and a fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) for driving the fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir (10) to and out of said discharge opening (11) in accordance with a dispensing rate/time profile (Sx). The fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) is arranged for spurting at least once during said dispensing operation for squirting an additional quantity of the fluid to and out of the discharge opening (11) in addition to the fluid being dispensed in accordance with said dispensing rate/time profile (Sx).
US08028705B2
A tongue retaining system is disclosed herein generally having, in one variation, a two-part system. A covering can be sized to fit at least partially over or upon a tongue of a patient, where the covering has an engagement mechanism positioned thereon. A retaining device, sized to fit within a mouth of the patient, may be positioned upon the teeth and have a corresponding engagement mechanism positioned thereon for temporarily coupling with the engagement mechanism on the covering. Such a system can be used to maintain or hold a natural position of the tongue within the mouth of the patient to maintain patency of the airway passages.
US08028704B2
A bite block that is inserted into a patient's mouth during an endoscopic diagnostic or surgical procedure that has a channel for receiving an endoscope or other surgical instrument through the patient's mouth and additional channels transmitting a gas to the patient and transmitting expired gas from the patient.
US08028698B2
Breathing mask assemblies that include adjustable forehead supports are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a forehead support is adjustably coupled to a central or main body of the breathing mask. A clamp is configured to lock the position of the forehead support relative to the central body and to lock forehead support at multiple different positions. In one exemplary embodiment, the forehead support may be locked at any position along a path of travel between a first position and a second position.
US08028676B2
The method comprises receiving from the vehicle controller, values associated with the engine speed and of another parameter indicative of the engine operating conditions, such as the total fuelling amount, and controlling the fuel injection parameters according to the engine state, which, for example, can include a normal operation mode, a filter regeneration mode, an engine protection mode, high or low transient load modes, and operating at different altitudes, through algorithms implemented in an electronic controller.
US08028668B2
The present invention provides a variable valve lift including a housing, a plurality of swing arms that are rotatably arranged at the housing, and a plurality of latching mechanisms for selectively latching the plurality of swing arms.
US08028663B2
A compliant holder device for constraining an animal includes a device body, a nose cone, and compliant flexure arms having contact surfaces for constraining the animal's head. In use, an animal is placed on the device body, and the nose of the animal is placed in the nose cone to constrain the skull at the nose. The compliant flexure arms are flexed to increase the distance between the contact surfaces of respective compliant flexure arms, and the ears of the animal are placed between the contact surfaces of the flexed compliant flexure arms, wherein the flex in the compliant flexure provides pressure to and constrains the skull at the ears.
US08028661B2
An enclosure is provided having openings for entry of rodents within the enclosure. There is arranged one or more applicators in the form of a suspended flexible web configured to contact rodents entering the chamber and having a chemical on the web for application to the rodents.
US08028660B2
An open-ocean fish-growing platform has a submersible cage structure for growing fish, an antenna for receiving positioning signals transmitted from an external source, a position-correction apparatus for calculating a position error signal from a target geostationary position, and an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system for generating electric power for thruster units to maintain the cage structure in the target geostationary position. The OTEC system inducts colder ocean water from a deeper ocean depth for driving its heat exchange cycle, and is also of hybrid type using a fuel-fired unit as a heat source. The cold water effluent from the OTEC system is directed into the cage for flushing wastes generated by the growing fish. The self-positioning, self-powered open-ocean platform enables unmanned, extended marine deployment in deeper ocean waters without the need for tethering or anchoring to the ocean floor.
US08028658B2
A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a bottom opening, a liquid tray adapted to attach to the liquid container and adapted to immerse the bottom opening in liquid. The liquid tray includes a bottom port passing through the liquid tray and vertically aligned with the bottom opening, and a valve mechanism adapted to selectively couple the bottom port of the liquid tray to the bottom opening for filling purposes, or to close the bottom port and couple the bottom opening to the liquid tray for supplying liquid from the liquid container to the liquid tray.
US08028648B2
A rod cradle for a film, coating, or dam rod includes a frame profile (12) equipped with an insert groove (14), an insert (16) fitted into the insert groove, and the insert having a rod groove (18) and a rod (28) therein. The device has locking elements (24) for locking the insert (16) into the frame profile (12). There are, on the sides of the insert groove, edges (20) through which the insert passes into the insert groove when the rod is not present. On the sides of the rod groove (16) there are opposing lips (22). The lips (22) have vertices (74) through which the rod (28) can pass without damage to the rod or the insert so that the rod can be inserted in to the rod groove (18) and lock the insert (16) in the insert groove (14) of the frame profile.
US08028644B2
A tactor system transforms cable motion to tactor motion. A housing defining a plane is adapted for placement proximate to the skin of a user. A cable is operative to deform a tactor element in the housing, causing a portion of the element to move outwardly from the plane of the housing, thereby imparting a tactile sensation to the user's skin. For example, tension on the cable may cause a strip of flexible plastic or other suitable material to bend at a living hinge that moves outwardly from the plane of the housing. The cable may be driven by an actuator including. Two or more tactor elements may be disposed next to each other or in the same housing, with different elements being activated at different times to enhance the apparent frequency of the stimulus. For example, a reciprocating mechanism may be used to operate a pair of tactor elements out of phase with respect to one another. The cable may be controlled by a remote reciprocating mechanism, with a physical quick disconnect mechanism provided between the reciprocating mechanism and the cable.
US08028643B2
The all-directional fall sensor of the present invention includes a first casing defining a first interior space filled with a liquid and a floater buoyed by the liquid inside the first casing. The floater includes an indicator having indicative materials therein. The indicator includes a body defining a chamber, which is divided into at least a first portion and a second portion with a first sealing member located therebetween. The indicative materials are contained in the second portion of the chamber and are sealed therein with the first sealing member. When the all-directional fall sensor is applied with a force, the first sealing member would be dislocated and thus the indicative materials are dispersed within the chamber.
US08028634B2
A threading device of a sewing machine is provided. The threading device includes a threading hook which moves forward to penetrate through an eye of a needle to capture a thread and which moves backward to insert the thread into the eye, a threading shaft which holds the threading hook at a lower end thereof, a threading movement input mechanism from which an operation for causing the threading hook to carry out a threading movement is input, an up-and-down member which moves, in accordance with the operation to the threading movement input mechanism, in up and down directions to rotate the threading shaft, a thread holding mechanism which holds the thread to be inserted into the needle, and a thread releasing mechanism which releases the thread that is held by the thread holding mechanism. The thread releasing mechanism releases the thread when the threading hook is moving backward.
US08028628B2
A roller assembly call up mechanism for a vehicle wash conveyor having an endless chain with a plurality of spaced roller assemblies attached thereto for pushing a vehicle along a slotted track, is located below the track and includes a power cylinder, a crank arm connected to the power cylinder and an axle connected to the crank arm for rotation with the axle. A ramp in the form of a pair of spaced forks is connected to the axle for rotation therewith. A slotted link is pivotally connected at one end to the ramp and at an opposite end to the entrance trap door whereby when the power cylinder is actuated the ramp and the trap door are pivoted upwardly.
US08028623B2
Disclosed is a contact-pressure adjusting method and a contact-pressure adjusting system, each of which automatically adjusts the contact pressure between two rotors, for a liquid application machine including: a first rotor to which liquid is supplied; a second rotor to which the liquid is supplied from the first rotor; and a contact-pressure adjusting unit for adjusting the contact pressure between the first rotor and the second rotor. By using a temperature measuring unit, measured is: the temperature of at least one of the surfaces of the first and second rotors; the temperature of at least one of the liquid on the surface of the first rotor and the liquid on the surface of the second rotor; or the temperature of at least one of the vicinity of the first rotor and the vicinity of the second rotor. The contact-pressure adjusting unit is adjusted in accordance with the measured temperature.
US08028618B2
A continuous cooker having a conveyor capable of repositioning product and cleaning itself of debris and a method for its operation. The cooker includes a conveyor that transports food atop a conveyor belt to a cooking chamber. Upper and lower diverting rollers guide the belt along an S-shaped product-repositioning path segment. The lower diverting roller is rotated at a speed different from the speed of the conveyor belt to cause the belt to slip on the roller's periphery, which effects a scraping action against the conveying side of the belt to dislodge debris.
US08028600B2
A shift apparatus for a dual clutch transmission includes a plurality of shift lugs and a shift operating module moving the shift lugs. The apparatus provides a simple structure and sufficient rigidity and durability, in addition to a simple shift of a gear. The apparatus further provides an automatic releasing function that automatically releases the prior shift stage and an active inter-lock function that prevents gears connected to the same clutch from being engaged simultaneously, and enables 6-3-stage and 5-2-stage skip shift.
US08028596B2
A transmission device (1) having a switching element, which is actuated by at least one electric component (5, 17) which is part of an actuator (4). The electric actuator component is linked to a countershaft (3) of the transmission and rotates at the speed of countershaft (3) during operation, and is functionally connected through an electric transformer rotary transformer device (15) with further enclosure mounted components of the transmission device (1). Via the transformer device (15), electric energy and/or data can be exchanged, through collector ring contacts, using inductive or capacitive coupling between the enclosure mounted components of transmission device (1) and at least one electric actuator component (5, 17) which is linked with the countershaft (3).
US08028589B2
There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly with rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members and with a strain sensor fixed to a stationary member served by one of the outer and inner members. The strain sensor includes a strain generating member and a sensor element secured thereto. The strain generating member has first and second contact fixing segments respectively associated with a flanged face provided in the outer member and a peripheral surface of the stationary member. These contact fixing segments have a joint region therebetween having a bent portion convexed toward the outer member. A location in the strain generating member where the sensor element is secured is on the first contact fixing segment side of the bent portion and yet in the vicinity of the bent portion.
US08028587B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for testing shafts, such as golf club shafts. In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a shaft tester comprising: a frame; a first shaft support supporting a first portion of a shaft at a first fixed position; a second shaft support supporting a second portion of the shaft at a second fixed position; and a third shaft support supporting a third portion of the shaft at a third fixed position. An actuator couples to the third shaft support to displace the third portion relative to the first and second portions to deflect the shaft. A sensor couples to one of the first, second and third supports outputting a signal corresponding to a force exerted by the shaft due. A controller controls displacement of the shaft. In some embodiments, the shaft is rotated while being deflected.
US08028584B2
A pressure sensor includes: a housing having a pressure introduction port; and a connector case integrated with the housing. The connector case includes: a protruding portion that protrudes in the pressure introduction port along with the introduction direction from one end of the connector case, and has a concavity hollowed in a direction perpendicular to the introduction direction; a sensor chip having a pressure gauge on one surface of the chip in the concavity; a terminal having one end inserted and molded in the connector case; and a bonding wire that electrically connects the sensor chip and the one end of the terminal. The connector case seals a connection portion between the bonding wire and the terminal, a connection portion between the boding wire and the sensor chip, and the bonding wire.
US08028583B2
A method for detecting squeaking noises within a sound signal generated during operation of a motor vehicle or during operation of a component thereof is described; in this method the sound signal is detected; an amplitude spectrum of the sound signal representing the amplitude distribution in a frequency range is generated at a minimum of two points in time and the existence of a squeaking noise is detected by analysis of the at least two amplitude spectra.
US08028580B2
The present invention relates to an inertial measurement unit with enhanced resistance to acceleration, and it is characterized in that it comprises at least five accelerometers (Acc1 to Acc5), the sensing axes of which are arranged at various positions on the generatrix of a conical surface, and in that they comprise a device for detecting saturation of the accelerometers and a device for detecting abnormal biases.
US08028579B2
A vibration body for angular speed sensor has a vibrator that includes vibration pieces, a supporting part for supporting the vibration pieces, and a mounting substrate for mounting the vibrator. The mounting substrate has a seat part for fixing the supporting part and supporting the vibrator and a base part. The seat part has a level difference representing a predetermined height from the base part. The predetermined height is set larger than an oscillation width of the vibration pieces. The seat part also has an edge portion that has a shape of a curved line, and each line in a direction perpendicular to each position on the edge portion determines a mounting angle for mounting the vibrator and has an angle in the same direction as a reference direction defined in the mounting substrate or in a direction at least one being different from it.
US08028576B2
A system determines patient's muscle strength of a lever arm comprising a leg, ankle, and foot. A value indicative of the strength is determined based on pressure values associated with the lever arm, as well as at least one weight based value. The values may be entered remotely or locally to a computer that outputs the value indicative of the strength.
US08028573B2
The invention particularly relates to a tool set for setting-up a flow monitoring device (1) in a fluid piping (K).This tool set comprises at least one hollow semi-flexible hose (31) provided with a jack (33) bearing the device (1) in a sheath, a pump (32) monitoring the pressure inside the hose, a support member (4) slidingly crossed by the hose (31), and an introduction airlock (5) carried by the support member and making it possible to sealingly insert the hose in the piping (K).
US08028562B2
Methods and related systems are described for high pressure chromatographic analysis. The described system includes a flowpath adapted to flow a mobile phase and the sample at high pressures, an injector adapted to inject the fluid sample into a flowpath, a separation column adapted to operate at high pressures for separating various components, a detector and a processor that calculates the amount of at least one component of the fluid sample. The system can operate a pressures above 20 atm or even 100 atm, and temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius. The system can deployed in a wellbore in a subterranean rock formation, and include fluid collection system for obtaining the fluid sample downhole. The system can also be located close to a wellhead and includes a tap in fluid communication with a surface flowline carrying produced fluids and the injector.
US08028556B2
Key ring with tamper-evident closure member, kit for assembling a key ring, and method of using same
A key ring apparatus is designed to provide visual evidence of tampering. The key ring apparatus includes a main loop member having adjacent end portions with substantially equal diameters. The key ring apparatus also includes a hollow tubular sleeve that receives the main loop end portions, and is crimped into place thereon after keys have been placed on the main loop member. The tubular sleeve may have a pair of crimping indication indicators thereon, to show where to crimp the sleeve onto the main loop of the key ring apparatus. One or both of the main loop member and the sleeve may have a unique serial identification number thereon.
US08028555B2
A preassembled cam lock assembly comprising is disclosed which includes a housing defining a throughbore configured to receive an interchangeable lock core. A tail piece is fixedly secured on a rear face of the housing. The tail piece defines a stepped bore including an arc-shaped cutout. Each end of the arc-shaped cutout defines a stop surface. A cam driver is configured to be rotatably retained in the stepped bore of the tail piece. The cam driver includes a first end defining an arc shaped lost motion slot and a second end adapted to engage a cam. The cam driver has a plurality of spaced bores which are dimensioned to receive a driver pin which is movably positioned within the cutout of the tail piece between the stop surfaces. A cam is secured to the second end of the cam driver adjacent the tail piece. A drive member is positioned within the throughbore of the housing and is adapted to engage an interchangeable lock core such that actuation of the interchangeable lock core effects rotation of the cam driver. The drive member includes a drive pin which is slidably positioned within the lost motion slot of the cam driver such that rotation of the drive member moves the drive pin through the lost motion slot such that the driver pin engages an end of the lost motion slot to effect rotation of the cam driver.
US08028554B2
A cylinder lock device including: a body housing having a bore, with a direction of elongation defining an axial direction for the device; a rotatable cylindrical plug in the bore, the plug having an axially extending key slot from at least one end of the plug; a plurality of driver pins configurable substantially perpendicular to the key slot and located within the body housing and substantially outside of the plug; a plurality of tumbler pins corresponding to and positionable substantially collinear with each one of the plurality of driver pins and substantially inside the plug, the tumbler pins displaceable by a key to bias the driver pins to enable rotation of the plug, the driver pins adapted to displace the respective tumbler pins; and a displacement mechanism being deployed within the body housing and adapted to displace the plurality of driver pins thereby selectively enabling rotation of the plug when no key is present in the slot.
US08028551B2
A mountable lock includes a lock body and a retaining member. The lock body is configured to be secured to an external structure by at least one fastening member. The lock body includes a lock interface movable from a locking condition to an unlocking condition in response to proper user manipulation of the lock interface. The retaining member includes a first end receivable in a first opening of the lock body and lockingly engageable with the lock body when the lock interface is in the locking condition, the first end being disengageable from the first opening when the lock interface is in the unlocking condition. The at least one fastening member is accessible through a passageway in the lock body that is blocked when the retaining member is in locking engagement with the lock body, thereby preventing disassembly of the lock body from the external structure.
US08028548B2
A laundry machine includes a height increasing member between a washing tub and an installation surface of a cabinet. The height increasing member includes a housing with an opening to support the washing tub in the cabinet, a body with a storage space that moves in and out of the opening in the housing, and a door panel to hide a servicing section when the body is moved into the opening and to expose the servicing section when the movable body is moved out from the opening. The servicing section may include or otherwise provide access to a filter.
US08028545B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a final optical fiber preform by overcladding, said method comprising the steps of providing a primary preform; positioning said primary preform within at least one tube, wherein the at least one tube partly covers the primary preform to create a zone to be overcladded, being an overclad zone, which overclad zone is located on the primary preform outside the at least one tube; injecting a gas into the annular space between the primary preform and the at least one tube under overpressure relative to the pressure outside the at least one tube; overcladding the primary preform in the overclad zone with an overcladding material using an overcladding device. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The invention allows overcladding a primary preform at low cost while maximally limiting the incorporation of impurities into the silica overclad.
US08028543B2
An apparatus for tempering a bent glass sheet is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means for conveying the sheet through the apparatus and a pair of blastheads for quenching the sheet with quench gas. Each blasthead comprises a plurality of spaced elongate plenums for supplying quench gas to an array of quench nozzles, the nozzles being mutually inclined to provide diverging jets of quench gas. The plenums extend transversely to the direction of conveyance of the sheet, and the array of nozzles is curved in at least one direction. The array may comprise rows of nozzles extending along lines which are curved in the direction of elongation of the plenums; preferably the curvature of the rows matches the average local curvature of the bent glass sheet in the corresponding direction. Also disclosed is a production line incorporating the apparatus.
US08028528B2
A combustor assembly includes a convergent segment followed by a divergent segment to advantageously improve combustion. The combustor assembly includes a first segment beginning at a forward end that transitions to a second segment past a transition segment in a direction along a combustor axis toward an aft end. The reduction in cross-sectional area within the first segment provides desirable fuel and air mixing properties. The convergent first segment in combination with the divergent second segment decreases residence time of fuel-air mixture within the combustor chamber that decreases production of undesirable emissions from the combustor assembly.
US08028526B2
A geared fluid drive arrangement in which a constant speed motor is used to start a “full-size” boiler feed pump, and is able to operate the pump at a limited speed and correspondingly limited power adequate to fill, pressurize and feed water to a boiler such as would be used for an electrical generating plant to start-up and to operate stably at part load, but not necessarily full load. After the boiler is operating stably, steam from the boiler or from an extraction point of the main turbine is admitted to a mechanical drive steam turbine in order to drive the same “full-size” pump to the normal operating range.
US08028497B2
Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in netting include a pivotable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to netting and a first cutting cartridge mounted to the pivotable clipper mechanism. The first cutting cartridge includes: (a) a knife; (b) an actuation cylinder with a rod in communication with the knife that advances and retracts the knife; and (c) an anti-rotation block attached to a rear of the knife intermediate the knife and rod to inhibit the knife and rod from rotating, wherein, in operation, the first cutting cartridge pivots with the clipper mechanism.
