US08342734B2
A vehicular light source unit includes: an LED element integrated with a pair of plate-like feeding terminals; and an LED socket including a pair of plate spring-like conductive terminals in which movable portions and supporting portions that are integrally formed by a conductive member hold the pair of feeding terminals from both sides, and a resin housing integrated with the pair of conductive terminals. The LED element is detachably supported by the plate spring-like conductive terminals through the feeding terminals and receives a power supply from both sides of the feeding terminals.
US08342731B2
The present invention relates to a lighting device including a plurality of light source units U including at least LEDs 16 and light guide plates 18. The light source units U are arranged in one direction such that gaps S are provided between the adjacent light guide plates 18. Each light guide plate 18 has a first light exit surface 36A. The light guide plate 18 receives light from the LED 16. Light L1 exits from the first light exit surface 36A. A diffuser 15b that receives the light L1 from the first light exit surface 36A is disposed so as to face the first light exit surface 36A. Reflection sheets 24 that reflect light are disposed on an opposite side from the diffuser 15b so as to cover the gaps S. Each light guide plate 18 has a second light exit surface 36B in an edge portion that faces the gap S on the opposite side from the diffuser 15b. The second light exit surface 36B is formed such that light L2 exits therethrough, reflects off the reflection sheet 24 and travels to the diffuser 15b via the gap S.
US08342728B2
An arrangement for cooling semiconductor light sources (5), wherein the semiconductor light sources (5) are arranged on a heat-conducting module (11), which is operatively connected to an evaporator zone (27) of a heat pipe (20), wherein a first condensation zone (23) of the heat pipe (20) is connected to a first heat sink (33), wherein the heat pipe (20) is connected to at least one second condensation zone (25) with at least one second heat sink (25), and a heat flow can be switched over between the condensation zones (23, 25) or the second condensation zone (25) can be switched in.
US08342719B2
In an LED light bulb, an LED module and a lens are disposed on a fixing stage provided to a housing. The lens has a concave portion at its top end. The concave portion forms a reflecting surface which reflects part of outgoing light from the LED module to (i) first directions perpendicular to a front emission direction of the outgoing light or (ii) second directions leaning to a cap beyond the first directions. Due to diffusion effect of an optical cover, part of the light reflected by the lens is emitted backward (toward the cap). This realizes an LED light bulb that distributes light over an entire circumference and has high output as well as high light output ratio.
US08342716B2
A LED head sink module includes a LED module, which comprises a circuit substrate, a LED chip installed in the circuit substrate, a packing cup molded on the circuit substrate around the LED chip and a lens molded on the packing cup over the LED chip, a heat sink, which has a base and a flat mounting block located on the bottom side of the base for stopping against the circuit substrate of the LED module for absorbing waste heat, a bracket, which has a center opening that receives the circuit substrate of the LED module, first retaining members for fastening to a retaining portion at the periphery of the packing cup and second retaining members for fastening to the flat mounting block of the heat sink, and a water seal sandwiched between the LED module and the bracket to seal off outside moisture and dust.
US08342708B2
A light emitting device that provides white light of various color temperatures by using a double-sided light emitting element, a light emitting system comprising the same, and a method of fabricating thereof are provided. The light emitting device includes a double-sided light emitting element including a first light emitting element on one side of a substrate and emits light having a first wavelength and a second light emitting element on the other side of the substrate and emits light having a second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are different each other, a first variable resistor coupled to the first light emitting element and adjusting a first driving power applied to the first light emitting element, and a second variable resistor coupled to the second light emitting element and adjusting a second driving power applied to the second light emitting element.
US08342707B2
A multi-wavelength light-emitting module that includes a PCB, a drive IC structure, a conductive structure, a multi-wavelength LED array set, a plurality of conductive elements, and an optical amplifier structure. The PCB has at least one input/output pad. The drive IC structure is disposed on the PCB and having at least one concave groove formed on top surface thereof. The conductive structure is electrically connected between the drive IC structure and the at least one input/output pad. The multi-wavelength LED array set is received in the at least one concave groove. The conductive elements are electrically connected between drive IC structure and the multi-wavelength LED array set, respectively. The optical amplifier structure is disposed over the multi-wavelength LED array set for receiving light sources from the multi-wavelength LED array set.
US08342704B2
A lighting device 12 of the present invention includes a light output portion 15z from which light is output, a light source 17, and an optical member 15b provided on the light output portion 15z side with respect to the light source 17. The optical member 15b is held by a pair of holding members. The holding members include a first holding member 15a that holds the optical member 15b from the light source 17 side and a second holding member 16 that holds the optical member 15b from an opposite side from the light source 17 side. A buffer 70 is provided in at least one of a space between the optical member 15b and the first holding member 15a and a space between the optical member 15b and the second holding member 16. The buffer 70 has at least one rough surface on a side that abuts the optical member 15b.
US08342696B2
A multi projector imaging system is provided. The system includes a plurality of projectors and a computing device in communication with the plurality of projectors. The computing device includes a projector platform module providing output to the plurality of projectors such that the plurality of projectors display partially overlapping output as a cohesive display. The projector platform module includes a projection player module having media drawers for preparing frames of data that are drawn into a frame buffer for eventual display through the plurality of projectors. The projection platform also includes a remote desktop controller. The remote desktop controller manages remote computing devices communicating with the projector platform, wherein the remote desktop controller specifies a resolution and aspect ratio for image data provided by the remote computing devices, and wherein the provided image data is stored in the frame buffer. A method for displaying content through the multi-projector system is also included.
US08342686B2
Methods, devices, and systems establish an optical surface shape that mitigates or treats a vision condition in a patient. An optical surface shape for a particular patient can be determined using a set of patient parameters for the specific patient by using a compound modulation transfer function (CMTF). The compound modulation transfer function can include a combination of modulation transfer functions (MTF's) at a plurality of distinct frequencies.
US08342684B2
A method or process for providing an anti-myopia lens or treatment for a patient's eye with progressive myopia, which involves (in one form) generating biometric data relating to the central and peripheral refractive errors of the eye, optionally together with data relating to the patient's visual or lifestyle needs and the patient's predisposition to progressive myopia. This data is input to a processor or algorithm that generates a basic lens design, a customised design or a program for reshaping the cornea of the eye. The selected modality is applied to the patient and its suitability is assessed with the result of the assessment feedback to the algorithm to generate a refined output design, which is applied to the patient. The process is repeated at intervals to check continued myopia progression and adjust the design of the selected modality after further measurement.
US08342679B2
A metal detectable lens carrier that includes a polymeric material and metal particulate dispersed throughout the polymeric material. The metal detectable lens carrier is configured to hold one or more lenses. Eyewear including such lens carriers and methods of detecting thereof are also disclosed.
