US08087818B2
A coupling assembly for coupling a blade assembly of a removable jar to a motor located in the base of a blender includes a tapered metallic male coupler that is received into a tapered non-metallic female coupler. An electromagnetic field is generated to secure the male coupler in the female coupler.
US08087814B2
A batch mixer having a barrel which forms a cylindrical sealed chamber having a section consisting of two mutually communicated circles, and two rotors housed in the chamber to mix a mixing material by rotation, at least one of the inner wall of the barrel and the surface of the rotor having a plurality of recessed parts or protruding parts. The recessed parts or protruding parts are formed of grooves or projections extended in the direction crossing to the rotating direction of the rotor rotated in the chamber to mix the material. According to this structure, a batch mixer excellent in the controllability of material temperature during mixing can be provided.
US08087812B2
A light guide device and a backlight module. The backlight module comprises a light guide device and a plurality of light sources. The light guide device comprises a housing, comprising a frame around the housing; and a light guide plate, integrated inside the frame and comprising a light-emitting surface on one side of the light guide plate inside the frame and a light-receiving surface on one edge of the light guide plate, wherein a plurality of slots are disposed between the light guide plate and the frame and on other edges different from the edge whereon the light-receiving surface is disposed, and each of a plurality of barriers is disposed on an inner side of the light guide plate while being adjacent to one of the plurality of slots. The barriers are capable of reflecting the light traveling toward the frame back to the backlight module to improve the light efficiency.
US08087805B2
A motor-driven, displaceable-head floodlight unit according to one or more embodiments is described. The floodlight unit is arranged to generate a plurality of light and projection effects used in stagecraft and performances, at least several LED sources being configured as the source of light in the floodlight unit. The light emission from several LED sources is collected by at least one first mirror and deflected to a second mirror. The second mirror is arranged to collimate the light from the first mirror incident thereon and transmit the light.
US08087804B2
An illuminating device comprises a heat sink, at least one light emitting module and a speaker. The heat sink has a first containing space, a second containing space and a first channel being in communication with the first containing space and the second containing space. The light emitting module is arranged in the first containing space and contacted with the heat sink. The speaker comprising a thin film is arranged in the second containing space. When the speaker is in operation, the thin film vibrates so that a first airflow from the second containing space to the first containing space through the first channel is formed. In the above-mentioned illuminating device, the vibration of the thin film of the speaker causes air in the first containing space to flow, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the illuminating device is improved.
US08087803B2
An LED lamp includes a housing, a holder and an LED device pivotally connected with the holder. The LED device includes a cylinder-shaped casing having opposite first and second openings and air venting holes near the first opening. An LED module and a heat dissipating fan are respectively mounted at two ends of a heat sink. The LED module, the heat sink and the heat dissipating fan are assembled together as a unit, which is received in the casing. An airflow generated by the heat dissipating fan is directed into the casing through the second opening. A portion of the airflow is exhausted out of the casing through fins of the heat sink and the first opening, and another portion of the airflow is exhausted out of the casing through the fins and the air venting holes of the casing.
US08087795B2
A flashlight assembly provides a convenient ability to turn the flashlight on and off, particularly for flashlights with a pressure activated power switch disposed on a rear portion of the flashlight. In one version, the flashlight assembly includes a flashlight holder that has a housing for receiving the flashlight's rear portion therein. The flashlight holder also has a handle connected to the housing that includes a support arm and an actuator arm. The support arm extends outwardly from the housing, while the actuator arm extends from the support arm back toward the housing, so as to overlie the power switch in spaced relation thereto. Disposed in this manner, the actuator arm is movable between depressed and released configurations. This movement allows the power switch to be selectively depressed and released, so as to turn the flashlight on and off. Other versions and methods are also disclosed.
US08087790B2
A projector includes: an outer housing; and a plurality of handles provided on an upper surface of the outer housing to hold the projector, wherein each of the handles includes a pair of attachment members standing on the upper surface, and a grip member connected with the pair of the attachment members and extended substantially in parallel with the upper surface.
US08087787B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for maximizing performance of an electronic device, such as a display device. Aspects of the exemplary embodiments include operating the electronic device by adjusting power to the device to maintain a predetermined junction temperature of the device independent of the ambient temperature at which the device is operating.
US08087768B2
A method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article including, in order, the steps of: a) providing an article including an ink-receiving layer; b) applying a curable fluid on an ink-receiving layer according to a first image; c) at least partially curing the curable fluid; and d) jetting at least one ink-jet ink on the ink-receiving layer according to a second image partially overlapping with the first image. The method can be advantageously used to generate a security document.
US08087764B2
A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a first recording head, which is movable in a main scanning direction and ejects a specific-colored ink onto the recording medium, a first ink cartridge to store the specific-colored ink, a first ink conveyer, which connects the first recording head and the first ink cartridge to convey the specific-colored ink, and a first conveyer retainer, which is movable along with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer to extend there-along. The first conveyer retainer is arranged in a position higher than a connecting portion of the first ink conveyer with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer in a vertical range between a top level of the first conveyer retainer and a bottom level of the first ink cartridge.
US08087760B2
A liquid ejection head includes a passage unit and an actuator. A nozzle for ejecting liquid and a common liquid chamber are formed in the passage unit. An individual liquid passage formed in the passage unit includes a first passage a pressure chamber, a second passage, and a restricted passage. The first passage communicates between the nozzle and the pressure chamber. The second passage communicates between the pressure chamber and the restricted passage. The restricted passage is smaller than the second passage in the sectional area perpendicular to the flow of the liquid. The actuator can selectively take a first state in which the volume of the pressure chamber is V1 and a second state in which the volume of the pressure chamber is V2 larger than V1. The actuator changes from the first state into the second state and then returns to the first state to eject the liquid from the nozzle. The individual liquid passage is designed so that Tc1 and Tc2 defined by predetermined expressions showing characteristics of the individual liquid passage satisfy a condition that Tc1/Tc2 is substantially not less than 4.7 and not more than 5.5.
US08087754B2
To provide an electrostatic actuator capable of attaining a large diaphragm displacement by low voltage drive. Furthermore, a droplet discharge head provided with this electrostatic actuator, a method for driving a droplet discharge head, and a method for manufacturing an electrostatic actuator are provided. A diaphragm 4, an individual electrode 11 facing the diaphragm 4 with a gap 10 therebetween, while a voltage is applied between the diaphragm 4 and the individual electrode 11, and an insulating film 4a which is disposed on a surface of the diaphragm 4, the surface facing the individual electrode 11, are included, wherein the insulating film 4a is converted to an electret.
US08087749B2
An ink jet recording head has an array of ink ejection outlets in an ejection outlet forming surface, to which a protection tape is adhered during transportation. The ejection outlet forming surface has an outside area which is outside of each of opposite ends of the array with respect to a direction of the array, and the outside area has a peel resistance, provided by surface modification, which resistance is higher than in another portion of the ejection outlet forming surface.
US08087745B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzle groups is formed; a waste-liquid discharging mechanism which includes a plurality of suction caps covering the nozzle groups respectively, a suction mechanism the ink through the suction caps, a plurality of first channels communicating with the suction caps respectively, and a second channel communicating commonly with the first ink channel and with the suction mechanism; and an ink flow-rate control mechanism which control a flow rate of the ink flowing in first channels. Since the image forming apparatus has the ink flow-rate control mechanism, it is capable of sucking evenly the ink from the nozzle groups, irrespective of a shape of the suction cap, and a diameter and a length of the first channels.
US08087731B1
A side dump truck or trailer comprising a wheeled frame having a plurality of side dump bodies pivotally mounted thereon which may be individually moved from a transport position to a side dumping position. Once the side dump body is in its dumping position, the side dump body may be moved somewhat upwardly and inwardly away from the pile of material which has been dumped at one side of the truck or trailer.
US08087729B2
A seat for use in an aircraft having a floor is disclosed. The seat has a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat having a central portion and a rear portion, a seat back pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly. A pivot assembly couples the central portion of the seat to the support assembly for permitting the seat to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the support assembly. A connector assembly couples the rear portion of the seat to the seat back for causing the rear portion of the seat to pivot downwardly about the pivot axis in unison with the seat back as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position A method of construction of an aircraft seat frame is also disclosed. An armrest for an aircraft seat is further disclosed.
US08087721B2
A vehicle body assembly for on-line painting includes a polymeric fender and a polymeric bracket adhesively bonded to the fender. The bracket includes finger-like extensions received by an edge flange of the fender. The bracket includes a tab extension extending from an opening of the bracket engaging a support structure frame member for limited thermal expansion deformation of the fender. The adhesive a resin component and a curative component providing an initial partial cure for handling of the bracket and fender and a subsequent more fully-cured condition following high temperature baking in the on-line painting process. The assembly can also include fasteners securing the bracket to the fender to limit peeling separation of an adhesive connection provided by the adhesive.
US08087700B2
A female hydraulic coupling member includes a bidirectional, pressure-energized probe seal for sealing between the body of the female coupling member and the cylindrical probe section of a male coupling member seated in the receiving chamber of the female member. In one embodiment, the pressure-energized seal comprises a first curved section which is oriented towards the external end of the receiving chamber in which it is installed and a second curved section oriented towards the interior end of the receiving chamber. The two curved sections are joined by a substantially straight back section. When the pressure of fluid within the coupling member is above the ambient fluid pressure, the first curved section is pressure-energized so as to increase its sealing effectiveness. When external pressure (e.g., the hydrostatic head) exceeds the pressure of fluid within the coupling member, the second curved section is pressure-energized so as to increase its sealing effectiveness. In another embodiment, the pressure-energized seal comprises a curved back section joining the first curved section and the second curved section. When the curved back section moves radially outward against a circumferential wall under the influence of fluid pressure within the seal, it effects a slight rotation of the first and second curved sections, thereby increasing their sealing effectiveness.
US08087699B2
Disclosed is a cover bracket for holding a clamp having a screw housing in place on a hose without contaminating the screw housing with adhesive. The cover bracket includes a cover portion configured to receive a screw housing and a first runner and a second runner connected to one another by the cover portion. Each of the first and second runners includes a hose contacting surface and the first runner includes a channel in the hose contacting surface. The channel including an aperture extending through the first runner to an exterior of the first runner. Also disclosed is a method for attaching the cover bracket to the hose having the clamp thereon.
US08087697B2
To allow an occupant to easily wear a seat belt without twisting his or her body when the occupant sits in a seat.When a door sensor 60 detects the opening of a door, a motor is driven to wind up a seat belt 2 so as to move a belt guide 4 against biasing force of a spring 9, thereby evacuating the seat belt 2 to a rear side of a vehicle relative to a seat back 1a. When the door sensor 60 detects the closing of the door and a seat sensor 61 detects the sitting of the occupant, the motor is driven in the reverse direction to make a clutch mechanism 34 in the disconnected state so as to protrude the seat belt 2 in the forward direction of the vehicle by the biasing force of the spring 9.
US08087689B2
A juvenile stroller includes a mobile base and a juvenile seat mounted on the mobile base. The mobile base includes wheels and a foldable frame carrying the juvenile seat.
US08087687B2
An adjustable multipurpose adult mobility device is herein disclosed which includes improvements over prior art including ride cushioning, improved braking and includes a movable frame adapted for use by a person to assist in ambulatory movement, and a canopy that is positioned substantially above and carried by the movable frame. A flexible shield extends downwardly from the front portion of the canopy to at least partially cover a front portion of the movable frame. Such coverage effectively protects a passenger from the environment or potential inclement weather.
US08087672B2
A hand-held, portable apparatus for recording chess moves operable between a recording mode and at least one other mode is described. The apparatus is adapted to uniquely identifying a user and includes an interface for electronically entering into a memory a chess move made by the user. A mechanism is provided for the apparatus to switch between the at least one other mode and the recording mode upon a player making a first move in a new game. The recording mode further includes a security module so that only authorized features are accessible when the apparatus is in the recording mode. The apparatus includes a power module and a communication module for securely communicating chess moves to a central location. The moves are recorded in a universal language. The invention also concerns a chess game tournament management system, as well as a system for recording and publishing chess moves.
US08087670B2
A second rotary member is arranged opposite to a first rotary member to form a nip between them. A driving unit drives the first rotary member. A sheet-width measuring unit measures a width of a sheet to be fed into the nip. A speed compensating unit compensates a fluctuation of a rotation speed of the first rotary member occurring when the sheet is fed into the nip. The speed compensating unit adjusts a compensation target value for compensating the fluctuation of the rotation speed of the first rotary member based on the width of the sheet measured by the sheet-width measuring unit.
US08087667B2
A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention includes a conveying portion that conveys a sheet; and an abutment member against which an end of the sheet in a conveying direction abuts, the sheet being conveyed by the conveying portion. Herein, the abutment member is movable so as to change a distance between the abutment member and the conveying portion adjacent to the abutment member based on sheet information about the stiffness of a sheet, when an end of the sheet in the conveying direction is abutted against the abutment member.
US08087664B2
An apparatus includes a housing unit in which sheets are stacked, and a regulator in the housing unit including a body that has surfaces at which ends of the sheets are regulated. The apparatus further includes a stopper in the regulator, a retainer in the housing unit configured to engage with the stopper to lock the regulator to the housing unit, and a movement mechanism configured to move, when the body is pushed in a direction in which the regulator is to be moved, the stopper away from the retainer to disengage the stopper from the retainer.
US08087637B2
A controlled pressure release valve controls the gas flow in high-pressure systems. The valve includes a valve body, a slidable spool, a primary flow passage, a first and second chamber, a first and second spring, a first and second passages, and a valve actuator. The valve body has a gas inlet and a gas outlet and houses the slidable spool. The slidable spool has a first end and a second end, and is slidable between a first position and a second position. The primary flow passage connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet and increases with lineal movement of the slidable spool. The first chamber is located adjacent the first end of the slidable spool and a second chamber is located adjacent the second end of the slidable spool. The sliding spool is biased toward the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and the second spring.
US08087634B2
The one handed ice cube tray is an ice cube tray with a large opening that works like a hand that holds the front edge of a kitchen counter top to secure that end of the ice cube tray to allow one hand to twist or flex the ice cube tray and hold it flexed to ensure the ice cubes remain elevated to allow the other free hand to take out the desired amount of ice cubes.
US08087631B1
A load bearing assembly for supporting a lighting or fan fixture on a drop ceiling having a grid supporting structure. The assembly includes a single center bar, two end brackets with widely spaced support legs, and an electrical box. The support legs include removable portions that allow rapid modification to accommodate ceiling tiles of uniform thickness or ceiling tiles having a stepped edge. By adjusting the length of the legs, the lower surface of the tiles is leveled with the lower edge of the electrical box for either tiles of uniform thickness or those having stepped edges. A fastening arrangement enables adjustment of the end brackets with respect to the center bar, thereby allowing rapid fitting to adjacent T-rails. A locking arrangement enables easy adjustment of the location of the electrical box along the length of the center bar, thereby allowing the assembly to be rapidly fitted to a desired location on a drop ceiling.
US08087625B2
A holder includes a suction cup comprising a circular plate formed of resilient material and a rigid bell wherein the plate includes a central coupling member including outer threads, and the bell includes a hollow cylinder including two opposite openings with the outer threads disposed thereat; a manipulation assembly comprising a tube including an internal threaded section threadedly secured to the outer threads, a sleeve securely put on the tube, and a coupling mechanism seated upon the sleeve; and a pivot assembly comprising a pivot mechanism pivotably secured to the coupling mechanism, an arm extended upward from the pivot mechanism, and a seat assembly rotatably, pivotably secured to the arm. Preferably, the holder is adapted to hold an article (e.g., mobile phone) when it is immovably and captively retained on a dashboard of a motor vehicle.
US08087617B2
A retractable chine assembly includes at least one chine which is hingebly mountable to a surface such as of an aircraft having a wing. The chine is preferably configured to be movable between stowed and deployed positions. The aircraft may include an engine nacelle which may be mounted on an underside of the wing. The nacelle may generate a nacelle wake that passes over the wing upper surface at high angles of attack and induces flow separation. The chine is preferably configured such that a vortex generated thereby interacts which the nacelle wake to delay flow separation and stall.
US08087616B2
A system operates to guide an aircraft to or along a route designed to maintain the aircraft within a safe glide distance of an acceptable emergency landing area. The system uses a database of emergency landing areas with glide characteristics of an aircraft to determine a route that minimizes travel time or other specified parameter, while keeping the aircraft within a safe glide distance of a landing area in the database meeting the landing requirements for the aircraft.
US08087610B2
An aircraft shock strut includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder. A lower bearing and an upper bearing provide sliding engagement between the cylinder and the piston. The upper bearing is fixed to the cylinder and provides sliding engagement with an outer surface the piston. An upper bearing that is fixed to the cylinder facilitates use of lighter weight materials for the cylinder without sacrificing durability.
US08087607B2
An aircraft configuration that may reduce the level of noise, infrared radiation, or combination thereof directed towards the ground from an aircraft in flight. An embodiment of an aircraft includes a fuselage, two forward swept wings, at least one engine mounted to the aircraft and higher than the wings, and vertical stabilizers mounted on each wing outboard of the outermost engine. The leading edge of the wing may extend forward of the leading end of the engine, and the trailing edge of the aft deck may extend aft of the trailing end of the engine. The aft deck may include an upwardly rotatable pitch control surface at the trailing edge of the deck. Engine types may vary, including but not limited to turbofans, prop-fans, and turbo-props. Main wings may be mounted above the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and canards may likewise be mounted above or below the axis.
US08087606B2
A motion generating system for propelling and/or lifting a craft exploiting explosive and implosive processes, whereby a propulsive or lifting force on the craft arises from two sources: generation of a stream of fluids which imparts thrust to the craft; and generation of zones of reduced pressure and density in front of and above the craft allowing the craft to be thrust forward and lifted by ambient pressure on the rear and underside of the craft. Furthermore, reduction of fluid density in front of the craft results in a reduction of frontal drag allowing the attainment of higher speeds. The motion generating system may have other applications; for example, the motion generating system may be used to propel a stream of liquid in the manner of a pump.
US08087593B2
An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.
US08087587B2
An aiming pattern assembly for an imaging-based bar code reader including: a laser assembly laterally offset from an imaging lens assembly optical axis, the laser assembly including a first laser light source and a second laser light source; and a focusing lens defining an optical axis and positioned proximate to the laser assembly, the focusing lens focusing the laser light generated by the first laser light source to generate a first aiming pattern traversing along a first beam path and focusing the laser light generated by the second laser light source to generate a second aiming pattern traversing along a second beam path, the first laser light source being aligned with the focusing lens optical axis and the second laser light source being laterally offset from the focusing lens optical axis resulting in the second beam path crossing the imaging lens assembly optical axis in a near working range.
US08087584B2
The present invention concerns a read system (4), and the use of the latter, which is intended to communicate with a transponder (2) placed on a surgical instrument so as to quickly identify the surgical instrument by bringing the read system (4) close to the transponder (2) of the surgical instrument and then reading the information associated with the instrument contained in the transponder (2), and communication with a computer system (5), wherein the transponder (2) is housed in a compartment (13), formed in the instrument, said compartment (13) being closed off in a sealed manner by a thin lid (14) welded or affixed (3) to the body (10) of the surgical instrument so that the outer surface of the surgical instrument has no projecting sharp points, and with the transponder (2) communicating or recording, via the read system (4), information concerning clinical history.
US08087582B2
A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a verification value in response to a transaction involving a portable consumer device, where the verification value is generated using a first dynamic data element and a second dynamic data element. The verification value is sent to a service provider associated with the portable consumer device so that the service provider can verify the transaction.
US08087581B2
In addition to storing cassettes (16a) to (16f) that store banknotes that are dispensed when money is normally dispensed, a bait money storing portion (14) is provided that stores bait money serving as an emergency banknote to be dispensed in case of an emergency. When the bait money is requested to be dispensed in case of an emergency, the bait money is forcibly transported from the bait money storing portion (14) to a banknote outlet, with the result that the bait money is dispensed quickly.
US08087578B2
A printer antenna configured to carry out radio communication with an RFID tag for T-shirt provided at a T-shirt to be a print target is provided, print parameter information stored in the RFID tag for T-shirt is obtained through the printer antenna, and desired printing is performed on the T-shirt using a print parameter according to the obtained print parameter information.
US08087569B2
A tray includes a bottom panel having first, second, third and fourth edge portions. The tray further includes at least one end wall that extends perpendicularly outward from one of the first, second, third and fourth edge portions of the bottom panel, and at least one side wall that extends perpendicularly outward from another of the first, second, third, and fourth edge portions of the bottom panel. The at least one side wall is perpendicular to the at least one end wall. At least one corner extends between the at least one side wall and the at least one end wall. The at least one corner includes an outer member and an inner member. The inner member is folded onto the outer member to reinforce the at least one corner.
US08087568B2
A carton includes scores that create pleats fashioned in the walls of the carton. As weight from subsequently stacked materials impinge on the carton, the side walls collapse in a substantially uniform manner leaving the carton top in tact and substantially level with the bottom of the carton.
US08087564B2
A method of forming a metallic container by placing body and lid portions together, keeping parts of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and vibrating the lid with respect to the body, thereby generating frictional heat to form a friction metallic weld therebetween. Apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of the metallic container includes a body supporting base, an assembly to support a flange of the body, a sonotrode to contact a flange of the lid so that wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonotrode. A motor vibrates the sonotrode relative to the support assembly to thereby move the flanges relative to one another generating sufficient frictional heat to create a friction metallic weld therebetween.
US08087561B2
A powder-actuated fastener-driving device includes a barrel mounted in a housing. The barrel has a barrel wall formed with a through hole communicating with a radial vent hole. The through hole and the vent hole constitute an exhaust passage. A driving piston is mounted movably within the barrel, and has a rear end portion cooperating with an inner annular surface of the barrel wall to define an annular gap therebetween. A power adjusting unit includes an adjusting member disposed movably in the housing, and operable to move a control end portion thereof within the through hole so as to control an effective open area of the exhaust passage such that combustion gases discharge from a firing chamber defined between the driving piston and a rear end portion of the barrel through the gap and the effective open area, thereby controlling venting of combustion gases from the firing chamber.
US08087548B2
A product is disclosed for inverted spray dispensing of material that comprises at least some particulate matter. The dispensing end of the container is connected to a valve, which includes a valve that moves from a biased closed position to an open position to discharge the product downward through the valve, when the dispensing end of the container is directed downward. An inlet end of the valve is spaced vertically above the dispensing end of the container when the dispensing end of the container is directed downward. The inlet end of the valve or spring cup is connected to a mesh filter having a pore size at least as large as an average diameter of the solid particles. Even when the container and a layer of settled particles forms at the dispensing end of the container, valve and mesh filter are designed so that at a portion of the proximal end of the mesh filter is disposed above the layer of settled particles to prevent clogging of the mesh filter.
US08087544B2
A system for mixing beverage components in a predetermined ratio is characterized by a housing having a mixing chamber therein, first and second inlets to the chamber and an outlet from the chamber. A first beverage component is flowed through the first inlet to the mixing chamber and a second beverage component is flowed through the second inlet to the chamber for mixing of the components in the chamber and exit of the mixture from the chamber through the chamber outlet. The pressure of the second beverage component in the second inlet is sensed upstream from the chamber and the flow of at least one of the first and second beverage components to the chamber is controlled in accordance with the sensed pressure to deliver to the mixing chamber a predetermined ratio of the first and second beverage components.
US08087532B2
A waste container includes a top chamber, a base chamber, upper and lower lids, and a drive mechanism mechanically coupling the lower lid with the upper lid. The upper lid is disposed on the top chamber and moves between a closed position covering a first opening and an open position exposing the first opening. The lower lid is disposed on the base chamber and moves between a closed position covering a second opening and an open position exposing the second opening. The drive mechanism is actuated so as to move the lower lid to the open position when the upper lid moves to the closed position from the open position. The lower lid returns to the closed position when the upper lid is in the closed position.
US08087529B2
A safety closure for steam-pressurized containers of household appliances, such as steam irons, steam cleaners and the like. The safety closure is provided with an inner part that can be screwed onto the filling hole of the container, and with an outer part in the shape of a grip cap. A coupling element is provided between the inner part and the outer part and can be axially displaced against the effect of a spring by a drive controlled by the internal container pressure in such a manner that the outer part and the inner part are interconnected in a rotationally fixed manner when the container is not pressurized The connection being neutralized when the container is pressurized. The aim of the invention is to provide a safety closure whose components that are exposed to the pressure are more solid and therefore function more reliably and whose drive at the same time serves as a protection from an inadmissibly high excess pressure. For this purpose, the drive for the coupling element is configured by a valve support which is axially mobile inside the inner part and which can be placed on the coupling element against the axial effect of a spring.
US08087524B2
A container, in particular an ampoule, has at least one layer of plastic material and a discharge chamber (10). A discharge medium can be stored and discharged via at least one container opening (12) which can be closed by a closeable closing part (14). The discharge chamber (10) includes at least one additional container opening (16) which can be closed by an additional closeable closing part (18). For an individual container, at least two different types of container openings (12, 16) are provided which are economical to produce and can lead to a plurality of connection solutions.
US08087517B2
A filter element has at least one plastic part, a filter medium, and a potting compound that forms a connection between the at least one plastic part and the filter medium. A connecting part is connected fixedly to the at least one plastic part. The potting compound penetrates at least partially into the connecting part.
US08087511B2
A carrier for one or a plurality of beverage containing cups such as those supplied to carry out customers of carry out restaurants, fast food restaurants and the like. The cup carrier constructed in accordance the present invention includes a one piece blank which can be folded to form a base with one or a plurality of openings for receiving a beverage cup to provide an easily set up cup carrier that stably suspends the cup or cups in an upright position when the carrier is supported by a handle structure positioned above the cups so that the force of gravity will maintain the cup or cups in an upright suspended position. A paddle insert is used to expand the number of cups that can be held by the cup carrier.
US08087507B2
A release bearing assembly has a roller bearing, an enclosure and a slinger. The enclosure has first and second flange portions. The slinger has a body portion sized for radial disposition within an inner diameter of the first flange portion. A lip portion extends from the body portion and defines a channel between itself and the enclosure.
US08087502B2
An actuator shifts a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) between a plurality of operating modes. A first spring has a preload compression that is equivalent to a first start pressure. A second spring, disposed adjacent to the first spring, has a preload compression that is equivalent to a second start pressure. A plunger movably contacts the first spring and a slide plate movably extends from the plunger. The slide plate engages the SOWC such that the SOWC shifts between the operating modes in response to movement of the slide plate. The first spring is compressible from beyond the preload compression to a first stop position as the pressure is increased from the first start pressure to a first stop pressure. The second spring is compressible from beyond the respective preload compression to a second stop position as the pressure is increased from the second start pressure to a second stop pressure.
US08087501B2
A hydraulic one-way clutch assembly (HOWC) is configured for use in a vehicle transmission. The HOWC assembly includes a non-rotatable disc and a rotatable disc. The non-rotatable disc extends about an axis and defines at least one exhaust port extending therethrough. The rotatable disc extends about the axis and is disposed axially adjacent the non-rotatable disc. The rotatable disc is configured to rotate relative to the non-rotatable disc, about the axis, between a closed position and an open position. The rotatable disc covers the exhaust passage when the rotatable disc is in the closed position to prevent fluid from flowing out through the at least one exhaust port. The rotatable disc uncovers the exhaust port when the rotatable disc is in the closed position to allow fluid to flow out through the at least one exhaust port.
US08087495B2
The invention describes an over-speed governor (21) for a stairlift (10) which not only triggers upon the carriage (12) exceeding a pre-determined speed, but also triggers in the event the chair (11) departs from the horizontal by more than a predetermined angle. The speed determining function is preferably electronic and the governor operates in both directions without adaptation. Other aspects are described including a trip speed check facility.
US08087489B2
An articulated construction vehicle is provided with an articulated, self-propelled body, body-articulating hydraulic cylinders for articulating the self-propelled body, a pilot-operated directional control valve for controlling a flow of pressure oil to the body-articulating hydraulic cylinders, and a steering-wheel-operated control device for outputting a pilot signal to corresponding one of signal-receiving ports of a directional control valve by rotational operation of a steering wheel. The articulated construction vehicle includes a lever-operated, electrical control device for outputting an electrical signal by tilt operation of a lever, a controller for receiving the electrical signal from the control device to output an electrical signal concerning the operation of the lever, a signal converter for converting the electrical signal into a pilot signal and outputting the pilot signal to a corresponding signal-receiving port of the directional control valve to switch the control valve, and a selector of an operation system.
US08087486B2
A vehicular canister mounting structure includes a vehicle body floor provided on rear frames, a canister being provided underneath the vehicle body floor for treating gasoline vapor produced within a fuel tank, a guide pipe for protecting the canister, and a support for supporting the guide pipe and the canister on a vehicle body. The support includes a guide pipe bracket welded to the vehicle body floor for supporting the guide pipe, and a canister bracket welded to the guide pipe bracket for supporting the canister. Strength with which the canister bracket is welded to the guide pipe bracket is smaller than a strength with which the guide pipe bracket is welded to the vehicle body floor.
US08087481B2
Dual lever steering controls with control stops are provided for a zero turning radius mower. Each control arm is mounted to a neutral position lever that is pivotable between a full forward drive position and a full reverse drive position. Each control stop is mounted to block the control arm and neutral position lever from pivoting to a position under a minimum forward speed. Each control stop may be biased to the minimum forward speed position, and also may be pivotable between an operating position and a non-operating position.
US08087477B2
Drill bits and methods of measuring drill bit conditions are disclosed. A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprises a bit bearing at least one cutting element and adapted for coupling to a drill string. The drill bit may also comprise a chamber formed within the bit and configured for maintaining a pressure substantially near a surface atmospheric pressure while drilling the subterranean formation. In addition, the drill bit may comprise at least one optical sensor disposed in the chamber and configured for sensing at least one physical parameter exhibited by the drill bit while drilling a subterranean formation.
US08087476B2
A system for damping vibration in a drill string can include a magnetorheological fluid valve assembly having a supply of a magnetorheological fluid, a first member, and a second member capable of moving in relation to first member in response to vibration of the drill bit. The first and second members define a first and a second chamber for holding the fluid. Fluid can flow between the first and second chambers in response to the movement of the second member in relation to the first member. The valve assembly can also include a coil for inducing a magnetic field that alters the resistance of the magnetorheological fluid to flow between the first and second chambers, thereby increasing the damping provided by the valve. A remnant magnetic field is induced in one or more components of the magnetorheological fluid valve during operation that can be used to provide the magnetic field for operating the valve so as to eliminate the need to energize the coils during operation except temporarily when changing the amount of damping required, thereby eliminating the need for a turbine alternator power the magnetorheological fluid valve. A demagnetization cycle can be used to reduce the remnant magnetic field when necessary.
US08087469B1
The Post and Drainage Hole Digger is designed to manually dig shallow holes in the earth for posts or deeper holes for drainage or shallow wells. It is a modification of an existing device called an earth anchor used for anchoring situations such as storage sheds and guying applications. The invention is comprised of a steel disk screw mechanism, a steel shaft to which the steel disk is welded at one end and an attaching mechanism is incorporated at the other end, a U-shaped steel cutting bar welded to the shaft and the disk, a steel cutting tooth bent downward and welded to the disk, a detachable turning handle connected to the shaft via the attaching mechanism, and extension(s) that can be inserted between the main shaft and the turning handle.