US08028496B2
A beverage bottling plant, a labeling machine for use in a beverage bottling plant, and a glue application device for use with a labeling machine in a beverage bottling plant.
US08028492B2
A wall-forming system including a pair of spaced apart confronting sidewalls defining a wall cavity therebetween. Each sidewall is constructed from a plurality of insulating sheets and upright support members. Each sheet is disposed between a neighboring pair of support members. Each of the neighboring support members has an upright channel that receives an end wall portion of the sheet and thereby maintains the sheet upright. Each support member also includes a slot for receiving one end of a tie that extends between the first and second sidewalls through the wall cavity and connects the first sidewall to the second sidewall. The slot is defined between a pair of walls having a plurality of through-holes extending transversely therethrough and across the slot. The end of the tie disposed inside the slot has a through-hole aligned with one of the through-holes of the walls to receive a portion of a fastener therein.
US08028486B2
Floor panels and floor elements therefore are made of sheet-shaped cores which before application of the surface of the floor panels are formed with sealing means for counteracting changes in the properties of the floor panels caused by moisture.
US08028484B2
A building material anchor including a resilient pad. A resilient, openwork tube is affixed to the top of the pad. An adhesive layer coats the bottom of the pad.
US08028482B2
The invention relates to a device for forming contraction joints in concrete works. The invention comprises a plurality of assemblies which are made from a concrete-separating material and which are mounted to rigid linear elements in an alternate manner on one side and then the other of the surface crack line on the upper face of the concrete work surface, leaving spaces therebetween for cracking. The inventive device enables the adjacent slabs formed by the contraction joint to be fixed, thereby improving the resistance performance thereof. The invention is suitable for in situ concrete works, such as roads, channels, esplanades, sewers, tunnels, railways, dykes, etc.
US08028479B2
Disclosed is an interlocking glazing panel comprising a pair of transparent or translucent lites, and rigid structural spacer located between, and firmly attached to, said lites to define a gap therebetween, said rigid structural spacer extending around at least part of the periphery of said glazing unit and having over at least a portion thereof an interlocking profile to provide a firm interlocking connection to another interlocking panel having a complementary like interlocking profile, wherein said glazing panel can be inserted as a structural member in a wall or roof constructed of interlocking panels.
US08028477B2
A peak gusset for securing a safety line for a workman, a roof truss and an anchoring system incorporating the same. The gusset is a substantially planar plate including an attachment region, a coplanar anchor portion and bendable flaps. A plurality of teeth extends from the attachment region and into the side of a truss member adjacent the peak. The anchor portion extends laterally beyond the peak and a hole defined therein receives the security line. The hole is disposed above an upper surface of the truss member and vertically beneath the peak. The gusset is non-removable and does not need to be cut down before a ventilation cap is applied thereover. A pair of peak gussets can be secured on either side of a truss and a connector member for attachment of the security line can extend between peak gussets on adjacent trusses.
US08028470B2
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method and system for watering plants. A map of an area is received and a determination is made using a processing unit as to whether the area needs water. If the area needs water, current constraints are identified and a determination is made using the processing system as to whether the current constraints allow for watering. If the current constraints allow for watering, a watering solution application plan is generated using the processing system, and the watering solution application plan is executed using a mobile utility vehicle.
US08028451B1
A tag holder (12) formed as a single stamping defines a singular body having a first tab (16), a second tab (24), and a third tab (38). The second tab (24) is cut from the first tab (16) to define an aperture (18) in the first tab for receiving a hanger rod (62) of a product display, and then the second tab (24) is folded from the first tab (16) and aligned adjacent the third tab (38). Protuberant lance portions (30) are formed from a surface (26) of the second tab (24) and extend toward the third tab (38). A hang tag (50) is placed between the second tab (24) and the third tab (38), with the aperture (18) in the first tab (16) aligned adjacent a hanger aperture (54) of the hang tag (50), and then the second tab (24) is pushed toward the third tab (38) with the protuberant lance portions (30) extending through the hang tag (50) and against the third tab (38) to secure hang tag (50) to the tag holder (12).
US08028449B2
A collapsible display arrangement has a base unit for placing against and resting the collapsible display arrangement upon a support surface with a sheet formed from a rollable material. The sheet is rolled or unrolled and has an image. The collapsible display arrangement has a first rod as a support for cooperating with the base unit and for retaining the sheet in an exposed state with the sheet in the exposed state having an upper edge section, a first lateral edge section, and a second lateral edge section. The upper edge section is supported by a second rod provided with end related permanent magnets. Each magnet is oriented and has a magnetization direction and each has an attractive force that will operate between the permanent magnet and an adjacent second oriented permanent magnet. The second permanent magnet is connected to an adjacent second display arrangement, and each of permanent magnet has a magnetization direction causing an attractive force to the second oriented permanent magnet. The first lateral end section of the sheet is oriented adjacent to a second lateral edge section relative to a second display arrangement.
US08028431B2
Methods and systems for a portable metrology device are described. One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including a first link, a first probe coupled with the first link by a first coupling operable to move in a first degree of freedom, a second probe coupled with the first link by a second coupling operable to move in a second degree of freedom, a first sensor operable to output a first sensor signal associated with a motion of the first coupling, and a second sensor operable to output a second sensor signal associated with a motion of the second coupling. The embodiment also includes a processor in communication with the first and second sensors and operable to: receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, and determine a distance between the first probe and the second probe based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
US08028429B2
An apparatus for hanging an object from a wall comprises a generally triangular-shaped frame having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and cross-member between the vertical and horizontal portions. The vertical portion is configured for attachment to a wall stud. The horizontal portion defines an elongate slot that extends a substantial length of the horizontal portion. A hook member is slideably coupled to the slot and is configured to support a weight of an object suspended therefrom.
US08028423B2
A reciprocating-type cutting blade device (1) has first and second driving bodies (15, 16) driven reciprocatingly in opposite directions. First and second cutting blade bodies (13, 14) are driven reciprocatingly by detachably engaging the first and second driving bodies (15, 16). Two detachable guide plates (11, 12) slidably hold these driving and cutting blade bodies. A first boundary (Q1) is formed between engaging portions (31, 33) of the first cutting blade body (13) and the first driving body (15), and a second boundary (Q2) is formed between engaging portions (32, 34) of the second cutting blade body (14) and the second driving body (16). The boundaries intersect only at points in a planar view, and the engaging portions (31-34) of the cutting blade bodies (13, 14) and the driving bodies (15, 16) maintain this state of intersection over a whole stroke of reciprocating motion.
US08028420B2
A novel utility knife in which the parts for securing and replacing the cutting blade are selectively movable in and out of the handle of the knife via a single track system. The blade is secured through a series of elastic metal sheets, one of which contains a projection on a metal tab. The lateral manipulation of the metal tab allows the blade to disengage from the metal sheets. Once disengaged, a user of the utility knife may remove or replace the cutting blade.
US08028414B2
Bearing bores for engine mount components must be periodically repaired. A component is disassembled and a bearing is removed from the bearing bore. An inner surface of the bearing bore is machined to remove any damage. A sizing sleeve is selected to have a press fit with the machined inner surface of the bearing bore and with the outer surface of a new bearing. The bearing is press fit into the sizing sleeve and the sizing sleeve is press fit into the bearing bore. The outer surfaces of the sizing sleeve and the bearing are swaged to assist in retaining and preventing relative movement between the bearing, sizing sleeve and engine mount component.
US08028412B2
A method for making an axle rotating portion including a hub, at least one rolling bearing, and a stub axle, the rotating portion configured to receive a brake disc. The method includes at least one machining of the support surface of the hub, against which the disc is configured to be urged to press, the machining being carried out on a subassembly foamed by assembling at least the hub and the roller bearing and to obtain at least one part of the support surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the roller bearing in the subassembly.
US08028410B2
A regenerator core for use in a gas turbine regenerator has integral manifold openings formed in the tube plates used to make up the core and has special reinforcing elements which provide high pressure containment in critical portions of the plate-and-fin heat exchanger construction. The reinforcing elements include a series of hoops of U-shaped cross section which are used to bridge the juncture lines of the heat exchanger manifolds. An outer channel region of the hoops is provided with a reinforcing strip of gusset material. The hoops with their reinforcing strips provide structural reinforcement in the region between the manifolds and the conventional side bar reinforcing members in the central core section.
US08028406B2
Methods for fabricating a coplanar waveguide structure. The method may include forming first and second ground conductors and a signal conductor in a coplanar arrangement between the first and second ground conductors, forming a first coplanar array of substantially parallel shield conductors above the signal conductor and the first and second ground conductors, and forming a second coplanar array of substantially parallel shield conductors below the signal conductor and the first and second ground conductors. The method further includes forming a first plurality of conductive bridges located laterally between the signal conductor and the first ground conductor, and forming a second plurality of conductive bridges located laterally between the signal conductor and the second ground conductor. Each of the first plurality of conductive bridges connects one of the shield conductors in the first array with one of the shield conductors in the second array. Each of the second plurality of conductive bridges connects one of the shield conductors in the first array with one of the shield conductors in the second array.
US08028390B2
A spring actuated clamping mechanism has a backer plate with an upper surface and a lower surface. A set of apertures is formed along the periphery of the backer plate. The upper surface of the backer plate has at least one backer plate recess, and preferably four recesses, formed therein. A threaded aperture is also formed in the backer plate. A compression plate is also provided. A second set of apertures is formed along the periphery of the compression plate. The lower surface of the compression plate has at least one compression plate recess, and at least one compression plate aperture. At least one compression spring is disposed between the backer plate and the compression plate. A screw tension release mechanism is screwed into the backer plate threaded aperture and inserted through the compression plate aperture. When the release mechanism is loosened, backer plate is forced downwardly, applying a uniform force to all electrical contacts on the printed circuit board or card to which the clamping mechanism is attached.
US08028389B2
A novel surface acoustic wave device with a decreased velocity dispersion and a low insertion loss as well as the fabrication method therefore is provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an insulating layer with an indentation on the substrate, a silicon layer divided by an etched window with a first portion on the insulating layer and a second portion suspended above the indentation, a piezoelectric layer on the first and the second portions of the silicon layer, and at least an electrode on the piezoelectric layer.
US08028385B2
A tampon including a compressed pledget of absorbent material. The tampon has a body portion and a longitudinal axis, wherein the tampon includes at least one patterned impression with one or more design elements oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one design element is formed by contact with at least one corresponding pattern including at least one lead in portion. A method and apparatus for making the tampon are also disclosed.
US08028384B2
A burial vault base assembly. The assembly includes a front piece, back piece, and first and second side pieces that are connected to one another at a plurality of joints using C-shaped connectors. These pieces form an exterior shell around an interior piece wherein concrete is poured therebetween to form a burial vault base wherein the C-shaped connectors prevent the concrete from breaking at the joints and protruding at the joints.
US08028381B2
A removable load bearing textile clamp including a locking clamp portion configured to accept an internally positioned rod such that a textile sheet can be led around the rod and positioned inside the clamp and secured by closing the clamp and engaging the locking mechanism.
US08028380B2
A method for easy holding of a trash bag in a container: It consists of at least one retainer set and a container having an open end. Each retainer set consists of at least two magnetically coupled pieces which can engage or disengage with each other, with one of the two pieces attached rigidly to an outside portion of the container. Place a portion of a trash bag inside the container with the outside portion of the trash bag folded down along the trash can wall. Engage the two magnetically coupled pieces to fold part of the trash bag around them. The folding(s) reduces the force needed to hold the trash bag in place at the coupling portion of the two retainer pieces. The apparatus can be easily operated with one hand.
US08028377B2
In a block and tackle window balance, the balance shoe holds and upwardly biases the terminal connector in a mounted position. A biasing element of the shoe maintains the terminal connector in a pocket of the shoe during operation of the balance. The terminal connector is prevented from laterally exiting the pocket in the mounted position by a widened portion on the terminal connector and a locating surface extending from the shoe toward the pocket. Manually pressing down on the biasing element or the terminal connector itself to lower the terminal connector in the pocket until the widened portion clears the locating surface allows lateral removal of the terminal connector from the pocket. During operation of the balance, however, the terminal connector does not experience a sufficient downward force to overcome the upward bias such that the widened portion never clears the locating surface.
US08028376B2
A door safety device, comprising: a door clasp, an anti-door-closing member, and a casing. The anti-door-closing member includes an elongated stem having opposite proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end comprises a raised spacer, and wherein the distal end of the elongated stem includes a stem button.
US08028374B2
A furniture glide protective device comprised of a laminated material comprised of an exterior surface made of synthetic fibers, a middle neoprene portion, and an interior surface made of nylon web meshing; wherein said laminated material is tubular-shaped having an opening on one end for insertion on the furniture leg and a surface on the opposite end to protect the floor; and a fastening mechanism for securing and locking said tubular shaped material over the furniture glide on the leg of a chair and/or table; and related method for securing a furniture glide and protecting a floor surface from scratching by furniture.
US08028371B2
In a suction device for the intake by suction and/or extraction by suction of chips or dust, comprising a lower part (1) which is preferably provided with rollers (17), a collection container (2) which can be placed on said lower part and an upper part (3) which closes said collection container and has a motor-drivable fan (9) and a filter cartridge (7) which separates said fan from the interior of the collection container (2), an air inlet (4) which opens into the collection container (2) and is provided with a connector (6) and an air outlet (5) which is arranged downstream of the fan (9) being provided, a low transport volume can be achieved in a simple manner as a result of the fact that there is arranged between the lower part (1) and upper part (3) a support means which is configured in the manner of a telescope and with which there is associated a means (14) for receiving the upper end region of the collection container (2), the axial length of which is variable and the base of which can be secured to the lower part (1).
US08028361B2
An infant support device for supporting an infant in a prone position, comprising a base with a front, a back, a top, a bottom and two side members, said base having a support surface extending between the side members on the top of the base; the support surface being defined by two portions: (I) a body support surface disposed proximate the front of the support device and terminating adjacent the front of the device, and (II) a leg support surface extending rearwardly from terminus of the body support surface toward the back of the device; and having a grip for retaining the posterior side of the legs of the infant and extending upwardly from the support surface between the side members; wherein an infant is supported in a prone position on the support surface between the side members, and the legs are supported on the leg support surface and are retained by said grip to minimize infant rollover toward a supine position.
US08028360B2
The pillow includes first and second fabric layers and third and fourth fabric layers, all of which are identical and secured together around the peripheries thereof. Positioned between the first and second fabric layers is a baffle structure which includes first and second lateral baffles extending across the width of the pillow and positioned at approximately one-third and two-thirds of the longitudinal distance (dimension) of the pillow. The baffle structure includes two central baffles, two first end baffles and two second end baffles, arranged to define baffle boxes of approximately equal size. The two central baffles extend longitudinally from one lateral baffle, leaving a space between the free ends thereof and the other lateral baffle to permit filling of the pillow. The first end baffles extend from the one lateral baffle a selected distance, leaving a space between the first end baffles and one lateral edge of the pillow to permit filling of the pillow. The second end baffles extend from the opposing lateral edge of the pillow toward the other lateral baffle, leaving a space between the second end baffles and the other lateral baffle to permit filling of the pillow.
US08032941B2
A method for searching a portable storage device for a rights object by using an identifier of the rights object, including a host device accessing the portable storage device, retrieving the identifier of the stored rights object from the portable storage device, storing the retrieved object identifier, searching for the stored object identifier to perform an operation associated with the rights object stored in the portable storage device, and acquiring location data of the rights object as a result of the searching.
US08032929B2
Security of an information processing apparatus is ensured by performing biological information authentication and collecting the environment information about the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits the collected environment information to a first authentication apparatus. An electronic certificate issued by a second authentication apparatus and information encrypted with a secret key issued by the second authentication apparatus are transmitted to the first authentication apparatus. The first authentication apparatus acquires the public key of the second authentication apparatus and the public key of the information processing apparatus so as to decrypt the encrypted information, and judges whether or not the decrypted information is proper. The first authentication apparatus refers to an environment information database and the transmitted information, and judges whether or not the transmitted environment information is proper. When all the authentications by the biological information authentication, environment information authentication and electronic certificate authentication are successful, the information processing apparatus is judged to be safe.
US08032926B2
Provided are a method of configuring a hierarchical network of user groups and resource groups, and a key distribution center. The method includes the steps of: analyzing hierarchical connection relationships between respective user groups and respective resource groups, comparing redundancy rates of the respective hierarchical connection relationships, and determining a connection mode having a larger redundancy rate; separating the respective user groups and resource groups and hierarchically connecting the user groups with the resource groups, according to the determined connection mode; comparing hierarchical connections between the respective separated user groups and resource groups, and removing an overlapping hierarchical connection; and recombining the separate hierarchical connections except for the overlapping hierarchical connection, and configuring an entire network.
US08032924B2
A method for protecting information in a distributed stream processing system, including: assigning a principal label to a processing component; assigning a first channel label to a first communication channel that is input to the processing component; comparing the principal label to the first channel label to determine if the processing component can read data attributes of the first channel label; and reading the data attributes of the first channel label when the principal label is equal to or has precedence over the first channel label, wherein the principal label includes a read label and a write label and at least one of a selection label, an addition label or a suppression label.
US08032921B2
A first access policy is stored to provide information on a first distributee to which an electronic document is distributed, to which the first distributee is permitted to distribute the electronic document, and use rights that permit the second distributees to use the electronic document. Also stored is a distribution target information indicating the second distributees. When the first distributee requests permission to grant use rights to a specific distributee, the distribution target is consulted to confirm whether or not the specific distributee is included in the second distributees. A second access policy associating the specific distributee with the information on the use rights is then registered. When the specific distributee requests permission to use the electronic document, the second access policy is consulted to permit the specific distributee to use the electronic document.
US08032916B2
An optical signal return path system analog RF signals are sampled using a master clock frequency, and combined with digital data such as Ethernet data at a cable node. The cable node sends the combined signals on a return path over a fiber optic medium to the cable hub. The cable hub extracts an approximate in-frequency replicate of a master clock signal, and can use the replicate master clock signal to desample the digitized RF signals back to analog. The cable hub can further use the replicate of the master clock signal to serialize Ethernet data, and send the Ethernet data back to the cable node via an optical cable in the forward direction. Accordingly, a single master clock signal can be used on a CATV network for encoding/decoding, and transmitting a variety of data signals, which enhances the integrity and reliability of the data signals.
US08032903B2
In a motor including a chucking device for detachably holding a disk, the chucking device has a center case to which a central opening of the disk is inserted; resilient members received within the center case; and claw members for holding the disk in place. Each of the claw members has a tip end portion, a disk holding surface positioned axially below the tip end portion for holding the disk in place, and a recessed sliding portion formed substantially at a circumferential center region of the disk holding surface, the sliding portion serving to guide movement of the claw member. Rest portions are formed in the center case in a facing relationship with the respective sliding portions, the rest portions serving to support the respective sliding portions by contacting therewith. Each of the rest portions has an upwardly convex curved surface with which the corresponding sliding portion makes contact.