US08342667B2
An auxiliary passage apparatus, an attachment, a liquid discharge head, and a ink jet head are provided. The auxiliary passage apparatus is detachably attached to a liquid discharge head and includes a main body portion including, a first surface, a second surface, a supply passage formed in the first surface and through which liquid passes to a discharge head, and an ejection passage formed in the second surface and through which liquid which is ejected from the discharge head passes. A part of the supply passage includes a first annular projection formed so as to protrude in a direction orthogonal to the first surface and a first flexible film adhered to a distal end of the first annular projection. A part of the ejection passage crosses an area on the second surface which is opposed to an area surrounded by the first annular projection.
US08342665B2
A protector for a print head chip and an ink cartridge used by the same are provided. The protector (1, 8) for a print head chip is independent from an ink cartridge (9) for storing ink. A contact surface (3) of the protector for a print head chip facing a print head contact is provided with contacts (6) for contacting corresponding contacts of the print head chip. The contact is connected to a memory (5) and sealed between the contacts of the print head chip and the protector for a print head chip. The protector has no structural relation to the ink cartridge, especially an ink supply port (11) and an ink supply needle of the ink cartridge. Therefore, even if the ink cartridge oscillates or moves horizontally to deviate from a centerline of the ink supply port, a communication effect is not influenced.
US08342659B2
A liquid discharge head includes a substrate and a flow path wall member provided on the substrate and having a wall defining a flow path connected to a discharge port for discharging liquid. The flow path wall member is provided with a cavity not connected to the flow path, when viewed in a direction from the discharge port toward the substrate, the cavity has a shape of a character, and the character corresponds to information regarding the liquid discharge head.
US08342657B2
An inkjet nozzle assembly has a chamber with a nozzle opening for ejecting a liquid, a heater element disposed in the chamber, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the heater element and a wall of the chamber. The dielectric layer has a thermal product of less than 1495 Jm−2K−1s−1/2. The thermal product is defined as (ρCk)1/2, where ρ is the density of the layer, C is specific heat of the layer and k is thermal conductivity of the layer.
US08342655B2
A liquid discharge head includes a recording element substrate including an energy generating element, a wiring substrate including wiring, a support substrate for supporting the recording element substrate and the wiring substrate so that a side end portion of the recording element substrate and a side end portion of the wiring substrate are adjacent to each other, and a sealing member, wherein the side end portion of the wiring substrate has a step portion, a distance between a second portion of the step portion on the side opposite to the support substrate and the side end portion of the recording element substrate is larger than a distance between a first portion of the step portion on the side of the support substrate and the side end portion of the recording element substrate, and a part of the wiring is formed in the first portion.
US08342652B2
An ink jet print head includes a molded nozzle plate, the molded nozzle plate further including molded die alignment features. The molded die alignment features can be registered to the apertures of the print head die.
US08342645B2
A printing apparatus prints on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrays in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and has a structure in which an air flow entering the nozzle array in the scan of the printhead in the first direction becomes larger than an air flow entering the nozzle array in the scan of the printhead in the second direction. The apparatus increases, in scanning in the second direction, discharge speed of ink discharged from at least one nozzle array arranged leeward in the scanning direction of the printhead from a predetermined position on the printhead in the scanning direction to be higher than or equal to the discharge speed of ink discharged from at least one nozzle array arranged windward in the scanning direction of the printhead from the predetermined position.
US08342642B2
The invention describes a method and latching assembly for securing a replaceable unit in a carriage assembly of an image forming device. The latching assembly receives the replaceable unit in the carriage assembly. As the replaceable unit gets loaded in the carriage assembly, the latching assembly may automatically apply, using a power source in the image forming device, a force on the replaceable unit in a direction towards the carriage assembly until the replaceable unit is latched therein.
US08342628B2
An image forming apparatus including a carriage including image forming units, the carriage driven reciprocally in a main scanning direction; a conveyance unit to convey a sheet of recording media to a position where the image forming units perform image formation; a first detector provided to the carriage, the first detector including a light emitting part and a light receiving part to periodically detect a surface of the sheet; a calculation unit to calculate a relative amount of movement between the sheet and the image forming units by comparing patterns periodically detected by the first detector; and a control unit to control a timing to perform image formation by the image forming units and an amount of conveyance of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit based on a result calculated by the calculation unit.
US08342611B2
In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for degrading natural and man-made formations includes a pick with an axially spring loaded pick comprising a central axis and being attached to a holder secured to a driving mechanism. The pick comprising a steel body with an axial shank disposed within a bore of the holder.
US08342603B2
A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. A system and method for ordering the seating pad assembly for a transportation seat includes at least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased, e.g., a class of service; a server configured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the at least one terminal and the server. The terminal may be configured in the form of a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal. The system will allow a purchaser of a transportation seat to either purchase or rent the seating pad assembly.
US08342596B2
A deformation element, a motor vehicle fender bracket with the deformation element, and a method for producing a deformation element are provided. The deformation element serves to receive external impulses introduced into the deformation element and includes, but is not limited to at least two sleeves that are displaceable relative to one another, and a spring-elastic pressure element that is supported in each case on the at least two sleeves that are displaceable relative to one another. In this case, it is provided that at least one of the sleeves has at least one embossing that forms a sliding surface for the other sleeve. The at least one embossing is preferably introduced by electromagnetic pulse forming.
US08342588B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide an insulated structural panel including a superinsulating, desiccant-filled, vacuum-sealed insulating panel sandwiched between a pair of composite panels. The composite panels are configured to impart structural strength to the panel without introducing heat transfer pathways through the vacuum-sealed insulating panel. The desiccant material disposed within the vacuum-sealed insulating panel is capable of absorbing moisture within the vacuum established within the vacuum-sealed insulating panel and thereby reducing the degradation of the vacuum-sealed panel's insulating capacity.
US08342576B2
A scratch-off document may include a substrate bearing a toner image and a scratch-off layer covering the printed content. The scratch-off layer may include a mass of a first solid ink and a mass of a second solid ink printed over the first solid ink in a distraction pattern. The toner image is formed of a toner that adheres to the substrate, while the scratch-off layer is made of a wax-based or other solid ink that may be removed from the substrate by scratching without removing the toner image. The distraction pattern includes varying pile heights that distract a viewer from any pile height variations that may exist in the toner image.
US08342567B2
In an airbag-equipped steering wheel, a plurality of horn switch mechanisms assembled to a bag holder each have a securing pin, which is inserted into a corresponding one of through holes formed in a metal core. A clip is engaged with a locking groove of each securing pin, so that each horn switch mechanism is fastened to the metal core. The through holes include one or more normal through holes that restrict inclination of the corresponding securing pins, and a special through hole that has an inclination permitting portion. The inclination permitting portion permits the corresponding securing pin to be inclined about the corresponding clip 13 serving as a fulcrum. In the special through hole, the securing pin is permitted to be inclined about the clip serving as a fulcrum only when the clips are disengaged from the securing pin in all the normal through holes.