US08087466B2
The invention relates to a centralization and running tool (CTR) in a subsea installation in connection with offshore related oil and gas exploration, where the subsea installation (SCM) is arranged to be placed on the ocean bottom or a drilling template and comprises a pipe-formed body (10), at least partially open at the top and extended, arranged to receive and carry through a drill stem (12) from a drilling rig or a drilling vessel. The centralization and running tool (20) is arranged to surround the drill stem (12) and to be placed in the pipe-formed body (10), and the centralization and running tool (20) comprises, together with the drill stem (12), a rotary packing housing (22) with a number of seals (24,26) that lie against the drill stem (12), and the packing housing (22), in accordance with the movements of the drill stem (12), is arranged for radial movement to take up angular deviations of the drill stem (12). The invention also relates to a method to provide a fluid-tight seal against a drill stem (12) and against the surroundings in a subsea installation.
US08087464B2
A system for installation of a subsea module of great length by means of a vessel, using a cable for its installation and/or retrieval, and methods applied therein. The system allows transporting the subsea module on the vessel to a location in the sea and descending the subsea module into the sea at a vertical position for installation on the seabed.
US08087463B2
A method of actuating a well tool utilizing first and second pressure sources includes the steps of: placing an actuator chamber in communication with the first pressure source, thereby displacing a piston from a first position to a second position; and then placing another chamber in communication with the second pressure source, thereby displacing the piston to a third position. A multi-position actuator includes an operating member which displaces to operate a well tool, a first position of the operating member corresponding to a pressure source being in communication with a chamber and another pressure source being in communication with another chamber, a second position of the operating member corresponding to the same pressure source being in communication with both of the chambers, and a third position of the operating member corresponding to the pressure sources being connected to the chambers oppositely to that of the first position.
US08087457B2
A method of short-term well operation using a submersible impeller pump unit is disclosed, the method includes the steps of alternating pumping a liquid out of a well and accumulating a liquid in the well, and adjusting an average integral-in-time capacity of the unit by changing a proportion between time intervals of pumping the liquid out and accumulating the liquid. The method further includes adjusting a pressure produced by the unit during the time interval of pumping the liquid out of the well, selecting a time interval of a complete operational cycle of the unit to have a production rate reduction factor greater than 0.95 as compared to continuous well operation, and selecting a factor of cyclic time interval of unit-turning-on equal to a ratio of the time intervals of pumping the liquid out and the complete operational cycle of the unit such that the factor is less than 50%.
US08087450B2
Investment casting shells are manufactured by incorporating fumed metal oxide dispersions, or doped fumed metal oxides as a binder into the casting shell. The investment casting shells containing the fumed metal oxides have improved characteristics, such as increased strength and a reduced surface roughness.
US08087449B2
A rolling method in a rolling line, to obtain strip with a thickness varying from 0.7 mm to 20 mm, for steel which can be cast in the form of thin slabs with a thickness from 30 mm to 140 mm, the line includes a continuous casting device; a tunnel furnace for maintenance/equalization and possible heating; a rolling train having a roughing train and a finishing train; a rapid heating unit, with elements able to be selectively activated, interposed between the roughing train and the finishing train. For each lay-out of the rolling line, the position of the rapid heating unit which defines the number of stands which form the roughing train, disposed upstream of the unit, and the number of stands which form the finishing train, disposed downstream of the unit, is calculated as a function of the product of the thickness and speed of the thin slab.
US08087447B2
A molding technique is utilized to form the cooling channels in an airfoil for a gas turbine engine. The cooling channels are formed by lost core mold cores, which are leached away after metal has been molded around them. At least one of the mold cores is provided with a cone which will extend into the airfoil. The cone forms an opening in a wall of the airfoil, and the size of this opening is indicative of the thickness of the wall. By comparing the size to expected sizes, a determination can be made of whether the wall is of an acceptable thickness at locations where it is difficult to otherwise measure the wall.
US08087445B2
The lift motor comprises at least one motor unit releasably connected to at least one spool unit. The spool unit comprises a spool for winding a cord and a gear operatively connected to the spool. The motor unit comprises a spring motor having a gear for engaging the gear of the spool. A window covering comprises a head rail supporting a motor as set forth above that supports a shade panel by the cord. A method of assembling a window covering comprises constructing a head rail having an internal space for receiving a motor. A motor is assembled based on the shade panel to be supported. The motor is inserted into the head rail and the cord is attached to or near the bottom or top of the shade panel.
US08087435B2
Devices and methods for filling fuel tanks are disclosed. Some embodiments include components that reduce the level of turbulence in a fuel stream thereby increasing its flow rate. In some embodiments such anti-turbulence components can include one or more parallel flow vanes for directing the flow of fuel through a fuel filler pipe in a manner that reduces turbulence. Other embodiments may include a vane attached to a bracket in a mouth of the fuel filler pipe for directing the flow of fuel through a bend in the pipe.
US08087434B2
The invention refers to a filler neck for the fuel tank of a vehicle that encompasses a refueling channel (2), a first opening (3) and below it, arranged in a transversal wall (11), a second opening (7) that can be closed by a closing device. In a longitudinal section (27) of the refueling tank (2) that extends between the transversal wall (11) and the first opening (3), ends a drainage channel (10) via a drainage opening (12). In addition, a closing element (15) has been arranged in the longitudinal section (27), movable between a position that closes the drainage opening (12) and one position that releases it.
US08087432B2
A flexible heat-insulated conduit is described, made up of at least one medium-carrying internal tube, an external tube surrounding the at least one internal tube, and a heat-insulating layer based on polyurethane foam or polyisocyanurate foam and located between the at least one internal tube and the external tube, in which 0.1 to 7.5% by weight of hollow spheres are added into the foam, the hollow spheres comprising a casing made of a thermoplastic and being filled with a medium that brings about an inflation of the casing at an elevated temperature.
US08087424B2
A subsea valve actuator apparatus is disclosed for actuating a subsea valve. The valve actuator apparatus includes a housing which defines an enclosure and a rim. A cover cooperates with the rim for sealing the enclosure. A gearbox is disposed within the enclosure the gearbox including a worm wheel which is connected to the subsea valve for actuating the valve. The gearbox includes a seal which is disposed between the worm wheel and the housing for sealing the worm wheel relative to the housing so that lubricant disposed within the enclosure for lubricating the gearbox is sealed within the enclosure. A pressure compensator is disposed within the enclosure for maintaining pressure of the lubricant disposed within the enclosure at substantially the same pressure as the pressure of seawater outside the gearbox.
US08087419B2
A substrate holding rotating mechanism is used to hold and rotate a substrate to be processed. The substrate holding rotating mechanism according to the present invention includes at least three spindles, clamp rollers mounted respectively on the spindles for holding a periphery of a substrate, a rotating device for rotating at least one of the clamp rollers, at least one base member on which at least one of the spindles is installed, and a rotational mechanism adapted to allow the base member to be rotatable.
US08087409B2
A heater for footwear includes a seat having a space centrally defined therein. A spring is compressively received in the space in the seat. A friction mechanism is received in the seat. A cap is sleeved on the seat. The cap has a driving unit longitudinally extending therefrom. The driving unit extends through the friction mechanism for movably abutting against the spring in the space in the seat. When the cap is pressed/released, the driving is unit moved relative to the seat for engaging the friction mechanism to warm up the footwear.
US08087401B2
An electric motor-generator and an engine are linked using a first belt that is looped around a crank pulley that is mounted to a crank shaft and a one-way clutch pulley that is mounted to a rotating shaft. An electronic control unit drives the electric motor-generator as an electric motor and drives the compressor by the electric motor-generator if engine speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value.
US08087391B2
One possible embodiment of the invention is essentially an apparatus and methodology for mounting a rocker arm assembly to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine comprising of at least a unitary stanchion to which multiple rocker arms may be moveably connected. In least one embodiment, the unitary stanchion may comprise a base from which project multiple rows of pedestals. Two of more of these rows may be set in essentially parallel orientation, which further defines a primary space in which a portion of the rocker arm is located. The unitary stanchion may be secured to the cylinder head thorough multiple rows of fasteners. The footprint of the base of unitary stanchion could allow the unitary stanchion to possibly act as generally efficient external buttress for generally providing greater support across the top of the cylinder head.
US08087387B2
A unique pet device that is used to hold “chewable” objects for pets such as rawhide bones, carrots and other consumables. The device for pets may be used with dogs, cats, ferrets and other animals that have a proclivity to chew. The device is comprised of a unique combination of a base support with special features, a bone or object holding structure with special integral or discrete components and features, and an optional hold down lid or top to assist the containment of the rawhide or chew toy that is being held by the device. The device is made of high quality, durable material that is pet safe and non-toxic to animals and humans.
US08087379B2
A method of localized plasma processing improves processing speed and reduces work piece damage compared to charged particle beam deposition and etching. In one embodiment, a plasma jet exits a plasma generating chamber and activates a reactive gas. A jet of plasma and reactive gas impacts and processes the work piece. Because the plasma and the ions in the reactive gas can have low kinetic energy, there can be little or no surface damage. This is particularly useful for deposition processes. When it is desired to etch material, the reactive ions can be more energetic to enhance etching.
US08087378B2
To provide a coating apparatus capable of automatically executing a series of steps of measuring the shape of a lens and applying a primer solution thereon, drying the primer solution and applying a photochromic coating solution thereon, and curing the coated solutions by the UV irradiation, liberating the operator from the work of setting the lenses piece by piece. A lens-feeding portion 2 is arranged upstream of the series of steps, the lens-feeding portion 2 having lens-holding units 22 in which a plurality of lenses are arranged straight in the horizontal direction and/or in the up-and-down direction, and a first lens sub-carrier means 31 for carrying the lenses held therein to the lens-measuring portion 3. The lens-holding unit 22 has, formed therein, a plurality of stepped lens-placing portions in concentric having diameters increasing upward, and an open portion is formed in the central portions of the plurality of lens-placing portions 20 and in a portion of the lens-placing portion on the side of the lens sub-carrier means enabling the lens-support portion of the carrier means to pass through.
US08087377B2
The present invention provides a coating apparatus which can form a stable photochromic coating film. In the invention, a centering device, a lens height measuring device, a primer fluid applicator device, a primer spinning device, a drying device, a photochromic fluid applicator device, a photochromic spinning device, a UV device and a lens transport means comprising a pair of handling devices are provided to a coating apparatus. In the coating apparatus, it is possible to produce many photochromic lenses more efficiently by arranging devices and the lens transport means in such a manner that lens support portions of the centering device, the lens height measuring device, the primer spinning device, and the lens drying device are disposed inside the track of one handling device of the lens transport means, lens support portions of the UV device are disposed inside the track of the other handling device of the lens transport means, and the lens support portion of the photochromic spinning device is disposed inside both of the tracks.
US08087373B2
A floating module and fastening system for interconnecting a row of modules while allowing relative movement of the modules resulting from wave action. The present invention provides a system for interconnecting floating structures to form breakwaters and other integrated floating structures. The interconnection system includes one or more cables or other securing lines extending longitudinally through a row of floating structures and fastened at the ends of the row. Two or more socket members, through which the cables pass, are secured in and project outwardly from each end wall of the floating structures. Each of the socket members defines a recess, which extends into the end walls of the floating structures. Opposed socket members projecting from adjacent floating structures are sized so that an end of a first of the socket members fits within an opposed end of a second of the socket members. A resilient member or cushion having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the recesses in the opposed socket members may be received within adjacent recesses of overlapping first and second socket members.
US08087372B1
A handling system with an improved fairlead is provided for protecting a tow cable wherein the cable breaking strength exceeds the system-rated tension load; the fairlead being positioned collinearly between the system bellmouth and winch. A guide slot passes through the fairlead positioning the cable higher than the winch release point and bellmouth entry point, maintaining the cable down-slope as the cable exits the fairlead. The slot has a hemispherical portion tapering inward to a groove extending downward. Near the groove bottom, at the fairlead end nearest the bellmouth, is a cutting device. Under tension, the cable rides in the hemispherical portion of the groove. If tension suddenly increases from a snag, the resulting force drives the cable down into the groove where the cable is cut by the device, separating before the force damages the system. The constrained cable end is securely held in place by the taper.
US08087367B2
A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and seizing a needle thread having passed a bobbin case and a bobbin thread by a first thread seizing portion, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing both threads having been seized by the first assembly during backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting both threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second thread seizing assembly. The second assembly has a distal end on which a second thread seizing portion is located. The second thread seizing portion is two-forked so that the cutting blade is interposed between the two-forked portions.
US08087361B2
The invention relates to a device, particularly for safety braking of vehicles on rails having at least one flap unit (1) connected in a rotatable fashion to a rail, wherein the flap unit (1) may be moved into a locking position and a release position by rotation about a rotational axis (D), wherein, in a locking position, the balance point SPK of the flap unit (1) is located above a horizontal plane (E) in which the rotational axis (D) is located.
US08087358B2
To enable fabric of any length to be continuously printed without causing a textile printing unit to cease its operation, a textile printing method is provided in which fabric is conveyed by a conveyer belt and passed through a printing section to print on the fabric, the printing section having a textile printing ink jet printer disposed opposite the conveyer belt, wherein the printing section is continuously supplied with the fabric comprising a plurality of successive sheets of fabric, each sheet having a given length, such a sheet of fabric for supply into the printing section having a terminal end tied with a starting end of a sheet of a fabric for continuous succeeding supply in the state that the terminal and starting ends are in contact with each other.
US08087355B2
A method of treating an on-press developable lithographic printing plate with a treating solution after imagewise exposure and before on-press development is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer developable with ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation. The plate is imagewise exposed with a radiation, overall treated with a treating solution to cause at least one chemical or physical change in the photosensitive layer or on the substrate surface, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. Such a treatment allows improvement on the performance of the imagewise exposed plate by, for example, improving the white light stability, forming visible imaging, increasing the hydrophilicity of the substrate, or increasing the developability of the photosensitive layer.
US08087347B2
An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a brew head suitable for receiving a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge. The brew head comprises an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine, and a closure mechanism moveable between open and closed configurations. The insert comprises a receptacle and sealing means, the receptacle having an opening through which, in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients may be loaded into the receptacle, a lower portion of the insert comprising an inlet and an outlet. In use, on insertion of the insert into the brew head of the beverage preparation machine and movement of the closure mechanism into the closed position the sealing means is contactable with, and sealable against, the brew head to thereby close the opening of the receptacle to define a I brewing volume containing the quantity of beverage ingredients, and on inserting the insert into the brew head the inlet and outlet of the insert are arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet of the brew head such that, in use, water from the inlet of the brew head passes upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume and such that beverage produced from the water and the quantity of beverage ingredients passes downwardly through the outlet of the insert to flow out of the outlet of the brew head.
US08087344B2
A recoil operating pistol has a barrel and slide with at least a pair of flat mating surfaces extending along a substantial length of both the barrel and slide parallel to each other on opposite sides of the barrel. The matching flat surfaces of the barrel and slide allow relative sliding motion between the slide and the barrel when the at least a portion of the barrel is received in the hollow interior of the slide.
US08087341B2
The invention provides a personal protection apparatus for use in vehicles comprising: a behind-the-seat ballistic shield provided with support means extending to the floor of the vehicle for distributing a weight component of the shield, and a deployable protective ballistic shield and visor articulately linked to the behind-the-seat ballistic shield for protecting the upper chest, neck and head areas of a driver and displaceable between an active deployed position in front of the driver and a storage position.
US08087337B1
A recoil compensator and climb arrester has an axially-elongated hollow sidewall having an inner surface. Three apertured baffles with central apertures are fixed inside the sidewall spaced apart from one another to define three longitudinally-distributed gas-expansion chambers. Each baffle has a convex rear surface which meets the sidewall in a circular crease. Each chamber has one top port through the sidewall as well as a pair of opposite side ports. Each port has a one edge, a sill, which is closest to the crease. The distance between the sill and the crease defining a knee wall. Wherein, the expansion of the gases of a muzzle blast in the expansion chambers deflect in part off convex rear surfaces of the baffles and get checked in part by the knee-wall portions of each port ensuing the exhausting of the gases through ports across the sills thereof.
US08087328B2
A tool for removing conventional one way fasteners that includes, generally, a member, a collar, and, a shaft that can be removably received by the collar, wherein in the shaft is configured to engage regions of the fastener head. The collar is adjustable to fit fastener heads of different sizes. The member can be configured to correspond to a threaded portion of the outer surface of the collar. The collar may also have a bottom portion that includes multiple splines.
US08087323B2
A gear transmission is provided including at least a first and a second shaft with substantially fixed and substantially parallel axes of rotation, a transmission housing with a first and a second wall that extends perpendicular to the axes of rotation, and a plurality of gearwheels that are rotationally fixed or rotationally fixable to the shafts. The shafts include at least one input shaft and at least one output shaft, the shafts being suspended by bearings that are seated in the first and second walls. The first wall is connected to the second wall with at least one rod in order to reduce deflections in operation of the first and second walls.
US08087317B2
The invention relates to an interface system for a vehicle having a starter motor and a transmission control lever. There is a need for such an interface system which senses control lever position and prevents starter motor operation unless the control lever is in a park position. The interface system includes a plurality of magnet members generating magnetic fields, and a plurality of magnetic sensors or Hall effect switches mounted to the lever so that movement of the lever causes the magnetic sensors to move through the magnetic fields. An interface circuit is connected to the starter motor and to the magnetic sensors. The interface circuit and the sensors cooperate to generate lever position signals. The interface circuit and the sensors also cooperate to prevent activation of the starter motor unless the lever is in its park position. Thus, the same lever position sensors are used by the transmission control system and are used to control operation of the starter.
US08087315B2
Methods and systems are provided for attaching and detaching a payload device to and from, respectively, a gimbal system without requiring use of a mechanical tool. The gimbal system includes a gimbal assembly that includes a payload socket arranged to attach a payload device to the gimbal assembly. The payload socket is preferably arranged to allow any of a plurality of payload devices to attach to and detach from the payload socket without requiring use of a mechanical tool.
US08087314B2
A powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus and a powdery/granular material flowability evaluation method are provided to evaluate the flowability of a powdery/granular material in a dynamic state of the powdery/granular material. The powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus (A) has a hopper (111) for storing a powdery/granular material to be measured, a vertical tube (11) having a flow-in port (1121) connected with a discharge port (1112) of the hopper (111) through which the powdery/granular material is discharged, a vibrator (2) for giving vibration to the tube (11), a laser vibrometer (3) for measuring the amplitude of the tube (11), an electric balance (4) for measuring the weight of the powdery/granular material fallen through the tube 11 from the hopper (111), and an evaluation value calculating section (512) for calculating an evaluation value evaluating the flowability of the powdery/granular material based on the measured amplitude and weight.
US08087309B2
A hermetic sample holder for use in performing microanalysis of a sample under a controlled atmosphere environment. The sample holder comprises a sample holder body with a sample cavity to receive the sample and a cover movably mounted to the holder body between an open position to allow access to the cavity and a closed position to seal the cavity. The cover is secured in and released from the closed position at least in part by a pressure differential between the cavity and the ambient atmosphere. The cover may be biased toward the open position. The cover may be pivotally mounted about an axis that is perpendicular to a sealing surface of the cover and/or movable in a direction along the pivot axis. A valve may be provided to allow direct evacuation of the cavity to create a pressure differential. An adjustable clamp may be located in the cavity to secure the sample.
US08087305B2
A system including a first concentrator, a second concentrator, and a magnet. The first concentrator has a first partial hub. The second concentrator has a second partial hub aligned with the first partial hub to form a bore. The magnet is situated in the bore and the first concentrator and the second concentrator guide magnetic flux from the magnet to sense movement of the magnet relative to the first concentrator and the second concentrator.
US08087304B2
The present invention involves a method and apparatus for canceling the effects of magnetic field noise in a torque sensor by placing three sets of magnetic field sensors around a shaft, the first set of field sensors being placed in the central region of the shaft and the second and third sets of field sensors being placed on the right side and left side of the field sensors placed at the central region, respectively. A torque-induced magnetic field is not cancelled with this arrangement of field sensors but a magnetic near field from a near field source is cancelled.
US08087302B2
A push-to-activate device is disclosed. The push-to-activate device may comprise a mounting bracket coupled to a surface, and an adjustable hinge coupled thereto. The push-to-activate device may also feature a measuring instrument coupled to the mounting bracket and a deflectable arm coupled to the adjustable hinge, wherein the deflectable arm can be engaged in a hands-free manner. A method is also disclosed which comprises providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a mounting bracket coupled to a surface, an adjustable hinge coupled to the mounting bracket, a measuring instrument disposed within the mounting bracket, and a deflectable arm coupled to the adjustable hinge, wherein the deflectable arm can be engaged in a hands-free manner. The method also comprises utilizing the adjustable hinge to adjust the deflectable arm to fit a size constraint of an operator.
US08087301B2
The invention is related to systems and methods for optically measuring conditions and characteristics related to vehicle tires. In one embodiment, a tire monitoring system comprises a grid, a camera, and a processor. The grid can be configured to deform in conjunction with a deformation of the tire. The camera can be mounted optically proximate the grid and configured to acquire an image of the grid. The processor can be in communication with the camera and configured detect the deformation of the tire from the image.
US08087299B1
A target pressure detection device (1) includes a housing (10), a resilient membrane (12), and a pressure detection unit (14). The housing (10) forms a chamber (102) having an open end and the housing (10) forms a through hole (104). The resilient membrane (12) is mounted to the housing (10) to cover and close the open end of the housing (10) so as to set the chamber (102) in an air-tight condition. The pressure detection unit (14) is mounted to the through hole (104) and forms therein an accommodation compartment (140) that movably receives therein a floating element (142). The accommodation compartment (140) receives therein a sensor (144). The sensor (144) can effectively detect a movement of the floating element (142) and thus the precision of detection of the target can be improved through detecting change of airflow.
US08087295B2
The present invention discloses an improved planar, dual-axis, resonator gyroscope with mechanical coupling of adjacent vibrating members. The primary-mode flexible hinges include a tangential torsion element that largely decouples the out-of-plane resonant frequency from the wafer thickness. The use of separate plates for the force-balance and for the electric spring enables decoupling of the two functions. The invention also provides resonant frequency servo-loop for locking of the sense-mode resonant frequency to the drive-mode frequency, an online self-test, a split force balance loop for self cancellation of the quadrature signal, decoupling of the force-balance and resonant frequency servo-loops and stabilization of the inertial rate-sensing sensitivity—when operated in an open loop mode, all without interfering with the normal operation of the gyroscope. An optional sensing of the Z-axis acceleration perpendicular to the sensor plane is also provided which can be used for compensating acceleration-induced errors.
US08087289B2
A scanning probe system and method for using the same are disclosed. The system includes a probe that interacts with a specimen. The probe is caused to vibrate at a first frequency of the probe. A probe deflection signal indicative of an oscillation amplitude of the probe is generated and used to set the z-position probe position to maintain a property of the probe deflection signal at the first frequency at a predetermined value. A probe signal, having a DC and an AC component is applied between the specimen and the probe. The amplitude of a frequency component of the deflection signal at a mixing frequency of the first frequency and the second frequency is measured and used to generate an image or adjust the DC component.
US08087287B2
The present disclosure provides a method for detecting degradation of an engine oil, by separation into a polar component and a non-polar component via admixture with a polar solvent having a polarity index greater than or equal to 5 and optionally a non-polar solvent having a polarity index of less than or equal to about 1. The polar component is analyzed for one or more degradation indicators selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, acid content, and combinations thereof. Such degradation indicators relate to a degree of engine oil degradation. The polar component may be analyzed by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for the one or more degradation indicators, which can provide a semi-quantitative level of such degradation indicator species. The non-polar component identifies combustion products that help to explain the level of degradation.
US08087283B2
The disclosure describes an apparatus including a substrate and a gas chromatograph having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and being mounted to the substrate. A detector array having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and is mounted to the substrate, and the fluid inlet of the detector array is fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet of the gas chromatograph. A control is circuit coupled to the gas chromatograph and to the detector array such that the control circuit can communicate with the gas chromatograph and to the detector array, and a readout circuit is coupled to the detector array and to the control circuit such that the readout circuit can communicate with the control circuit and the detector array. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08087280B2
The invention relates to pliers for changing the distance of two activation surfaces of a connection or fitting for conduits. The change of the distance correlates with an elastic or plastic deformation of at least one component of the fitting including a radial crimping process. The inventive pliers comprise two hand levers linked by a transfer mechanism with two spreading jaws. According to the invention, a closing movement of the hand levers results in a spreading movement of the spreading jaws. Such spreading movement of the spreading jaws is used for plastically deforming at least one of the components of the connection by a radial crimping process.
US08087275B2
A multiple dial lock includes reset dials rotatable around a lock shaft. Each reset dial must be at a specific angular position for a user to unlock the lock or reset the combination. Each reset dial has a magnet. A master key includes sensors, each in communication with one signal. Each of the signals indicates to a user that a respective magnet is adjacent a respective sensor, thus assisting a user in recovering a lost combination. A rotary lock includes a dial which rotates a drive cam, which in turn rotates several wheels to their unlocking positions. One magnet for each wheel is provided on the drive cam. Each magnet communicates with one sensor provided on a master key, which also includes signals, indicating that a respective magnet is adjacent a respective sensor, thus assisting a user in recovering a lost combination.
US08087274B2
A lock structure including an activation device, a combination lock, and a setting device is provided. The combination lock has a plurality of dials, a shaft passing through the dials, and a plurality of first gears disposed on one side of each dial. Each first gear further includes a missing tooth. One end of the shaft is connected to the activation device. The setting device has a plurality of second gears corresponding to the first gears and a setting shaft, wherein one end of the setting shaft passes through the second gears and the other end is connected to the activation device. When the activation device is activated, the second gears are driven to rotate the first gears, so that when each second gear runs free with the missing tooth of each first gear, the dials are in a predetermined position. That is, by means of the activation device and the setting device, the dials of the combination lock can automatically return to the predetermined position after opening or closing the lock.
US08087264B2
A glass forming apparatus and a glass forming method are provided, which are capable of retaining the whole press surface at favorable temperatures for pressing glass, and forming a high-quality, efficient glass form. An upper die having a part formed such that the wall thickness of a bottom part, provided as an example of an opposite press surface, decreases gradually from the outside to the inside and the bottom part is formed as a part of the inner wall. In other words, the heat exchange chamber is in approximately a circular truncated cone shape.
US08087263B2
A method of producing a glass having a SiO2—Al2O3—B2O3—RO based composition, where RO is at least one of MgO, CaO, BaO, SrO and ZnO, a melting temperature corresponding to 102.5 poise of 1570° C. or higher and an alkali content of 0.01 to 0.2% and a ZrO2 content of 0.01 to 0.3%, as expressed in % by mass. And, a method of producing a glass having a SiO2—Al2O3—B2O3- RO based composition, where RO is at least one of MgO, CaO, BaO, SrO and ZnO, a density of 2.5 g/cm3 or less, an average thermal expansion coefficient of 25 to 36×10−7/° C. in a temperature range of 30 to 380° C., a strain point of 640° C. or higher and an alkali content of 0.01 to 0.2% and a ZrO2 content of not less than 0.01% and less than 0.4%, as expressed in % by mass.
US08087259B2
The invention relates to a control method and system comprising an electronic control unit (11) controlling the electric current power supply from an electric power source to a motor-compressor arrangement (12, 13); the electronic control unit comprises a conversion means which is connected to an inversion means (15) to supply the voltage demanded by the motor (12). A PWM pulse width regulator (16) generates the switching signals for all the switching elements of the unit (11) relating to said demanded voltage.
US08087254B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a device for personal heat control, including a flexible housing comprising a cooling surface, a heating surface thermally insulated from the cooling surface, and a heat transfer unit configured to transfer heat from cooling surface to heating surface. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a system for cooling wearers of impact-resistant helmets, including an impact-resistant outer shell, foam pads affixed to an inside of the impact-resistant outer shell and configured to rest on a wearer's head, thermoelectric cooling devices spaced to avoid interference with foam pads and configured to rest against the head, a heat sink, and heat pipes thermally coupled at one end to thermoelectric cooling devices and at another end to the heat sink, and configured to transfer heat from thermoelectric cooling devices to heat sink with minimal heat loss, the heat pipes spaced to avoid interference with the foam pads.
US08087253B2
A method of operating a turbine engine, wherein the turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a plurality of successive axially stacked stages that include a row of circumferentially spaced stator blades and circumferentially spaced rotor blades, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced injection ports disposed upstream of a first row of stator blades in the turbine; the injection ports comprising a port through which cooling air is injected into the hot-gas path of the turbine, the method comprising: configuring the stator blades in the first row of stator blades such that the circumferential position of a leading edge of one of the stator blades is located within +/−15% pitch of the first row of stator blades of the circumferential location of the injection port midpoint of at least a plurality of the injection ports.
US08087248B2
An apparatus, system and method for transferring heat from a hot flue gas stream from a cement plant including large particles and dust to a working fluid of a power plant via a high temperature heat transfer fluid without exposing all or most of the equipment to the erosive force of the particles and dust is disclosed where the apparatus includes a cement plant, a particle separation and heat transfer system and a power plant.
US08087243B2
The invention is intended to optimize the recovery of the residual energy contained in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion piston engine by means of a turbocharger group, in which each cylinder (1) from which the combustion gases escape through the exhaust pipe (5) is equipped with a turbine (7), and the volume (5) between the exhaust valve (3) and the inlet of the turbine (7), detrimental to the efficiency thereof, is minimized by the attachment of the turbine directly on the cylinder head of the engine without the intermediary of a collector and, the counter-pressure acting on the piston of the cylinder (1) during its exhaust upstroke is minimized owing to an adjustment of the turbine pressure by means of an additional exhaust valve (4), called a “dynamic discharge valve”, optionally equipped with a downstream throttle valve (8) in order to continuously adjust the corresponding flow rate and, consequently, the pressure of the turbine unless the control of the dynamic discharge valve (4) is not variable itself.
US08087238B2
A method for operating a filter includes forcibly passing a stream of a fluid through a filter wall of the filter from a raw gas side to a clean gas side of the filter so as to separate out particles and particle constituents from the stream, wherein the particles and particle constituents are collected on the raw gas side and performing a regeneration process on the filter during operation of the filter. The regeneration process includes removing particles and particle constituents from the raw gas side of the filter and moving the removed particle constituents to a receiving device disposed on the raw gas side. Alternatively, the filter walls includes a plurality of channels on the raw gas side, each channel closed by a closure wall configured to be partially opened to enable the disposing of the particle constituents.
US08087237B2
A secondary-air supply system for an internal combustion engine, including a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage and configured to purify exhaust gas from the engine, and a secondary-air supply source and a secondary-air valve provided in a secondary-air passage connected upstream from the catalyst. A secondary-air supply device is configured to drive the secondary-air supply source and to open the secondary-air valve to supply secondary air to the exhaust passage upstream from the catalyst under a warm-up condition of the engine. Secondary-air supply control means is configured to control the secondary-air supply device to drive the secondary-air supply source and to open the secondary-air valve under a high-load operating condition where a flow rate of the exhaust gas is high, the high-load operating condition being different from the warm-up condition.
