US08235873B1
An exercise apparatus includes a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; left and right cranks rotatably mounted on the frame; left and right first rocker links pivotally mounted on the frame; left and right drawbar links pivotally interconnected between respective cranks and respective first rocker links; left and right second rocker links pivotally mounted on the frame; and left and right foot links supported by respective cranks and respective rocker links. On one embodiment, the second rocker links are selectively pinned to respective first rocker links to configure the apparatus for elliptical striding exercise, and the second rocker links are alternatively pinned to the frame to configure the apparatus for arcuate stepping exercise. On another embodiment, adjustable length members are interconnected between respective second rocker links and respective first rocker links to accommodate variable elliptical striding motion.
US08235845B2
A golf ball is provided having a modified density gradient among the inner layers to produce a desired high or low moment of inertia and controlled spin rate is disclosed. The golf ball has three or more inner layers in addition to a cover, and the density of the inner layers is selected such that the layers inside the cover have a density progression from the core to the cover or from the cover to the core.
US08235844B2
A hollow golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature including a crown located stress reducing feature, located on the crown of the club head, and a sole located stress reducing feature, located on the sole of the club head. The location and size of the stress reducing features, and their relationship to one another, play a significant role in reducing the peak stress seen on the golf club's face during an impact with a golf ball, as well as selectively increasing deflection of the face.
US08235840B2
A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).
US08235837B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08235836B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08235835B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft and a club head. The shaft is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head. The shaft alignment features and a fastening member are integrated into the construction of the shaft.
US08235834B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08235832B2
A set of iron clubs where each club in the set has the same or substantially the same ground roll. The set is produced by adjusting at least two club design characteristics of the clubs based upon measured or assumed player swing data. The design characteristics of the clubs include club length, static clubhead loft, location of the center of gravity, shaft flexibility, and groove volume. Preferably, club length and static clubhead loft are adjusted for coarse adjustments, while the other characteristics are used to fine-tune the design.
US08235826B2
Various contact systems and methods for manufacturing and using such are disclosed herein. Examples of the contact systems include a surface with one set of pads biased at a first voltage level, and another set of pads biased at a second voltage level. Such a contact system can be used, for example, to transfer power to an electromechanical device disposed thereon. In one particular example, the electromechanical device can include a power storage element and two or more couplings. When one of the couplings contacts a pad biased at the first voltage level, and another of the couplings contacts a pad biased at the second voltage level, a circuit is completed where some derivative of the differential between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is placed across the power storage element. Completion of the circuit causes the power storage element to charge. Power can be drawn from the power storage element to operate the electromechanical device.
US08235821B2
A casino gaming system is disclosed that provides game play in exchange for monetary input per game played. The gaming system includes a casino game unit in which the casino game unit stores one or more games in electronic form. The casino game unit includes: a display screen for displaying images to a player; a monetary input system for receiving monetary input from a player; one or more player control devices for receiving player input; and a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player. The gaming system further includes computer readable media that stores casino game software in the game unit, and wherein computer readable media includes optically readable media.
US08235817B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a library of video related to game play involving the use of particular objects. By observing game play of users in a game play environment, determinations may be made as to users who excel at the use of a particular object. Video of game play related to these users and a particular object may be created, cataloged, and stored for later use by users that lack proficiency with that object. By observing video of game players with particular skill as to an object, less skilled players may improve their game play thereby avoiding frustration with a game, which may lead to a loss of interest. Acquisition and proffering of video may be facilitated through the use of an analytics server or functional software module that observes game play and identifies players of particular skill or lack thereof.
US08235809B2
The present invention is a gaming machine for playing a game and paying out an award according to play results, comprising a detector which recognizes a play history of a player, an analyzer which analyzes the play history, a controller which changes a volatility of the game according to the play history, and an initiator which initiates the game with changed volatility.
US08235808B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
US08235806B2
An automated raffle game and method making use of prize pools, the prize pools having elements, the elements representing one of: winning prizes; or, both winning prizes and no-win (0 value) prizes. Raffle tickets are associated with a prize pool. Upon closure of the game, either by a time-out or by number of tickets sold, a number of elements are taken from the pool. The number of elements taken from the pool is directly related to the number of tickets associated with the pool and further depends on which type of pool is being used (one having only win-elements or both win and 0-value elements). The results are sent to the player terminal, where a player may simply take a winning voucher or ticket, or, may chose to view an entertainment display.
US08235804B2
A method of conducting a community-based wagering game event includes the acts of displaying images associated with a community-based wagering game on a surface, sensing a player's movement using a sensing device, the player's movement comprising a game input, and outputting to a controller a signal bearing data relating to the player's movement. The method also includes the acts of determining, using the controller, a relation between the player's movement and the displayed images on the surface and adapting the displayed images responsive to the player's movement.
US08235803B2
An exemplary power manager is adapted to supply power from a power supply to a first component of a gaming machine. The first component consumes a larger amount of current during a second time interval than during a first time interval, where the first component alternates between the first and second time intervals during operation. A rechargeable energy storage device is used to supply a substantial portion of the current to the first component during the second time interval from energy stored in the energy storage device prior to the start of the second time interval. This causes the current supplied from the power supply to the power manager during the second time interval to be less than the total current required by the first component during the second time interval and thus reduces the peak current load of the power supply during the second time interval.
US08235800B2
The system and methods of the present application comprise one or more computers for substantially removing the element of chance in a contest that would normally be on whose outcome would be determined by a mixture of chance and skill. The system comprises one or more computers that interact with a user in order to reduce or eliminate the elements of chance, thereby forcing the contest to obey the law of averages within a finite number of iterations of the contest, thereby reducing variance and increasing the success of skillful players.
US08235796B2
A gaming apparatus and a method of operating the same are disclosed. The gaming apparatus comprises a display configured to display a plurality of reel images and a processor operatively coupled to the display. The processor is operable to determine an arrangement of symbols for each of the reel images before starting each of games, by selecting symbols to be set on symbol stop positions of the reel image from discrete symbol candidates based on selection probabilities associated with the discrete symbol candidates respectively. The processor is also operable to control the display to display the reel images based on the determined arrangement of symbols in response to operation of a player.
US08235784B2
The present invention is directed to a method for presenting a game having a bonus feature. The method includes initiating a game on at least one of a plurality of gaming machines associated with one another and arranged in a circular bank. The gaming machines are monitored to determine whether a triggering event has occurred on any of the plurality of gaming machines. A bonus feature is initiated on all of the plurality of gaming machines in response to the triggering event. The bonus feature play includes activating indicators associated with each gaming machine located around the circular bank, in a sequential order, for a specific amount of time. At the end of the sequence only one gaming machine indicator remains activated, designating a winner of the bonus feature. The winner is awarded a bonus.
US08235776B2
The described method and apparatus pertains namely to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) industry, though its many functions extend into any and all forms of air-fluid movement, metering, distribution, and containment. Essentially, the scope of operation of the method and apparatus encompasses all forms of scientific and engineering measurement dealing with fluid dynamics, fluid statics, fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and mechanical engineering as they pertain to precise, articulated control of air-fluid distribution and delivery. The described method and apparatus offers complete, comprehensive, and correct utilization of air-fluid movers and terminal devices under unique sensor logic control, from initial lab testing stages through to equipment cataloguing, selection, design and construction of any and all air-fluid distribution systems in entirety, whereas previously there was no such cohesive, total and terminal method of control for these systems or their components.
US08235774B2
A poultry wing portioner is provided for separating poultry wings. The portioner includes a loop conveyor, a wing holder, a circular saw, and driving means for the loop conveyor and the circular saw. The portioner is configured to allow a user to place poultry wings onto the holder, which is conveyed past the circular saw. The circular saw cuts poultry wings into the portions of a drumette, a midwing, and a wingtip.
US08235773B2
A dust-disposal assembly for a machine tool comprises a dust-collection chamber settled in a cutting area of the machine tool and a dust-block board settled on the dust-collection chamber for covering an opening of the dust-collection chamber, wherein the dust-block board serves to retain cutting dust in the dust-collection chamber.
US08235772B2
A method for drilling or cutting a pin surrounded by solid material includes the use of a water jet tool having a nozzle that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body of the water jet tool. The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin, and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin. In order to minimize damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins used in a press-fit for the securing of blades on a turbine rotor. The method facilitates “in situ” removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.
US08235771B2
A method for honing a workpiece by passing a workpiece through a hone tool having a plurality of abrasive surfaces configured to remove a portion of all exterior machining surfaces of the workpiece as it is passed through the hone tool, the exterior machining surfaces being non-uniform and wherein the hone tool is configured to hone all of the exterior machining surfaces simultaneously as workpiece is passed through the hone tool. An assembly for honing a workpiece, the assembly having a plurality of hone tools each having abrasive surfaces configured to remove a portion of exterior non-uniform surfaces of a workpiece pushed through the hone tool, wherein the hone tool is configured to surround the entire periphery of the workpiece being passed therethrough.
US08235770B2
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a processing tool which processes a peripheral edge of the lens and includes a roughing tool, a beveling tool and a bevel-modifying tool; a selection unit which is used to select a high curve beveling mode for forming a bevel in the lens fitted into a high curve frame having a protrusion portion; a modifying portion data input unit inputs data of a portion to be modified so as to prevent an interference between the lens and the protrusion portion; a calculation unit which obtains bevel-modifying data on the basis of a bevel path and data of the modifying portion; and a processing control portion which performs the beveling to the lens by the beveling tool in accordance with the beveling data, and removes a part of the bevel shoulder and/or the bevel slope by the bevel-modifying tool in accordance with the bevel-modifying data.
US08235752B2
A connector has an inner housing with a cavity for housing a terminal fitting, an outer housing assembled displaceably to the inner housing and a rubber plug. The rubber plug has a sealing portion, a vibration reducing portion and a vibration absorbing portion. The sealing portion is mounted fixedly on a rear end portion of the terminal fitting and is brought into close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity. The vibration reducing portion is fit in a holding hole formed in the outer housing and thus is displaced with the outer housing. The vibration absorbing portion has a smaller thickness than the vibration reducing portion and connects the sealing portion to the vibration reducing portion. The vibration absorbing portion is outside the holding hole and in front of the holding hole.
US08235751B2
Disclosed herein is a coaxial cable interface port locking terminator including an outer terminator housing and an inner connector body housed within the outer terminator housing. The coaxial cable interface port locking terminator further includes a ratcheting device in operable communication with the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body, the ratcheting device preventing rotation of the outer terminator housing with respect to the inner connector body when the outer terminator housing is rotated in the first direction, the ratcheting device including at least one separate component from the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body. Furthermore, rotation of the outer terminator housing in a second direction does not cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.
US08235749B2
An electrical connector is provided for electrically connecting a junction box of a photovoltaic (PV) module to an electrical cable of a power distribution system. The electrical connector includes a housing extending along a central longitudinal axis from a cable segment to a mating segment. The housing has an intermediate segment that extends between the cable and mating segments. The intermediate segment includes a flange. The housing is configured to be mounted to a frame for the PV module. An electrical contact is held by the housing and is configured to establish an electrical connection between the junction box and the electrical cable. A biasing mechanism extends over the intermediate segment of the housing. The biasing mechanism extends from a flange end to a frame end. The flange end is engaged with the flange of the housing. The frame end is configured to engage the frame such that, when the housing is mounted to the frame, the biasing mechanism extends between and exerts a biasing force on the flange and the frame. The housing is movable relative to the frame and along the central longitudinal axis with and against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.
US08235745B1
An apparatus for remotely releasing a connector, e.g., an RJ-45 connector, is described. Embodiments of the invention allow a user to release a cable comprising a connector from a connector jack when the connector jack is difficult to reach. The invention may be particularly useful to release cables from devices comprising an array of connector jacks.
US08235739B2
An electrical connector comprising a housing provided with an opening through which an FPC is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing for coming into contact with signal connecting terminals on the FPC inserted in the housing, and a conductive shell mounted on the housing and provided therein with a holding member operative to hold the FPC inserted in the housing and a releasing member extending from the holding member to be operative to release the FPC from holding by the holding member, wherein the holding member includes an engaging projection for engaging with an engaging edged portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing and the releasing member includes a handle portion positioned on the outside of the housing to be handled for causing the engaging projection of the holding member to disengage from the engaging edged portion on the FPC inserted in the housing.
US08235732B2
A high voltage connector for a battery system includes an upper body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the upper body is located internal to a battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from the battery system. The second portion is located external to the battery system housing and is configured to receive at least one contact from a vehicle. The high voltage connector also includes a lower body coupled to the upper body and at least one connecting member provided between the upper body and the lower body. The connecting member is configured to conductively connect the contact of the battery system to the contact of the vehicle.
US08235723B2
A flight simulator yoke is provided having a single handle having a handgrip and yoke shaft operable from a left side of a user, wherein a neutral position for the handle is at a 45 degree angle. The yoke may further include two trim axes traverse to each other; and two moveable spring devices. The spring devices are operatively coupled to the trim axes, each spring device having a positive center detent, wherein the positive center detent requires a predetermined amount of force in order to move the yoke along each trim axis. The flight simulator yoke may simulate a yoke of a Cirrus aircraft.
US08235719B2
An endodontic tool is provided to facilitate the removal of the smear layer and to enhance deep lateral cleaning of a root canal system. The tool includes a sonic driven activator which is made from a strong, flexible, non-metallic, and non-cutting material. The activator can be smooth. A snap-on coupler is adapted to attach the tool to a driver via a snap on action and without the use of tools. The driver will vibrate, sonically or ultrasonically, the flexible activator within a root canal of a tooth. The tool can be provided with fluid passages which allow for irrigating reagents to be delivered through the activator and into the root canal space during endodontic procedures.
US08235718B2
The shade system contains a set of dentin/body shades, and a set of enamel and opaque shades that correspond to the dentin/body shades. The system may also include tints and specialty incisals to provide special effects, if necessary.
US08235716B2
The following invention is an apparatus and method for quickly determining the type of bracket implanted on patient's tooth. A radio frequency identification (RFID) microchip is coupled to or in an orthodontic bracket. The bracket or series of brackets are then implanted on the patient's teeth as required. With the RFID in or on the bracket, the orthodontist or staff uses a scanner to read the brackets. The information read by the scanner allows the staff to select the correct corresponding bracket needed for replacement from an inventory. Confirmation of the correct selection is obtained by another scan from another scanner located in the bracket holding device. Not only does this process ensure that the correct replacement bracket is received by the patient, but also provides the orthodontist and staff with a real-time tracking of inventory supply.
US08235708B2
A heater can be configured to operate with either a first fuel at a first pressure or a second fuel at a second pressure and can include an elongated tubular combustion chamber, a first combustion chamber nozzle outlet, a second combuston chamber nozzel outley, and a fluid flow controller. In some embodiments, the fluid flow controller is configured to direct the first fuel to the first combustion chamber nozzle outlet and then to the second combustion chamber nozzle ourlet when the controller is in a first position. In a second position, the fluid flow controller is configured to direct the second fuel to the second combustion chamber nozzle outlet.
US08235700B2
A mold for molding optical fiber connector includes a core pin, a cavity mold and a sprue hole defined on the sidewall of the cavity mold. The core pin is used to mold the blind hole of the optical fiber connector. The cavity mold and the core mold cooperatively define a molding cavity for forming the optical fiber connector. A support block is configured in the molding cavity. The molding cavity includes a lens forming portion used to mold the lens and the support block configures a cutout to support the blind hole forming portion to make the blind hole forming portion align with the lens forming portion during the molding process, the opening of the cutout is towards the sprue hole.
US08235697B2
An injection-molding device includes at least first and second mould parts, defining a mould cavity, wherein at least one of the mould parts includes a heating device, for heating the mould part in the vicinity of a mould cavity surface, the heating device includes an inductive coil having a plurality of windings and being powered by an oscillator. The heating device further comprises a thin top member, which functions as a susceptor for electromagnetic energy emitted by the inductive coil, which is placed in grooves in a carrier member. An intermediate member is placed between the top member and the carrier member. The intermediate member does not function as a susceptor to any grater extent, but provides mechanical stability while allowing the heat generation to be concentrated to the top member.
US08235692B2
A nozzle structure is mounted in a compression molding machine that compresses using a punch a powder material filled in a die to manufacture a compressively molded product, and sprays a lubricant at least toward a tip of the punch prior to filling the powder material and includes a guide path that guides the lubricant, and a spraying portion that is provided at an end of the guide path so as to communicate therewith and that sprays the lubricant guided along the guide path so as to be substantially aligned with a predetermined straight line intersecting at least in a direction of relative displacement of the punch.
US08235688B2
A fan includes a bracket, a stator, and a rotor. The bracket includes a tray, and a frame circling the tray. The stator is mounted to the tray and circled by the frame. The rotor includes a shaft, and a shell covering the stator. The rotor shell includes a top board, and a cylindrical hollow sleeve extending down perpendicularly from the top board. The shaft extends down perpendicularly from a center of the top board, and is rotatably mounted to the stator. A lower portion of the sleeve bounds a circumference of the tray. An assembly clearance is formed between the lower portion of the sleeve and the tray.
US08235685B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for fluidly coupling a turbocharger to an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a turbocharger mount for fluidly coupling a turbocharger to an exhaust system of an engine is provided. The turbocharger mount includes a housing portion and a mounting flange extending from the housing portion. The housing portion defines a cavity therein and a first inlet opening in fluid communication with the cavity, a first outlet opening in fluid communication with the cavity, and a second outlet opening in fluid communication with the cavity.
US08235680B2
A radial cylinder hydraulic motor having continuously variable displacement capabilities includes: oscillating hydraulic cylinders which are driven to oscillate through an eccentric crankpin formed on the motor shaft and carrying a radially movable ring adapted to be shifted along the radial direction of the crankpin by actuation of opposed counteracting hydraulic cylinders housed within the crankpin; a hydraulic control circuit for controlling and adjusting the positions of said counteracting hydraulic cylinders in a continuous manner; an electronic control circuit adapted to control the hydraulic control circuit and process signals from at least one position sensor arranged to detect the positions of said oscillating cylinders; a rotary joint for hydraulic conduits through which said counteracting hydraulic cylinders are controlled and adjusted.
US08235672B2
A fan includes a hub and a plurality of blades formed on the hub with a rake angle. In an axial direction of the hub, no part of a trailing edge of any of the blades is disposed past an air outlet end of the hub at more than a distance approximately equal to 25% of a diameter of the hub.
US08235669B2
A hydraulic turbine has a runner blade fixedly mounted to a runner hub. The runner blade has a mounting flange having a generally rectangular shape held in contact with a complementary generally rectangular shaped outside surface portion of the runner hub. The complementary rectangular shapes increases surface contact area between the blade mounting flange and the hub over that of circular shaped flanges and thereby reduces the stress levels between the blade flange and the hub. Further, the surface contact area between the blade mounting flange and the blade root is increased to thereby reduce the stress level in the blade root fillets.
US08235644B2
A personal mobility vehicle lift mounted to the rear portion of a vehicle to transport a personal mobility vehicle from location to location comprising a platform assembly configured to support a personal mobility vehicle thereon operatively coupled to a lift assembly to selectively raise and lower the platform assembly with or without a personal mobility vehicle thereon and a mount assembly coupled to the lift assembly to mount the personal mobility vehicle lift to the rear portion of a vehicle.
US08235638B2
A auxiliary constructional component includes a base member (11), a guide section (12) for a fastening element (30) and projecting from the base member (11), and a feeler element (20) displaceably supported on the base member (11) for displacement along an attachment axis (A) defined by a through-opening (13) formed in the guide section (12), having at least one, radially spaced from the through-opening (13), placement surface (21) for a press-on feeler (42) of a setting tool, and projecting in an initial position of the feeler element (20) beyond a side of the base member (11) remote from the guide section (12).
US08235633B2
The inventive subject matter relates to novel tie down devices for securing a vehicle to a surface. In one preferred aspect of the inventive subject matter, the vehicle is secured during transport. The inventive apparatus may be used to secure a variety of vehicles having at least one generally rigid, elongated member, such as handlebars or a tubular frame member, to which the device is attached.
US08235632B2
A deflector is configured for use with a cargo bag filling valve. The filling valve has an upstanding portion that extends a distance beyond a surface of the cargo bag. The valve has a diameter and has a compressed gas inlet configured for engagement with a compressed gas inflation nozzle. The deflector has an inclined wall defining a base and an upper portion. The base is defined by an outer periphery of the inclined wall. The inclined wall defines a height. A well is defined at an inner portion, radially inward of the base. The well has a depth that is less than or equal to the height defined by the inclined wall. The well has a bore therein about equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the valve. A flange is formed at an inner periphery of the well.
US08235629B2
A submerged buoyant floating platform with blocked vertical thrust. Above the platform an electrolyser may be placed inside a hollow container. Under the platform may be a hollow container filled with ballast, connected by pipes or chains to the outer ring of the platform which provide rigidity to the entire structure. A storage tank for the hydrogen produced by the electrolyser may be attached to the hollow container. The entire structure may be anchored with chains attached to bottom weights sitting on the ocean floor. The structure may be used as a support for a tower including a wind turbine. Additional chains attached to the structure bottom weights on the sea floor may link the structure to an aquaculture facility and to floats which hold the cages used in aquaculture. The floats may be linked to additional bottom weights placed on the sea floor.
US08235626B2
A dry setting installation (1) for generating a substantially dry working space for carrying out work at an underwater structure. The dry setting installation (1) has two side-walls (2), a back wall (3) and a bottom (4) thus forming a cofferdam. The dry setting installation furthermore has, for each side-wall, a side edge sealing (20) provided on the side-wall (2) edge for providing a substantially sealing contact between the side-walls (2) and the underwater structure. The dry setting installation also has a distance variation system (30) for varying the distance between the side edge sealing system (20) of the two side-walls (2).
US08235625B1
A water-ballasted barrier system incorporates a concave reflective design, wherein outer walls of the barrier segment are configured in a concave manner. The concave section is designed to prevent the tire of a vehicle, impacting the barrier, from climbing up the side of the barrier segment, by pocketing the tire in the curved center portion of the barrier wall. Adjacent barrier segments are attached together using an interlocking knuckle design, having a lug pin connection system. In some embodiments, wire rope cable is internally molded into each barrier segment to strengthen the barrier system.
US08235620B2
Applicators for fluids such as paints utilizing a roller are known and more recently utilization of an incrementally displaceable piston in order to force fluid flow to a roller has been disclosed. In order to ensure appropriate presentation of the fluid, that is to say paint, to the roller an appropriate gap between the roller and the housing is required. By position of a cam and/or flap control of a housing to roller gap is achieved.
US08235612B2
A printing apparatus includes a multifeed sensor to detect whether printing paper sheets are multifed, a measuring unit to measure an interval between the multifed paper sheets, if the multifeed sensor detects that the printing paper sheets are multifed, and a control unit to delay printing using the measured interval so that a lastly fed printing paper sheet is printed. As a result, a printing error due to multifeed of two or more printing paper sheets can be avoided.
US08235607B2
A camera module includes a substrate, a holder, and a dustproof member. The holder is mounted on the substrate. The holder also defines an air vent. The dustproof member includes a permeable portion. The permeable portion is made of air-permeable material. The permeable portion shields the air vent. The dustproof member can also be made of a porous material plugging the air vent.
US08235585B2
A device for fastening a wrist strap, in particular a watch strap, to a case, in particular to a watch case, the device having a linking member, to one end of which a strap end member of the wrist strap can be fastened and the other end of which can be fastened to a wrist strap pin attached laterally to said case. The linking member has at the bottom thereof an indentation which is appreciably elbowed in longitudinal section and opens into a groove which is suitable for receiving the wrist strap pin and is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the wrist strap. A securing element, which is biased against said case and has an interlocking projection located therein, is arranged on the linking member in such a way that the securing element can assume two positions. In a first, secured position, the wrist strap pin is positioned in the groove in the linking member and the securing element prevents the linking member or the wrist strap from becoming detached from the wrist strap pin or from the case by means of the cooperation of said interlocking projection with the case. In a second, opened position, the wrist strap pin can be guided out of or into said groove.
US08235583B2
The invention relates to a mixing blade (6) consisting, of a base part (15) fixable to a shaft and a removable wearable element (12). The aim of said invention is to develop a more economical mixing blade. For this purpose, the wearable element (12) and the base part (15) overlap on at least 30% of the base part length and define different cross-sections of the mixing blade (6) in said area.
US08235574B2
In a light emitting device, LEDs are arranged in a line on a film which is provided with a conductor. The conductor connects the LEDs to a connector. The film is bent at a division line between a region where the LEDs are arranged and a region where the conductor is formed, and disposed on the inner surface of a reflector. A reflective material is arranged on a surface of the conductor region which faces to the LEDs.
US08235570B2
A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a main reflector having a convergent reflecting surface; a semiconductor-type light source; a projecting lens; an auxiliary reflector having a parabolic reflecting surface; a shade and a light shading member that are structured integrally with each other; and a switching device. By means of the switching device, the shade and light shading member, which are structured integrally with each other, are switched and positioned in a first location and a second location, thereby allowing light distribution patterns for high and low beams to be switched and illuminated toward a forward direction of a vehicle. As a result, the vehicle headlamp becomes capable of achieving downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.
US08235569B2
The invention provides a light assembly to enable various light functions, such as braking lights, tail lights, license plate lights, flashers, etc., using LEDs that consume low power and have a long service life. The LEDs are located on a single, two-sided printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces the assembly costs and the size of tail light, as well as the complexity of assembly.
US08235565B2
A vehicular lamp includes a first aiming mechanism and a second aiming mechanism that enable a lamp unit to be assembled to a vehicle body from the outside or the inside. The lamp body includes a pair of first vertical tilt axis structural members that are provided on a rear portion and engage with the vehicle body tiltably around a first horizontal tilt axis, and a pair of second vertical tilt axis structural members that are provided on both left and right sides and retained tiltably around a second horizontal tilt axis with respect to the vehicle body. The first aiming mechanism has a first optical axis adjusting portion that tilts the lamp unit around the first horizontal tilt axis via an aiming screw. The second aiming mechanism has a second optical axis adjusting portion that tilts the lamp unit around the second horizontal tilt axis via an aiming screw.
US08235558B1
An artificial candle has a delicate glowing shroud or sock that can flutter like a candle flame, and the shroud may surround a “wick” that can be seen through the shroud to glow. Such a diaphanous shroud can be actuated by a fan, air pump, solenoid or conductor, which can be provided adjacent to the shroud or distanced from the shroud, for example in a central body of a chandelier. The wick may be lighted by a light emitting diode (LED), and the shroud can include fluorescent material that absorbs and reradiates some of the light from the wick. The wick and the shroud can be coupled to a shaft that simulates a wax candle body. A standard threaded fitting can be provided so that the artificial candle can thread into a socket to replace a light bulb.
US08235552B1
A portable battery-powered device comprises a lamp unit pivotably attached to a front side of a housing. A radio unit is disposed within the housing. At least one speaker is electrically coupled to the radio unit and is disposed on the front side of the housing such that the lamp unit and the speaker face the same direction. A battery pack holder is disposed on a bottom side of the housing and is configured to retain a rechargeable battery pack.
US08235551B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) module and an LED packaging method. As the LED module is packaged under the consideration of candela distribution, each of the lead frames of the LED chips packaged in the LED module is bended for tilting the LED chips by different angles to exhibit various lighting effects. Meanwhile, in the LED packaging method, a plurality of LED chips can be loaded on board rapidly and aligned by one operation to result in less deviation in the candela distribution curve.
US08235549B2
A solid state lighting assembly includes a socket having a base wall having a first side and a second side, and a first cavity outward of the first side and a second cavity outward of the second side. Contacts are held by the base wall. The contacts have mating fingers extending into the first and second cavities. A lighting printed circuit board (PCB) is removably positioned within the first cavity with at least one lighting component configured to be powered when electrically connected to corresponding mating fingers of the contacts. The lighting PCB is initially loaded into the first cavity in an unmated position and moved in the first cavity to a mated position. A driver PCB is positioned within the second cavity and is electrically connected to corresponding mating fingers of the contacts. The driver PCB has a power circuit configured to supply power to the lighting PCB when electrically connected to the contacts.
US08235538B2
An LED device with high color-rendering index includes a substrate; three white light units arranged on the substrate, each of the white light units being an LED element that combines a blue light chip with fluorescent glue to produce a mixed light; and a red light unit arranged on the substrate among the three white light units and being an LED element that combines a red light chip with fluorescent powder to produced a mixed light. With the specific arrangement of positioning the red light unit among three white light units, a mixed light produced by the LED device is a visually comfortable warm white light with high color-rendering index. Therefore, the LED device can be used in an environment where a large quantity of LEDs are needed, so largely reduces the users' eye discomfort.
US08235531B2
A laser projection system comprising a laser source system configured to emit coherent light, an optical integrating system configured to uniformize coherent light it receives, a randomizing optical element configured to spatially move over time in order to temporally randomize the phase, angle or spatial location of coherent light it receives, an image forming system configured to interact with laser light that has been both uniformized by the optical integrating system and randomized by the randomizing optical element, thereby forming a laser light image, and a projection system configured to project the laser light image onto a viewing screen.