US08342556B2
A truck for towing a trailer includes a vehicle frame spine, a pair of suspension assemblies extending from either side of the vehicle frame spine and each supports a drive assembly at an end distal to the vehicle frame spine. Extensible struts are positioned between the vehicle frame spine and the drive assemblies allowing selection of vehicle drive height from a driving surface. A fifth wheel assembly is supported from the vehicle frame spine located above the drive assemblies. The fifth wheel assembly includes a fifth wheel and a fifth wheel lift which varies spacing of the fifth wheel from the vehicle frame spine. Control system selects strut extension based on a selected vehicle drive height and operates the lift assembly to counteract changes in vehicle drive height and maintain a constant fifth wheel drive height relative to the driving surface.
US08342553B2
A mounting device for a bicycle having a bottom bracket planetary gear system with a sun gear or ring gear, and a bottom bracket shell positioned at the convergence of a plurality of frame parts of a bicycle frame is disclosed herein. The mounting device preferably has a control plate, a drive side bearing flange, a control input and control pawl. The control pawl blocks the sun gear, ring gear or planet carrier of the planetary system of the bicycle transmission thereby transferring the sun gear, ring gear or planet carrier force to the control pawl then to the control plate and then to the bicycle frame.
US08342544B1
An adjustable cart, comprising in combination a base supported by wheels at least one of which is swiveled to allow cart steering travel, two frames carried by the base to pivot from active upright positions to stored down positions, one above the other, there being upright supports carried by the cart at or proximate cart corners, there being mechanism associated with the frame and certain of the supports to releasably lock the frames in upright extended positions relative to the supports in response to frame pivoting to upright positions, and there being lengthwise adjustable means, associated with each frame, whereby said mechanism is un-blocked to allow frame folding.
US08342543B2
A method for draining and transporting large diameter hoses includes providing a frame that is movable by virtue of a pair of wheels. The center of gravity of the frame, and of the frame and a coiled hose situated on it, is located directly above the wheels. The frame includes a front toe for facilitating the rolling of a coiled segment of hose up and onto the frame. The frame includes horizontally disposed rollers that facilitate removal of the coil from the frame. The frame also includes a guide bar to assist in maintaining the coil in an upright position during transport. An attachment is removably secured to the frame to allow a portion of the hose to drape over an elevated roller to extract water from the hose and, alternatively, to allow a power-driven winding rod wind the hose into a coil.
US08342534B2
The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
US08342532B1
An educational game where cards with academic subjects written on them are drawn from a deck and where players try to guess the subject by viewing drawings made by the person who has drawn the card and where the academic subjects are discussed by the players during the process.
US08342529B2
A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. Other components of the system include a gaming table with a gaming surface and at least one display on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way; wherein the monitor displays information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules. A method of operating a casino table card game using physical playing cards that are distributed in sets to multiple play positions and set according to automatically generated house way instructions is also disclosed.
US08342524B2
A gaming method includes repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player and at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature. A gaming method includes scoring dice.
US08342518B2
The sheet conveying apparatus includes first to third pairs of skew conveying rollers conveying a sheet, a reference portion, in which the reference portion corrects a skew feeding of the sheet by abutting a side edge of the sheet conveyed by the first to third pairs of skew conveying rollers against a reference surface placed in parallel with the sheet conveying direction, and a guide groove provided on the reference portion, which guides the side edge of the sheet skew-conveyed by the first to third pairs of skew conveying rollers to the reference surface, wherein a vertical width of an opening portion of the guide groove in an upstream area of the reference portion is wider than that of the guide groove in a downstream area of the reference portion, in the sheet conveying direction.
US08342511B2
Disclosed is a sheet feeding device capable of prolonging the durability life span of the retard roller with a simple structure with ease and an image forming apparatus which includes the sheet feeding device. The sheet feeding device includes a feed roller 102 which rotates in a sheet feed direction, a retard roller 103 which is able to rotate in a reverse direction to the sheet feed direction which forms a separation nip portion. A torque limiter 202 which is interposed between a drive shaft 202b and a roller shaft 103b of the retard roller 103 to transfer a predetermined torque of the reverse direction to the retard roller 103; and a speed changing device 301 which is interposed between an output shaft 202a of the torque limiter 202 and the roller shaft 103b to change a magnitude of the predetermined torque transferred to the retard roller 103.
US08342509B2
At a start of sheet feeding operation, a feed cam starts to rotate in association with rotation of a feed shaft and a feed roller starts to rotate from a time when the feed shaft has passed an idle zone, so as to send out each of sheets on a rising and lowering plate. After that, the feed roller is returned to a feed initial position by a return mechanism including a conveyance roller and a feed rotatable member. A cam curve of the feed cam reduces a rising speed as compared to a rising speed of a conventional rising and lowering plate, and reduces generation of noise at the time of collision between the sheets on the rising and lowering plate and the feed rotatable member. Thus, an image forming apparatus having lower noise level can be provided.
US08342497B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes: a holding portion which holds a booklet containing a two-folded sheet; and a pressing portion which presses a spine of a booklet into shapes during movement along the spine of the booklet held by the holding portion. The pressing portion can decrease, or release a pressing force to be applied to the booklet spine within a predetermined area of a moving range in which the pressing roller moves along the booklet spine.
US08342494B2
An apparatus includes a first jaw (108) coupled to a second jaw (110) to form an opening (114) when the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110) are closed. An aligning structure couples to at least one of the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110). A portion of the aligning structure may be disposed within the opening (114) and aligns a power line (128) to a sensor (418) disposed within the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110).
US08342478B1
Valve systems include a valve and a valve actuator assembly for operating the valve. The valve actuator assembly includes a controller that uses stored information and signals from a sensor to open and close the valve. The controller can manipulate, analyze, evaluate, store, and communicate information related to the history of the valve, performance of the valve, valve settings, and the like. The controller can send information to a replacement controller or a replacement valve actuator assembly. Various types of wired and wireless connections can establish communication between the controller and the replacement controller or replacement valve actuator assembly.
US08342470B2
Hangers and methods for supporting an item from a structure. In some examples, the hanger includes a body configured to support the item and lines configured to bear tension, the lines supporting the body from corners of the structure. In some examples, the hanger includes an adjustment mechanism mounted to the body and coupled to the lines, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively adjust the position of the body relative to the structure.In some examples, the method includes forming a portion of a first line into a first loop, forming a portion of a second line into a second loop, placing the first loop over the first corner of the structure, placing the second loop over the second corner of the structure, securing the item to the first line, and securing the item to the second line.