US08087236B2
An exhaust gas purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes a first exhaust passage (22a) and a second exhaust passage (22b) into which an exhaust passage (21) of the internal combustion engine is bifurcated. NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b) and particulate filters (24a, 24b) are provided in each of the exhaust passages (22a, 22b). Fuel is supplied from a fuel valve (32) when NOx is to be released from the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b). At a timing when the supplied fuel attaches to the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b), one of exhaust control valves, for example, a first exhaust control valve (26a) is temporarily closed so as to keep the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas rich. When NOx is released from the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b) next time, a second exhaust control valve (26b) is temporarily closed after the fuel is supplied.
US08087234B2
An exhaust gas purification controller for controlling bed temperature of a DPF, which is arranged in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, at a target bed temperature by supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas purification controller includes a control unit and a transitional state detection unit. The control unit, when controlling the bed temperature of the exhaust gas purification catalyst, learns a supply amount of fuel that allows for correction of a difference between the catalyst bed temperature and the target bed temperature in the present state and reflects a learned value obtained through the learning on the supply amount of fuel. The transitional state detection unit detects a transitional state of an exhaust gas flow to the DPF. The control unit restricts the learning when the transitional state of the exhaust gas flow is detected.
US08087230B2
An exhaust system for discharging exhaust gases through an exhaust passageway, emitted from a multi-cylinder combustion engine mounted on a motor vehicle includes a partition plate formed therein for dividing the exhaust passageway into a plurality of juxtaposed exhaust passages and having a communicating hole defined therein, and an exhaust gas sensor positioned at a location in proximity of the communicating hole for detecting a composition of the exhaust gases.
US08087226B2
An adjustment mechanism for reel-to-bedknife clearance includes an adjuster base having an internal bore, an adjustment knob attached to a rod extending through the internal bore to engage one of the reel or bedknife, and a detent spring captured between the adjuster base and the adjustment knob and biased against the adjustment member to resist rotation of the adjustment knob. The detent spring may engage radial notches on the adjustment knob at a plurality of reel-to-bedknife clearance positions.
US08087221B2
A mower unit includes a mower deck mounting therein in parallel layout first, second and third rotary blades rotatably driven about vertical axes and a washing device. The mower deck includes a top wall, side walls and first, second and third auxiliary side walls for evacuation. The washing device includes a single water supplying unit disposed upwardly of the top wall for supplying washing water and first, second and third water discharging units disposed through the first, second and third auxiliary side walls for discharging water to the first, second and third rotary blades respectively. The washing device includes also a water supplying pipe unit interconnecting and communicating the water supplying unit to the first, second and third water discharging units. The water supplying pipe unit is disposed within a mower deck rear space delimited by outer faces of the first, second and third auxiliary side walls.
US08087218B2
A system, and associated components and methodology, that provides for automatic determination and supply of an amount of dunnage to fill the void left in a container in which one or more objects have been placed. The system comprises a dunnage dispenser which is operable to dispense a controlled amount of a dunnage, a container scanner, and a logic device. The container scanner includes a height sensor for sensing a height characteristic of a container, a width sensor for sensing a width characteristic of the container, and a contour sensor for sensing a contour characteristic of the objects in the container. The logic device can (1) process sensed characteristic information from the height sensor, width sensor and contour sensor, (2) determine the amount of dunnage needed to fill the void not occupied by the objects, and (3) command the dunnage dispenser to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.
US08087215B2
A forming, filling and sealing machine for producing bags from semifinished products, and for filling and closing the bags, includes a plurality of processing stations. At least two processing stations of at least one first group are successively, largely linearly, arranged in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the transport direction (z) of the bags. The bags or semifinished products are transported between the processing stations by transport devices which generally include gripping devices. The machine also includes at least one second group having at least one processing station that is not linearly arranged behind the first group in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the processing direction (z) of the bags.
US08087208B2
A frame member fastening device and method of manufacture provides a single configuration fastening device which can be used singly in connection with a frame member, or which can be combined with another identical fastening device to form a fastening device assembly for use with frame members of different internal widths, by interlocking two identical fastening devices in an opposed, base-to-base assembly configuration. The fastening device is manufactured in a progressive metal forming process with successive stages in which the features of the device are formed.
US08087203B2
A waveguide for a radio frequency door like that used in a medical imaging room allows intravenous lines and electrical conduits to be inserted through the door frame without being disconnected from the patient. The waveguide includes a door frame section, and a removable, telescoping or pivoting movable member that cooperates with the door frame section to retain the conduits. The movable member is positioned away from the door frame section during insertion and removal of the conduits from the door frame section, and is positioned adjacent the door frame section when the conduits are being retained. The dimensions and materials of the waveguide are selected to achieve attenuation of electromagnetic interference.
US08087195B2
A portable apparatus, removably attached to an existing vertical support or structure, such as a tree, for providing a firearm rest or suspending articles above the ground. The apparatus may include associated vertical and a horizontal members, where the vertical member is secured to the tree using a securing device such as a cord and binder arrangement. The multi-purpose apparatus is supports a firearm such as a rifle.
US08087194B1
A barrel retaining system for a firearm includes a firearm receiver having a barrel nut coupled thereto and a barrel assembly, which in one embodiment may include a barrel with a barrel extension coupled thereto. The barrel extension includes a plurality of barrel locking lugs that rotatably engage corresponding locking elements disposed on the barrel nut. The barrel extension may further include a flange that may engage one end of the locking elements of the barrel nut and the barrel locking lugs may engage an opposite end of the locking elements to wedge the locking elements therebetween for securing the barrel extension to the barrel nut. The firearm may be an autoloading rifle in some embodiments.
US08087193B2
A buttpad assembly for use on a firearm includes a base wall, a cushion body and a guard element. A firearm buttstock assembly is also included that has a buttstock body and a buttpad assembly. A method of assembling a firearm buttstock assembly is also included.
US08087191B2
An apparatus for the pixel-integrated return of fluid in the pixel of a fluidic display is characterized in that the fluid with which the desired information is to be displayed and/or the carrier fluid in which the fluid is optionally embedded can be returned in a particularly compact manner and in a manner which is invisible to an observer past the visible part of a pixel (image compartment) into a reservoir (reservoir compartment) through or out of the reservoir. The device comprises an image compartment, a reservoir compartment, a connecting duct and at least one return duct, whereby the at least one return duct is formed by the fact that the connecting duct has at least one area with an uninterruptedly enlarged cross section which transitions in a specified manner into the cross section of the original cross section.
US08087185B2
A clothes dryer has a reclined front panel and a door mounted thereto by a hinge assembly. The assembly has a support plate and a pivoting member. The support plate is mounted to the rear of the front panel and has upper and lower hinge locating seat portions respectively recessed from the reclined front panel by first and second predetermined distances. The pivoting member has first and second end portions pivotally connected together along a vertical axis. The first end portion is mounted to the door. The second end portion is mounted with the front panel via the support plate. The second end portion has upper and lower horizontally extending arms respectively connected to the upper and lower hinge locating seat portions. The arms have lengths chosen relative to the first and second predetermined distances so as to vertically locate the vertical axis adjacent the reclined front panel.
US08087184B2
A drum for a clothes dryer includes a generally cylindrical sidewall rotatable about a horizontal axis. The sidewall has an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall defines an interior volume for receiving articles to be dried. A hanger mechanism is coupled to the inner wall. The hanger mechanism is configured to support items hanged therefrom for drying without rotation of the drum. A shelf is coupled to the inner wall. The shelf is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When extended, the shelf is configured to support articles to be dried. The drum is stationary during drying cycles wherein the hanger mechanism and the retractable shelf are in use. A heat source is operated at a reduced power level when the drum is not rotated.
US08087183B2
A clothes dryer front bearing structure that fits within an open end of the dryer drum has wear resistant bearing glides attached to an upper arcuate wall portion without the use of an additional fastener. The upper arcuate wall portion has one or more pairs of spaced apart apertures that define between them a glide wall supporting portion. The bearing structure also has pairs of spaced apart curb walls for each pair of apertures that extend below the upper arcuate wall portion adjacent to the apertures. The bearing glide has an intermediate portion overlying the glide wall supporting portion for rotatably supporting the open end of the drum, and opposing end portions that each pass through a corresponding aperture for engagement with a corresponding curb wall to thereby limit longitudinal movement of the glide and restrain the opposing end portions of the glide in the apertures and within the curb walls.
US08087177B2
A combination level/try square includes an elongated body with an arm at one end thereof. The arm is rotatable between a non-use position against the body and a use position in which the body and the arm define a try square. The body incorporates three indicators, namely a plumb indicator, a level indicator and a slope indicator. In a second embodiment, a laser pointer is provided on one end of the body.
US08087174B2
A spoon having: a handle portion; and a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion being at least partially fabricated from a shape memory material, the head having a first shape to hold a liquid when the temperature of the liquid is less then a predetermined threshold temperature and a second shape so as to not hold the liquid when the temperature of the liquid is greater than the predetermined threshold. The first shape is preferably a concave shape and the second shape is a substantially flat shape. Alternatively, the first shape is a concave shape and the second shape is a concave shape having at least one opening in the concave shape. A fork is also disclosed having times that change shape when the temperature of food held thereon is greater than a predetermined threshold.
US08087173B2
A modular tool system includes a plate for carrying a tool, a top plate and a base plate. A pair of locking members is disposed at two opposite ends of the tool-carrying plate. Each lock member is rotatably mounted in the tool-carrying plate, and has an axis of rotation perpendicular the tool-carrying plate. Each locking member has a keyway for receiving and locking a corresponding key of the top plate, and a key for inserting and locking in a corresponding keyway of the base plate. Turning of the keys of the top plate relative to the keyways of the tool-carrying plate locks the top plate and the tool-carrying plate together, and further turning of the keys of the top plate turns the keys of the tool-carrying plate relative to the keyways of the base plate and locks the tool-carrying plate and the base plate together.
US08087171B2
A method of installing an axially adjustable driveshaft assembly in a drive train system is described. Two hollow driveshaft sections, where one has a valve through an aperture in it and each has an end fitting, engage each other to form an axially adjustable driveshaft assembly that has a sealed internal chamber within. When a pressurized air or vacuum source is connected to the valve, air fills the chamber or air is removed from the chamber, which correspondingly increases or decreases a drive train system length. This results in facilitating the installation of the driveshaft assembly between a transmission and an axle assembly in a drive train system.
US08087169B2
A sheet metal-made cup-shaped material including a circular base plate portion and a cylindrical portion extends from an outer peripheral edge portion of the base plate portion in one direction along the axis of the base plate portion. An annular groove is formed in an upper end portion of the cylindrical portion, whereby an annular projection that projects in a direction opposite to a direction along which the cylindrical portion extends is formed in the cylindrical portion. The annular projection and the cylindrical portion are clampingly pressed to a degree at which the annular groove at least disappears, whereby the outer circumferential face of the projection and the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical portion are flush with each other. Therefore, the axial length of a sheet metal-made back face pulley is increased, and the whole of the increased axial length can be used as the effective length.
US08087167B2
In a method of fabricating an exhaust gas handling device, particularly an automotive emission control device, an insert, for example comprising a substrate and a support matting, is sensed as to its specific elasticity before it is clamped in place in an outer housing. For sensing, the insert is pressurized from without in a sensing station. Via the applied pressure and the displacement of the sensing tool the displacement of the insert at which it is to be clamped in place in the outer housing is determined. Then, the insert is fitted in an outer housing the inner dimensions of which correspond to the previously sensed wanted outer dimensions of the insert in the wanted compression.
US08087165B2
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The radio architecture includes improved push buttons employing 4-bar living hinge linkage and front loaded decorative trim buttons.
US08087164B2
A method of manufacturing a printed wiring board with solder bumps includes forming a solder-resist layer having small and large apertures exposing a respective conductive pad of the printed wiring board, loading a solder ball in each of the small and large apertures using a mask with aperture areas corresponding to the apertures of the solder-resist layer, forming a first bump having a first height, from the solder ball in the small aperture, and a second bump having a second height, from the solder ball in the large aperture, the first height being greater than the second height, and pressing a top of the first bump such that the first height becomes substantially the same as the second height. A multilayer printed wiring board includes a solder-resist layer with apertures of differing sizes and solder bumps having substantially equal volumes but a difference in height no greater than 10 μm.
US08087162B2
A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry; and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US08087161B2
An assembling device for assembling an electronic device which includes a front shell, a rear shell, a lens cover mounted on one of the front and rear shells includes a supporting member and a pressing member. The supporting member includes a base and a positioning block according to the lens cover to be assembled. The base defines a well for receiving the electronic device to be assembled. The positioning block is positioned in the well and has an adjustable height relative to the bottom surface of the well. The pressing member includes a pressing portion which is configured for pressing one of the front and rear shells of the electronic device. Thereby when assembling the electronic device, the height of the positioning block can be adjusted to press or not press the lens cover depending on which of the front and rear shells is assembled.
US08087160B1
A compression assembly tool for attaching a connector to a coaxial cable includes a tool body that supports a connector to be compressed in a compression head, a fixed handle, a moving lever handle, and an axially sliding plunger. The lever handle is pivotally connected to the tool body at the front end and to a link at the back end. The connection of the link to the back end of the lever handle and the placement of pivot points at opposite ends of the lever handle provides a scissor action appearance. The relative lengths of the lever handle, plunger and link and the placement of the pivots provides high levels of compression force and sufficient compression travel by the plunger to compress connectors of different lengths while requiring only a very limited handle opening angle, which allows maximum hand strength to be applied to the tool handles.
US08087158B2
A method of producing a laminated armature for a fuel injector provides providing a plurality of laminations (10) in plate-shaped strip stock material (12). Each lamination has a base (11) and a plurality of tabs (20, 22) extending from the base. The base and tabs are coplanar. The laminations are cut from the strip material, with the tabs having free ends (25). The tabs are bent so as to be generally transverse with respect to the base. The laminations are then stacked on top of each other and joined together. The free ends of the tabs are cut to define a generally planar impact surface.
US08087157B2
Using a beam of xenon ions together with a suitable mask, a MTJ stack is ion milled until a part of it, no more than about 0.1 microns thick, has been removed so that a pedestal, having sidewalls comprising a vertical section that includes all of the free layer, has been formed. This is followed by formation of the longitudinal bias and conductive lead layers in the usual way. Using xenon as the sputtering gas enables the point at which milling is terminated to be more precisely controlled.
US08087150B2
A method of shaping an optical lens (100) includes at least one operation of edging along a desired outline that includes cutting through the material of the lens (100) includes a cutting-out tool (637). Cutting out includes a plurality of passes, each performed along the desired outline as a pass that is axially shallow.
US08087143B2
A method for the manufacture through diffusion bonding of metallically encapsulated ceramic armor providing enhanced ballistic efficiency and physical durability.
US08087138B2
A bead crimping tool for crimping a bead element and method for use, wherein the tool includes a base handle, a crush plate member, a pair of opposed pincer members, an actuator handle, and a crush arm member. The bead element is placed on the crush plate and preferably secured in place by the crush arm. Crimping the bead includes squeezing of the actuator handle. During a first portion of such actuation, a cam portion of the actuator handle cases the pincer members to impart a lateral compressive force to a lateral portion of the bead element sufficient to collapse the bead element in a lateral direction. During a subsequent second portion of the single actuation cycle, the crush arm is caused to impart a longitudinal compressive force about a top portion of the bead element sufficient to compress the collapsed bead element in a longitudinal direction.
US08087136B2
An electronic device having an element body, wherein dielectric layers and internal electrode layers are alternately stacked, wherein a hetero phase is formed in the dielectric layers and/or the internal electrode layers; and the hetero phase includes a Mg element and a Mn element. Preferably, the hetero phase is formed at least at a part near boundaries of the dielectric layers and the internal electrode layers.
US08087135B2
A piezoelectric vibrator manufacturing method includes a cavity forming step for forming depressions for a cavities on at least one of two wafers; a bonding electrode film forming step for forming bonding electrode films on bonded surfaces of the both wafers; a mount pattern forming step for forming a pair of mount patterns in the cavity; a through hole forming step for forming a pair of through holes in the cavity; a through electrode forming step for forming a pair of through electrodes electrically connected with the pattern in the cavity; a mount step for electrically connecting the pattern and a piezoelectric vibrating strip, a superimposing step for superimposing the both wafers and storing getter materials; a bonding step for anodically bonding the both wafers to fabricating a wafer member; a gettering step for adjusting the degree of vacuum in the interior of the cavity while measuring a series resonance resistance value; and a cutting step for cutting the wafer member into individual pieces.
US08087124B2
The disclosed disposable vacuum cleaner has a disposable bag with a collar at the bottom, rather than on the sides. Dirty air enters the bag vertically, rather than horizontally, through a duct that is positioned near the floor, separate from the handle on the vacuum cleaner. An elongated, light-weight tube is disposed within the bag, and has a lower end that is connected to the collar. The tube is made of a thin, lightweight, lay-flat tubing with opposed creases, and is flexible and collapsible. It has a length that is greater than half the height of the sides of the bag. The collar has a seal that is trapped between two pieces of mounting material and extends around the periphery of the duct, providing an elastic seal. The bag has a top that is reinforced with a cardboard support. Extending flanges on the support can be used to suspend the bag from arms in the vacuum cleaner.
US08087117B2
A coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller including an elongated core with end mounting features defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core, and at least one compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core to aid subsequent removal of the filaments. In another aspect, a coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, a controller, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller. The coverage robot includes a roller cleaning tool carried by the chassis and configured to longitudinally traverse the roller to remove accumulated debris from the cleaning roller.
US08087113B2
An alternating pad comprises a first set and a second set of alternately inflatable cells. Both sets of inflatable cells are supplied with air from a pump via a rotary valve. A sensor is positioned under the pad to receive pressure exerted by a patient upon movement and to be compressible relative to the applied pressure. Any change in patient position or movement will cause an alteration in the airflow in the sensor pad tube and will reduce or increase the differential pressure measured at the pressure transducer. Based on this feedback the microprocessor directly controls the power level to the pump and increases or decreases the air flow to the cells to alter the amplitude of the cells and also controls the timing of the rotary valve to change the timing of the inflation and deflation cycle.
US08087112B2
A lightweight, collapsible and portable stretcher for effective use under extreme circumstances such as use in disaster and war affected terrains. The stretcher includes a wheel assembly having an alternative use as a container for the collapsible stretcher. The invention has particular advantages in military or disaster environments in that it allows one person, a carrier, to perform an evacuation of an injured person, whereas prior art stretchers require two or more persons to effectuate an evacuation of an injured person. Additionally, the carrier person can utilize the stretcher to transport or pull an injured person while reserving independent functions of his or her hands. Accordingly, the lightweight collapsible and portable stretcher can be operated hands-free by a single carrier person.
US08087111B2
An encasement includes a cover, an opening provided at an end of the cover, a closure mechanism coupled to the cover for selectively closing the opening and an encasement seal provided at an end of the opening, the encasement seal including a base coupled to the cover and a flap, the flap being movable between an open position and a closed position; wherein the encasement seal provides an outer cover for a portion of the closure mechanism at the end.
US08087109B2
A patient positioning device for restoring a patient to a desired position in a hospital bed. An example patient positioning device may include a flexible track positioned along each of the lateral edges of a sleep surface and extending substantially the entire length of the sleep surface, a sheet including beaded edges for slidably engaging the tracks such that the sheet spans between the first track and the second track on the sleep surface, and/or a drive mechanism located proximate a head end of the sleep surface and configured to pull the sheet towards the head end of the bed.
US08087102B2
This invention concerns improved protective shoulder pads for protecting an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm. The improvement comprises protective shoulder pads with release mechanisms that allow the protective shoulder pads to be safely and easily removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads.
US08087098B2
A multi-sectional waistband quick release undergarment is provided. The multi-sectional waistband quick release undergarment includes a multi-sectional waistband having a first waistband section and a second waistband section for securing the undergarment to a wearer's body. An undergarment body includes a front panel and a rear panel, which are joined to the first waistband section and the second waistband section, respectively. At least a portion of the first waistband section is releasably secured to at least a portion of the second waistband section, and at least a portion of the front panel is releasably secured to at least a portion of the rear panel. When a predetermined breakaway force is exerted on the second waistband section, the second waistband section releases from the first waistband section and the rear panel releases from the front panel; and thereby provides effective protection against wedgies.
US08087094B2
The shirt for supporting and shaping the mid-section of a wearer provides a shirt having a top-section and a mid-section. The mid-section of the shirt includes an upper and lower region each constructed having a plurality of fabric densities or integrated elasticity portions. These elasticity portions provide support for the abdominal region, back, and back-side regions of the wearer where “love handles” sometime develop. The top-section of the shirt has a substantially loose fitting construction to yield a simple, clean and comfortable fit that facilitates breath-ability and comfort to the wearer. The shirt may be worn as an undershirt or as outerwear to minimize the wearer's torso. In another embodiment, the shirt further comprises an outer portion that extends over and covers the mid-section so that the mid-section acts as an internal support structure when the shirt is worn as a T-shirt or outerwear.
US08091133B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for detecting a malicious process. The apparatus includes: a process monitoring unit for monitoring a process generated in a computing environment; a target process setting unit for previously setting a test target process among the processes confirmed by the process monitoring unit; a process generation time change monitoring unit for monitoring if the target process set by the target process setting unit requests to change a generation time; a generation time change preventing unit for preventing a change in the generation time of the target process when the target process requests to change the generation time; and a malicious process detecting unit for determining that a child process of the target process set by the target process setting unit is a malicious process if the child process is generated within a predetermined reference time.
US08091129B1
In some embodiments, techniques for filtering electronic messages may include various enhancements.
US08091128B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for performing information flow enforcement for assembly code. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving assembly code having timing annotations with type information that enforce information flow with respect to one or more of timing-related covert and concurrent channels when statically checked as to whether the code is in violation of a security policy and performing verification with respect to information flow for the assembly code based on a security policy.
US08091118B2
A computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions operable to determine if a network location included in a request to connect to the network location, is included in a first list of untrusted network locations stored on the client computer and send a request to determine if the network location is included in a second list of untrusted network locations stored remotely from the client computer when it is determined that the network location is not included in the first list.
US08091115B2
Inline pattern matching and policy enforcement may be implemented by a memory storage device. In an example embodiment, a device-implemented method includes acts of receiving, intercepting, and performing and conditional acts of invoking or permitting. A request from a host to perform a memory access operation is received at a memory storage device. Data flowing between an I/O channel and physical storage of the memory storage device is intercepted. A pattern matching procedure is performed on the data with reference to multiple target patterns in real-time while the data is being intercepted. If a pattern match is detected between the data and a target pattern, a policy enforcement mechanism is invoked. If a pattern match is not detected between the data and the multiple target patterns, the request from the host to perform the memory access operation is permitted.
US08091111B2
A system for replaying a broadcast sports event using a video on demand or personal video recording system. Metadata is created that subdivides the original broadcast into segments, and associates descriptive information with each segment. Playlists that specify an ordered subsequence of the sequence may be selected and used to present a variety of expanded or condensed versions of the sporting event to a viewer. Navigation controls including segment lists, specially formatted screen displays, and special functions under the control of a user-operated remote control, facilitate the interactive selection and control of the presentation.
US08091108B2
A variety of meta data based enhancements to media content viewing are described, including making meta data corresponding to media content available for user searching and using meta data to identify highlight portions of the media content so that only the highlight portions need to be stored. Additionally, comments made to media content can be shared with other viewers of the content, even when viewing the content at different times and even when viewing different versions of the content. Furthermore, a synchronization point can be established for the media content and used by the client systems as a common reference location. In addition, advertisements for media content can be rendered based on how much time has been spent rendering the media content, as well as the amount of a fee paid by the user of the client system.
US08091106B1
A method and apparatus for using DVD subpicture formatted information within a MPEG data stream to provide data channel information to a television receiver. More particularly, the television receiver comprises a MPEG decoder and a DVD subpicture processor. The MPEG decoder decodes the MPEG stream and extracts the DVD subpicture formatted signal and the DVD subpicture decoder processes one or more DVD subpicture bitstreams to produce DVD graphics. The DVD subpicture bitstream is used to carry and display data channel information such as stock quotes, electronic program guide information, advertisement information, and the like as well as provide interactive menuing functions.
US08091103B2
An overlay server for illustrative video streaming constitutes a central part of a distributed system for linking content of video recordings to relevant information sources. The overlay server maintains a global object directory including information pertinent to a set of objects and network addresses of external servers providing information relevant to the set of objects. The overlay server further maintains a video-content directory having several overlay directories. Each overlay directory identifies content of a respective video recording from among a set of video recordings and includes a network address of a video-streaming server providing the video recording. The overlay server stores an authoring tool for constructing the overlay directories and an augmented display tool for associating content of a video recording with respective information.
US08091097B2
A distributed virtual machine architecture includes a virtual machine client (16) and a virtual machine server (32). The virtual machine client provides a platform upon which an application may be run on a host device (12). The virtual machine server may appear anywhere within the network to which the host of the virtual machine client is connected (14). When the application request a class, the virtual machine client determines such class exists on the local host (12) or a client proxy exist for the class. If neither exists, the virtual machine client connects to the virtual machine server to send a request for the class. If a proxy does exist, a proxy is returned to the virtual machine client. However, if a proxy does not exist, the virtual machine server dynamically generates the proxy (34) to be returned to the virtual machine client.
US08091090B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a virtual-machine monitor detects entry and exit from guest-operating system code, storing the values of a set of high-order floating point registers in memory on entry, and restoring the values of the set of high-order floating point registers on exit. The virtual-machine monitor can then use the set of high-order floating point registers as scratch registers for emulation of guest-operating-system instructions. In alternative embodiments, a virtual-machine monitor obtains scratch registers for any code that the virtual-machine monitor can detect entry into and exit from, and for which a set of infrequently used registers can be identified, by storing the current contents of the set of registers upon detected entry into the code and restoring the original contents of the set of registers upon exit from the code.
US08091087B2
Method for scheduling a new backup job within a backup application to optimize a utilization of a media resource of said backup application. The backup application includes one or more previously scheduled backup jobs. The backup application calculates a current load of the media resource as a function of the previously scheduled backup jobs and the media resource and predicts a load value for the new backup job as a function of job parameters associated with the new backup job. Then, the backup application schedules the new backup job as a function of the calculated current load and the predicted load value such that the resulting load on the media resource will yield a minimum peak percentage utilization of the media resource. Alternatively, the backup application schedules the new backup job and previously scheduled backup jobs as function of the calculated current load and the predicted load value such that the resulting load on the media resource will yield a minimum peak percentage utilization of the media resource.
US08091086B1
A computer system includes an Open Bus Hypervisor having the highest privilege level. An Open Bus Hypervisor is a set of modules that operate on the root level. The Open Bus Hypervisor provides support for processing, filtering and redirecting of low level events. The Open Bus Hypervisor is used primarily for maintenance and support of computer virtualization features, which are implemented within computer system CPU. Additionally, the Open Bus Hypervisor can be used for supporting new hardware and software modules installed on a computer system. A Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) runs with fewer privileges than the Open Bus Hypervisor. A Primary Virtual Machine (PVM) runs without system level privileges and has a Primary Operating System (POS) running within it.
US08091078B2
A program is into at least two object files: one object file for each of the supported processor environments. During compilation, code characteristics, such as data locality, computational intensity, and data parallelism, are analyzed and recorded in the object file. During run time, the code characteristics are combined with runtime considerations, such as the current load on the processors and the size of the data being processed, to arrive at an overall value. The overall value is then used to determine which of the processors will be assigned the task. The values are assigned based on the characteristics of the various processors. For example, if one processor is better at handling intensive computations against large streams of data, programs that are highly computationally intensive and process large quantities of data are weighted in favor of that processor. The corresponding object is then loaded and executed on the assigned processor.
US08091077B1
Systems and methods for the efficient handling of rare events by modification of executable code is provided. The present invention eliminates the need for event checking code and handling in the primary execution path of compiled code by using a patch table to modify code during execution. Accordingly, event handling does not introduce additional instructions to the primary execution path, and thus will not interfere with compiler optimizations for maximal performance along the primary execution path. The present invention, therefore, provides event handling for events that occur rarely while reducing the size of the code for execution on memory-constrained devices.
US08091076B2
A native binding technique is provided for insetting calls to native functions during translation of subject code to target code, such that function calls in the subject program to subject code functions are replaced in target code with calls to native equivalents of the same functions. Parameters of native function calls are transformed from target code representations to be consistent with native code representations, native code calling conventions, and native function prototypes.
US08091073B2
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for identifying instructions to obtain representative traces. A phase instruction budget is calculated for each phase in a set of phases. The phase instruction budget is based on a weight associated with each phase and a global instruction budget. A starting index and an ending index are identified for instructions within a set of intervals in each phase in order to meet the phase instruction budget for that phase, thereby forming a set of interval indices. A determination is made as to whether the instructions within the set of interval indices meet the global instruction budget. Responsive to the global instruction budget being met, the set of interval indices are output as collection points for the representative traces.
US08091070B2
A programming language is implemented in terms of another programming language via deep and/or modified shallow embedding. Embedded language control structures and/or type system are decomposed to primitive features. These features are semantically mapped to host language features. Other embedded language features are explicitly constructed in the host language. A map can also be constructed as a function of implementation to facilitate mapping embedded language applications to host language applications.
US08091065B2
Systems and methods relating to a method for generating a threat analysis and modeling tool are described. In an implementation, aggregate analysis is performed upon applications of an enterprise for complete risk management of the enterprise. The threat analysis model is generated by defining the application, its attributes and the rules related to the application. An application task list is generated from a common task list for the application. Countermeasures for known attacks pertaining to the application are described in the application task list, which allows the developer to reduce the risk of attacks.
US08091060B1
A computer-implemented method of partitioning a circuit design into clock domains for implementation within a programmable integrated circuit (IC) can include storing a plurality of constraints that depend upon a plurality of variables, wherein the plurality of constraints regulate placement of components to different clock regions of the programmable IC. The method can include storing an objective function and determining a result indicating whether a feasible solution exists for clock domain partitioning of the circuit design by minimizing the objective function subject to the plurality of constraints. The result can be output.
US08091059B2
A method for cell placement in an integrated circuit design that uses a calculated diffusion velocity determined from a density value in order to relocate the cells until the cell placement reduces the density below a predetermined threshold. The method acts to control the movement of different cells to reduce the density of the cells prior to legalization of the cell placement.
US08091054B2
A method of optimizing the signal propagation speed on a wiring layout is provided. In general, the method accounts for and uses inductance effects caused by the propagation of a high-speed signal on a signal wire surrounded by parallel ground wires. In particular, one of the physical parameters defining the wiring layout may be adjusted to create an rlc relationship in the wiring layout that maximizes the signal propagation speed. The physical parameter that is adjusted may be, for example, the wire separation between the signal wire and the ground wires or the width of the ground wires. The disclosed method may also be applied to a wiring layout having multiple branches, such as a clock tree. In this context, a first branch may be optimized using the disclosed method. Downstream branches may then be adjusted so that the impedances at the junction between the branches are substantially equal.
US08091051B2
Disclosed is a behavioral synthesis apparatus for generating a test bench where the same test vector can be used in both the behavioral simulation and the RTL simulation. The apparatus includes input application/output signal observation timing signal generation means that generates an input application timing signal, an output observation timing signal, and logic circuits for the input application timing signal and the output observation timing signal; and test bench generation means that generates a test bench that observes the signals, applies inputs, and observes outputs.