US08032897B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining use of one or more pages in a guest physical address space of a guest; storing handler code to process one or more input/output (I/O) and/or interrupt events in the one or more pages; and redirecting a first event of the one or more I/O events from guest handler code that would process the first event to the handler code in the one or more pages. Also contemplated is a computer accessible medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implement the method.
US08032893B2
A method and a system for the synchronization of data between applications are provided. Data is exchanged at least partially between the applications, the exchanged data being synchronized with the data that is present in the respective application. To simplify the synchronization process, according to the invention an identification that signifies incompleteness is assigned to the data.
US08032891B2
A mobile device (10) manages tasks (18) using a scheduler (20) for scheduling tasks on multiple processors (12). To conserve energy, the set of tasks to be scheduled are divided into two (or more) subsets, which are scheduled according to different procedures. In a specific embodiment, the first subset contains tasks with the highest energy consumption deviation based on the processor that executes the task. This subset is scheduled according to a power-aware procedure for scheduling tasks primarily based on energy consumption criteria. If there is no failure, the second subset is scheduled according to a real-time constrained procedure that schedules tasks primarily based on the deadlines associated with the various tasks in the second subset. If there is a failure in either procedure, one or more tasks with the lowest energy consumption deviation are moved from the first subset to the second subset and the scheduling is repeated.
US08032886B2
The invention builds a structure of software objects that captures the historically contingent development of an asynchronous program. The invention builds software objects that represent the resources and subtasks that make up the asynchronous program. The objects are connected into a hierarchy whose structure explicates interactions among the resources and subtasks. When a fault is detected, the structure tells the debugger everything the program was doing at the time of the fault and lays open the developmental history of the program that led to the fault. The debugger uses this information to trace the detected fault back through code and time to its origin. When a new feature is added, the structure tells maintenance personnel how the new feature affects existing functions. Within the structure, the invention provides mechanisms for handling reference counters and software locks. Groups of resources can be handled together, the structure taking care of coordination.
US08032883B2
According to one embodiment, a computer machine includes a client virtual machine and a file server virtual machine configured to simultaneously run, a virtual machine manager configured to control booting of the client and file server virtual machines, a monitoring module configured to monitor whether a communication with an external file server is possible, an access control module configured to access to a duplicate file which is a duplicate of the file and is stored in a part of a local disk or a part of a memory which are managed by the monitoring module when the monitoring module determines that the communication is impossible after determining that the communication is possible, and a file deletion module configured to delete the duplicate file when the monitoring module detects the communication is impossible in a preset time.
US08032882B2
A method comprises determining an aggregate usage of CPU attributable to a given virtual machine (VM), wherein the aggregate usage of CPU attributable to the given VM includes a determined amount of CPU usage by a driver domain, such as by a network driver domain, that is attributable to the given VM. The method further comprises scheduling, by an aggregate proportional-share scheduler, CPU access to the given VM based at least in part on the determined aggregate usage of CPU attributable to the given VM.
US08032873B2
The present invention provides for a system for computer program code size partitioning for multiple memory multi-processor systems. At least one system parameter of a computer system comprising one or more disparate processing nodes is identified. Computer program code comprising a program to be run on the computer system is received. A program representation based on received computer program code is generated. At least one single-entry-single-exit (SESE) region is identified based on the whole program representation. At least one SESE region of less than a certain size (store-size-specific) is identified based on identified SESE regions and the at least one system parameter. Each store-size-specific SESE region is grouped into a node-specific subroutine. The non node-specific parts of the computer program code are modified based on the partitioning into node-specific subroutines. The modified computer program code including each node-specific subroutine is compiled based on a specified node characteristic.
US08032867B2
Programmatic root cause analysis of application performance problems is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Transactions having multiple components can be monitored to determine if they are exceeding a threshold for their execution time. Monitoring the transactions can include instrumenting one or more applications to gather component level information. For transactions exceeding a threshold, the data collected for the individual components can be analyzed to automatically diagnose the potential cause of the performance problem. Time-series analytical techniques are employed to determine normal values for transaction and component execution times. The values can be dynamic or static. Deviations from these normal values can be detected and reported as a possible cause. Other filters in addition to or in place of execution times for transactions and components can also be used.
US08032866B1
Analysis of execution traces to identify execution problems is described. Analysis of the execution trace allows the user to detect application execution patterns. Each pattern represents a sequence of operations performed by the application. Some patterns correspond to normal execution of the application. Some patterns correspond to typical operations such as file opening, file saving, site browsing, mail sending. Diagnostic classes include patterns associated with certain malfunctions. In one embodiment, the system includes a learning mode wherein the system accumulates patterns belonging to different classes and stores them in a pattern database. In one embodiment, the system also includes a recognition mode where the system matches the trace against the pattern database and assigns trace regions to specific classes such as normal, abnormal, classes of specific problems or user activities, etc.
US08032862B2
A dynamic nature is added to configuration files so that various types of dynamic functions can be performed within them. Variables are utilized within the configuration files. Thus, it is possible to have parameters specified in one configuration file and a formula to which the parameters will be applied in another configuration file. This allows changing of the values in the parameter file without having to modify the formula file, thereby streamlining the modification process when changes need to be made. In addition, it provides the capability for cross-referencing between configuration properties by allowing for variables in properties that refer to other properties.
US08032860B2
An extensible, data-driven, language independent source code editor is presented, with an embedded, extensible multi-language compiler framework. Such an editor can be tightly integrated with a compiler framework that provides detailed information about the language currently being edited by the user. This information can be provided in a language-neutral way effectively decoupling the editor from the underlying set of languages being edited. In addition, a language-independent editor can expose a set of APIs that makes it easy to customize behavior for specific languages that have characteristics not shared by most languages. This set of APIs can also enable the development of customized views, such as for developing visual editors that represent and allow the user to manipulate aspects of the source code pictorially.This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08032858B2
A monitoring tool continuously monitors for insertion, call or deletion of objects from a session. Display of this information shows any get object, set object or remove object operations in the session and shows the entry and exit points for each such object, thus assisting the user whenever objects inserted or called remain in the session and are not removed, thus allowing the user to prevent any data buildup in the session. The display is performed in a navigational view or “state diagram” form of view which is constructed by polling the filesystem content and building a navigational view of the overall states and interactions occurring within the session.
US08032855B1
A method for placing a system on a structured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) using an electronic design automation tool is disclosed. A subregion that includes an illegal position in a placement solution is identified. All structured ASIC cells in the subregion are removed. Positions for all the structured ASIC cells that are legal are determined.
US08032853B2
A configuration information writing apparatus for writing configuration information defining a logical configuration of a logic circuit device into the logic circuit device to change the logical configuration thereof, the apparatus comprising: a difference extracting unit that acquires plural pieces of configuration information and extracts differences between each of the acquired plural pieces of configuration information; a differential relation generating unit that generates a differential relation indicating a relation of the differences between each of the plural pieces of configuration information based on the differences extracted by the difference extracting unit; and an order information generating unit that generates order information specifying an order of writing the configuration information from the relation of the differences indicated by the differential relation generated by the differential relation generating unit.
US08032850B2
A design structure for a circuit for measuring the absolute duty cycle of a signal, is provided. A non-inverted path from a signal source is selected and various DCC circuit setting indices are cycled through until a divider, coupled to the output of the DCC circuit, fails. A first minimum pulse width at which the divider fails is then determined based on the index value of the DCC circuit at the time of the failure. An inverted path from the signal source is selected and the various DCC circuit setting indices are cycled through again until the divider fails. A second minimum pulse width at which the divider fails is then determined based on the index value of the DCC circuit at the time of this second failure. The duty cycle is then calculated based on a difference of the first and second minimum pulse width values.
US08032844B2
A semiconductor manufacturing method comprising, a data generating process including, acquiring a simulation light pattern that simulates a shape of a light exposure pattern formed on a substrate on the basis of design data of a semiconductor device, acquiring a simulation electron beam exposure pattern that simulates a shape of an electron beam exposure pattern formed by an electron beam exposure on the substrate on the basis of the design data, extracting difference information representing a shape difference portion between the simulation light pattern and the simulation electron beam exposure pattern, acquiring changed design data for modifying shape by changing the design data in accordance with the difference information, conducting the electron beam exposure on the substrate by use of the changed design data for modifying the shape.
US08032842B2
A gaze-based three-dimensional (3D) interaction system and method, as well as a 3D gaze tracking system and method, are disclosed. The gaze direction is determined by using the image of one eye of the operator who gazes at a 3D image, while the gaze depth is determined by the distance between pupil centers from both eyes of the operator shown in an image of both eyes of the operator.
US08032840B2
A system, method and computer program product are provided for generating an image, such as a thumbnail, representation of a video sequence, where the video sequences includes a plurality of frames, at least some of which include an image of a scene that may include one or more objects. The method can include identifying a plurality of objects from the video sequence, and selecting at least some of the identified objects. In addition, the method can include extracting the selected objects from the frames of the video sequence including the respective objects, and combining the selected and extracted objects into an image representation of the video sequence.
US08032834B2
Provided are techniques for providing context-based user assistance. A request from a user for user assistance content for a first configurable element is received. One or more rules are retrieved for the first configurable element, wherein at least one of the rules describes a second configurable element that is related to the first configurable element. The one or more rules are used to identify context-based user assistance content for configuring at least one of the first configurable element and the second configurable element. The user assistance content is provided to the user.
US08032825B2
Methods, systems, and products for dynamically creating a multimodal markup document are provided that include selecting a multimodal markup template, identifying in dependence upon the multimodal markup template a dynamic content module, instantiating the dynamic content module, executing a dynamic content creation function in the instantiated dynamic content module, receiving dynamic content from the dynamic content creation function, and including the dynamic content in the multimodal markup template. Selecting a multimodal markup template may be carried out by identifying a multimodal markup template from URI encoded data embedded in a request for a multimodal markup document from a multimodal browser. The multimodal markup template may include static content and the dynamic content may include XHTML+Voice content.
US08032822B1
A method for reviewing data dependencies in a document that includes requesting an explanation of a dependent data container in a plurality of data containers, in which the dependent data container resides within a document, and receiving the explanation of the dependent data container, in which the explanation that includes information about the dependent data container and information about a precedent data container of the plurality of data containers, and in which the information describes the dependency between the precedent data container and the dependent data container.
US08032818B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for storing survivor paths in a Viterbi detector. At least one register and at least one pointer are maintained for each state. Each register stores a bit sequence associated with a Viterbi state and each pointer points to one of the registers. A trellis transition type is determined, for example, based on a decision from an add/compare/select unit. One or more predefined rules based on a trellis structure and the trellis transition type are employed to exchange one or more of the pointers and to update one or more of the at least one registers. A survivor path memory is also disclosed for a Viterbi detector. The survivor path memory comprises a plurality of columns, each associated with a different time step, and an input processor. Each column comprises a latch for storing one bit of a bit sequence associated with a Viterbi state.
US08032813B2
Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) processing is applied to a received sequence of data blocks that are defined by respective sequences of sets of parallel data. For each data block, there is produced a sequence of syndromes that respectively correspond to the sets of parallel data within the data block. The final syndrome in the sequence of syndromes corresponds to all of the data in the data block. The time required for CRC processing can be reduced by concurrently producing first and second ones of the syndromes that respectively correspond to first and second ones of the sets that are respectively contained in first and second ones of the data blocks.
US08032811B2
An almost regular permutation (ARP) interleaver and method generate interleaved indices in a sequential fashion based on a process in which each interleaved index is a function of an adjacent index. Based on the data block size (N) for a received data block and a constant (C) for the ARP interleaver, a plurality of interleaved indices is generated. For one embodiment in which the interleaved indices are generated in forward sequence, the adjacent interleaved index is the immediately previous index, P(j−1), and each interleaved index (P(j)) is generated based on incrementing the previous interleaved index (P(j−1)) by an incremental value k(i), where j represents a non-interleaved index between 0 and N−1, i represents a modulo-C counter index that corresponds to j, k(i) represents the i-th value of a set of incremental values associated with N and C.
US08032810B2
This memory device comprises a word-line control circuit applying a read voltage and a soft-value read voltage as a word line voltage to a word line to generate soft-values. The soft-value read voltage is between an upper limit and a lower limit of each of plural threshold voltage distributions. A likelihood calculation circuit calculates a likelihood value of data stored in a memory cell based on the soft-value. An error correction circuit executes data error correction for the data read from the memory cell based on the likelihood value. A refresh control circuit controls a timing of a refresh operation for the memory cell based on the soft-value or the likelihood value.
US08032800B2
Included are embodiments for subframe interleaving. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving at least one subframe, the at least one subframe being derived from a plurality of frames of data and interspersing at least a portion of the at least one subframe according to a predetermined subframe interleaving strategy.
US08032799B2
A system and method for managing server performance degradation in a virtual universe environment having avatars has a server load detection unit for detecting server load and a failure notification unit for notifying the avatars of imminent server failure. The server load detection unit measures the wall time of the server for determining performance. A memory stores acceptable performance parameters so that if the server is performing unacceptably, the failure notification unit may notify the avatars.
US08032797B1
A plurality of data models are generated in a server from a stream of metrics describing a state of at least one system. Each of the data models represents a time grouping of a subset of the metrics. One or more dimensions are associated with each of the metrics. The data models are stored in association with respective ones of the dimensions in a memory. The dimensions with which the data models are associated in the memory are increased based upon an appearance of at least one previously non-existing dimension associated with a metric in the stream.
US08032791B2
Detection of a reset failure in a multinode data processing system is provided by a diagnostic circuit in each of a plurality of the server nodes of the system. Each diagnostic circuit is coupled to a code fetch chain of its corresponding node. At reset, prior to a node processor retrieving startup code from the code fetch chain, the diagnostic circuit provides diagnostic signals to the code fetch chain. A problem in the code fetch chain is detected from a response to the diagnostic signals. When a problem is detected, a node failure status for the problem node may be signaled to the other nodes. The multinode system may be configured in response to signaled node failure status, such as by dropping failed nodes and replacing a failed primary node with a secondary node if necessary.
US08032789B2
An apparatus maintenance system and method are provided. The apparatus maintenance system includes an apparatus including a first control part, and a second control part connected to the first control part and a maintenance-data management server managing maintenance data about the apparatus. The second control part downloads the maintenance data from the maintenance-data management server to transfer the downloaded maintenance data to the first control part and transmits a maintenance result transferred from the first control part to the maintenance-data management server.
US08032783B2
The service life of memory cards is to be substantially elongated against the occurrence of faulty blocks. A control logic searches blocks in a nonvolatile memory cell array for any acquired fault on the basis of a fault-inviting code in a management information section. If any faulty block is detected, the faulty block will be subjected to write/read comparison of data to judge whether or not the data in the block are normal. Any block determined to be normal will undergo rewriting of its fault-inviting code and registered as a normal block. Further, the registered block is stored into a write management table in the management area as a writable block. This enables an essentially normal block judged faulty on account of an erratic error or some other reason to be restored.
US08032754B2
The present invention leverages a series of media watermark locations to provide information relating to media ownership and/or distribution source. This provides a forensic means to establish a source of media with a high degree of certainty despite malicious and/or non-malicious attacks. By providing embedded user unique identification, a source of copied media can be determined without the embedded information substantially interfering with the intended purpose of the media itself. In one instance of the present invention, digital media is transformed into an N-dimensional media signal. User unique keys are then utilized along with a master key to determine locations for embedding a watermark signal that possesses substantially similar quantized statistics as the transformed media signal. The watermark signal is then embedded into the media signal, fingerprinting the media.
US08032750B2
A method for establishing a secure e-mail communication channel between a sender (10) and a recipient (5), wherein: 1) said sender sends an e-mail addressed to said recipient over an e-mail encryption system (16), 2) said encryption system (16) verifies in a database (160) of recipients if a public key of said recipient is available, 3) if said public key of said recipient is available, said encryption system encrypts said e-mail with said public key, and forwards the encrypted e-mail to the recipient (5), 4) if, on the other hand, said public key of said recipient is not available in said database (160), said encryption system sends instead enrolment message (1220) to said recipient, said enrolment message containing an invitation for said recipient to choose among one of the following options: i) access to said email over a secured web mail interface, or ii) sends a reply to said encryption system from which said public key can be extracted, or ii) initiate generation of a public key on the recipient's side.
US08032748B2
A chip card needs to be allocated in a secured manner to a network operator via a personalization center in order to determine a final authentication key which is attributed to a subscriber of the operator without its being transmitted via a network. The following is loaded into a card by a module: an algorithm and an allocation key; an algorithm for determination of the authentication key and at least one intermediate authentication key. A module transmits an allocation message which includes a final identity number, a random number and an allocation signature from the center to the card. The card authenticates the message by means of the allocation algorithm as a function of the allocation key and the allocation signature, and determines the final authentication key as a function of the intermediate key and the random number.
US08032743B2
A method of managing reliance in an electronic transaction system includes a certification authority issuing a primary certificate to a subscriber and forwarding to a reliance server, information about the issued primary certificate. The reliance server maintains the forwarded information about issued primary certificate. The subscriber forms a transaction and then provides the transaction to a relying party. The transaction includes the primary certificate or a reference thereto. The relying party sends to the reliance server a request for assurance based on the transaction received from the subscriber. The reliance server determines whether to provide the requested assurance based on the information about the issued primary certificate and on the requested assurance. Based on the determining, the reliance server issues to the relying party a secondary certificate providing the assurance to the relying party.
US08032740B2
A method, apparatus and program storage device for updating a non-volatile memory in an embedded system is provided. The invention includes detaching the non-volatile memory from all expectable non-volatile memory references, creating a temporary, volatile-memory file system for allocation of volatile memory space as needed for the non-volatile memory update process, copying all procedural code required to perform the non-volatile memory update into the volatile memory, changing the system search path definitions temporarily to point to the volatile memory, and performing the non-volatile memory update.
US08032735B2
A method includes, in a processor, loading/moving a first portion of bits of a source into a first portion of a destination register and duplicate that first portion of bits in a subsequent portion of the destination register.
US08032734B2
A coprocessor interface unit for interfacing a coprocessor to an out-of-order execution pipeline, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the coprocessor interface unit includes an in-order instruction queue, a coprocessor load data queue, and a coprocessor store data queue. Instructions are written into the in-order instruction queue by an instruction dispatch unit. Instructions exit the in-order instruction queue and enter the coprocessor. In the coprocessor, the instructions operate on data read from the coprocessor load data queue. Data is written back, for example, to memory or a register file by inserting the data into the out-of-order execution pipeline, either directly or via the coprocessor store data queue, which writes back the data.
US08032732B2
A cache-aware Bloom filter system segments a bit vector of a cache-aware Bloom filter into fixed-size blocks. The system hashes an item to be inserted into the cache-aware Bloom filter to identify one of the fixed-size blocks as a selected block for receiving the item and hashes the item k times to generate k hashed values for encoding the item for insertion in the in the selected block. The system sets bits within the selected block with addresses corresponding to the k hashed values such that accessing the item in the cache-aware Bloom filter requires accessing only the selected block to check the k hashed values. The size of the fixed-size block corresponds to a cache-line size of an associated computer architecture on which the cache-aware Bloom filter is installed.