US08342462B2
A support apparatus includes a first substantially horizontal member positioned adjacent to first and second elongated substantially vertical member members. The first substantially horizontal member has a channel formed in its rear side. The channel is sized and configured to receive wiring for display devices. The first substantially horizontal member is supported or attached to first and second collars positioned on the first and second elongated substantially vertical members such that movement of the first and second collars adjusts a vertical position of the first substantially horizontal member. One or more display devices, such as LCD screens or computer monitors, may be positioned on the first substantially horizontal member. Preferably, each display device positioned on the first substantially horizontal member is connected to the first substantially horizontal member via a connector that utilizes a releasable attachment mechanism that permits an easy removal or connection to the first substantially horizontal member.
US08342456B2
An aircraft includes a wing having a positive dihedral, the wing having a tip and a wing tip device mounted in the region of the tip. The wing tip device is generally downwardly extending and has a region inclined at a cant of more than 180 degrees. The region is arranged to generate lift during flight. The region inclined at a cant of more than 180 degrees may be located at the distal end of the wing tip device. The wing tip may be swept and may aeroelastically deform during flight.
US08342454B1
A portable thermal-control system adapted to support space-related research and exploration. Embodiments of the present invention assist in preventing overheating of small payloads being transported from an orbiting space vehicle to a planetary surface by small atmospheric-entry vehicles. Other embodiments of the present invention provide thermal control within an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit. Each embodiment utilizes at least one phase-change material, cooled significantly below the freezing temperature, to absorb heat.
US08342451B1
An apparatus may comprise an inflatable control surface for an aircraft and an end of the inflatable control surface configured for attachment to a fuselage of the aircraft. The end of the inflatable control surface may be configured to be rotated about an axis to control movement of the aircraft during flight.
US08342448B2
Floor modules of a cargo deck in a hull of an aircraft which comprise support devices for carrying functional elements, e.g. panels, roller conveyors or ball mats, are provided. The support devices are attachable in the hull of the aircraft directly or by way of intermediate elements. To improve stability at reduced weight, end support devices, as seen in the aircraft's longitudinal direction, have a thickness reduced in such a way compared to the other support devices of the floor module that only together with the end support devices of a floor module installed adjacently in the hull do they ensure a loading capacity that corresponds to at least the loading capacity of the other support devices.
US08342446B2
An aircraft has a vertical fin fastened to the rear and above a fuselage of elongated form, essentially in a vertical plane of symmetry of the aircraft. The vertical fin has at least two stable positions, an extended position and a returned position, such that a surface of the vertical fin, subjected to an aerodynamic flow when the aircraft is in flight, is modified in position or in surface between the returned position and the extended position, so that the aerodynamic drag of the vertical fin is reduced in the returned position under given flight conditions compared to the extended position. The change from one surface to another of the vertical fin is accomplished by modifying the geometry of the vertical fin or by displacing the vertical fin relative to the fuselage so that the vertical fin, for example, is more or less inside the fuselage, or more or less immersed in the wake zone of the fuselage in which the local dynamic pressure Pd is reduced relative to the infinitely upstream dynamic pressure Pd0.
US08342443B2
A wing-engine combination includes: a wing with a main wing and an engine with a premixing chamber, a combustion chamber and a hot-air space, which includes: an engine bleed-air duct, which extends along the wingspan direction and along the leading edge of the main wing, including an engine bleed-air inlet device that is coupled to an engine hot-air space, and including an engine bleed-air outlet device having a discharge orifice on the main wing or a connecting part for coupling the engine bleed-air duct to a consumer of the engine bleed-air, an ambient-air duct, which extends along the engine bleed-air duct, including an ambient-air inlet device which is arranged on an aircraft component of the aircraft, which aircraft component faces the intended flow-around direction of the aircraft and includes an aperture for letting ambient air into the ambient-air duct, and including an ambient-air outlet device with a passage between the ambient-air duct and a premixing chamber of the engine so that the arrangement including the engine bleed-air duct and the ambient-air duct forms a heat exchanger device for cooling the air flowing in the engine bleed-air duct and so that the ambient air conveyed in the ambient-air duct is supplied for combustion in the engine; and an aircraft and a wing section of an aircraft including an engine bleed-air duct arrangement.
US08342442B1
An airship is disclosed in the form of a spherical hull having a venting duct extending diagonally therethrough from an entrance end at the forward facing surface of the hull to an exit end at the rearward facing surface of the hull. A propeller is disposed in the duct to direct an air flow through the duct for expulsion at the exit end and the exiting flow is vectored by a set of controllable louvers at the exit end. The expulsed airflow reduces drag normally associated with a spherical airship by disturbing the wake at the trailing surface of the airship. A mooring method and apparatus also is disclosed for minimizing wind induced loads on the airship, or indeed on any body such as a gas storage tank, by supporting the airship or other body a predetermined distance above the ground.
US08342439B2
In a media storing and feeding device for winding up or rewinding the tapes between reels attached to reel shafts and a drum 120 by torque limiters to feed or store the medium, at the time of feeding the medium, the reel shafts are rotated at a speed faster than a speed at which the drum rewinds the tapes, and at the time of storing the medium, the reel shafts are rotated at a speed slower than a speed at which the drum winds up the tapes. A difference between the rotational speeds of the reel shafts and the reels is absorbed by the torque limiters. The media storing and feeding device is thus implemented by inexpensive torque limiters which operate at low speed in place of expensive torque limiters supporting high speed.
US08342433B2
Apparatus and method are disclosed for processing recyclable asphalt material. A drum has a polygonal cross-sectional configuration providing a plurality of substantially flat wall sides. Tubular breaker members within the drum are juxtaposed with corresponding flat wall sides. The relative location of the breaker members and the flat wall sides effects a cascading of recyclable asphalt material over the breaker members and between the breaker members and the flat wall sides as the drum is rotated so that recyclable asphalt material is tumbled within the drum, thereby simultaneously reducing the size of relatively large pieces to aggregate-sized pieces and heating the mass containing the desired aggregate-sized pieces for delivery of the heated mass from the drum.
US08342430B2
A fuel injection valve has a valve body, a valve seat member having a valve seat and an opening portion formed at a downstream side of the valve seat member, a swirl chamber providing swirl to fuel, an orifice nozzle formed at a bottom of the swirl chamber and jetting the fuel, a communication conduit connecting the swirl chamber and the opening portion of the valve seat member, and a fuel inflow prevention wall provided at a connecting area between the communication conduit and the swirl chamber. The fuel inflow prevention wall is formed so as to prevent an incoming fuel from the communication conduit from directly flowing into the orifice nozzle and to suppresse a collision between a flow of the fuel that swirls and comes to the connecting area and a fuel flow coming from the communication conduit.