US08235529B1
Methods and systems for unlocking a screen using eye tracking information are described. A computing system may include a display screen. The computing system may be in a locked mode of operation after a period of inactivity by a user. Locked mode of operation may include a locked screen and reduced functionality of the computing system. The user may attempt to unlock the screen. The computing system may generate a display of a moving object on the display screen of the computing system. An eye tracking system may be coupled to the computing system. The eye tracking system may track eye movement of the user. The computing system may determine that a path associated with the eye movement of the user substantially matches a path associated with the moving object on the display and switch to be in an unlocked mode of operation including unlocking the screen.
US08235516B2
A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by enhancing coverage of the print pixels within solid printed areas to improve the print uniformity and decrease the graininess of the typical ink jet printing by dissolving a small percentage of the colorant and distributing more uniformly. The parameter improved by the invention is the graininess or uniformity of coverage. The contrast ratio within barcode data elements can be also improved without causing unwanted image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed barcode will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the barcode to be accurately read. The invention prevents also unwanted bleeding in areas where it could lower the quality of the printed material by avoiding application of enhanced coverage facilitators when desired white space is identified within a minimum distance.
US08235510B2
An ink cartridge apparatus for continuously supplying ink is provided, including a connection device, an exposed chip socket and a filtering device on an ink cartridge main body. The connection device is for connecting to an ink bottle and the filtering device is for filtering the impurity from the ink flowing from the ink bottle into ink cartridge main body. The exposed chip socket is for the user to replace the chip more conveniently. With the ink supply mechanism of ink bottle into ink cartridge main body, the ink cartridge main body can maintain good ink quality and when the threshold set by the chip is exceeded, the replacement of the chip can be done without removing the entire ink cartridge from the printer so as to achieve the object of continuously supplying ink.
US08235507B2
A droplet ejection head provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a KNbO3—NaNbO3 piezoelectric porcelain composition which exhibits a larger piezoelectric constant than those of conventional ones and does not have any secondary phase transition point in the neighborhood of room temperature (from 10 to 40° C.) and which is suitable for use in the piezoelectric actuator of a droplet ejection head, that is, a droplet ejection head characterized by being provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a piezoelectric porcelain composition represented by the general formula: (1−y−z−w)(KxNa1-x)NbO3+yLiNbO3+zSrTiO3+wBiFeO3, wherein (KxNa1-x)NbO3 represents potassium sodium niobate; LiNbO3 represents lithium niobate; SrTiO3 represents strontium titanate; and BiFeO3 represents bismuth ferrate; with the proviso that 0.4
US08235505B2
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel that includes an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel that includes a porous member located therein. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
US08235503B2
A semiconductor element substrate includes an electrode pad; a semiconductor element; and a connection heater for heating the electrode pad, wherein the connection heater is disposed in a range capable of heating the electrode pad up to a level capable of electrical connection.
US08235501B2
A liquid ejecting head unit includes: a plurality of liquid ejecting heads, each of which has a nozzle array in which nozzles ejecting liquid droplets are arrayed; a base plate to which the plurality of liquid ejecting heads are fixed in a state being positioned at predetermined positions thereof; and positioning pins which are fixed to the base plate and engaged with positioning holes formed in the liquid ejecting heads. Each of the positioning pins is held in a holding hole provided in a fixing plate fixed to the base plate. A reference plate is joined to a surface of each of the fixing plates. Further, in each of the reference plates, there are provided: an insertion hole in which the positioning pin is substantially inscribed; and a minute hole that serves as a reference for positioning the positioning pin to the base plate.
US08235498B2
A push latch cam is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with a intermittence gear, a cam driving gear for rotating a wiper support member cam rotates in connection with the rotation of the intermittence gear, and in a range in which the intermittence gear is engaged with a planetary gear, so that the intermittence gear can be rotated, a rotation range of the intermittence gear capable of opening and closing a atmosphere opening valve by the push latch mechanism and a rotation range of the intermittence gear in which the wiper is displaced by the rotation of the wiper support member cam are set in non-overlapped positions.
US08235490B2
A method is disclosed. The method includes performing a first print pass to print a first data point on a medium using a first set of ink jet nozzles and performing a second print pass to print the first data point on the medium with a second set of ink jet nozzles.
US08235485B2
The present invention prevents an element substrate from not operating normally in the case where the voltage supply from a power supply that applies a voltage to a logic circuit is unstable. The element substrate of the invention has unit for applying a first voltage to the logic circuit, and unit capable of applying a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and capable of operating the logic circuit.
US08235484B2
A web press printer includes a printbar supporting an array of printheads extending across a media web. The printbar includes a support member coupled to the printbar via one or more biasing mechanisms to locally counteract a deflection of the printbar at a location of one or more of the respective printheads along the printbar.
US08235481B2
An inkjet recording head includes a connection-state output circuit provided on the recording element substrate of a recording head, where the connection-state output circuit externally transmits data of the connection state of each of input signal ends. An output from the connection-state output circuit is activated when the same logic as that used when signals are pulled up and/or pulled down is used.
US08235474B2
An electric disk brake that prevents uneven abrasion of a disk rotor when the brake is not in operation. Rotation of an electric motor is slowed down by a differential speed reducing mechanism, and is converted to linear motion of a piston by a ball ramp mechanism. When the brake is not in operation, the piston is retracted by reverse rotation of the electric motor so that a predetermined pad clearance is maintained. When the brake is not in operation, a pad-retracting-control electric current is supplied to the electric motor so that the piston is biased backward while being maintained in one position. When the brake is not in operation, contact of the disk rotor with the brake pads due to runout of the disk rotor triggers smooth retracting of the piston, thereby preventing uneven abrasion of the disk rotor.
US08235472B2
A braking system for a motorcycle includes a pressure regulating unit interposed between hydraulic pressure generating unit and a wheel brake, a control unit which controls operation of the pressure regulating unit so as to regulate hydraulic pressure outputted from the hydraulic pressure generating unit and exert the regulated pressure on the wheel brake, a support fixing the pressure regulating unit to an engine body mounted on a body frame of the motorcycle, and an elastic member disposed between the support and the pressure regulating unit for reducing or preventing vibration of the engine body being transmitted to the pressure regulating unit.
US08235470B2
An apparatus for mining a mineral seam, comprising a motor, and a cutting drum carried on the frame for winning aggregate material from the mineral seam. The cutting drum encloses the motor, and a gear case drivingly connected between the motor and the cutting drum transmits power from the motor to the cutting drum. The gear case is also enclosed within the cutting drum.
US08235464B2
Seat to accommodate a child in a vehicle, the seat being adapted for secure connection to the vehicle e.g. to a conventional forward facing vehicle seat for an adult; the seat having a support portion (10) on which a child may sit, a rear portion (11) configured to restrict movements of the back of the child, and a headrest (12) configured to restrict movements of the back of the head of the child, in which a first upright member (15) is connected to a rear part of [or a rear extension to] the support portion (10) and a second upright member (16) is connected to a rear part of [or a rear extension to] the headrest (12), the upright members (15 and 16) being parallel to each other, and in which there is adjustment means to adjust the relative position of the headrest with respect to the support portion, the adjustment means comprising a rotary member (19) rotatable about a horizontal axis fixed with respect to the rear portion (11), the rotary member (19) having grips (27, 28) at its ends projecting sideways from the support portion within or behind the support portion and projecting detents (21,22) between the grips, the detents (21, 22) being arranged to engage facing slots (15a and 16a) of identical pitch apart in the first and second upright members, the arrangement being such that when the rotary member (19) is turned by the grips (27, 28), the rear portion (11) is raised by the pitch of the slots (15a and 16a), and the headrest (12) is raised by twice the pitch of the slots.
US08235462B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated seat with a valve sheet having one or more valve assemblies. The valve sheet maybe on a frame of the seat. The valve assemblies open in response to a force such as a force applied by an individual occupying the seat. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of thermally regulating a seat by occupying a seat with a valve sheet. By occupying the seat one or more valves assemblies open air moving though the open valve assemblies thermally regulates the seat.
US08235452B2
A window assembly for a vehicle includes a window panel comprising inner and outer surfaces terminating at a peripheral edge, An attachment member is adhesively bonded to the window panel at a mounting area of the inner surface by a layer of cured adhesive. The attachment member is a generally S-shaped metallic attachment member having a panel attachment flange, a vehicle attachment flange, and a leg disposed between the flanges and spacing the panel attachment flange from the vehicle attachment flange. The panel attachment flange is configured to conform to the inner surface of the window panel at the mounting area. A fastener at the vehicle attachment flange attaches the vehicle attachment flange to the vehicle to mount the window assembly at the vehicle. The fastener protrudes from the vehicle attachment flange and generally away from the panel attachment flange and the window panel.
US08235446B2
A folding vehicle seat is adapted to be stored on a first portion of a vehicle body floor and retained on the first portion by a retaining belt arrangement which includes a belt attached at its lower end to a vertical wall extending upward from the floor and a hook attached to an upper end of the belt. The upper end is inserted through a ring attached to the wall. The seat includes a seat cushion pivotally supported on a second portion of the floor and a seat back pivotally supported by the cushion, the cushion and back being adapted to be put together as a single body which is adapted to be pivoted from the second portion toward the first portion and has an engagement mechanism with which the hook is adapted to be engaged at the time when the body is stored on the first portion.
US08235445B2
A vehicle is provided with on-demand seating to allow maximum cargo space in the passenger compartment when the seats are not needed. The seating is lightweight and compact, maximizing available cargo space and minimizing mass and fuel economy impact. The flexible seat may be stowed within body structure defining the passenger compartment, such as side trim panels or a vehicle floor. The body structure supports the flexible seat in a deployed position in which the flexible seat extends from the body structure into the passenger compartment. Roller mechanisms mounted within the body structure allow the seat to extend and retract from the passenger compartment. The seats may be inflatable, and may include pneumatic foam.
US08235435B2
A handle for a kitchen utensil or the like includes a hand gripping section having a rearward push/pull valley with a varying, substantially elliptical cross-section that forms a floor, a push slope tapering up and forward from the floor, and a pull slope tapering up and back from the floor. The radial cross-sectional area of an end of the pull slope and a radial cross-sectional area of an end of the push slope each are substantially larger than a radial cross-sectional area of the floor. The handle section further includes a ring stop section disposed forward of the push/pull valley with one or more concentric rings extending above a surface of the handle member. The kitchen utensil includes a blade mating section disposed forward of the handle section and configured to receive a blade.
US08235431B2
A door furniture mounting assembly (10, 10′) including a relatively smaller rosette (12) with a handle side and a door side. The door side of the rosette (12) includes at least one exterior recess (24) adapted for rotational and axial engagement with at least one inwardly extending protuberance (32) on the door side of a relatively larger rosette sleeve (30).
US08235430B2
A window vent stop for use in a sliding sash window assembly or a sliding door assembly. The vent stop has a housing adapted to be disposed in a recess in the non-movable sash member. This housing includes a cavity with a bottom plate therein. The tumbler has at least one pivot for pivotally securing the tumbler to the housing for movement between an extended position, to prevent movement of the sliding member and a retracted position, to allow movement of the sliding member. Also within the housing is a spring for biasing the tumbler. The housing has one or more flexible members extending from the end walls of the housing that secure the housing to an opening in a window sash when a portion of the window sash is positioned between the underside of a lip on said housing and the flexible member.
US08235429B2
A fixing base is suitable to fix an electronic device having a locking hole. The fixing base includes a housing, a driving structure and a cam. The electronic device is suitable to be held in the housing. The driving structure is provided through the housing, and the cam is disposed in the housing. The cam has a hook, and the driving structure is fixedly connected to the cam. When the driving structure drives the cam to rotate, the hook is locked to the locking hole.
US08235423B2
An integrated pole-to-ski coupling arrangement that provides coupling formations on a ski pole and ski that releasably connect the pole and ski to create a unitary ski-pole combination that leaves the rear tail of the ski clear and unencumbered. A pole coupling formation may be placed on either the shaft or the grip of the pole, and a ski coupling formation may be placed on the boot bindings or attachments thereto. Optionally, the surface formation of the boot bindings may be employed as ski coupling formations. Multiple pole and ski coupling formations allow for a secure and rigid connection.
US08235416B2
In or for a vehicle, an arrangement for measuring weight of an occupant of a seat connected to a floor of the vehicle via a slide mechanism, the floor, in part, defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A support structure extends between the slide mechanism and the seat. A force sensing device is coupled to the support structure and configured for measuring force in the support structure indicative of weight applied by the occupant to the seat. The weight may be used for component control.
US08235415B2
Textile gas guides adapted for use with inflatable cushions and airbag systems are configured to be formed in a manner that reduces or eliminates the need for specialized equipment during manufacturing, and to be sufficiently reinforced to withstand damage during use. Such textile gas guides may comprise a second edge of a first fabric member overlapping and coupled with a shear seam to a portion of a third edge of a second fabric member. The third edge and a fourth edge of the second fabric member may be coupled together with a second seam sewed through the two edges of the second fabric member. The second fabric member at least substantially encompasses the first fabric member. Airbag systems employing such textile gas guides may include at least one inflatable cushion, a portion of which is coupled to the textile gas guide.
US08235402B2
A coupling device of a transport cart, through which the transport cart can be coupled to a structure of a supply panel for medical applications, wherein the supply panel can be positioned through a ceiling mount. The coupling device has a first and a second jaw that can be coupled to the structure of the supply panel, wherein, in order to couple the transport cart to the structure, the first jaw, via a first latching device, and the second jaw, via a second latching device, can be locked into a closed position (FIG. 6) from a stopped, uncoupled open position upon mechanical pressure contact with the structure.
US08235398B2
A method of operating a leaning vehicle is described. The method includes: determining a steering torque exerted on a steering assembly; determining a speed of travel of the vehicle; determining a leaning angle of a frame of the vehicle with respect to a reference angle; and exerting a leaning torque on the frame relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis in a first direction using an actuator in response to a steering torque exerted on the steering assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction when a speed of travel of the vehicle is above a threshold speed, thereby causing the vehicle to turn in the first direction.
US08235386B1
A sheet processing system, comprising a number of drums for processing sheets, one of the drums comprising a seam area and a non-seam area, a gap between the drums, an actuator for displacing one of the drums for setting the gap, a manager, comprising a memory and a processor, that regulates the actuator current when the non-seam area passes through a nip so as to maintain a nip pressure, and signals the actuator to adjust the gap according to a predetermined gap setpoint profile when the seam area passes through the nip.
US08235379B2
The present invention relates to a media separating device of an automatic media dispenser. According to the present invention, when a skew of a medium is detected when the medium is separated and conveyed, a pick-up bracket mounted with a pick-up roller is rotated in a direction away from the push plate, so that the pick-up bracket is separated from the medium which is ready to be received in the media box.
US08235377B2
A mailpiece unstacker device comprises a feed magazine for moving the mailpieces in a stack and on edge in a certain direction towards an unstacker head. It is provided with materials sensors for delivering signals indicating that a current mailpiece has a cover made of a plastics material and/or includes a metal material. A control unit forces the feed magazine and the unstacker head to operate as a function of the signals generated by the sensors so that the mailpieces are presented facing the unstacker head in positions that are inclined backwards to various extents.
US08235373B2
A multiplex gathering device is provided. The multiplex gathering device includes a first gatherer forming first gathered printed products on a first finishing line, the first finishing line having a trimmer and a second gatherer forming a second gathered printed products on a second finishing line, the second finishing line having a second trimmer. The multiplex gathering device also includes a collecting device which combines the first and second gathered printed products together, a first transporter transporting the first gathered products from the first line to the collecting device and a second transporter transporting the second gathered products from the second line to the collecting device. At least one controller is provided for the multiplex gathering device for controlling the first gatherer and second gatherer and for collecting the first and second printing products in a controlled manner on the collecting device.A method for a multiplex gathering device is also provided.
US08235372B2
A web guiding apparatus is provided. The web guiding apparatus includes an angle bar and an angle bar support supporting the angle bar. The angle bar support has a first end portion and a second end portion. The web guiding apparatus also includes a first actuator coupled to the angle bar support for moving the first end portion along a vertical axis and a second actuator coupled to the angle bar support for moving the second end portion along a horizontal axis. A folder for a printing press is also provided.
US08235367B2
An apparatus and associated method are provided for positioning a workpiece. A workpiece positioner has a fixed base, and a support member is connected to the base by a joint that permits selectively articulating the support member with respect to the base. A plate defines a feature sized for operably supporting the workpiece. A connector is used to connect the plate to the support member. The connector fixes the plate in articulation with the support member so that a selected articulation of the support member with respect to the base defines a corresponding plane in which the plate is disposed. The connector also permits sliding movement of the plate in any direction within the corresponding plane to orient the workpiece in a desired position.
US08235361B2
A structured packing for a reactor is formed from a metal sheet to promote heat and mass transfer near the wall of the reactor. The structured packing causes lateral flow of fluids flowing through the packing such that jet impingement of at least one reactor wall is promoted. The packing may be used in a cylindrical, annular or plate-type reactor, e.g., a catalytic reactor, or a heat exchanger.
US08235359B2
Crash attenuator guardrail apparatus includes an impact head and a backstop having a cable and guardrails supported by guardrail supports located between the impact head and the backstop. Frictional forces are applied to the cable to control and resist movement of the impact head toward the backstop and provide lateral resistance. The guardrail supports include a base having break away structure and brace members having bends and which shorten or lengthen to absorb energy resulting from vehicle impact.
US08235358B2
A cord aligning device formed with a plurality of guide holes allowing cords to be separately inserted therethrough is provided. Each of the guide holes includes a feed port into which a cord is fed, a delivery port from which the cord is delivered, an introducing portion provided continuously with the feed port, and a delivery portion provided between the introducing portion and the delivery port. The introducing portion is formed such that the area of a cross-section vertical to a centerline thereof is reduced gradually toward the delivery portion from the feed port, the area of a cross-section of the delivery portion vertical to a centerline thereof is uniform along the centerline over its total length, and the delivery portion is formed in a linear fashion. Moreover, the delivery portions of the plurality of guide holes are juxtaposed in a predetermined direction so as to form rows parallel to each other.
US08235357B2
A valve gear in which corrosion due to a potential difference does not occur and which can reduce the corrosion occurrence even when loads due to microvibrations are given. The valve gear includes a valve stem and a valve bush that slidably supports the valve stem. The valve stem is formed from a forged part made of a Ni-based superalloy and the valve bush is formed from a cast part made of a Ni-based superalloy. The preferable surface roughness of a sliding surface of the valve stem in contact with the valve bush and the preferable surface roughness of a sliding surface of the valve bush in contact with the valve stem is 100 μM or less in units of Rz.
US08235350B2
A hydraulic unit support structure includes a bracket (40) having a slot (50) and seat surfaces formed around the slot, and a shock-absorbing member (70) attached to the hydraulic unit (10). The shock-absorbing member (70) is fitted into the slot (50) of the bracket so that the hydraulic unit is supported on the bracket by the shock-absorbing member. The shock-absorbing member has a small-diameter portion (74) inserted into the slot of the bracket and large-diameter portions (76, 78) making contact with the seat surfaces of the bracket around the slot. The slot of the bracket has an insertion-fit region (52) formed at one end of the slot in the long-axis direction and a reduced width region formed at a position spaced apart from the one end in the long-axis direction by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the small-diameter portion.
US08235345B2
Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving thermally isolated retention are provided. In this regard, a representative method for attaching a gas turbine engine component includes using a fastener, varying in diameter along a length thereof, to prevent a portion of a component from being crimped between surfaces to which the component is attached such that the component moves relative to the surfaces responsive to thermal cycling of a gas turbine engine of which the surfaces and the component are constituent parts.
US08235342B2
A mounting system for an interface such as a flat panel display such as a computer monitor or television allows the display to be pivoted about a virtual pivot axis which passes through a center of gravity of the display. The system includes a support which is connected directly or indirectly to a support surface and a mount which is connected to a back side of the display. The support and the mount are slidable with respect to one another through an arc which has the virtual pivot axis as its center.
US08235328B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a flight control system for controlling an aircraft during flight. The flight control system may include a primary controller configured to receive an input from a pilot and to output a primary control signal and a primary transmission path connected to the primary controller and configured to relay the primary control signal. The flight control system may also include a backup controller configured to receive the input from the pilot and to output a backup control signal and a backup transmission path connected to the backup controller and configured to relay the backup control signal. Additionally, the flight control system may include an actuator having a remote electronics unit configured to receive the primary control signal and the backup control signal and to determine if the primary control signal is available and valid. The remote electronics unit may be configured to output an actuator command based on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is available and valid and to output the actuator command based on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is unavailable or invalid.
US08235327B2
Adjustable servomechanism assemblies and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An unmanned aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a movable mechanism and a servomechanism assembly operably coupled to the movable mechanism. The system also includes an interface assembly operably coupled to an output shaft of the servo and the movable mechanism. The interface assembly includes an adapter portion carried by the output shaft and an output arm releasably engaged with the adapter portion. The adapter portion includes a first aperture having a non-round surface mated with a non-round surface of the output shaft, and a generally smooth, non-splined, engagement surface. The output arm includes a second aperture sized to receive at least a portion of the outer surface of the adapter portion. The second aperture includes generally smooth inner surface in contact with and rotatable through 360 degrees relative to the engagement surface of the adapter portion.
US08235326B2
An aircraft landing gear comprising a fibre optic load sensor for monitoring load in a component of the landing gear, such as an axle. The fibre optic cable is mounted on an inner surface of the component of the landing gear. Typically the fibre optic load sensor comprises one or more Bragg Grating sensors.
US08235323B2
A reel for a microphone cable, amplifier cable or other electronic cord or cable has an arbor or hub that divides the reel into an interior space and a winding space. The cable leading end connector cable is retained in the interior space. Turns of the main body of the cable are coiled in the winding space. The rims of the reel side disks have annular retaining beads or ridges that face one another and create a snap connector holder for the trailing end connector. A gap in the retaining beads aligned with the arbor opening permits insertion of the leading end connector. The reel can be available in a range of sizes and can be color-coded. The reel can be constructed of two identical molded reel halves.
US08235318B2
A mill liner element is structured with an elongated elastomer member having a non-elastomeric backing plate and a plurality of non-elastomeric inserts formed into the elastomer member to provide a liner element that provides a lifter bar element and a wear element that is less prone to cracking compared to conventional all-metal mill lining elements, and which provides ease of handling and replacement when worn. A multiplicity of mill liner elements are positionable in a grinding mill shell, and are suitable for use in a variety of types of grinding mill structures, including ball mills and AG and SAG mills.
US08235317B2
An adjustable grinder, includes a container, a stator, a rotor, a drum, and a rotary slide. The container can hold a product to be ground. The stator is positioned on the container. The rotor is positioned opposite to the stator and can rotate with respect to the stator. The stator and the rotor each contain at least two rows of teeth to grind the product therebetween. The drum is positioned around the rotor. The rotary slide includes a pointer that can be adjusted such that a distance between the stator and the rotor increases or decreases. Additionally, the stator may include at least two extended teeth.
US08235313B2
A method of making frac sand having a selected grade from a naturally occurring, mined sand having a SiO2 content of at least about 80 percent and having a particle size range where the maximum particle size is less than about 8.0 mm, comprising: crushing the mined sand into an intermediate particulate material; screening the particulate material into a feedstock with particles having a particle size coarser than about 350 mesh and initial values for roundness and sphericity of the particles; passing the particles of the feedstock through a blast tube with an outlet to pneumatically abrade the particles and propel the feedstock in a stream under a given pressure from the outlet; directing the pressurized stream against a fixed target located at a given distance from said outlet to physically abrade the particles to form an output mass containing abraded particles: and, repeating operations (c) and (d) a number of times or process stages until the particles resulting from the repeatedly abraded output mass is a final output mass having both processed roundness and sphericity values of at least 0.6 and wherein the values are greater than the initial values of the feedstock by at least about 0.10 to 0.50.
US08235312B2
Disclosed is an electrostatic atomizer, which comprises a high-voltage applying section adapted to apply a high voltage between an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode so as to electrostatically atomize water supplied onto the atomizing electrode, wherein the high-voltage applying section is operable to set an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the atomizing electrode smaller than an absolute value of a voltage to be applied to the counter electrode. This allows a physical object, such as an article stored in a mist-receiving space or an inner wall of a structural member defining the mist-receiving space to become less likely to be electrostatically charged, and makes it possible to avoid causing a problem about discomfort due to discharge of static charges when a user touches the physical object.
US08235310B2
A spraying device is provided that includes a cartridge containing a first fluid, the cartridge being removably connected to a sprayer body. The cartridge is oriented such that gravity exerts a downward force on the first fluid. The sprayer body includes a conduit for receiving a second fluid. A valve is coupled to the conduit. The valve allows the second fluid to flow through the valve, thus creating a Venturi vacuum that draws the first fluid out of the cartridge and into the valve to enable the first and second fluids to mix and form an outlet stream. An orifice meters a predetermined amount of the first fluid into the valve to achieve a predetermined ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid. The outlet stream is then dispensed from a spray nozzle.
US08235301B2
Described is a dosimeter sled comprising: one or more optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensors mounted in the dosimeter sled and an RFID tag comprising an antenna for communicating with an RFID tag reader and a non-volatile memory for storing data therein.
US08235300B2
Each printed sheet product includes a core of flexible, microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The microvoided sheet material collapses around the core so the sheet product remains planar. Scoring defines one or more individual identification elements removable from a remainder of the sheet product that include at least a first element with RFID assembly but only part of the core. A separate magnetic strip storing its own unique data magnetically can be provided on the first removable element even at least partially overlying the RFID assembly for independent identification operation.
US08235293B2
Barcodes stored by mobile devices can be used in commerce. In sending barcode data optically from a display backlight of a mobile communication device to a barcode scanner optical receiver, the transmitted data bit time needs to be compatible with the frequency range the barcode scanner is designed to receive. The disclosed methods and mobile devices can send barcode data optically at different frequencies from a modulated display backlight to different models/makes of laser barcode scanners that may be used at a point of sale (POS). The disclosed are methods and devices for processing the bit time mix choices make a determination of bit time mix choices based upon predetermined criteria. Location of the device is an example of predetermined criteria. A location may have a particular bit time mix signature that may be accessed, for example, in a look up table.
US08235287B2
A read head system has a housing and a read positioned in the housing with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card with the slot utilized to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head includes an output jack configured to be coupled to at least one of a audio jack or microphone port of a mobile device. The read head provides the signal to the mobile device. The slot is oriented and sized to reduce torque applied on the read head as the financial transaction card is swiped through slot in order to maintain accuracy and reliability of the data read by the read head. Decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters.
US08235276B2
In an ultrasonic bonding method of an electric wire in which the electric wire 1 in which a conductor end 7 made of plural core wires is exposed and a metallic connection terminal 19 formed by erecting two side walls 27 from a bottom surface are prepared and the conductor end is bonded to the connection terminal by applying ultrasonic vibration while the conductor end of the electric wire is positioned in the bottom surface between the two side walls of the connection terminal and is pushed, a cross section of the conductor end of the electric wire is made by being molded by press so that a thickness of a width direction between the side walls becomes thin toward at least one of the side positioned in the bottom surface of the connection terminal and the side to which the ultrasonic vibration is applied.
US08235261B1
A foldable coat hanger, which is constructed to be easily folded and unfolded as desired, so that the volume thereof can be reduced as desired and the space-related problem occurring in the use of the conventional hangers can be solved. Further, the size of the coat hanger can be stepwisely adjusted between a plurality of size stages, so that the size of the coat hanger can be appropriately adjusted according to the size of a garment, thus efficiently fitting garments having different sizes and efficiently hanging and protecting the garments.
US08235257B2
A food storage container with emptying mechanism is described. The emptying mechanism includes a platform that may be raised within the container to advance food product toward the container opening. The platform is raised by actuation of a turn wheel at the bottom outer surface of the container. Existing containers may be retrofitted to incorporate the emptying mechanism.
US08235251B2
The invention relates to cured (meth)acrylate based adhesive composition, comprising at least two co-continuous phases of interpenetrating networks and at least two types of polymeric inclusions, in which one of the co-continuous phases comprises a polymer or copolymer based on at least one acrylic or methacrylic acid monomer or a derivative thereof. These compositions exhibit better facture toughness, especially at low temperatures.
US08235234B2
The stopper (2) engages with a ring-shaped neck in a press fit in a container (1) and has a circular bottom section which seals the container opening, and a head section which rises above the container and encompasses a slide (3) that extends through the center of the head section, the rim of the head section having a maximum diameter that does not exceed the external diameter of the container opening. The stopper is characterized in that the slide can be pushed against the force of a spring device in one direction over the rim of the container and, when released, returns to its retracted initial position as a result of the spring resistance. The stopper cannot be removed from the container by small children and is therefore considered childproof.
US08235233B2
A container for over-the-counter drugs or the like that includes a cylindrical plastic bottle with a closure. The closure including a cap and a ring that mates with the mouth of the bottle. The cap ring has a tongue that mates with a capture structure on the cap in a child resistant configuration. The tongue being lockable by a pad lock to block access by unwanted adults and teenagers. The tongue having a senior friendly configuration also.
US08235227B2
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base, a locking assembly, and an electronic control unit the triggers the locking assembly, locking the door from opening and stopping the pusher from moving product forward to the door.
US08235224B2
Disclosed is a knockdown shelving system which comprises a plurality of connected shelves with storage compartments that are configured to store vehicle wheels or tires upright and parallel to each other. Vertical posts are located at each corner of the connected shelves and shared between adjacent shelves. The vertical posts are formed of a rolled hollow T-profile which comprises rows of longitudinally spaced perforations that extend along the vertical posts. The vertical posts are connected by lengthwise and crosswise struts, the struts having hooks which engage the perforations of the vertical posts. Storage compartments for tires or wheels are formed by tire carriers which are placed onto lengthwise struts and extend parallel between front and rear vertical posts, and by crosswise struts which extend perpendicular to the tire carriers between two front vertical posts and two rear vertical posts, respectively.