US08032731B2
A virtualization system, upon judging that a write operation from a higher-level device is an operation to write in the format of the virtual volume, even when the write position of the write operation is in a virtual area different from a virtual area to which an allocated actual area has been allocated, if there is an unused area in the allocated actual area, writes management information to the unused area according to the write operation, and if there is no unused area in the allocated actual area, newly allocates an unallocated actual area, and writes management information to the newly allocated actual area according to the write operation.
US08032709B2
A system, method, and computer program product for handling shared cache lines to allow forward progress among processors in a multi-processor environment is provided. A counter and a threshold are provided a processor of the multi-processor environment, such that the counter is incremented for every exclusive cross interrogate (XI) reject that is followed by an instruction completion, and reset on an exclusive XI acknowledgement. If the XI reject counter reaches a preset threshold value, the processor's pipeline is drained by blocking instruction issue and prefetching attempts, creating a window for an exclusive XI from another processor to be honored, after which normal instruction processing is resumed. Configuring the preset threshold value as a programmable value allows for fine-tuning of system performance.
US08032708B2
A method for caching data in a storage system involves receiving a request for a first datum stored on a storage disk, retrieving the first datum from the storage disk when a copy of the first datum is not stored on an asymmetric cache device (ACD), storing a first copy of the first datum in a main memory, updating a list of data to include the first datum, storing, prior to any data being evicted from the main memory, a second copy of the first datum on the ACD, and evicting the first copy of the first datum from the main memory when a first copy of a second datum is designated for storing in the main memory and the main memory is full and the first datum is at the tail of the list of data.
US08032703B2
Proposed are a storage apparatus and a failure recovery method capable of performing failure recovery processing while reducing performance deterioration. Whether user data is written into a storage area provided by multiple storage mediums is managed for each stripe. When any one of the storage mediums is blocked due to a failure, correction copy processing is executed to the stripe written with the user data in preference to the stripe not written with the user data in a storage area provided by the multiple storage mediums, and correction copy processing is executed to the stripe not written with the user data in a storage area provided by the multiple storage mediums during spare time.
US08032697B2
A system for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed. The system includes D disk elements in which files are stored, where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer. The system includes a switching fabric connected to the D disk elements to route requests to a corresponding disk element. The system includes N network elements connected to the switching fabric. Each network element has a mapping function that for every value of V, specifies one or more elements from the set D that store the data specified by volume V, where N is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 3, which receives the requests and causes the switching fabric to route the requests by their file ID according to the mapping function.
US08032692B2
Accessing a non-volatile memory array is described, including receiving a first data and a memory address associated with the first data, writing the first data to the non-volatile memory array at the memory address of the first data without erasing a second data stored in the non-volatile memory array at the memory address of the first data before writing the first data.
US08032686B2
A data storage system includes an input/output server and a storage unit. The input/output server includes a processor, memory, and a host channel adapter. The storage unit includes a processor, memory, and a storage module. The storage module includes a storage controller, and an interface block for connecting the storage module to a corresponding memory-mapped interface. The storage unit further includes a host channel adaptor. The storage unit host channel adapter is connected to a corresponding memory-mapped interface. The storage unit host channel adapter is capable of remote direct memory access to the input/output server. Protocol translation logic is configured to intercept a memory access request from the storage controller, and initiate a corresponding remote direct memory access to the input/output server through the storage unit host channel adapter and the input/output server host channel adapter.
US08032684B2
A computer system includes compute nodes coupled through a switch to shared or non-shared I/O devices. The switch includes a pool of bridge headers and virtual bridges coupling a root port of a compute node to each of one or more shared or non-shared I/O devices. The switch is configured to associate each of the virtual bridges with a respective one of the fixed pool of bridge headers, receive a packet including data identifying the root port and a shared or non-shared I/O device, and route the packet in response to comparing data in the packet to data in the bridge headers associated with the virtual bridges. The virtual bridges comprise a hierarchy of virtual bridges in which one virtual bridge connects the root port to the remaining virtual bridges of the hierarchy. The switch may change the associations between virtual bridges and bridge headers.
US08032674B2
A method for maintaining flow control in a buffer memory coupled to a storage controller is provided. The storage controller includes, first and second counters that are used to monitor when data is read from a buffer memory and when data is transferred from the buffer memory to the host. The method includes, incrementing first and second counter values when data is placed in the buffer memory; decrementing a first counter value when data is read from the buffer memory; and decrementing the second counter value when data is sent to a host. The method further includes, pausing a first channel logic between a transport module and a storage disk when there is no data in the buffer memory; and pausing a second channel logic between a disk and the buffer if there is no space in the buffer memory.
US08032666B2
Location based profiles are used to modify the configuration of a computing device based on a detected location. The location based profiles allow features such as cameras to be enabled and disabled. Physical and logical data storage partitions can also be mounted and unmounted, and the home screen displayed by a device can be modified. Location bookmarks can be used to further customize the appearance and function of a computing device.
US08032660B2
In some embodiments, a processor-based system may include at least one processor, at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, a network interface component, and a management controller. The management controller may be configured to receive information related to a subscription request for a virtual machine, generate configuration information for the network interface component based on the subscription request, and provide the configuration information to the network interface component. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08032659B2
A network interface controller is provided which is shareable by a plurality of operating system domains (OSDs) within their load-store architecture. The controller includes local resources for corresponding to the OSDs, and global resources corresponding to both the OSDs and a network fabric. A method and apparatus is provided for distinguishing between the local and global resources, for purposes of reset and configuration. The controller allows a reset of only those local resources which are associated with the OSD transmitting the reset. Registration logic allows one of the OSDs to register as master, for configuration and reset of global resources.
US08032656B2
A method of handling a data stream during a handover in a communications network comprising a first user agent having a fixed address, a proxy server and a second user agent, said method comprising the steps of: mapping at the proxy server the fixed address with a dynamic network address allocated to the first user agent; sending a request by the first user agent to the second user agent for a data stream; generating by the second user agent in response to the request a plurality of messages each comprising part of the data stream requested and the fixed address of the first user agent, wherein the message is a session initiation protocol message, and sending the messages to the proxy server; receiving the messages at the proxy server and determining the mapped dynamic network address corresponding to the fixed address in the message, and forwarding the messages to the determined dynamic network address; and when the first user agent is allocated a new dynamic network address, replacing by the proxy server the mapped dynamic network address with the new dynamic network address and forwarding the received messages to the new dynamic network address.
US08032651B2
A system and method for acquiring media content is disclosed. A capture platform may allow users to create customized templates for the automatic capture of web-based media, such as news. Captured content may be normalized for optimized access by a plurality of different device platforms, and may also be customized for individual users. One or more chained transformer plug-ins may be used to provide the customization.
US08032648B2
An apparatus for outputting a media content item includes a receiver arranged to receive a first media content item, and an output device arranged to output the first item to a user. A selection device is provided for user-operably inputting a command to replace the first item at a particular moment of outputting the first item. Further, a time-estimating device is arranged to estimate, upon inputting the command, an estimated period of time necessary for outputting the remaining part of the first item. A search device is arranged to search for at least one second media content item, wherein a duration of the second item is substantially equal to the estimated period of time.
US08032646B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for administering a communication network. In one embodiment, a first interface screen depicts nodes within a network. The nodes include a pair of media aggregation managers providing multiplexing/demultiplexing of media traffic associated with multiple application sessions between a pair of communities onto a preallocated reservation protocol session between the media aggregation managers. The media aggregation managers are visually distinguishable from other nodes. A second interface screen depicts potential paths through the network. Each potential path is capable of transferring media packets between the media aggregation managers. Via the second user interface screen, a network administrator is capable of initiating (1) path-level configuration of routers that are part of a selected potential path to cause the routers to route media packets exchanged between the pair of communities over the selected path, and (2) establishment of the preallocated reservation protocol session between the media aggregation managers.
US08032644B2
The invention discloses a method (100) for creating a service based on a request. This method comprises a step of semantically analyzing (30) a natural-language request, such as one sent (20) from a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant (150). In this manner, the request may be formulated (10) in natural language, without needing to possess any technical knowledge whatsoever. The semantic analysis (30) makes it possible to identify (35) Web service requirements (or specifications). Next, Web services are determined (40) and sequenced (50) based on the identified service requirements. A new service is then made available, such as to the user who made the natural-language request.
US08032641B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to detecting, and in some implementations, responding to, asymmetric routing in network deployments. In a particular embodiment, a first process detects asymmetric routing at connection initiation, while the second process can detect asymmetric routing that may after connection initiation.
US08032640B2
The invention provides a PVC switching control method for an ATM communication network which allows high speed changeover of a connection upon occurrence of/release from a trouble and is superior in reliability and maintenance facility and simple in control. A master PVC connection and an OAM connection are set between two ATM exchanges, and a bypassing PVC connection and an OAM connection prepared in advance for bypassing are set between the two ATM exchanges. If occurrence of/release from a trouble with and of the master PVC connection is recognized by the ATM exchanges using an OAM function, then the operative PVC connection is switched between the master PVC connection and the bypassing PVC connection.
US08032638B2
The invention discloses a calling method for endpoint across zones in IP network system. The method implements, simply and conveniently, endpoint addressing and calling across GK zones. The method includes: pre-registering an E.164 alias for each endpoint to a gatekeeper managing the endpoint in IP network system, wherein the E.164 alias comprises a gatekeeper zone prefix uniquely indicating the gatekeeper in the IP network system and a unique number indicating the endpoint in its own gatekeeper; a calling endpoint calling a called endpoint with the E.164 alias of the called endpoint.
US08032635B2
Methods and apparatus can enable a trading network can use participant nodes of the trading network as a hub node to distribute tasks within the trading network, instead of a fixed server as a fixed hub. The trading network can allow for distribution of tasks for grid computing. The trading network can also be enabled to switch from using one participant node as the hub to using another participant node as the hub. Additionally, the hub node can be enabled to pass functionality to another node at the request of the hub node instead of at the request of the receiving node.
US08032633B2
A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs.
US08032630B2
In a system for managing data, voice, application and video networks and associated systems and services that comprise multiple, interconnected network technologies, a management system suited for a particular networking technology manages each separate technology domain. Multiple management systems thus manage multiple domains with respect to fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security management. The management systems that manage the individual networking technology domains are then themselves managed by a higher-level system, called an inter-domain management system, which performs cross-domain management. The individual management systems of the invention collect data from their respective technology domains and provide it to an intra-domain data collection function. This data is then utilized by an inter-domain data correlation function to determine what instructions should be sent from an intra-domain instruction function to each management system for implementation in its respective technology domains. The comprehensive management system thus collects data from each lower-level management system and, if required, sends operational instructions back to each lower level system. Event correlation and service level management are performed at both the intra-domain and inter-domain levels. Business process management is performed at the inter-domain level.
US08032625B2
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. Resources within the distributed data processing system are dynamically discovered, and the discovered resources are adaptively monitored using the network management framework. When the network management framework detects that certain components within the network management framework may have failed, new instances of these components are started. If duplicate components are later determined to be active concurrently, then a duplicate component is shutdown, thereby ensuring that at least one instance of these components is active at any given time. After certain failover events, a resource rediscovery process may occur, and a topology database containing previously stored information about discovered resources is resynchronized with resource information about rediscovered resources.
US08032622B2
A telecommunications system includes a network; a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users; a presence service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria; a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence service format; and a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria.
US08032618B2
A determination is made as to whether an updated image for an outdated virtualized application is available on a server. If it is determined that the updated image is available, then a background download operation configured to retrieve the updated image from the server is initiated. Another determination is made as to whether the outdated virtualized application is being utilized. After the background download operation is complete, if it is determined that the outdated virtualized application is not being utilized, then the outdated virtualized application is transformed to a current virtualized application by replacing at least a portion of the outdated virtualized application with the updated image. The outdated virtualized application and the current virtualized application are configured to be executed on the computer without installation on a computer.
US08032612B2
A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.
US08032609B2
A dynamic endpoint aggregator aggregates dynamic endpoints of requested Web services for efficiently delivering the Web services to a Web service client. The client communicates to the aggregator a plurality of SOAP requests each having a SOAP header containing a redirect URL for the aggregator in turn to access each of the requested Web services. Web service data is aggregated by the aggregator and then efficiently communicated to the client, which is particularly useful when wireless clients access Web services because of the limited bandwidth available over the wireless link. The aggregator also handles dynamic endpoints by dynamically resetting all endpoints of requested Web services without burdening the wireless link.
US08032603B2
The present application relates to methods for sending an email and distributing an email, and an email server. According to the application, a summary is generated for an email to be sent, with the email stored in a sender side server; the summary of the email is sent to a receiver side server; and the email is sent to the receiver side server in response to receiving, by the sender side server, a request for sending the email, the request being sent by a recipient based on the summary. Thus, the network bandwidth, the storage space of the email server and user terminals may be saved.
US08032599B1
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.
US08032598B1
A system of ranking e-mail threads is disclosed. The system receives e-mail messages, and determines e-mail threads in response to the e-mail messages. The system determines an e-mail rank associated with each e-mail message in the e-mail threads, where an e-mail rank associated with an e-mail message is determined in response to a sender identifier related to the e-mail message. The system also determines a thread rank for each e-mail thread, where a thread rank associated with an e-mail thread is determined in response to e-mail ranks of each e-mail message associated with each respective e-mail thread. The system then determines an ordering of the e-mail threads based on the thread rank associated with each e-mail thread.
US08032572B2
A device retrieves information associated with personal inventory from a personal inventory database, and provides for display of an input personal inventory option, a search personal inventory option, and a search loaned personal inventory option based on the retrieved personal inventory information. The device further receives selection of one of the input personal inventory option, the search personal inventory option, or the search loaned personal inventory option, and receives information associated with a new personal inventory item when the input personal inventory option is selected. The device also provides for display of search personal inventory information when the search personal inventory option is selection, and provides for display of search loaned personal inventory information when the search loaned personal inventory option is selected.
US08032569B2
Only the display device stores content files and a management device stores file management information. The content files are managed using the file management information. Because the management device does not store the actual content files, the security policy of an organization is not violated even if the management device is located outside the organization. Furthermore, because the display device stores the content files, the user desire to keep content files locally at hand is satisfied. Furthermore, because file management information consisting of small amounts of data is exchanged between the display system and the management device, the communication environment of the system does not need to be suitable to large data transmissions. Furthermore, because the management device stores the file management information, the storage capacity required by the management device is small.
US08032554B2
Stream data is provided for realizing precise calculation processing to keep a constant memory usage of a query including a time-based window, and to take all of input data into consideration. A stream data processing server sections the time-based window into sub-windows each with a smaller width by a query time resolution change unit, and a query processing engine executes the aggregation processing based on the sub-window when receiving the stream data to generate an aggregation tuple, and calculates the calculation result of the query including the time-based window by aggregation processing on the aggregation tuple.
US08032552B2
A generic Internet based system for viewing supply chain data is provided. The system includes an Internet based data viewing engine and a data store that holds both viewable data and metadata associated with the viewable data. The metadata can be employed by the Internet based data viewing engine to control the presentation of the viewable data. The generic Internet based supply chain data viewing engine may be employed in a virtual private supply chain (VPSC). A VPSC includes a data acceptor that can receive supply chain data items from supply chain members, a supply chain data store that can store transformed, validated supply chain data items received from the supply chain members and a data accessor operable to selectively present supply chain data items stored in the supply chain data store to viewing supply chain members. One example of the data accessor is the generic Internet based viewing engine.
US08032550B2
A method and system stores search indices across multiple storage locations, and uses the search indices to conduct a document search. In one embodiment, a server receives a search request that includes a keyword. The server hashes the keyword with multiple hash functions to obtain a sequence of hash values, which are used to index a chain of search indices. Each hash value points to an entry of a corresponding search index in the chain. If a search index is not the last index in the chain, the entry provides a reference to the location at which a next search index in the chain can be found. If a search index is the last index in the chain, the entry includes or points to identifiers of documents that contain the keyword in the search request. The documents can be retrieved from document repositories using the identifiers.
US08032543B2
A sorting apparatus and method for sorting units into a unit storage structure in accordance with a pre-determined order, the sorting apparatus comprising a unit search structure containing a record of units in the unit storage structure, and a unit location pointer structure containing location pointers for units in the unit storage structure, wherein the sorting apparatus receives a unit being sorted, the unit search structure reads the unit being sorted, uses its record of units in the unit storage structure to search for a closest matching unit to the unit being sorted, accesses the unit location pointer structure and retrieves a location pointer for the closest matching unit, and the sorting apparatus uses the location pointer of the closest matching unit to access the unit storage structure and to place the unit being sorted into the unit storage structure in an appropriate position in accordance with the pre-determined order.
US08032539B2
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for assisting in rating and filtering multimedia content, such as images, videos and sound recordings. One embodiment comprises a computer implemented method for rating the objectionability of specified digital content that comprises one or more discrete content items, wherein the method includes the step of moving the specified content to one or more filtering stages in a succession of filtering stages. After the specified content is moved to a given one of the filtering stages, a rating procedure is carried out to determine whether a rating can be applied to one or more of the content items, and if so, a selected rating is applied to each of the one or more content items. The method further comprises moving content items of the specified content to the next stage in the succession after the given stage, when at least one content item of the specified content remains without rating, after the rating procedure at the given stage. When none of the content items of the specified content remains without a rating after the rating procedure has been completed at the given stage, ratings that have been respectively applied to at least some of the content items are selectively processed, in order to determine an overall objectionability rating for the specified content.
US08032538B2
A client terminal displays the titles of downloaded music data such that these titles are classified by albums based on the album identification information associated with each music data and arranged in an order indicated by the recording order information which is associated with each music data.
US08032526B2
A recommendation information generation apparatus and a recommendation information generation method that can select a similar user appropriately even if the amount of history information is small. In an information distribution server, a user characteristic vector calculation unit calculates a user characteristic vector of each of users, and a similar user calculation unit calculates the degree of similarity between the users based on the calculated user characteristic vector of each of the users. The similar user calculation unit then selects a similar user who is similar to a first user based on the calculated degree of similarity. A relevance evaluation unit generates recommendation information for the first user based on the characteristic vector of the selected similar user.
US08032517B2
The invention describes a computer-aided method for automatically valuating the similarity of two character strings which are stored in a computer or to which the computer has access via an interface. First of all, associations which are present in the character strings are sought using a specification stored in the computer. The sought associations are then valuated using a first rule stored in the computer, with cohesive associations—subsequently also referred to as association strings—being given a higher valuation for the similarity of the character strings than non-cohesive associations. Finally, a second rule stored in the computer is used to derive a value, particularly a numerical value, from the valuation of the sought associations as a measure of the similarity of the two character strings.
US08032515B2
A computerized method and system for compiling and presenting popular searches in an information repository are provided. Example embodiments may include receiving a number of search criteria from one or more users, respectively. The search criteria may be applied to a common information repository. Source and category information may be associated with each search criteria. The category information may identify a category of a number of categories into which information in the common information repository may be categorized. The source information may identify a source of a number of sources via which the search criteria are receivable. Each search criteria may be stored in association with the source and the category information.
US08032512B1
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating a sitemap where a last modified time of website content is not available to a network crawler. A sitemap generator determines that a file has a previously stored version number, compares a current version number of the file to the previously stored version number of the file, generates a sitemap having an entry corresponding to the file if the current version number of the file is changed from the previously stored version number, and assigns a new last modified time to a last modified time value for the entry wherein an actual last modified time of the file is not available. A search engine receives the sitemap, determines that the entry was previously indexed at a time before the last modified time value, and accesses file information associated with the file to update an index with the file information.