US08342425B2
A fuel injector (10) includes an inlet tube (20). A valve body (12) is associated with the inlet tube to define a fuel passage (23). A valve seat (14) is associated with the valve body and defines an outlet opening (18). An armature (42) is movable with respect to the valve body between a first position and a second position. The armature is associated with a closure member (18) that opens and closes the outlet opening. An electromagnetic coil (40) is energizable to provide magnetic flux that moves the armature between the first and second positions to control fuel flow through the outlet opening. A heat exchanger (50) is provided in the inlet tube and a secondary coil (46) is energizable to provide a magnetic field to inductively heat the heat exchanger and thus fuel prior to exiting the outlet opening.
US08342423B2
A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel supply passage and a valve arrangement for controlling fuel pressure within the fuel supply passage. The valve arrangement includes a valve member movable between an open position in which the fuel supply passage communicates with a low pressure fuel drain and a closed position in which communication between the fuel supply passage and the low pressure fuel drain is prevented. The valve arrangement comprises damping means for controlling and/or damping movement of the valve member between the closed and open positions.
US08342421B2
A texture material formulated substantially to match a pre-existing texture pattern. The texture material comprises a carrier, a binder, a filler, and a pH change material. The texture material changes from a wet form to a solidified form when exposed to air. A pH of the texture material changes as the texture material changes from the wet form to the solidified form. An appearance of at least one appearance characteristic of the at least one material forming the pH change material changes as the pH of the texture material changes. An appearance characteristic of the texture material associated with the at least one material forming the pH change material in at least one of the wet form and the solidified form differs from a similar appearance characteristic of the pre-existing texture pattern.
US08342417B2
The invention relates to a method for reading electronic certificates positioned in a document, each certificate comprising a support bearing an antenna linked to a microcircuit. The document has sheets of a determined format articulated around a hinge. The antennas are dimensioned to a format less than that of a half-sheet. The certificates are arranged at most in pairs on a sheet so that the antennas are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the sheet. The invention also relates to a set of certificates and the document containing the certificates.
US08342416B2
A wireless IC module that can function as a component of an RFID system even when mounted on a metal article includes a loop-shaped electrode that is constructed such that a plane of a loop of the loop-shaped electrode is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface of a wireless IC module. The loop-shaped electrode functions as a magnetic field antenna and is electromagnetically coupled with a metal article so that the surface of the metal article functions as a radiator antenna.
US08342410B2
A method and apparatus for using in a barcode reader. The apparatus includes an aiming lens assembly including an irregular-shape lens, an aiming light source positioned behind the aiming lens assembly, and an aperture with the desired aiming pattern shape placed in close proximity to the aiming source for generating a visible aiming light pattern towards the target object. The irregular-shape lens includes at least a recess for accommodating the imaging lens when the irregular-shaped lens is assembled into the apparatus with other components.
US08342409B2
An electro-optical imaging reader includes a chassis mounted in a housing, a window spaced from a rear wall of the chassis, an imaging module for capturing return light from a target through the window over an imaging field of view, a controller for operating the reader in a standby state in which no target is read, and for processing the captured return light to read the target during a reading state, and an object sensing assembly supported by the rear chassis wall and spaced from the window. The object sensing assembly senses the presence of an object bearing the target in front of the window by detecting return sensing light from the object through the window over a sensing field of view that at least partially overlaps the imaging field of view, and triggers the controller to change from the standby state to the reading state upon such detection.
US08342402B2
A magnetic-guiding laminate is used to improve wireless communication between a transmitter and a receptor disposed on a substrate, regardless of the substrate materials. The laminate can comprise one or more layers of magnetic or non-magnetic material with different magnetic property. For example, the laminate can comprise a paramagnetic layer disposed on a diamagnetic layer, where the paramagnetic layer attracts the magnetic field toward the RFID antenna, and the diamagnetic layer prevents the magnetic field from dispersing in the substrate. Alternatively, the laminate can comprise multiple paramagnetic layers, wherein at least two layers have different magnetic properties, such as different permeability values.
US08342399B1
In one embodiment, non-negotiable credits from a user interaction with a credit providing entity can be identified. The credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earn the credits, which are non-negotiable credits. The credit providing entity can present the user with indicia indicating credit redemption opportunities. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases, wherein at least a portion of the user specified purchases involve at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits.
US08342394B2
A system for registering an electrical appliance, including a storage housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying information about the electrical appliance, and for storing address information usable o obtain an address of a remote recipient corresponding o the electrical appliance, and a wireless communicator including a memory for storing identifying information about a user, and a wireless modem for ransmiWng data, wherein when the wireless communicator is first connected with the electrical appliance, the wireless communicator executes program code o register the electrical appliance with the remote recipient, wherein the program code includes insrucions that cause the wireless modem o ransmi a lease a portion of the identifying information about the electrical appliance and the identifying information about the user o the address of the remote recipient, the address obtained using the address information.
US08342390B2
Two-way disc mailers for mailing DVDs, CDs, video game discs, or other discs from a sender to a recipient via first class mail. The disc mailer provides improved automated mail processing while weighing less than or equal to 1 ounce, including the weight of the disc.
US08342388B2
A wrapper for wrapping on a roll of length L having two opposed roll ends is described. The wrapper comprises an interior layer of a length Wi and of an interior layer basis weight, adapted to be adjacent the roll when the wrapper is wrapped on the roll; an exterior layer of a length We longer than the length Wi of the interior layer forming at least one end strip of width S and of an exterior layer basis weight, adapted to be outside of the roll when the wrapper is wrapped on the roll. The interior layer basis weight is different from the exterior layer basis weight. The end strip of the exterior layer is adapted to be folded on a corresponding one of the roll ends during crimping following wrapping of the wrapper on the roll.
US08342386B2
Braze materials and processes for using braze materials, such as for use in the manufacturing, coating, repair, and build-up of superalloy components. The braze material contains a plurality of first particles of a metallic material having a melting point, and a plurality of second particles comprising at least one nonmetallic material chosen from the group consisting of oxides, carbides, and nitrides of at least one metal. The nonmetallic material is more susceptible to heating by microwave radiation than the metallic material of the first particles, and the nonmetallic material is present in the braze material in an amount sufficient to enable the first particles to completely melt when the first and second particles are subjected to heating by microwave radiation.