US08235221B2
Liquid filter assemblies including an upper sample reservoir, a sample filter and a lower storage bottle are supported by a vacuum base. The base has a vacuum inlet port and, for connection to the liquid filter assembly, a vacuum outlet port. A vacuum is provided through the base to below the sample filter to draw sample liquid through the sample filter into the storage bottle. The base may include an auxiliary vacuum outlet port for connection with additional devices. The bases may be connected from one to another through auxiliary vacuum outlets and the vacuum inlets to make a chain of liquid filter assemblies supplied from one vacuum source. Alternatively, one base may include multiple vacuum outlet ports so that it may support and supply vacuum to a plurality of liquid filter assemblies.
US08235220B2
A separator includes: a channel having a first surface; a plurality of columnar members formed on the first surface and having a cross section in the shape of a crescent, the plurality of columnar members being arranged in a row direction along a longitudinal direction of the channel, and in a column direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the channel, the columnar members that belong to the same row from among the plurality of columnar members being disposed so that the crescents face the same direction in the column direction, the columnar members that belong to a single row being disposed so that the crescents face the opposite direction in the column direction with respect to the crescents of the columnar members that belong to the adjacent row; and a substance that specifically binds to a separation target, and is disposed on side surfaces of the plurality of columnar members.
US08235219B2
The device according to the invention for separating or classifying material to be fed into at least two different grain fractions comprises a screen device, which is formed by rotatable elements, particularly a roller table screen, wherein at least one finer grain fraction passes between the rotatable elements and means are provided for cooling the rotatable elements.
US08235217B2
A bulk container comprises a one piece base, a cap and a peripheral side wall. The base includes a generally rectangular bottom wall, a plurality of longitudinal rails extending below the bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall defines an upwardly opening channel. The cap includes an inner wall connected to an outer wall defining a downwardly opening channel complimentary with the upwardly opening channel. The peripheral side wall is received in the upwardly opening channel and the downwardly opening channel to define a parallelepiped interior space.
US08235212B2
A mask transport system is configured to transport a mask into and out of a lithographic apparatus. The mask transport system includes a first container configured to shield a top side and a bottom side of the mask. At least a portion of the container is at least partially translucent for radiation having a predetermined wavelength used to detect contamination on the top side or the bottom side of the mask when the mask is shielded by the first container. The mask transport system also includes a second container configured to enclose the first container. The second container includes a first part defining a first opening and an openable cover that covers the first opening. The cover is configured to open and release the first container within the lithographic apparatus or at an interface with the lithographic apparatus.
US08235194B2
A synchronizing clutch having a component carrier, wherein the component carrier accepts a splined shaft therethrough and interact with the splined shaft to allow transfer of rotation between the splined shaft and the component carrier while also allowing the component carrier to slide axially along the splined shaft relative to an associated friction plate. The component carrier includes a plurality of friction members pivotably coupled within walled recesses of the component carrier, such that when the component carrier is urged toward the associated friction plate, at least a portion of the contact surface of the friction members initially contacts a surface of the friction plate and, as the component carrier continues to be urged toward the associated friction plate, each friction member is rotated, such that at least a portion of the contact surface of each friction member continues to contact a surface of the friction plate.
US08235192B2
A clutch unit, which has at least one wet clutch that is arranged in a housing, which is driven by a drive unit. The clutch is effectively connected to an input part. To simultaneously associate a torsional vibration damper, e.g. a centrifugal pendulum, with the input part, a support disk of the torsional vibration damper is connected to the input part so that no or only minor vibrations are generated, allowing the frequency of the torsional vibration damper to be sufficiently adjusted. For this purpose, at least one plate support is connected to a single support disk which is fixedly mounted on the clutch hub and is thus made rigid. Preferably, the plate support further reduces vibration tolerance.
US08235181B2
An cable drive device (10) having a motor (M), a speed reducer (G), a nut member (26) connected to the speed reducer, a rod (32) screwed to the nut member (26) and guided by a guide member (34) so as not to rotate, a control cable (15) composed of an inner cable (45) connected to the rod and a guide tube (49) for guiding the inner cable, a sensor for detecting the amount of operation of the cable based on the amount of rotation of the speed reducer (G), and a load sensor (17) for detecting a load applied to the cable. An electric brake device can be obtained by connecting the control cable and a brake mechanism of the cable drive device (10).
US08235180B2
An elevator system and a brake control circuit include a first switch that controls the electricity supply of the winding of the brake, which switch is connected in a controlled manner with the control of the electricity supply of the winding of the brake, and thus the braking function is controlled.
US08235179B2
An elevator includes hoisting ropes and a compensating device. The hoisting ropes include first rope portions under a first rope tension that go upward from an elevator car and second rope portions under a different, second rope tension that go downward from the elevator car. The compensating device acts in substantially opposite directions on the first and second rope portions in order to do one or more of the following: equalize the first, second, or first and second rope tensions; compensate the rope tensions between the first and second rope tensions; equalize rope elongation in the first, second, or first and second rope portions; compensate the rope elongations between the first and second rope portions; and render a ratio of the first rope tension to the second rope tension substantially constant. The compensating device produces an auxiliary force acting substantially in a same direction as the first rope tension.
US08235176B2
A lubrication and scavenge system for a gas turbine, capable continued operation in nose-down or nose-up orientations, has a number of oil drainage passages to return oil to one or more collection chambers adjacent a rolling element bearing. A rotary impellor in the chamber forces the oil into a scavenge off-take passageway in the chamber wall leading to a scavenge pump. However, in some orientations windage effects in the chamber can return the oil to the drainage passage rather than permitting the impellor to centrifuge it into the off-take passageway. As a result oil starvation may occur. To avoid this and improve scavenging a shield is located between the drainage path and the off-take passageway adjacent to a face of the impellor. The shield may comprise an additional member, but preferably is formed integrally with a bearing race so as to ease assembly.
US08235169B2
A device has at least one region to be damped for the purpose of noise reduction. The at least one region may, in particular, be a wall region, for instance of an electrical device housing, and it is covered at least partially by at least one vacuum panel. In the noise reduction method, a vacuum panel is pulled by vacuum pressure against the region to be damped, so that a hollow space under vacuum pressure is formed between the vacuum panel and a housing.
US08235168B2
A speaker diaphragm is configured by a compound mixed with resin and bamboo fiber. The diaphragm satisfying the advantage of the bamboo fiber of high sound quality and a large degree of freedom in the setting of the characteristic value of the diaphragm and the advantage of the diaphragm made of a resin with improved humidity resistance reliability and strength, excellent external appearance, and enhanced productivity and dimension stability is obtained.
US08235166B2
A rotational speed superimposition device for a vehicle steering system is proposed, having an output shaft (2) which is aligned towards the input shaft (1) in its axial direction (22), having a first carrier arrangement (6) which rotatably positions the output shaft (2) and the input shaft (1) at least partly supported, having an auxiliary drive (5, 10) with a rotor (5) which is connected in an operative, torque-proof manner to a first gear element (4) of a superimposition gear unit (7), and having a second carrier arrangement (11) which is arranged in a fixed manner on the chassis and which holds the auxiliary drive (5, 10) and supports the rotor (5) so that it can rotate, wherein the rotor (5) of the auxiliary drive (5, 10) coaxially surrounds the output shaft (2) and/or the input shaft (1), and wherein the superimposition gear unit (7) transmits the rotational speed of the rotor (5) to the rotational speed of the output shaft (2) at a rotational speed ratio that is less than 1. Improved noise damping is achieved because an intermediate piece (3) is arranged between the rotor (5) and the first gear element (4) in such a way that the rotor (5) is connected in an operative manner to the first gear element (4) in the rotational direction only by interconnecting the intermediate piece (3).
US08235164B2
A snowmobile includes steering handlebars; a steering column attached to the steering handlebars and extending directly downward or obliquely downward; a power steering device having a motor and attached to the steering column; a power transmission mechanism arranged to transmit at least the driving force of the motor; and a ski coupled to the power transmission mechanism to be turned by the power transmission mechanism. The power steering device includes a sensor arranged to detect the rotation of the steering column. The motor has a motor shaft tilted from both the fore and aft direction and the left and right direction of the vehicle.
US08235161B2
A steering system includes a steered tire and a steering control device that controls the steered tire from a first operating position. Further including a steering control mount that supports the steering control device and is configured to allow the steering control device to rotate to a second operating position opposite the first position. An interlock is operable to disable the steering control device as it rotates between the first and second operating positions. A method detecting a position of a steering control that is configured to provide a steering function of a vehicle in either of a first or a second operating position, where the first position is oriented opposite that of the second operating position. Further receiving an interlock signal and enabling the steering function and a traction function when the interlock signal indicates that the position of the steering control is in the first or second operator position and disabling when the steering control is not an operating position.
US08235155B2
A radiator mounting arrangement on a utility vehicle with an injection molded top tank and bottom tank, the top tank having a plurality of integrally molded features extending upwardly therefrom. A wire form is attached to a frame member of the utility vehicle and engages the integrally molded features without fasteners.
US08235153B2
The motorized wheelbarrow has longitudinally extending frame members, which extend into handle portions. Resting height adjustment of the wheelbarrow is achieved with a pair of tubular legs cooperatively attached to a wheelbarrow support strut and a support strut brace. A wheel is secured proximate the front end of the wheelbarrow to mounting points on a wheel frame. An electric motor is attached to a front portion of the support frame members underneath a load rack or load bucket, depending on the barrow type. A battery is attached under the support frame proximate the motor. A drive mechanism consisting of a chain and sprocket is operably linked to a wheel sprocket and to the electric motor. A disk brake assembly having a disk rotor and caliper is disposed on the wheel and frame for engagement with the wheel and is operably engaged to a control mechanism for safe wheelbarrow stopping.
US08235152B2
A tow apparatus for moving an aircraft comprising a frame, a drive member, a contact wheel configured to engage with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft, a transmission portion, a shaft engageable with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft, and a torque arm rotatably supported by the frame. The transmission portion can be configured such that the drive wheels transfer and increase a rotational force produced by the drive member to the contact wheel. The shaft can be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the contact wheel so as to bring the contact wheel into contact with the nosewheel of the aircraft. The torque arm can substantially prevent the rotation of the tow apparatus relative to the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft when the torque arm is engaged with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft. The drive member can have a portable power source.
US08235144B2
An expansion and sensing tool (50) comprising a tool body, cutter blocks and sensors which permit simultaneous underreaming and measurement of the diameter of a wellbore (40) drilled by an oil and gas rig (10). Radially extendable cutter blocks (62) incorporating positional sensors (80) contained on the block or within the body measure the position of the cutter block relative to the tool, and a vibration sensor (76) measures vibration and underreaming wellbore dimensions in real-time. Receivers, sensors and microprocessors deliver a desired wellbore depth both simultaneously comparing and correlating measured vibration data and optimizing underreaming parameters. The tool may be optionally configured with a caliper or a stabilizer.
US08235142B2
A method and system for controlling a horizontal directional drilling machine having a boring tool. A rate of rotation and a rate of thrust are selected by an operator. Controls allow an automatic boring operation mode to be initiated to maintain the selected rate of rotation and thrust without further input from the operator. Periodically, when the rotation and thrust are interrupted, such as to modify the drill string, the automatic boring operation mode is interrupted. The automatic boring operation mode may be resumed without requiring the operator to select the rate of rotation and rate of thrust. The rate of rotation is resumed before the rate of thrust to reduce drill string shock loads and increase drilling performance.
US08235137B2
A power tool (10) is described which has several modes of operation, such as drilling and screw driving modes. A clutch is provided with various settings for adjusting the torque at which the clutch interrupts power to a spindle (18). Furthermore, a two speed gearbox (16) is provided for adjusting the speed of the spindle. All of these variables are controllable from a single adjustment member or collar (26) thereby reducing necessary decisions needed to be made by an operator for a particular job in hand. For instance, when an operator wants the tool to operate in a screw driving mode, the gearbox is automatically set to drive the spindle at a low speed with the clutch being operable to interrupt drive when a torque force applied to the spindle exceeds a threshold value. Furthermore, if the tool is required to operate in a drilling mode, the gearbox is automatically switched to drive the spindle at a higher speed and the clutch is automatically rendered inoperable.
US08235135B1
A tool supporting bar for supporting tools on an implement comprises an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior and including a side wall portion. The bar includes a reinforcing wall located in the interior of the perimeter wall and mounted on the perimeter wall in a manner effective to increase bending resistance of the perimeter wall to a force applied in a direction normal to a plane of one of the side wall portion. A method of forming a tool bar comprises providing an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior and including a one side wall portion; positioning a reinforcing wall in the interior of the perimeter wall; and mounting the reinforcing wall on the perimeter wall in a manner effective to increase bending resistance of the perimeter wall to a force applied in a direction normal to a plane of the side wall portion.
US08235132B2
Plows and methods of fabricating plows are provided. The plow includes an elongated frame. One or more shear assemblies are affixed to the frame in a spaced relationship along a length of the frame, wherein each of the one or more shear assemblies includes a shearing blade disposed at a distal end of the shear assembly and configured to operate below the surface of the soil to sever the roots of planted vegetation as the plow is pulled through a field. One or more cylinder assemblies are rotatably affixed to the frame and positioned parallel to the one or more shear assemblies and configured to rotate as the plow is pulled through a field. The one or more cylinder assemblies include a plurality of radially extending cylinder blades configured to mulch the soil and press the severed vegetation into the soil.
US08235130B2
An agricultural implement has a depth control system in which a position sensor directly measures linear translation of a hydraulic cylinder that lifts and lowers the implement frame to set and adjust the depth of the implement frame. The position sensor may be positioned adjacent to or integrally formed with the hydraulic cylinder, and provides a voltage to a controller remote from the implement. The controller automatically adjusts the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic cylinder to maintain the depth of the implement frame at an operator-selected level.
US08235113B2
A method of increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a highly fractured reservoir uses the steps of injecting into the reservoir a membrane-forming fluid to form a membrane over the surface of at least part of exposed formation, injecting into the reservoir a fluid to establish a chemical potential gradient across the membrane and letting fluid enter the formation across the membrane to increase the pressure inside the formation and to force additional hydrocarbon from the formation.
US08235102B1
A torch apparatus for consuming a material having a fuel load that produces heat and a source of oxygen when burned, and a plurality of slots having interstitial spaces therebetween for allowing longitudinal flow of fluid along the torch apparatus without interfering with the flow of fluid through the slots. The slots are oriented such that the heat and source of oxygen are provided to a material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and oxygen, to thereby cause destruction of an object containing the material or disengagement of the object such that it falls into the wellbore.
US08235091B2
The present invention provides an amorphous ribbon take-up roll switching and method which use a take-up device provided with a plurality of take-up rolls magnetized on their surfaces so as to take up an amorphous alloy ribbon during which it is possible to simply and inexpensively switch take-up rolls stably without ribbon breaking, uneven take-up, or other trouble regardless of the amount of take-up, that is, a method of taking up amorphous ribbon having a magnetic property cast using a cooling roll by using two or more take-up rolls, which amorphous ribbon switching method characterized by, when switching the take-up rolls, bringing the amorphous ribbon into contact with the next take-up roll and cutting the amorphous ribbon being taken up in the state with the next take-up roll brought into proximity with the cooling roll or separating the next take-up roll and the cooling roll and cutting the amorphous ribbon between the take-up roll and the next take-up roll.
US08235086B2
A multi-section screen system includes a first of the flexible sheets of screen material that has zipper teeth along at least one side edge and a neighboring second flexible sheet of screen material that has mating zipper teeth along an abutting side edge. Mechanisms retract and deploy each of the flexible sheets in unison. A fastener is fixedly disposed between each two of the mechanisms. The fasteners automatically join the zipper teeth with the mating zipper teeth as the mechanisms deploy the flexible sheets and the fasteners automatically disengaging the zipper teeth from the mating zipper teeth as the mechanisms retract the flexible sheets.
US08235070B2
A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position.
US08235067B2
An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.
US08235060B2
A cosmetic apparatus comprising a self-adhesive cosmetic application guard and/or stencil provided, which comprise an upper edge, a lower edge, an extended flap, a front surface and a rear surface. The upper edge is shaped according to a natural curvature of a human lower eyelid. A texture of one or both of the front surface and the rear surface enables the self-adhesive cosmetic application guard and/or stencil to self-adhere to a users' skin. The extended flap enables grasping so as to avoid contact with areas of cosmetic application during removal from the users face. The front surface and the rear surface may comprise silica material, and may be glossy so that it firmly adheres to the users' skin without use of any additional adhesive product or material. The texture of one or both of the front surface and the rear surface a non-slip surface having a dull finish.
US08235052B2
The present application is directed to a mouth guard to protect the user's teeth and/or jaw. It is important that the mouth guard fit tightly and properly in order to fully protect the user. The present invention achieves the proper fit by having cilia in the cavity that comes in contact with the user's teeth. These cilia move to allow the mouth guard to fit tightly and properly. In addition, the mouth guard of the present invention may contain flavoring such as Gatorade, bubble gum flavoring, as well as the traditional cherry, orange and grape that can be released into the oral cavity of the user while wearing the mouth guard. This allows the user to taste the flavoring while using the mouth guard.
US08235047B2
The invention described is directed to an intracorporeal occluding device having elements with non-traumatic ends and devices, systems and methods for occluding the lumens of anatomical passageways and/or for delivering drugs or other substances to the bodies of human or animal subjects.
US08235043B2
Disclosed is a manually operable volume-adjustable ventilation device. The device includes a reservoir with an inlet mechanism, an outlet mechanism, and a volume adjuster configured to move a volume adjustment limit of the reservoir and change an expressed maximum volume of the reservoir. The reservoir has a body having a plurality of movable walls defining an enclosed volume. The reservoir has an uncompressed state and a compressed state. The walls of the reservoir are movable with respect to each other, such that moving the walls expresses the volume adjustment limit of the reservoir. The walls can be operably connected by movable structures configured such that two adjacent walls are configured to rotate around substantially orthogonal axes with respect to each other when the reservoir moves from an uncompressed to a compressed state. In some embodiments, the movable structures can be hinges, such as snap-fit assembly hinges. Methods of ventilating a patient that involve the device are also disclosed.
US08235037B2
The present invention provides novel condensation aerosols for the treatment of disease and/or intermittent or acute conditions. These condensation aerosols have little or no pyrolysis degradation products and are characterized by having an MMAD of between 1-3 microns. These aerosols are made by rapidly heating a substrate coated with a thin film of drug having a thickness of between 0.05 and 20 μm, while passing a gas over the film, to form particles of a desirable particle size for inhalation. Kits comprising a drug and a device for producing a condensation aerosol are also provided. The device contained in the kit typically, has an element for heating the drug which is coated as a film on the substrate and contains a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form, and an element allowing the vapor to cool to form an aerosol. Also disclosed, are methods for using these aerosols and kits.
US08235027B2
A vent-on-demand fuel sump and vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump are provided. The fuel sump may include a pressurized vessel and at least two sensors configured to detect a level of fuel within the vessel. A valve coupled to the vessel may be configured to release air and/or fuel vapor to the atmosphere. The fuel sump may also include a programmable electronic controller configured to modulate the valve between a closed position and an open position based on signals received from the sensors corresponding to the fuel level. The valve may be configured to remain in the closed position until the fuel level drops below a predetermined level and the controller sends a signal to open the valve to release air and/or fuel vapor from the vessel into the atmosphere. The vehicle fuel system having such a fuel sump may include a fuel container and an engine having an intake. The pressurized vessel of the fuel sump may include a fuel inlet coupled to the fuel container and a fuel outlet coupled to the engine intake.
US08235023B2
The invented engine comprises a working cylinder with a piston, pre-ignition chamber with spark plug and a combustion chamber which is cylindrical in shape, a fuel-air mixture injector, which is a compressor cylinder with a piston and fuel delivery device and channels for supplying the fuel and air into the combustion chamber. It also has channels for injection of the fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber. There is a check valve between the fuel supply channel and the compressor cylinder. The pre-ignition chamber has the shape of a cup or flattened cone. The diameter of the base of the pre-ignition chamber equals the diameter of the combustion chamber. The engine has one or more pairs of channels for delivering the fuel-air mixture to the combustion chamber. The axes of these channels are paired and angled towards each other. The angle between the axes of these channels and the axis of the combustion chamber is selected within the interval between the crossing point of the axes of these channels on the central electrode of the ignition plug and the crossing point of the axis of the combustion chamber with the bottom of the working piston in its top dead point position. The invention provides for improving operation stability of the engine, reducing fuel consumption rate and reducing the toxicity of the exhaust gases by increasing homogeneity of the fuel-air mixture.
US08235021B2
A device for supplying an internal combustion engine (1), comprising a carburettor (72) and an air filter (71) installed on an air intake line (70), through which the air filtered by the filter (71) is conveyed into the carburettor (72), and an anti-backflow element (8) located in series on the air intake line (70) between the carburettor (72) and the air filter (71), in which the anti-backflow element (8) exhibits an external casing (80) comprising a perimetral band (81) including at least a portion substantially circular in development closed by two side walls (82, 83), such as to internally define at least a compartment (84) in communication with the carburettor (72) through a duct (85) opening in the perimetral band (81) and developing tangentially relative to the circularly developing portion, the compartment (84) also in communication with the air filter (71) through a first duct (86) opening in one of the side walls (82, 83).
US08235020B2
An engine starter mounting structure is provided that basically has a starter housing part, a starter insertion part, a first flange part and a second flange part. The starter housing part has an internal portion that at least partially houses a portion of a starter. The starter insertion part is arranged to provide access to the internal portion of the starter housing part for inserting the portion of the starter into the internal portion. The first flange part is disposed on an end portion of the starter housing part with the first flange part including a fastening structure that is configured to fasten the starter thereto. The second flange part is disposed in the internal portion of the starter housing part, with the second flange part having a bolt hole that is arranged and configured to receive a bolt therethrough for interconnecting an engine and a transmission together.
US08235011B2
In an actuating device with at least one electrical or electromagnetic actuation unit, at least two activation sequences performed by different actuation elements of the actuation unit are associated with at least two different electrical and/or electromagnetic states of the actuation unit via electric coil units energized by current flowing in different flow directions.
US08235008B2
The present invention relates to a collapsible/foldable structure that may include a top roof and a bottom platform. A pair of sidewalls may be provided each of which may be pivotally attached to the roof. The sidewalls may include at least two side section such as an upper and middle section. The sidewalls may also include a lower side section. The upper and middle sections may be pivotally attached to one another and the middle and lower side section may be pivotally attached to one another so that the upper and middle sidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly towards the bottom platform to provide a collapsed condition. The sidewalls may also each contain an outer and an inner surface thereof wherein the outer surface of the upper side wall and the outer surface of the adjacent middle side wall form an angle that is greater than 180 degrees when the structure is in an expanded or collapsed condition. In addition, the inner surface of the middle wall section may overlie the inner surface of the upper wall section in a collapsed condition.
US08234998B2
The present invention comprises an automated apparatus capable of spray depositing polyelectrolytes via the LbL mechanism with minimal or no human interaction. In certain embodiments, the apparatus sprays atomized polyelectrolytes onto a vertically oriented substrate. To counteract the effects of irregular spray patterns, the substrate is preferably slowly rotated about a central axis. In certain embodiments, the apparatus also includes a forced pathway for the droplets, such as a pathway created by using a vacuum. In this way, a thicker or three-dimensional substrate can be coated. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is designed so as to be scalable. Thus, through the use of multiple instantiations of the apparatus, a large or irregularly shaped substrate can be coated. Rolls of textile can therefore be coated using the apparatus. Additionally, the present invention includes a method to uniformly coat a substrate, such as a hydrophobic textile material, using aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes.
US08234984B2
A method and an arrangement pertaining to an alarm-equipped valuable item storage space (1) includes at least one device (10-13) for the storage of valuable documents, banknotes or the like, in which a destructive agent (61) is intended to destroy the valuable documents (100) in response to a burglary attempt and/or manipulative action. In conjunction with the need to destroy the valuable documents, a destructive agent container (60,63) is opened so as to cause the destructive agent to move into a collecting vessel (50) within which a valuable document collecting device (30) is at least partially situated. The volume of a destructive agent is such as to enable the collecting vessel (50) to accommodate the destructive agent (61) in the absence of overflow. The destructive agent container (60,63) is placed above the collecting vessel (50) so that the destructive agent (61) will run or fall down into the collecting vessel when an alarm is triggered.
US08234967B2
A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.
US08234963B2
A system and method for rapidly and easily installing and removing ammunition reloading dies into and from an ammunition reloading press uses an adapter with a female threaded socket to receive a conventionally threaded die and sections of male screw threads arrayed around the exterior and separated by open sections corresponding to sections of female screw threads formed in a socket in the press, the adapter threads engageable with the press socket threads to secure the adapter within the press socket with less than a full rotation of the adapter, open sections in the press socket allow the adapter to enter the socket to nearly full depth without rotation.
US08234958B2
A toolholder with a controllable critical angle, such as a lead, trailing, rake or clearance angles, includes a tool spindle for retaining the toolholder in a tool rest of a machine tool. The machine tool includes at least one linear axis, for example, three mutually perpendicular axes, a rotary axis and a rotation axis. The rotary axis and/or rotation axis is controllable to move to a specified position in synchronization with a movement of one of the linear axes. An adaptor supports a cutting tool that is retained in the adaptor by a clamp. The cutting tool defines a critical angle, such as a lead angle, a trailing angle, a rake angle and a flank clearance angle, wherein the critical angle is corrected as a vector of movement of at least one of the linear axis is changed. In addition, the cutting tool can be positioned on opposite side of a centerline of rotation of the workpiece to effectively double the life of the cutting tool. A method of controlling a toolholder is also disclosed.
US08234949B2
A power transmission mechanism and a robot arm using the same are described. The power transmission mechanism at least includes a first power source, a second power source, a plurality of steel ropes, a support arm component, a stopping component and a joint component. The stopping component is disposed in the support arm component and includes a first stopping unit and a second stopping unit that rotate coaxially. The first and second power sources and the joint component are disposed at two ends of the support arm component. The first and second power sources transmit power via the first stopping unit and the second stopping unit through the plurality of steel ropes to drive the joint component to perform a two-degree-of-freedom motion. The support arm component and the joint component can be applied in an upper arm and an elbow of a robot arm, thereby constituting a multi-degree-of-freedom robot arm.
US08234944B2
An emergency lowering (retraction) mechanism for a linear actuator includes first and second cylindrical parts, an operating handle outside of the first cylindrical part, and a coil spring which has a first end connected to the operating handle, a second end connected to the second cylindrical part, and a plurality of windings, with some of the windings wrapping around and contacting the outer periphery of the first cylindrical part and some wrapping around and contacting the outer periphery of the second cylindrical part.
US08234943B2
Disclosed is a combination of six substantially identical interconnected rotating masses, with a pair each of the rotating masses being configured to rotate in one of each of the three planes (X, Y, and Z). Regardless of the orientation of the six masses, each pair of the six interconnected rotating masses may share substantially the same center of gravity and generate a separate yet interactive kinetic energy and angular momentum in each of the three planes, thereby providing resistance to rotational forces from external sources. This is known as “equal force presence. In one embodiment, the rotating masses are ring-like masses. In alternative embodiment, the rotating masses are solid masses, similar to flywheels.
US08234939B2
A sample introduction method for reducing carry-over is provided. After a sample introduction device in a total volume injection method draws a proper amount of a sample solution from a sample container and further draws a solution with the same composition as a mobile phase solution with a needle 24, the needle 24 is inserted into an injection port 25. When flow paths are switched to communicate a liquid feeder, a sample loop 23, the needle 24, the injection port 25, and a separation/detection section, the solution with the same composition as the mobile phase solution is forced into a gap between the injection port 25 and the needle 24. Therefore, the samples squeezed out of a tip section of the needle 24 during the switching of the flow paths are prevented from being forced into the gap between the needle 24 and the injection port 25.
US08234935B2
A valve assembly is provided and includes a pitot tube having an angled tip to extract from a duct formed by a housing a sample of a fluid to be communicated to an actuator configured to operate the duct, the pitot tube being disposed within the housing whereby the pitot tube is fixed longitudinally between the actuator and the housing and laterally within the housing and an anti-rotation mechanism coupled with the pitot tube to rotationally secure the pitot tube such that the angled tip is fixed to face rearwardly.
US08234928B1
This invention is a testing device that tests pressure of water, oil or gas and can be used anywhere, at anytime, and with greater accuracy then anything on the market.
US08234920B2
An angular velocity sensor includes first and second oscillators and a coupling beam. The coupling beam couples the first and second oscillators together in such a manner that the first and second oscillators vibrate relative to each other in a predetermined direction. The coupling beam includes a first post portion joined to a surface of the first oscillator, a second post portion joined to a surface of the second oscillator, and a spring portion that joins the first post portion to the second post portion. The spring portion is spaced from the first and second oscillators and has elasticity in the predetermined direction.