US08091041B2
A method of identifying grouped toolbar icons. An application program displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple toolbar icons. The application iteratively determines whether or not a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon. If the cursor is in proximity to the first icon, the application identifies one or more additional related icons, which are currently displayed and are included in a same pre-defined toolbar icon group as the first icon, and displays a graphical border that surrounds the first icon and the related icons. If the related icons are not adjacent to each other, multiple separate borders are displayed. The application displays a first identification tab in close proximity to the border. The first tab includes a toolbar group name and an icon name of the first icon. The application may also display a second tab that includes descriptive properties of the first icon.
US08091032B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide users with suggested content that is weighted based on the social network context of the suggestion. In particular, the suggested content is selected based on incorporating the preferences of users having a relationship with the user. For example, content recommendations from a family member or known friend of the user may be highly weighted over other recommendations.
US08091027B2
A content playback apparatus includes: a display section that displays a plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of pieces of content, and a specifier to be used to specify one of the indicators; a playback section that plays back the piece of content associated with the indicator specified by the specifier; a switch section that switches, in accordance with a user's operation, what the specifier specifies to new the indicator; and a playback control section that controls the playback section such that if the user's operation switches, while the piece of content associated with the indicator specified by the specifier is played, what the specifier specifies to next the indicator and the user's subsequent operation switches, within a predetermined period of time from when the previous switch is completed, what the specifier specifies to subsequent the indicator, the playback section keeps playing back the piece of content.
US08091012B2
A device including a minimal trellis decoder is disclosed. The device can receive an encoded codeword, which the minimal trellis decoder efficiently decodes. In a specific implementation, the device can include a Bluetooth receiver that, in operation, receives an encoded codeword from a Bluetooth transmitter, which is decoded by the minimal trellis decoder.
US08091011B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for dynamically adjusting forward error correction (FEC) rate to adapt for time varying network impairments in video streaming applications over IP networks may be disclosed. At a server side of a client-server communication system, a rate of transmission of forward error correction (FEC) packets to one or more clients may be dynamically adjusted based on receiving at least one upstream FEC packet from a plurality of clients. The rate of transmission of the FEC packets to the plurality of clients may be increased when a rate of occurrence of lost data packets is above a particular threshold value. The upstream FEC packets may comprise an urgent packet requesting transmission of a particular FEC packet in order to recover one or more particular lost data packets.
US08091000B2
An apparatus and methods are disclosed herein for identifying and avoiding attempts to access a defective portion of memory. Errors associated with portions of memory, such as a cache memory, are tracked over time enabling detection of both hard and erratic errors. Based on the number of errors tracked over time for a portion of memory, it is determined if the portion of memory is defective. In response to determining portion of memory is defective, the portion of memory is disabled. The portion of memory may be flushed and moved before being disable. Additionally, disabling the portion of memory may be conditioned upon determining if it is allowable to disable the portion of memory.
US08090999B2
Methods and apparatus utilizing media characterization of memory devices facilitate the development of signal processors for analyzing memory device outputs. Models are developed from capturing output of memory devices of the type utilizing analog signals to communicate data values of two or more bits of information. The models are used to generate signals representative of the expected output of a memory device having an input data pattern. Read channels and/or controllers then process those signals to determine an output data pattern. By comparing the output data pattern to the input data pattern, the accuracy of the signal processing can be gauged.
US08090995B2
Disclosed are methods, systems and products, including a method that includes monitoring one or more service providing components implemented using at least one processor-based device, the one or more service providing components being connected to an interfacing system configured to control requests for service received from client units that require servicing from at least one of the one or more service providing components. The interfacing system is also configured to assign the requests to the one or more service providing components. The monitoring is initiated by equipment associated with one or more of the interfacing system and at least one of the one or more service providing components. The method also includes generating information regarding the operability of at least one of the one or more service providing components based on data generated in response to monitoring the one or more service providing components.
US08090994B2
A system, a method, and a computer readable media for identifying a log file record in a log file are provided. The log file has a plurality of log file records therein. The plurality of log file records has a repeating pattern of log file records. The method includes displaying a first graphical user interface on a display device. The method further includes selecting the log file utilizing the first graphical user interface. The method further includes analyzing the log file to determine the repeating pattern of log file records. The method further includes selecting a first command button on the first graphical user interface that executes an algorithm to analyze additional log file records that were automatically added to the log file by a software program. The additional log file records are associated with the repeating pattern of log file records. The method further includes storing the first log file record in a memory device if a first log file record in the additional log file records has at least one command-related attribute that does not correspond to command-related attributes in the repeating pattern of log file records.
US08090984B2
A system and method are provided. The system comprises a first and second processor, and a cross-signaling interface. The first processor executes instructions. The second processor executes the instructions in lockstep with the first processor. The cross-signaling interface is coupled between the first and second processors and is for signaling both an unanticipated altered state a location of the unanticipated altered state in the first processor to the second processor to cause the second processor to emulate the unanticipated altered state in lockstep with the first processor. The method comprises: executing instructions in a first processor; executing the instructions in a second processor in lockstep with the first processor; detecting an error condition in the first processor; transmitting information about the error condition to the second processor; processing the error condition in the first processor; and causing the first and second processor to emulate the error condition in lockstep.
US08090980B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing data redundancy in a plurality of storage devices. In operation, storage commands are received for providing data redundancy in accordance with a first data redundancy scheme. Additionally, the storage commands are translated for providing the data redundancy in accordance with a second data redundancy scheme. Furthermore, the translated storage commands are outputted for providing the data redundancy in a plurality of storage devices.
US08090978B2
A management apparatus operable for protecting data on a failing storage device in a data processing system including a storage array having at least one of a plurality of storage devices. The management apparatus includes a receiver component for receiving a failure message indicating that the plurality of storage devices comprises the failing storage device. An analyzer component is in communication with the receiver component and responsive to receipt of the failure message, for analyzing the failure message. A sender component is in communication with the analyzer component. The sender component is adapted for, in response to the analyzer component determining the failing storage device, sending a zoning message, the zoning message instructing the storage array to isolate the failing storage device, and sending a protect message. The protect message instructs the storage array to protect data on the failing storage device.
US08090972B2
The invention relates to a method of registering events in a wind power system comprising at least two data processors, wherein the data processors of said wind power system are mutually time synchronized, wherein events are registered in said at least two data processors, wherein the timing of said events registered in different of said at least two data processors is established according to said time synchronization. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, events may be registered and preferably analyzed according to a common timing. This analyzing makes it possible to establish an analysis where events of different wind turbines are basically interrelated and where information regarding such interrelation is important or crucial for establishment of control or fault detection based on correctly timed events from different wind turbines.
US08090970B2
A multimedia data reproducing device is provided which includes: a codec converting digital data into an analog signal by a predetermined method and reproducing the analog signal; and a control unit including a core generating a reproduction block by decoding multimedia data and outputting the generated reproduction block to a main memory in an activated state and an interface transmitting the reproduction block stored in the main memory as the digital data to the codec and transmitting the multimedia data stored in an auxiliary memory to the core in an activated state. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently reproduce multimedia data to reduce the power consumption of a battery by alternately turning on and off a power source of blocks other than the interface in the control unit periodically or depending on a predetermined situation.
US08090969B2
A circuit includes a primary transceiver, a secondary transceiver, and control logic. The primary transceiver communicates information via a primary communication link. The secondary transceiver communicates information via a secondary communication link. The control logic is operatively coupled to the primary and secondary transceivers. The control logic selectively powers down the primary transceiver based on primary communication link traffic trigger information and causes communication using the secondary transceiver instead of the primary transceiver based on the primary communication link traffic trigger information.
US08090966B2
A power management method for a multi-microprocessor system is provided. The multi-microprocessor system comprises a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor. The power management method comprises steps of receiving a power down instruction; transmitting a power down notice signal to the first microprocessor from the second microprocessor, transmitting a reply signal from the first microprocessor to the second microprocessor in response to the power down notice signal, and turning off power of the first microprocessor by the second microprocessor.
US08090959B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for protecting .net programs, relating to software protection. The method mainly includes: selecting a binary code segment from a .net program; transforming the binary code segment, and removing it from the .net program; writing the binary code segment to a shell of the .net program, and writing a shell calling instruction to the .net program; and executing the .net program, and calling a .net virtual machine to execute the binary code segment. The apparatus includes a selecting module, a transforming and removing module, a writing module, and an executing module. The programs running on the .net platform can be protected simply by being transformed.
US08090958B2
A memory-specific tester has a buffer storing input pattern data and output expectation data. An address included in the input pattern data read from the buffer is sent to a semiconductor memory, and is then subjected to descrambling at a security circuit. The descrambled address is converted at an address conversion circuit to an address designating a region for storing a check pattern in a memory core. Data given from the memory core (check pattern) is subjected to scrambling at the security circuit, and is then sent to the memory-specific tester. The memory-specific tester makes comparison between expectation data and the data read from the semiconductor memory.
US08090953B2
A system for storing information having a predetermined use which requires the information to be secured. The information may comprise credit card details used to complete a transaction. The system includes: (a) A client system for storing an encoded version of the information and an identifier. The encoded version is generated from first data of the information and an encoded version of the second data of the information. The information can be generated from the first data and the second data, and the predetermined use is infeasible with only one of the first data and the second data. (b) A remote server for storing the second data and an encoded identifier generated from the identifier. The client system sends at least the encoded version of the second data to the remote server. The client system or the remote server is able to generate the information from the first data and the second data. Accordingly, only part of the information to be secured is stored locally on the client system, while the other part is stored on the remote server, and neither the client system nor the remote server have a record of the entire information.
US08090946B2
The present invention discloses an inter-trusted-computing-system binding method based on hardware security unit, comprising steps of: configuring binding requirements for hardware security units of trusted computing systems; exchanging hardware security unit information between the hardware security units of the trusted computing systems to be bound, and checking device validities of the counter-party hardware security unit; and if passing the validation check, it continues to the following steps; otherwise, exiting the binding procedure; respectively verifying whether the binding meets their respective binding requirements by the hardware security units of the trusted computing systems to be bound; and if passing the verification, it continues to the following steps; otherwise, exiting the binding procedure; and respectively storing platform information and hardware security unit binding information by the hardware security units of the trusted computing systems. The present method provides a processing mechanism based on hardware security unit in order to establish trusts between trusted computing systems.
US08090944B2
An authentication system is configured to weight multiple available network supplied and user supplied authentication factors to determine whether a user should be provided with access to an Emergency Communication Network (ECN). The multiple factors may include the location of the user, MIN, short PIN, token, biometric information, and other information. The level of access to be provided to the user may be tiered based on the authentication level achieved during the weighting process. Authentication information may be shared between groups of individuals, so that the authentication requirements for group members may be reduced as other members of the group supply authentication information to the ECN. Group authentication may be used to enable group services such as conferencing and push-to-talk to be set up automatically for the group.
US08090942B2
The present invention provides a method of integrating existing strong encryption methods into the processing of a .ZIP file to provide a highly secure data container which provides flexibility in the use of symmetric and asymmetric encryption technology. The present invention adapts the well established .ZIP file format to support higher levels of security and multiple methods of data encryption and key management, thereby producing a highly secure and flexible digital container for electronically storing and transferring confidential data.
US08090937B2
Systems and methods for managing booting of an information handling system are disclosed. A method for managing the booting of an information handling system may include receiving user input for booting an information handling system to a first partition or a second partition. The user input may be used to determine whether the received user input is for booting to the first partition or to the second partition. In response to determining that the received user input is for booting to the second partition, a determination may be made whether the information handling system is authorized to boot to the second partition. In response to determining that the information handling system is authorized to boot to the second partition, the information handling system may be booted to the second partition. In response to determining that the information handling system is not authorized to boot to the second partition, the information handling system may be booted to the first partition.
US08090928B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a processor includes a scalar computation unit; a vector co-processor coupled to the scalar computation unit; and one or more function-specific engines coupled to the scalar computation unit, where the engines are adapted to minimize data exchange penalties by processing small in-out bit slices.
US08090924B2
The present invention provides a method for the allocation of data on physical media by a file system which optimizes power consumption. The present invention improves power efficiency of computing devices using file systems by allocating data in a way that allows devices to power down when they are not in use. This is carried out by using an allocation group method to divide the storage system into groups of one or more disk drives. The allocator fills the first group entirely before moving to the second group. The allocator globally allocates blocks within each group. Groups are typically sized to meet the average I/O bandwidth requirement of the application. The method also dynamically increases the number of active allocation groups based on I/O load. This is done by computing the average number of write requests per time period.
US08090921B2
A processing device included on a single chip includes processors capable of executing tasks in parallel and a cache memory shared by the processors, wherein the cache memory includes single-port memories and read data selection units, each of the single-port memories have one data output port, and each of the read data selection units is in a one-to-one association with each of the processors and selects a single-port memory which stores data to be read to a associated processor, from among the single-port memories.
US08090917B2
A method and system for client backup data management and storage using virtual tape libraries (VTLs). A VTL controller executing a software method receives metadata that distinguishes among a plurality of different versions of backup data. The VTL controller determines a latest version of the backup data. The VTL controller determines a migration set of zero or more versions of the backup data. The latest version and any version included in the migration set are included in the plurality of different versions. The VTL controller determines that a storage of the latest version in a first storage medium (e.g., magnetic disk) of the VTL is complete. The VTL controller migrates the migration set to a second storage medium (e.g., magnetic tape) of the VTL if the migration set includes at least one version of the backup data.
US08090912B2
A request issued by the CPU is output from the local arbiter by way of the CPU bus and the CPU-issued request queue. The cache replacement request loop-back circuit determines at the loop-back determination circuit whether the outputted request is a cache replacement request or not. A request other than a cache replacement request is output onto the local bus. A cache replacement request is output to the selector and sent to the request handling section when there is no valid request on the global bus.
US08090911B2
In an embodiment, a target number of discretionary pages for a first partition is calculated as a function of a number of physical page table faults, a number of sampled page faults, a number of shared physical page pool faults, a number of re-page-ins, and a ratio of pages. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is less than a number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a result page is found that is allocated to the first partition and the result page is deallocated from the first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is greater than the number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a free page is allocated to the first partition.
US08090908B1
A system and method provides a single system image for a clustered storage network including techniques for processing data access commands between storage appliances over the cluster interconnect. The system is configured such that the cluster is assigned a single world wide nodename. Requests coming to the cluster from client initiators are directed to one or the storage appliances in the cluster, i.e. the “receiving” storage appliance. Commands received by the receiving storage appliance are examined to determine LUN value(s) in the request. If the LUN value is associated with a local storage device, the request is processed by the receiving storage appliance. If the LUN value is not associated with the receiving storage appliance, the request is conveyed over the cluster interconnect to the partner storage appliance to be processed and the appropriate data written or retrieved.
US08090907B2
A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for receiving and processing I/O requests from a host device and providing data consistency in both a primary site and a secondary site, while migrating a SRC (Synchronous Peer to Peer Remote Copy) from a backend storage subsystem to a storage virtualization appliance. While transferring SRC from the backend storage subsystem to the storage virtualization appliance, all new I/O requests are saved in both a primary cache memory and a secondary cache memory, allowing a time window during which the SRC at the backend storage subsystem can be stopped and the secondary storage device is made as a readable and writable medium. The primary cache memory and secondary cache memory operates separately on each I/O request in write-through, read-write or no-flush mode.
US08090905B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for converting logical block address de-allocation information in a first format to a second format. In use, logical block address de-allocation information is received in a first format associated with a first protocol. Additionally, the logical block address de-allocation information in the first format is converted to a second format associated with a second protocol.
US08090902B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors. The disk drive further comprises a head actuated over the disk, and control circuitry fabricated on a die. A plurality of disk access commands are received from a host and stored in a command queue, wherein each disk access command identifies at least one data sector. A temperature of the die is determined, and a first disk access command is selected from the command queue in response to the die temperature.
US08090901B2
Methods for efficiently managing a ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) by minimizing movements of TCAM entries include determining a first node and a second node in the TCAM, determining if there is a free TCAM entry between the first node and the second node, and storing the new entry in the free TCAM entry. Upon determining that a free TCAM entry does not exist between the first node and the second node, further determining a chain of nodes and then determining if there is a free TCAM entry in the chain of nodes. Upon determining that there is a free TCAM entry within the chain of nodes, moving the TCAM entries identified as the nodes in the chain of nodes to generate a free node nearest to the new entry and inserting the new entry in the free node. Moving the TCAM entries identified as the nodes in the chain of nodes preserves the order of the nodes.
US08090899B1
A solid state drive includes a plurality of flash memory devices, and a memory controller coupled to the plurality of flash memory devices. The memory controller is configured to logically associate blocks from the plurality of flash memory devices to form zip codes, the zip codes associated with corresponding erase counters. The solid state drive further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon. The processor may perform a wear-leveling operation by determining that blocks in a first zip code have been erased and incrementing a first erase counter associated with the first zip code. It may then be determined that a second erase counter associated with a second zip code is low relative to at least one other erase counter, and based on this determination, data from blocks in the second zip code may be written to new blocks as part of a wear-leveling operation.
US08090898B2
A nonvolatile memory system has a controller chip connected to a memory medium and several nonvolatile memory chips. The memory medium stores program codes for the controller chip to distribute an operation of the nonvolatile memory chips upon an instruction over time, so as to decentralize the peak current caused by the operation and thereby improve the stability of the system.
US08090897B2
A memory subsystem is provided including an interface circuit adapted for coupling with a plurality of memory circuits and a system. The interface circuit is operable to interface the memory circuits and the system for emulating at least one memory circuit with at least one aspect that is different from at least one aspect of at least one of the plurality of memory circuits. Such aspect includes a signal, a capacity, a timing, and/or a logical interface.
US08090890B2
A handheld computing device includes a video camera for generating a local video signal. A handheld memory stores at least one handheld application that includes a video application. A handheld processing module, coupled to the handheld memory, executes the video application, based on the local video signal. A network interface sends the local video signal to a remote device via a network. A physical docking interface accesses at least one resource of an extended computer unit in a physical docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the physical docking interface. A quasi docking interface accesses at least one resource of the extended computer unit in the quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the quasi docking interface.
US08090878B2
A method and system for performing one-to-many synchronization using a central server and also using downloadable client software. The system includes a central server, e.g., a web server or an enterprise server, that synchronizes with multiple electronic devices including, for example, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a cell phone, a pager, etc. Before the data synchronization takes place, and after the electronic device initiates communication with the server, the server downloads client software to the electronic device. The client software allows the electronic device to perform data synchronization with the server. After the synchronization is complete, the client software may be removed from the electronic device. The server data is located in one place and can be accessed from any location using almost any electronic device and the data can be readily protected. The invention provides geographically independent synchronization for the same device. The invention reduces the amount of metadata required to perform synchronization, eliminates slow synchronizations and also operates on standard or pre-existing data structures. The shared client software technique also reduces software maintenance and administrative issues and is helpful for application service providers (ASPS).
US08090875B2
A communication server connects together device manufacturing processing apparatuses such as exposure apparatuses and various inspection apparatuses and the like. This communication server is provided with a file format conversion section that converts the format of data exchanged between device manufacturing processing apparatuses, a communication message conversion section that converts communication messages, and a communication protocol conversion section that converts communication protocols. The communication server receives information transmitted from a transmission source compatibly with a device manufacturing processing apparatus which is the transmission source, and transmits the received information compatibly with a device manufacturing processing apparatus that is a destination of the transmission.
US08090859B2
Proxy nodes perform TCP/IP processing on behalf of application nodes, utilize lightweight protocols to communicate with application nodes, and communicate with network nodes and network clients using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
US08090857B2
A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces.
US08090856B1
An intelligent messaging network provides multiple software development kits (SDKs) to assist, e.g., engineers in developing client and server applications. The SDKs can contain a consistent set of application program interfaces (APIs) and a set of platform specific libraries for all intelligent messaging network supported platforms and networks. In addition to the SDKs, the intelligent messaging network can provide developers a resource kit including a set of tools to assist the developers when designing, implementing, and testing their client and server applications. The intelligent messaging network can provide a mobile client and server SDK environment to assist engineers developing client applications and servers. The SDKs can provide an easy to use APIs and a set of platform specific libraries to perform, e.g., compression, network management services, server-to-server communication, server registration/de-registration, and reliable message transport services.
US08090850B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for regulating pinhole preservation traffic generated or received by firewall or network address translator (NAT) session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent clients (UACs) are disclosed. One method includes, maintaining a list of contact information for a plurality of SIP UACs registering from behind at least one of a firewall and a NAT. The method further includes iterating through the list to generate SIP messages to the different UACs such that the SIP messages to the different UACs are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect to each other, wherein the SIP messages to the different UACs trigger responses from the UACs such that the responses are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect each other.
US08090846B2
In an audiovisual communications network, a first endpoint exchanges with a control element messages transmitting parameters registered or to be registered in the control element to enable the first endpoint to communicate with a second endpoint registered with the control element. The communications network is made secure by a method that includes an observation step for detecting whether a set of parameters among the parameters transmitted in a message is inconsistent with a current state of the addressee of said message.
US08090845B2
An apparatus and method for traversing a network address translation/firewall device to maintain a registration between first and second devices separated by the firewall device are provided. In one example, the method includes intercepting a registration message from the first device to the second device. A determination is made based on a first timeout period defined by the second device as to whether it is time to renew the first device's registration. If it is time to renew the first device's registration, the registration message is forwarded to the second device. A response message that includes the first timeout period is intercepted, and the first timeout period is replaced with a second timeout period based on a binding lifetime of the firewall device before forwarding the response message to the first device.
US08090844B2
A content management system and method are disclosed having one or more shared file systems located on one or more networks having a firewall. The content management system includes an explorer client, a mounting client, and a gateway. The gateway is in communication with both the explorer client and the mounting client. The explorer client forms a profile of a user device by determining the characteristics of the user device. The mounting client determines the capabilities of the one or more file systems and where content resides on each of the one or more file systems. The gateway then creates a virtual abstraction layer based on the profile of the user device and the capabilities of the one or more file systems.
US08090843B2
A system is disclosed for establishing a public identity for an entity on a private network. In one embodiment, a first entity can initiate a request to create a binding of a public address to a private address for itself. The existence of this public address for the first entity can be made known so that other entities can use the public address to communicate with the first entity. The present invention allows entities outside of a private network to initiate communication with an entity inside a private network.
US08090839B2
A network infrastructure element such as a router or switch performs transparent and optimized validation of XML schemas of XML payloads received in the network element. The network element comprises logic for receiving and storing one or more validation scope rules that define a portion of an extensible markup language (XML) schema for validation; receiving and storing the XML schema; receiving over the network an application-layer message comprising one or more of the packets; identifying a particular XML element in an XML payload of the application-layer message, wherein the particular XML element is within the portion of the XML schema defined in the one or more validation scope rules; determining whether the particular XML element conforms to the XML schema; and performing a responsive action based on whether the particular XML element conforms to the XML schema.
US08090837B2
Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and manages communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor.
US08090830B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for generating and transmitting an anonymous GRUU, or other routing identifier, to identify a user agent in a communication system that utilizes SIP signaling. A user agent-generated message is generated that identifies a user agent-request for anonymous operation. And, a SIP registrar, or other network device, operates to provide an anonymous routing identifier that permits anonymous operation of the user agent to maintain privacy of its identity during communications.
US08090824B2
A gateway data proxy is a system which provides the capabilities to provide and obtain the customized data across multiple platforms to facilitate the remote operations of embedded health management systems (EHMS). The system allows the collaborative works taken place among the EHMS from diagnostics, prognostics, maintenance, to maintenance history tracking. Depending on deployment needs, the system can operate as stand-alone systems or as an integrated module of the EHMS. As part of operation, the system provides logical network connection and be the broker of data between EHMS instances and between EHMS with onboard systems and other service applications.
US08090818B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for generation of customized client proxies. A method of generating client proxies includes receiving properties of a client, determining customizations for a client proxy based on the properties of the client, and generating the client proxy, where the client proxy includes the one or more customizations. Generating the client proxy can include generating the client proxy as executable code to execute on the client, source code to be compiled on the client, or a combination of source code and executable code. A customization can define a modification of a default client proxy, a combination of designtime objects for a client proxy, a combination of runtime objects for a client proxy, or a combination of all three techniques or different techniques.
US08090817B2
A system for monitoring a space external to the system is disclosed. The system includes a microprocessor, a memory coupled to the microprocessor, a sensor configured to detect at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and configured to generate a sensor signal derived from the at least one detected environmental parameter of the space and at least one port for communicating with a network. The memory includes instructions for processing the sensor signal derived from the at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and the memory including a web server application. The at least one port is responsive to the microprocessor. The web server application is configured to provide a webpage associated with the sensor signal via the at least one port.
US08090816B1
A method, system, and computer program product reports malware events in real-time and does not cause network congestion that adversely affects the usability of the network. A method of reporting malware events comprises the steps of detecting a malware event, determining a level of the detected malware event, comparing the level of the detected malware event to an event trigger threshold, and transmitting a notification of the detected malware event, based on the comparison of the level of the detected malware event to the event trigger threshold.
US08090809B2
Techniques to assign nodes in a network to groups of nodes includes grouping nodes on a network into groups based on host connection set data by identifying bi-connected components in the host connection set data; and merging groups with similar connection habits as determined by examining the host connection set data into larger groups.
US08090798B2
An information handling system according to the invention comprises an input for receiving search requests seeking one or more specified files; a search engine for searching a database for names of files satisfying a received search request; and server logic for serving a results page comprising the names of files satisfying a received search request and a hyperlink associated with each file name. Each hyperlink in the results, when activated causes transmission of a request for the selected file that is associated with the link. The request for the selected file is directed to a file server controlling a database of files including the selected file. The file server responds to the request by serving a content (or media) file comprising a copy of the selected file with an embedded request for information for presentation to the person from whom the search request was received. When the user runs the downloaded content file the content file sends a request for service to a site (e.g., a reflector server) that responds by serving information such as advertising to the requester.
US08090789B1
A data storage system having protocol controller for converting packets between PCIE format used by a storage processor and Rapid IO format used by a packet switching network. The controller includes a PCIE end point for transferring atomic operation (DSA) requests, a data pipe section having a plurality of data pipes for passing user data; and a message engine section for passing messages among the plurality of storage processors. An acceleration path controller bypasses a DSA buffer in the absence of congestion on the network. Packets fed to the PCIE end point include an address portion having code indicating an atomic operation. An encoder converts the code from a PCIE format into the same atomic operation in SRIO format. Each one of a plurality of CPUs is adapted to perform a second DSA request during execution of a first DSA request.
US08090782B2
An electronic messaging system and method, the system including at least two electronic messaging platforms, each electronic messaging platform including software for generating electronic message loquia, each electronic message loquium including a file consisting of message content and identification information, software for carrying out background messaging between the two platforms concerning transmission and receipt of the loquia, means for reading loquia, and a display for displaying the loquia.
US08090780B2
A notification system, including a notification database and a notification application, receiving notification content from a sending device and provides the notification content for rendering on a target receiving device. The notification database may store, for each of a plurality of instances of notification content, the notification content in association with a target receiving device identifier and rendering instructions. The rendering instructions may comprise at least identification of a rendering time and a rendering location. The notification application i) receives, from the sending device, the notification content, the target receiving device identifier, and the rendering instructions; and writes such notification content, target receiving device identifier, and rendering instructions to the database.
US08090774B2
In one implementation a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion is provided. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. In another implementation a method of transmitting streaming data from a server to the data storage medium of a device having a multimedia player is provided. The streaming data having at least one advertising-sponsored content portion and at least one associated obligatory advertising portion. Upon the server determining that the playing of all or part of the obligatory advertising portion is attempting to be avoided by the multimedia player, the server sends to the multimedia player or device a message with data storage medium control information for the purpose of inhibiting the advertising-sponsored content portion stored in the data storage medium from being played by multimedia player.
US08090753B2
In a system, in order to allow transfer of information relating to image data and the like to a desired directory in a directory structure in a host information processing apparatus, without performing an operation at the host information processing apparatus, a directory-information management unit in a first apparatus acquires and manages directory information of a storage unit managed by a filing system of a second apparatus, and a display unit displays the directory information managed by the directory-information management unit. The user assigns a directory to which the image data and the like are to be transferred in the storage unit of the second apparatus, using an assignment unit.
US08090748B2
Methods and system for efficient collection and storage of experimental data allow experimental data from high-throughput, feature-rich data collection systems, such as high-throughput cell data collection systems to be efficiently collected, stored, managed and displayed. The methods and system can be used, for example, for storing, managing, and displaying cell image data and cell feature data collected from microplates including multiple wells and a variety of bio-chips in which an experimental compound has been applied to a population of cells. The methods and system provide a flexible and scalable repository of experimental data including multiple databases at multiple locations including pass-through databases that can be easily managed and allows cell data to be analyzed, manipulated and archived. The methods and system may improve the identification, selection, validation and screening of new drug compounds that have been applied to populations of cells.
US08090742B2
A system and method is provided for the management of a patient's medical records by a central data repository under the direction of the patient and enabled by an entity managing records on behalf of the patient. Medical records from a plurality of the patient's healthcare providers, including past and present healthcare providers, are maintained in this central repository in a way that provides a centralized, comprehensive, and accessible medical history of the patient, as well as a comprehensive organizational structure across all records. An embodiment has the patient directed central repository as the hub in a hub-and-spoke arrangement, where each spoke goes to one of the patient's healthcare providers, both past and present. The patient's medical records are collected from all the patient's healthcare providers, then classified, stored, and organized for use by the patient, healthcare providers, and any other authorized individuals. The records in the repository can be sorted and/or selected in several different ways and displayed to the patient or to his designated medical care providers, and to certain patient designated third parties.
US08090741B2
Techniques for provisioning databases for users on a wide area network such as the Internet include a first party managing one or more database systems. Second parties subscribe to database services supported by the database systems managed by the first party. The first party provides, over a network, to database applications controlled by the second parties, access to the database services to which the second parties are subscribed. The database systems may use database appliances hosting both database process(es), and non-database process(es) tailored to the needs of the database process(es). A user is therefore able to obtain database resources from an Internet Database Service Provider (IDSP) without the user incurring the full costs of database administrator(s), dedicated database equipment facilit(ies), or even dedicated database device(s), depending on usage. Meanwhile, the IDSP incurs minimum staffing loads because of various self-service tools Costing model and automatic billing features are also described.
US08090733B2
Disclosed is a system for, and method of, identifying an entity representation. In some embodiments, search criteria are used to identify an entity representation in a universal database, and this identification is then used to identify a corresponding entity representation in a foreign database. Certain embodiments provide assurance, with a know probability of error, that the entity representation identified in the universal database is correct.
US08090730B2
Provided are methods, computer programs and systems that optimize database queries using a wavelet transform of the query. Also provided are methods and systems for optimal disk placement for wavelet data.
US08090726B2
Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts in a faster and more relevant manner are provided. Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts based on session data and/or traffic data are also provided. According to the invention, session maps can be created using DNS and/or ISP data. Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts for the purpose of doing business are also provided.