US08342379B2
A surgical device is provided, the surgical device including a first driver for performing a first movement function; a second driver for performing a second movement function; a first rotatable drive shaft configured, upon actuation, to cause selective engagement of one of the first and second drivers with a second rotatable drive shaft, wherein the second rotatable drive shaft is configured to drive the selectively engaged one of the first and second drivers. Third and fourth drivers may also be included. The drivers may function to rotate a shaft portion of the surgical device relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, a handle; move a jaw portion relative to the shaft portion; move a first jaw relative to a second jaw; and/or move a surgical member within the second jaw.
US08342376B2
A stapler for delivering a staple formed from a shape memory material is disclosed. The staple includes a first tine and a second tine connected by a bridge. The staple may be disposed within the stapler in an open position with the first tine distal of the second tine. The stapler is configured to sequentially deliver the first tine and the second tine, respectively, to opposing body tissues. The stapler includes an elongate shaft (e.g., a catheter) having a working lumen and a control mechanism for delivering the staple. A drive cable extends along the working lumen of the elongate shaft. Upon warming up to a temperature at or above a transformation temperature of the shape memory material, the staple may assume a closed position, thus drawing together opposing body tissues and closing an incision.
US08342373B2
A valve for controlling a flow of granular material and fluid comprises a body having a first end, a second end, and defining an interior surface. An inlet is formed proximate the first end for receiving the granular material and fluid. An outlet is formed downstream of the inlet for selectively discharging the granular material and fluid. A first member is slideably captured within the body and a resilient member is operationally coupled to the first member. The first member is moveable between an open position at which the granular material and fluid flow through the outlet, and a closed position upstream of the outlet at which the granular material is substantially prevented from flowing through the outlet. The resilient member is moveable between a retracted position and an expanded position at which it is engaged with the interior surface to substantially prevent the fluid from flowing through the outlet.
US08342367B2
An apparatus for mixing and distributing sauce is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mixing-pump device coupled a linear arm for distributing sauce over a rotating turntable. The turntable may include an improved gripping device for coupling to a pan. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce vat which couples to the mixing-pump device. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce cassette which couples to the mixing-pump device.
US08342362B2
A dose counter for counting the number of doses of fluid or powder that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed from a fluid dispenser device, said counter including a first rotary counter element (110) forming a units wheel, and a second rotary counter element (120) forming a tens wheel, said first and second counter elements co-operating with each other to define and to display, in a viewing window, said number of doses, said first counter element co-operating with an actuator member (130) that is adapted to cause said first counter element to turn each time said actuator member is actuated, said counter including an intermediate rotary element (140) that is adapted to cause said second counter element to turn on every tenth actuation of said actuator member, said first and second counter elements turning about a common first pivot pin (161), and said intermediate element turning about a second pivot pin (162) that is offset and parallel to said first pivot pin.
US08342353B2
An interlock vessel has an air-tight body having open opposing ends. A portion of the body is designed to fit into a decompression (hyperbaric) chamber, wherein a diver or a patient undergoing a decompression treatment is positioned. The opposing ends are closed by pivotally moveable doors and latching assemblies that retain the door in a closed position until the pressure inside the decompression chamber and the exterior of the chamber is equalized. Both latching assemblies are manually operated.
US08342351B2
A cap adapted for sealing a caulking cartridge. The cap may include a first member and a second member. The first member may have the shape of a frustum. The second member may be longer than the first member and extend through the first member. The second member may include an elongated portion, a planar member and a ring portion. The elongated portion may include a plurality of shoulders.
US08342343B2
A free-standing, point-of-purchase display includes a base portion and a display portion. The display portion upwardly extends from the base portion and includes a frame having a plurality of upright members and at least one display element for supporting product for retail display. The display further includes first and second advertising panels carried by first and second upright members of the plurality of uprights, respectively.
US08342338B2
A separator 2 for separating solids, such as grit, from an influent, such as water, the tray assembly 4 comprising a plurality of nested tray units 14 which are spaced apart from one another along a vertical separator axis 16. Each tray unit 14 comprises a substantially conical tray 18, an aperture 20 in the apex of the tray 18, and a means for restricting flow through the respective aperture 20, such as a baffle 22 disposed at or adjacent the aperture 20. In use, grit is separated from water circulating among the trays 18 and falls through successive apertures 20 in each of the trays to exit through the bottom of the tray assembly 4. The baffles 22 restrict upward flow through the apertures 20 in the trays 18 thereby reducing agitation of the grit.
US08342337B1
A water sampling device and method for use with a radiation probe. The device includes a base, filtrate reservoir, filter media support disc, and sample reservoir. The sample reservoir may be interchanged with a radiation probe adaptor. The device and method provide a simple and convenient means to separate particulate solids from a water sample prior to measuring radioactivity without the need for a heat source or electrical power to evaporate the water. The device and method can be used with a variety of commercially available radiation probes and is suitable for field applications.
US08342335B2
A shelf-ready shipper display system having a tray portion, a hood portion, and one or more zones of weakness that enable the hood portion to be separated from the tray portion so that the shipper display system can be converted from a shipping configuration to a display configuration. In certain embodiments, the shipper display system is made from a single blank. In some embodiments, the shipper display system includes a reinforcement panel that is also capable of being separated from the tray portion as the shipper display system is converted from the shipping configuration and to the display configuration.
US08342334B2
An improved cornerboard that is usable to protect a corner of a shipping container is provided. The cornerboard reduces workforce required to secure the cornerboard to a plurality of shipping containers, such as a pallet of shipping containers. For example, the cornerboard permits a single individual to position cornerboards about the pallet of shipping containers and shrink wrap or otherwise secure the shipping containers with the cornerboards. In an embodiment, the cornerboard has a tab portion that is partially separable form the cornerboard and positionable between two shipping containers to prevent movement of the cornerboard and eliminate the need for an individual to hold the cornerboard.
US08342328B2
A fastener system includes a toy product, a support platform, and a plug that engages a keyhole formed into the product. The plug includes a base and a pronged key extending from the base. The support platform includes a through-hole that permits the passage of the key into the packaging. One or more integrally-formed biasing members are located on the base of the plug to draw the key toward the product and create a secure connection. The pronged key may be formed from a plastic material and configured such that it plastically deforms but remains attached to the key when and predetermined force is applied to the key to pull the key from a misaligned position with respect to the key hole.
US08342326B1
A plunger caddy providing for discreet storage, sanitary handling and transport of and ease of access to a toilet plunger. A feature of the invention is that the bulb portion of the plunger never has to pass by or go near where the handle of the plunger is stored. With either three sides (with no door on the back side) or four sides (with a door on the back side) enclosing the plunger, the plunger caddy can be positioned so that the plunger is out of view.
US08342325B2
This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.