US08032511B1
Embodiments provide for the creation of network pages or presentations that include pages on which programmatically selected/categorized content and manually-identified content from website users may be combined and displayed.
US08032507B1
Pairs of similar objects in a population of objects can be found using a process that includes identifying a comparison vector x in a set of vectors having non-zero features, determining an estimated similarity contribution of a subset of features of the comparison vector x to a similarity between the comparison vector x and each vector in the set of vectors, generating an index that includes features based on a comparison of the similarity contribution with a similarity threshold, and identifying another vector in the set that is similar to the vector x using the index.
US08032503B2
A system and method include defining a snapshot join index using a sparse condition in a join index definition. A new sparse condition of the snapshot join index is compared with an old sparse condition. Rows in a base table are identified as a function of the comparing, and the join index table is updated using the identified rows.
US08032495B2
Compressing and decompressing compressed index lists. One or more index lists include at least a portion of the list that is compressed. A method includes reading an entry from a list. The method further includes determining that the entry indicates the start of a compressed block of the list. The compressed block is compressed using a compression algorithm including a plurality of delta pointers. Each of the delta pointers point to data store entries by reference to a difference from a reference in a previous entry in the list. An entry size indicator is referenced. The entry size indicator is configured to indicate a memory storage size for a delta pointer, and the entry size indicator supports indications for all of fixed storage sizes, variable storage sizes, and run length encoding. The compressed block of the list is decompressed according to the entry size indicator.
US08032493B2
A system and method are provided for obtaining interrelated data for a database. The method can include the operation of calculating a data row set for a driving table in the database using at least one archive policy. A further operation is obtaining explicit and implicit application relationships between a second level table and the driving table. The driving table can be linked to the second level table to identify data rows eligible for archiving in the second level table. In addition, partition identifiers can be copied from the driving table rows to the second level table data rows in order to enable merging of application partitions as needed. Additional data rows can be found in the driving table based on the application relationship between the second level table and the driving table. The data rows collected from the tables can be archived.
US08032485B2
The initial systems analysis of a new data source fully defines each data element and also designs, tests and encodes complete data integration instructions for each data element. A metadata cache stores the data element definition and data element integration instructions. The metadata cache enables a comprehensive view of data elements in an enterprise data architecture. When data is requested that includes data elements defined in a metadata cache, the metadata cache and associated software modules automatically generate database elements to fully integrate the requested data elements into existing databases.
US08032482B2
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a document preview. According to the method, a preview handler provides an interface to one or more previewers. The previewers are software components capable of generating a visual preview for one or more document types. In response to a request from a host application to generate a preview for a document, the preview handler is operative to identify the appropriate previewer for generating a preview for the document. The preview handler may then call the previewer and instruct the previewer to load the document and to show the preview in a sub-window of a window provided by the calling host application.
US08032472B2
Mobile devices, mobile device systems and methods applying to mobile devices are provided that employ intelligent agents in combination with a wide array of remote utilities and information sources to facilitate improving a mobile device user's experience. By collecting contextual information from numerous information sources related to the mobile device user's context, more accurate and optimized determinations and/or inferences are formed relating to which remote utilities to make available to the mobile device user. This facilitates less confusion for the user in selecting desired mobile device content, services, and/or applications. The devices, systems, and methodologies also provide for an improved user experience in an open remote utility provider model.
US08032468B2
Techniques for identifying potential uses of computing systems are disclosed. A potential use of a computing system can be identified by considering the context that effectively represents a situation for the computing system and further considering a known situation to be a match for the situation. As such, a potential state of use of the computing system can be identified based on one or more known states of use of the computing system. A matching situation can, for example, be determined, based on pattern of use data that effectively associates a state of use with a situation in which the use may or has occurred. Identifying a potential state of use, among other things, allows making various applications, tasks, and/or services more accessible and/or effectively recommending what is likely to be used for a given situation without requiring supervised training or direct feedback from a user.
US08032466B2
A system, a method, and a computer readable medium for micropayment with varying denomination are disclosed. The method utilizes a secret value, a public information, a number base parameter, a bit parameter, and merged one-way hash chains to calculate a root for providing a certificate of a transaction among a customer, a merchant and a service device. Therefore, the purpose of varying denomination for micropayment system can be achieved and the trade safety and the efficiency during the transaction process can be enhanced as well.
US08032463B2
Charitable donations are increased by automatically providing immediate on-line recognition of on-line donors. A list of donors is maintained on a Web page acknowledging the on-line contributions. Donor names on the list can be links to additional information about the donation or the donor. Information about donor and donation is entered by the donor, who can specify what information is to be published on the Web and what information is to remain unpublished. The donor list can be arranged in order of donation size, and donors can compete for position on the list. The donor information can indicate membership in a group, and donations can also be totaled by group to encourage donation competition between groups.
US08032453B2
A standalone notification system, including a notification server which generates electronic messages for alerting customers of potentially fraudulent activity on one or more of their financial accounts. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the notification system may be used to forward transaction code(s) to customers for verification of a request for high risk transaction(s) with respect to a customer's financial account. The transaction code is generated in response to a high risk transaction request and sent to through an identified customer notification means, e.g., e-mail, short message service (“SMS”), facsimile, mobile phone, telephone, etc. The customer must enter the transaction code within a predetermined amount of time in order to verify the high-risk transaction request.
US08032450B2
The processing of loans techniques includes a system, and a method. In some embodiments, the system includes a processor, a machine readable storage media, a committing logic, and a user interface. The committing logic is configured to permit a seller of a plurality of mortgage loans to enter into and update commitments to sell the plurality of mortgage loans in secondary mortgage market. The user interface logic is configured to provide an Internet-enabled interface to permit the seller to access the committing logic and to receive the commitments to sell the plurality of mortgage loans by way of the Internet. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08032438B1
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for automatically implementing a fraud strategy may involve identifying transaction data related to a customer transaction based on a payment instrument; automatically identifying a pattern based on one or more factors associated with a customer spending profile; identifying a potential fraud situation based on the identified pattern and the transaction data; executing an action for the potential fraud situation; and adjusting authorized use of the payment instrument.
US08032437B2
A system and method are provided for presenting trading information. One example method includes displaying a plurality of effective trade indicators corresponding to price levels at which effective trades have been initiated, and displaying trading information corresponding to each effective trade. The effective trades can be determined based on user-configured trade definitions. The trading information can include a traded quantity and profit/loss corresponding to each effective trade. In addition to the trading information, current market information could be displayed as well in relation to the plurality of effective trades.
US08032434B2
According to some embodiments, a bond is issued to an investor in exchange for value. The bond may be, for example, a tax-free municipal bond associated with (i) a spread to a pre-determined index, (ii) a nominal maturity date, (iii) an initial mandatory tender date prior to the nominal maturity date, and/or (iv) an option for the investor to extend the initial mandatory tender date during an initial decision period. According to some embodiments an indication is received, during the initial decision period, indicating that the investor will extend the initial mandatory tender date. It may then be arranged for the initial mandatory tender date to be extended such that the bond will be associated with a subsequent option for the investor to extend an extended tender date during a subsequent decision period.
US08032432B2
A system for tracking a billing cycle in a billing system includes a data tracking engine and a rule-based engine. The rule-based engine retrieves information from the billing system during the billing cycle based on a set of rules, and provides the data to the data tracking engine. The data tracking engine generates status information and reports based on the data. The status information and reports can be accessed via a web client to monitor the billing cycle. Additionally, the rule-based engine identifies events in the billing cycle and generates a notification to alert a person if the event is not successfully completed according to a billing schedule. The notification can be accessed via a web client or a wireless communications device. The rule-based engine can subsequently issue an escalated notification to alert another user if the event has not successfully completed at a later time.
US08032426B2
A computer-based online system for managing a plurality of registries of baby care product selections, where each of the plurality of registries is uniquely associated with a respective one of a plurality of users, and where each baby care product selection corresponds to a baby care product selected at the online system or one of a plurality of retailers, includes a database to electronically store data records corresponding to the plurality of registries, and an application server communicatively coupled to the database. The application server includes a baby care product selector to automatically process a request to add a baby care product selection to a specified one of the plurality of registries, and update at least one data record in the database in accordance with the request, wherein the request is automatically generated by an application running on a smart device; and a purchase manager to automatically process a purchase selection, where the purchase indication is associated with a selection of a certain baby care product included in the specified one of the plurality of registries for purchase by a participant.
US08032424B1
A request for information relating to a commodity is sent to a server using a client computer. The requested commodity information is received at the client computer and rendered on a display. A client action with respect to the commodity information is detected, and, using the client computer, a determination is made whether communication with the server is required to respond to the client action and, if the communication is not necessary, responding to the client action without communicating with the server regarding the response.
US08032422B2
A method of transacting sales over a computerized network correlates in a first database record a first product and a plurality of first purchasers to form a pool; further correlates a plurality of second purchasers; issues an offer to a vendor of the first product; and consummates a transaction between the vendor and the first and second purchasers. The offer is issued to the vendor responsive to a time rate of accumulation of buyers in the pool. A first commitment price for buyers is responsive to historical sales performance of the first product; a price trend of an article similar to the first article; or a price trend of the first article itself over time. A second product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser is defined, and an offer is made to a vendor for the purchase of the second product.
US08032415B2
Immediate recognition of deposits and other transactions may be provided by a financial institution for transactions conducted at a remote location. The financial institution may receive transaction data from a device at the remote location and immediately acknowledge the transaction and provide a non-provisional credit to an entity's account. The device may include various currency handling devices such as automatic teller machines (ATM), self-payment kiosks, cash registers and the like. A financial institution may further provide a real-time cash position of an entity across multiple currency handling devices of the entity.
US08032403B2
A method and system using a component business model (CBM) architecture provides a staff assignment service to an enterprise. A staff assignment scenario is described in terms of business components in a CBM architecture of the enterprise, the applicable business components forming a staffing service network. For each business component in the staffing service network, functionalities supporting the scenario are identified, and collaborative links among the business components are established, sufficient to enable the service functionalities within the staffing service network to operate so as to assign staff to a project of the enterprise. The staff assignment service is adapted dynamically by repetition of this technique as new scenarios are developed.
US08032399B2
A method and system for interaction with a community of individuals, relating to compliance with and effectiveness of treatment regimens, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider and which is capable of collecting or imparting information to patients in place thereof. Individuals interact with the protocol or intelligent message to provide assistance in all aspects of treatment regimen compliance, data collection, supply or delivery, review and modification.
US08032388B1
A source sampling rate is associated with first or second groups of sampling rates. A playback rate is determined by: (a) selecting the source sampling rate if the source sampling rate is supported by a playback environment; (b) otherwise if there is a highest first rate from the first or second groups of playback sampling rates which is supported by the playback environment and is lower than the source sampling rate, selecting the first rate; (c) otherwise if there is a slowest second rate from the group that the source sampling rate is associated with that is supported by the playback environment and is higher than the source sampling rate, selecting the second rate; (d) otherwise selecting the slowest sampling rate supported by the playback environment from the group that the source sampling rate is not associated with as the playback rate.
US08032386B2
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving the audio signal including at least one block of audio data and configuration information, and reading coding type information and partitioning information from the configuration information. The coding type information indicates an entropy coding scheme used in encoding the audio signal, and the partitioning information indicates a sub-block partition scheme by which the block is divided into sub-blocks. Sub-block information is read from the block of audio data, and the sub-block information indicates a number of the sub-blocks into which the block is partitioned given the sub-block partitioning scheme. The number of the sub-blocks is determined based on the entropy coding scheme and the sub-block partition scheme. The partitioned sub-blocks are decoded based on the entropy coding scheme.
US08032382B2
An apparatus and method for speech information processing includes detecting a first operation of a speech processing start instruction element, controlling a display so that speech recognition information is displayed in response to the detection of the first operation, detecting a second operation of the speech processing start instruction element, acquiring speech information in response to detection of the second operation, and performing speech recognition processing on the speech information.
US08032380B2
A method of accessing a dial-up service is disclosed. An example method of providing access to a service includes receiving a first speech signal from a user to form a first utterance; recognizing the first utterance using speaker independent speaker recognition; requesting the user to enter a personal identification number; and when the personal identification number is valid, receiving a second speech signal to form a second utterance and providing access to the service.
US08032376B1
An electronic greeting card for recording and playing back a personalized message includes a bifurcated card with first and second coextensively shaped sections pivotally coupled to each other. The device further includes a mechanism for recording and playing back a one-time personalized message associated with the greeting card, and a mechanism for adapting the recording and playback mechanism between inoperable and operable modes for allowing a sender to record the one-time personalized message on the recording and playback device and thereafter allowing a recipient to repeatedly play back the one-time personalized message.
US08032364B1
The present technology measures distortion introduced by a noise suppression system. The distortion may be measured as the difference between a noise-reduced speech signal and an estimated idealized noise reduced reference (EINRR). The EINRR may be determined from a speech component and noise component that are pre-processed, and the EINRR may be used with masks associated with energies lost and added in the speech component and noise component. The EINRR may be calculated on a time varying basis.
US08032361B2
An audio processing apparatus for processing two sampled audio signals to detect a temporal position of one of the audio signals with respect to the other. The apparatus detects audio power characteristics of each signal in respect of successive continuous temporal portions of each of the two signals, the portions having identical lengths and each portion including at least two audio samples, and correlates the detected audio power characteristics in respect of the two audio signals to establish a most likely temporal offset between the two audio signals.
US08032357B2
A keypad is used to enter complex characters using a phonetic input method editor (IME). The user may enter complex characters by combining consonants, vowels, mid-vowels and tones by selecting keys on a the keypad instead of using a full size keyboard. Instead of a one-to-one mapping between the symbols and keys on a full size keyboard, multiple symbols are assigned to single keys on the keypad. For example, on a keypad having ten keys an average of four phonetic symbols are mapped to each of the ten keys on the keypad. The phonetic symbols are applied to the keypad in layers. For example, the symbols may be may be mapped to a consonant layer; a middle vowels+vowels layer; a vowels layer and a tone layer. Phonetic symbols with similar readings may also be mapped to the same key.
US08032350B2
Methods for generating realistic waveform vectors with controllable amplitude noise and timing jitter, simulatable in a computer-based simulation environment are disclosed. In one implementation, a transition vector is created from a sequence of bits having a rise time and a fall time, in which the transition vector comprises voltage values at timings corresponding to midpoints of transitions in the bit sequence. A jittered transition vector is created from the transition vector, in which the timing of the transitions in the jittered transition vector include timing jitter. An upscaled jittered transition vector is then formed having additional points, in which at least some of the additional points comprise corners of the sequence of bits. The voltages of the additional points are set by the sequence of bits, and the timing of the corners are set in accordance with the rise time and the fall time. Although this resulting vector can be simulated, this vector can also be re-sampled to produce a new simulatable vector in which the voltages are separated by a constant time step.
US08032347B2
Apparatus, methods, media, signals and data structures for protein sequence analysis are disclosed. A method includes identifying, from among a first group of aligned protein sequences having at least a threshold degree of alignment with a first protein sequence, a second group of at least one of the aligned sequences having at least one insertion or deletion (“indel”) relative to the first protein sequence satisfying a predefined condition. The apparatus may include a processor circuit configured to carry out the method.
US08032344B2
A method of setting a parameter in a method of detecting a decreased tire air pressure for detecting a decreased tire air pressure based on a wheel rotational speed obtained from tires attached to a four-wheel driving vehicle. The method includes a vehicle model preparation step of preparing a vehicle model including a suspension member; a tire model preparation step of preparing a tire model; a step of inputting a friction coefficient between a tire and a road surface; and a simulation step of performing a running simulation of the vehicle model attached with the tire model. A determination parameter for determining whether the tire has a decreased air pressure or not is set based on wheel rotational speeds of the tires of the respective four wheels obtained in the simulation step.
US08032337B2
The present invention relates to a method for computer-controlled modelling of customised earpieces. These earpieces include housings for hearing aids, wireless or connected communication devices (headsets, mobile phones, personal agents), loud speakers, tinnitus masking devices, devices recording vibrations in the skull and transforming these into audio signals, voice recognition devices, earplugs, noise blockers with selective frequencies or sound levels, Man Machine Interface (MMI) products that enable clear communication even in the noisiest environments, or products related to wireless Internet applications. All these earpieces may be worn in the user's meatus and/or auditory canal. The invention also relates to a computerised system for manufacturing such customised earpieces. In particular, the invention is directed to a computerised system that models an earpiece based on a three-dimensional replica of the user's meatus and/or auditory canal.
US08032335B2
Provided are methods, systems and computer program products evaluating magnetic resonance (MR) signals from a sample. The methods and systems can be used to evaluate MR signals from various constituents (e.g., metabolites, macromolecules) of the sample.
US08032331B2
Thermal diagnostic systems and methods are provided for improved detection of airflow anomalies in a computer system. In particular, processor load is selectively increased to amplify the effects caused by any airflow anomaly that may be present in the computer system. Workload migration may be used to shift processor load from another node to a target node. Artificial load may also be generated on the target node. The processor load increased to a level sufficient that an airflow anomaly would cause a detectable temperature difference at the selected node. The processor load may be increased by an amount computed to generate this detectable temperature difference. Alternatively, the processor load may be increased by a predetermined amount of between 40% and 100% of full processor utilization. While at the increased processor load, actual temperature sensed by temperature sensors may be compared to temperatures predicted from the model to detect the presence or absence of an airflow anomaly.
US08032324B1
A method and system for an interactive controller device comprising a two axis sensor in combination with one or more other sensors for hand-held devices operated in mid-air. A time sequence of measurements in three linearly independent directions is used to extract the angles of rotation around one or more distinct axes. A method is disclosed to approximately determine a transformation matrix, T, of a device orientation from a sequence of single vector measurements as a combination of rotations about specified axes. Calculated rotation angles can then be used to calculate changes in a controller or pointer position and a rate change thereof.
US08032321B2
A biosensor system determines the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample using one or more calibrated correlation equations. The analysis may be electrochemical, optical, or a combination thereof. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a multi-layered encoding area of the sensor strip. Calibration information is determined from the patterns generated by the interaction of the test signals with the multi-layered encoding area.
US08032309B2
A method for identifying a motif or a combination of motifs having a Boolean state of predetermined mutations in a set of sequences including a) aligning a set of sequences of ordered motifs represented by a single-character code, b) comparing a reference sequence with the set of sequences aligned in step (a), c) identifying motifs not having mutated simultaneously or motifs having mutated simultaneously at least once on at least one sequence of the set and not having mutated on another sequence of the set.
US08032308B2
Modeling of prognosis of survivability, side-effect, or both is provided. For example, RILI is predicted using bullae information. The amount, volume or ratio of Bullae, even alone, may indicate the likelihood of complication, such as the likelihood of significant (e.g., stage 3) pneumonitis. As another example, RILI is predicted using uptake values of an imaging agent. Standardized uptake from a functional image (e.g., FDG uptake from a positron emission image), alone or in combination with other features, may indicate the likelihood of side-effect. In another example, survivability, such as two-year survivability, is predicted using blood biomarkers. The characteristics of a patient's blood may be measured and, alone or in combination with other features, may indicate the likelihood of survival. The modeling may be for survivability, side-effect, or both and may use one or more of the blood biomarker, uptake value, and bullae features.