US08090725B1
A system and method is described for receiving a plurality of non-standardized data sets and generating respective plurality of standardized profiles that can be used for efficiently comparing and matching one profile against the other plurality of profiles. One application of this invention is to convert job seekers' resumes and job postings into respective profiles and then permitting either a job seeker to search for job postings that most closely match the job seeker's resume or, conversely, permitting an employer to search for job seekers whose resumes most closely match the employer's job posting.
US08090717B1
Methods and apparatus are described for scoring documents in response, in part, to parameters related to the document, source, and/or cluster score. Methods and apparatus are also described for scoring a cluster in response, in part, to parameters related to documents within the cluster and/or sources corresponding to the documents within the cluster. In one embodiment, the invention may detect at least one document within the cluster; analyze a parameter corresponding to the document; and compute a cluster score based, in part, on the parameter, wherein the cluster score corresponds with at least one document within the cluster.
US08090710B2
Embodiments of the invention enable a database spread over multiple nodes to allow each node to have different indexes over the data in tables, depending on how each node would benefit (or not benefit) from having the index(es). When a database table is spread across the nodes of a multi-node or distributed system, each node may maintain only the portion of the index relevant to that node, if doing so would improve the performance of query processing operations on that node. Further, the database may periodically redistributed across the compute nodes based on index performance. Doing so allows the database system to intelligently trade off between consuming space for the index on a node and the usefulness of having an index on that node.
US08090709B2
Representing queries and determining similarity of queries based on an autoregressive integrated moving average (“ARIMA”) model is provided. A query analysis system represents each query by its ARIMA coefficients. The query analysis system may estimate the frequency information for a desired past or future interval based on frequency information for some initial intervals. The query analysis system may also determine the similarity of a pair of queries based on the similarity of their ARIMA coefficients. The query analysis system may use various metrics, such as a correlation metric, to determine the similarity of the ARIMA coefficients.
US08090708B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for searching indexed and non-indexed content. One method includes updating an index of a corpus of resources from time to time to generate an updated index for use by a search engine. Change data specifying changes made by users affecting resources are recorded. An index search result based on the most-recently updated index is received in response to a user search query. The change data is searched to identify any changes to the resources made by the user that relate to the search query and if any such changes are found, a revised search result is generated from the changes and the index search result and provided to the user as a response to the first query.
US08090704B2
An apparatus and method retrieves a database record from an in-memory database of a parallel computer system using a non-unique key. The parallel computer system performs a simultaneous search on each node of the computer system using the non-unique key and then utilizes a global combining network to combine the local results from the searches of each node to efficiently and quickly search the entire database.
US08090702B2
Methods and arrangements to analyze web traffic of a portal are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to analyze web traffic of a portal by a portlet receiving a request for web page content from the portal and generating a fragment of a web page. The fragment may include code to collect data from clients on web traffic of the portlet and to transmit the data to a facility for the collection of data on web traffic of the portal and the portlet. Some embodiments may involve a portal requesting web page content from a portlet, and the portal receiving a fragment of a web page from the portlet. The fragment may include code to collect data from clients on web traffic of the portlet and to transmit the data to the data collection facility.
US08090696B2
A system for implementing a scoring method, wherein the system includes at least a data analyzer configured to: determine a plurality of scoring intervals dependent upon the data to be analyzed; assign an integer score and a decimal score within the scoring intervals to each data to be analyzed, the score dependent upon a frequency of appearance; search a database for pairings of (scored element, decimal score); and generate an alert if the pairing is found in the database.
US08090695B2
As described herein, a high-availability server system includes at least a source server system and a target server system that dynamically restore message object search indexes. Both the source server system and the target server system store copies of a mailbox database and a search index for the mailbox database. As changes are requested to the mailbox database, events are added to event lists maintained at the source node and the target node. When the data storage system at the target server system enters an error state, the source server system sends to the target server system a set of data that the target server system can use to generate a copy of search index. The target server system may then resume applying events in the event list to the search index. In this way, it may not be necessary to completely re-index the mailbox database at the target node.
US08090694B2
A method to index locally recorded content at a media device includes extracting, at a remote service provider, event index data from an event being locally recorded at a media device and associating the event index data with locator code data of the event. The method further includes storing, at the remote service provider, the extracted event index data and the associated locator code data; searching the extracted event index data for a plurality of segments associated with the event, the search being associated with a search request; determining index display data for a presentation of the plurality of segments based on the search request; and transmitting, to the media device, the locator code data associated with the plurality of segments, and the index display data.
US08090687B2
A system and program product having at least one subscriber subscribing to topics from one or more data sources. The number of subscriptions for each data source are registered in a table in real time. Upon detecting subscription activity, a matching routine compares the number of subscriptions registered for the available data source with a predetermined value, and if the number of subscribers exceeds the predetermined value a data source process corresponding to the data source will be started, and messages from the data source will be sent to the data source subscriber/s, otherwise, the data source provider will be stopped and not longer send messages.
US08090685B2
An efficient way is provided to represent and exchange knowledge and/or partial knowledge across nodes when synchronizing between any two nodes. A first node sends a second node its knowledge and/or partial knowledge, including objects and versions of those objects. The second node compares its knowledge and/or partial knowledge with the knowledge and/or partial knowledge of the first node, and then sends the first node any latest versions of objects of which the first node is unaware. In addition, the second node sends its knowledge and/or partial knowledge to the first node. The first node then performs a similar object-by-object version comparison to determine any conflicts due to independent evolution of objects and any changes that should be sent to the second node in order to bring the objects of the second node up to date with the knowledge and/or partial knowledge of the first node.
US08090679B2
An approach for systematically and objectively assessing the health of a web site, or other complex system, using two layers of information. A scoring method is used to provide an objective qualitative judgment, together with detailed areas of analysis if desired. A set of metrics is identified, and a health score for each metric is calculated based upon assessment parameters or angles, based upon the actual data and upon the expectations. The overall health score of the system is then calculated as a composite metric based upon the individual metric health scores. A total score, together with a visual representation of the individual metric scores, is presented to the end user. The two layers of information utilized in the general framework include the domain (which determines the set of metrics and assessment parameters, e.g., web site analysis) and the model (or processing desired, e.g., a scoring model or alert model).
US08090674B2
A CMOS integrated circuit for multi-channel neuronal recording with twelve true-differential channels, band separation and digital offset calibration. The recorded signal is separated into 2 bands: a low-frequency, local field potential (LFP); and high-frequency spike data. Digitally programmable gains for the LFP and spike bands are provided. A mixed-signal front-end processor for multi-channel neuronal recording is also described. It receives twelve differential-input channels of implanted recording electrodes. A programmable cutoff HPF blocks DC and low frequency input drift at about 1 Hz. The signals are band-split at about 200 Hz to low-frequency local field potential (LFP) and high-frequency spike data (SPK), which is band limited by a programmable-cutoff LPF. The analog signals are converted into digital form, and streamed out over a serial digital bus at up to 8 Mbps. A special interface system incorporating an embedded CPU core in a programmable logic device accompanied by real-time software allows connectivity to a computer host.
US08090671B2
A generic queueing network model of a Web services environment is introduced. The behavior of a service is abstracted in three phases: serial, parallel and dormant, thus yielding a Serial Parallel Queueing Network (SPQN) model with a small number of parameters. A method is provided for estimated the parameters of the model that is based on stochastic approximation techniques for solving stochastic optimization problems. The parameter estimation method is shown to perform well in a noisy environment, where performance data is obtained through measurements or using approximate model simulations.
US08090670B2
Remote control units are used to interact with a variety of devices. Modeling of the usage of a remote control unit while interacting with a device helps in (a) redesigning the remote for better usability; (b) dynamic adapting of the remote to provide improved interactions; and (c) characterizing the usage behaviors. In particular, it is very popular to use remote control units to interact with TVs and PVR devices. A system and method for the modeling of a remote usage involves the use of both pre-defined models and discovered models. Specifically, a pattern of usage of a remote control unit is abstracted to be one of either a pre-defined model or a discovered model. The model discovery involves the process of generalization based on a set of particular remote control unit usage patterns. The labels associated with the models help in characterizing the remote control unit usage patterns.
US08090665B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to find dynamic social networks by applying a dynamic stochastic block model to generate one or more dynamic social networks, wherein the model simultaneously captures communities and their evolutions, and inferring best-fit parameters for the dynamic stochastic model with online learning and offline learning.
US08090664B2
The present invention relates to methods for the development and implementation of intellectual property marketing. A targeted innovation to fulfill an internal need is developed. Actions are taken to legally protect the targeted innovation as an intellectual property asset. The intellectual property asset is analyzed to determine a marketing assessment. A decision is made whether to market the intellectual property asset based at least in part on the marketing assessment. If the marketing assessment meets a predetermined threshold, the intellectual property asset is marketed.
US08090658B2
A member unique name (MUN) system and MUN translation system and method are provided. The MUN system comprises a dimension reference for defining the context in which the remaining portions of the MUN exist and a canonical business key for uniquely identifying a member across different dimensional data sources within a business enterprise. The MUN translation system comprises a translation selection module for selecting a MUN transformation and a collection of MUN transformations for transforming a MUN of a first data source into a MUN of the second data source.
US08090656B2
A plurality of users have a savings goal, and a plurality of mobile devices each belong to a user. An electronic message from a user's mobile device is received. The electronic message comprises a description of a service or product not purchased and the amount of money not spent because it was not purchased. The description and amount are stored and a running total of the amount of money not spent is computed. A second electronic message is transmitted to all of the plurality of mobile devices except the first mobile device. The second electronic message comprises the description, amount, and an identifier of the user of the first mobile. Receiving, storing, computing, and transmitting are repeated until the savings goal is reached. A system includes the plurality of mobile devices, at least one communication network, and a computer in communication with the communication network. The system may also include a bank.
US08090649B2
Systems, computer program products, and computer-implemented methods apply or otherwise make available new credit or additional credit to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards, and existing lines of credit of a customer based on expected tax refund amounts. A computerized estimate of the tax refund available from a tax return of the customer is formed. A portion of the computerized estimate of the tax refund which can be made available as the line of credit is then determined. The existing line of credit is then adjusted based on the expected refund determined to be available, which will serve as an additional source: of repayment for the line of credit. One or more of several adjustments may then be made to an existing line of credit: the line of credit may be increased; fees reduced; or the terms of payment adjusted. The invention may be implemented as a computerized process, a computer system or a computer program product.
US08090639B2
A warrant on company stock that is used to determine value of employee options for U.S. accounting purposes on company stock. The warrant comprises an amortization factor, an exercise term that is the same or substantially similar to an exercise term of the employee options, and a strike price that is the same or substantially similar to a strike price of the employee options. The warrant also comprises a provision to periodically determine the amortization factor based on early forfeiture and/or early exercise of the employee options, a provision to apply the amortization factor to the warrants; and a provision to determine an intrinsic value of the warrants. Value of the employee options for U.S. accounting purposes is determined using market value of the warrants at issue.
US08090627B2
A printing system includes a client apparatus which deals with printing data and a server apparatus which is connected to the client apparatus to communicate therewith. The client apparatus includes: a correction data request transmitting unit which requests the server apparatus to transmit correction data used for correcting the printing data; a correction data receiving unit which receives predetermined correction data transmitted; a billing information receiving unit; and a billing unit which performs a predetermined process on the basis of the billing information received by the billing information receiving unit. The server apparatus includes: a correction data request receiving unit; a correction data acquiring unit which acquires, from a correction data storage unit, predetermined correction data corresponding to the request to transmit the correction data received by the correction data request receiving unit; a correction data transmitting unit; a charge calculating unit; and a charge notifying unit.
US08090623B2
A method and system for enabling a user or bidder to purchase an option on auction merchandise or services in an online auction are provided, thus allowing the option winner to purchase the merchandise in the event the original auction bidder (i.e., the highest bidder for the merchandise) defaults on his purchase. The method and system also provides an incentive to the users purchasing the option(s), e.g., bid optionees, by partially distributing the option pool of monies collected to the user who purchases the option at the price closest to the final auction price.
US08090622B2
Systems and methods of generating a list of preferred items are disclosed herein. A uniform resource identifier that references a listing web service is provided. A call to the listing web service is received from a linking website. The call to the listing web service includes an item identifier corresponding to an item that the consumer is willing to purchase. The call can be executed as a result of the consumer selecting a listing icon that references the uniform resource identifier. The listing icon is displayed on the linking website hosted at a linking domain. The listing web service can be executed to add the item to the list of preferred items associated with the consumer. The list of preferred items is displayed on a listing website. The listing website can be hosted at a listing domain which is different from the linking domain.
US08090621B1
A recommendation system uses feedback from users on specific item recommendations to assess the quality of the recommendation rules used to generate such recommendations. The feedback may be explicit (e.g., a user rates a particular recommended item), implicit (e.g., a user purchases a recommended item), or both. The system may use these assessments to modify the degree to which particular recommendation rules are used to generate recommendations. For instance, if a particular recommendation rule leads to negative feedback relatively frequently, the system reduce or terminate its reliance on the rule. In some embodiments, the system may also increase its reliance on recommendation rules that tend to produce positive feedback.
US08090618B1
An online game commerce system, in one embodiment, provides an architecture for enabling the interactive trade, collection, advertisement, purchase, and sales of video game components through the representation and use of an online marketplace such as an auction, store, trading hub or similar expression within a video game. For example, an online race car game purchased at a retail store comes with five different starter cars, but game players are offered the opportunity through an online store or auction accessible through the game to purchase additional cars for $5 each or a new engine for existing cars for $1.00 each. After the initial release of the game, game publishers may offer new cars and race tracks downloadable online for a price of $5.00 each or a promotional offer of $20 for any combination of five.
US08090617B1
A method is taught of determining if a potential customer is a desirable customer. The manufacturer can determine if the potential customer is a potential competitor. If the potential customer can receive technical information from the potential customer and provide a price quotation for certain goods (or services). The manufacturer can determine if the potential customer intends to use a product other than for its intended application. In an embodiment, the potential customer can initially contact the manufacturer through an electronic communication network.In accordance with one feature of the invention, a design is prepared. The design can be prepared in cooperation between the manufacturer and the potential customer or a third party can be included. In accordance with another feature, the potential customer can agree not to disclose technical information. In accordance with a feature of the invention the manufacturer can communicate with the potential customer and internal organizations as the method progresses. In accordance with a feature of the invention, a customer can track work-in-progress after manufacturing has begun. A feature also allows a customer to approve a sample received from the manufacturer.
US08090614B2
A method for generating a sales volume forecast includes receiving user input specifying a hypothetical asking price and a future date and accessing, for each of multiple past time periods, historical data reflecting a sales volume for an item over the past time period and a corresponding price difference between an asking price and a coinciding market price for the item, the price difference also being associated with the past time period. The method also includes determining a historical correlation for the item between sales volume and price difference between asking price and coinciding market price, accessing market data reflecting a future market price for the item associated with the specified future date, determining a price difference between the specified hypothetical asking price and the future market price for the item, applying the determined historical correlation to the determined price difference to generate a sales volume forecast, and providing the generated sales volume forecast for access by a user.
US08090606B2
A system and method for embedding recommendations on a portable media player are provided. In general, recommendations for media presentations stored or to be stored on the portable media player are generated by a recommendation engine hosted by an external system such as, for example, a user's personal computer or a network server. In one embodiment, the media presentations are songs, and the recommendations include a number of recommended songs for each song stored or to be stored on the portable media player. The recommendations may be limited to the media presentations stored on the portable media player or otherwise accessible to the portable media player. After the recommendations are generated, the recommendations are stored, or embedded, on the portable media player. Thereafter, the portable media player may use the recommendations to facilitate playback of media content on the portable media player.
US08090605B2
In a process for creating media content, media submissions are requested and electronically received from end users and stored in a computer database. The submissions are searched for material to be included in the media content, and cross-checked against the other submissions for originality and timeliness. After the material is selected from one or more submissions, the content is developed and released to an audience for review. The end users whose submission material was included in the released content are rewarded. In one embodiment, third parties are permitted to access and search the submissions on an open exchange. The third parties can bid for rights in submissions on the open exchange. After receiving these bids, they are forwarded to the particular submission's end user for acceptance or rejection. Appropriate billing and payment processes are used to bill and pay the parties involved.
US08090600B2
The present disclosure describes an approach to constructing and implementing risk rating products that provides a number of advantages. Instead of hard-coding attributes of a risk rating scheme, which requires the assistance of a trained programming specialist for any modifications, adjustments, or new products, the present invention provides a set of modular tools that assist non-specialists in on-the-fly generation and implementation of risk rating products. The modularity of this approach facilitates the modification and/or updating of a system component without affecting the operation of other components. Described herein are embodiments of a risk rater data-structure, which comprises an abstracted representation of a risk rating scheme that may be loaded into and/or interpreted by other system components to generate a user interface for processing risk information and generating insurance quotes.
US08090597B1
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing insurance coverage to a customer. The method includes providing a field for an input of a limitation relating to a desired insurance coverage. The limitation includes at least one of a time period indication of a time period less than a month and a geographical region indication of a geographical region smaller in size than an entire nation. The method further includes receiving the limitation at a central processor. The method additionally includes performing processing in relation to the limitation to determine whether the desired insurance coverage as restricted by the limitation can be provided. The method further includes sending a confirmation concerning whether the desired insurance coverage corresponding to the limitation can be provided.
US08090594B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for implementing variable financial plans. The methods can include identifying an account, and accessing an account planning tool. Characteristics associated with the account are presented to the account planning tool, and an account plan is developed using the planning tool. Based at least in part on the account plan, a funds transfer is facilitated from a source of funds to the account. Activity in the account is monitored, and the account plan is modified in response to activity detected in the account plan.
US08090588B2
A system and method for providing improved adaptive multi-rate wideband (AMR-WB) discontinuous transmission (DTX) synchronization. According to various embodiments, an indication on the start of the inactive speech period is signalled to the decoder via a voice activity detection (VAD) flag a predetermined number of frames before the DTX period will start, i.e., before the SID_FIRST frame is received. When the VAD flag indicates active speech, or when the VAD flag has been set to zero less than the predetermined number of frames ago, the received NO_DATA frame can be classified with a high degree of reliability as active speech, i.e., considered as transmitter, network or terminal-initiated signalling, and can be substituted by a SPEECH_LOST frame. When the VAD flag was set to zero eight frames ago or earlier, the NO_DATA frame is classified as DTX.
US08090587B2
Methods of encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. The method of decoding a multi-channel audio signal includes an unpacking unit which extracts a quantized CLD between a pair of channels of a plurality of channels from a bitstream, and an inverse quantization unit which inverse-quantizes the quantized CLD using a quantization table that considers the location properties of the pair of channels. The methods of encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal and the apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal can enable an efficient encoding/decoding by reducing the number of quantization bits required.
US08090586B2
An apparatus encodes or decodes an audio signal using a method by which compatibility with a player of a general mono or stereo audio signal can be provided in coding an audio signal and by which spatial information for a multi-channel audio signal can be stored or transmitted without a presence of an auxiliary data area. The present invention includes extracting side information embedded in non-recognizable component of audio signal components and decoding the audio signal using the extracted side information.
US08090582B2
A voice recognition apparatus 10 includes a voice recognition means 12 for performing voice recognition, and a control means for controlling receipt of a voice input to the voice recognition means, and for performing recognition according to a result of the voice recognition acquired by the voice recognition means. In this voice recognition apparatus, the control means controls the receipt of a voice according to a timeout time which defines the end of the receipt of a voice. The voice recognition apparatus further includes an environmental condition detecting means 18 for detecting an environmental condition, and a timeout time control means 16 for changing the timeout time according to the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection means.
US08090579B2
A system and method are described for recognizing repeated audio material within at least one media stream without prior knowledge of the nature of the repeated material. The system and method are able to create a screening database from the media stream or streams. An unknown sample audio fragment is taken from the media stream and compared against the screening database to find if there are matching fragments within the media streams by determining if the unknown sample matches any samples in the screening database.
US08090577B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for determining the type of acoustic signal and the type of frequency spectrum exhibited by the acoustic signal in order to selectively delete parameter information before vector quantization. The bits that would otherwise be allocated to the deleted parameters can then be re-allocated to the quantization of the remaining parameters, which results in an improvement of the perceptual quality of the synthesized acoustic signal. Alternatively, the bits that would have been allocated to the deleted parameters are dropped, resulting in an overall bit-rate reduction.
US08090570B2
A real-time open domain speech translation system for simultaneous translation of a spoken presentation that is a spoken monologue comprising one of a lecture, a speech, a presentation, a colloquium, and a seminar. The system includes an automatic speech recognition unit configured for accepting sound comprising the spoken presentation in a first language and for continuously creating word hypotheses, and a machine translation unit that receives the hypotheses, wherein the machine translation unit outputs a translation, into a second language, from the spoken presentation.
US08090564B1
Generating transactional level bus simulation instructions from a bus protocol description is disclosed. A bus protocol description is accessed. From the bus protocol description, a finite state machine is generated. Transactional level bus simulation instructions are generated from the finite state machine. Then, the transaction level bus simulation instructions are stored in computer readable medium.
US08090563B2
A method for simulating a telecommunications network through objects that model a respective set of network modules or devices provides for the insertion, for every module or device of the set, of at least one respective interfacing object with the other modules of the set. The above interfacing object has an external side and an internal side with respect to the module or device. Such external side has a character that is independent of idiosyncrasies of such module or device and is therefore uniform for all modules or devices. When there are a plurality of different implementations of the same module or device, it is possible to provide both a unique interfacing object for all different implementations, and a respective interfacing object for every single implementation.
US08090558B1
A method is presented for selecting the order in which parameters are evaluated for inclusion in a model of a film stack, which is by ranking them according to measurement precision. Further, a method is presented for determining which parameters are to be floated, set, or discarded from the model, which is by determining whether average chi-square and chi-square uniformity decreases or increases when the parameter is added to the model. In this manner, a model for the film stack can be quickly assembles with a high degree of accuracy.
US08090551B2
An electrical test system for providing a power source to each of a plurality of electrical components under electrical test includes a grouped circuitry module. The grouped circuitry module includes a plurality of individually-programmable power sources, each coupled to an output channel, a controller configured to program each of the power sources to a respective stimulus output value and to read a measured value at each corresponding output channel and random access, non-volatile, memory for storing information and for providing read/write capability for the controller. A host computer is in communication with the controller for running a self test program that sequentially programs each of the power sources to its respective stimulus output value and reads the measured value at each corresponding output channel using the controller to determine if the tested complete subsystem is operating properly.
US08090547B2
An ultrasonic measurement method, including: receiving a plurality of ultrasonic waves that have been spectrum-spread with different codes by first and second wave-receivers; de-spreading the first and second receive signals respectively with a selected code and a non-selected code; obtaining an amplitude ratio between the produced selected de-spread signal and the non-selected de-spread signal; determining a threshold value based on the amplitude ratio; extracting a signal having an amplitude greater than or equal to the threshold value from the non-selected de-spread signal to thereby produce an interfering signal; spreading the interfering signal with a corresponding non-selected code and then removing the interfering signal from the first and second receive signals to thereby produce first and second receive signals from which the interfering signal has been removed; de-spreading the first and second receive signals from which the interfering signal has been removed each with the selected code to thereby obtain first and second de-spread signals from which the interfering signal has been removed; and calculating the propagation distance and the propagation direction of the selected ultrasonic wave based on points in time at which the first and second de-spread signals arrive at the first and second wave-receivers.
US08090543B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for an automated method of identifying allele values from data files derived from processed fluorophore emissions detected during the observation of fluorophore labeled nucleotide probes used in analyzing polymorphic DNA are provided. These methods are used in the rapid and efficient distinguishing of targeted polymorphic DNA sites without control samples.
US08090541B2
A method is provided for identifying one or more regions within a genome of an organism of interest that mediate the expression of one or more genes of interest. The method comprises identifying a first organism of interest exhibiting a measurable response to an environmental stimulus; identifying a second organism of interest that lacks or does not exhibit as strong a response to the stimulus as compared with the first organism of interest; crossing the first and second organisms of interest to produce a population of progeny; extracting RNA from each individual population of progeny; quantifying a level of gene expression for one or more genes of interest that are associated with the response to an environmental stimulus; identifying one or more Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL), wherein gene expression level is a quantitative trait, and using one or more markers comprising one or more regulatory sequences to mediate said expression of said one or more genes of interest induced by said environmental stimulus; and identifying the one or more regulatory sequences located at said one or more QTL.
US08090536B2
A method and apparatus for processing long term orbit data that is valid for an extended period of time into the future (i.e., long term orbit data). The long term orbit data is processed by reducing redundant information from the data to form compressed long term orbit data.
US08090534B2
The present invention is directed to a method and system for providing off-board navigational information from a network server to a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone. Specifically, upon receiving from the mobile communication device the real time location of the mobile communication device and a location or identification of a destination, the network server transmits to the mobile communication device routing information as well as audible navigation voice prompts. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the routing information includes maneuver information for traveling from the real location of the mobile communication device to the destination, and the audible navigation voice prompts provide data for generating audible turn-by-turn instructions for traveling from the real time location of the mobile communication device to the destination.
US08090531B2
A method for assisting an aircraft to rejoin a flight plan is disclosed. The flight plan is composed of a number N of flight segments (LEGi, i⊂[1, N]) with a flight segment LEGi being defined by a departure end (WPTi−1) and by an arrival end (WPTi). A navigation mode is termed “managed mode” wherein, the aircraft has momentarily left the managed mode and has deviated from the flight plan after passing through a waypoint (WPTp, p⊂[1, N]), the aircraft occupying a position (PPOS) and seeking to rejoin the flight plan so as to follow it in managed mode. The method comprises a step of evaluating the separation distance (Dj, i⊂[p+1, N]) between the position (PPOS) of the aircraft and each of the waypoints (WPTj, i⊂[p+1, N]). The local minima of the distance between the position (PPOS) of the aircraft and the waypoints (WPTj, i⊂[p+1, N]) of the flight plan is determined.
US08090529B2
In existing moving object tracking, there is a great communication load between a terminal and a platform, because the terminal should report its location to the platform every second or every minute and the platform should frequently process the location form the terminal. It is possible to reduce the great communication load on the server, by calculating an error between the current GPS location and the estimated location at a specific time on the basis of the estimated arrival time of the moving object. It allows that the terminal report its location to the server only when the error between current GPS location and the estimated location is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
US08090527B2
A method for operating a navigation system includes the following steps: a) inputting a destination; b) deriving a starting point from the destination being input by utilizing a starting point derivation rule; c) calculating a route from the derived starting point to the destination being input, and d) outputting the simulated route preview from the derived starting point to the destination being input. Preferably, the navigation system includes an input device for inputting operator commands and/or location information, particularly starting points and/or destinations, a road network database, a route calculating unit for calculating a planned route with consideration of the location information and the road network database, wherein the route leads from the starting point to the destination, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, particularly GPS signals, a position finding unit that determines the current position from the position signals, and at least one optical and/or acoustical output device for optically and/or acoustically outputting a simulated route preview in a simulation mode, wherein the simulated route preview simulates the route navigation from a starting point to a destination.
US08090524B2
Techniques are described for assessing road traffic conditions in various ways based on obtained traffic-related data, such as data samples from vehicles and other mobile data sources traveling on the roads and/or from one or more other sources (such as physical sensors near to or embedded in the roads). The road traffic conditions assessment based on obtained data samples may include various filtering and/or conditioning of the data samples, and various inferences and probabilistic determinations of traffic-related characteristics of interest from the data samples. In some situations, the inferences include repeatedly determining current traffic flow characteristics and/or predicted future traffic flow characteristics for road segments of interest during time periods of interest, such as to determine average traffic speed, traffic volume and/or occupancy, and include weighting various data samples in various ways (e.g., based on a latency of the data samples and/or a source of the data samples).
US08090516B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of controllers and methods of control to enable prevention of departure of vehicle even when the degree of the tendency of the vehicle to depart from the travel lane is low. One such controller comprises a lane departure tendency determining device configured to determine a departure tendency of the vehicle to depart from a travel lane, a yaw moment computing device configured to compute a reference yaw moment based on the departure tendency, a yaw moment correction device configured to compute a target yaw moment based on at least the reference yaw moment and a controller configured to apply the target yaw moment to the vehicle. When the reference yaw moment is lower than a prescribed threshold, the yaw moment correction device gradually increases the target yaw moment over time until the target yaw moment is greater than the prescribed threshold.
US08090514B2
A vehicle control system includes a pedal, such as an accelerator pedal, an adjusting device, a sensor and a control unit. The pedal may be actuated by the hand of an operator to set a state variable of the vehicle. The adjusting device applies a force to the pedal. A sensor senses a variable representing a state variable of the vehicle and transmits a sensor signal to the control unit. The control unit determines a state variable of the current operating state of the vehicle. The control unit, depending on the current operating state of the vehicle, controls the adjusting device so that a predetermined force is applied to the pedal, in order to make the operator aware of an unsafe operating condition.
US08090513B2
A method of controlling an automated friction clutch in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive motor and a manual transmission. During clutch actuation, at least one operating parameter of the friction clutch is detected by a sensor and from variation of the operating parameter at least one adaptation parameter is derived for correcting a control parameter of the associated clutch control element. To obtain information about variation of the clutch release force and to improve the control of an associated clutch control element, the friction clutch is fully disengaged with constant control or actuation of the clutch control element. During the disengagement process, the release travel path is determined as a function of release time, and from the time variation of the release travel path, a characteristic value is determined which is used to determine an adaptation parameter for correcting the control parameter of the clutch control element.
US08090511B2
A parameter having an accelerator pedal position and a drive force as components is set according to information representing driver's operations such as the accelerator pedal position and a stroke amount of a brake pedal. Similarly to the information representing the driver's operation, a parameter having the accelerator pedal position and the drive force as the components is set according to information representing running environment of a vehicle such as a gradient of a road surface, a curvature of the road surface, a friction coefficient μ of the road surface, a type of a road and a length of traffic jam. One parameter α(OUT) is set by mediating a parameter α(1) obtained from the information representing the driver's operation and a parameter α(2) obtained from the information representing the running environment of the vehicle. The gear corresponding to the parameter α(OUT) is set.
US08090509B2
A transmission includes a gear ratio change mechanism, a driving circuit and an electronic control unit (ECU). The gear ratio change mechanism has a motor for continuously varying the gear ratio. The driving circuit applies a pulse voltage to the motor. The ECU outputs a control signal to the driving circuit. The duty ratio and/or the pulse height of the pulse voltage is changed according to the control signal. The ECU performs a low-pass filtering process on the control signal to output the low-pass filtered control signal to the driving circuit. Gear ratio change shocks are thereby suppressed.
US08090501B2
A control device for controlling a variable damper of a wheel suspension system includes a first sensor detecting a first dynamic state variable of a vehicle body, a damping force base value determining unit determining a target damping force base value, a second sensor detecting a second dynamic state variable of the vehicle body; a correction value determining unit determining a damping force correction value, and a target damping force determining unit determining a target damping force. When the differential value of the lateral acceleration is relatively high (or the target damping force is high), a drive current to the variable damper is increased. The same is true when the vehicle is undergoing a pitching movement. The target damping force may be obtained by subtracting the damping force correction value from the target damping force base value.
US08090496B2
A vehicle information notification device for notifying vehicle information to a driver of a vehicle with a notification element, the device includes: a first-ride determination element for determining whether it is a first ride of the vehicle for the driver; and a controller for notifying the vehicle information via the notification element when the first-ride determination element determines that it is the first ride. By using the above device, the vehicle information is notified to the driver when the driver rides on the vehicle for the first time. Thus, anxiety of the driver is reduced.