US08234912B2
An apparatus for continuous measurement of a geomaterial is disclosed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a flat bed operatively coupled to the measuring device. The measuring device includes a moving head configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to a core section of the geomaterial and a first probe coupled to the moving head and configured to continuously measure a property of the core section. The flat bed includes a load actuator configured to secure the core section during the continuous measurement and axially rotate the core section, as well as a core holder assembly configured to apply confining pressure on a length of the core section.
US08234905B2
A system and method are provided for selectively functionalizing a transducer microarray. The method provides a microarray including a field of transducers exposed to a shared local environment. A difference in the pH associated with the transducers is created. As a result, functional molecules are selectively bound to transducers in response to the pH associated with the transducers. In one aspect, the micro-array also provides a field of transducer pH-generating electrodes, one pH-generating electrode for each transducer, and a counter electrode. The difference in pH associated with the transducers is created by selectively applying a voltage potential between pH-generating electrodes and the counter electrode, to create a difference of pH in regions adjacent to the transducers.
US08234892B2
A mortice lock is disclosed which has a lock casing which provides a first point of entrapment and a second point of entrapment, a latch bolt which can move between a latching position and an unlatching position, a handle for moving the latch bolt between the latching position and the un-latching position, a key cylinder, an operating assembly and a locking member. The operating assembly can move between a first position in which a deflectable portion of the operating assembly engages with the first point of entrapment and a second position in which the deflectable portion engages with the second point of entrapment. Only the key cylinder can move the operating assembly between the first position and the second position. The locking member (which is not a shoot bolt or part thereof) can move between a locking position in which a portion of the locking member engages with the latch bolt to prevent the latch bolt from moving into the un-latching position, and an unlocking position in which the latch bolt can move into the un-latching position. The locking member is operatively associated with the operating assembly such that moving the operating assembly into the first position moves the locking member into the unlocking position and moving the operating assembly into the second position moves the locking member into the locking position.
US08234890B2
A drum-type washing machine is disclosed, in which bearings are received in the bearing housing assembly. The bearing housing assembly may include a support portion coupled to a motor, and a coupling portion connected to a damper bracket.
US08234888B2
A washing machine is disclosed. A washing includes a tub holding wash water, a drum rotatable within the tub to hold laundry, a first cabinet forming a first space provided with the tub and the drum to wash laundry, a second cabinet forming a second space for additional function, the second cabinet formed as one body with the first cabinet, and a single partition provided between the first and second cabinets to partition off the second space from the first space, wherein facing ends of the first and second cabinets are in contact with each other to form a single border line.
US08234886B2
A jacquard thread-guide bar (2) for warp knitting textile machines, comprising a supporting body (7) provided with a plurality of housing seats (5) configured and arranged so as to engage each removably a mounting body (6) of a single piezoelectric actuator (3) and to carry out an individual removable mounting of the single piezoelectric actuator (3) onto said supporting body (7), the housing seats (5) extending perpendicularly to the main longitudinal extension of the bar (2) and being configured and arranged so as to guide the sliding of the mounting body (6) between a mounting position and a disengaged position.
US08234885B2
A gradient compression article with therapeutic and aesthetic properties broadly includes a limb-receiving section extending continuously between a distal end and an open proximal end thereof. The limb-receiving section includes a tubular distal portion and a tubular proximal portion. The limb-receiving section is knitted at least substantially of a core-spun yarn with an elastomeric core and a twisted fiber sheath and includes elastomeric threads integrated into the stretch yarn knitting. The limb-receiving section further presents a gradient region that extends from a distal location adjacent the distal end to a proximal location adjacent the proximal end, with a property of the article changing progressively along the gradient region to provide compression that decreases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location when the article is donned.
US08234880B2
A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage space and a door selectively opening or closing the storage space. The ice-making device includes an ice maker installed on a backside of the door for making ice; a cold air duct provided in one side of the storage space and supplying the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space; an ice maker cover detachably installed on the backside of the door to selectively open or close the ice maker; and an ice bank detachably installed on the backside of the door below the ice maker, the ice bank storing ice made in the ice maker and transferring it to a dispenser provided on the door.
US08234879B2
A motor controlling method and apparatus of an air conditioner are disclosed. It is checked whether or not an operation frequency of a compressor motor is the same as or greater than a certain frequency and it is also checked whether or not a detected velocity of a fan motor is the same as or lower than a certain velocity during a certain time period. If the operation frequency is the same as or greater than the certain frequency and the detected velocity is the same as or lower than the certain velocity during a certain time period, the compressor motor is temporarily stopped. Because the compressor motor operates according to operational conditions of the fan motor, an overload can be prevented.
US08234878B2
An air-conditioning system (1) for an environment, in particular for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, is provided with an evaporator (13) and a compressor (18) coupled to the evaporator (13). In a system (30) for controlling the air-conditioning system (1), a control electronics (33) switches an operating condition of the compressor (18) when the temperature of the air leaving the evaporator (13) has a pre-set relation with a threshold temperature (Tthresh). The control electronics varies the value of the threshold temperature (Tthresh) as a function, in at least certain operating conditions, of a set-point temperature (Tsp), required by a user of the air-conditioning system (1), so as to reduce the energy consumption associated to the air-conditioning system.
US08234877B2
A refrigerant system includes a compressor with a discharge valve that temporarily restricts the compressor's outflow at startup so that the discharge pressure can quickly rise to force lubricant back to the compressor. The discharge valve also helps prevent an axial face of a rotor of a screw compressor from rubbing against a bearing housing axial face of the compressor's housing. When the system turns off under certain low ambient air temperature conditions, the valve closes to help prevent the system's evaporator from freezing up. The discharge valve includes a novel arrangement of a piston, a valve stem extending from the piston, and a valve plug pivotally attached to the valve stem. The pivotal connection ensures a positive seal between the valve plug and a valve seat. A somewhat restricted fluid passageway between the valve's discharge chamber and piston chamber helps prevent the valve from chattering as the valve opens.
US08234875B2
A fuel system for a turbine engine is provided. The fuel system includes a positive displacement pump driven by an electric motor. The pump is rotated in a first direction to deliver fuel to the turbine engine, and a second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine. A shut-off check valve is open in a first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump in the first direction. The shut-off check valve is biased to a closed position when the pump is rotating in the second direction. An ecology check valve is biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump. The check valves open and close automatically in response to the pressures generated by the positive displacement pump in each of the first and second rotational directions. In this manner, simple, reliable valves are utilized to regulate the flow of fuel in the fuel system.
US08234874B2
A method of assembling an inlet air filter assembly for use with a turbine engine system. The method includes coupling an inlet hood to an air filter enclosure, such that an airflow path is defined between the inlet hood and the air filter enclosure. A pre-filter is coupled to the inlet hood, such that the pre-filter is positioned within the airflow path. A filter bypass assembly is coupled to the pre-filter for moving the pre-filter from an operating position to a bypass position during operation of the turbine engine system.
US08234872B2
A system includes an air flow conditioner configured to mount in an air chamber separated from a combustion chamber of a turbine combustor. The air flow conditioner comprises a perforated annular wall configured to direct an air flow in both an axial direction and a radial direction relative to an axis of the turbine combustor. In addition, the air flow conditioner is configured to uniformly supply the air flow into air inlets of one or more fuel nozzles.
US08234868B2
In various embodiments, systems for providing a constant electrical output from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system include a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet, a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet, and a control system for enabling the constant electrical output by controlling at least one of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, or displacement per revolution.
US08234862B2
The invention relates to systems and methods including an energy conversion system for storage and recovery of energy using compressed gas, a source of recovered thermal energy, and a heat-exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy.
US08234852B2
The present invention pertains to a chain link for an anti-skid chain, wherein the chain link is designed as a straight chain link with an essentially oval shape with an upper and a lower side wall. The outer cross-sectional area of the chain link has a half-round design and the inner cross-sectional area has an angular design. At the same time, the present invention pertains to an anti-skid chain with a chain mesh, which has chain links according to the present invention.
US08234847B2
An automatic connection mechanism for a mid-mounted implement to a tractor is disclosed. The automatic connection mechanism includes a rear lift linkage pivotably attached to the tractor, that automatically and releasably engage the rear of the implement. The forward lift linkage is pivotably attached to the front of the implement, and automatically and releasably engages the forward end of the tractor. A PTO coupling member also is attached to the rear lift linkage to engage an opposing PTO coupling member on the implement.
US08234838B2
There is provided a medicine dispensing system configured such that a medicine dispensing device includes a sub unit having a function to dispense medicine that is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. There is also provided a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately integrated with such a medicine dispensing system. The medicine dispensing system includes, in some embodiments a main unit, a sub unit and a transfer device connecting the main unit and the sub unit. The medicine dispensing system transfers the medicine dispensed in the sub unit to the main unit by means of a transfer device and dispenses the medicine at a medicine packing part together with the medicine dispensed from a main storage part in the main unit.
US08234837B2
A split column includes two half sections with locating features for aligning the half sections. A whole column is formed and then split into half sections. The locating features are formed on the inner surfaces of the half sections after the column is split into half sections.
US08234812B1
A transportable fodder production unit is disclosed that includes an insulated container having a front end and a rear end, a plurality of trays each having drain apertures through a bottom side thereof, a racking system for supporting each of the trays with a plurality of shelves extending from the front end of the container to the rear end of the container, an irrigation system attachable to a water source and having a water tank in fluid communication with a plurality of spray heads through a pump and a plurality of pipes, a lighting system that maintains a predetermined illumination within the container, a thermal control system that maintains the temperature inside the container within a predetermined temperature range, and a central control system for activating the other systems and maintaining electrical load balancing on a power source.
US08234811B2
An apparatus to project toward a tree to disburse a pheromone, comprising: a releaser removably adjacent to a capsule via an extension; whereby said releaser and said capsule are disposed adjacent to each other in a deployable state, then the releaser separates from the capsule but is still connected via said extension whereby inertia causes said releaser to move away from said capsule into an attachment state, and related methods of applying a pheromone onto a tree branch.
US08234808B2
A firearm assembly for a firearm can include a monolithic rail platform with a handguard portion and an upper receiver portion. The barrel of the firearm can be positioned through the handguard portion and secured with the upper receiver portion. A firearm assembly can also include a bolt assembly with a bolt carrier having minimized land area and a forward end sized for receipt in the barrel extension at the rearward end of the barrel.
US08234806B1
A ticket holding system mounted over a cooking station in view of a user of the cooking station and for holding one or more order tickets for meals being prepared and viewable by the user. The ticket holding system includes an elongated ticket holder; an elongated ticket retainer that is secured to a face surface of the elongated ticket holder and capable of releasably retaining one or more order tickets; and a pair of brackets that support the ticket holder at a position disposed over the cooking station. The pair of brackets are mounted from respective support surfaces that are spaced apart so that the brackets are spaced from each other and mount the ticket holder therebetween. The pair of brackets and ticket holder are cooperatively constructed and arranged so that the ticket holder can be both pivotal relative to the brackets and adjusted in height.
US08234802B2
A mountable display for a temporary vehicle tag is provided. The display includes a transparent envelope adapted to receive a paper tag overlayed upon a reinforcement board or card. The envelope may have an adhesively coated flap extending from an open end thereof, the flap being adapted to pass around the envelope and seal to the back thereof, such that the temporary tag is received and maintained in a transparent sealed envelope. Screws or bolts pass through the envelope and through designated areas of the reinforced tag, for securing engagement with an insert received by a panel of the vehicle. The bolts or screws make securing engagement of the envelope and tag to the vehicle by sandwiching the combination of the envelope and reinforced tag between the head of the bolt or screw and the vehicle panel.
US08234798B2
The invention is directed to intelligent systems for articles of footwear that adjust automatically in response to a measured performance characteristic. The intelligent systems include one or more adjustable elements coupled to a mechanism that actuates the adjustable elements in response to a signal from a sensor to modify the performance characteristic of the article of footwear. The intelligent system adjusts the performance characteristics of the article of footwear without human intervention.
US08234789B2
A shaving blade unit comprising a shaving cartridge having a floatably secured shaving blade member wherein said cartridge comprises: a) a housing with a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls extending between said front and rear walls; b) said shaving blade member having opposing ends with a shoulder at each end and wherein said shoulder rests along said side wall and wherein a cutting edge of said shaving blade member is facing a front surface of said housing; c) a resilient member disposed rearward of said shaving blade member and that is secured by a shaving blade member retainer; and wherein said resilient member provides a forward biasing force to said shaving blade member such that said contact between said shoulder and said side wall is at least maintained when said unit is removed from a skin surface during shaving.
US08234788B2
An automotive engine valve stem, engine valve and method of producing both. The valve includes a head and a stem joined to the head. Lightweight, high-temperature materials, such as titanium-based materials may be used to make up at least a the majority of the valve. These materials are combined with fabrication techniques that may vary between the head and the stem, where at least a part of the valve is made by dynamic magnetic compaction. While a majority of the stem may be made from a titanium-based powder material, its tip may be made of a high strength hardened material, such as a steel alloy. The valve head may be made by single press and sintering, double press and sintering, forging and machining, forging and sintering, and dynamic magnetic compaction and sintering.
US08234783B2
A method for using a cable assembly apparatus for coupling a connector to a cable having a base supporting an interface pedestal dimensioned to receive the connector; an inductor coil coupled to an inductor coil actuator operable to move the inductor coil between a load position and an operation position proximate the interface pedestal; a grip clamp operable by a clamp actuator to move between an open position and a closed position above the interface pedestal; and a temperature sensor configured to read a temperature proximate the interface pedestal. The method includes using the apparatus for retaining the pre-assembled connector and cable in an aligned orientation for controlled heating by the induction heater to heat a solder perform to solder the connector to an outer conductor of the cable.
US08234782B2
Methods of fabricating components for microelectronic devices, microelectronic devices including memory cells or other components, and computers including memory devices include forming memory cells. For example, one embodiment is directed toward a method of fabricating a memory cell on a workpiece having a substrate, a plurality of active areas in the substrate, and a dielectric layer over the active areas. One embodiment of the method includes constructing bit line contact openings in the dielectric layer over first portions of the active areas and cell plug openings over second portions of the active areas. The method also includes depositing a first conductive material into the bit line contact openings to form bit line contacts and into the cell plug openings to form cell plugs. A conductive line is formed in a trench in the substrate.
US08234780B2
A substrate carrier system is provided for physical management of substrate(s) during a variety of assembly techniques performed on the both sides of the substrate(s) without dismounting or changing carrier systems.
US08234777B2
A surface mount circulator. The novel circulator includes a substrate, a predetermined number of microstrip lines disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a ground layer and a predetermined number of electrical contacts disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and a mechanism for coupling each microstrip line to one of the electrical contacts. In an illustrative embodiment, the circulator uses edge wrap metallization to wrap a microstrip line down a side of the substrate to connect with a corresponding contact. A ball grid array can then be used to connect the signal contacts and ground at the second surface of the substrate with a circuit board. The circulator also includes a magnet on first surface of the substrate over a resonator circuit connecting the microstrip lines and a pole piece on the second surface of the substrate beneath the ground to provide magnetic bias to the substrate.
US08234776B2
A method for making and magnetizing an un-magnetized mechanically keyed permanent magnet rotor that can be magnetized in a magnetization fixture, without regard to the angular position of the rotor in the magnetizing fixture, and nevertheless result in a permanent magnetic field angularly synchronized to said keyed rotor comprises the steps of providing an annular permanent magnet or annular permanent magnet rotor body; a mechanically keyed rotor shaft; means for aligning and assembling the un-magnetized permanent magnet or permanent magnet rotor body and the mechanically keyed rotor shaft during assembly to form an assembled rotor; and magnetization thereof.
US08234775B2
A method for manufacturing a laminated rotor core includes a punching process for punching a strip-shaped material to make a core piece, a placing process, which is performed simultaneously with the punching process of the core piece, for placing the core piece in a die so that the core piece is placed on another core piece previously punched and placed in the die and a joining process for joining the core pieces.
US08234773B2
A method of forming at least one electronic device on a substrate comprising creating a depository and an attached capillary; providing a liquid containing particles in the range 1 nanometer to 1 millimeter for deposit into the depository; the liquid flowing into the at least one capillary by capillary action; evaporating the liquid such that the particles form an agglomerate beginning at the end of the at least one capillary with a substantially uniform distribution of the particles within the agglomerate; whereby the agglomerate is used to form a part of the at least one electronic device. An microelectronic integrated circuit device comprising a substrate; a depository coupled to said substrate formed by at least one wall, a capillary channel coupled to said depository adapted to be filled with liquid comprising nanoparticles by capillary action, whereby as the liquid evaporates, an agglomerate forms in the capillary channel having a substantially uniform distribution of the particles.
US08234766B2
A method and a device are provided for reworking or re-machining the surface and, in particular, the slide tracks of a slip ring while the slip ring is in a built-in state in an appliance or machine using the slip ring. The slip ring is rotated by a drive provided in the appliance for rotating the slip ring during normal operation, or by an auxiliary drive, while a surface-removing cutting tool or surface deforming tool held in a tool holder or carrier adapted to be attached to the appliance or machine is applied to the surface of the moving slip ring to re-machine or recondition the surface. The invention avoids the necessity of dismantling the appliance or machine for the purpose of removing the slip ring for repairs.
US08234763B2
In a processing method of a slotted hole for processing a hole in a processed subject and further processing a slot intersecting the hole, a process for generating a compressive residual stress c is applied to an inner diameter portion of the hole before the slot is processed.
US08234755B1
The present invention relates to an extension for handles of an existing device. In accordance with the current invention, extensions can be connected to the handles and securely adjusted in both generally vertical and generally horizontal directions. Extensions of the current invention are particularly well-suited for use with the handles of rollable devices.
US08234753B2
A hinge assembly may be provided to hingeably couple two substrates together to allow one of the substrates to pivot about the center plane of the other substrate. The hinge assembly may include two separable hinge components that are manufactured from lightweight materials and that are configured to provide up to about 180 degrees of swing for a door or other hingeably-coupled substrate. Polymer bushings may be employed to preclude the need for lubrication of the hinge assembly, and a spring loaded tab may be provided on a hinge pin of the hinge assembly to provide for ease of installation, removal or replacement of a hingeably coupled substrate. Flow channels with injection ports may be defined within each of the separable hinge components of the hinge assembly, and configured to evenly distribute injected bonding material around the components of the hinge assembly while they are positioned within respective substrate cavities.
US08234748B2
Floor cleaning machine 1, comprising a cleaning system 2, 3, 4, at least one front wheel 5; 5′; 5a, 5b as well as two rear wheels 6a, 6b, 6a′, 6b′ and a drive mechanism 7; 7a, 7b, wherein the drive mechanism is an electric mono wheel drive and wherein the operator 8 is placed on the machine, characterized in that the operator is standing on a platform 9 which is located above the geometrical axis Z between the two rear wheels, wherein the maximum vertical distance between the platform and the floor is 200 mm. The front wheel can be a castor wheel 5 and the rear wheels 6a, 6b can be independently driven by drive motors 7a, 7b—instead of one castor wheel, two independent castor wheels 5a, 5b can be provided. The front wheel can also be a steered wheel 5′ which is powered by a drive 7 and the rear wheels 6a′, 6b′ can be independently suspended and not driven.
US08234743B2
An extendable toothbrush for assisting a person with impaired mobility of the arms. The toothbrush has an extendable neck that locks in place at various lengths. The toothbrush is capable of extending to twice its retracted length, thus allowing a user to reach their mouth without having to raise their arm. Rotating head and brush implements further increase mobility and access to different areas of the mouth. A removable toothpick tool is attached to the handle of the toothbrush for cleaning in between teeth.
US08234741B2
An oral care implement includes a handle and a head connected to the handle. A tissue cleanser is positioned on the head and has a textured surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethough. Each of a plurality of tissue cleaning elements extends through one of the apertures and extends outwardly from the head.
US08234737B2
A latch assembly is suitable for a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly having a ramp portion coupled to a fixed portion so that the ramp portion reciprocates between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch assembly includes a latch pin attached to the ramp portion. The latch assembly further includes a latch fitting coupled to the fixed portion of the ramp assembly. The latch fitting has a hook portion and a tang. The latch fitting selectively reciprocates between a first position, a second position, and a third position. In the first position, the hook engages the latch pin to retain the ramp portion in the stowed position. In the second position, the hook portion is disengaged from the latch pin. In the third position, the tang applies a lifting force to the ramp portion.
US08234728B2
A multi-purpose air mattress apparatus is disclosed for use in at least a bed of a vehicle having an opposing pair of inwardly protruding wheel wells. The apparatus comprises, in one embodiment, an inflatable air mattress having a pair of opposing sidewalls, each defining a lateral recess sized for accepting at least a portion of the wheel wells therewithin and further defining recess ledges that selectively sit atop the wheel wells. With the apparatus positioned within the vehicle bed and the wheel wells positioned at least partially within the lateral recesses, the recess ledges in combination with a perimeter ledge cover substantially any exposed portions of the wheel wells, while a set of upper and lower perimeter chambers further maintain a stable structure of the apparatus during use both within a vehicle bed as well as on any other relatively flat surface in otherwise conventional fashion.
US08234724B2
A multi flush volume flush valve is in communication with an automatic flush control. The flush control determines the presence of a user and the amount of time the user uses the toilet. The usage time is compared to a predetermined time value to determine the appropriate flush volume based on an assumption regarding usage time and flush volume needs. The comparative value statistically adjusts to the restroom traffic.
US08234720B2
A sweatshirt is disclosed that has a main body with a front panel and a back panel. The front panel includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The back panel also includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A pair of pockets having a pair of opposing edges is positioned on a lower edge of the front panel proximate the opening. At least one closure means is positioned in the front panel. The closure means includes a bottom zipper and a second zipper. The bottom zipper includes a first row teeth and a second row teeth extending along the pair of opposing edges in the front panel. The second zipper includes a first row teeth and a second row teeth extending along the opposing edges of the pair of pockets, each being proximate the bottom zipper.
US08239966B2
A method and apparatus for processing an electronic document in a secure manner is provided. A scanner may verify that the configuration state of a file server has not changed since a prior configuration state by issuing a request to a security server. The security server may process the request to determine whether the configuration state of the file server has changed since the file server was registered with the security server. The security server may also verify that the scanner issued a request to store an electronic document using a file server or that the file server received the request. A storage medium of a file server may be protected against unauthorized removal of the storage medium by storing, separate from the storage medium, a password required to access the storage medium, and when the file server is powered on, the password is provided to the storage medium.
US08239951B2
A method, system and computer program product for evaluating an IDP entity, the method includes evaluating an effect of at least one IDP rule applied by the IDP entity on legitimate traffic, based upon a network model; evaluating an effect of at least one IDP rule applied by the IDP entity based upon a network model and an attack model; determining an effectiveness of the IDP entity in response to the evaluated effects.
US08239943B2
Described is a technology by which a user interface page outputs security status information obtained from network-wide and/or network client security components. This allows for simultaneous evaluation of the state of various network-wide and client security components, such as antimalware state, anti-spam state, firewall state, client program update state, and state data from a remote security service. Network security page logic couples to network-wide security components and client security components to obtain security state data for each. A user interface associated with the network security page logic lists the security components and the current security status for each, such as via an icon that changes its appearance to reflect the current state. Interactive mechanisms for launching system-wide security tasks and/or context-sensitive security tasks related to a selected security component may be provided on the user interface page, as may an interactive mechanism for resolving a security-related issue.
US08239936B2
A method and apparatus for providing security to Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) system. In one embodiment, a file system with noexec/nodev options is mounted on the POSIX system. The root directory of the mounted file system is changed with a chroot operation to generate a secured system directory structure. The secured system directory structure is assigned to a non-administrative user.
US08239935B2
A system for providing notice of legal rights corresponding to a computing device includes presenting a notice to the user through an I/O interface. The notice is in response to an attempt by a user to access at least one feature of the device through the I/O interface of the device and the notice further indicates that the device is subject to legal rights under a legal instrument. An acknowledgement of the legal rights is presented through the I/O interface. If the user selects the acknowledgement, the user is allowed to access at least one feature of the device. The user is prevented from accessing the at least one feature of the device if the user does not select the acknowledgement.
US08239933B2
It is convenient to allow access to a private network, such as a corporate intranet, or outward facing extranet application, from an external network, such as the Internet. Unfortunately, if an internal authentication system is used to control access from the external network, it may be attacked, such as by a malicious party intentionally attempting multiple invalid authentications to ultimately result in an attacked account being locked out. To circumvent this, an authentication front-end, proxy, wrapper, etc. may be employed which checks for lockout conditions prior to attempting to authenticate security credentials with the internal authentication system.
US08239930B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling access to a private network. To a firewall node are updated logical names for mobile nodes allowed to communicate with nodes in the private network. A packet is received to the firewall node from an external network, the packet being addressed to a first node within the private network. The source address is obtained from the packet. Addresses associated with the logical names are obtained from a database node. It is checked whether the source address belongs to the addresses obtained. The packet is admitted to the private network, if the source address belongs to the addresses obtained.
US08239929B2
A multiple key, multiple tiered network security system, method and apparatus provides at least three levels of security. The first level of security includes physical (MAC) address authentication of a user device being attached to the network, such as a user device being attached to a port of a network access device. The second level includes authentication of the user of the user device, such as user authentication in accordance with the IEEE 802.1x standard. The third level includes dynamic assignment of a user policy to the port based on the identity of the user, wherein the user policy is used to selectively control access to the port. The user policy may identify or include an access control list (ACL) or MAC address filter. Also, the user policy is not dynamically assigned if insufficient system resources are available to do so. Failure to pass a lower security level results in a denial of access to subsequent levels of authentication.
US08239922B2
An HVAC control system that accommodates and/or facilitates control from a remote location. The HVAC control system may include a web-enabled building control appliance with a controller, a first port and a second port. The controller may implement a web server that is coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web pages on a first network and for receiving a number of responses. The controller may be coupled to the second port so as to communicate with one or more communicating thermostats via a second network. The web server may provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive user rights privileges.
US08239910B2
A video/audio system includes an interface device that receives a plurality of audio and video signals from a plurality of sources. The interface device combines these signals into various combinations and transmits the combinations to a receiver. The receiver is configured to interface one of the combinations of signals with a user. In this regard, the receiver allows the user to select one of the combinations, and in response, the receiver separates the video signal(s) of the selected combination from the audio signal(s) of the selected combination. Then, the receiver renders the video signal(s) via a display device and produces a sound defined by the audio signal(s) via a speaker. Accordingly, the user is able to control which set of audio and video signals are interfaced with the user.
US08239905B2
An end-to-end lecture broadcast system (LBS) is described. The LBS system typically comprises three modules: a schedule module, a capture module and a transmission module. The schedule module is comprised of a scheduler that is implemented as a software add-on on the lecture host's computing device, a schedule server, and a schedule agent component in the uploading peer to provide for channel based management. The capture module is comprised of a video camera for capturing video content, one or more microphones for capturing audio content, and a VGA signal capture for capturing presentation materials. The transmission module is comprised of an uploading peer and a web server. The uploading peer is responsible for transmitting video/audio content to the Internet/intranet using peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming technology. The web server is responsible for the delivery of captured presentation materials and for ensuring the synchronous play back of video/audio content and presentation materials.
US08239900B1
What is disclosed is a method of operating a video system. The method includes, in a video server, monitoring a geographic location of a wireless communication device, transferring reference frames of a video for delivery to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication system if the geographic location is within a group of predefined geographic areas and stopping the transfer of the reference frames if the geographic location is not within the group of predefined geographic areas. The method also includes, in the video server, transferring update frames of the video for delivery to the wireless communication device over the wireless communication system without regard to whether the geographic location is within the group of predefined geographic areas. The method also includes, in the wireless communication device, receiving the reference frames and the update frames of the video over the wireless communication system and displaying the video.
US08239899B2
Method for reproducing data streams, in particular of broadcast data, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one receiving data stream (RDS); providing a reproducing data stream (PDS) on the basis of said receiving data stream (RDS) and/or of derivatives (D-RDS) thereof; reproducing said reproducing data stream (PDS); including into said reproducing data stream (PDS) and thereby reproducing at least parts (S2,1-S2,6) of a second data stream (DS2) and/or of derivatives (D-DS2) thereof instead of said receiving data stream (RDS) in response to a first control signal; and generating said derivatives (D-RDS) of at least parts (S1,1-S1,7) of said receiving data stream (RDS).
US08239889B2
To address the requirements described above, a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer. The method permits the user to provide survey responses in exchange for viewing a media program with fewer advertisement, and permits the user to manage the survey responses.
US08239885B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to an architecture or extension to a window manager. In particular, the extension can provide for a window rotation feature that can be exposed as a rotate button. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation feature can be activated based upon a diverse set of conditions, events, and/or commands. Upon activation of the rotation feature, the window manager can rotate a window about an axis to expose a secondary surface that can be populated with alternative content that is distinct from the content of the primary surface of the window. In addition, the architecture provides techniques for identifying both double-sided graphical objects and potentially double-sided objects.
US08239883B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, which is configured to customize a device driver that is adapted to control a printer, by setting a property. The information processing apparatus includes a specifying unit adapted to specify a plurality of device drivers, and a setting unit adapted to set, in response to one device-driver customization instruction, property information, which corresponds to a device driver, in the plurality of device drivers specified by the specifying unit.