US08032306B2
A computerized system and method for processing patient vital signs during blood product administration in a computerized healthcare environment is provided. A blood product to be administered to a patient is identified. The patient is identified. Vital signs for the patient are received during blood product administration by a healthcare provider and automatically, without user intervention, the vital signs for the patient are documented in a database.
US08032295B2
A method for maintaining and/or adjusting a system pressure in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is a part of an hybrid power train, which includes in addition at least one further drive. A system pressure in a reservoir element of the fuel injection system is monitored using a pressure sensor. In operating modes in which the internal combustion engine is shut down and/or is separated from the hybrid power train, the maintaining or the adjusting of the system pressure takes place via a pressure-regulating valve. The activation of the pressure-regulating valve takes place directly or indirectly via a control unit or a vehicle control unit or a clutch control unit.
US08032292B2
An ignition procedure for internal combustion engines using multiple coils of a generator coupled to and turning synchronously with the engine. A magnetic field flows through the coils and generates a sequence of alternating current half waves induced in the coils. The half waves are used for: (1) charging an energy storage element that is discharged by an ignition switch via the primary coil winding for triggering an ignition spark; (2) processing via a control device for activating the ignition switch at an ignition time in dependence on the processed alternating current half waves and/or on the state of the internal combustion engine; and (3) the power supply for the control device (U8), and an operating mode for switching combustion off for the engine, whereby by means of the control device, the ignition switch is guided over less than the time span that is needed for a complete revolution of the magnetic generator.
US08032286B2
A system for controlling an irradiating direction of a vehicle lamp includes a target swivel angle calculating section to calculate a target swivel angle based on a vehicle steering angle, a swivel driver to execute, based on the target swivel angle, a swivel control to swivel the irradiating direction, and a fail-safe controller to execute, upon detection of a failure in the system, a fail-safe operation to stop the swivel control. When the system is restored after the failure, the fail-safe controller determines whether the target swivel angle is within a straight-ahead range that includes an angle corresponding to a straight-ahead direction of a vehicle. If the fail-safe controller determines that the target swivel angle is within the straight-ahead range, the fail-safe controller deactivates the fail-safe operation to restart the swivel control.
US08032281B2
A control system (11) for a vehicle (10) includes vehicle dynamics sensors (35-47) providing a vehicle dynamics signal. Tire monitoring system sensors (20) in each wheel generate tire signals including temperature, pressure and acceleration data. A controller (26) communicates with the tire monitoring system sensors (20) and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor, and generates a roadway surface condition estimation value as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signals. The roadway surface condition estimation value is transmitted to a suspension control system (33) to adjust the vehicle suspension characteristics in response to the roadway surface condition estimation value.
US08032276B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said apparatus including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compares new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters.
US08032274B2
A diagnostic system for an automatic transmission is provided in which a microcomputer determines that torque that can drive the driving wheels of the vehicle is not transmitted to an output shaft of the automatic transmission when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition key is operated to the OFF position, and performs forced energization of solenoids of solenoid valves associated with respective friction devices of the transmission, while monitoring current passing through the solenoid valves. If the current monitored does not match the current for energizing any of the solenoids, the microcomputer determines that the corresponding solenoid valve is at fault. Thus, the diagnostic system appropriately determines the presence of a fault of each solenoid valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure to each friction device, with increased flexibility and freedom.
US08032273B2
In a section overspeed regulating method of determining whether a vehicle overspeeds on the basis of whether an average speed of the vehicle in a regulation section exceeds a speed limit, the section overspeed warning apparatus and system determine whether the current speed of the vehicle traveling on a regulation section exceeds the speed limit, and warn a driver. Whether the speed of the vehicle traveling on the regulation section exceeds the speed limit of the section is determined depending on a travel distance from a starting position of the regulation section to a current position of the vehicle, a travel time taken for the vehicle to travel by the travel distance, and a remaining distance from the current position of the vehicle to an end position of the regulation section. If it is determined that the current position of the vehicle will exceed the speed limit of the section, overspeed warning messages are output in the form of text, voice, or warning sound. Further, the section overspeed warning apparatus and system recommend the maximum speed, which allows the vehicle not to violate the speed limit of the section at the current position, to a driver as a recommended speed.
US08032266B2
This method facilitates the joining, by an aircraft, of a secure zone, without constraint of deployment in the horizontal plane, in particular when the latter is threatened by a risk of collision with the ground or by a risk of penetration into a forbidden zone which cannot be resolved by a purely vertical avoidance maneuver. It consists in selecting a point for joining a zone of free lateral deployment by means of a criterion of minimum cost of the initial maneuver of turning at the start of the trajectory for joining the possible points of access to the zones of free lateral deployment.
US08032251B2
A control panel for automatic beverage machines includes a touch screen that visually represents icons saved in a memory unit as the displayed basic setting as a first selector mechanism used for choosing a desired beverage and by which a predetermined preparation process is triggered. The steps of the selected beverage preparation process may be visually represented on the touch screen. Alternatively, the touch screen is used as a second selector mechanism for choosing a desired preparation setting after a beverage is chosen by actuating the first selector mechanism. When a preparation setting is selected, the touch screen displays the icon for the selected beverage in addition to setting key icons that allow an operator to select and save a desired setting.
US08032247B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for fabric selection and performance matching. The method includes selecting a fabric combination from a set of different constructions and materials, the selection being made on a basis of predetermined characteristics of fabric performance and comfort required to meet specified parameters of conditions and manner of use.
US08032246B2
A winding procedure has been developed that results in substantially uniform material properties from the outside diameter to the core of a wound roll of elastomeric webs produced by vertical film lamination (VFL) or stretch bond lamination (SBL) or as registered film. The web material is wound onto the roll in accordance with a wound on tension (WOT) profile that varies with the diameter of the wound web in a manner that was calculated using WOT transposition that is based on a modified version of Hakiel's nonlinear model for wound roll stresses. A constant WOT winding profile is corrected to obtain a compensated WOT winding profile that can be employed to wind the material into a roll that exhibits properties (including MD stress in the web) that are substantially uniform thru-roll. This resulting controlled winding technique has immediate application for webs that are converted for child care products, adult care products, and infant care products.
US08032244B2
A method and system for controlling and monitoring the quality of concrete based on the concrete's maturity (which is a function of its time-temperature profile, or temperature history). Five different applications or embodiments of the present invention are discussed, namely, Enhanced Maturity, Moisture-Loss Maturity, Improved Maturity, SPC Maturity, Loggers, Readers, and Software. Enhanced Maturity involves a maturity calibration method to account for the water-to-cementitious-materials ratio, air content, and gross unit weight of the concrete. Moisture-Loss Maturity is a method for determining the appropriate time to terminate moisture-loss protection of concrete and concrete structures. Improved Maturity is a method and system for determining the strength of curing concrete using improved maturity calculations. SPC Maturity is a method that beneficially couples maturity measurements and calculations with Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to enable rapid recognition of changes to the concrete mix and/or incompatibilities between the various components of the concrete mix. Loggers, Readers, and Software represent the preferred embodiment for automating and simplifying the implementations of Enhanced Maturity, Moisture-Loss Maturity, Improved Maturity, and SPC Maturity.
US08032242B2
One format converter connected to a mixer and another format converter connected to a head amplifier are interconnected via a single control/audio communication line. Each of the format converters includes a communication interface, control signal interface, audio signal interface, and a control section. The control section converts control data and audio data into data compliant with the EtherSound (registered trademark) that allows the control data and audio data to be transmitted over a single physical cable, and then it transmits, over the physical cable, the converted data from the communication interface to the other format converter.
US08032237B2
This document describes a correction signal usable to correct an effect of a disturbance signal on a controlled system or apparatus. In one case this document describes ways in which to diminish a future change to an output signal based on determining that a disturbance signal consistently precedes the future change.
US08032233B2
A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.
US08032226B2
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system can include a controller device that communicates with a pump device, the pump device having a memory device. The controller device can be configured to record controller-related data, such as user profile data on the memory device of the pump device. This user profile data that is stored in the memory of the pump device can serves as a data backup system that permits the user to program a new controller device in a situation where the original controller device is lost or damaged. In addition or in the alternative, the controller device can be configured to receive controller-related data, such as software update programs or backup controller data, from the memory device of the pump device.
US08032220B2
An implantable microdevice includes at least one electrode detachably connected to electronic circuitry housed in an hermetically-sealed micro housing. The micro housing has a length no more than about 10 mm. In one embodiment, the electrode is located at a distal end of an electrode lead, and a proximal end of the electrode lead is removably inserted into a connector that forms part of the micro housing.
US08032203B2
The invention relates to a method and a medical imaging system for acquisition of image data of the heart using a medical imaging procedure during an intervention on the heart, while the heart is stimulated by a pacing signal from an external heart pacemaker, the acquisition and/or reconstruction of the image data being controlled, in particular triggered, by the pacing signal.
US08032185B2
An operation mode conversion device, a mobile communication terminal having the same and a method for converting the operation mode are provided. According to an embodiment, a user interface element is provided with an input unit configured to generate a signal to switch a current operation mode to a selected operation mode upon being pressed by a user, the selected operation mode being set with respect to a position on the input unit, and a display area is located at a central portion of the input unit, the display area being configured to output information about the selected operation mode. The user can quickly perform menu navigation to convert the operation mode as desired, the information about the converted operation mode is conveniently viewed, and the overall size of the mobile phone can be minimized.
US08032180B2
A digital broadcast reception method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) including a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The SIM stores files associated with a digital broadcast service and a mobile equipment for executing a broadcast application using the files. The method and apparatus eliminates previously required cumbersome user manipulation receiving a pay program by storing the application and files associated with the digital broadcast service.
US08032179B2
A cellular telephone docking station is provided and includes a semiconductor device that has a processor and a memory device that is coupled to the processor. An identification device is coupled to the semiconductor device and the identification device includes a docking station identification. The cellular telephone docking station also includes a cellular telephone cradle that is coupled to the identification device. Further, a computer program is embedded within the memory. The computer program includes instructions to verify that a cellular telephone identification matches the docking station identification. Additionally, the computer program includes instructions to transfer a cellular telephone service associated with the cellular telephone to the docking station. The computer program also includes instructions to disable the cellular telephone.
US08032178B2
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal comprises a first body, a first key button part disposed on a front surface of the first body, a second body rotatable connected to the first body such that the second body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the first body, a display disposed on a front surface of the second body, a camera disposed on a rear surface of the first body, and a sliding cover slidably connected to the first body. When the sliding cover is in a closed state, the first key button part and the camera are covered by the sliding cover, and when the sliding cover is in an opened state, the first key button part and the camera are exposed.
US08032176B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for exchanging content over distinct wireless access technologies. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a multimode access network server (MANS) (102) having a controller that manages operations of a communications interface that communicates with multimode communication devices (MCDs) in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to receive from an MCD status information associated with a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), each WAP operating according to a disparate wireless access technology, and determine with the MCD a coordination plan for transmitting partitioned content by way of at least two of the WAPs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08032171B2
The present invention enables to reduce deterioration in an uplink capacity due to a transmission power of an E-DPCCH, by setting, at the radio network controller, a suitable transmission power offset depending on a situation. A transmission power control method according to the present invention includes: measuring, at the radio base station, a reception quality of the enhanced dedicated physical control channel; notifying, from the radio base station to a radio network controller, the measured reception quality of the enhanced dedicated physical control channel; setting, at the radio network controller, a transmission power offset for the enhanced dedicated physical control channel to a dedicated physical control channel, in accordance with the reception quality of the enhanced dedicated physical control channel; and notifying, from the radio network controller to the mobile station, the set transmission power offset.
US08032166B2
The present invention provides a ‘411xx’ value added service to wireless users. The disclosed ‘411xx’ service allows a mobile user who may be unfamiliar with their current geographic location to nevertheless obtain quick, accurate, and current information relating to the geographic area, e.g., different services in their current location, stores, libraries, gas stations, etc., via a mobile terminated (MT) short message system (SMS) message. In addition to the traditional ‘4-1-1’ dialed digits, a mobile user would also dial a number (or numbers) representing a feature code for a particular service, e.g., nearby ATMs, or traffic information. Upon receiving a 411xx call, the MSC generates an ORREQ/TCAP trigger based on a translation of the requested service represented by the extra ‘xx’ digits. The 411xx call is terminated on the MSC after an audible whisper notice plays to the caller, e.g., “thank you for calling, your requested information will be sent momentarily”.
US08032162B2
A method for transmitting a message containing both common content to be transmitted to a plurality of receiving mobile communication terminals and specific content to be transmitted to a specific receiving mobile communication terminal includes displaying, when in a message writing mode, a message writing window including a first writing area and a second writing area, writing messages in the first writing area and the second writing area, inputting a telephone number of the receiving mobile communication terminal to which the message written in the second writing area is to be transmitted, combining the messages written in the first writing area and in the second writing area, and transmitting the messages to the receiving mobile communication terminal.
US08032152B2
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for creating a flexible Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a data dictionary is assigned to a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the data dictionary comprises a definition of at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended to be recordable by the mobile electronic device. The method further comprises uploading the data dictionary onto the mobile electronic device.
US08032148B2
The invention relates to a method for wireless cellular indoor communications, the method comprising at least one base station connected to a cell management unit through a first digital connection interface, the cell management unit connected to at least one RF hub through a second digital connection interface, and the at least one RF hub connected to at least one remote radio head through a third digital connection interface, the at least one remote radio head providing service in a certain cell area inside a confined environment, and the cell management unit comprising means for providing efficient load balancing at and between base stations through adaptive cell reconfiguration; means for mapping carriers, time, frequency or time-frequency allocations to individual radio heads; means for alignment of individual delays accumulated on the digital connections between the cell management unit and each of the radio heads; means for synchronization of the signals between the cell management unit and the individual remote radio heads; and means for failure detection of the individual digital links between the cell management unit and the remote radio heads.
US08032144B2
A multicarrier communication apparatus that is capable of suppressing interference of feedback information with other channels and alleviating a reduction in an uplink capacity. In PL signal reception section (260) of this apparatus, PL signal extraction section (261) extracts pilot signals and reception quality measuring section (262) measures reception quality such as an SIR. Here, since pilot signals are included in respective subcarriers, reception quality measuring section (262) measures reception quality of subcarriers. FBSC determining section (270) determines a feedback information subcarrier based on the reception quality of subcarriers. More specifically, FBSC determining section (270) determines a subcarrier having the highest reception quality as a feedback information subcarrier. FBSC determining section (270) outputs information about the feedback information subcarrier (FBSC information) to control CH transmission section (110) and FB information reception section (250).
US08032142B2
There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.
US08032135B1
A system and method for providing wireless high-speed data services for an aircraft. Wireless data signals can be received and transmitted by one or more directional antennae on the aircraft which can be dynamically directed to track one or more terrestrial-based antennae. The terrestrial-based antennae, for receiving and transmitting wireless data signals, are directional and can also be dynamically directed in order to track the aircraft.
US08032132B2
Several system diagnostic and network management tools are disclosed that, as a primary goal, support the consumer's ability to self diagnose and solve an existing problem. A non-intrusive diagnostic tool is provided that exposes system parameters of a consumer system for remote analysis by qualified personnel. Important data parameters of a given radio receiver are preferably predetermined and gathered directly at the receiver. Then, they are uploaded via the Internet from a removable memory placed into an Internet terminal (e.g., PC), or through a temporary docking station connected to an Internet terminal. This leads toward quick and efficient problem resolution with a properly informed customer service representative that is crucial to enriching the consumer's experience. The data collected relating to relevant system parameters may be used by service providers to enhance or even in some cases enable services.
US08032131B2
A system for maintaining or optimizing a mobile phone network, the system includes a plurality of data feed inputs including at least one performance data feed input to receive performance data relating to performance of said mobile phone network over a first time period and at least one configuration data feed input to receive configuration data relating to configuration of said mobile phone network over a second time period; and a radio performance optimization system coupled to said plurality of data feed inputs, said radio performance optimization system including a rules engine to operate on said performance data and on said configuration data in accordance with a set of hierarchical rules and to output one or more tasks for network optimization, a said task including a definition of a potential fault, exception or optimization of said network to be investigated by a service engineer.
US08032124B2
A wireless opportunistic network that can facilitate data transfer by way of interconnected devices is disclosed. In accordance with this opportunistic network, each of the devices effectively contributes to the transfer of the information thereby obviating the need for an external carrier. In this manner, the carrier infrastructure is embodied and distributed throughout the individual devices of the network. In a particular aspect, the opportunistic network is employed to transfer and make available health-related data. This functionality can be used in many scenarios related to heath from, monitoring patients and conveying basic diagnostic data to identifying bioterrorism by way of collaborating data between a number of devices within the network. Essentially, the innovation provides for at least two core functional ideas, the opportunistic network infrastructure and the use of the network in health related scenarios.
US08032116B2
A communication method, including: sending a response signal including terminal information to a portable terminal upon receiving an identification information request; accepting periodically a connection request from the portable terminal during a period not shorter than a second period and three-fold period not longer than the second period, for each period not shorter than the third period and not longer than three-fold period of the third period; establishing a wireless link with the portable terminal upon receiving the connection request; and controlling an execution apparatus for executing a predetermined operation after the link connection establishment unit has established the wireless link.
US08032113B2
Users are allowed to download information from a cellular network, but are charged for the download. A part of the charge for the download goes to the creator of the information and download. A device determines how many downloads each user-created item has received. Also, a list is provided which displays to other users which are the most commonly downloaded elements.
US08032110B2
The security device contains at least a main unit with a number of wired external sensors and detectors. The main unit itself has built-in image capturing and motion detection capabilities that can be operated independently or to provide additional confirmation to the events detected by the external sensors and detectors. The main unit contains a radio transceiver member capable of conducting two-way, real-time and message-based, mobile communications via a mobile communication network. As such, whenever some abnormality is detected, the main unit is able to dial a specific party to play pre-recorded voice message and/or send captured images or video clips in real time or in some messages.
US08032107B1
Disclosed is a circuit for improved power management of a wireless device, comprising an input signal from an antenna, an oscillator, a mixer and a circuit for correlating. In a first analog embodiment of the circuit, the circuit for correlating comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) and the circuit further comprises an operational amplifier and a reference voltage. In a second digital embodiment of the circuit, the circuit for correlating comprises a digital correlator and the circuit further comprises a digital comparator.
US08032096B2
Methods and systems for wireless communication are disclosed herein and may include sampling a portion of a transmitted wireless signal which gets coupled to receiver circuitry in a receive chain during transmission via an antenna. The DC level corresponding to the sampled portion of the transmitted wireless signal may be measured. The transmit power corresponding to the transmitted wireless signal may be adjusted based on the measured DC level. The antenna may include a mobile antenna, which may be coupled to a wireless terminal. The sampled portion of the transmitted wireless signal may be buffered. The buffered portion of the transmitted wireless signal may be multiplied with the transmitted wireless signal to generate a multiplied signal, and the DC level may be measured using the multiplied signal. A control signal may be generated based on the measured DC level and, for example, a look-up table.