US08090488B2
A powered mobility device for advancing cognitive, perceptual and motor abilities of a child lacking natural mobility is disclosed. The device includes a seat sized for the child to be secured therein and a motorized drive assembly coupled to the seat. A local operating instrument is operably coupled to the drive assembly for operating and steering the drive assembly. The local operating instrument is positioned to allow manipulation by the child seated in the seat. A processor is operatively coupled to the motorized drive assembly and to a local steering instrument. The processor is adapted to transmit a signal to the motorized drive assembly and the local steering instrument to control the mobility device. A method for advancing cognitive, perceptual and motor abilities of a child by using the device is also disclosed.
US08090487B2
On/off times of the air blower of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and a supercapacitor as an auxiliary power source are controlled to vary according to supercapacitor voltage, motor current, stack voltage and/or stack voltage rise/drop rate. Accordingly, the voltage of the fuel cell stack can be prevented from far exceeding a predetermined maximum voltage. Moreover, vehicle acceleration response during switching-off of the air blower can be improved.
US08090484B1
An object in motion has a force applied thereto at a point of application. By moving the point of application such that the distance between the object's center-of-mass and the point of application is changed, the object's orientation can be changed/adjusted.
US08090483B2
A system for displaying throttle settings to an aircraft operator includes, but is not limited to, a display unit, a data storage unit configured to store aircraft and airport data, an operator input unit configured to receive thrust related information from the aircraft operator, an aircraft sensor configured to detect an aircraft condition, and a processor. The processor is communicatively connected to each of the above components and is configured to obtain therefrom the aircraft data, the airport data, the thrust related information, and the aircraft condition. The processor is also configured to calculate a first thrust requirement based on the aircraft data, the airport data, the thrust related information, and the aircraft condition, and to provide commands to the display unit to display either the first thrust requirement.
US08090481B2
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an aircraft by a hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) includes selectively connecting, by the HOTAS, two interfaces of a controller for the aircraft. The selective connection is made through one of a plurality of possible paths. Each path has an expected respective voltage drop within a predetermined range. The selected one of the possible paths connecting the two interfaces is determined by determining an actual voltage drop associated with the selected path. A control operation for the aircraft is effected by the controller based on the determined selected path. The method reduces the number of required electrical connections.
US08090478B2
An apparatus for supporting a patient, such as a hospital bed, is provided. The apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one fluid containing bladder. A pressure control assembly is operably coupled with the bladder. When the fluid pressure within the bladder falls outside of an acceptable range of pressure values, the active adjustment of the pressure within the bladder is initiated by the pressure control assembly if the pressure does not return to the acceptable range of pressure values within a time period, e.g., a time delay, that has a variable length.
US08090473B2
The invention describes improved methods and mechanisms for providing secure access to pharmaceutical and supply items in a clinical setting. In one version of the invention, a dispensing unit has an interior housing one or more drawers. Each drawer has one or more storage locations. The fronts of the drawers are covered with one or more locking doors, preventing access to a particular drawer, unless the covering door is unlocked. Indicators are mounted on the side of the enclosure, to guide the user to a drawer covered by an associated unlocked door. The unit further includes indicators on the sides of the drawers, to guide the user to the right storage receptacles or pockets within the drawer. Some pockets may have lids. Some of the lids may have locks. Sensors associated with at least some of the individual pocket lids may be provided to detect the lifting of a lid. Means to automatically detect the entry of a hand or fingers into a pocket may be provided. One or more loudspeakers may be mounted on the unit, to provide auditory guidance and confirmation of correct access, by sounds and voice prompts. One or more video cameras may be mounted on the unit. A processor is mounted in the unit, or, in the case of an auxiliary unit, the auxiliary unit is connected to the processor on the main unit. The processor is connected to receive signals from sensors in the dispensing unit, from the video camera, and to send signals to the indicators, and to send auditory information to loudspeakers which are designed to focus the sound specifically to the user. Modular locking drawers may be mounted in this unit also, dispensing individual doses using a method where the drawer has to be fully closed for each unit dose of medication taken.
US08090470B2
A method for optimizing the position of a plurality of containers in a block, including at least one crane configured to move the containers is provided. A crane control unit (CCU) is provided in which the following steps are performed: identifying a selected container to be moved from a current position CP within a sub-section of said block to a new position NP within the sub-section; calculating a number of container moves required facilitating the move of the selected container in previous step; arranging the required number of container moves in a queue for each crane; and performing the container moves as arranged in the queue by controlling said at least one crane. Also provided is a computer program, a computer-readable medium encoded with the computer program, and a system for optimizing the position of a plurality of containers in a block.
US08090468B2
A method of controlling a multiple spindle machine includes measuring the motor currents provided to a first spindle and a second spindle over a period of time, establishing an amount of time between impacts on a workpiece of a cutting tooth of the first spindle relative to a cutting tooth of the second spindle based on the measured motor currents of the first spindle and the second spindle, determining an angle to shift the second spindle relative to the first spindle, and increasing or decreasing the amount of time between impacts to obtain the determined shift angle for the second spindle.
US08090465B2
A computerized method for the design and selection of cloths and fashion accessories and comprising the following steps: taking measurements of body parts of a person with the aid of a measuring tool displayed on a computer's screen; loading the biometric data of the person, comprising those measurements, in the computer; analyzing that biometric data; selecting a model from a library stored in a computer; overlaying an image of the model on an image of the person; comparing the body shape of the model with the body shape of the person as depicted in the two overlaid images; and changing the model in order to achieve a personalized model by performing pushing and pulling operations on the active locations of the model until it fits the body shape of the person.
US08090464B2
Roughly described, a manufacturing process is enhanced by using TCAD and TCAD-derived models. A TCAD simulation model of the process is developed, which predicts, in dependence upon a plurality of process input parameters, a value for a performance parameter of a product to be manufactured using the process. Estimated, predicted or desired values for a calculated subset of the parameters (including either process input parameters or product performance parameters or both), are determined in dependence upon the process model, and further in dependence upon actual, estimated or desired values for a different subset of the parameters (again either process input parameters or product performance parameters or both). The determination is preferably made using a process compact model of the process, itself developed in dependence upon the simulation model.
US08090461B2
A product customization system and method are provided in which a consumer can insert user content, such as images or text, onto a product, such as a skateboard, and then view the customized product before purchasing the customized product.
US08090460B2
A method and system for examining, auditing, and safely evaluating process systems, including fluid pressure systems, to aid overpressure design and/or sizing of overpressure equipment. The system includes a server subsystem, a storage subsystem, an assessment subsystem, and optionally a report generation subsystem, including computer hardware and application software for supporting these subsystems.
US08090458B2
The present invention relates to a method of calculating temporal information of frame-based audio stream data, and more particularly, to a method of calculating temporal information of frame-based audio stream data, in which it can calculate time related information depending on the playback of stream data even when bitrate or timetable information is not included in header information when audio or voice stream data consisting of a frame format are played back. Audio and voice stream data applied at this time includes stream data of a type in which several frames form one bit stream block as well as stream data constructed on a frame basis.
US08090456B2
A control system comprises a controller for positioning an actuator in a working fluid flow and a model processor for directing the controller as a function of a model feedback. The model processor comprises an output module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates the model feedback as a function of a constraint, a model state and a model input describing fluid parameters measured along the working fluid flow. The comparator generates an error by comparing the model feedback to the model input. The estimator generates the constraint and the model state, such that the error is minimized.
US08090445B2
A system for controlling an implantable medical device (e.g., a drug delivery device) susceptible to malfunctioning during exposure to a magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency field (e.g., during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure) and a method for operating the same. Exposure of the implantable device to the magnetic field and/or the Radio Frequency field is detected using the sensing device. When the detected magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency field exceeds a corresponding predetermined threshold level, an input signal is generated at the microcontroller. In response to the generated input signal, the microcontroller automatically triggers (i) a safety mode enabling a predetermined safety mode operation that alters some operation, without ceasing all operation, of the implantable medical device and/or (ii) after expiration of a predetermined safety mode time interval when the at least one field being detected falls below its corresponding predetermined threshold level or a predetermined period of time elapses, a self testing mode enabling a predetermined self testing operation to verify proper operation of the implantable medical device. Preferably, both the safety and self testing modes are automatically triggered.
US08090440B2
An external defibrillator is customized for at least one person, i.e., an anticipated patient, through creation of a profile for the anticipated patient that allows the defibrillator and users of the defibrillator to provide customized treatment to the patient. The profile may include treatment parameters for the anticipated patient, such as defibrillation therapy parameters selected for the patient. The profile may also include a baseline recording of a physiological parameter of the patient, and medical history and personal information regarding the patient. In some embodiments, the external defibrillator stores a profile for each of one or more anticipated patients within a memory. In other embodiments, a profile for an anticipated patient is stored within a medium associated with that anticipated patient. The medium may, for example, be a removable medium for external defibrillators.
US08090436B2
A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health of a known tissue by measuring the characteristics of an electrical signal applied to a conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue.
US08090434B2
An implantable cardiac device, e.g., a pacemaker, defibrillator, cardioverter or biventricular pacing device, that can sense cardiac electrical signals and accurately classify the sensed events. The device provides a template signal and a test signal originated from an electrogram. The device further transforms at least the test signal into a representation of the test signal for example in numerical format where the sample values of the test signal take the form of integers. The device further determines a correlation between the template and test signals, and classifies the sense events based on the correlation. The electrogram may be an intracardiac electrogram (IEGM), atrial electrogram (AEGM), ventricular electrogram (VEGM), surface electrocardiogram (ECG) or subcutaneous electrogram.
US08090432B2
A medical device for sensing cardiac events that includes a plurality of electrodes sensing cardiac signals utilized to identify a cardiac event, a plurality of light sources capable of emitting light at a plurality of wavelengths, and a detector to detect the emitted light. A processor determines a plurality of light measurements in response to the emitted light detected by the detector, an isobestic blood volume index in response to determined light measurements of the plurality of light measurements from a first light source of the plurality of light sources emitting light at an isobestic wavelength, determines an oxygen index associated with light measurements of the plurality of light measurements from a light source of the plurality of light sources other than the first light source, and verifies the identifying of the cardiac event in response to the determined isobestic blood volume index and the determined oxygen index.
US08090430B2
Methods and apparatus for delivery of substances or apparatus to target sites within the body of a human or animal patient. A vessel wall penetrating catheter is inserted into the vasculature, positioned and oriented within a blood vessel near the target extravascular site and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter in the direction of the target site. Thereafter, a delivery catheter is passed through a lumen of the penetrator to the target site. A desired substance or apparatus is then delivered to or obtained from the target site.
US08090428B2
A spinal midline indicator (10) has a body (14) of radiolucent material for insertion between adjacent vertebrae (18, 20) and a radiographic marker (12) located centrally with the body to indicate the position of the spinal midline (22) in anterior-posterior images when the body is centrally located between the vertebrae. The radiographic marker is typically an elongate metal handle. The body may carry secondary radiographic markers (16) on opposite sides of and equidistant from the handle so that the handle indicates the position of the spinal midline when the body is placed centrally between the vertebrae.
US08090425B2
The present invention provides a memory chip for use in an oximeter sensor, or an associated adapter or connector circuit. The memory chip allows the storing of patient related data, such as patient trending data or a patient ID, to provide enhanced capabilities for the oximeter sensor. In addition to providing unique data to store in such a memory, the present invention include unique uses of the data stored in such a memory.
US08090424B2
An apparatus for determine a glucose level having a calibration module; an image acquisition module; an image compensation module; and, a dynamic pattern matching module. A method using the apparatus is also described.
US08090421B2
Sliding assembly for mobile or portable terminals, comprising: a plane first main part; a plane second main part slidably connected to the first main part, the second main part being spring-loaded by a first elastic module adapted to urge the first and second main parts apart from each other, the second main part further comprising a protrusion extending towards the first main part, the sliding assembly further comprising a locking element in the first main part with a recess arranged to cooperate with a first elastic module, such that the locking element is urged against the protrusion, the second main part being arranged to cooperate with the first elastic module, such that the protrusion is urged against the locking element, the second main part of the sliding assembly thereby being held in a center position, wherein the sliding assembly further comprises an actuator arranged to overcome an elastic force exerted by the elastic element onto the locking element when being subject to an outside force, thus releasing the engagement between the locking element and the protrusion and bringing the second main part into a first end-position due to the elastic force of the first elastic module. According to a second embodiment, the sliding assembly may comprise a guide track cooperating with a stop pin included in the second elastic module.
US08090418B2
An over-the-ear Bluetooth® type communications headset for hands-free communication with mobile phones and similar devices, the headset being convertible to a ring configuration for wearing on the finger as a communications device and as jewelry. The headset is divided into ear-piece and voice-piece halves that swivel between headset and ring modes, with respective S- and circular shapes, and includes function-changing contacts that respond to the realignment of the halves in the respective headset and ring modes to optimize the device's use for over-the-ear or finger wear. A further feature is a set of interior spring contacts projecting from the inner circumference of one of the halves, the contacts having both electrical recharging and finger-fitting functions, and a finger-shaped charging base for recharging the headset in the ring configuration via the spring contacts.
US08090416B2
Conventional digital calibration type analog-to-digital converters cannot converge calibration within an preamble period of a packet signal. An analog-to-digital converter is subjected to digital calibration using a beacon signal, a polling signal, or another user signal or a signal applied from a transceiver side to a receiver side. Some or all of circuits are brought into a sleep mode in a period except data reception and the analog-to-digital converter calibration such that a signal monitor unit detects another signal to activate the circuit in the sleep mode for performing the calibration of the analog-to-digital converter for reducing the power consumption.
US08090414B2
The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy from a base station, ambient energy or ultra-wide band energy. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The system may have an antenna and associated circuitry provided on an electronic chip such as a monolithic chip or on a printed circuit with a suitable substrate.
US08090413B2
A portable electronic device includes a main body, a slidable cover, a display panel, a sensor, and a controlling module. The slidable cover is slidably positioned on the main body. The display panel is positioned on the slidable cover. The sensor is configured to detect a position of the slidable cover relative to the main body. The controlling module is configured to output icons and data to the display panel, and to adjust an area of each icon displayed on the display panel according to a position, detected by the sensor, of the slidable cover relative to the main body.
US08090412B2
A communication system is described in which a receiver allocated to a sector of a communication network receives signals via all antennas of the network regardless of the sector allocation of the antenna. The system includes multiple antennas configured to form numerous antenna sets. Each antenna set is allocated to one of a number of sectors of a communication network. The system includes numerous modems or receivers, and each modem is coupled to an antenna set of a sector. The system includes a memory device coupled to the modems. The memory device includes signal processing information shared among the modems of the system. The signal processing information allows each modem to receive communications from subscriber stations in any sector via any of the system receive antennas.
US08090409B2
A system and method for enabling functions on a primary mobile device from a secondary mobile device are described. The primary mobile device is configured to enable at least selected functions of the mobile communications device if authorization information is received at the primary mobile device at periodic intervals of time. The method comprises: storing at the secondary mobile device the authorization information; establishing a short range direct wireless communications link between the secondary mobile device and the primary mobile device; and periodically transmitting the authorization information to the primary mobile device to enable the at least selected functions of the mobile communications device.
US08090405B2
In an image/audio playback technology in a mobile communication terminal, a single image is divided into two halves, i.e., left-half and right-half images, which are displayed on two mobile communication terminals, respectively. In addition, two mobile communication terminals can play left-side and right-side audio data, respectively, which compose stereo audio data, according to the relative locations of the two mobile communication terminals.
US08090404B2
The present invention relates to a mobile set integrating a memory efficient data storage system for the real time recording of voice conversations, data transmission and the like. The data recorder has the capacity to selectively choose the most relevant time frames of a conversation for recording, while discarding time frames that only occupy additional space in memory without holding any conversational data. The invention executes a series of logic steps on each signal including a voice activity detector step, frame comparison step, and sequential recording step. A mobile set having a modified architecture for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.
US08090402B1
A method for a communication device comprising the phone communication device remote controlling step, wherein, in response to the user entering the user instruction by the phone, the communication device receives a communication device controlling command via a network to which the communication device is connected in a wireless fashion, and the communication device implements a communication device controlling task in response to the communication device controlling command, thereby the communication device is remotely controlled via the user instruction entered by the phone, and thereby a communication device controlled notice which corresponds to the user instruction is output from the phone.
US08090401B2
The invention is a virtual gateway that mediates between a dual-mode subscriber device and an IP-based PBX. In particular, the virtual gateway includes a WLAN interface for communicating with the dual-mode subscriber device and a network interface (wired or wireless) for communicating with the IP-based PBX over the Internet. As such, the virtual gateway may relay voice and call control instructions between the dual-mode subscriber device and the IP-based PBX, and may provide the same call control functions to the dual-mode subscriber device provided by the call control processor in existing dual-mode phones. The invention further provides a dual-mode subscriber device suitable for operation with the virtual gateway. Because the dual-mode subscriber device does not require a call control processor, the battery life and cost of the device are significantly improved.
US08090399B2
A method and device for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device by determining if the mobile communications device is located within the cabin of an airplane. A condition parameter of the mobile communications device may be determined. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be disabled in response to the mobile communications device being located within an airplane and further in response to the determined condition parameter.
US08090390B2
A method of transmitting and receiving paging messages in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method of transmitting paging messages in a wireless communication system comprises transmitting paging messages to a plurality of user equipments from a network of the wireless communication system, wherein the network transmits the paging messages to different user equipments, which are in different connection states, through different channels.
US08090388B1
A communication system is disclosed that uses a received wireless signal combined with stored location data about the received signal to determine a location of the communication system or a component of the communication system. The communication system can include a receiver, a processor, and a memory. The processor is adapted to detect identification information in the received wireless signal, search the memory for identification data that matches the detected identification information, and retrieve location data associated with the matching identification information, thereby determining a general location or geographic region in which the receiver is located.
US08090378B2
A method for configuring color codes in a cellular telephone network is disclosed. The method includes calculating a distance between all possible color codes to be assigned to each of the cells in the network, assigning a first code to a first base station, determining a second code corresponding to a maximum calculated distance from the first code, and assigning subsequent codes to adjacent cells as determined by the maximum available distance between the two neighboring cells' codes to help minimize cross talk and channel interference on the cellular network.
US08090374B2
A wireless multimedia handset can include one or more of wireless system support, a platform to handset features, and multiple features. The multiple features may include, by way of example but not limitation, multiple-antennae, multimedia storage with advanced search capability, a high fidelity sound system, peer-to-peer networking capability, seamless handoff capability, instant hotspot capability, and ultra low power operation such that the handset is capable of operation without recharging by operating solely on solar cells.
US08090371B2
An unlicensed wireless service is adapted to generate the interface protocols of a licensed wireless service to provide transparent transition of communication sessions between a licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. In one embodiment, a mobile station includes level 1, level 2, and level 3 protocols for licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. An indoor base station and indoor network controller provide protocol conversion for the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller interface of the licensed wireless service.
US08090370B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing an availability of a call agent, comprising acquiring a session identification by a basestation (BS) and a call agent (CA), wherein the BS is coupled to the CA, if the CA's state is changed from an active state to a standby state, requesting a new connection with the BS; and after the new connection is established between the CA and the BS, sending another session identification from the CA to the BS.
US08090360B2
A method for publishing and sharing media files includes: making a published media file available to other wireless communication terminals from a publisher wireless communication terminal; establishing a connection via a wireless communication module of the publisher wireless communication terminal with a requestor wireless communication terminal seeking published media files; sending an identification of the published media file from the publisher wireless communication terminal to the requestor wireless communication terminal; sending a media file request from the requestor wireless communication terminal to the publisher wireless communication terminal requesting the published media file; sending the published media file from the publisher wireless communication terminal to the requestor wireless communication terminal in response to the media file request; and executing playback of the published media file on the requestor wireless communication terminal.
US08090357B2
A method of distributing the location of a mobile device is disclosed together with a mobile device, a server and a remote terminal for the same. The method comprising the steps of determining the location of the mobile device; encrypting the determined location using an encryption key; transmitting the encrypted location to a server; storing the encrypted at the server; querying the server from a remote terminal; transmitting from the server to the remote terminal the encrypted location in response to the query; sharing the predetermined encryption key between the mobile device and the remote terminal but not with the server; and decrypting the location at the remote terminal using the predetermined encryption key.
US08090355B2
An electronic couponing technique includes transferring coupon information, which may include a coupon ID (identification) to a first portable terminal and storing same therein. The portable terminal displays a representation of the transferred coupon information on a display thereof. The stored coupon information may be transferred from the portable terminal to another terminal for redemption. The stored coupon information may also be transferred from the portable terminal to another portable terminal. Various schemes may be used to transfer the coupon information including a Bluetooth low-range radio link or an optical bar code scanner scanning an optical bar code or an infrared link or a wireless link from the portable terminal. The Internet or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) may also be used in transferring the coupon information to and from the various terminals.
US08090351B2
A system and method for authenticating votes received from a voter's mobile device. A computer is programmed with a set of computer-readable instructions and a includes database accessable by mobile device reading a durable computer readable medium stored in a computer hardware server, the database comprising a registered voter and a geographical location for the registered voter's postal mail delivery address. The system and method receive a vote in an election over a wireless carrier network, determine the geographical location of a device which transmitted the vote over the wireless network comprising cell tower triangulation, and reject the vote if the geographical location of the device which transmitted the vote is not within a predetermined distance from the geographical location for the registered voter stored in the database.
US08090350B2
Provided is a resynchronization method of a mobile communication terminal. The resynchronization method for a mobile communication terminal connected to a home location register and a mobile communication network, includes: extracting a communication network serial number corresponding to a terminal authentication request instruction received from a mobile communication network; comparing the communication network serial number with a terminal serial number stored in a predetermined memory; generating nth terminal synchronization failure information if the communication network serial number is smaller than the terminal serial number, where n is a nature number; and transmitting the generated nth terminal synchronization failure information to the home location register. The home location register ends a resynchronization procedure if the nth terminal synchronization failure information is smaller than previously stored (n−1)th communication network synchronization failure information.
US08090344B2
A method and system for streamlining the calculation of a rate for a prepaid wireless call is provided. A mobile subscriber can be billed at one rate when she is within her home network and at a different rate when she is roaming in another network or can be billed at a special rate if she is within a location subject to the special rate. A time period for charging a call is allocated by the Service Control Point (SCP) and reported to the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in the case of an outgoing call or a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) in the case of an incoming call. A message from the MSC or GMSC to the SCP reporting an expiration of the first time period can contain information regarding a location of the prepaid subscriber. Thus, the next time period allocated by the SCP for the call can be billed at a rate that reflects the mobile subscriber's location at that time as reported by the MSC or GMSC.
US08090339B1
A tuning control system and associated method is provided for continuously and automatically tuning a lobed amplitude slope matching filter (ASMF) to a band center of an interfering signal to provide improved rejection of an interfering signal coupled from a transmission antenna into a local receive antenna in the presence of local multi-path, thereby providing improved interference cancellation system performance. The tuning control system is provided as an element of an interference cancellation system.
US08090328B2
An RFIC includes an RF transmitter, that generates an RF signal to a power amplifier module that operates a selected one of a plurality of power amplifiers, based one or more control signals. A processing module generates the control signals based on a selected one of a plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes include a first wireless mode corresponding to the use of the RFIC in accordance with a first wireless standard and a second wireless mode corresponding to the use of the RFIC in accordance with a second wireless standard. A power management circuit generates a plurality of power supply signals including at least one power supply signal for selectively powering only the selected one of the plurality of power amplifiers, in response to the at least one control signal, wherein the power management circuit is bonded to a bottom of the RFIC so as to dissipate heat to a printed circuit board.
US08090327B2
A configurable transceiver includes an RF receiver section that generates at least one downconverted signal from a received RF signal. A receiver processing module processes at least one downconverted signal in a plurality of receiver stages to produce a stream of inbound data, wherein the receiver processing module is configurable in response to a control signal to selectively bypass at least one of the plurality of receiver processing stages. A transmitter processing module processes outbound data in a plurality of transmitter stages to produce at least one baseband signal, wherein the receiver processing module is configurable in response to the control signal to selectively bypass at least one of the plurality of transmitter processing stages. An RF transmitter section generates at least one RF signal from the at least one baseband signal.
US08090322B2
A system receives subscriber configuration information, for an emergency forking/notification service, that includes criteria for initiating the forking/notification service and contact information for a recipient of the forking/notification service. The system receives an emergency call from a calling device and route the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP). The system identifies the emergency call as a candidate for the emergency forking/notification service based on information associated with the calling device and the criteria for initiating the forking/notification service, and automatically initiates a forking/notification session to notify the recipient that an emergency call has been initiated from the calling device.
US08090319B2
A method and apparatus for automatic frequency control in a receiver of a wireless device, the method determining a channel estimation for a received signal; calculating a signal to noise ratio for the channel estimation; applying a weighting factor determined based on the calculated signal to noise ratio for the channel estimation to the channel estimation to create a weighted channel estimation; and supplying the weighted channel estimation to a voltage controlled oscillator.
US08090317B2
Point-to-point links making up a wireless network in which the point-to-point links connect at least personal portable devices are dynamically altered (i.e., new point-to-point links are established and/or other point-to-point links are removed) in response to recurring comparisons of the extents of interaction of each of the personal portable devices with the wireless network to increase the resiliency of the wireless network to the observed behavior of the user of the personal portable devices in changing which personal portable devices are within the network at any given time.
US08090308B2
A continuous paper feed device includes a paper feed unit that feeds continuous paper to an image output part; a slack forming unit that forms a slack of continuous paper on a paper transport path; a detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of continuous paper; a cutting unit that cuts the continuous paper; and a cutting controller that controls the cutting unit to cut the continuous paper during a time taken to tighten the slack formed, when paper more than a predefined value which has been set beforehand is transported, and if the remaining amount of paper detected by the detecting unit is more than a threshold value, the cutting controller performing control operation including reducing a length of a slack formed by the slack forming unit and transporting the continuous paper, followed by forming a slack again by the slack forming unit.
US08090304B2
A heating device includes: a magnetic field generating unit generating a magnetic field; a heat-generating member generating heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and having a heat-generating layer of a thickness that is thinner than a skin depth; a temperature-sensitive member including a temperature-sensitive magnetic member whose magnetic permeability starts to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature; and an approaching/separating mechanism maintaining the temperature-sensitive member in a state of being separated from the heat-generating member until before a temperature of the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature, and causing the temperature-sensitive member to contact the heat-generating member at and after the time when the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature.
US08090295B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive rubber member which exhibits small environmental dependency and stable electrical resistance. The conductive rubber member is formed of a conductive elastic layer which has been imparted with conductivity by means of a conductivity-imparting agent. The conductive elastic layer has, at a surface portion thereof, a surface-treated layer which has been formed through impregnating the surface with a surface-treatment liquid containing an isocyanate component and an ion-conducting polymer.
US08090292B2
A process cartridge is provided that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The process cartridge further includes a portion to be positioned, first and second displacing portions, and a portion to be urged. The process cartridge also includes a pull-up force receiving portion, disposed at a trailing side of the cartridge, for being urged by a pull-up force of a pull-up member.
US08090291B2
An image forming device includes a main body, an image forming unit configured to be attached to and detached from the main body, the image forming unit being configured to move among first, second, and third positions, a shaft member configured to rotate around an axis line thereof between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, a first regulator provided to the shaft member so as to, when the shaft member is in the first rotational position, engage with the image forming unit and forbid the image forming unit to move between the second position and the third position, and a second regulator provided to the shaft member so as to, when the shaft member is in the second rotational position, engage with the image forming unit and forbid the image forming unit to move between the first position and the second position.
US08090290B2
An attachment structure is provided that includes a hinge unit for supporting a document feeder and a hinge attachment for fixing the hinge unit having an engagement pin and a retainment hook.
US08090283B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing body on which surface an image is formed and borne; an image forming section that forms the image; a transfer device that transfers the formed image to a transferring body; a cleaning member that comes into contact with the surface of the image bearing body to scrape an adhesion substance after the image is transferred; a storage tank in which the removed adhesion substance is stored; a damming member that obstructs a region between the cleaning member and the storage tank to temporarily dam the adhesion substance moving from the cleaning member to the storage tank on the cleaning member side, the damming member including overlapped members having openings, the members including a movable member that is slidable with respect to other member; and a driving section that drives the movable member to change an overlapping amount between the openings.
US08090280B2
A color registration apparatus that independently forms images of predetermined respective colors and compensates a mis-registration between the overlapped images of respective colors employed in an image forming apparatus of forming a color image by overlapping the images of respective colors, includes a detecting unit to detect a contour form and positional information of respective color patterns formed on an image transfer path by the image forming apparatus proportional to a corresponding format of a printing medium where the color image will be transferred, and a controller to compensate a mis-registration between the overlapped images of respective colors through based on data detected by the detecting unit.
US08090276B2
A developing device includes a developing roller that carries a two-component developer from a developer container to an image carrier, a first screw carrying a developer, and a second screw carrying the developer in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first screw carries the developer. The first screw and the second screw circularly convey the two-component developer while stirring the two-component developer to supply the two-component developer to the developing roller. A rotation speed of the second screw and a rotation speed of the developing roller can be drive-controlled independently, and a ratio of a rotation speed between the second screw and the developing roller is variable.
US08090270B2
An apparatus, system and method wherein a polarization multiplexed differential phase shift keying format (POLMUX-DPSK) is provided with offset and bit-interleaved frequency channels and demodulated using a DPSK demodulator.
US08090256B2
The present invention provides optical network methods and systems. In one example, a method for handling packets in a node coupled to a ring and star subnetwork may include (a) receiving in the given node a data packet on the ring subnetwork, (b) detecting a failure on the ring subnetwork, (c) determining a new transmission path to the destination node, and (d) sending the data packet along the new transmission path. In another example, an EPON may include (a) a root coupled to a ring and star subnetwork, (b) ONUs coupled to the root via a splitter/combiner and a first fiber link, (c) a second fiber link coupled to a subset of ONUs and the star subnetwork, and (d) a WDM coupler on the first fiber link that separates a first waveband of wavelengths from a second waveband of wavelengths and guides the first waveband to the star.
US08090254B2
An image pickup device uses an image recognition system to control the actuation of an electronic shutter. The image pickup device has an optical lens that picks up an image through the electronic shutter and the image so picked up is detected by an image detection device and converted into image data that are applied to a temporary image holding memory of a micro-controller. The micro-controller carries out comparison of the image of a selected target that is picked up the optical lens with respect to a recognizable characteristic image contained in a recognizable characteristic image database. If the image of the selected target so picked up is recognized to match the recognizable characteristic image, then the micro-controller sends out a shutter control signal to control the actuation of the electronic shutter via a shutter control circuit to photograph and store the image of the target in an image storage memory.
US08090253B2
Provided are a photographing control method and apparatus. The photographing control method includes: obtaining image data from a subject during pre-emission of a strobe, detecting a face region of the subject based on the obtained image data, and performing a calculation for main emission based on the detected face region and controlling main emission of the strobe. Accordingly, even when it is difficult to detect a face because of low brightness at the position of the face, the probability of detecting the face can be increased and an appropriately exposed image can be obtained.