US08239876B2
Techniques and systems for controlling resources used by a device's web services applications are disclosed. In one technique, web services applications release their allocated resources and enter a “sleep mode” after being inactive for a specified period of time. In one technique, a device maintains a shared pool of memory resources. The pool contains data structures that web services applications are likely to re-use. Before allocating a new instance of a needed data structure from free memory, a web services application first determines whether the shared pool already contains a currently unused but allocated instance of a data structure of the needed type, and, if the shared pool does, then the web service application uses that instance, overwriting existing data in the instance as needed. Web services applications return such data structures to the shared pool when those web services applications are finished using those data structures.
US08239853B2
A method of displaying an attachment file list in a mobile communication terminal comprises receiving a message, selecting an attachment file list view menu in order to check entire attachment files comprised in the message, and extracting the attachment files comprised in the message and then displaying a list of the extracted attachment files.
US08239848B2
System and method for deploying and executing a program, e.g., a graphical program, on an embedded device. The program and a plurality of execution system components are stored on a host computer. The program is analyzed programmatically to determine a subset of the plurality of components required for execution of the program. The subset of components and the program are combined into a file while preserving execution order of the program. The file is transmitted to the device. The file is used to construct a combined program which includes executable code for the program and the subset of components. The device includes a minimal execution engine which executes the subset of components to execute the program. The file may be streamed to the device for streaming execution, where received portions of the subset of components needed for execution of received portions of the program are stored until no longer needed.
US08239846B2
A device for performing parallel processing includes a processor to initiate a single programming language, and identify, via the single programming language, one or more data distribution schemes for executing a program. The processor also transforms, via the single programming language, the program into a parallel program with an optimum data distribution scheme selected from the one or more identified data distribution schemes, and allocates the parallel program to two or more labs for parallel execution. The processor further receives one or more results associated with the parallel execution of the parallel program from the two or more labs, and provides the one or more results to the program.
US08239838B2
A kernel-aware debugging system, medium, and method. The kernel-aware debugging system may include a kernel-aware debugging interface including a conditional breakpoint setting unit which sets a kernel-aware conditional breakpoint by checking a currently operating object inside a kernel of a target system when a central processing unit (CPU) of the target system stops operating at a particular position where the breakpoint is set and making the CPU proceed to operate when it is determined that it is not intended that the currently operating object be debugged. Moreover, the kernel-aware debugging interface may include a unit which stores control flow information for detecting faults due to asynchronous events, a profiling unit which collects profile information and allows back-tracing when faults occur, and a unit which debugs a synchronization problem between multitasks.
US08239835B2
A software testing framework for testing independent scenarios of software applications can comprise independent test scripts, business rules repositories, and test data sources. Independent test scripts can be used to test screens of the software application. Business rules repositories can be stored separately from independent test scripts and from test data sources. A framework for testing end-to-end scenarios of software applications can comprise modules, business rules repositories, and test data sources. An end-to-end scenario can be tested by executing two or more independent test scripts. Independent scenarios can be tested using a framework by populating fields, determining expected and actual results, and comparing the expected and actual results. End-to-end scenarios can be tested by executing independent test scripts associated with independent scenarios of the end-to-end scenario. Software testing can be performed without using test cases.
US08239830B2
A system for a portal architecture may include a model service component. The model service component may be arranged to connect a presentation device to a business manager component. An aspect oriented architecture may be associated with the model service component. A service oriented architecture may be associated with the model service component, the service oriented architecture being arranged orthogonal to the aspect oriented architecture.
US08239828B2
A method for recovering from software failures, includes: receiving failure information that identifies a failing component of a first processing graph; modifying a planning domain that includes a plurality of component descriptions according to the failure information; and composing a second processing graph by using the modified planning domain so that the second processing graph does not include the failing component.
US08239817B2
The invention relates to a design method and tool for designing electronic circuits on a printed circuit board, wherein at least one self-contained, pre-composed domain is used, wherein the domain is a module chosen from a pre-composed architecture library, including self-contained pre-designed electronic modules represented by logical architecture and corresponding physical architecture.
US08239780B2
A user interface system provides patient medical parameter data for trend indicative display covering a time period comprising user selectable acquisition time intervals. An acquisition processor acquires, from a patient monitoring device, data representing a patient parameter comprising a plurality of data values at a corresponding plurality of different times within multiple user selectable patient parameter acquisition intervals of a time period. A generator generates data representing a first image showing a trend indicative display of the patient parameter covering a time period comprising user selectable acquisition time intervals and including a first number of data points in an individual acquisition time interval. The generator generates data representing an image window comprising an expansion of the individual acquisition time interval and including a second number of data points greater than the first number, in response to user command. The generator updates the individual acquisition time interval of the first image with at least one data point selected from the expanded individual acquisition time interval window to replace the first number of data points, in response to user command.
US08239763B1
A method of defining and displaying letters of words on a computer platform is provided, so that words of text can be more quickly and accurately read by a person. A plurality of subfonts are used to define character sets to be displayed on a monitor screen, in which the subfonts make words more legible and faster to read. A font designer may design a variety of different subfonts for various characters of a font set, and can define which subfonts are to be used to display individual characters of words, depending upon the position of characters within a word, and depending upon the number of characters of that word. The font designer can select, from a plurality of subfonts, individual styles for letters of various words that are all defined within a same font set, which itself can comprise many different styles of existing or new font types.
US08239761B2
An apparatus of an original album editor uploads to a server album data in which instructions of allowed object that allows editing and information on content type of editing allowed for the allowed object are embedded. An apparatus of an admitted subscriber downloads the album data from the server, and edits the album data within allowance in accordance with the instructions and information embedded in the album data.
US08239760B2
A multi-user document editing system and method. Embodiments of the invention utilize a model-view-controller design pattern to successfully control changes in parallel to underlying backend database information presentation related information. Granularity of protection and check in/check out on family, spread, presentation layer and presentation object. In addition, enables automatic update of changes to all users editing or viewing the information. Changes to the backend database may also include changes to the family hierarchy with real-time update of publication WYSIWYG pages for example. Enables rollback of changes. Instead of waiting constantly for other users to finish editing information before other edits can be made, the typical serial editing methodology is transformed by embodiments of the invention into a parallel methodology that greatly increases throughput and lowers the costs associated with large publications.
US08239759B1
A system and method allows controlled editing of a document using stored commands and definitions. The author can identify an action: insert, delete or modify, and then select names of behaviors that control the insertion, deletion or modification of text into, from or inside a document. The system and method then performs the insertion, deletion or modification, allowing the author limited control as to the placement of insertions and the insertion or modification of certain parameters.
US08239758B2
A method and system for truncating character strings in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves receiving a list including plural character strings, truncating one or more of the character strings to generate a display list of unique character strings from the truncated and remaining character strings, and displaying the character strings of the display list in context with each other on a user interface, wherein each displayed character string is unique in relation to the other displayed character strings, enabling a user to more easily differentiate between the displayed character string.
US08239736B2
The present invention provides a method for enhancing reliability of information transmission by (a) establishing a matrix based on the length of bits of valid information in frame time slots; and creating a new matrix by presetting Error Correction Coding (ECC) for rows and columns of said matrix; (b) adopting the 1st Interleaving method to re-allocate bits which have been processed twice by using said ECC in said new matrix, to both ends of said frame time slots; and (c) adopting the 2nd Interleaving method to re-allocate the remaining bits in said new matrix to the middle of said frame time slots. After processed like this, the anti-interfering ability of the bits at both ends of TDMA frame time slot can be significantly enhanced, and the bit-error rate is decreased most, and all redundancy bits of Hamming codes can be arrayed at both ends of TDMA frame time slot.
US08239730B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arrayed capable of storing information of N bits (N≧2) in accordance with variations in threshold voltage. A parity data adder circuit adds parity data for error correction to every certain data bits to be stored in the memory cell array. A frame converter circuit uniformly divides frame data containing the data bits and the parity data into N pieces of subframe data. A programming circuit stores the subframe data divided into N pieces in respective N sub-pages formed corresponding to the information of N bits.
US08239722B2
In a multicast distribution system in which terminal devices on a distribution path are hierarchically grouped, a first terminal device which has detected a loss of a receiving packet transmits to a second terminal device located upstream of the first terminal device a retransmission request for a packet retransmission to the first terminal device and a third terminal device which receives a packet first in a group located downstream of a group to which the first terminal device belongs. The second terminal device which has received the retransmission request transmits a retransmission packet to both the first and third terminal devices.
US08239718B2
A wireless communication apparatus having a retransmission control unit configured to refer to identification information added to received retransmit data when a second retransmit request is performed after the first transmit request is performed, and not to use the received retransmit data for forming data when the received retransmit data corresponds to the first retransmit request based on the identification information, and to use the received retransmit data for forming data when the received retransmit data corresponds to the second retransmit request based on the identification information.
US08239717B2
To provide a logic verification apparatus capable of preventing, when an indeterminate value is generated in logic verification, the indeterminate value from being unintentionally erased. A simulation part performs a simulation based on a description of the logic function described in a hardware description language. A second symbol replacing part replaces an indeterminate value generated in the simulation by the simulation part with a symbol. The simulation part generates a symbol expression and propagates it to an element at a later stage when the symbol replaced by the second symbol replacing part reaches an element being processed. Therefore, unintentional erasing of the indeterminate value generated during the simulation can be prevented.
US08239712B2
A computer system including: a memory configured to store various kinds of data; a use setting data memory means for storing use setting data indicating a use of each of a plurality of memory blocks into which the memory is divided by a certain length; a memory diagnosis means for diagnosing the memory so as to detect a bad area in each of the memory blocks; and a memory use setting means for setting the use setting data of each of the memory blocks stored in the use setting data memory means in accordance with a result of detecting the bad area in each of the memory blocks by means of the memory diagnosis means.
US08239709B2
Methods, program products, and systems for monitoring extrinsic processes are described. A monitoring process can monitor one or more target processes. The target processes can be extrinsic, e.g., not spawned by the monitoring process. The monitoring process reads a process registry to identify which processes among multiple processes to monitor. The monitoring process can send status requests to the identified target processes periodically to check whether the target processes are healthy. If a target process is terminated, the monitoring process determines whether the termination is normal (e.g., by a user), or abnormal (e.g., the target process crashed). The monitoring process can restart the abnormally terminated or hung target process.
US08239708B2
A system on a chip (SoC) device verification system comprises: an SoC device model including one or more IPs and a memory controller; an external IP verification model receiving an instruction from the SoC device model and verifying operation of the one or more IPs included in the SoC device model; and a bus select model selecting one of the external IP verification model and an external device in response to a memory control signal received from the memory controller of the SoC device model.
US08239698B2
A system and method for maintaining connectivity between a host system running an Always-On-Always-Connected (AOAC) application and an associated remote application server. The system further includes circuitry configured to establish a communication link between the host system and the remote application server. The circuitry is configured periodically transmit keep-alive messages to the remote application server after the host system transitions to and remains in a low-power state. The keep-alive messages are configured to maintain connectivity and presence of the AOAC application with the remote application server while the host system is in the low-power state.
US08239694B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided for dynamically scaling switching frequencies and clock sources of switched mode power supplies (SMPSs) in a mobile station. Switching frequency is scaled to an optimal value in response to at least one of (i) a change in mode of operation for wireless communication employed by the mobile station, an additional mode of operation is triggered, (ii) a change in operation conditions of a set of loads associated with functionality of the mobile is determined, or (iii) an LO spur set-off by a SMPS in the presence of an interference signal with a frequency splitting from an operational band that matches the SMPS frequency or at least one of its harmonics. Switching frequencies can be selected from a lookup table, or through an analysis of switching frequencies available to the mobile and operational criteria. A set of clock sources can provide an ensemble of switching frequencies.
US08239693B2
The invention has disclosed a system power management circuit comprising: a printed circuit board and a hardware monitor. The printed circuit board includes at least a first power connector, a second power connector, and more than one detection circuits disposed thereon; wherein the first power connector is used for electrically connecting a power supply, the second power connector is used for electrically connecting a power connector of a motherboard, inputs of the detection circuits are electrically connected to the first power connector, respectively. The hardware monitor is electrically connected to outputs of the detection circuits, and used for converting electrical signals outputted from the outputs of the detection circuits into corresponding digital signals, as well as for transmitting the digital signals to the motherboard via a two-wire bus, the two-wire bus is bi-directional, and may be an I2C or a SM bus.
US08239685B2
Provided is a biometric authentication method. A biometric authentication method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes generating a first one-time authentication template from biometric information using one-time transform information, and requesting authentication, comparing the first one-time authentication template with a one-time registration template, updating the one-time registration template and the one-time transform information when authentication is achieved according to a result of the comparison, wherein the updated one-time transform information is used to generate a second one-time authentication template to be authenticated according to the result of the comparison with the updated one-time registration template when successive authentication is requested.
US08239684B2
A management server calculates a hash value of software for providing a service, generates a first software area from software which is provided a second electronic signature, provides a third electronic signature to user information provided with a first electronic signature transmitted from a terminal, to the hash value, and to user management information, encrypts a second software area generated from the third electronic signature, user information, from hash value, and from user management information using a common key of the management server and service providing server, combines the first software area and encrypted second software area to create a software IC card, encrypts the software IC card using a public key of the terminal, and transmits the encrypted software IC card to the terminal.
US08239681B2
An information processing device regarding which access to data held by the information processing device itself, in multiple regions, is requested from another information processing device, includes: an authenticating unit to perform authenticating processing of the other information processing device; a receiving unit to receive an access license ticket including an access code and a check digit; an access license ticket generating key generating unit to generate an access license ticket generating key, which is key information for computing a check digit using data held beforehand, a root key, an access control key, and other key information which is key information to manage data of a region other than the predetermined region, corresponding to an access code; check digit computing unit to compute a check digit corresponding to the access code described in the access license ticket; and access license ticket validating unit to validate the access license ticket.
US08239678B2
A method and a system for combining data with an apparatus which is provided for processing the data includes the following steps: (a) determining an identifier associated with the apparatus; (b) generating a first key by using the identifier and a second secret key, which is independent of the identifier; (c) generating a decryption algorithm to be used for the second key and providing the decryption algorithm to the apparatus; (d) encrypting a rights object, which allows access to the data, using the first key and the second secret key; (e) transmitting the data and the rights object to the apparatus; (f) decrypting the rights object with the apparatus by using the identifier associated with the apparatus and the decryption algorithm associated with the apparatus; and (g) decrypting the data using a key selected by a rights owner and included in the decrypted rights object.
US08239675B2
A system for handling an LDAP service request to an LDAP server for an LDAP service comprises a client program executable on a client system and a handler program executable on a handler system. The client program is operable to generate LDAP service request data corresponding to the LDAP service and provide the LDAP service request data for transmission from the client system, and further operable to receive LDAP service reply data in response to the LDAP service request data. The handler program is operable to receive the LDAP service request data transmitted from the client system and execute the LDAP service request to the LDAP server, receive LDAP service reply data from the LDAP server during one or more passes, and upon completion of the LDAP service, provide the LDAP service reply data for transmission to the client system in a single pass.
US08239669B2
A reach back secure communications terminal that offers immediate and secure voice, data and video connectivity to multiple telecommunications networks, high availability and reliable connectivity, total access to vital resources, and secure extension to the home office. Integrated components simplify access to varied networks allowing deployed users to select and connect quickly to a network that best supports their present mission. Commercial or optional NSA Type 1 encryption may be implemented. Networking options include any of PSTN, PBX, GSM (or CDMA or other cell telephone standard), SAT, IP and WiFi. During secure call setup, the reach-back communications terminal exchanges public keys with a remote terminal using FNBDT signaling. Traffic encryption is performed using the NIST approved Advanced Encryption System (AES) standard (Rijndael) and a 128-bit random key (2^128 possible keys).
US08239664B2
A dual BIOS program protecting method is provided for protecting a first BIOS program and a second BIOS program of a computer system. Firstly, a flag is switched from a first status to a second status during the refreshing of the first BIOS program. If the first BIOS program is successfully refreshed, the flag is switched from the second status to the first status. If the flag is in the second status when the computer system is booted, a first control signal is generated and the second BIOS program enters a write protection mode according to the first control signal.
US08239663B2
A secure memory system and a method of maintaining the security of memory contents. One embodiment of the system includes: (1) a security control module configured to transmit a system memory secure mode signal and processor secure mode signal to place the system in a secure mode, (2) a secure memory bridge coupled to the security control and system memory and configured to encrypt and decrypt data associated with the system memory based on a state of the system memory secure mode signal and (3) a boot processor coupled to the security control module and the secure memory bridge and configured to transmit requests to the secure memory bridge in the secure mode and an unsecure mode.
US08239658B2
An address generation system and method is provided for internally storing and thereafter producing an address to be sent to a memory device. The address that is stored need not be sent from an external address bus at each clock cycle, but the processing can remain internal to the memory device. The burst-block starting address can be stored in the mirror register and output from a selector circuit, such as a multiplexer, when that address is chosen. Otherwise, the multiplexer can simply perform its normal operation of selecting between an address pointed to by a counter, the external address, or the incremented counter output, based on the state of the external counter control signals. The system includes a mirror register, a counter, and a multiplexer that selects either the mirror register stored address or the internally processed address.
US08239651B2
A method for indicating storage capacity is applied in a storage device. The storage device includes a main storage unit, a capacity indicator, a driver, and a secondary storage unit. The second storage unit stores a preset storage capacity value and a drive table recording relationship between storage capacity difference ranges and rotation angles of the driver. The method includes: periodically obtaining a storage capacity value from a computer connected to the storage device; computing a difference between the obtained storage capacity value and the preset storage capacity value; determining the storage capacity difference range the difference falls within and the rotation angle the determined storage capacity difference range corresponds to in the drive table; and controlling the driver to rotate the determined rotation angle to drive the capacity indicator to indicate the obtained storage capacity value. A related storage device is also provided.
US08239645B1
A method is used in managing mirroring in data storage system having a fast write device and a slow write device. A write I/O is received and is executed on the fast write device which includes a solid state drive. The write I/O is stored in interim storage having high performance sequential write capability. It is indicated that execution of the write I/O is complete. Based on the interim storage, the write I/O is executed on the slow write device.
US08239643B2
In a nonvolatile memory with block management system, critical data such as control data for the block management system is maintained in duplicates. Various methods are described for robustly writing and reading two copies of critical data in multi-state memory. In another aspect of the invention, a preemptive garbage collection on memory block containing control data avoids an undesirable situation where a large number of such memory blocks need be garbage collected at the same time.
US08239629B2
A hierarchical memory storage using a concentrator device that is located between a processor and memory storage devices to provide a succession of memory devices and enable attachment of a memory depth to a processor controller with a limited pin count.
US08239610B2
A method and system to handle an asynchronous page fault in a virtual machine system. A computer hosts a virtual machine that includes a virtual central processing unit (CPU). The virtual CPU requests access to a page that is not resident in memory. The host operating system of the computer receives an indication of a page fault, and informs the virtual CPU of the page fault. The host operating system provides an identifier associated with the page fault. The host operating system performs page swapping operating in parallel with a new task rescheduled by the virtual CPU, and sends a wake-up signal to the virtual CPU when the page has been brought back into the memory.
US08239608B1
Detailed herein are approaches to enabling a secure computing environment. In one approach, a computer system runs an operating system and a virtual machine management console. An input device is used to provide input to the operating system. The operating system is configured such that input received from the input device is directed to the virtual machine management console. The virtual machine management console, in turn, is configured to pass some or all of the input to a virtual machine.
US08239597B2
A Device-to-Device Communication Bus protocol may facilitate transmission of a two to four byte packet by any device sharing the bus. All devices on the bus may monitor the bus, receiving all packets transmitted by other devices and recognizing when they may initiate transmission. The first byte of the packet may be an Address byte uniquely identifying the sender and allowing hardware arbitration to uniquely select one of any number of senders who may wish to transmit and begin transmission simultaneously. Arbitration may take place during transmission of the Address byte, with the transmitting device monitoring a bus bit value as it is transmitting the Address byte. If the data value observed by the transmitting device doesn't match the transmitting device's desired transmit value, the transmitting device may recognize loss of arbitration and suspend transmission to retry once the packet is complete. The receive function in every device may accept the packet as a normal received packet. The arbitration scheme may also include a fairness mechanism to insure one or several devices cannot monopolize the bus.
US08239592B2
An integrated circuit for a smart card in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes at least one data terminal for providing communications with a host device over a system bus and a processor configured to provide an attachment signal on the at least one data terminal for recognition by the host device. Further, the processor also cooperates with the host device to perform an enumeration based upon at least one default descriptor, and receive information from the host device regarding a system event. In addition, the processor is configured to remove the attachment signal from the at least one data terminal and thereafter again provide the attachment signal on the at least one data terminal based upon the information regarding the system event, and cooperate with the host device to perform a new enumeration based upon at least one alternate descriptor.
US08239586B2
A method and apparatus is presented for using multiple device specific interface protocols for communicating with a platform, where each of the devices comprises a set of parameters. For each parameter of each set of parameters a function call is established to set the parameter for each of the devices that enable the parameter. Using each function call, the plurality of object specific interface protocols is then transformed into a non-device specific interface protocol for communication with the platform.
US08239580B2
In a Local Area Network (LAN) system, an Ethernet adapter exchanges data with a host through programmed I/O (PIO) and FIFO buffers. The receive PIO employs a DMA ring buffer backup so incoming packets can be copied directly into host memory when the PIO FIFO buffer is full. The adapter may be programmed to generate early receive interrupts when only a portion of a packet has been received from the network, so as to decrease latency. The adapter may also be programmed to generate a second early interrupt so that the copying of a large packet to the host may overlap reception of the packet end. The adapter to begin packet transmission before the packet is completely transferred from the host to the adapter, which further reduces latency. The minimal latency of the adapter allows it to employ receive and transmit FIFO buffers which are small enough to be contained within RAM internal to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) containing the transceiver, ethernet controller, FIFO control circuitry and the host interface as well.
US08239572B1
With the advent of virtualization technologies, networks and routing for those networks can now be simulated using commodity hardware rather than actual routers. For example, virtualization technologies such as those provided by VMWare, XEN, or User-Mode Linux can be adapted to allow a single physical computing machine to be shared among multiple virtual networks by providing each virtual network user with one or more virtual machines hosted by the single physical computing machine, with each such virtual machine being a software simulation acting as a distinct logical computing system that provides users with the illusion that they are the sole operators and administrators of a given hardware computing resource. In addition, routing can be accomplished through software, providing additional routing flexibility to the virtual network in comparison with traditional routing. As a result, in some implementations, supplemental information other than packet information can be used to determine network routing.
US08239568B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method of this embodiment provides accessing a packet template in a memory, the packet template having at least one static field, and in response to an indication of an event, generating a packet on an integrated circuit, the packet being based on the packet template.
US08239565B2
A Flow Record restriction apparatus is provided for restricting a transmission number of Flow Records while maintaining measurement information of the whole traffic. The Flow Record restriction apparatus includes: a flow generation unit 202 configured to determine a set of packets having the same attribute to be a flow of the same communication, and to generate a Flow Record based on header information of the packets for each flow; a Flow Record number restriction function unit 203 including a management buffer for temporarily storing generated Flow Records, and being configured to read the Flow Records from the management buffer and output the Flow Records; and a Flow Record transmission unit 204 configured to packetize the output Flow Records to transmit packets over the measurement network, wherein, when a number of Flow Records stored in the management buffer exceeds a preset upper limit value, the Flow Record number restriction function unit 203 aggregates a part of stored Flow Records.
US08239562B2
A system for aggregating context information for messages includes a context container that associates names with context values and metadata for context entries. The system further includes a network protocol component configured to read messages from a network transport, an encoder component configured translate messages from a raw format into a canonical message format. The canonical message format is an enveloped message containing an application payload and message metadata. The context container is associated with a message in the canonical format. The system further includes an extraction component configured to retrieve context from a native network transport protocol and insert the context values and metadata into the context container, a plurality of additional protocol components configured to add, remove, or modify entries in the context container, and one or more higher level application components configured to operate on the canonical message using the context entries.
US08239560B2
A system of remote objects with network streaming ability includes a streaming client, a plurality of streaming servers, a streaming buffer area, a plurality of first continuous buffer areas, a streaming controller, a plurality of first network connections, and a plurality of second network connections. The plurality of streaming servers is used to respond a remote procedure call from the streaming client. The streaming buffer area stores a complete data unit for the streaming client to access. A generation method of remote objects with network streaming ability is further provided. The method includes executing a link procedure, executing a streaming preparation, executing a streaming transfer procedure, and closing the link procedure.
US08239542B2
An analog signal input/output system in which an analog signal input terminal converts an input analog signal to a digital signal and transmits the digital signal to a host computer via a network, while a digital signal generated by the host computer is transmitted through the network to an analog signal output terminal and converted therein to an analog signal to be outputted. Two connections of upstream and downstream sockets between the host computer and the analog signal input/output device. These connections are selectively used to provide communication of control signals and data. Exemplary analog signals include input signals from a microphone, output signals to a speaker, and input/output data to/from a sensor, a measuring device and the like.
US08239528B2
Network performance is monitored using timing information retrieved from a client device, server in communication with the client, or both. Client side timing information is retrieved using performance monitoring code provided by the server. The code may be provided to the client as part of a content response. Once content in the provided content response is loaded, the code sends the timing information to the server. The server may then process the timing information to calculate response time and other time information metrics.
US08239527B2
An application service provider (ASP)-based interface and system for analyzing performance and costs of respective enterprise information technology assets from the correlation of metrics data of enterprise SNMP-enabled devices.
US08239523B1
A remote maintenance board (RMB) that interfaces a monitored system with a communications network is either functionally connected to the monitored system or to the communications network, but never to both at the same time, thereby isolating the monitored system from unauthorized access via the communications network.
US08239505B2
A system for automatically implementing high-level instructions in a distributed application program, where the high-level instructions reflect the behavior of the distributed application program, includes at least a tools component. The tools component is used to write high-level instructions in the form of declarative models, and place them in a repository. An executive component then receives the declarative models from the repository and refines them (e.g., via progressive elaboration) until there are no ambiguities. A platform-specific driver then translates the commands from the executive component, effectively turning the declarative model instructions into a set of imperative actions to be implemented in one or more application containers. The platform-specific driver also relays one or more event streams to an analytics means, which can result in modifications to the declarative models and corresponding new sets of instructions coming through the platform-specific driver at a later point.
US08239504B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media for synchronization of electronic message accounts. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information to establish an electronic message account on a first data processing system, the electronic message account being defined by setup information, and synchronizing the setup information onto a store on a second data processing system. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving information to establish an electronic message account, defined by first setup information, on a host and synchronizing the first setup information onto a device when the device is coupled to the host for synchronization. Systems, other methods and computer readable media are also described.
US08239503B2
A distributed computer system in several embodiments includes several architectures or configurations. Each configuration exhibits a different degree of coupling between an application that provides data and an application that consumes that data. In an embodiment, a provider application knows the identity of a consumer application, converts data into the format of the consumer application, and transmits the data to the consumer application. In other embodiments, the provider application does not know the identity of the consumer application, and transmits data to the consumer application through an intermediary. In such embodiments, either the provider or the intermediary can perform the data conversion. In another embodiment, a manager object oversees the transformation of the system from one configuration to another in real time.
US08239497B2
The present embodiments provide methods and systems to playback and customize the playback of content relative to the portable storage medium. Some of these methods identify content to be rendered, through a playback device, in association with a first portable storage medium; identify one or more customizable display parameters to be applied in displaying the identified content; receive a first definition, following the identification of the customizable display parameters, for at least a first customizable display parameter of the one or more customizable display parameters; and cause the first definition for the first customizable display parameter to be stored on the playback device in association with the first customizable display parameter such that the first definition is to be applied by the playback device in rendering the content relative to the first customizable display parameter.
US08239491B1
The occurrence of a request event is monitored during the rendering of a browser page. In response to monitoring the occurrence of the request event, content item request instructions are loaded and executed to generate one or more content item requests based on the content item request instructions.
US08239484B2
The present invention provides mobile terminals with various types of services such as electronic commerce service, music delivery service, and position information service. User applications required for the electronic commerce service, music delivery service, and position information service are respectively configured as service objects each having a server facility, and further a local gateway is provided, whereby various types of services can be used through a browser.
US08239480B2
A method of conducting a search using a mobile electronic device may include playing digital audio content at the mobile electronic device, and accepting user input at the mobile electronic device to capture a portion of the digital audio content. Search criteria may be provided wherein the search criteria is based on the captured portion of the digital audio content and on information separate from the captured portion of the digital audio content. A search may be conducted using the search criteria based on the captured portion of the digital audio content and on the information separate from the captured portion of the digital audio content. A result of the search may be provided at the mobile electronic device, and the result of the search may be displayed at the mobile electronic device.
US08239476B2
Exemplary network alarm message processing systems and methods are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a network alarm message processing system receives a network alarm message provided by a network element of a wide area network, the network alarm message being in a first message format, converts the network alarm message in the first message format to a new network alarm message in a network universal message format, and provided the new network alarm message for use in conducting surveillance of the wide area network. In certain embodiments, the conversion may be based on a mapping data file and a translation rules data file associated with the first message format Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08239474B2
A classifier is implemented to determine the number of message transfer agents (MTAs) through which an email message has traveled. If the number of MTAs through which the email message has traveled is below a predetermined threshold and the email message is not otherwise authenticated, the classifier will designate the email message as abusive.
US08239465B2
A method for generating one or more human interactive proofs (HIPs) is described herein. A HIP request may be received. One of a plurality of HIP engines may be selected using a randomization algorithm. Each HIP engine may have a distinct algorithm for generating the one or more HIPs. The one or more HIPs may be generated using the one of the plurality of HIP engines.