US08342320B2
A conveyor chain (1), comprising a series of sheet metal chain links (2) which are each provided with a basically rectangular conveying body part (3) and with a hinge assembly (4), which hinge assembly comprises a centrally located hinge loop (7) and comprises a pair of hinge loops (10) spaced apart with an intermediate distance (9) on the opposite longitudinal side of the chain link, wherein the central loop is located in the intermediate space of a successive module (2′), wherein the hinge assembly (4) further comprises two auxiliary hinge loops (12), wherein the cooperating hinge loops of successive modules are connected by means of hinge pins (14), the thickness of the sheet metal of the conveying body part being between approximately 2.0 mm and approximately 2.8 mm, and wherein the diameter of the hinge pin is between approximately 3.0 and 5.0 mm.
US08342318B2
Suspension devices for suspending strings of sausages in loops. The suspension device may include hooks configured for carrying a loop of the string of sausages and a guide and drive device coupled with the hooks. The guide and drive device is configured for guiding and driving the hooks along a path of movement. The guide and drive device has a drivable circulating drive element for spaced receiving of the hooks and for driving the hooks. The suspension device may include a height-altering device that alters the height of the hooks during the movement of the hooks along the path of movement.
US08342316B2
A conveying system for plastic material container preforms for conveying the preforms to a blow molding machine, comprising angular orientation systems for the containers with respect to a predetermined reference system, capable of orienting the preforms from the step of loading onto a conveying line to the step of blowing the containers in a blowing machine. A corresponding method of orienting the containers is further described, which may be implemented in this system.
US08342298B2
The invention relates to a connecting device for connection between a brake disc and a hub. The brake disc is fitted on the hub via splined connection with recesses on the brake disc and protrusions on the hub. The connecting device is made of non-rusting material and intended to be fitted between a side surface of a recess and an adjacent side surface of a protrusion. According to the invention, the connecting device has two mutually abutting layers. These are connected to one another and separable from one another by only an axial relative movement between the layers. The invention also relates to a method for fitting a brake disc on a hub.
US08342291B2
A checkout system for handling sales or payment transactions with a computer module for electronically processing payment-related data, with at least one peripheral module which is connected electrically and mechanically to the computer module, wherein a housing wall of at least one peripheral device adjoins a housing wall of the computer module such that the mutually facing housing walls of said computer module and said peripheral module are arranged parallel, characterized in that the peripheral module (3) is in electrical contact with the computer module (2) and/or with a further peripheral module (4) by means of an electrical plug device (23, 28), wherein the electrical plug device (23, 28) has at least corresponding plug/connection elements (24, 29) which are respectively arranged on the mutually facing housing walls (14, 15) of the adjacent modules (2, 3, 4), and wherein the peripheral module (3) can be mechanically locked to the computer module (2) and/or to at least the further peripheral module (4) by means of a latching device (18, 25).
US08342283B2
A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, a compressed air tank, a heat exchanger to heat the compressed air, and an air motor driven by the heated air and connected to at least one wheel. A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, a compressed air tank, and an air motor driven by the compressed air and connected to a wheel. The vehicle also has a ventilation system for the passenger compartment, a heat exchanger, and a restrictive solenoid valve for directing ventilation system air to the heat exchanger. A pneumatic vehicle is provided with a chassis, wheels, an aluminum compressed air tank, a carbon filament reinforced plastic layer over the tank, a fiberglass and aramid-fiber layer over the carbon filament reinforced plastic layer, and an air motor driven by the compressed air and connected to at least one wheel.
US08342279B1
A modular vehicle and an associated method of constructing a modular vehicle are provided. A modular vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis. The docking fixtures may include an electrical power connection and optionally a fluid connection. The docking fixtures may provide for data communications via data communication connections or via the electrical power connections. The modular vehicle may also include a plurality of modules removably connected to respective ones of the docking fixtures. The plurality of modules may include at least one of an energy supply module an energy storage module or a cooling module. At least one module may include an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of a docking fixture and optionally a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of a docking fixture. At least one module may also provide for data communications with a docking fixture.
US08342268B2
A drill bit that includes a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom, wherein at least a portion of the bit body comprises a first matrix region comprising a plurality of primary carbide particles having an average mean free path of at least about 10 microns; and at least one cutting element for engaging a formation disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades is disclosed.
US08342267B1
An apparatus is for use by an operator in forming boreholes in a mine passage including a rib and a roof. The apparatus includes a boom having a proximal end mounted to a base, such as a vehicle. A drill supported by the boom near a distal end thereof is adapted for drilling into the rib of the mine passage. An operator's station carried by the boom adjacent the drill includes a platform for supporting the operator arranged at least partially between a generally vertical plane aligned with the second lateral side and the rib. Accordingly, the operator can access the rib when positioned on the operator's station without interference from the boom.
US08342264B1
An apparatus abates noise from the operation of a drill head including a drilling element for engaging a face of a mine passage during a drilling cycle in which the drill head moves from a first position farther from the face to a second position closer to the face. The apparatus includes a collapsible barrier capable of moving between an extended condition to cover a portion of the drilling element during the formation of the borehole and a retracted condition in which the portion of the drilling element covered in the extended condition is exposed. A holder is adapted for releasably coupling with the barrier in the extended condition. Related methods are also disclosed.
US08342263B2
A mobile drill rig has a drill mast, a carriage mounted to the drill mast for vertical movement, and a vibratory drill head having a sine generator and a rotation mechanism for imparting vibration and rotation to a drill rod string. An elastomeric torsion coupler couples the rotation mechanism to the sine generator to transmit rotational force to the drill rod string while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the rotation mechanism. Another coupler connects the drill head to the carriage in a manner that allows floating vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the carriage. Elastomeric bumpers limit the vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage. Elastomeric spacers located between the rotation mechanism and the sine generator handle the vertical loading and maintain the proper spacing between the sine generator and the rotation mechanism.
US08342247B2
A safety valve having a mono spring closure mechanism. The closure mechanism may be free of any spiral wound spring. The closure mechanism may include a spring having a beam which bends along its length to apply a biasing force to the closure member at its fully closed position and at its fully open position. The closure mechanism may include only a single spring, with the spring having at least two legs, the legs being joined to each other at an end of each leg, and each leg including at least one beam.
US08342242B2
A method comprising placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, and using the MEMS sensor to detect a location of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, and using the MEMS sensor to monitor a condition of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, using the one or more MEMS sensors to detect a location of at least a portion of the wellbore composition, and using the one or more MEMS sensors to monitor at least a portion of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation using a wellbore composition, and monitoring a condition using the one or more MEMS sensors.