US08090252B1
A lens barrel assembly for a camera is disclosed. The lens barrel assembly comprises a lens barrel, at least one optical element disposed within the lens barrel, and an actuator configured to move the optical element. The actuator can be disposed entirely or partially within the lens barrel. The actuator can be a MEMS actuator, such as a MEMS actuator that is formed at least partially of silicon. The optical element can be a lens.
US08090234B2
The present disclosure relates to a cable anchoring device for anchoring a fiber optic cable to a building, wall, pole or other structure. The cable anchoring device includes a spool component about which the fiber optic cable is wrapped at least two times. The cable anchoring device also includes a clamping component that cooperates with the spool component to anchor the cable.
US08090228B2
A photoelectric conversion device includes a circuit substrate that has a first concave portion having a light transmission hole, a first metal interconnection that is formed from a bottom of the first concave portion to a face of the circuit substrate where the first concave portion is formed, an optical element that is arranged in the first concave portion so that an optical axis thereof passes through the light transmission hole and is flip-chip bonded to the first metal interconnection on the bottom of the first concave portion, and a circuit chip that is a driver circuit chip for driving the optical element or an amplifier circuit chip for amplifying a signal from the optical element and is flip-chip bonded to the first metal interconnection of the face where the first concave portion is formed.
US08090220B2
Restoration based super-resolution combines a video sequence of low-resolution noisy blurred images using maximum likelihood estimation without regularization to produce a higher resolution image or video sequence up to a maximum enhancement factor r for the given video sequence. The maximum r value for a given sequence of low-resolution images that guarantees each high-resolution bin (pixel) will have at least one assigned pixel value from a low-resolution image is calculated. With the knowledge of max r, the system can select an r less than or equal to max r and thus operate without regularization. System robustness is further enhanced by providing a modified MLE estimator that can perform super resolution for arbitrary real-valued r so that enhancement is not limited to integer values.
US08090216B2
A system for estimating noise levels in a data stream includes a calculator for determining DC and AC values of DCT coefficients in coded data blocks, where the coded data blocks are within a strip of an image divided into multiple strips. A classifier is included for forming a plurality of luminance levels, based on the calculated DC values. A selector is included for selecting coded data blocks having minimum AC values, as computed by the calculator. At least two coded data blocks are selected for each of the luminance levels. After decoding, another calculator is used for determining a variance for each of the decoded data blocks corresponding to the selected coded data blocks in each strip. An order statistic filter is included for ordering the decoded data blocks in each strip based on the calculated variances. Another selector selects one of the decoded data blocks, for each of the luminance levels.
US08090214B2
A method of automatically detecting and correcting halo artifacts within a processed image is described. The method computes a two-dimensional (2D) gradient field of the original image and a 2D gradient field of the processed image. Each gradient field includes a gradient vector corresponding to each pixel. To detect halo artifacts, the gradient vector at each pixel of the original image is compared to the gradient vector at the corresponding pixel of the processed image. A halo artifact is determined to exist at a given pixel if a direction of the two corresponding gradient vectors differs by at least a specified threshold. To correct the halo artifacts, a composite gradient field is generated using one of three correction methods. A final image is generated by integrating the newly generated composite gradient field using known integration methods from a 2D gradient field such as ones based on the Fast Fourier Transform.
US08090203B2
A system for determining the orientation of digital ink is provided having a sensing pen and a processor. The system measures the orientation of the pen during writing by the pen on a surface printed with tags. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the surface associated with a digital description of the surface and on the respective location of that tag on the surface. The digital ink is generated by associating the digital description with the data encoded by the tags sensed by the pen during said writing. The orientation of the digital ink is determined using the measured orientation of the pen.
US08090200B2
A content-adaptive video preview system (100) allows to go faster through a video than existing video skimming techniques. Thereby, a user can interactively adapt (S1) the speed of browsing and/or the abstraction level of presentation.According to one embodiment of the invention, this adaptation procedure (S1) is realized by the following steps: First, differences between precalculated spatial color histograms associated with chronologically subsequent pairs of video frames said video file is composed of are calculated (S1a). Then, these differences and/or a cumulative difference value representing the sum of these differences are compared (S1b) to a predefined redundancy threshold (S(t)). In case differences in the color histograms of particular video frames (302a-c) and/or said cumulative difference value exceed this redundancy threshold (S(t)), these video frames are selected (S1c) for the preview. Intermediate video frames (304a-d) are removed and/or inserted (S1d) between each pair of selected chronologically subsequent video frames depending on the selected abstraction level of presentation. Thereby, said redundancy threshold value (S(t)) can be adapted (S1b′) for changing the speed of browsing and/or the abstraction level of presentation.
US08090197B2
An image data analysis apparatus adapted to receive color image data having three components for every pixel, detect a color gamut as a range of colors the color image data represents in a predetermined color space, and determine a plurality of apexes defining the color gamut in the color space is disclosed. The image data analysis apparatus includes: a first apex determining unit that detects a minimum grayscale value as a smallest grayscale value among the three components with respect to the pixels included in the color image data, and determines a first apex, which defines the color gamut in the color space, based on the minimum grayscale value; a color image data converting unit that converts the color image data of each of the pixels having the three components into a coordinate point on a predetermined chromaticity plane.
US08090191B2
Apparatus for inspection and fault analysis of semiconductor chip includes stage on which to mount LSI chip, and test pattern generator supplying test pattern via stage to LSI chip. Apparatus also includes optical system having function of modulating laser beam. This optical system operates so that LSI chip is scanned and illuminated by modulated laser beam. IR-OBIRCH controller performs image processing of taking out only signal of preset frequency from signal from LSI chip via lock-in amplifier, and correlates signal taken out with scanning points. Lock-in amplifier is adapted to take out only signal of preset frequency from signal from LSI chip. A display section displays image based on image signal from IR-OBIRCH controller which confirms presence or absence of abnormal current route in LSI chip based on image signal.
US08090183B2
Correcting pattern noise projection images includes acquiring a set of projection images with an optical tomography system including a processor, where each of the set of projection images is acquired at a different angle of view. A threshold is applied to each projection image produce a set of threshold images. Each threshold image may optionally be dilated to produce a set of dilated images that are summed to form an ensemble image. Each of the dilated images is processed to produce a set of binary images. The set of binary images are summed to form an ensemble mask. The ensemble image is divided by the ensemble mask to yield a background pattern noise image. Each projection image is multiplied by a scaling factor and divided by the background pattern noise to produce a quotient image that is filtered to produce a noise corrected projection image.
US08090177B2
The present invention discloses a method for the detection of atypical vessels in digital cervical imagery. A pre-processing stage is applied to enhance the contrast of blood vessel features compared to the surrounding tissue. Next, a segmentation stage is applied to identify regions of interest for atypical vessels using texture and gradient information. Finally, a post-processing stage (1) identifies other clinically relevant features in the cervical imager, and removes these features from the region of interest; and (2) uses color, size, and shape information to further refine the region of interest to eliminate false positives and determine a final region of interest. This automated method of atypical vessel detection is especially useful for diagnostic purposes such as cervical cancer detection.
US08090170B2
A medical image observation device relating to the present invention receives enhanced image data having a plurality of medical images, and splits the enhanced image data into a plurality of single image data each containing only one medical image, based on system information of the enhanced image data. According to the present invention, it is possible to make a medical image observation device accurately display an image without depending on system information of enhanced image data.
US08090164B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products for analysis of vessel attributes for diagnosis, disease staging, and surgical planning are disclosed. A method for analyzing blood vessel attributes may include developing an atlas including statistical measures for at least one blood vessel attribute. The statistical measures can be developed from blood vessel image data from different individuals. Blood vessel attribute measurements can be obtained from an individual subject. The individual subject's blood vessel attribute measurements can be compared to the statistical measures in the atlas. Output may be produced indicative of a physical characteristic of the individual based on results from the comparison.
US08090162B2
An image of an biometric part is used as encryption or decryption key. The biometric part image is obtained, and items within the biometric part are analyzed. Relationships between those parts are determined, (e.g. ratios) between different parameters of different parts. Those ratios are then used to form the key. A sequence of biometric information can be used in which case both the information itself and the sequence are used to form to the key.
US08090161B2
The signature verification methods and devices disclosed herein can be used to verify signatures signed on electronic key pads and other input devices, such as signature pens. Many different aspects of a dynamic signature can be measured in an attempt to verify the signature, including, but not limited to spatial measurements, measurements over time, and frequency. These measurements can be of points on a signature, but they can also be pressure, velocity, and acceleration, to name just a few. These different aspects can then be analyzed using, for example, time series, and spectral similarities. Further, the spectral similarities can be analyzed using wavelet-transforms. In another embodiment, these analysis systems and methods can be applied to written signatures as well as dynamic written signatures.
US08090156B2
A method and apparatus to evaluate print quality determines an indicator thereof by measuring a reflectance of printed dots by scanning a medium on which pattern data having a predetermined pattern is printed. The predetermined pattern includes a highlight region and a shadow region. An average of reflectances of the highlight region in the predetermined pattern and an average of reflectances of the shadow region thereof are determined, and a contrast value is determined from a difference between the averages. The indicator is determined from the contrast value. Accordingly, deterioration of print quality that occurs due to a mismatch of a print position is considered, and furthermore, a change in print gradation and a degree of mixing with noise components is also considered in the print quality evaluation.
US08090138B2
A vehicle audio device includes a vibrator (30), a first threaded member (20), a second threaded member (32), and a ring-shaped resilient member (25). The first threaded member (20) includes a tubular portion (22), an external thread (22m) formed on an outer surface of the tubular portion (22), and a flange (24) formed on one end of the tubular portion (22). The resilient member (25) is fitted around the tubular portion (22) of the first threaded member (20) so as to axially oppose the flange (24) of the first threaded member (20). The second threaded member (32) includes a ring-shaped portion (32f) axially opposing the resilient member (25) from the side of the resilient member (25) not opposing the flange (24) of the first threaded member (20). Internal threads (32w) are formed on an inner surface of the ring-shaped portion (32f) and are engageable with the external threads (22m) of the first threaded member (20). The vibrator (30) is mounted to one of the first and second threaded members (20, 32). The other of the first and second threaded members (20, 32) is mounted to a vehicle interior trim panel (12). The resilient member (25) is clamped and resiliently deformed between the flange (24) of the first threaded member (20) and the ring-shaped portion (32f) of the second threaded member (32) through engagement between the external threads (22m) and the internal threads (32w).
US08090131B2
A steerable acoustic waveguide apparatus includes plural plates arranged in one or more linear arrays. Steering of an acoustic beam radiated from the waveguide apparatus may be achieved through differential delays of acoustic signals resulting from differences in timing, frequency, or mode or resulting from differences in physical attributes of the plates. In one aspect, where the apparatus is used with a target that is confined by a conduit such as a pipe, a longitudinal plane for the conduit intersects the linear array, an array plane for the linear array has a conduit orientation relative to the longitudinal plane, and the conduit orientation is substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel. The waveguide apparatus may serve as a thermal buffer and may simplify access to an acoustic path in a device such as an ultrasonic flowmeter.
US08090123B2
The present invention discloses a microphone comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, a printed circuit board and a shielding layer. The microphone is configured into a mobile communication device. The shielding layer located on the printed circuit board is disposed on the microphone. When the mobile communication device charges with an AC power supply and communicates with others simultaneously, the shielding layer can diminish the 50˜60 Hz noise produced by the AC power supply. Owing to the shielding layer reduces the EMI effect; the talking quality of the mobile communication device is thereby enormously improved.
US08090120B2
The invention relates to the measurement and control of the perceived sound loudness and/or the perceived spectral balance of an audio signal. An audio signal is modified in response to calculations performed at least in part in the perceptual (psychoacoustic) loudness domain. The invention is useful, for example, in one or more of: loudness-compensating volume control, automatic gain control, dynamic range control (including, for example, limiters, compressors, expanders, etc.), dynamic equalization, and compensating for background noise interference in an audio playback environment. The invention includes not only methods but also corresponding computer programs and apparatus.
US08090115B2
In a television receiver, based on speaker information of each of one or more devices including speakers which is a memory of the television receiver, a transmitting audio signal to be transmitted to each device including a speaker, in which synchronization is established between devices including speakers in a reproduction mode, is formed and transmitted to the device (including a speaker) through a communication interface. The device (including a speaker) receives the transmitting audio signal addressed thereto through a communication interface, plays back the signal, and uses a speaker of the device to generate sound.
US08090113B2
A system for modulating audio effects of speakers is provided. The system includes a selecting module, a playing module, a recording module, a time delay computing module and a modulating module. Based on these modules, the system is capable of determining a time difference and a pitch for each of the speakers, and modulating the time difference and the pitch for each of the speakers to a desired time difference and a desired pitch, so as to ensure that simultaneous sounds from each speaker arrive at a microphone at about the same time and with the same audio pitch. A related method is also provided.
US08090112B2
This invention relates to a self-diagnostic audio system including a digital signal processor (DSP) that monitors a plurality of electronic components in an audio system, such as an amplifier, speaker, memory, power supply, and DSP itself. The DSP may monitor various information from each of the electrical components, such as whether a particular electrical component is on or off, whether a particular component is functional, and whether the voltage current is between the components. The DSP may be linked to a reporting device so that if there is a problem, the DSP may report back and identify the existence and nature of a particular problem.
US08090104B2
In a method of descrambling a scrambled content data object, at least a section of the scrambled content data object is descrambled by applying at least one decryption operation under a key at least partly derivable from a content descrambling key. At least one content descrambling key is obtained from a message received from a conditional access sub-system over a data communication channel. At least one cryptogram of data obtainable from at least one content descrambling key in the message, each of which cryptograms are carried in the message, is decrypted under an associated channel key. A first key is used to establish each channel key. At least the section of the scrambled content data object is descrambled by applying a further decryption operation under a key at least partly derivable from the first key.
US08090102B2
To provide an apparatus and method for realizing an improved content preview process in a content using mechanism based on content usage-right information. A client obtains default usage-right information (Default Usage Right) when it is registered to a license server, and determines, based on the default usage-right information, whether or not the content can be played back in a content preview process without purchasing the content. The client which is permitted to preview the content is limited to a client which has been registered to the license server to obtain the default usage-right information. This prevents preview-data from being randomly distributed.
US08090096B2
According to one embodiment, a tilting mechanism includes a fixed section including a guide surface depressed in an arc shape; and a movable section having an outer peripheral surface curved in an arc shape that comes in contact with the guide surface of the fixed section and tilting along the guide surface, the movable section including a concave portion cut out to open the outer peripheral surface, wherein the concave portion includes a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other; and guide grooves that are curved along a curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the movable section and are formed on the side surfaces; and the fixed section includes a plurality of shafts that are slidably fitted into the guide grooves.
US08090084B2
The embodiments include a system and a method for establishing a communication connection after searching the World Wide Web. The system can include a first communication device for forming at least one communication connection between the first communication device and a second communication device, search means adapted to accept a query, access means can be adapted to search and identify relevant phone number information using the query, and create at least one icon to link the first communication device to a relevant phone number included in the relevant phone number information identified by the query, and reformulate the query if no relevant phone numbers are identified during the search. The system also includes click-to-dial means adapted to establish at least one communication connection from the first communication device to the second communication device.
US08090081B2
One embodiment of such a method for maintaining a call log can be broadly summarized by the following: receiving an incoming call on a telephone device; obtaining call information about the incoming call via the telephone device; updating a call log with the call information via the telephone device; and enabling the call log to be accessed from a remote Internet location. Other methods and systems are also provided.
US08090079B2
A loop polarity auto-reversing system 100 of a U interface is disposed in a line terminal 10 connected to a digital service unit 20 via the U interface. The loop polarity auto-reversing system includes a current detection module 101, a loop polarity determining module 103, and a loop polarity reversing module 105. The current detection module is for detecting whether there is loop current at the U interface. The loop polarity determining module is for determining whether a loop polarity of the U interface is correct if there is loop current. The loop polarity reversing module is for reversing the loop polarity of the U interface if the loop polarity is incorrect. An auto-reversing method for reversing the loop polarity of the U interface is also provided.
US08090078B2
An apparatus to enable half-duplexing capabilities in a two-way communication device is disclosed. The apparatus estimates the signal power and background noise of a first input signal and a second input signal during approximately the same period. The apparatus further provides at least one control signal based on the result of one or more determinations. These determinations may include whether the estimated signal power of at least one of the first and second input signals exceeds a threshold value; whether the estimated signal power of the first input signal exceeds the sum of a first threshold value and the estimated background noise of the first input signal; and whether the estimated signal power of the second input signal exceeds the sum of a second threshold value and the estimated background noise of the second input signal. Other embodiments for use with two-way communication devices and related methods are also disclosed.
US08090071B2
A generally spherical sealed reactor vessel defining a volume. A target sphere shaped electrode 11 is centered within a nonconductive reactor vessel 21. The target sphere is insulated from and fixedly centered within the nonconductive reactor vessel by an insulated stalk 22. This vessel is suspended in an insulating and cooling medium 241 composed of transformer oil. Deuterium gas 235 is released into and contained within the volume at a predetermined pressure. A source of high voltage, high frequency potential 130 is connected to the target electrode by an electrical connection 13. The other terminal of the high voltage, high frequency potential source is connected to Earth ground 153. The applied alternating electrical potential creates an alternating electrical field within the reaction chamber. This an oscillating electric field is formed within the enclosed space of nonconductive reactor vessel 21, extending between target electrode 11 and heat absorbent container 238. This electric field is of sufficient intensity to provide for the ionization of gases contained therein. It also provides for the alternately radial outward acceleration and the alternately radial inward acceleration of the contained ionized gases. The collapsing of ionized gases provides for ions impacting the spherical target, and for the impact of ions with one another. The intensity of the electric field is sufficient that such impacts occur at fusion reactive velocities.
US08090070B2
The present invention discloses a synchronizing device for real-time USB audio data transmission, comprising: a first adder unit, a start-of-frame countdown unit, a phase-locked loop circuit, a frequency divider, a second adder unit, a third adder unit, a fourth adder unit, a frame calibrating register unit, a calibrating mapping unit and a calibrating pulse generating unit. A start-of-frame token sent by the USB host is used as a 1-ms reference cycle so that a high-frequency clock passes through the frequency divider to issue a first clock. The first clock signal has a constant clock number in a USB start-of-frame. The absolute time is automatically adjusted according to the duration of a previous start-of-frame. Therefore, asynchronicity of data transmission between the USB host and external devices can be overcome.
US08090068B2
A system and method are disclosed related to calibrating a power-on gating window for a time-to-digital converter (TDC) of a digital phase locked loop (DPLL). The gating window is calibrated to ensure proper operation of the DPLL, while at the same time operating the TDC in a power efficient manner. In particular, the technique entails setting the width of the TDC gating window to a default value; operating the DPLL until the control loop is substantially locked; decreasing the width of the TDC gating window by a predetermined amount, while monitoring the phase error signal generated by the phase error device of the DPLL; determining the current width of the TDC gating window at substantially a time when the phase error arrives at or crosses a predetermined threshold; and increasing the current width of the TDC gating window by a predetermined amount to build in a margin of error for the operating width of the TDC gating window.
US08090049B2
Aspects of a method and system for an alternating delta quantizer for limited feedback MIMO pre-coders may comprise quantizing a change in channel state information in a MIMO pre-coding system onto at least a first and a second codebook, each of which comprises one or more unitary matrices, using a cost function; feeding back, in an alternating manner, an index to an element of at least the first codebook or the second codebook, associated with the quantizing, from a receiver to a transmitter in said MIMO pre-coding system, and generating the at least first and second codebook based on at least the channel state information. The channel state information may be a matrix V and the cost function may be defined by the following relationship: f ( A ) = ( 1 N ∑ j = 1 N a jj 2 ) where A is a matrix of size N by N and aij is element (i,j) of matrix A.
US08090039B2
The present invention is provided with a wireless transceiver and wireless transmitting/receiving method and program thereof capable of improving the robustness against Doppler frequency by containing transmit diversity signals in one spreading region. In the present invention, the transmitter encodes the transmit signals using a space-time matrix and transmits the encoded space-time signals after being spread with different spreading codes, and the receiver de-spreads the received spread signals, in unit of time slot, with the spreading codes corresponding to the respective time slots and then decodes the de-spread signals using the space-time matrix.
US08090037B1
Reducing peak-to-average power ratio (“PAPR”) for modulation and demodulation is described. Complex sample values are obtained in a time domain for orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (“OFDM”) signaling. The complex sample values are transformed into a frequency domain. The set of spectral samples is multiplied with a filter spectrum to shape the set of spectral samples to provide spectral products.
US08090033B2
A differential orthogonal modulation method and a differential orthogonal modulation apparatus using a repetition time interval difference of a chirp signal are disclosed. Such a differential orthogonal modulation method performed in a transmitter unit of a digital communication system comprises the steps of converting data having a serial bit format to be transmitted in the transmitter unit into a parallel format to create parallel input data, inputting the parallel input data into a symbol mapper, orthogonally modulating the parallel input data inputted into the symbol mapper to create modulated data comprised of differential bi-orthogonal functions, differentially encoding the modulated data to output encoded data, converting the encoded data into a serial bit format to create a baseband signal, and processing the baseband signal to create a transmission signal in a form of a chirp signal having a specific repetition time interval difference.
US08090032B2
A system and method of removing noise in a bitstream is disclosed. The system and method are most applicable to removing noise in a bitstream wherein the bitstream is encoded after being segmented into portions based on predefined classifications or models. Based on the segment classifications, each segment or portion is encoded with a different encoder associated with the portion model and chosen from a plurality of encoders. The coded bit-stream for each segment includes information regarding which encoder was used to encode that segment. A circuit for removing noise in video content comprises a first filter connected to a first input switch and a first output switch, the first filter being in parallel with a first pass-through line, a second filter connected to a second input switch and a second output switch, the second filter connected in parallel with a second pass-through line, and a third filter connected to a third input switch in a third output switch. The third filter is connected in parallel with a third pass-through line, wherein the first output switch is connected to the second input switch and the second output switch is connected to the third input switch. The first input switch, first output switch, second input switch, second output switch, third input switch, and third output switch are controlled to either filter each video portion or not filter each video portion according to descriptors related to the video content.
US08090031B2
A method for use in video compression is disclosed. In particular, the claimed invention relates to a method of more efficient fractional-pixel interpolation in two steps by a fixed filter (240) and an adaptive filter (250) for fractional-pixel motion compensation.
US08090028B2
Methods and systems for processing pixels are disclosed herein. A first portion of a previously processed plurality of pixels may be buffered. A first portion of a plurality of selected pixels within a current macroblock may be filtered utilizing the buffered first portion of previously processed plurality of pixels. A second portion of the previously processed plurality of pixels may be simultaneously buffered while filtering the first portion of the plurality of selected pixels. The previously processed plurality of pixels may comprise pixels within a macroblock pair adjacent to the top of the current macroblock. The current macroblock may comprise a frame coded macroblock and/or a field coded macroblock. A second portion of the plurality of selected pixels within the current macroblock may be filtered utilizing the buffered second portion of the previously processed plurality of pixels.
US08090023B2
A method and apparatus for performing motion estimation in a digital video system is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that quickly calculates estimated motion vectors in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, a first multiplicand is determined by multiplying a first display time difference between a first video picture and a second video picture by a power of two scale value. This step scales up a numerator for a ratio. Next, the system determines a scaled ratio by dividing that scaled numerator by a second first display time difference between said second video picture and a third video picture. The scaled ratio is then stored calculating motion vector estimations. By storing the scaled ratio, all the estimated motion vectors can be calculated quickly with good precision since the scaled ratio saves significant bits and reducing the scale is performed by simple shifts.
US08090016B2
The invention facilitates the normalization of activity normalization parameters to be used to select the proper quantization value for encoded video data that directly influences the Human Visual System (HVS).
US08090002B2
A spreading signal acquisition and tracking method and apparatus is proposed. In accordance with the present invention, coherent integrations are performed by segments and stored for a non-coherent integration. A better freedom of the non-coherent interval selection is provided. The window of the non-coherent integration is sequentially and gradually shifted to achieve better update rate to its detection circuit and to improve searching and tracking for a spreading signal. By using the present invention, rapid signal acquisition can be achieved even when intensity of the spreading signal is very weak, or even when deeper signal blocking or jamming occurs.
US08089989B2
A method for synchronizing at least two nodes on a network including one network node acting as a master node, the master node setting a base time T0,master, and sending elapsed time since T0,master to at least one other node acting as a slave node, and the at least one other node acting as the slave node receiving the elapsed time, and estimating and setting a value of a base time T0,slave based, at least partly, on the received elapsed time. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08089988B2
The present invention relates to selecting a transport format combination (TFC) such that a quality of service (QoS) is guaranteed in a mobile communication system of a certain level even for a service having a low priority. The present invention selects a transport format combination such that not only a priority of each service is guaranteed but also a service quality is guaranteed by an MAC layer at the time of transporting services having different QoSs and different priorities.
US08089983B2
In one example, a resource reservation protocol is modified to allow a Modular Cable Modem Termination System (M-CMTS) core to use the protocol to reserve, for a flow, network resources as well as a Radio Frequency (RF) channel extending from the remote PHYsical interface (PHY). The modifications allow the M-CMTS core to identify parameters to be used by the edge device for selecting an available RF channel to be reserved for the flow, or to request a particular one of the RF channels. Intermediary devices operating on the DEPI can also reserve resources for the flow without being reconfigured according to the protocol modifications.
US08089982B1
Medium reservation modifications can be requested and granted wherein a master device allocates a medium using reservations that are observed by other devices sharing the medium and a slave device complies with reservations by holding data for transmission until its reservation in time arrives by determining a reserved length of an upcoming transmitting opportunity reserved for a slave device, determining, at the slave device, a desired length for transmitting data from the slave device over the medium, comparing the reserved length and the desired length to determine if a medium reservation modification is warranted, if the medium reservation modification is warranted, requesting, using the slave device and the medium, during the reserved time covered by the medium reservation, the medium reservation modification, and determining, at the master device, whether to grant or deny the medium reservation modification and conveying the determination to the slave device.
US08089961B2
Ternary content-addressable memories (TCAMs) may be used to obtain a simple and very fast implementation of a router's forwarding engine. The applicability of TCAMs is, however, limited by their size and high power requirement. The present invention provides an improved method and associated algorithms to reduce the power needed to search a forwarding table using a TCAM. Additionally, the present invention teaches how to couple TCAMs and high bandwidth SRAMs so as to overcome both the power and size limitations of a pure TCAM forwarding engine. By using one of the novel TCAM-SRAM coupling schemes (M-12Wb), TCAM memory is reduced by a factor of about 5 on IPv4 data sets and by a factor of about 2.5 on IPv6 data sets; TCAM power requirement is reduced by a factor of about 10 on IPv4 data sets and by a factor of about 6 on IPv6 data sets.
US08089959B2
A method for scheduling cell transmissions through a switch with rate and delay guarantees and with low jitter is proposed. The method applies to a classic input-buffered N×N crossbar switch without speedup. The time axis is divided into frames each containing F time-slots. An N×N traffic rate matrix specifies a quantized guaranteed traffic rate from each input port to each output port. The traffic rate matrix is transformed into a permutation with NF elements which is decomposed into F permutations of N elements using a recursive and fair decomposition method. Each permutation is used to configure the crossbar switch for one time-slot within a frame of size F time-slots, and all F permutations result in a Frame Schedule. In the frame schedule, the expected Inter-Departure Time (IDT) between cells in a flow equals the Ideal IDT and the delay jitter is bounded and small. For fixed frame size F, an individual flow can often be scheduled in O(log N) steps, while a complete reconfiguration requires O(N log N) steps when implemented in a serial processor. An RSVP or Differentiated Services-like algorithm can be used to reserve bandwidth and buffer space in an IP-router, an ATM switch or MPLS switch during a connection setup phase, and the proposed method can be used to schedule traffic in each router or switch. Best-effort traffic can be scheduled using any existing dynamic scheduling algorithm to fill the remaining unused switch capacity within each Frame. The scheduling algorithm also supports multicast traffic.
US08089957B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a network infrastructure operable to support the exchange of communications, such as textual, image, video and voice communications, between a first client terminal having a first user identifier and service by a first service provider and a second (destination) client terminal having a second user identifier and serviced by a second service provider. This network infrastructure includes a packet-switch network, a shared database and a number of client terminals serviced by different service providers. These terminals include a network interface and are identified by their service provider by a network address. The shared database associates user identifiers with network addresses. This allows a user to access the shared database in order to initiate a call request from the first client terminal to the second client terminal. The first client terminal receives the network address or vectoring information on the network address of the destination terminal through the shared database. This shared database may also have metadata used to manage the call.
US08089944B2
A method performed by a first network device may include receiving a request for a resource from an end-point device and acknowledging the request for the resource to the end-point device. The method may also include receiving a resource coordination message from a second network device and transmitting a return resource coordination message to the second network device.
US08089941B2
A system and method for presenting information to a user of a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention comprise receiving and presenting a first portion of media information to a user. While presenting the first portion of the media information to the user, a first signal may be received. In response to the first signal, a second portion of the media information may be received and buffered. A second signal may be received, and in response to the second signal, the second portion of the media information may be presented to the user. While the second portion of the media information is presented to the user, a third portion of the media information may be received and buffered. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise a mobile communication device that receives, presents and/or buffers various portions of media information.
US08089939B1
The present disclosure provides for a user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless computer network that has multiple wireless access points (APs). The UE can include a wireless transceiver that communicates with the computer network, a link quality assessor that assesses the quality of the communication link between the wireless transceiver and the first selected wireless AP, a link quality forecaster that forecasts a predicted future quality of the communication link as a function of the past quality of the communication link, and an AP switching module that 1) initiates an AP link quality scan to determine a second selected AP when the forecasted link quality falls below a first link quality threshold and 2) switches to the second selected wireless AP when the forecasted link quality falls below a second link quality threshold.
US08089934B2
A method for controlling a call handover between telecommunication networks includes determining whether a User Equipment (UE), in communication with a first network, is engaged in a call attempt when the UE is to be transferred from the first network to a second network, if the UE is engaged in a call attempt, maintaining the UE communicating with the first network, and if the UE is not engaged in a call attempt, initiating the handover from the first network to the second network.
US08089928B2
A method for allocating resources in a multi-hop relay network includes establishing one or more relay links, single-hop access links, and multi-hop access links. The method also includes iteratively repeating the following steps until a single-hop data rate is approximately equal to a multi-hop data rate: allocating a first number of slots to the multi-hop access links; dividing the first number of slots among the multi-hop access links; allocating a second number of slots to the relay links; allocating a third number of slots to the single-hop access links; dividing the third number of slots among the single-hop access links; and comparing the single-hop data rate to the multi-hop data rate. The method also includes, upon the single-hop data rate being approximately equal to the multi-hop data rate, provisioning the first number of slots to each of the multi-hop access links, the second number of slots to each of the relay links, and the third number of slots to each of the single-hop access links.
US08089921B2
A mobile station device transmits a random access preamble to a base station device and performs uplink timing alignment based on the synchronization timing deviation information included in a random access response which the base station device transmits in response to the transmitted random access preamble, wherein in an uplink synchronous status, the mobile station device does not perform uplink timing alignment based on synchronization timing deviation information included in a random access response, which is a response to a random access preamble whose preamble ID is randomly selected by the mobile station device.