US08239462B2
A method and apparatus for composing electronic messages. In one embodiment, the method includes dividing a first electronic message into one or more segments, uniquely identifying each of the segments of the first electronic message, and storing the first electronic message in a repository with unique identifiers of the segments. The segments can then be individually accessible by a user viewing the first electronic message.
US08239453B2
A technique for providing one class of users of an application a view of what a typical user in another class of users of the same application is visually experiencing. A client application that is interacting with the application provides a user an option of having a PIP view of what a typical user in one of the other classes of users supported by the application is visually experiencing. When the user requests to display a PIP view that represents what a typical user in a specified one of the other classes of users of the same application is seeing, a PIP view window is automatically rendered on the user's display screen. The PIP view window represents what a typical user in the specified one of the other classes of users is seeing, but is not an “active” interface through which the user can interact with the application.
US08239449B2
Systems and methods use a reliable connection oriented protocol to send and receive messages (i.e. datagrams) between gaming applications and gaming services. In one aspect, the protocol is the SCTP protocol.
US08239448B2
The present system and method for providing network connectivity and computer status information is displayed to a user and presents useful troubleshooting information related to various networks and computer status information. The present system includes means for determining at least one of the group consisting of a computer's IP address, host name, computer model, and user ID of said user's computer, means for determining a telephone number to a help desk associated with the user's computer, and means for displaying the telephone number and the at least one of the group consisting of a computer's IP address, host name, computer model, and user ID of the user's computer to the user.
US08239445B1
A method, system and program product are presented for enabling a session, as defined by a series of related transactions to perform a unit of work, to be created between a client and a particular server where the server is managed by a dispatcher. Modifications to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) are used to create a method of transferring information form the client to the server. The server implements a server-side storage area (cookie jar) to temporarily store information about the client and the session so that the client is routed to the same server for successive messages in the same session and no reliance is made upon an ability by the client to store or return cookies.
US08239441B2
Modifying a leading zero estimation during an unfused multiply add operation of (A*B)+C. A plurality of terms x and y may be received, and each may be based on truncated terms s and t (e.g., in performing the unfused multiply add operation) and the shifted C term. A first leading zero estimation may be calculated based on the terms x and y. It may be determined if near total catastrophic cancellation has occurred. A carry in from a right most number of bits of the terms s and t and the most significant truncated bits of s and t may be used to generate a second leading zero estimation based on the first leading zero estimation if the near total catastrophic cancellation has occurred.
US08239435B2
Computer-readable media having corresponding apparatus embodies instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising: receiving a first array; generating a plurality of second arrays based on the first array, wherein each of the second arrays is generated using a different threshold number, and wherein each entry of the second arrays indicates whether a corresponding entry in the first array exceeds the respective threshold number; generating a first vector, wherein each entry in the first vector represents a number of connected components for a respective one of the second arrays; generating a second vector based on the first vector, wherein each entry of the second vector represents a variance of a plurality of entries, including a corresponding entry, of the first vector; generating a third vector, comprising filtering the second vector; and selecting, based on the third vector, one of the threshold numbers, of the second arrays or both.
US08239434B2
A system, method, and apparatus for distortion analysis is provided. A method in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure may include receiving a clock frequency at a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and generating at least one stream of phase numbers via said DDS. The method may further include generating a digital sine wave using, at least in part, said clock frequency and said at least one stream of phase numbers. Of course, additional implementations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US08239430B2
Performing a calculation using a coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) algorithm. Execution of the CORDIC algorithm is begun. An error introduced by a truncated vector as a result of executing the CORDIC algorithm is pre-computed. The error is incorporated into a subsequent iteration of the CORDIC algorithm. Execution of the CORDIC algorithm is completed. The result of the CORDIC algorithm is stored.
US08239423B2
A system and method for providing semantic access of data in a master data management system. Data stored in a dynamic repository schema is exposed in a semantically accurate format. The schema is determined from information received from the master data management system describing the schema. A set of database views is generated based on said schema. A query from an external application in a standard query language is received and the query is performed using at least one database view. The database views are updated when a schema change is detected.
US08239415B2
Systems and methods for providing a validation tool may be configured to identify a plurality of words within a document, the document being provided in a first window within a user interface. Additionally, the systems and methods may be configured to determine, from a predetermined list that includes terms of interest, whether the words are matching words with terms of interest. The systems and methods may, in response to determining that the plurality of words are matching words with the terms of interest, highlight matching words in a document and access pieces of related data for matching words.
US08239412B2
A method and a system are provided for recommending a media item (e.g., movie and/or television program). In one example, the system receives a seed media item (e.g., seed movie and/or seed television program). A seed media item is an audio-visual recording that is identified as being of interest to a user. The system recognizes one or more recognized audio tracks (e.g., audio tracks and/or songs) from the seed media item. A recognized audio track is an audio recording that is contained in the seed media item. The system retrieves audio track metadata associated with at least one of the recognized audio tracks from the seed media item. Audio track metadata are data that describes an audio recording. The system recommends one or more recommended media items based on the audio track metadata. A recommended media item is an audio-visual recording (e.g., movie and/or television program).
US08239409B2
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining which of a plurality of end users are to be presented with a message, the plurality of end users having access to one or more non-communication applications through one or more non-communication application interfaces; and providing a modified non-communication application interface for accessing at least one of the one or more non-communication applications to one or more end users who have been determined to be presented with the message, the modified non-communication application interface including at least a channel to access the message. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08239406B2
A method, apparatus and program product are provided for representing a database query expression including a plurality of predicates related to one another by at least one logical relation. A list of operands is generated from the database query expression, where each operand is representative of a predicate. Each operand is mapped into an operand map. A data structure is generated based upon the generated list of operands, where the data structure includes a plurality of nodes. Each node includes an operand identifier that identifies at least one operand based upon the operand map. Each node defines a first logical relation between those predicates in the database query expression that are represented by operands identified by the operand identifier for such node. The nodes are arranged relative to one another in the data structure to define at least a second logical relation among predicates in the database query expression.
US08239404B2
A graph traversal system is described herein that efficiently identifies strongly connected components with entries, exits, and corresponding edges at the same time. Entry and exit nodes can be recognized by scanning every node after the strongly connected components have been identified, but revisiting these nodes incurs undesirable overhead. The graph traversal system identifies entries and exits during a single pass while the strongly connected components are being identified. In addition, the system modifies the semantics for some applications so that a single node all alone is not considered to be a strongly connected component. Thus, the graph traversal system allows efficient identification of entries to and exits from strongly connected components in a manner that can be applied to a variety of computer software problems that use directed graphs for data structures.
US08239397B2
A system and method for managing user attention by detecting hot topics in social indexes is provided. Articles of digital information and at least one social index are maintained. The social index includes topics that each relate to one or more of the articles. Topic models matched to the digital information are retrieved for each topic. The articles are classified under the topics using the topic models. Each of the topics in the social index is evaluated for hotness. A plurality of time periods projected from the present is defined. Counts of the articles appearing under each time period are evaluated. The topics exhibiting a rising curve in the count of the articles that increases with recency during the time periods are chosen. Quality of the articles within the topics chosen is analyzed. The topics including the articles having acceptable quality are presented.
US08239395B2
A method includes defining a host capability; creating for a storage device a second directory tree from a first directory tree of the storage device that is included in a file system within the storage device; and, for a data file that is stored in the storage device and is selectable for consumption by a host through the first directory tree that is included in the storage device's file system, determining whether the data file requires for consumption a host having the defined host capability. If the data file requires a host having the defined host capability, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is not selectable for consumption by the host. Otherwise, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is selectable for consumption by the host.
US08239394B1
A method of restricting a database access operation is disclosed. A plurality of Bloom filters corresponding to a plurality of fields in a database are applied to two or more terms in a record to produce a first plurality of outputs. The record may correspond to a query. Extraneous terms may be removed from the record. The access operation to the database is enabled if the first plurality of outputs correspond to a positive result.
US08239391B2
Methods, systems, and media are provided for an optimized search engine index. The optimized index is formed by merging small lower level indexes of fresh documents together into a hierarchical cluster of multiple higher level indexes. The optimized index of fresh documents is formed via a single threaded process, while a fresh index serving platform concurrently serves fresh queries. The hierarchy of higher level indexes is formed by merging lower and/or higher level indexes with similar expiration times together. Therefore, as some indexes expire, the remaining un-expired indexes can be re-used and merged with new incoming indexes. The single threaded process provides fast serving of fresh documents, while also providing time to integrate the fresh indexes into a long term primary search engine index, prior to expiring.
US08239389B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products to persist external index data in a database are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes maintaining a database including a first data table that is configured to store data in a database format and a second data table that is configured to store index data. The index data represents an index of a first portion of the first data table, and the index maintained externally to the database by an index manager. The method also includes generating a data update representing a modification to the first data table and communicating the data update to the index manager. The method further includes receiving index update data from the index manager representing a modification to the index as a result of the data update and applying the index update data to the second data table.
US08239386B2
A system and method for the customization of media content metadata that is transmitted to any one of a plurality of end user devices of differing types. The system is adapted to modify individual records or even individual fields from the entire gamut of available metadata into a metadata feed which is optimally suited for display upon the type of end user device. Additionally, the system is also able to modify the records or individual fields from a list of all metadata instances according to pre-recorded user preferences. The result is a system that optimally utilizes the current connection path in order to reduce congestion thereon, or to alleviate any user potential frustration caused by sporadic performance of the overloaded interconnection path.
US08239385B2
Provided are method and apparatus for writing and reproducing a multimedia service using a tag in order to provide an intuitive interface for a user using a multimedia service. The method includes selecting a multimedia service to be written; generating tag information identifying the selected multimedia service; and writing the generated tag information to a tag. Accordingly, multimedia service information and content information can be stored in a tag by being written to tag information using a common format, and thus the user can later execute a service operation by easily writing information of a desired service operation to a tag and then simply connecting the tag to a tag reading device.
US08239383B2
A method, system and article of manufacture for query execution management and, more particularly, for managing execution of queries against database samples. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for managing execution of a query against a database having a multiplicity of data records. The method comprises receiving, from a requesting entity, a query against the database, and performing an automated execution process, comprising: (i) iteratively executing the query against samples of the database, each sample including a subset of the multiplicity of data records, (ii) after each iterative execution of the query, determining whether a query result obtained for the iterative execution satisfies a predefined condition, and (iii) if the predefined condition is not satisfied, performing a predefined action.
US08239366B2
Some embodiments relate to a method of performing a search for content on the Internet, in which a user may speak a search query and speech recognition may be performed on the spoken query to generate a text search query to be provided to a plurality of search engines. This enables a user to speak the search query rather than having to type it, and also allows the user to provide the search query only once, rather than having to provide it separately to multiple different search engines.
US08239365B2
Methods and systems for database storage allowing subscriber entities to create specialized interfaces for storing different classes of information based on subscribed-defined categories and parameters, allowing for efficient search and retrieval of the information by users using the subscriber-defined categories and parameters. The present technology allows users, such as suppliers, administrators, and others, to add inventory to a database through an interface, search for inventory via an interface, and view results of inventory searches. Inventory requests may be processed using local and remote data stores.
US08239363B2
Maintaining a plurality of search contexts and selecting one of the search contexts based on graphical properties of a user interface. Each of the search contexts is provided by and corresponds to one of a plurality of executing application programs. Responsive to an event, one of the search contexts is selected. In some embodiments, the search context provided by the application program having a window displayed in the foreground of the user interface is selected. Search results based on the selected search context are obtained and provided to the user.
US08239356B2
Methods and apparatuses for data protection against corrupted write operations. In one embodiment, a technique of crash protection uses an atomically updated global transaction indicator to switch a set of data structures from one set of versions to another set. In one embodiment, the storage space for multiple versions of a data structure is allocated at the time the data structure is created on the storage device so that the multiple versions of the data structure can be kept close by. Between two consistent points, some data structures are modified to create new versions without changing the corresponding previous versions; and unmodified data structures are not copied. At a consistent point, the global transaction indicator is updated to indicate a set of consistent versions of the data structures, such as metadata of a file system.
US08239355B2
A map data update method for updating nationwide updated version map data using route-specific update data is disclosed. This method has a step of creating route-specific update data, comprising update data for all routes which have been newly opened since the time of release of the nationwide updated version map data; a step of storing a plurality of route-specific update data sets with different creation dates; a step of, when updating the nationwide updated version map data of the time of release stored in a navigation apparatus in use of a prescribed first route-specific update data which has been stored, storing pre-update map files necessary to restore the nationwide updated version map data; and a step of using the first route-specific update data to update the nationwide updated version map data.
US08239354B2
In an aggregated file system, a method of processing a user file retrieves user file metadata and user data from a metadata server and applies operations to the user data in accordance with a file open request from a client. At the end of the process, the method stores the processed user data at a location in accordance with a predefined rule and updates the metadata in the metadata server to reference the processed user data at the location. In some embodiments, the predefined rule is to choose a location between the metadata server and a separate storage server in accordance with the size of the processed user data. If the size is still smaller than a predetermined threshold, the user data is stored in the metadata server. Otherwise, the user data is stored in the storage server.
US08239353B2
A transmission system includes a transmission apparatus transmitting metadata relating to content via a network and a reception apparatus receiving the metadata. The transmission apparatus includes storing metadata including fragment updating management information in units of fragments; generating a delivery unit including a document which includes the metadata contained in fragments excluding the fragment updating management information; compressing the metadata in the delivery unit; adding document updating management information to the compressed metadata; and delivering the delivery unit. The reception apparatus includes receiving the compressed metadata; decompressing the compressed metadata; storing the decompressed metadata; and copy the document updating management information contained in the delivery unit and assign the document updating management information to the fragments as fragment updating management information.
US08239347B2
A system and method for customizing the storage of data according to data attributes are provided. A user is provided with a graphical user interface for generating data archive profiles. The data archive profiles can include information regarding the attributes of the device data, specifications regarding the storage of the data, specifications regarding the retrieval of the archived data, and management of the archived data during storage. The execution of the data archive profiles facilitates the individual processing of specific data types or individual pieces of identifiable data.
US08239345B2
Contents of a copy of a server file may be saved to a down load file, a base file, and a working file. An indication may be received from an application that the application has edited the working file and a copy of the edited working file may be saved to an upload file. A server computer may be queried to determine if the server file on the server computer has been changed. If the server file on the server computer has not been changed, the server file on the server computer may be updated with contents of the upload file. If the server file on the server computer has been changed, a three-way merge of the upload file, the base file, and the changed server file on the server computer may be performed. Then the server file on the server computer may be updated with the three-way merge results.
US08239343B2
A database reorganization technique uses multiple-coordinated read, sort and write tasks to substantially reduce the overall time to reorganize a database object. Coordination between the different functional tasks (e.g., read, sort and write tasks) is facilitated through the logical partitioning of the key values associated with the object to be reorganized. Object key values are determined by interrogating the object's associated database prior to initiating reorganization processing.
US08239342B2
A computer system and method providing on-demand extension of ontology in an ontology use process. A support module responds to a creation event in the ontology use process. The support module defines ontology specification for a newly created item, in the creation event, in a manner substantially free of disruption or interruption to the ontology use process. An ontology manager incorporates the defined ontology specification into the ontology during the ontology use process such that an on-demand extension of the ontology results. One example ontology use process is semantic modeling of situations, organizations, or objects of interest. Modeling and ontology specification take place hand in hand, and the ontology is extended on an as-needed and on-demand fashion during the course of modeling.
US08239339B2
In an industrial control configuration, various instances can exist that are based upon a definition. A definition can be changed and thus it can be appropriate to alter related instances in accordance with the change. However, changing an instance can cause disruption in other actions even when the change is minor. Therefore, various standards can be used to determine if a change to an instance should be propagated automatically or at another time, such as after an operation. The determination can be based on artificial intelligence techniques, user preference, a defined rule set, user instruction, as well as other standards.
US08239335B2
A system and article of manufacture enabling adapting to a shift in document content according to one embodiment of the present invention includes instructions for: receiving at least one labeled seed document; receiving unlabeled documents; receiving at least one predetermined cost factor; training a transductive classifier using the at least one predetermined cost factor, the at least one seed document, and the unlabeled documents; classifying the unlabeled documents having a confidence level above a predefined threshold into a plurality of categories using the classifier; reclassifying at least some of the categorized documents into the categories using the classifier; and outputting identifiers of the categorized documents to at least one of a user, another system, and another process. Systems and articles of manufacture for separating documents are also presented. Systems and articles of manufacture for document searching are also presented.
US08239334B2
A tool facilitating learning latent semantics for ranking (LLSR) tailored to the ranking task via leveraging relevance information of query-document pairs to learn a tailored latent semantic space such that other documents are better ranked for the queries in the subspace. The tool applying a learning latent semantics for ranking algorithm integrating LLSR, thereby enabling learning an optimal latent semantic space (LSS) for ranking by utilizing relevance information in the training process of subspace learning. The tool enabling an optimization of the LSS as a closed form solution and facilitating reporting the learned LSS.
US08239326B1
A transaction processing and authorization service. If a source entity does not respond to an authorization attempt via a communications channel, the service may generate a transaction phrase corresponding to the transaction and communicate the transaction phrase to the source entity. The transaction phrase may also be stored by the service and associated with the source entity's account and the particular transaction as initiated, and may be used to identify the transaction. After receiving the transaction phrase, the source entity may then, if desired, return the transaction phrase to the service. Upon receiving the transaction phrase from the source entity, the service may then contact the source entity via the communications channel to authorize the transaction. As an alternative, a source entity may submit a replay command to the service to replay any pending transactions.
US08239322B2
A method of paying for postage stamps, that involves the generation of a plurality of postage stamps, wherein each of the stamps has a unique identification code; and the debiting of an account for the generation of the plurality of stamps when a carrier processes one of the plurality of stamps.
US08239312B2
A method and apparatus for consolidating net-pay and debt management of a sales representative or sales team is presented. A party associated with the sales representatives may obtain debts and specify rules on payment of those debts which can be tracked back to the domain (e.g., agreements, rules, sale item, etc.). The ledger items created for that distributor by the commission engine are typically processed to distribute payments into accounts specified by the distributor and to pay debts obtained by the distributor. Available money may be split into various methods of payments for a distributor. These splits can be tracked by adding various constraints (related to the financial industries business model). The system allows the user to model the payment rule/constraints. Payment splits support pay-outs to alternate payee from funds of a distributor. The distributor may specify deduction rules which can be applied to the distributors earning to facilitate deductions for items such as taxes, mutual funds etc. The system offers the flexibility to choose the method of payment for a distributor for each issued debt. Debt repayment rules are introduced so that debts can be repaid from available earnings of a distributor. Debt collection mechanisms for defaulters are also provided.
US08239305B2
Investors find assistance with determining and/or evaluating relative positions of investments with respect to a variety of evaluation parameters and attributes obtained from a number of data sources. In one embodiment, this involves graphically displaying the relative positions (or locations) of investments with respect to one another and with respect to selectable evaluation parameters and benchmarks for such assets. In some cases, the graphical displays are accompanied by analytical comments that further explain or amplify the information being conveyed graphically.
US08239299B2
Financial intelligence architecture that employs financial types that are combined with rules to build financial behavior into the product. Types have behaviors such that types can be assigned that lead to the physical creation of underlying code which embodies the behaviors. Extensibility is provided at least by type parameterization and new type creation. Because types are a design time experience, types are two-way and can be modified, even after instantiation. This allows for mixing and matching of types and underlying behavior giving the system more flexibility at design time while providing a huge simplification of all the details that actually go into such financial applications. The type library is a set of rules that produce metadata, which metadata is later processed by a separate engine to produce the physical schema. The type library defines the basic interactions, data types, and behaviors for predefined dimensions in the system.
US08239296B2
An exchange assisting system is provided in an exchange center. Each maker who trades in used goods, such as copying machines, for new ones from a business entity brings goods produced by other makers into the exchange center. The system manages the inventory information of goods delivered from each maker and stored in the exchange center. The system prepares inventory information on goods maker by maker every given period and sends the information to each maker on-line. Each maker prepares list data of goods the maker wants to collect based on the inventory information and sends the list data to the exchange assisting system on-line. The exchange assisting system prepares delivering-out information for delivering goods out of the exchange center based on the desired goods-to-ship data and outputs the information as one needed to ship associated goods to each maker.
US08239288B2
A processor retrieves, from a database, an identifier of a first media item rated by a target user, user identifiers of users having provided media item ratings for the first media item, and the media item ratings provided by the users, correspondingly. Each of the media item ratings is randomized, resulting in randomized media item ratings. A user identifier corresponding to a maximum of the randomized media item ratings is selected from the user identifiers. Additional media item ratings associated with the selected user identifier are retrieved from the database. Each of the additional media item ratings are randomized, resulting in additional randomized media item ratings. An identifier of a recommended media item corresponding to a maximum of the randomized media item ratings and the additional randomized media item ratings is selected. Metadata associated with the recommended media item is transmitted to a user device over a network.
US08239282B2
Aspects of this invention disclose a system for providing a purchaser specified product search engine, including providing storage circuitry comprising a database of products, storing product data in the database, receiving from a prospective product purchaser, product data of a desired product to purchase, accessing the database of products and comparing the product data to product data in the database, and determining a probability that the product data matches product data stored in the database. Other aspects may include a data processing apparatus providing a purchaser specified product search engine, including storage circuitry comprising a database of product data, processing circuitry configured to receive purchaser specified product search inquiry data, accessing the database of product data, and comparing the purchaser specified product search inquiry data to the product data; and determining a probability that the prospective purchaser product data matches the product data stored in the database.
US08239281B1
The invention provides a service provider system that enables a subscriber to purchase services over a network from a service provider for the benefit of one or more third parties located in different locations. The service provider system can provide service flexibility by allowing parameters to be set, such as place and time of service delivery. Further, conditions allowing third-party recipients to change service parameters—delivery time and place, exchange of purchased service for another service, return of the purchased service, etc.—can be included. The service provider system additionally can provide reporting options to both the subscriber and the third party. Reporting messages or notifications may be sent to the purchasing subscriber to indicate which of the third parties had taken advantage of the purchased service, when and where the service was consumed, and/or what the actual cost of delivering the service was. The service provider system can also provide incentives for third parties to take advantage of the purchased service.
US08239275B1
One embodiment is a method that monitors, on the computer, activity of a member of a group to build a profile of the member. The profile of the member is used to generate recommendations for gifts that the member wants to receive to celebrate an event. The method then transmits the gifts to a website so other members of the group can select one of the gifts to purchase for the member.
US08239274B2
In various embodiments, a user may, via a processing device, indicate a desire to purchase a feature of an installed software product. A purchase request may be sent to an e-commerce server, or other server. The purchase request may be validated and information concerning the software product, the feature of the software product, and the processing device may be stored. Enabling information may be sent to the processing device to enable the feature of the software product. In some embodiments, the user may request a trial of a feature of a software product before purchasing the feature. In other embodiments, the user may deactivate a purchased feature of a software product on one processing device and may activate the purchased feature of the software product on a different processing device.
US08239267B2
Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.
US08239266B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, for campaign management. A method includes: presenting a user interface to a sponsor for customizing targeting information for a campaign including a control for specifying targeting criteria, where at least one targeting criterion includes a presence of a user in a proscribed geographic location or an indication of an interest by a user in the location; receiving a selection from the sponsor of targeting criteria to be associated with the campaign including a selection of one or both of user presence and interest; evaluating content delivery options for presenting content associated with the campaign including determining for a given content request whether a user is present or merely interested in a geographic location; and serving content from the campaign when a content item request satisfies the targeting criteria for the campaign.
US08239258B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the redemption of affinity reward points as political contributions are disclosed. In an aspect, “points” or “miles” created through various existing affinity programs prevalent in the credit card and airline industries can be redeemed as political donations. Typically, such reward, award or bonus “points” or “miles” have been redeemed for free or discounted rewards such as airline tickets, hotel room stays, restaurant vouchers or other goods and services. However, millions of vested affinity points or miles are left unused (i.e., unredeemed). The present invention allows a consumer who holds such points or miles to link to a political campaign, political party or political action committee allowing excess points to be converted into cash donations to such political campaigns, political parties or political action committees.
US08239254B2
A home storage (a first storage device) installed in each home is provided with an area for a user to store data (user area) and an area for storing ads (ad area). The first storage device checks interest and favorite information for the user in the user area, and transmits the interest and favorite information at the same time backup is performed in a second storage device at a remote site. The second storage device selects a suitable ad based on the interest and favorite information from the first storage device and transmits the selected ad to the first storage device. The user views the transmitted ad when viewing content in the first storage device. The user's viewing record for the ads is kept as statistical data, and the second storage device compiles the record, charges a sponsor an ad charge, thereby subsidizing the usage charge for the first storage device regardless of online or offline connection.
US08239251B2
A system comprises a materials handling vehicle, an information linking device and a wireless transceiver. The materials handling vehicle comprises a controller area network (CAN) bus and at least one native control module coupled to the CAN bus that generates and sends the vehicle-related data over the CAN bus. The information linking device comprises a CAN-bus interface coupled to the CAN bus of the materials handling vehicle, which extracts the vehicle-related data off of the CAN bus, a memory device coupled to the CAN-bus interface, which stores the vehicle-related data extracted off of the CAN bus and an output interface coupled to the memory device. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the output interface of the information linking device. The wireless transceiver wirelessly sends and receives across a wireless network environment.
US08239250B2
Consumer spend by industry is modeled based on the industry sizes of wallet of consumers having a high share of wallet with a financial institution. A size of wallet is calculated for each consumer in a plurality of consumers. A share of wallet for each consumer is also calculated. A subset of the plurality of consumers whose share of wallet is above a given percentage of their size of wallet is then determined. For each consumer in the subset, an industry size of wallet is determined. A correlation between the industry size of wallet of a given consumer and one or more characteristics of the given consumer is then derived using the industry size of wallet for the consumers in the subset.
US08239246B1
A high-performance capability assessment model helps a health and life sciences business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the health and life sciences business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high-performance capability assessment model helps the health and life sciences business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made, to understand how to make said improvements, and to establish levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.
US08239220B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method to collect information to determine damage to a vehicle involved in a collision using photogrammetric techniques. When determined, this vehicle damage information, which may be in the form of crush measurement information such as a crush damage profile, can be displayed in a computer-generated view of the subject vehicle with a crush damage profile and used to estimate the impact severity. In some embodiments, based on the photogrammetric information derived, a direction of any shifting of the vehicle's components may be obtained and used along with other information to estimate a principal direction of force (PDOF) for one or more vehicles involved in the collision. Still further embodiments may be used to generate and/or audit repair estimates based at least in part on the photogrammetric information.
US08239208B2
The invention concerns a method for spectral enhancement and a device therefor. The inventive method is a method for enhancing spectral content of a signal having an incomplete spectrum including a first spectral band, the method including the following steps: at least transposing the spectral content of the first band into a second spectral band not included in the spectrum to generate a transposed spectrum signal, with spectrum limited to the second spectral band; transforming the spectrum of the transposed spectrum signal to obtain an enhancing signal; combining the incomplete spectrum signal and the enhancing signal to produce a spectrum enhanced signal. The invention is characterized in that the spectral content is subjected to a whitening step.
US08239177B2
Simulating a mechanical system controlled by a motion controller. First position data may be received. The first position data may be provided by a motion controller at a first rate. The first position data received at the first rate may be interpolated to provide second position data at a second rate. Operation of the mechanical system may be simulated or modeled using the second position data at the second rate. Interpolating the first position data and modeling the operation of the mechanical system may be performed without simulating drives and motors necessary to drive the mechanical system.
US08239169B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a device for tracking one or more items. The device may include a plurality of sensors for detecting light, temperature, humidity, pressure, and acceleration. The device may also include a memory for storing information received from the plurality of sensors.
US08239165B1
An apparatus for measuring quantum efficiency (QE) of solar cells. The apparatus includes a light source including an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that each emit light corresponding to a differing portion of a test spectrum and each LED is driven by a sinusoidal power supply that operates at a unique frequency. The light source includes an optical coupling focusing the LED light into a test beam targeted on a solar cell, and a signal conditioner converts analog current signals generated by the solar cell into digital voltage signals. A QE measurement module determines a QE value corresponding to each of the LEDs based on the digital voltage signals using a Fast Fourier Transform module that processes the digital voltage signals to generate values for each operating frequency. The QE measurement module determines the QE values by applying a conversion factor to these values. Since all the LEDs can be power-modulated simultaneously and the corresponding cell responses to each of the LEDS can be analyzed simultaneously, the QE spectrum measurement time is greatly shortened as compared to conventional methods.
US08239148B2
A state switching device for switching the states of a device by detecting a battery voltage of the device is provided. The device includes a voltage dividing circuit to provide an output voltage in proportion to the battery voltage, and a detection unit which includes a voltage detection module, a comparison module, a control module and a state detection module to obtain the device's state. The voltage detection module produces a digital detection voltage according to the output voltage at normal time intervals, the comparison module detects whether the digital detection voltage is lower than a reference voltage corresponding to the state. If yes, the voltage detection module obtains digital detection voltage at abnormal time intervals. The comparison module compares a predetermined number of digital detection voltages with the reference voltage to produce comparison results. The control module determines whether to maintain the device's state according to the comparison results.