US08032092B2
A device, system, and method for providing a transmit diversity device have a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna may have a first power transmission gain pattern, which may be non-uniform in a reference plane. The second antenna may have a second power transmission gain pattern, which may be non-uniform in a reference plane. The first and second antennae may be arranged with respect to each other such that a minimum power region of the first gain pattern overlaps a maximum power region of the second gain pattern in the reference plane. The transmit diversity device may also have a processor to receive a feedback parameter from a feedback device. The processor may produce a different transmit diversity parameter based on the feedback parameter for each of a first and second signals to be transmitted on the first and second antennae, respectively.
US08032091B2
Embodiments of the present invention describe methods for increasing the amount of information available to a mobile transmit diversity transmitter during soft handoff. According to embodiments of the invention, a transmit diversity transmitter may determine substantially when it is within the range of at least two receivers. In such situations, the transmitter may use the power control signals from more than one receiver, for example, from the two most dominant receivers in order to focus the beamforming accordingly.
US08032088B2
A method, apparatus, software product, and network element enable a user equipment to operate in an idle mode, to sense a change in the broadcasted location area, and to then report that change to a network without requiring a dedicated connection to the network. This embodiment is achieved by sending an identifier via an uplink transport channel, and then the user equipment receives a resource allocation that is based at least partly on the identifier. The user equipment provides an uplink signal via the allocated resource, including a user equipment identity in the uplink signal. When the user equipment receives confirmation, including the user equipment identity, then the user equipment reenters the idle mode. The uplink signal provided an update as to the location area of the user equipment, although other types of signals can instead be provided this way to the network.
US08032085B2
A signal processing method includes sampling an analog signal, which has a spectral density defining one or more bands, to produce a digitized signal. A spectral transform of the digitized signal is expressed as a matrix multiplied by a vector, wherein the vector includes multiple elements that represent the spectral density of the analog signal as a function of frequency within respective spectral slices. Indices of a subset of the elements of the vector, in which the spectral density is concentrated, is determined. The analog signal is reconstructed from the digitized signal using the subset of the elements of the vector and a corresponding subset of columns of the matrix having the indices.
US08032083B2
The present disclosure provides optimal network performance and network illumination in a wireless, autonomous communications network with a dynamic network topology achieved by auto-configuration. Functional alogorthemic enhancements of the communications network are used, enabling the communications network to automatically determine the current network configuration and the accessibility of the transceivers that are associated with the communications network by using measurements and to determine the optimal position of a master station at any one time from the data obtained from the measurements.
US08032082B2
There is described an amplifier for a radio frequency signal for transmitting a transmit signal to an otological apparatus. The amplifier comprises at least one power transistor for switching an output signal. A breaker gap of the power transistor is actively connected to a network such that a power loss converted in the power transistor is at least partially reduced during a switchover into a switched-on state and/or at least during a switchover into a switched-off state. The breaker gap of the at least one transistor is at least indirectly connected in series to a power supply source by way of a choke coil. The amplifier comprises a transmit coil as an output load, with the transmit coil comprising an inductor and being actively connected to the power transistor. The transmit coil is coupled to the choke coil in a transformer-like manner, with the choke coil thus being able to transmit an output power to the transmit coil. The transmit coil can generate a transmit signal from the output power.
US08032077B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device including: a cable port to which an external device is connected; a reading unit that reads identification information from the external device; a determination unit that determines whether the external device is the source-side wireless communication device; an authentication memory unit that performs an authentication process with the source-side wireless communication device; a wireless communication unit that performs a wireless communication with the source-side wireless communication device; and a physical address processing unit that controls the source-side wireless communication device to store a physical address of a source-side device calculated based on from the read identification information of the sink-side device.
US08032065B2
A developing device includes a developer supporting member for supporting developer and a developer charging member disposed to face the developer supporting member for charging and supplying the developer to the developer supporting member. The developer supporting member has a surface having a calculated average surface roughness Ra between 0.1 μm and 0.6 μm and a surface free energy SFE between 15 mN/m and 26 mN/m. Further, the developer charging member has an Asker F hardness Haf between 24° and 56°.
US08032062B2
A developing unit is configured to develop an electrostatic latent image born on an image bearing member with a developer that has been charged by mixing and agitating toner and magnetic carrier. The developing unit comprises a developing hopper; a developer bearing member; and at least a pair of agitating and conveying members rotationally driven in the developing hopper. The agitating and conveying members are arranged substantially parallel to the developer bearing member and each rotational shaft of the agitating and conveying members is embedded with a magnetic source element whose magnetic poles are laid out so as to produce a magnetic field radially oriented in a particular fixed direction with respect to the agitating and conveying member.
US08032060B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body in which a photosensitive medium is disposed, and a developing device detachably disposed at the main body to develop electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive medium. The developing device includes a developing member disposed in a developing unit to supply developing agent to the photosensitive medium, a driven member to receive power from a driving member, and to allow the developing member to rotate, and a power transmitting member to connect the developing member and the driven member, and to absorb a movement of a normal force direction of a driving force generated between the driving member and the driven member.
US08032051B2
A belt carrying device includes supporting rollers, an endless belt supported by the supporting rollers, and guiding members provided on the endless belt. The endless belt is rotated by rotation of the supporting rollers. An outer peripheral surface of the endless belt is in contact with a cleaning member. The guiding members are provided on those projecting areas of the endless belt, which project in an axial direction of the supporting rollers from both end surfaces of the supporting roller. A guiding member suppresses meandering of the endless belt by coming into contact with an end surface of the supporting roller. Formed on the end, surfaces of at least one of the supporting rollers are projecting sections and groove sections, which are rotated around a rotation axis of the at least one of the supporting rollers in response to rotation of the at least one of the supporting rollers.
US08032045B2
A device for fusing and fixing a transferred toner of a predetermined image onto a print paper is provided. In particular, a fusing device which can instantly control induced current provided to a fusing unit in an image printing apparatus which heats the fusing unit using the induced current is provided. The fusing device includes a fusing unit which is resistance heated or induction heated by an induced current, and fuses the toner onto the print paper using the generated heat. A sensing unit senses the temperature of the fusing unit. A reference current generating unit generates a predetermined reference current to heat the fusing unit to reach a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the sensed fusing unit and the reference temperature. A pulse width modulation signal generating unit generates a pulse width modulation signal for generating the induced current so that the induced current corresponding to the reference current is supplied to the fusing unit.
US08032044B2
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner fusion between recording sheets, with a construction that does not require increase in cost and size of the apparatus and does not unduly lower productivity, to thereby offer high usability. For image formation on plural pieces of recording sheets, a CPU controls a recording sheet conveyance interval for a first set based on a detected amount of toner used for the image formation on each page, stores the toner use amounts for respective pages of the first set into a RAM, and controls the recording sheet conveyance interval for second and subsequent sets based on the toner use amount stored in the RAM for each page.
US08032040B2
An image forming apparatus includes a static electricity eliminator to remove residual charge from a printing medium. A selector is provided to connect the static electricity eliminator to ground through a selected resistance, and a controller is provided to control the selector depending on printing medium characteristics. The resistance in the ground path connected to the static electricity eliminator is changed according to printing medium characteristics such that elimination of residual charge is effective over a range of printing media having different printing medium characteristics.
US08032039B2
A controller includes: a detection unit that detects that a housing unit housing a recording medium has been inserted into an insertion slot for inserting the housing unit; a prediction unit that predicts a vibratory excitation time at which vibrations will occur based on a time detected by the detection unit; a determination unit that determines whether the vibrations will occur based on the vibratory excitation time during a period when an image-forming unit is forming an image on a recording medium supplied from a different supply source for recording media from the housing unit inserted into the insertion slot; and a control unit that controls the image-forming unit to prevent image formation if the determination unit determines that the vibrations will occur during a period when the image-forming unit is forming an image on the recording medium.
US08032030B2
An integrated circuit has a group of cores that communicate with a packet switch using carrierless ultra wideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF) signaling. The packet switch communicates outside the integrated circuit using optical signaling. The carrierless UWB provides for high frequency communication and processing without requiring additional space for interconnects. No special paths are necessary because the signals used by the cores for communicating with the packet switch are RF signals therefore they can be broadcast by the packet switch and be received by a plurality of cores. No conductor line or waveguide is required. Because the signals are carrierless, they can be transmitted with low power. With multiple cores providing information to the switch, the total information being received may exceed the capacity of the RF bandwidth so an external optical interface is provided to multiplex information provided via carrierless UWB RF signals by a plurality of cores.
US08032025B2
Systems and techniques for optical communications based on polarization division multiplexing are described.
US08032023B2
Programmable wavelength line switches and routers based on a complementary wavelength switch (CWS) building block are described for switching optical signals of different wavelengths between signal lines, with each carrying multiple wavelengths. The CWS building block is based on a complementary bandpass filter structure. The reconfigurable wavelength routers described allow any of a plurality of wavelengths on any line to be switched to any output line by programming the filters accordingly. The various implementations described are useful for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), dense WDM, and ultra dense WDM optical communications systems, as well as for on-chip interconnects and optical signal processing.
US08032020B2
An optical spectrum monitor includes a tunable optical detector that receives optical channel monitoring signals from an optical channel and receives a control signal that selects a frequency of an optical channel monitoring signal for detection. The tunable optical detector detects the optical channel monitoring signal selected by the control signal and generates an electrical signal related to a power of the detected optical channel monitoring signal. A processor analyzes a plurality of differences between selected optical channel monitoring frequencies and their corresponding ITU frequencies and then generates the control signal at the output that corrects for at least one of systematic band offset and systematic band tilt in the optical channel monitoring frequency.
US08032018B2
Provided is a photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus may illuminate auto focus (AF) auxiliary light onto a subject without regard to an opening/closing of a flash because the flash may illuminate the light out of a main body even when the flash is received in the main body in a retracted position.
US08032006B2
A method and apparatus are described for modifying an analogue video signal to impair its conversion to a digital signal by an analogue to digital converter. The resulting modified signal may prevent the operation of the analogue to digital converter altogether, or even if a digital signal can be output and recorded, may result in a signal which is difficult to view due to a reduction in quality on playback. The modifications made to the signal include altering the amplitude of the horizontal synchronization pulses in the original signal, and/or modifying the level of the back porch, or the region of the signal adjacent the back porch. Additionally, methods are contemplated for the use of specific response models for target analogue to digital converters, and display devices.
US08031993B2
A fiber optic interconnect device includes a silicon substrate having at least one groove formed therein. The groove includes a pair of sidewalls and a first end disposed at an end of the pair of sidewalls. The device also includes an optical fiber disposed in the groove, the optical fiber having a cylindrical body, an endface formed on an end of the cylindrical body, and a multi-faceted mirror formed on the endface, and a light source adapted to transmit light to the multifaceted mirror to launch light through the optical fiber to a detector.
US08031990B2
A variety of structures, methods, systems, and configurations can support plasmons for multiplexing.
US08031988B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for pressure sensing. The apparatus comprises a light guide, a Bragg grating incorporated into the light guide and a moveable wall portion. The moveable wall portion has opposite first and second sides and is being positioned so that a change in pressure at one of the sides relative to a pressure at the other side will move the moveable wall portion. The moveable wall portion is coupled to the Bragg grating so that the movement of the moveable wall portion causes a force on a side of the Bragg grating. The force has a component that is transversal to the Bragg grating and effects a change in strain of the Bragg grating and thereby a change in an optical period of the Bragg grating.
US08031979B2
The method of verifying multimedia entities according to the invention to determine whether a first multimedia entity matches a second multimedia entity, is characterized in that it comprises a step of selecting from a plurality of second multimedia entities, by a content-based search, a set of second multimedia entities close to the first multimedia entity, and a step of deciding as to at least one match between the first multimedia entity and at least one second multimedia entity of the set of second multimedia entities, based on a comparison between the first multimedia entity and the second multimedia entities of the set.
US08031970B2
The present invention is to provide a method of restoring closed-eye portrait photo, which comprises the steps of detecting the locations and range of the eyes of a portrait photo being taken, retrieving a patch of a designated range of the eyes area and its neighboring area which represents the expression of the eyes and its neighboring area, determining whether the eyes of said patch are open or closed by using an eyes state classifier, temporarily storing said patch as an open-eye templet when it is determined that the eyes are open, detecting the locations and range of the eyes of a subsequently taken portrait photo, calculating an eyes restoration area when it is determined that the eyes are closed, replacing the closed-eye patch with said open-eye templet, and performing fusion operation toward said eyes restoration area to ensure that each portrait photo generated is with the eyes opened.
US08031967B2
A video noise reduction technique is presented. Generally, the technique involves first decomposing each frame of the video into low-pass and high-pass frequency components. Then, for each frame of the video after the first frame, an estimate of a noise variance in the high pass component is obtained. The noise in the high pass component of each pixel of each frame is reduced using the noise variance estimate obtained for the frame under consideration, whenever there has been no substantial motion exhibited by the pixel since the last previous frame. Evidence of motion is determined by analyzing the high and low pass components.
US08031963B2
Provided is a system and method for processing data and images including, but not limited to separating data into a plurality of data planes; performing noise analysis to determine an average noise amplitude and noise distribution for each data plane via a gradient calculation; applying an edge mask to weaken isolated transients in one or more of the data planes; applying a noise filter using one or more levels of filtering to one or more of the data planes; and performing detail recovery combining a composite data plane and filtered and unfiltered data planes according to the noise analysis.
US08031959B2
A compression system and method for a bit-plane is disclosed. A run-length encoder is used to compress a first block of an image, which includes at least a first line in the image. An offset encoder is used to compress a second block of the image, which includes a number of lines different from the first line.
US08031956B2
An apparatus, system, method, and article for enhancing video sharpness are described. The apparatus may include a media processing node to enhance sharpness of an input image. The media processing node may include a wavelet decomposition module to perform wavelet decomposition of the input image to detect and modify edge information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08031951B2
An image is divided into subbands by wavelet transform using the Haar function as the base, and the lowest-frequency LL subband is entirely encoded. LH, HL, and HH subband coefficients which belong to the wavelet decomposition level of each hierarchy are then encoded such that coefficients at the same spatial position are encoded at once. The decoding side first decompresses the lowest-frequency LL subband, and then decodes sets of the LH, HL, and HH coefficients at the same spatial position in the subband of each wavelet decomposition level one by one. The decoding side immediately performs inverse wavelet transform by using the coefficient values, thereby obtaining the LL coefficient value of the next wavelet decomposition level. This makes it possible to sufficiently increase the processing speed even when the wavelet encoding/decoding is performed using a sequential CPU.
US08031946B2
The method, system, and apparatus of source statistics based intra prediction type is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes classifying a four-pixel square block in an edge class (e.g., may include a DC edge class, a vertical edge class, a horizontal edge class, a diagonal edge class, and/or a planar edge class) based on an edge classifier, classifying an eight-pixel square block having the four-pixel square block and other four-pixel square blocks as a homogenous class if the four-pixel square block and the other four-pixel square blocks of the eight-pixel square block belong to the edge class, assigning a direction to the edge class of the eight-pixel square block, and determining an optimal intra-prediction type through the classification such that empirical testing of all possible ones of the edge class and the direction is avoided when the homogenous class is identified.
US08031931B2
A spatial mask printer may be used in conjunction with an optical inspection tool. The tool can be used to obtain a Fourier image of an inspected object, and a filter mask image can be designed to block certain aspects of the object's image in the Fourier plane corresponding to repetitive aspects of the imaged object. The filter mask image can then be printed and used in the tool during the inspection process. The mask image may be designed by hand or by computer and may be stored for later use. Filters may be automatically placed into the optical path of the inspection tool by a filter wheel, or may be housed in other filter banks. The printer may be configured to operate in a clean room environment, and may be integrated into the optical inspection tool.
US08031930B2
A testing system for inspecting electronic devices includes a first transparent disk, a first image capturing unit disposed under the first transparent disk, a second disk disposed next to the first transparent disk, a guiding unit disposed on adjacent area between the transparent disk and the second disk, and a plurality of second image capturing units disposed around the second disk. A plurality of electronic devices is continuingly supplied onto the first transparent disk and the first image capturing unit is used for capturing the images of the bottom surfaces of the electronic devices. Then, the electronic devices are guided to the second disk via the guiding unit and the second image capturing units are used for capturing the images of other surfaces of the electronic devices. A testing method for electronic devices is further disclosed.
US08031927B2
In one aspect, the invention is a method of medical image processing. The method includes receiving data representing a medical image. The method also includes generating the medical image based on a model. The model characterizes the medical image as a composition of at least two components having processing constraints.
US08031923B2
The present invention relates to a method, a device and a computer program product for evaluating medical image data sets, which consists of two-dimensional section images, in particular MR images, wherein a plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2, . . . Kn) and at least one two-dimensional longitudinal section (L1) of a target region (1) of a human or animal body are recorded and stored, a longitudinal axis (5) and points of intersection (6) are determined at the points at which the longitudinal axis (5) extends through the plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2 . . . Kn) and a reduced data volume (7) is generated, which is composed of partial cross-sections (k1, k2, . . . kn), which are generated by means of the points of intersection (6) and scaling factors (a1, a2, b1, b2) from the plurality of two-dimensional cross-sections (K1, K2, . . . Kn).
US08031921B2
A method for processing CT colonography input image voxel data representative of 3-dimensional images of a colon having gas and stool tagged with stool tagging agent, to remove the stool from the images. The input image voxel data is generated by an imaging instrument having a characteristic point spread function representative of instrument blurring. The point spread function of the instrument can be empirically determined, and the image data processed as a function of the point spread function to accurately identify and remove the tagged stool. In one embodiment of the invention, portions of the image data representative of the tagged stool and colon tissue are dilated as a function of the point spread function. In another embodiment, portions of the image data representative of the tagged stool are convolved with the point spread function to determine the fractional amount of stool present in the image portions, and the tagged stool subtracted by reducing the intensities of the associated portions of the image by an amount proportional to the fractional amount of stool present.
US08031914B2
Face-based image clustering systems and methods are described. In one aspect, face regions are detected in images. At least one respective parameter value is extracted from each of the face regions. Ones of the face regions associated with parameter values satisfying a cluster seed predicate are classified as cluster seed face regions. The cluster seed face regions are clustered into one or more clusters. A respective face model is built for each of the clusters. The face models are stored. In another aspect, face regions are detected in images. At least one respective parameter value is extracted from each of the face regions. The face regions are ranked based on the extracted parameter values. The face regions are clustered in rank order into one or more clusters. Representations of ones of the clusters are rendered on a display.
US08031913B1
The subject invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in a regulated industrial controller environment. In one aspect, a system for automated industrial processing is provided. The system includes an interface component to facilitate processing of one or more electronic signature components and a verification component that operates with the interface components and the electronic signature components to validate requested or proposed process changes before actual system implementation of the process changes.
US08031908B2
There is provided an object recognizing apparatus capable of recognizing a shape of an object in a stable manner with a small amount of calculation, even when data of non-target object is mixedly contained.The object recognizing apparatus includes an object detecting section, a shape model setting section 3, a conformance degree calculating section 4 and a profile shape determining section 5. The shape model setting section 3 extract arbitrarily samples of a group of samples detected by the object detecting section 1 and constituting surface shape information and then sets shape models. The conformance degree calculating section 4 calculates the conformance degree of each shape model. The setting of the shape model and calculation of conformance degree are effected up to a predetermined maximum number of times. The profile shape determining section 5 is configured such that if a conformance degree exceeding a first reference value exists, then, the shape model having this conformance degree exceeding the first reference value is determined at once as the profile shape.