US08089912B2
A multicast communication method for relaying a multicast packet from a first member node to a plurality of second member nodes in a wireless network is provided, wherein the first member node and the second member nodes belong to a same group and can communicate with each other via a plurality of non-member nodes. In the multicast communication method, a number and distances of the second member nodes are recorded. The multicast packet is received from the first member node, and a waiting time is determined according to the number and the distances of the second member nodes. Whether the multicast packet is broadcasted by any other relay node is monitored during the waiting time. If the multicast packet is already broadcasted to all the second member nodes by other relay node, the multicast packet is not broadcasted; otherwise, the multicast packet is broadcasted after the waiting time elapses.
US08089904B2
A network is partitioned into a set of independent partitions, and the topology of each partition is determined, then merged to form a topology of the entire network. Preferably, the partitioning is hierarchical, wherein the network is partitioned to form individual VLAN partitions, and each of the VLAN partitions is further partitioned based on the nodes that are simply connected to each port of one or more selected root switches within the VLAN partition. Simple connections to each port are efficiently determined based on an aggregate address forwarding table associated with each node. Ancillary information, such as spanning tree or CDP data, may be used to facilitate efficient partitioning and/or to validate inferences that are made with incomplete information.
US08089898B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device implements a service policy for assisting control of the communications device use of a service on a network; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy, in which the implementation of the service policy is verified.
US08089886B1
A method and apparatus for processing timeout events in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method detects a timeout event by a first network element, wherein the timeout event is generated due to a lack of response from a second network element. The method then determines whether a threshold for reporting of timeouts is exceeded for the second network element. The method then generates a report by the first network element to a fault management system if the threshold is exceeded, where the report indicates that the second network element has exceeded the threshold for reporting of timeouts.
US08089885B2
A technique is disclosed for selectively providing access to a network node for testing and verification associated with a testing classification and requests are received from a network component to initiate a call via the net-work node. If it is determined that with the testing classification, service is provided via the network node.
US08089884B2
The present invention embodiments bypass congested links in a multi-hop Ad-Hoc wireless network. Initially, congestion is measured at each network node based on channel utilization for both transmission and reception of TDMA and CSMA messages. The measured utilization is quantized to conserve transmission bandwidth. Non-uniform quantization is applied to enable the measured utilization to be quantized to the highest value within the quantization range prior to occurrence of congestion, thereby effectively providing early notification of the congestion. The quantized utilization is distributed with the original use costs of a communication link to the remaining network nodes by a Link State Advertisement (LSA) flood and supplemental ACK and/or HELLO packets. After a network node receives the quantized utilization, the link cost is updated and used to select a routing path that minimizes the total costs from the source node to the destination node for a multi-hop network.
US08089880B2
A network relay, a transmitter and methods of operating a network relay and transmitter. In one embodiment, the method of operating the network relay includes: (1) at a relay, receiving one or more symbols transmitted by a source in each of a first sequence of fundamental intervals, (2) from the relay, transmitting data extracted from the received ones of the symbols to a destination in each of a second sequence of fundamental intervals, the fundamental intervals of the first and second sequences interleaving to make a continuous period of time and (3) for each particular one of the fundamental intervals, selecting between performing the receiving and performing the transmitting based on one or more of the symbols received in an associated recent one of the fundamental intervals.
US08089870B2
In one example, a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) analyzes received service flow traffic to estimate Quality of Experience (QoE) at the endpoints. An admission control system on the CMTS uses the QoE estimate to determine whether to admit new service flows.
US08089867B2
The invention relates to a method for allocating at least one user data link to a multiplex connection provided between a first network element and a second network element. According to the method, the first network element generates a first signaling message and transmits the same to the second network element, the first signaling message indicating to the second network element that the first network element is available to transfer the at least one respective user data link via one respective multiplex connection. The second network element assigns one multiplex connection between the first network element and the second network element to each of the at least one user data link or selects a transfer outside a multiplex connection for the user data link in accordance with the indicated availability of the first network element and depending on whether the second network element supports the transfer of the at least one user data link via multiplex connection. The possibility of allocating the at least one user a data link to a multiplex connection is indicated to the first network element by a second signaling message that is generated in the second network element and is transmitted to the first network element.
US08089859B2
Disclosed is a pilot signal transmitting/receiving device and method in a wireless communication system. When generating a pilot signal block that is shorter than the length of a data signal, a frequency for each predetermined pilot signal block is transitioned so as to guarantee frequency domain channel estimation performance. A cyclic prefix according to the length of the transitioned pilot signal is added to the pilot signal, a data signal is time division multiplexed together with the pilot signal, and a resultant signal is transmitted through an antenna. In advance to this, a position of a subcarrier for transmitting the pilot signal and the data signal is determined, a data signal is mapped on the determined subcarrier, and in this instance, diversity on the channel for a symbol is used to map the data signal on the transmission method using one of the localized FDMA (L-FDMA) channel and the distributed FDMA (D-FDMA) channel. Therefore, the frequency resolution in the frequency domain is maintained to thus provide high-quality channel estimation performance.
US08089858B2
The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus (54) for transmitting signals in a multi carrier system on the basis of a frame structure, each frame comprising at least two signalling patterns adjacent to each other in the frequency direction and at least one data pattern, said transmitting apparatus comprising frame forming means (59) adapted to arrange signalling data and pilot signals in each of said at least two signalling patterns in a frame, each signalling pattern having the same length, and to arrange data on frequency carriers of said at least one data pattern in a frame, transforming means (60) adapted to transform said signalling patterns and said data patterns from the frequency domain into the time domain in order to generate a time domain transmission signal, and transmitting means (61) adapted to transmit said time domain transmission signal. The present invention further relates to a corresponding transmitting method, a frame pattern for a multi carrier system and a receiving apparatus and method as well as a transmitting and receiving system and method.
US08089847B2
The recording and reproducing apparatus has rotary drive unit (a motor) that rotationally drives a multilayer recordable recording medium 1; a reference-light-side recording and reproducing lens 6 and a recording-light-side recording and reproducing lens 7 that are disposed oppositely to the recording medium 1 which is rotationally driven by the rotary drive unit, an address detection lens 5 that is disposed opposite the recording medium 1 and that is provided separately from the recording and reproducing lenses 6 and 7; a light source 9 for recording and reproducing purpose that supplies recording reproduction light to the recording and reproducing lenses 6 and 7; and the address light source 9 that supplies address light to the address detection lens 5. The apparatus is configured in such a way that light whose center axis portion is optically hollow is supplied from the reference-light-side recording and reproducing lens 6 to the recording medium 1 during reproducing operation.
US08089841B2
Regarding a signal recorded with a first frequency in a recording area on a specific first recording layer and a signal recorded with a second frequency different from the first frequency in a recording area on a second recording layer which might cause interlayer crosstalk in relation to the first recording layer, a reproducing signal measurement method for a multilayer optical recording medium having at least three recording layers includes reproducing the signal recorded in the recording area on the first recording layer, separating signals recorded respectively with the first and second frequencies, discriminating signal amplitude of the first frequency and a maximum value in signal amplitude of the second frequency, and calculating a signal amplitude ratio between them to measure interlayer crosstalk contained in the signal reproduced from the recording area on the first recording layer. Thus, the interlayer crosstalk quantity caused by unnecessary light can be measured quantitatively.
US08089830B2
A near-field light generating device includes: a waveguide having a groove that opens in the top surface; a clad layer disposed on the top surface of the waveguide and having an opening that is contiguous to the groove; a near-field light generating element accommodated in the opening; and a buffer layer interposed between the near-field light generating element and each of the waveguide and the clad layer in the groove and the opening. The near-field light generating element includes: first and second side surfaces that decrease in distance from each other toward the groove; an edge part that connects the first and second side surfaces to each other and is opposed to the groove with the buffer layer therebetween; and a near-field light generating part that lies at one end of the edge part and generates near-field light.
US08089824B2
A memory controller having a time-staggered request signal output. A first timing signal is generated while a second timing signal is generated having a first phase difference relative to the first timing signal. An address value is transmitted in response to the first timing signal and a control value is transmitted in response to the second timing signal, the address value and control value constituting portions of a first memory access request.
US08089819B2
A memory cell mat is divided into a plurality of entries, and an arithmetic logic unit is arranged corresponding to each entry. Between the entries and the corresponding arithmetic logic units, arithmetic/logic operation is executed in bit-serial and entry-parallel manner. Where parallel operation is not very effective, data is transferred in entry-serial and bit-parallel manner to a group of processors provided at a lower portion of the memory mat. In this manner, a large amount of data can be processed at high speed regardless of the contents of operation or data bit width.
US08089818B2
A nonvolatile-semiconductor-memory-device including a cell array having a plurality of MATs (unit-cell-array) disposed in a matrix, the MATs each include a plurality of first lines, a plurality of second lines crossing the first lines, and memory cells being connected between the first and second lines. The device further includes a first and second drive circuit selecting the first and second lines connected to the memory cells of each MAT that are accessed, and driving the selected first and second lines to write or read data. The memory cells form a page by being connected to each first line selected from the MATs. The device also includes a data latch latching the write or the read data in units of pages, where the first and second drive circuit drive the first and second lines multiple times to write or read data for one page in and out of the cell array.
US08089810B2
The present invention realizes a semiconductor integrated circuit device for driving liquid crystal (liquid crystal control driver IC) capable of easily setting drive conditions and the like according to specifications of a liquid crystal display to be used. An electrically-programmable nonvolatile memory circuit (EPROM) or an electrically erasable and programmable nonvolatile memory circuit (EEPROM) is provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit device for driving a liquid crystal display, and setting information is stored in the memory circuit. The memory circuit is constructed by a normal device which can be formed in the same process as a semiconductor manufacturing process of forming devices of other circuits.
US08089809B2
A nonvolatile trap charge storage cell selects a logic interconnect transistor uses in programmable logic applications, such as FPGA. The nonvolatile trap charge element is an insulator located under a control gate and above an oxide on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The preferred embodiment is an integrated device comprising a word gate portion sandwiched between two nonvolatile trap charge storage portions, wherein the integrated device is connected between a high bias, a low bias and an output. The output is formed by a diffusion connecting to the channel directly under the word gate portion. The program state of the two storage portions determines whether the high bias or the low bias is coupled to a logic interconnect transistor connected to the output diffusion.
US08089789B2
A method and system for managing a dual rectifier uninterruptable power supply, comprising activating each of said rectifiers to provide an output DC voltage, monitoring a level of operation of the uninterruptable power supply and deactivating a selected one of said dual rectifiers when a level of operation of said two activate rectifiers is less than a first predetermined level of operation.
US08089784B2
This invention relates to a synchronous rectifier for LLC resonant converter. This method allows simple drive method for the synchronous rectifier MOSFETS by using the transformer secondary winding voltage and one-shot vibrator. The synchronous rectifier MOSFETs are turned on by being triggered to the transformer secondary side winding voltage and turned off after predetermined time set by one shot vibrator. The predetermined time is set by the resonant period of the resonant network.
US08089780B2
A semiconductor switch is provided with a main element having reverse conductivity and serving as a voltage-driven switching element having a high withstand voltage, an auxiliary element serving as a voltage-driven switching element having a withstand voltage lower than that of the main element, and a high-speed freewheel diode having a withstand voltage equal to that of the main element, wherein a negative pole of the main element is connected to a negative pole of the auxiliary element to define the positive pole of the main element as a positive pole terminal and the positive pole of the auxiliary element as a negative pole terminal, and the high-speed freewheel diode is parallel-connected between the positive pole terminal and the negative pole terminal so that a direction from the negative pole terminal toward the positive pole terminal constitutes a forward direction.
US08089778B2
A hand-held electronic device including a body, a touch-sensing display area, and a holding area is provided. The touch-sensing display area located at a surface of the body is divided into several sub-touch-sensing areas disposed at a part of a surrounding region of the touch-sensing display area. The sub-touch-sensing areas have at least one access-sensing region. The access-sensing region is used for sensing a touch-control action so as to render the hand-held electronic device to perform a function corresponding to the touch-control action. The holding area is disposed outside the sub-touch-sensing areas. When a user only intends to hold the hand-held electronic device, the user's hands can put on the holding area and the hand-held electronic device would not perform any corresponding function.
US08089762B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for directing power supply airflow.A power supply is disposed adjacent a first end of a chassis. The chassis comprises a z axis from the first end to a second end of the chassis and an x axis orthogonal to the z axis. A bay is disposed adjacent the first end of the chassis along the x axis from the power supply. The bay comprises at least one storage device. A chamber is disposed adjacent the first end of the chassis adjacent the bay along the x axis between the bay and the power supply. A first baffle is disposed offset from the power supply, the bay, and the chamber along the z axis toward the second end. The first baffle forms a first section and isolates a first airflow in the first section from a second airflow.
US08089761B2
A computer includes an enclosure, a heat sink and a fan. Two openings are defined at opposite sides of the enclosure. The heat sink is located in the enclosure. The fan is located at one opening of the enclosure. Air current generated from the fan travels through the enclosure for dissipating heat from the heat sink and entire computer.
US08089760B2
A notebook computer includes a base; a top cover pivotally coupled via a first rotary shaft to the base and including a display panel disposed at an inner side thereof; a first plate member provided on an outer side of the top cover, a third plate member pivotally coupled at an end to the base via a second rotary shaft; and a second plate member pivotally coupled at an end to the first plate member and slidably coupled at an opposing end to the third plate member, such that the second and the third plate member are displaceable relative to each other. When the top cover is pivotally turned to an operation position, the second end of the second plate member is pushed against the third plate member to restrict the top cover and the third plate member from turning further, and hold the top cover to the operation position.
US08089754B2
A server of a computer server system includes an enclosure and a fan module located outside the enclosure. The enclosure includes a sidewall defining a plurality of ventilating holes therein. The fan module includes a tray and a fan mounted on the tray. The fan module is pivotally mounted relative to the sidewall of the enclosure, and the fan module is capable of being pivoted from a horizontal state to a vertical state relative to the server.
US08089753B2
A combined carrying, cooling and support device for a portable electronic unit is provided, the device including: a flexible cushioned cooler having a base portion, an angled side portion disposed at an acute angle relative to the base portion, and an integrated cooling fan; an attachment mechanism disposed about the periphery of the flexible cushioned cooler; and an upper cover removably attachable to the flexible cushioned cooler by the attachment mechanism, wherein the flexible cushioned cooler is configured to form an elongated cooling air channel between its base portion, its at least one angled side portion, and a bottom surface of the portable electronic unit.
US08089747B2
A power pedestal provides power to a vehicle and a structure disposed separate from the vehicle. The power pedestal includes a housing having an exterior, a first end fixed to a platform, and a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end. A meter socket assembly is housed by the housing. At least one first branch circuit breaker and a second main circuit breaker are electrically connected to the meter socket assembly within the housing. At least one of the at least one first branch circuit breaker is electrically connected to the vehicle by a corresponding one of a number of first electrical conductors. The second main circuit breaker is electrically connected to the structure by a second electrical conductor. A meter, which is electrically connected to the meter socket assembly, measures electric energy consumed by the vehicle and the structure.
US08089744B1
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a multiple-finger transistor structure. The multiple-finger transistor structure includes one transistor configured as a ballasted device. The multiple-finger transistor structure further includes a second transistor configured as a trigger device for the ballasted device.
US08089743B2
The present invention mainly relates to a voltage regulator, comprising: a P typed power MOS; a feedback circuit; a differential amplifier; a protecting circuit having a N-typed transistor current mirror; and an active foldback current limiting circuit rather than using a resistor. When the P typed power MOS is under short circuit current situation, the current at the output side of the current mirror is increased in order to limit the current flown through the power MOS. Meanwhile, the same purpose can also be served by increasing the current at the input side of the DC current mirror.
US08089742B2
To provide an overcurrent protection apparatus which can surely protect a load circuit from an overcurrent with a simple configuration. Supposing that the temperature increasing amount of a semiconductor element caused when the semiconductor element is turned on is ΔTch, the on-resistance value of the semiconductor element (T1) is Ron, the thermal resistance value of the semiconductor element (T1) is Rth_f, the temperature increasing amount of a connecting wiring is ΔTw when a current flows into the connecting wiring (WL), the resistance value per unit length of the connecting wiring is Rw, and the thermal resistance value per unit length of the connecting wiring is Rth_w, ΔTch is obtained based on an expression of ΔTW/ΔTch=Rth_w/Rth_f*Rw/Ron with respect to the temperature increasing amount ΔTw not exceeding a difference between the upper limit of the permissible temperature of the connecting wiring (WL) and the upper limit of an operational peripheral temperature, then a voltage Vds is obtained based on an expression of ΔTch=Rth_f*Vds2/Ron with respect to the ΔTch thus obtained, and the voltage Vds thus obtained is set as a determination voltage.
US08089741B2
An over-voltage protection device and a method for manufacturing the over-voltage protection device are provided. The over-voltage protection device includes a substrate, a pair of electrode layers, a mask layer, and a sealing layer. The electrode layers are disposed on the substrate, and a gap is formed between the electrode layers. The mask layer is disposed over the gap and a portion of the electrode layers. The sealing layer covers the mask layer and the gap.
US08089739B2
An ESD protection circuit includes a first voltage clamp, connected between a first voltage supply node and a second voltage supply node of the circuit, and a second voltage clamp, connected between the second voltage supply node and a voltage return of the circuit. The first voltage supply node is adapted to receive a first voltage which is greater than a prescribed gate oxide reliability potential of the circuit. The second voltage supply node is operative to receive a second voltage which is less than the first voltage. The first voltage clamp is operative to clamp the first voltage on the first voltage supply node to a first value during an ESD event between the first and second voltage supply nodes, and the second voltage clamp is operative to clamp the second voltage on the second voltage supply node to a second value during an ESD event between the second voltage supply node and the voltage return.
US08089731B1
A disk drive suspension with a bend-down tab which supports an outrigger lead. The bend-down tab extends laterally to the suspension and away from the slider, and can include tabs which are narrower than the electrical lead. The depth of the tab can be at least the depth of the outrigger lead, or deeper. The tab can be supported by and integrally formed with an elongate gimbal spring arm.
US08089730B1
A suspension assembly includes a read head clamp attached to a flexure that includes structural, dielectric, and conductive layers. The clamp includes a cantilevered clamping arm sized so that its distal end is positioned to contact a leading face of a read head. The clamp also includes a wall positioned to face a trailing face of the read head. Each of a plurality of conductive probes defined in the structural layer is electrically connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of conductive traces defined in the conductive layer, by a plurality of conductive vias through the dielectric layer. Each of the plurality of conductive probes is bent out of the flexure plane and is positioned to contact the trailing face of the read head. A method for temporarily holding a read head is also disclosed.
US08089729B2
A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling fly-height and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, a trailing air bearing surface of the slider may be formed around a multi-stepped channel that adjusts the fly-height. Further, a shallow shelf behind an air bearing surface and/or curved edges of the features to alter stagnation may contribute to at least inhibiting lubricant collection on the slider.
US08089726B2
A method for counteracting longitudinal oscillations in a magnetic tape as it passes over a head in a tape drive system includes the steps of passing the magnetic tape over the head, detecting the occurrence of longitudinal oscillations in the magnetic tape, and generating counteractive longitudinal oscillations in the magnetic tape that are substantially 180° out of phase with the longitudinal oscillations to substantially cancel the longitudinal oscillations.
US08089720B2
A hard-disk drive. The hard-disk drive includes a magnetic-recording disk in which tracks adjacent to each other are magnetically separated, a spindle motor which drives the magnetic-recording disk, a magnetic-recording head equipped with write element and read element, an actuator for positioning the magnetic-recording head on a predetermined track on the magnetic-recording disk, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to store information about an over-write-only track that is provided for a plurality of tracks including n consecutive tracks in at least a partial radial area of the magnetic-recording disk and an offset amount. In a radial area of the magnetic disk where the over-write-only track is located, the control unit is configured to record with an offset by an offset amount from a center of a track toward the over-write-only track with respect to n−1 tracks of the plurality of n tracks, excluding the over-write-only track.
US08089719B1
A disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a touchdown sensor for generating a sensor signal. The sensor signal is filtered using at least three bandpass filters to generate at least three filtered signals. The fly height of the head is decreased until one of the filtered signals indicates the head has contacted the disk.
US08089717B1
When the format control circuit detects bit synchronization information in a sector to be reproduced on a magnetic disk, the format control circuit activates a read gate signal for commanding to read out the sector from the magnetic disk. When symbol synchronization information on the magnetic disk is detected, a SYNC detection circuit produces a synchronization information detection signal. The format control circuit calculates an end position of the sector on the magnetic disk on the basis of the synchronization information detection signal to inactivate the read gate signal. The data correction circuit and the decoding circuit reproduce data and ECC in the sector read out from the magnetic disk during the period that the read gate signal is active on the basis of the synchronization information detection signal to produce the data and ECC to a data bus. The data flow control circuit processes the data and ECC on the data bus after the elapse of a reproduction delay time on the basis of the synchronization information detection circuit.
US08089712B2
In a RAID apparatus, an error determining processing unit determines whether an HDD is normal based on an error determining condition obtained from an amount of increase of NON MEDIUM ERROR COUNT and the number of accesses memorized on a control table, and detects the HDD with abnormal performance.
US08089706B2
A fixed-focus lens disposed between a magnified side and a minified side. The fixed-focus lens has an optical axis and includes a reflective system and a refractive system. The reflective system includes a reflection mirror with a negative refractive power. The refractive system is disposed between the reflection mirror and the minified side and includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group has a positive refractive power. The second lens group is disposed between the first lens group and the minified side, and has a positive refractive power. The fixed-focus lens satisfies F/H>0.23, where F is an effective focal length and H is an image height.
US08089699B2
An optical element includes a container including first and second end face walls, a side face wall, and an accommodating chamber inside the walls; first and second liquids enclosed in the chamber; a first electrode provided on a surface of the first end face wall; a second electrode provided on a surface of the second end face wall; an insulating film provided on a surface of the second electrode; and a unit configured to apply a voltage. The shape of an interface between the liquids is changed by a voltage application, and a light transmission path, the center of which is a virtual axis passing through the end face walls in the thickness direction of the container, is formed in a portion of the second liquid. An opening having a diameter the same as or larger than the maximum diameter of the transmission path is provided in the first electrode.
US08089697B2
A method for making a prismatic laminate includes the steps of: a) forming a back-coating roller having a roller surface with a plurality of recesses arranged in a predetermined pattern and produced by laser holography; b) preparing a prismatic structure including a plate body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of prismatic strips formed on the first surface of the plate body; c) applying a coating containing a resin component and an antistatic agent on the second surface of the plate body; and d) embossing the coating with the back-coating roller to form an optical layer including a plurality of microstructures protruding in a direction away from the second surface of the plate body and having a pattern corresponding to that of the recesses in the roller surface.
US08089692B2
A projection type image display apparatus includes an optical engine that emits a light according to image signal, a Fresnel lens on which the light emitted by the optical engine is incident and emitting the light as a parallel light, and a diffusion member that diffuses the parallel light emitted by the Fresnel lens. The projection type image display apparatus further includes a driving unit that moves the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member in a plane parallel to an emitting surface of the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member, a frame the supports the Fresnel lens, the diffusion member and the driving unit, a resilient supporting body that supports a weight of the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member with respect to the frame, and a holding unit that holds the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member so as to be movable in the plane parallel to the emitting surface of the Fresnel lens or the diffusion member.
US08089687B2
Electro-optical display systems are disclosed. An electro-optical display system may include a display volume containing a fluid having a plurality of colorant particles; a dielectric layer adjacent the display volume, the dielectric layer including recessed regions configured to contain the plurality of colorant particles; a plurality of electrodes configured to selectively move the plurality of colorant particles between a compacted position in which all or nearly all of the plurality of colorant particles are in the recessed regions, and a spread position in which all or nearly all of the plurality of colorant particles are spread across the display volume; and at least one color filter configured to absorb at least one wavelength of light.
US08089686B2
In one embodiment, a device includes a first display element including: a first electrode; a transparent dielectric layer having recessed regions therein over the first electrode; a halftoned second electrode opposite the first electrode; and a fluid with colorant particles between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein a voltage signal applied between the first electrode and the second electrode controls movement of the colorant particles such that a first voltage signal provides a clear optical state by compacting the colorant particles into the recessed regions and a second voltage signal provides a grayscale optical state by attracting the colorant particles to the second electrode.
US08089665B2
An optical scanning device includes n-odd (n≧2) light sources disposed at different positions at least in a sub-scanning direction, a pixel forming part in which one pixel is depicted by light beams emitted from m-odd (n≧m≧2) light sources of the n-odd light sources and a distance of adjacent light sources for emitting the light beams in the sub-scanning direction is less than 5 μm, and a light source driving control part configured to control an emitting state of the light sources for depicting the one pixel and conduct an emission driving control for moving a gravity center of the one pixel in the sub-scanning direction.
US08089662B2
An image forming apparatus includes an interface unit which receives print data and file data; a printing unit which prints an image on a recording medium; a writing unit which stores tag data in a non-contact type tag when the recording medium provides the non-contact type tag; a buffer unit in which file data is stored in the non-contact type tag; and a control unit which controls the printing unit and the writing unit. The control unit stores the file data in the buffer unit when the file data is received. The control unit controls the printing unit to form an image on the recording medium based upon content of the print data when the print data is received. The control unit controls the writing unit to store the file data stored in the buffer unit in the non-contact type tag.
US08089657B2
A calibration device comprises a relative-value correction unit that performs a normalization for the measured output value based on a possible range of a measured output value and a normalization for a desired output value corresponding to the measured output value based on a range of the desired output value, an absolute-value correction unit that performs a normalization for the measured output value and the desired output value based on the range of the desired output value, a relative-value calibration unit that calibrates the measured output value normalized by the relative-value correction unit with reference to a characteristic of the desired output value normalized by the relative-value correction unit, and an absolute-value calibration unit that calibrates the measured output value normalized by the absolute-value correction unit with reference to the desired output value normalized by the absolute-value correction unit.
US08089652B2
A licensing method includes the steps of establishing a licensing vendor; providing an imaging device that uses an imaging media in forming printed images on print media, the imaging media including an initial supply amount of an imaging substance; associating a usage license with at least one of the imaging device and the imaging media, the usage license defining a first usage threshold at which a consumer is prompted to acquire a new license; and providing a license monitoring mechanism communicatively coupled with the imaging device, the license monitoring mechanism performing the steps of tracking an amount of usage of the imaging media by the imaging device; determining whether the amount of usage of the imaging media by the imaging device has reached a usage threshold; and upon reaching the usage threshold, then prompting the consumer to acquire the new license from the licensing vendor.
US08089649B2
There is provided a multi function peripheral which has a plurality of functions which includes a communication unit that communicates with an external storage device which has a connection with the multi function peripheral, and a registration information acquisition unit that acquires registration information stored in the storage device indicating whether each of the plurality of functions is allowed to be used, through the communication unit. The multi function peripheral operates so that functions for which usage is indicated to be allowed by the registration information are caused to be executed according to operations of the multi function peripheral by a user, and functions of which usage is indicated not to be allowed by the registration information are prevented from being executed irrespective of operations of the multi function peripheral by the user.
US08089644B2
There is provided an image-processing device having a receiving unit that receives first variable print data including a plurality of records and designation information designating a rendering program; an image generation unit that performs the image generation process in which the rendering program is executed with regard to the plurality of records included in the first variable print data to generate output images corresponding to each of the plurality of records, wherein when an error occurs because of a first record of the plurality of records during generation of an output image corresponding to the first record, the image generation unit continues the image generation process by changing a record to be processed from the first record to a record which is to be processed later than the first record; and a variable print data generation unit that generates second variable print data including the first record.
US08089637B2
An apparatus for effectively detecting and calibrating a sample of examination system. The apparatus has an optical-electronic assembly for detection of the sample initiated with a light projected to the sample and an elastic supporting assembly for providing motion freedoms to adjust the relative geometric conditions between the optical-electronic assembly and the sample. The elastic supporting assembly has a planer structure and a cubic structure, and provides both motion freedoms on a plane and motion freedoms vertical to the plane. The optics electricity optical-electronic assembly could analyze the received reflected light to get geometric information of the sample, and could adjust the light used to detect the sample.
US08089634B2
Optical element having an optical surface, which optical surface is adapted to a non-spherical target shape, such that a long wave variation of the actual shape of the optical surface with respect to the target shape is limited to a maximum value of 0.2 nm, wherein the long wave variation includes only oscillations having a spatial wavelength equal to or larger than a minimum spatial wavelength of 10 mm.
US08089633B2
A method of testing a convex mirror surface figure in which an optical quality substrate material is used having a convex front surface and a rear surface polished to a precise optical figure to create a lens. The lens is then tested by a standard interferometric or wavefront lens-testing method and the convex surface coated once a desired curvature is obtained. Null testing may be attained by passing a collimated interferometer beam through a focusing lens shaped to counter the predicted spherical aberration introduced by a perfect convex mirror/lens. A nominal rear surface figure of the mirror/lens may be used if a precisely figured test window is contacted with the rear surface using a refractive index-matching substance with an index of refraction closely matching the index of refraction of the test optic.
US08089624B2
The invention makes it possible to measure binding of a biochemical substance with a high throughput and with high sensitivity using a small cell capable of being filled with a small amount of chemical solution. A space between a first substrate and a second substrate such that probes are immobilized on their mutually facing planes is used as a cell that houses a specimen solution. Light is irradiated from a first substrate side, and reflected light is subjected to spectroscopy. Binding of the target with the probe is detected by a wavelength shift in the refection spectrum.
US08089618B2
The laser distance measuring device of the present invention comprises an emitting part having a laser generating device with a first spectral bandwidth arranged on an emitting optical path and a collimating lens. The emitting part also has an optical filter with a second spectral bandwidth which is less than the first spectral bandwidth. The laser distance measuring device also has a receiving part having a photoelectric receiving and conversion device to receive the measuring beam reflected by the object to be measured and convert it into an electric signal. Using the optical filter, most of the unneeded portions of the laser beam emitted from the laser are filtered out so that the useful proportion of the measuring beam of the laser beam is improved and the ranging capability of the laser distance measuring device under a bright or strong light environment is enhanced.
US08089616B2
During a period after starting exposure to a plurality of shot areas subject to exposure on a wafer until completing the exposure, a light via a slit pair arranged on a stage that holds the wafer, of illumination light via a pattern generating device, is received, and information on a positional relation between an illumination light and the stage (and hence a positional relation between the illumination light and the wafer) is detected. With this operation, even if the information on the positional relation between the illumination light and the wafer varies due to some reason, information on the variation can be detected while performing the exposure to the plurality of shot areas. Accordingly, high-precision exposure can be achieved in an exposure operation, by considering this detection results.
US08089612B2
The present invention provides a position detection apparatus including a first obtaining unit configured to obtain imaging characteristics of an imaging optical system for a plurality of light beams, having different wavelength with each other, of the light having the wavelength width, a second obtaining unit configured to obtain optical images of a target object for the plurality of light beams, a restoration unit configured to restore optical images of the target object for the plurality of light beams by correcting, deterioration in the obtained optical images of the target object attributed to the imaging optical system, based on the obtained imaging characteristics of the imaging optical system, and a generation unit configured to generate an optical image of the target object for light including the plurality of light beams by synthesizing the restored optical images of the target object for the plurality of light beams.