US08239136B2
In one aspect the invention is a method of testing for one or more colorectal pathologies or one or more subtypes of colorectal pathology (in one embodiment colorectal cancer) in a test individual by providing data corresponding to a level of products of selected biomarkers and applying the data to a formula to provide an indication of whether the test individual has one or more colorectal pathologies or one or more subtypes of colorectal pathology. In some aspects the method is computer based and a computer applies the data to the formula. In other aspects a computer system is configured with instructions that cause the processor to provide a user with the indication of whether the test individual has colorectal pathology. Also encompassed are kits for measuring data corresponding to the products of selected biomarkers which in some embodiments include a computer readable medium. Also encompassed are kits and methods of monitoring therapeutic efficacy of treatments for one or more colorectal pathologies.
US08239135B2
Filters are applied to seismic signals representative of subsurface formations to generate filtered signals with attenuated spatially aliased energy. The filtered signals are multiplied in the frequency-wavenumber domain by a complex function of frequency and wavenumber representing the seismic attribute in the frequency-wavenumber domain, to generate scaled signals. The scaled signals, transformed to the time-space domain, are divided by the filtered signals in the time-space domain, to a seismic attribute useful for identifying and characterizing the subsurface formations.
US08239134B2
A system and method for detecting abnormal operation of a hydrocracker includes a hydrocracker model. The model may be configurable to include one or more regression models corresponding to different operating regions of the portion of the hydrocracker. The system and method may also determine if a monitored temperature difference variable deviates significantly from the temperature difference variable predicted by the model. If there is a significant deviation, this may indicate an abnormal operation.
US08239129B2
A method for speech recognition includes providing a source of geographical information within a vehicle. The geographical information pertains to a current location of the vehicle, a planned travel route of the vehicle, a map displayed within the vehicle, and/or a gesture marked by a user on a map. Words spoken within the vehicle are recognized by use of a speech recognition module. The recognizing is dependent upon the geographical information.
US08239127B2
A car navigation system solves the problem that the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate indicates the energy consumption per unit distance covered following a prescribed emission test cycle procedure, and therefore, cannot produce a highly accurate prediction value reflecting the landform and the traffics along a route. So, the test cycle characteristic values independent of the vehicle model for vehicle energy consumption in a specified running condition are calculated, and the vehicle energy consumption parameter of the engine or the motor is estimated from the basic vehicle specifications such as the vehicle weight, the power supply type, the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate, the test cycle characteristic values in the emission test cycle and the vehicle characteristics. Using the basic vehicle specifications and the energy consumption parameter, the energy consumption is predicted taking the landform and traffics into consideration.
US08239126B2
The disclosure describes a method and a system for evaluating the driving style of a driver in a motor vehicle with respect to the use of fuel. A disclosed method includes: determining a first value which is characteristic of the current speed of the vehicle; calculation of a second value by low-pass filtering said first value; and evaluating of the driving style with respect to the use of fuel by evaluating the difference between said first value and said second value.
US08239124B2
The invention relates to a method for generating traffic information to be used in a car navigation system, comprising the steps of acquiring traffic information data including information relating to a travel time of links making up a road on a map and for acquiring map data relating to the link, the map data comprising at least information on a road type of the link and checking if a volume of the traffic information data available in is sufficient for performing a statistical estimate for the travel time. In order to enhance the traffic information generated, it is proposed to use the steps of checking if the volume of traffic information data relating to links located in a target area is sufficient and adapting a size of the target area depending on the amount of available traffic information data.
US08239122B2
A method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting spark timing in the combustion chamber of the engine in response to a knock indication, and further adjusting spark timing in response to the vehicle acceleration to reduce surge.
US08239119B2
A method and system for controlling an engine includes a normal individual cylinder fuel correction determination module determining normal pulse mode individual cylinder fuel corrections in a normal pulse mode. The system also includes a split pulse enable module operating the fuel injectors in split pulse mode having a linear pulse and a ballistic pulse smaller than the linear pulse. The system also includes a split pulse individual cylinder fuel correction determination module determining split pulse mode individual cylinder fuel corrections in the split pulse mode. The system also includes a ballistic pulse adaptation module adjusting ballistic pulse calibration values in response to the normal pulse mode individual cylinder fuel corrections and the split pulse mode individual cylinder fuel corrections to form adjusted ballistic pulse calibration values.
US08239115B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for offsetting bounce effects in a piezo-actuated injection system of an internal combustion engine using a control valve actuated by a piezoelectric actuator. The inventive method comprises the following steps: detecting an actual bounce behavior of the control valve, and determining and offsetting a deviation between the actual bounce behavior and a desired bounce behavior of the control valve, thereby generating an actuation information for the control valve which influences a speed characteristic of a needle of the control valve. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.
US08239108B2
A method for operating a vehicle drive train comprising a drive unit, a transmission, and an all-wheel splitter having a clutch. The all-wheel splitter is positioned between the transmission and the output and splits a transmission output torque to vary the torque distribution to driven axles of the output. The split of the output torque to the driven axles is performed by a control unit in such a way that the transmission output torque, less a predetermined nominal torque set by the all-wheel drive strategy, is transferred to a first axle while the nominal torque is transferred to a second axle. When defined operating conditions are met, a clutch monitoring function is activated and the nominal torque is replaced by a torque definition of the clutch monitoring function so that the torque which is transferred by clutch to the second driven axle, is increased, then kept constant, and thereafter reduced.
US08239104B2
A method of altering a drive parameter of a machine having a drive system that is configured to operate a left side of the machine independently of the right side of the machine. The method includes entering, by a user, a drive parameter alteration mode by actuating a first input, and actuating a second input to alter one or more parameters associated with a controller of the machine.
US08239097B2
A steering control apparatus for a vehicle having a power source for generating power, and drive shafts for transferring the power to driving wheels of the vehicle, and a traction control device for controlling braking torque applied to the wheels. The apparatus comprises a detection device for detecting the braking torque applied to the wheels, a calculation device for calculating a driving force difference between the wheels, on the basis of the detected braking torque, a power source state detection device for detecting an actuating state of the power source, and a control device for controlling steering torque created by the steering wheel, and applying torque steer reducing torque to the steering wheel. A desired value of the torque steer reducing torque is determined, based on the driving force difference and the actuating state of the power source. And, the torque steer reducing torque is applied to the steering wheel, according to the desired value of the torque steer reducing torque, to reduce the torque steer.
US08239096B2
In a motion control system for a vehicle including control means for controlling a yaw moment of the vehicle; first detection means for detecting a longitudinal velocity (V) of the vehicle; second detection means for detecting a lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle; and third detection means for detecting a yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) of the vehicle, the yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled by the control means so that a difference between the yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) detected by the third detection means and a value (Gy_dot/V) obtained by the lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle detected by the second detection means by the longitudinal velocity (V) detected by the first detection means becomes small.
US08239090B2
A method for controlling an operating condition of a vehicle including executing, at each of operating cycles, at least one diagnostic phase applied to at least one computer controlling an operating condition of the vehicle, during which the computer produces and consumes data, at least one of the data capable of taking a particular predetermined value resulting from detection of an operating failure by the computer, so as to indicate a diagnostic result associated with the failure. The method stores, at the end of each cycle, the particular value for the failure concerned and initializes the diagnostic phase at the beginning of the next operating cycle with the stored particular data so as to reproduce, for the failure concerned, the diagnostic result supplied by the diagnostic phase when it was last executed.
US08239087B2
A vehicle includes a controller, a touch screen display in communication with the controller, and a plurality of accessories in communication with the controller. The various accessories are each individually controlled by inputting commands into the touch screen display. The controller transmits the inputted command via a communication system to the selected accessory to motivate the accessory between a first setting and a second setting.
US08239079B2
As embodied and broadly described herein the invention includes a system for computing a preferred sequence in which cars in a switching queue of a railway switchyard are to be sequentially switched to classification tracks. The system has a processing entity for determining within a given set of cars at least two possible sequences in which the cars in the set can be switched and applying logic rules for identifying among the sequences a preferred sequence. The system also has an output for releasing data describing the preferred sequence.
US08239078B2
A method for controlling first (14/12A) and second (12B) locomotives of a railroad train (8), the first (14/12A) and the second (12B) locomotives separated by at least one railcar (20). The method comprises determining a location of the first locomotive (14/12A) and a location of the second locomotive (12B), determining an operating condition of the first locomotive (14/12A) and an operating condition of the second locomotive (12B), determining a first control aspect of the first locomotive (14/12A) responsive to the operating condition and the location of the first locomotive (14/12A), determining a second control aspect of the second locomotive (12B) responsive to the operating condition and the location of the second locomotive (12B), and controlling the first (14/12A) and the second (12B) locomotives according to the first control aspect and the second control aspect, respectively.
US08239074B2
System and method for controlling a fan. A value may be received for controlling the fan. The value may include a first number of bits and may correspond to a linear function of temperature. A first value may be determined using a first number of bits of the value. A modification to the first value may be determined based on a second number of bits of the value. A new output value may be generated based on the first value and the modification to the first value. The new output value may correspond to a first nonlinear function of temperature. The new output value may be provided for controlling the fan.
US08239072B2
A wind power plant, a wind power plant controller and a method of controlling a wind power plant are provided. The method includes a) preparing a telegram comprising wind turbine controlling data for one of the plurality of wind turbines of the wind power plant; b) sending the telegram to the wind turbine upon completion of the telegram; and c) successively repeating steps a) and b) for each of the remaining wind turbines. An initial response time of the wind power plant is shortened; thus, initial response time requirements of the wind power plant specified by grid codes may be fulfilled more easily.
US08239071B2
Method for controlling at least one adjustment mechanism of a wind turbine, said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one load or operational value of the wind turbine, choosing a combination of at least two control strategies from a set of different control strategies based on the established at least one load or operational value, and applying the chosen combination of control strategies to control said at least one adjustment mechanism. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and a wind park.
US08239062B2
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign current and future patient-specific use of the bins for the dispensing device. The assignment and management of patient-specific bins may be performed by devices distributed through the system.
US08239051B2
An information processing apparatus includes a node, and a system controlling apparatus connected to the node. The node includes a first detecting unit that detects first error information, a second detecting unit that detects second error information, a retaining unit that retains the first and the second error information, and a temporary retaining unit that retains new first error information and new second error information, and when the first or second error information is initialized, causes the retaining unit to store error information corresponding to the initialized first or second error information. The system controlling apparatus includes a controlling unit connected to the retaining unit, and a firmware that causes the controlling unit to read into the first and second error information and to initialize the new first or second error information.
US08239048B2
A method and system for analyzing competition results is disclosed, the method comprising providing a probability model to analyze competition results including both information about options used for a competition process, and rank information of competition participants; and determining a first parameter about a pure ability of each competition participant, and a second parameter about advantages and disadvantages of the option used for the competition process by analyzing the competition results using the probability model, wherein the first and second parameters are determined by calculating a prior distribution of the second random variable, calculating a likelihood function of the second random variable, and estimating the first and second parameter through the use of the prior distribution of the second random variable and the likelihood function. This method and system can estimate the advantages and disadvantages of the options used for the process of competition, whereby the estimated advantages and disadvantages of the options are reflected on the design of competition or the adjustment of options when designing the competition such as the game, to thereby maximize the interest in competition.
US08239045B2
A method and apparatus for retaining a medical device within a blood vessel are described. A medical device (e.g. a pulse generator or a lead) is positioned within a blood vessel. An expandable the retention sleeve is passed into the vessel adjacent to the medical device and expanded to an expanded position to engage the medical device between an exterior surface of the retention sleeve and a surface of the vessel.
US08239037B2
A medical implant system comprises an implant proportioned for implantation within a blood vessel, a lead coupled to the implant, and an anchor coupled to the lead, the anchor configurable in a radially compressed position so as to be positioned in the blood vessel, and a radially expanded position for engagement with the wall of blood vessel. The anchor functions as an antenna for telemetric communication with an extracorporeal device and/or as a receiver for inductive recharging of secondary cells in the implant using an extracorporeal charging device.
US08239029B2
A system and/or method treating for a neurological disorder by brain region stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to provide stimulation. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined brain region site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a predetermined brain region.
US08239024B2
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates two or more different physiological signals, such as phonocardiogram (PCG) signals, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, patient impedance signals, piezoelectric signals, and accelerometer signals for features indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided.
US08239022B2
A ventricular rate based on first candidate waveforms and second candidate waveforms within sensed ventricular waveforms is compared to an atrial rate. If the ventricular rate exceeds the atrial rate, the first candidate waveforms and second candidate waveforms are compared to a ventricular polarization complex template to obtain a first morphology indicator and a second morphology indicator. If a morphology match inconsistency is present, the amount by which the ventricular rate exceeds the atrial rate is compared to a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, high-ventricular-rate therapy to the heart is inhibited. The ventricular polarization complex template may be a QRS-complex template, in which case a match inconsistency is present if each of the first candidate waveforms and the second candidate waveforms do not match the QRS-complex template. Alternatively, the ventricular polarization complex template may be a T-wave template, in which case a match inconsistency is present if either of the first candidate waveforms and the second candidate waveforms matches the T-wave template.
US08239009B2
A biosignal measurement module is provided and includes a biosignal measurement unit, a pose detection unit, and a processing unit. The biosignal measurement unit measures an electrocardiogram signal and a pulse signal of a subject. The pose detection unit detects a position of the biosignal measurement module and outputs position signals. The processing unit receives the electrocardiogram signal, the pulse signal, and the position signals. The processing unit generates a height variation parameter, which indicates the height difference between the position of the biosignal measurement module and a reference position, according to the position signals. The processing unit calculates a current pulse transit time according to the electrocardiogram signal and the pulse signal and compensates for the current pulse transit time according to the height variation parameter to obtain a compensated pulse transit time. The processing unit obtains a blood pressure signal according to the compensated pulse transit time.
US08239003B2
A system and method of integrating electromagnetic microsensors into interventional endovascular devices such as guidewires for tracking guidewires within vessels of the body with the use of a surgical navigation system.
US08239002B2
Systems and methods disclosed provide for guiding a tool using a source of radioactivity. The method includes implanting a source of radioactivity at a position having a geometric relationship to a target tissue, determining at least an indication of a location of the source using at least one radioactivity detecting position sensor, and positioning a tool at a desired relative location with respect to the target tissue based on the determined location.
US08239000B1
The present invention concerns methods for evaluating the emotional response to stimuli, such as marketing communications. The present invention includes a method for correlating an emotional response to brain imaging data, a method identifying an emotional response to a stimulus, and a system for identifying an emotional response to a stimulus. The present invention can incorporate a psychological non-verbal measure, such as AdSAM®, and a neural-physiological measure, functional brain imaging, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or other functional brain imaging modality. For example, in marketing communication research, the emotional response data can be determined for such things as product concepts, advertising (concept and/or finished ads), product attributes, product benefits, brands, logos, tag lines, packaging, music, etc. The method of the invention can also be used to assess emotional response to different purchase options (e.g., retail vs. online), lifestyle issues, product usage situations, and other scenarios. In personnel management studies, the method of the invention can be used to measure employee satisfaction or employee morale.
US08238994B2
Adjusting a pulse qualification criterion includes receiving a signal representing a plurality of pulses, where the signal is generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue. A characteristic is determined. A pulse qualification criterion used for qualifying a pulse is adjusted in accordance with the characteristic. The pulses are evaluated according to the pulse qualification criterion.
US08238983B2
In a mobile communication device, a method for determining the existence of one or more pending messages, the method including exiting from a power-save mode of operation, in which the mobile communication device does not receive messages; selecting for communication, one of a plurality of communication paths, the selecting based on at least one of a plurality of conditions associated with the one of the plurality of communication paths; and attempting to communicate over the one of the plurality of communication paths to check for pending messages. The plurality of communication paths includes at least a first and a second communication path. The attempting to communicate over the one of the plurality of communication paths includes attempting to communicate over the first communication path to check for the pending messages by communicating with a message server over the first communication path.
US08238978B2
A portable apparatus includes a first case portion including a full keyboard, a second case portion superposed on the first case portion, a slide connection member connecting the first case portion to the second case portion in such a manner that the first case portion is slidable in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the full keyboard, and a display screen unit directly or indirectly disposed on a front surface of the second case portion, wherein the first and second case portions have a hiding mechanism with which a part of the slide connection member is prevented from being exposed to the outside when the first case portion is maximally slid out with respect to the second case portion.
US08238976B2
A base station arrangement for a cellular communication system comprises a plurality of antennas (101-105) where each antenna (101-105) has a different coverage area. The base station arrangement can operate in a sectorised mode and a non-sectorised mode controlled by a mode controller (119). When in the sectorised mode, the base station arrangement provides an individual broadcast control carrier to each antenna (101-105) of the plurality of antennas (101-105) thereby supporting a plurality of cells each having a coverage area of the corresponding antenna (101-105). When in the non-sectorised mode, the base station arrangement provides a common broadcast carrier to all antennas (101-105) of the plurality of antennas (101-105) thereby supporting a single cell having a coverage area corresponding to a combined coverage area of the plurality of antennas (101-105). The invention may allow reduced power consumption at low loading without sacrificing peak capacity.
US08238969B2
A mobile device includes a trigger having a rod-like body fixed at one end. A housing has a first hole into which the body is inserted. A sensor detects that the trigger has been operated in the direction in which the body is pulled from the hole. A buzzer is activated in response to the sensor's having detected the operation of the trigger. A second hole is formed in a firmly fitted member. The body is inserted in the second hole so as to be freely slid forward or backward against the hole. The fitted member is fitted firmly in the entrance portion of the first hole; and a sealing member contacts the internal wall of the first hole and the body.
US08238965B2
A method of initiating a telecommunication session for a communication device include submitting to one or more telecommunication carriers a proposal for a telecommunication session, receiving from at least one of the one or more of telecommunication carriers a bid to carry the telecommunications session, and automatically selecting one of the telecommunications carriers from the carriers submitting a bid, and initiating the telecommunication session through the selected telecommunication carrier.
US08238955B2
The radio communication method for transmitting a burst signal including a synchronization identification signal and a data signal according to the present invention comprises a step for comparing the error tolerances of the synchronization identification signal and the data signal and a step for varying transmission power(s) of one or both of the synchronization identification signal and the data signal in accordance with the error tolerances compared (FIG. 3).
US08238954B2
A system and method for inter-cell interference avoidance. A base station is configured to perform interference avoidance. The base station receives feedback information from either a second base station or a subscriber station served by the second base station. The base station selects a codebook vectors or matrices for transmission to subscriber stations based, at least in part, on a portion of the feedback information. The base station is further configured to select which subscriber stations will participate in interference avoidance calculations.
US08238952B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating a text message conversation using tele-links. During operation, the system receives a text message from a service at a mobile device, wherein the text message includes a tele-link, wherein the tele-link is comprised of a phone number. Next, the system receives a selection of the tele-link from a user at the mobile device. In response to the selection, the system then automatically initiates a call from the mobile device to a number indicated by the tele-link, wherein the act of calling the number results in the service sending a second text message to the mobile device. Finally, the system receives the second text message from the service at the mobile device.
US08238949B1
At present, there exist systems which send SMS text messages across national boundaries and telephonic carriers from one mobile phone operator to another. The proposed system would create a series of real number to virtual number(s) mappings, allowing the sending and receiving of messages across national borders without incurring international charges.
US08238943B2
A moving body terminal is basically provided with a position information acquiring section, a receiving section and a control section. The position information acquiring section is configured to acquire position information indicating a current position of the moving body terminal. The receiving section is configured to receive from an information providing apparatus simple map information which includes information transmission determining information indicating an information transmission unnecessary region of the simple map information where the position information of the moving body terminal is not required to be transmitted from the moving body terminal to the information providing apparatus. The control section is configured to prohibit a transmission of the position information to the information providing apparatus when the position information acquired by the position information acquiring section is inside the information transmission unnecessary region contained in the simple map information that was received.
US08238940B2
Methods and Systems are provided for forwarding location dependent messages from a first user's mobile device over a wireless communication network to a second user's mobile device, via a central server.
US08238924B2
Embodiments of a system and a method for assigning a plurality of resources to a plurality of targets in near real-time are described herein. An evolutionary algorithm such as a particle swarm algorithm iteratively evaluates a predetermined fitness function characteristic of a system including the plurality of resources to find solutions containing optimal resource assignments. Resource parameters are changed based on the assignments to operate on the targets.
US08238923B2
An apparatus and method of delivering data in a wireless communication system, the apparatus and method comprising of determining, based on first criteria, if a shared channel can utilized to transmit an actual data packet; converting said actual data packet into one or more first data packets, wherein each said one or more first data packet represent a portion of said actual data packet; and transmitting each said one or more first data packet using said shared channel.
US08238913B1
Systems and methods are discussed for providing multiple network interfaces to devices to communicate with each other using various policies, for using a proxy to maintain a connection with a legacy system such that a data connection to the legacy system may be continued when an end device connects with the proxy, and for maintaining application states when devices become disconnected such that their activities may be resumed when reconnected. Multiple wireless networks allow communication sessions to transfer across each of the multiple wireless networks in a seamless fashion. One wireless network may control the handoff to another wireless network or a mobile device with an OCMP may control the handoff.
US08238893B2
Techniques for facilitating interoperation between a portable media device having an RF tuner and an accessory device. In certain embodiments, the portable media device and the accessory can exchange various commands pertaining to the capabilities, state, and/or operation of the tuner. For example, in one set of embodiments the accessory can send one or more commands requesting information about the capabilities of the tuner, and the portable media device can provide the requested capability information. In another set of embodiments, the accessory can send one or more commands requesting execution of a particular action with respect to the tuner, and the portable media device can perform the requested action. In this manner, certain embodiments of the present invention enable a user to control the tuner functionality of the portable media device via the accessory, rather than, e.g., via an input interface located directly on the portable media device.
US08238887B2
A system and method for controlling output of content on a media rendering device. A mobile phone may be effective to receive a request for content where the content is from a content processor. The mobile phone may be effective to generate a command based on the request, the command including a URL, the URL including an address of a gateway processor and an identification of the content processor. The mobile phone may be effective to send the command to the media rendering device. The media rendering device may be effective to send a request to the gateway processor using the URL. The gateway processor may be effective to receive the content from the content processor and send the content to the media rendering device. The media rendering device may be effective to output the content.
US08238885B2
In order to avoid erroneous or incorrectly attributed comments in picture-assisted documentation systems, the invention proposes a system which comprises at least one mobile terminal, at least one server and at least two machine-readable markers applied to or on articles, in which the mobile terminal comprises a reading unit which can be used to read the markers applied to or on the articles, a camera for taking pictures, and means for sending pictures.
US08238880B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for processing an authentication of a mobile terminal, wherein the method includes: a network side receiving an image identity message from a mobile terminal, wherein the image identity message carries current image feature information and a user identifier of the mobile terminal; and searching image feature information which is saved previously in a database by the user identifier of the mobile terminal, performing a corresponding algorithm match between the current image feature information and the image feature information according to a preset security level, and performing an authentication on the mobile terminal based on the result of the match. By means of the technical solution of the present invention applying, the image information collected by photo shooting is used as an identity identification password, therefore, the identity authentications of different security levels can be provided, and the security and the expansibility of the identity authentication of the mobile terminal is increased greatly.
US08238872B2
A system and method of for establishing a connection between a vehicle and an external network includes a plurality of personal electronic devices and a transceiver. The plurality of personal electronic devices are each configured for establishing a data connection to the vehicle. Each of the plurality of personal electronic have a mobile plan that includes a data limit and an amount of data used. At least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices are selected to be in communication with the external network. Selection of at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices is based on a corresponding amount of data available in a mobile plan for each of the personal electronic devices.
US08238866B2
A variable bandwidth filter for use in filtering signal channels in a telecommunication satellite between uplink and downlink beams, and having a reduced amount of phase noise, includes a first mixer for translating the frequency of an input signal by a first predetermined frequency value, a first filter for defining one edge of the variable bandwidth, a second mixer for translating the frequency of the input signal by a second predetermined frequency value, a second filter for defining another edge of the variable bandwidth, and further mixer for translating the frequency of the input signal by a further predetermined frequency value, and wherein first and second local oscillator frequencies are applied to the first mixer, the second mixer and the further mixer such that each frequency translation of the input signal in one direction has a counterpart translation of corresponding value in the opposite direction.
US08238865B2
Embodiments of a system for calibrating the image rejection of a receiver include an image-rejection correction circuit that modifies the gain and phase of a first channel of a baseband image signal. The image-rejection correction circuit may include a summing circuit and first and second variable-gain elements. In one implementation, a filter receives a corrected first channel from the image-rejection correction circuit and an unmodified second channel of the image signal, while a controller analyzes power measured at the output of the filter, and adjusts the variable-gain elements to reduce the power of the image signal.
US08238860B2
An IP2 tuning circuit (404, 1004, 1104 and 1404) for tuning the IP2 of a mixer (414 and 415) to minimize second order intermodulation distortion (IMD2) in a receiver (402, 1002, 1102 and 1402) of a transceiver (401, 1001, 1101 and 1401). An operating characteristic of the mixer related to IMD2 is changeable by changing a value of a setting of the mixer. Two tones outside a bandpass of the receiver are injected into the mixer and a calibration tone within the bandpass is produced as a result of IMD2. Alternatively, a DSSS signal is injected into the mixer and the calibration tone is produced at a chip rate of the DSSS signal. The power of the calibration tone is measured at a plurality of values of the settings. Alternatively, a four-level PN DSSS signal of known content is injected into the mixer, and a two-level PN DSSS signal of known content produced therefrom is correlated with a two-level PN DSSS signal of known content produced by a squaring circuit (1468).
US08238858B2
In a direct-conversion type orthogonal demodulator used in a multi-band receiver, influence to signal-receiving characteristics of the receiver, caused by DC offset drift produced when a band is switched to another, is reduced. In a multi-band receiver including a plurality of orthogonal demodulators each carrying out orthogonal demodulation for each of a plurality of band inputs, a switch which selects one of outputs transmitted from the orthogonal demodulators in accordance with a band-switching control signal, and a high pass filter receiving an output transmitted from the switch, a cut-off frequency of the high pass filter is raised when a band is switched to another, to thereby shorten a convergent time of DC offset drift included in an output signal.
US08238847B2
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08238846B2
A communication device and method of removing an LO leakage signal from a signal path on the fly is disclosed. The signal path may be that of a transmitter or receiver. An initial RF output signal, containing a desired RF output signal and an LO leakage signal, is supplied from a feedforward path to a combiner/splitter on a feedback path. A 180° out-of-phase copy of the desired RF output signal is also supplied to the combiner/splitter. The resulting LO leakage signal is down-converted and the power of the down-converted signal determined and used to suppress the LO leakage signal. The resulting LO leakage signal is also supplied to the feedforward path of the feedback loop.
US08238837B2
Systems and methods for controlling sounding reference signal transmission are provided; a user equipment starts transmitting the sounding reference signal in anticipation of uplink data transmission, and then discontinues transmitting the sounding reference signal after completion of uplink data transmission.
US08238833B1
Network device operability testing is performed by defining a universe of possible device states as a combination of network coverages, available network services and possible subscriber features. In one embodiment, each individual combination of network coverage, for a particular service and feature collectively defines a particular device state for operability testing purposes. In one embodiment, test point data may be generated, where each test point corresponds to the device's operability for a particular device state. In another embodiment, state transitions and test point data may be represented as a node-based device state tree, which may navigated for pinpointing the nature and cause of device operability failures.
US08238821B2
Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.
US08238818B2
A processor for use in a satellite communications system includes a selector that is configured to select a subset of a plurality of spatially diverse satellite signals based upon a location of a radioterminal. The processor further includes a signal processor that is configured to detect a return-link transmission from the radioterminal responsive to the selected subset of the spatially diverse satellite signals. The respective spatially diverse satellite signals may include respective signals corresponding to respective antenna elements of a satellite. The selector and the signal processor may be ground based.
US08238813B1
A broadcast satellite single wire interface. Such an interface comprises a low noise block amplifier module having multiple outputs, a plurality of filter banks, each filter bank coupled to each of the outputs of the low noise block amplifier module in a respective fashion and comprising a plurality of filters, and a plurality of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, each A/D converter coupled to a filter in the plurality of filters in the plurality of filter banks in a respective fashion, wherein the A/D converters directly sample incoming downconverted broadcast satellite signals and the sampled incoming downconverted broadcast signals are output on a single wire in a stacked output.
US08238807B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for conveying the toner image; and a transfer device for rubbing the belt, and a surface of the transfer device, which is brought into contact with the belt includes linear concave portions or linear convex portions. The image forming apparatus of the present invention prevents a friction force between the belt and the transfer device rubbing the belt from increasing and brings a transfer member into a stable contact with the belt for conveying the toner image, thereby suppressing increase in drive torque of the belt which rubs the transfer device and suppressing occurrence of image failure.
US08238804B2
A light receiving portion is configured to receive light that varies with time while a mark formed on an object moves across a detection area. The position of the mark on the object is determined based on comparison of a time-varying level of the light with at least one threshold during movement of the mark on the object across the detection area. The determined position of the mark is corrected by a correction value into a corrected mark position. The correction value is set to a higher value, if the time-varying light level exceeds the threshold or falls below the threshold with a smaller slope while the mark moves across the detection area. An image forming position is adjusted based on the corrected mark position.
US08238797B2
A toner cartridge includes: a toner storing portion for storing toner; a toner discharger having a toner discharge port; a screw auger having a rotary shaft and a helical blade for conveying the toner in the toner storing portion to the toner discharger; and an inner shutter that sections between the toner storing portion and the toner discharger. The inner shutter is provided so as to be movable to such a position as to create communication between the toner storing portion and the toner discharge port in linkage with rotation of the screw auger.