US08031904B2
According to an embodiment, a ground process unit performs ground addition to input image data, and a pattern generation unit sets positions of components at plural points on a frequency plane including a main scanning axis and a sub scanning axis and converts the additional information into pattern data in which the positions of the components are a base. A pattern embedding unit embeds the pattern data from the pattern generation unit into a ground area of image data from the ground addition unit. A gradation process unit performs an asynchronous gradation process on the pattern embedding unit and output image data of the pattern embedding unit.
US08031895B2
An enclosure includes a chamber holding a driver with an end at a first opening in a housing and a rear end nearby a first terminal end of a passageway having a second terminal end at a second opening in the housing. The driver projects sound waves into a listening area directly through the first opening and simultaneously projects sound waves along the passageway and out the second opening into the listening area. The passageway comprises expansion and compression zones of different cross-sectional areas.
US08031892B2
A hearing aid (50) comprises means (55, 56, 57, 58) for reproducing frequencies above the upper frequency limit of a hearing impaired user. The hearing aid (50) according to the invention comprises means (55, 57) for transposing higher bands of frequencies from outside the upper frequency limit of a hearing impaired user down in frequency based on a detected frequency in order to coincide with a lower band of frequencies within the frequency range perceivable by the hearing impaired user. The transposing means (55, 57) comprise an adaptive notch filter (15) for detecting a dominant frequency in the lower band of frequencies, adaptation means (16) controlled by the adaptive notch filter (15), an oscillator (3) controlled by the adaptation means (16), and a multiplier (4) for performing the actual frequency transposition of the signal. The invention further provides a method for processing a signal in a hearing aid.
US08031886B2
In a mixer system having a digital mixer having functions of processing an audio signal in an input channel and outputting the signal via an ST bus, and a PC executing a DAW application realizing a function of plural tracks to record waveform data, a WET button corresponding to the input channel is provided to the digital mixer to select a DRY mode for inputting signal which is inputted from outside the device to the input channel, to the ST bus without sending the signal to the DAW application, or a WET mode for inputting signal which are inputted from outside the device to input channel, to the ST bus after sending the signal to the DAW application for processing and being sent back to the digital mixer, in response to a pressing of the WET button.
US08031879B2
A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.
US08031867B2
The method of verifying the integrity of an encryption key (K) obtained by combining at least two key portions (KM, M) in a protected zone (3) by using a commutative operator, comprises the steps of: using the commutative operator to perform a first combination between a key portion (KM) and a verification encryption key (Kv); using the commutative operator to perform in succession a combination between a key portion that has not yet been combined and a result obtained by an immediately preceding combination, until a last combination (Mv) is performed that includes all of the key portions; performing a combination in the protected zone (3) between the encryption key (K) to be verified and the last combination (Mv) of the verification encryption key (Kv) and the key portions (KM, M) in order to obtain a final verification key (Kf); encrypting verification data (Dv) by means of a symmetrical encryption algorithm (DES) using the final verification key (Kf); and making a comparison with a verification encryption (Cv) obtained by direct encryption of the verification data (Dv) by means of the verification encryption key (Kv).
US08031866B2
There is provided a highly secure cryptographic processing apparatus and method where an analysis difficulty is increased. In a Feistel type common key block encrypting process in which an SPN type F function having a nonlinear conversion section and a linear conversion section is repeatedly executed a plurality of rounds. The linear conversion process of an F function corresponding to each of the plurality of rounds is performed as a linear conversion process which employs an MDS (Maximum Distance Separable) matrix, and a linear conversion process is carried out which employs a different MDS matrix at least at each of consecutive odd number rounds and consecutive even number rounds. This structure makes it possible to increase the minimum number (a robustness index against a differential attack in common key block encryption) of the active S box in the entire encrypting function.
US08031861B2
An apparatus and method for suppressing noise is presented. The apparatus may utilize a filter bank of bandpass filters to split the input noisy speech-containing signal into separate frequency bands. To determine whether the input signal contains speech, DTMF tones or silence, a joint voice activity & DTMF activity detector (JVADAD) may be used. The overall average noise-to-signal ratio (NSR) of the input signal is estimated in the overall NSR estimator, which estimates the average noisy signal power in the input signal during speech activity and the average noise power during silence. Two indirect power measures are performed for each band, measuring a short-term power and a long-term power. The power estimation processes are adapted based on the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. A NSR adapter adapts the NSR for each frequency band based on the long-term and short-term power measures, the overall NSR and the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. The NSR adaptation may then be performed. The gain computer utilizes these NSR values to determine the gain factors for each frequency band. The gain multiplier may then perform the attenuation of each frequency band. Finally, the processed signals in the separate frequency bands are summed up in the combiner to produce the clean output signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for suppressing noise is presented. An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a method and apparatus for extending DTMF tones. Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes regenerating DTMF tones.
US08031852B2
A method and service for handling incoming customer calls. The invention uses an Access Point Model (APM) that includes an inventory of access entry points for voice, text, and/or web communication from a customer; a process network that lists the names and roles of customer contacts within the enterprise; an APM diagram of optimized pathways to be taken by particular incoming customer calls; rules for the customer contacts to follow when handling the incoming customer calls; and a synchronization of the customer calls with back-end processes within the enterprise that are responsive to instructions from the customer contacts.
US08031851B2
A method and apparatus for routing calls for a subscriber based on the identification of the calling party or the originating line. Generally, the present invention operates to identify a calling party or originating line and then select a routing list based on this identification. Once a routing list has been selected, the call will be routed to the destination in the routing list. More specifically, when a call is received, an inquiry is made regarding the identity of the calling party or calling line. If the identification can be determined, then an attempt to retrieve a routing list associated with this identification is made. If a routing list has been provided for the identified party or line, the routing list will be retrieved. If a routing list has not been provided for the identified party or line, a default routing list will be selected for routing the call.
US08031849B1
Inmate communications systems provide a feature-rich platform with a high degree of flexibility and security employing call control facilities located off institutional premises. Authentication processes for calling and called party verification include biometric techniques in some embodiments. Distributed processing of call control and billing provide flexible interactive call payment processes. Preferred embodiments feature voice over IP transmission and control featuring controlled access to avoid addition of unauthorized third-party call participants. Monitoring, recording and selective forwarding of calls is provided under control of system administrators.
US08031848B2
A system is described for providing communication services and this system comprises a communication network with a number of exchanges and a number of connection points. Each connection point is connected by a fixed line to an exchange and is adapted to connect at least one communication terminal to the corresponding exchange. First connection points of the number of connection points are in an operative state and second connection points of the number of connection points are in an inoperative state. Operative connection points allow a communication terminal connected thereto access to at least one communication service through the system by having been assigned a unique address from a first group of unique addresses to each of the operative connection points. The inoperative state of the second connection points includes a standby state and the exchanges are adapted to recognize the standby state of an inoperative connection point used by a communication terminal to access the system and to allow the communication terminal connected to this inoperative connection point access to a transaction server through the corresponding exchange. The transaction server is adapted to switch an inoperative connection point into the operative state by assigning a unique address from the first group of unique addresses to this inoperative connection point so that the inoperative connection point is changed into an operative connection point.
US08031846B2
A system is disclosed for integrated electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail messaging. A common message format is defined for use by an electronic mail service and a telecommunications service so electronic mail messages that may include voice and fax mail attachments may be exchanged between the services. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications and specify a preference for receiving messages at the electronic mail or telecommunications service. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.
US08031844B1
A method and system for providing a transaction using a telephone with a printer, includes: establishing a plurality of communications sessions between a first party and a second party to the transaction, where the first party comprises the telephone with the printer; conducting the transaction over a first communication session; and receiving a note by the first party from the second party over a second communication sessions, wherein the note comprises information about the transaction. In one embodiment, the first and second communication sessions exist simultaneously. In one embodiment, the first communication session is a voice session, and the second communication session is a data session. The note is then printed using the telephone with the printer, and a confirmation is sent from the first party to the second party to confirm the printing of the note.
US08031833B2
An inspection apparatus for tomographing an object includes a moving unit and a rotating unit, which is disposed on the moving unit and rotates the object to be tomographed. A method for tomographing an object includes steps of disposing an object on an inspection apparatus; rotating the object by operating the inspection apparatus; and tomographing the object.
US08031823B2
A system and method of reducing skew between a plurality of signals transmitted with a transmit clock is described. Skew is detected between the received transmit clock and each of received data signals. Delay is added to the clock or to one or more of the plurality of data signals to compensate for the detected skew. The delay added to each of the plurality of delayed signals is updated to adapt to changes in detected skew.
US08031822B2
In a single-wire data communication characterized in that a data communication unit time is different in accordance with the polarity of a signal, a communication control time is dependent on a communication data pattern, and hence, the control of the whole system is difficult. A counter for counting a clock continues the counting until a count value thereby obtained reaches a predetermined upper limit value, retains the predetermined upper limit value as the count value until a next pulse is detected in a reception signal after the count value reaches the predetermined upper limit value, and initializes the count value when the next pulse is detected. A data value judger judges a data value depending on whether or not the pulse is detected during a period before the time when the count value reaches the predetermined upper limit value.
US08031814B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for estimating a channel in a wireless communication system. The apparatus according to the present invention includes an estimator for initially estimating a channel response value by using a predetermined signal among reception signals, a detector for detecting transmission signals by using the channel response value and an operator for updating the channel response value by using detected transmission signals, a detection accuracy and reception signals.
US08031813B2
There are provided a VSB receiver and a carrier recovery apparatus thereof, in which a carrier is recovered using a VSB modulated signal. In the VSB receiver, a digital processing part selects a desired channel frequency through an antenna, converts the channel frequency into an intermediate frequency, and digitalizes the channel frequency by passing a predetermined band of the intermediate frequency. A carrier recovery part extracts pilot signals by using a first LPF having a first bandwidth and a second LPF having a second bandwidth, and recovers a baseband carrier wave signal from a passband signal by using one of the extracted pilot signals. A clock demodulation part removes the pilot signal from the baseband carrier wave signal and extracts a synchronizing signal. A noise removing part removes a linear noise and a residual phase jitter of the baseband signal by using the synchronizing signal. A decoding part decodes the baseband signal whose noise is removed. Accordingly, the carrier recovery can be stably performed even when the pilot signal is weak.
US08031809B2
A template pulse generating circuit that generates a template pulse used for detection of a received pulse in pulse communication includes an output mode switching circuit for switching an output mode in accordance with a supplied control signal between a continuous output mode that continuously outputs the template pulses and an intermittent output mode that intermittently outputs the template pulses so that the template pulse is generated in either one of the continuous output mode and the intermittent output mode.
US08031804B2
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08031800B2
An arrangement for coding digital symbols and transmitting them through at least two antennas. A coder reads at least two symbols belonging to the same transmission block and forms channel symbols of the symbols of the transmission block by means of a block code. The coder multiplies at least one symbol belonging to the transmission block by a first nonzero weighting coefficient and at least one symbol belonging to the transmission block by a second nonzero weighting coefficient, and the division ratio of the first and second weighting coefficients differs from values ±1, ±j and ±1/sqrt(2). The thus formed channel symbols are transmitted to the radio path through the antennas.
US08031784B2
A system includes a differential demodulation module that differentially demodulates modulated signals to generate differentially demodulated signals. A correlation module correlates the differentially demodulated signals with derived preamble sequences and generates correlation values. The derived preamble sequences are derived from preamble sequences. One of the derived preamble sequences is generated by combining bits of one of the preamble sequences using an exclusive OR function. Each bit of one of the derived preamble sequences has a first state when a corresponding bit and a bit adjacent to the corresponding bit in a corresponding one of the preamble sequences have opposite states. The each bit has a second state when the corresponding bit and the bit adjacent to the corresponding bit have the same state.
US08031783B1
A method and apparatus for converting a high precision digital word into a high precision analog value is disclosed. A sigma delta modulator applies a digital input signal to a dither signal to generate a combined signal for sampling. A digital-to-analog converter quantizes the combined signal. An analog filter provides a cutoff at a bandwidth of interest to remove out of band quantization noise and signals. An I transfer function and a Q transfer function can be coupled between the sigma delta modulator and the digital-to-analog converter for mapping of the combined signal. The apparatus can also include a phase interpolator for receiving the output signal and outputting a clock recovery phase.
US08031781B2
An image decoding apparatus is capable of decoding coded bit streams with different coding schemes. The image decoding apparatus includes a coding scheme decision section for deciding a coding scheme from coding scheme identification information multiplexed into a coded bit stream, a setting unit for setting header information on a second coding scheme in accordance with header information in a first coding scheme, and a decoder for decoding image coded data in the first coding scheme in response to the header information on the second coding scheme, which is set.
US08031777B2
An encoder includes an encoder engine, a storage device and a controller to implement an iterative coding process. The encoder engine compresses a selected portion of a data sequence. The storage device stores the compressed portion of the data sequence after each iteration. The controller selects the portion of the data sequence to compress for each iteration. The controller gathers statistics from the compressed portion of the data sequence. The gathered statistics include statistics generated by the selected frames and statistics extrapolated from the selected frames for the non-selected frames. The controller adjusts coding parameters of the encoder engine on each iteration until the gathered statistics meet a specified performance requirement.
US08031775B2
In order to analyze a digital video clip to determine candidate frames for subsequent key frame selection, a camera motion sensor is provided in the camera so that information is provided during image capture regarding camera motion including translation of the scene or camera, or scaling of the scene. The sensor includes an accelerometer or a lens motor sensor. A plurality of video segments is formed based on the global motion estimate and each segment is labeled in accordance with a predetermined series of camera motion classes. Thereafter, key frame candidates are extracted from the labeled segments and a confidence score is computed for each candidate by using rules corresponding to each camera motion class and a rule corresponding to object motion.
US08031766B2
An encoder circuit, a task scheduler circuit and a decoder circuit. The encoder circuit may be configured to (i) generate one or more first status signals in response to one or more report signals and (ii) perform video encoding tasks based on available central processing unit (CPU) cycles and memory bandwidth. The task scheduler circuit may be configured to (i) generate a control signal and the one or more report signals in response to the one or more first status signals. The decoder circuit may be configured to (i) generate one or more second status signals and (ii) perform concurrent decoding while the encoder circuit performs adaptive video encoding tasks in response to the control signal.
US08031763B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for an automatic tuning circuit for a continuous-time equalizer (CTE). In some embodiments, the automatic tuning circuit automatically tunes the magnitude response as a function of frequency of the CTE.
US08031756B2
A communication device of the present invention includes channel compensations, an adaptive processor, a MAC and a controller. The channel compensations weight each of signals received by a plurality of antennas based on an SN ratio of the received signals so as to control the antennas to operate as combining diversity systems. The adaptive processor weights each of the signals received by the plurality of antennas so as to suppress the interference signal and to control the antennas to operate as adaptive array antennas. The MAC detects frequency hopping information of the received signals. The controller changes between the operation of the combining diversity systems and the operation of the adaptive array antennas, based on the frequency hopping information.
US08031746B2
There is provided a method of operating a communications system comprising a transmitting station and a receiving station, the method in the transmitting station comprising encoding a clock signal with data to form encoded signals for transmission; transmitting the encoded signals to the receiving station; the method in the receiving station comprising decoding the encoded signals to extract the clock signal and data; processing the data under the control of the decoded clock signal. The method further comprises, when no data is required to be transmitted to the receiving station, transmitting further encoded signals to the receiving station in order for the receiving station to decode the further encoded signals and extract a clock signal.
US08031742B2
To provide a terminal apparatus, a program, and a communication bandwidth determination method which can correctly measure a communication bandwidth, without providing a server apparatus which measures the communication bandwidth.A controller of a measuring terminal apparatus fixes a measurement bit rate and, every time it increases a number of subject terminal apparatus, transmits measurement data to, or receives them from, the plurality of subject terminal apparatus at a fixed measurement bit rate, and measures the bit rate for each subject terminal apparatus. Then, the controller, in the event that a difference between a tallied bit rate before increasing the number of subject terminal apparatus and a tallied bit rate after increasing the number of subject terminal apparatus is less than or equal to a predetermined value, determines that the tallied bit rate at that time is the communication bandwidth of the measuring terminal apparatus.
US08031733B2
A high-speed electrical data transmission system (10) includes a signal mixer (13) for receiving high-speed data from external network transceiver (12). The signal mixer (13) converts the data into an electrical current-fluctuating data signal. A signal processor (17) is located remotely of the signal mixer (13) and is connected electrically thereto by a simple/inexpensive cable (15) having only two operative conductors and receives the current-fluctuating data signal via the cable (15). The signal processor (17) converts the current-fluctuating data signal into a voltage-fluctuating data signal for distribution to a local area network.
US08031730B2
Method for transmitting a sequence of messages in a point-to-point interconnection network comprising message initiating agents, message destination agents and message transmission agents. During a transmission of an indivisible sequence of messages from an initiating agent to a destination agent, an output of a message transmission agent is locked onto an input of the transmission agent, the other inputs of the said transmission agent being able to transmit messages to the other outputs of the said transmission agent.
US08031727B2
In a wireless network system for interconnecting a wireless network and another network different from the wireless network, the wireless network system includes: a plurality of wireless nodes for establishing the wireless network; a control device connected to the other network; and a plurality of gateways for interconnecting the wireless network and the other network, wherein the wireless node searches a path from a gateway candidate list, selects a gateway on an optimal path based on information collected in searching the path, and transfers data to the control device through the gateway on the optimal path.
US08031724B2
The present invention discloses a home network system using a living network control protocol. The home network system includes: at least one electric device; first and second networks based on a predetermined living network control protocol (LnCP); an LnCP access device connected to the electric device through the second network; and a network manager connected to the LnCP access device through the first network, for controlling and monitoring the electric device.
US08031723B2
A device comprising i) input ports and output ports for receiving and transmitting data packets, ii) a receiver to extract primary switching or routing data and secondary data to be handled and to associate the secondary data with a selected storage address, iii) a memory for storing the secondary data extracted at the storage address, iv) a switching stage and a routing stage configured to receive the storage address and the primary switching or routing data and to determine tertiary data designating at least one of the output ports and to determine new primary data, v) extracting the tertiary data and the new primary data from the switching stage and the routing stage to deliver the data and the storage address as a function of a selected criterion, and vi) sending the secondary data stored at the storage address, combined with the new primary data to each output port designated by the tertiary data.
US08031722B1
A technique controls a network switch having a set of ports. The technique involves configuring the network switch to provide an initial set of communications paths between the ports. The initial set of communications paths defines an initial communications path topology within the network switch. The technique further involves receiving a configuration command which identifies a particular operating mode of the data storage system after configuring the network switch to provide the initial set of communications paths within the network switch. The technique further involves reconfiguring the network switch to provide a new set of communications paths between the ports in response to the configuration command. The new set of communications paths (i) defines a new communications path topology within the network switch, the new communications path topology being different than the initial communications path topology, and (ii) supports the particular operating mode of the data storage system.