US08238790B2
In an image forming apparatus, a moving member is provided with a first engagement member. A lever is provided with a second engagement member to engage and disengage the first engagement member provided in the moving member. The lever moves between a predetermined first position and a second position different from the first position to move the moving member in such a manner that when the lever is at the first position, a transfer member reaches a contact position at which the transfer member is pressed against an image carrier via a belt, and when the lever is at the second position, the transfer member reaches a separation position at which the transfer member separates from the image carrier.
US08238785B2
A process cartridge includes a first guided portion provided on a photosensitive member unit at a downstream side of a mounting direction of the process cartridge, a second guided portion provided along the mounting direction, and a third guided portion provided on a developing unit of the process cartridge along the mounting direction.
US08238767B2
A visualizing agent quantity display control system includes a first container, a second container, a detection unit, a display unit, a control unit. The second container, which is replaceable, contains the visualizing agent to be supplied to the first container. The detection unit detects a quantity of the visualizing agent contained in the second container. The control unit causes the detection unit to detect a remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container except the visualizing agent which decreases when an operation of supplying the visualizing agent in the second container to the first container has first been executed. The control unit causes a display unit to display information indicating that the remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container is full regardless of the quantity of the visualizing agent which decreases when the operation has first been executed.
US08238764B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. A development cartridge having a first memory storing therein cartridge information is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus casing and an exposure unit having plural light emitting portions. The exposure unit is supported by the apparatus casing so that the light emitting portions face a photosensitive member rotatably supported by the apparatus casing. The image forming apparatus further includes a reader unit disposed on the exposure unit and configured to read the cartridge information from the first memory when the development cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus.
US08238760B2
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to improve the signal-to-noise ratio performance in receivers configured to receive differential data signals. According to various embodiments of the invention, a received differential signal is processed to consider both forward-looking and backward-looking error components to improve SNR performance, and ultimately the reach of the optical line system. Additional processing is provided to further enhance noise tolerance related to chromatic dispersion.
US08238755B2
A dual wiring system with improved function expandability is provided. A base unit is mounted in a wall surface of a structure, and connected to both of an electric power line and an information line previously installed in the structure. Each of function units has at least one of functions for providing electric power from the electric power line, outputting information from the information line and inputting information into the information line when connected with the base unit. The base unit is detachably connected with one of the function units by use of a joining member, so that electric power is supplied from the base unit to the function unit through a power transmission means, and a signal transmission between the base unit and the function unit is obtained through a signal transmission means.
US08238754B2
An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.
US08238753B2
An optical line terminal receives an optical signal transmitted by time division multiple access from plural optical network units among which are an optical network unit performing communications at a first bit rate and an optical network unit performing communications at a second bit rate. The optical line terminal includes a branching unit, a first receiving unit, and a second receiving unit. The branching unit branches the optical signal into branches, at an asymmetrical branching ratio. The first receiving unit receives a branch having the first bit rate, among the branches of a greater branched proportion. The second receiving unit receives a branch having the second bit rate, among the branches of a lesser branched proportion.
US08238750B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a dual split passive optical network (PON) may be provided that includes an optical splitting device, and a first and second distribution fibers connected to the optical splitting device. A first cyclic AWG may be coupled to the optical splitting device via the first distribution fiber and a second cyclic AWG may be coupled to the optical splitting device via the second distribution fiber. In other example embodiments, an asymmetric power splitting ratio may be used for the splitting device, or optical seeds and/or optical data signals may be allocated to each of the cyclic AWGs based on a performance of the optical data signals and/or power loss/attenuation of the respective distribution fibers.
US08238749B2
An apparatus, comprising a first node configured to communicate with a second node to generate a wavelength assignment, wherein the first node is configured to send a wavelength availability information to the second node. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method, comprising receiving a wavelength availability information, and updating the wavelength availability information using a local wavelength availability information. Also included is a method, comprising acquiring a local wavelength assignment information, calculating a local wavelength availability information, and transmitting the local wavelength availability information to a subsequent network element on a lightpath.
US08238736B2
Provided is a photographing optical device, which is able to reliably correct an unintentional movement by hand of a user by improving the constitution of a camera unit driving mechanism for correcting the deflection of a camera unit. In order that a camera unit is made to be rocked to correct the unintentional movement, a photographing optical device includes a first camera unit drive mechanism and a second camera unit drive mechanism, which are so disposed at two side portions sandwiching a pivot portion therebetween as to make a pair. In these camera unit drive mechanisms, camera unit driving magnets are held on the side of the camera unit as a movable body side, and camera unit driving coils are held on the side of a stationary body. The camera unit is pushed toward the pivot portion by a gimbal spring.
US08238735B2
To provide a driving mechanism with which a reduction in size is possible. A driving mechanism comprising: an optical component that is provided to be movable; a first driving member that is movable in a first direction; a second driving member that is movable in the first direction independently of the first driving member; and an abutting portion that is provided at the optical component and abuts against the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, the optical component is moved by driving force of the first driving member and the second driving member abutting against the abutting portion.
US08238729B2
A fan controlling circuit is provided. The fan controlling circuit includes an integral unit, an operational amplifier, and an output unit. The integral unit transforms pulse width modulation signals to voltages, and then the output unit outputs one of the pulse width modulation signals having a higher operation frequency according to the comparison result between the voltages. As the fan controlling circuit may be constituted with discrete elements and use a same voltage source as fans, the design cost and complexity are reduced.
US08238720B2
A method of contiguously recording a sequence of ordered A/V information signals and corresponding management information signals on a disc-like recording medium of the write-once type, includes allocating a reserved area within a linear addressing space of the disc, contiguously recording the A/V information signals in a video recording area located succeeding the reserved area, recording corresponding management data in a temporary overview space succeeding the video recording area, generating a mapping table for mapping the recorded management data to address locations in the reserved area and recording the mapping table in the temporary overview space. When finalizing the disc, the recorded management information signals is copied to the reserved area in correspondence to the latest mapping table information and the remaining unrecorded sections of the reserved area is recorded with arbitrary data signals.
US08238698B2
The invention relates to an optical measurement probe for process monitoring, having a distal end, arranged in the region of a process apparatus, with a light entrance opening, and a proximal end coupled to a spectrometer, wherein a shaft comprising a light-guiding connection between the distal and proximal ends of the measurement probe is arranged between the two ends. The measurement probe is characterized in that the measurement probe has, in its distal region relative to the shaft and/or the proximal end, a reduced external diameter (FIG. 1).
US08238697B2
A polarization beam splitter-polarization rotator-polarization beam combiner optical structure comprising a pair of polarization rotators having a polarization beam splitter associated with the input ends of the two polarization rotators, and a polarization beam combiner associated with output ends of the two polarization rotators, and a method of purifying a light signal comprising TE and TM modes by disassociating the primary TE and TM modes from first order splitter and rotation error components.
US08238695B1
A system and method for reducing the data-rate when processing video, particularly wide-angle video.
US08238691B2
A method of and apparatus for image analysis for picture loss detection in fields or frames in video or film content makes use of different correlation characteristics of picture images and non-picture images to detect picture loss. A measure of self correlation of a plurality of image data samples, and a measure of the correlation of the plurality of image data samples with a mean value are determined, and a positive detection of picture loss is based on a comparison between the two correlation measures.
US08238687B1
A set of local noise variation values characterizing local noise levels in the input image is calculated. Local contrast enhancement is performed on image forming element values derived from the input image to produce a contrast enhanced image. Values of local noise amplification caused by the local contrast enhancement are ascertained. Noise in the contrast enhanced image is reduced based on the set of local noise variation values and the local noise amplification values.
US08238683B2
An image processing method adopted to remove noise present in an image, includes: an image input step in which an original image constituted of a plurality of pixels is input; a multiple-resolution images generation step in which a plurality of band-limited images with resolutions decreasing in sequence are generated by filtering the input original image; a first noise removal step in which virtual noise removal processing is executed individually for each of the band-limited images; a second noise removal step in which actual noise removal processing is executed for the individual band-limited images based upon the band-limited images from which noise has been virtually removed through the first noise removal step; and an image acquisition step in which a noise-free image of the original image is obtained based upon the individual band-limited images from which noise has been actually removed through the second noise removal step, and the virtual noise removal processing executed in the first noise removal step and the actual noise removal processing executed in the second noise removal step are differentiated in correspondence to a frequency band of a band-limited image.
US08238682B2
A thinned output image is generated from an input image. Values of pixels surrounding a pixel of interest in the input image are determined, and first and second neighboring pixel patterns surrounding the pixel of interest are established based on the values of the pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. The first neighboring pixel pattern may be compared to each of a set of purge patterns to determine whether to eliminate the pixel, and the second neighboring pixel pattern may be compared to each of a set of conservation patterns to determine whether to conserve the pixel. The comparisons to the purge and conservation patterns are performed for each pixel independently, and in parallel for all pixels of the input image.
US08238675B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to image restoration for compressed images. In aspects, image restoration is accomplished by recovering spectral information from data corresponding to a compressed image. The spectral information is recovered using an algorithm to search through a solution space of possible solutions while constraints are imposed on the solution space to trim undesirable solutions from the space. An algorithm described herein may be iteratively applied to improve the quality of the recovered image.
US08238673B2
A pattern identification apparatus for identifying one of a plurality of classes defined in advance, to which data of a pattern identification target belongs, comprises a read unit adapted to read out, from a storage unit in correspondence with each of the plurality of classes, a projection rule to a hyperplane which approximates a manifold corresponding to the class in a feature space an input unit adapted to input identification target data; a calculation unit adapted to calculate, for each class, a projection result obtained by projecting the input identification target data to the hyperplane which approximates the manifold corresponding to each of the plurality of classes, on the basis of the projection rule; and an identification unit adapted to identify, on the basis of the projection result of each classes calculated by said calculation unit, one of the plurality of classes to which the identification target data belongs.
US08238669B2
A system and method detects matches between portions of video content. A matching module receives an input video fingerprint representing an input video and a set of reference fingerprints representing reference videos in a reference database. The matching module compares the reference fingerprints and input fingerprints to generate a list of candidate segments from the reference video set. Each candidate segment comprises a time-localized portion of a reference video that potentially matches the input video. A classifier is applied to each of the candidate segments to classify the segment as a matching segment or a non-matching segment. A result is then outputted identifying a matching portion of a reference video from the reference video set based on the segments classified as matches.
US08238658B2
A computer-implemented method for creating an ordered set of shoreline boundary points by transforming data from remotely sensed imagery of shorelines is provided. A water data set and an edge data set are transformed into a set of 3-point boundary segments having a specific head and tail point and the segments are ordered from tail to head in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner relative to the water. Once the 3-point segments are created they are easily linked together into larger segments. These large multi-point segments in turn are linked together to create the shorelines for rivers or coastal areas.
US08238656B2
A method for filtering noise in an image filters noise pixels in a discrepant block between a current image and a background image firstly, and further filter each small block whose area is less than a preset value from the discrepant block. The method further calculates a total area of each big block whose area is greater than or equal to the preset value from the discrepant block, and adds the current image to a background list of the current image if the total area is less than another preset value.
US08238648B2
Provided is a camera self-calibration method that calculates a focal length of a fixed zoom lens camera from a correspondence point position between images. In the method, a cost function, which is a function of a focal length, is defined, and a focal length that minimizes the defined cost function is obtained to obtain a focal length that allows 3D recovery results of correspondence points calculated from all image pairs coincide with one another. Therefore, reliability of the calculated focal length can be easily verified, and the focal length of the camera can be stably calculated even when the position of input correspondence point is inaccurately given.
US08238633B2
An image processing apparatus capable of clipping a diagnostic region while retaining the pixel information of the original radiographic image even when the subject is imaged aslant. The image processing apparatus applies trimming processing to a radiographic image acquired by an imaging apparatus for acquiring a radiographic image of a subject and includes an image rotation unit for rotating the radiographic image so that the subject is aligned with a given direction to produce a display image, a diagnostic region designation unit for designating a first diagnostic region clipped with a diagnostic region designation frame represented by a rectangle for the display image, and a trimming processing unit for calculating a second diagnostic region in the radiographic image from a rotation amount of the display image and diagnostic region information representing the first diagnostic region and applying trimming processing to the radiographic image to clip the second diagnostic region.
US08238626B2
A medical image display apparatus has a dividing unit and a setting unit. The dividing unit divides a range after changing to an overlapping range that a range after changing overlaps a range before changing, and a non-overlapping range that not includes the overlapping range, when a position of the range is changed. The setting unit configured to set a pixel value after changing based on a pixel value constituting a diagnostic image before changing and voxel values along a predefined direction in the non-overlapping range according to a predefined condition about a pixel that a position of a voxel value in volume data corresponding to the pixel value constituting the diagnostic image before changing exists in the overlapping range, among each pixels constituting a diagnostic image after changing generated based on the voxel values along the predefined direction in the range after changing.
US08238603B1
People are counted in a segment of video with a video processing system that is configured with a first set of parameters. This produces a first output. Based on this first output, a second set of parameters is chosen. People are then counted in the segment of video using the second set of parameters. This produces a second output. People are counted with a video played forward. People are counted with a video played backwards. The results of these two counts are reconciled to produce a more accurate people count.
US08238599B2
An image processing method is disclosed that is capable of efficient information extraction when embedding information in an image by using plural information embedding methods. The image processing method includes steps of embedding target information in the image by using one or more methods selected from plural information embedding methods; and embedding identification information in the image for identifying the selected one or more methods. The identification information is embedded in a method allowing an amount of the embedded information to be less than an amount of the embedded information in each of the selected one or more methods.
US08238579B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a volume operation module, a first volume controller and a second volume controller. The volume operation module includes a rotary encoder module of detecting a degree of movement of a control member thereof and a potentiometer module of detecting an absolute position of the control member. The first volume controller controls the volume of the audio signal based on the detected degree of movement of the control member. The second volume controller controls the volume of the audio signal based on the detected absolute position of the control member. The volume control by the first volume controller is rendered effective when the information processing apparatus is in a power-on state. The volume control by the second volume controller is rendered effective when the information processing apparatus is in a power-off state.
US08238576B2
A signal processing system includes a level dependent bass management system. The level dependent bass management system utilizes audio input signal level information to apply at least one of multiple, available bass management solutions to generate one or more output signals from the audio input signal. In at least one embodiment, initially the level dependent bass management system boosts components of the audio input signal in the low frequency range by an amount sufficient to at least partially compensate for low frequency attenuation of the first speaker without exceeding one or more acceptable limitations of the signal processing system. If boosting alone cannot completely compensate for low frequency attenuation of the first speaker without exceeding one or more acceptable limitations of the signal processing system, the level dependent bass management system processes the audio input signal using an alternate low frequency management solution.
US08238567B2
A apparatus and method for determining an operating state of an earpiece of a personal acoustic device and/or the entirety of the personal acoustic device by analyzing signals output by at least an inner microphone disposed within a cavity of a casing of the earpiece and an outer microphone disposed on the personal acoustic device in a manner acoustically coupling it to the environment outside the casing of the earpiece.
US08238565B2
A system for adapting a hearing aid to a user includes a unit generating an image of the user's ear together with a model of the hearing aid, wherein the model of the hearing aid in-situ includes a physical model of the hearing aid inserted in the user's ear prior to generating the image. The system also generates a mesh based on the image, calculates acoustic response to a simulated acoustic signal in the mesh, calculates a frequency response curve for a fixed position in the mesh, and identifies an optimal position of a microphone of the hearing aid in-situ from the acoustic response. They system also includes a comparator configured to compare the frequency response curve for the fixed position in the mesh with a maximum frequency response curve for the mesh stored by the system.
US08238564B2
A sound recording and reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids is disclosed. Recordings of sound are made in a real word acoustic environment, for example, which are stored as audio signals. In a testing environment, a plurality of loudspeakers is located about a listening position where a test subject is placed during a testing procedure. The plurality of loudspeakers receive at least a portion of the plurality of the stored audio signals, and convert those audio signals received into a combination of sounds that produce, at the listening position, acoustic elements of the real world acoustic environment where the recordings were made. The system enables, in a clinical or other test setting, the evaluation of hearing and/or hearing aid performance as if in a real world environment.
US08238558B2
A key agreement method is carried out by a first system in conjunction with a second system over a bidirectional communication path, including generating a first key pair having a first public key and a first private key, sending the first public key to the second system, receiving a second public key generated by the second system, and calculating a master key based upon the first private key, the second public key, a long-term private key, and a long-term public key. The long-term private key was generated by the first system during a previous key-agreement method as part of a long-term key pair. The long-term public key was generated by the second system and received during the previous key-agreement method. The previous key-agreement method required a secret to be known to the first system and the second system, thus conferring authentication based on the secret to the long-term public key.
US08238556B2
A quantum communication system comprising a sending unit and a receiving unit, said sending unit comprising a photon source assembly configured to output a stream of pulses of light having at least two different intensities and a memory configured to store information for determining which pulses should be reference pulses and which pulses should be data pulses, the average intensity of reference pulses being different to the average intensity of data pulses, the receiving unit comprising a memory for storing information for identifying the position of reference pulses within the stream of pulses and a processor for determining the calibration of the quantum communication system from the reference pulses.
US08238548B2
An echo canceller apparatus comprises a receive side attenuator coupled in a receive side signal path that is configured to couple from a conference call bridge to a caller; a convolution processor coupled to the receive side signal path at a convolution processor pick-off point; a double-talk detector coupled to the receive side signal path and to a sending side signal path that is configured to couple from the caller to the conference call bridge; and logic coupled to the receive side attenuator which when executed is responsive to a double-talk condition detected by the double-talk detector and operable to determine a level of echo canceled by the convolution processor, to determine an additional amount of attenuation to introduce, and to activate the receive side attenuator to introduce the additional attenuation.
US08238543B2
A system for making outbound calls includes a first node connected to a network for placing outbound telephone calls, a second node connected to the network and accessible to the first node for reporting agent status relative to busy, ready, and time to ready, a number of agent appliances connected to the network and accessible to the second node, and a number of agent activity applications installed one per on the agent appliances. In a preferred embodiment outbound calls are predicted based on the number of agents reported ready to accept a call plus the number of agents predicted to be ready to accept a call within a specified time window.
US08238540B1
An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier.
US08238529B1
An apparatus for bypassing outgoing voice mail greetings automatically in a broadcast messaging system has a processor in operative communication with an NPANXX database, an NPAC database, an OCN database and a voice mail short code database. The processor is configured to retrieve a telephone number to be called and to identify for the telephone number an OCN from the NPANXX database, identify a current carrier from the OCN database, and to identify a voice mail short code from the voice mail short code database. The processor then associates the current correct voice mail short code with the telephone number to be called.
US08238518B2
A radiotherapy system is disclosed, comprising a support for supporting a patient undergoing radiotherapy treatment, a gantry that is rotatable about an axis, a source of radiation mounted on the gantry and producing a beam of radiation directed towards a target region of the patient, a collimator coupled to said radiation source for collimating said radiation beam, the collimator comprising a plurality of beam-limiting elements, each movable to collectively define a shaped aperture through which the radiation beam passes, a portal imager mounted on the gantry opposite the radiation source for detecting the radiation after it has passed through the patient and generating corresponding images, and associated circuitry for controlling at least the gantry, the source, the collimator, and the portal imager, collating detected data comprising a plurality of images acquired from the imager including images at a plurality of angles of rotation of said gantry and images at a plurality of collimator shapes, and generating a three-dimensional image of the target region based thereon.
US08238516B2
A radiotherapy treatment support apparatus includes a storage unit which stores absorption dose volume data expressing a spatial distribution of absorption dose in a subject, a generation unit which generates fusion data associated with morphology volume data of the subject and the absorption dose volume data so as to be associated with a plurality of segments, and a display unit which displays an image which has the distribution of absorption dose superimposed on the two-dimensional morphology image of the subject using the fusion data.
US08238514B2
Technologies are generally described for employing ultra-short pulsed X-rays in X-ray computer tomography. Timing parameters of binary modulation applied to the X-rays at the source may be adjusted based on detector characteristics, industry standards, and/or user input. The timing for minimum X-ray intensity during each pulse may be selected to minimize afterglow effect. The timing for the maximum X-ray intensity may then be determined based on one or more of the minimum X-ray intensity timing, desired X-ray dosage, and/or other similar parameters.
US08238511B2
A protector bottom grid for a nuclear fuel assembly that includes three laterally staggered and horizontally oriented protrusions that extend into the fuel rod cell of a support grid below a vertically oriented spring. The three staggered protrusions extend into the cell a distance that maintains a space between the protrusions and the fuel rod. The vertically oriented spring biases the fuel rod against a dimple extending from the opposite cell wall that is at an elevation just above the spring. The protrusions below the spring trap incoming debris in the area of the fuel rod end cap and protect the fuel rod cladding from fretting.
US08238507B2
This invention provides a transmission architecture of transmitter which includes a forestage module, a pilot insertion, a scramble selector, and a backstage module. A frequency domain data symbol is transmitted by the forestage module. A pilot signal is inserted in the frequency domain data symbol by the pilot insertion, and a frequency domain pilot symbol is produced. The frequency domain pilot symbol performed a scramble operation and a select operation with certain scramble patterns by the scramble selector, and a requirement symbol is produced. The requirement symbol is converted into the transmitted signal by the backstage module. Because the use of the scramble operation and the select operation from the scramble selector, the transmission architecture of transmitter provided by this invention can both reduce the PAPR and increase the multi-cell diversity gain in an OFDM single frequency network system.
US08238505B2
The invention relates to a method or to a correspondingly equipped circuit for line-coupled generation of a clock (t), wherein the clock (t) is controlled in relation to a synchronization signal (hs) and by means of a closed loop (FLL) with respect to the phase and/or the frequency in relation to the synchronization signal (hs); wherein a plurality (n) of at least two count values (cn, c0-c7) is determined, wherein each of the count values (cn, c0-c7) is determined with at least one count duration number (z) of consecutive periods of the synchronization signal (hs), and wherein each of the count values (cn, c0-c7) is determined offset relative to at least one further count value (cn, c0-c7) with a count offset (v) which is different from the count duration number of consecutive periods of the synchronization signal (hs).
US08238503B2
A clock data recovering circuit solving a problem in which a stable clock signal cannot be extracted is provided. A phase comparator includes a main-signal-discriminator. The main-signal-discriminator discriminates a reception signal by a clock signal to generate recovery data indicating the discrimination result. Phase comparator 2 uses the discrimination result of the main-signal-discriminator to compare phases of a reception signal and a recovery clock and outputs a phase comparison signal indicating the comparison result. A generator generates a recovery clock with a frequency corresponding to the comparison result indicated by the phase comparison signal outputted from phase comparator 2. An eye opening monitor detects an optimal discrimination point of main-signal-discriminator 1 based on a monitor signal split from the reception signal and the recovery data generated by the main-signal-discriminator. The eye opening monitor also adjusts a discrimination point of the main-signal-discriminator based on the detection result.
US08238500B2
A communication system includes a physical communication channel. A signal is transmitted across the communication channel from a transmit end of the channel to a receive end of the channel. A plurality of processing branches process the signal at the receive end of the communication channel. This reduces complexity of the receive channel, without reducing a bandwidth of the given communication channel, and without comprising performance.
US08238498B2
There is provided a wireless communication apparatus including: a matrix estimating unit that estimates a channel matrix of N rows and M columns (N and M are natural numbers); a selecting unit that selects S rows (S is a natural number, and S
US08238489B2
An apparatus and method for processing a signal using a single correlator are provided. The apparatus may include a first storage unit storing satellite signal samples, a correlator receiving the satellite signal samples stored in the first storage unit in units of at least two satellite signal samples and performing correlation, and a controller storing the satellite signal samples received from an RF terminal in the first storage unit and controlling the correlator based on a predetermined control value. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure speed and performance even when tracking a plurality of satellite signals using a single correlator.
US08238482B2
A technique for performing channel tracking and/or channel estimation in a wireless communication device includes receiving a reference signal and one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals. In general, the one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals must be correctly decoded before a data channel can be decoded. Channel tracking and/or channel estimation are/is then performed based on the reference signal and at least one of the one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals.
US08238474B2
A new protocol is proposed for transmission of data through lines such as telephone lines. The tones of a signal are grouped, and Trellis encoding is performed only of the members of a group. The computational cost of coding and decoding the data is reduced (compared to treating all the tones of a given direction equivalently), and the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the computational and memory requirements of the encoder and decoder. Furthermore, Trellis decoding errors are not propagated between the groups.
US08238472B2
One or more carrier signals in a multiple-carrier UE transmitter are frequency-adjusted to account for an estimated error in the separation frequency between the transmitted carrier signals. The adjustment is applied when generating the UL signals for the respective carrier frequencies in digital baseband of the UE. In one embodiment, one or more of the modulators that apply the carrier separation frequency additionally apply a frequency correction. In another embodiment, first mixers apply the carrier separation frequency to each different carrier signal. One or more carrier signal paths include a second mixer applying a frequency correction to the carrier signal. The RF modulation frequency may also be adjusted to partially compensate for the estimated carrier separation frequency error.
US08238468B2
There is disclosed a radio transmission device capable of improving the throughput. The radio transmission device (100) transmits a first signal and a second signal which are different from each other. In the radio transmission device (100), an FFT unit (103) subjects first data to an FFT process. A sub-carrier allocation unit (106) maps the first data which has been subjected to the FFT process and the second data into different frequencies. An IFFT unit (107) subjects the mapped signal to the IFFT transform. A transmission radio processing unit (109) transmits the signal which has been subjected to the IFFT processing, with a single carrier.
US08238457B2
This invention provides a method and system for determining the number of bits to assign to a frequency range in a signal. The present invention is capable of bit allocation, with B total bits, among a plurality of N frequency ranges in time a time O(N log N), which is independent of the size of B. Embodiments of the present invention have many practical applications, including allocating bits among sub-channels in a multi-carrier communication system, and allocating bits among sub-bands in a signal representing digital multimedia, such as in JPEG or MPEG compressed files.
US08238454B2
A communications device includes a signal input that receives an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communications signal. A demodulator is connected to the signal input for receiving the OFDM communications signal and demodulating the OFDM communication signal. It includes at least one memory element for storing the at least one sine/cosine basis waveform approximation as complex exponential functions. A logic circuit performs logical shifts in additions and multiples of +/−2n and extracts amplitude and phase values from a plurality of N data subcarriers within the OFDM communications signal. The demodulator includes efficient implementation of the FFT for use as an OFDM demodulator where the complex exponentials are approximated by multi-level complex sinusoids and optionally oversampled to increase SNR of the FFT output.
US08238452B1
Circuits are provided for synchronizing serial communication channels having respective receivers, of which one is a master receiver. Each receiver includes a FIFO buffer and a synchronizing element. The FIFO buffer is written periodically with characters received from the serial communication channel of the receiver, and the FIFO buffer is read periodically, except between the start and end of synchronization of the receiver. The start of synchronization of the master receiver is generated from the timing of reading a channel bonding character from the FIFO buffer of the master receiver. The start of synchronization of each receiver other than the master receiver is generated after the start of the master receiver and in response to reading a channel bonding character from the FIFO buffer of the receiver. The end of synchronization of the receivers is generated a time interval after the start of the master receiver.
US08238443B2
In one example, a digital video resampler and decoder is disclosed. An input buffer is coupled to a source of a video signal oversampled by at least two times. A horizontal synchronization detector is coupled to the input buffer, and detects horizontal synchronization boundaries. A counter is coupled to the horizontal synchronization detector to count a number of samples between horizontal synchronization boundaries. A comparator is coupled to the counter and compares the counted number of samples to a reference count. A sample corrector is coupled to the input buffer and modifies a block of samples based on a result from the comparator. An output buffer is coupled to the sample corrector to hold the modified block of samples. A comb filter is coupled to the output buffer, and generates first and second three-dimensional color values based on the modified block of samples.
US08238440B2
The present invention is directed to lessen burden at the time of solving a conflict of overlapping processes in processes for a plurality of interruption factors. On completion of data transfer to an external memory, a data transfer completion interruption of high priority is generated. In the case where data transfer of predetermined number of packets is not completed in reception interruption, a timer interruption of low priority is generated. Before processing data in an external memory responding to the interruption, the number of transfer packets is obtained from a counter. After restart of reception, the counter stores the number of transfer restart packets. After obtaining the number of transfer packets from a counter responding to the occurrence of the timer interruption, a data transfer completion interruption is generated. According to the obtained number of transfer packets, execution of either a process responding to occurrence of the timer interruption or a process responding to occurrence of the data transfer completion interruption is omitted.
US08238438B2
An image data transmitting apparatus and an image data transmitting method are provided which can distribute streaming moving images at a transfer rate in accordance with a transmission band with degradation in image quality being mitigated even at the time of congestion. A priority determining section 43 reads encoded data stored in the buffer 42 in units of VOP, and then calculates a priority for each VP in terms of VOP based on the amount of encoded data of VP and the number of MBs. A transmission control section 44 determines VPs starting from a VP of the highest priority that have a data amount up to the amount of transmittable encoded data. This determination is made based on the current state of congestion on a network 6 managed by a congestion state managing section 46 and the priorities calculated by the priority determining section 43. A VP transmitting section 45 stores the determined VPs in transmission packets for sequential transmission to a client 5.