US08342239B2
A swellable downhole packer (10) is provided for positioning downhole in a well to seal with the interior surface of a borehole or the interior surface of a downhole tubular. The packer includes a swellable elastomeric sleeve-shaped body (14) positioned over a mandrel (12) for swelling, and a rigid end ring (16,18). An elastomeric anti-extrusion member (20) is spaced axially between the sleeve-shaped body and the rigid end ring, and has a radial thickness adjacent the end ring greater than the radial thickness adjacent the sleeve-shaped body. A swellable elastomeric member (32) is spaced radially between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the elastomeric anti-extrusion member.
US08342236B2
A drill bit carousel for use on a blast hole drill includes a base structure that movably supports a plurality of drill receptacles. The drill bit carousel is movable between a storage position and at least one exchange position. In the exchange position, one of the drill receptacles is aligned with a centerline of a drill pipe string. In the storage position, the drill bit carousel is clear of the centerline of the drill pipe string.
US08342229B1
A method of making a sputtering target includes providing a backing structure, and forming a die cast copper indium gallium sputtering target material on the backing structure.
US08342215B2
Provided is a tire sealant liquid container that accommodates a tire sealant liquid, and that includes: an air inlet guiding therein a compressed air outputted by a compressor; and a tire sealant liquid outlet guiding the tire sealant liquid into a tire. The air inlet is provided at a position above a liquid level of the tire sealant liquid, and the tire sealant liquid outlet is provided at a position below the air inlet.
US08342214B2
A reservoir assembly for containing a non-corrosive liquid and a gas containing an evaporated liquid. The reservoir assembly includes a main reservoir having a main reservoir bottom wall, a main reservoir top wall and a main reservoir peripheral wall extending therebetween. An auxiliary reservoir, is provided having an auxiliary reservoir bottom wall and an auxiliary reservoir peripheral wall extending therefrom defining a peripheral wall top edge. The auxiliary reservoir located inside the main reservoir with the auxiliary reservoir peripheral wall adjacent the main reservoir peripheral wall to allow an infiltration of the non-corrosive liquid therebetween when the auxiliary reservoir is filled and the non-corrosive liquid overflows over the peripheral wall top edge. A deflector, is mounted inside the main reservoir to the main reservoir peripheral wall, having a deflector free end located above the auxiliary reservoir.
US08342212B2
A fluid conduit with layered and partial covering material thereon is disclosed. The fluid conduit may be used for processing and treatment of fluids which must be treated to remove materials so that the resultant treated fluid may be reused and/or returned to the earth and particularly to the water table. The fluid conduit may be of many forms and types and may have attached thereto and configured thereon covering material in partial form and a selected number of layers. The fluid conduit may be a septic pipe of smooth wall, of corrugated form, and/or of any form of cross-sectional configuration including circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, or any other geometric shape. The fluid conduit may be used in combination with conduit in a drainage field or leaching system usually associated with a septic tank or septic system.
US08342206B2
A valve for a plenum or pipe is disclosed. The valve includes a large butterfly valve element pivotally supported in the plenum by at least one rod. The large butterfly valve element includes an opening for accommodating a small butterfly valve element. The small butterfly valve element is coupled to the rod by a shaft. The shaft includes a recess that accommodates the small butterfly valve element but which includes a clearance between the small butterfly valve element and the shaft to permit limited rotation of the shaft before the small butterfly valve element engages at least one wall of the recess of the shaft. Thus, the combination of the shaft and the small butterfly valve element provide limited flow through the plenum. Further rotation of the shaft, however, results in rotation of the large butterfly valve element to provide greater flow through the plenum.
US08342204B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotary valve including a valve body having a curved portion and two side portions, wherein a line extending through the respective centers of the side portions defines an axis of rotation of the rotary valve. The valve body may include a first fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a first opening in at least one of the side portions and a second opening in the curved portion. The valve body may also include a second fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a third opening in at least one of the side portions and a fourth opening in the curved portion, respectively.
US08342203B2
A degassing valve in a flexible container is disclosed. The valve includes a generally flat valve seat on a truncated generally dome shaped structure, and the valve seat is raised a height above the valve chamber base surface. A resilient, non-perforated, non-spring-biased diaphragm is inter-engaged upon the valve seat and overlaps the valve seat outer periphery. The valve seat engages a central area of the diaphragm that is not proximate the perimeter of the diaphragm, and the dome shaped structure has a sectional radius greater than the diaphragm radius. A well is recessed into the valve seat in a direction away from the diaphragm by a depth less than the height of the valve seat above the valve chamber base surface.
US08342199B2
An apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel comprises a plurality of inlet valves, each connected in-line with a respective inlet pipe in fluid communication with a respective source of a specific liquid fuel. A plurality of outlet valves are also provided, each connected in-line with a respective outlet pipe. A respective fuel hose is in fluid communication with each of the outlet pipes. The apparatus further comprises a coriolis flow meter located between the inlet valves and outlet valves, the coriolis flow meter providing a flow signal indicative of flow therethrough. A controller is operative to receive the flow signal and control the valves such that selected inputs of specific liquid fuels are dispensed to at least one of the fuel hoses. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the selected inputs of specific liquid fuels may include individual liquid fuels and blended combinations thereof. For example, the specific liquid fuels may include at least two of the following: a first octane gasoline, a second octane gasoline, diesel fuel, biodiesel and ethanol.
US08342198B2
A drag reducing additive for heavy oil, such as crude oil, includes a polymeric alkyl-substituted phenol formaldehyde resin and a solvent having at least one of an ester (e.g. ethyl acetate), an aldehyde (e.g. butyraldehyde), and an aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. toluene, xylene, and the like), or mixtures thereof. When used together with a diluent (e.g. condensate, naphtha, or the like), the additive may reduce viscosity of the combined oil, diluent, and additive by at least 20%, increase throughput by at least 6%, reduce power consumption by at least 3%, reduce the diluent proportion by at least 3%, or some combination of these effects, as compared with an otherwise identical heavy oil without the additive.
US08342197B2
An easy to use, universal, simple, lightweight, compact, portable, dynamically configurable system of concealment and shelter. An operator configures a number of concealment blinds or shelters using shafts and covers or shells. Some embodiments include user adjustable domes. A hubless, dynamic blind or shelter comprises two or more cover shafts and an adjustable strap which provides a freestanding, flexible frame. The frame is covered with a cover or skin. The cover adjusts to the dynamic changes in the frame. In one embodiment the cover is an elastic net that changes shape but maintains tight skin. In another embodiment the cover has expansion panels and lace. Embodiments include layout blinds and boat blinds which incorporate a quick release clip 1260, and which may be used to observe or hunt waterfowl. The system includes a low cost method of tightening the skin on a cover to reduce wind movement and noise.
US08342194B2
Conveyor ware washer comprising a water treatment device (70) for treating sprayed wash liquid in such manner that the treated liquid is of potable quality of water from the microbiological point of view and hence can be used as final rinse liquid or as part of a final rinse liquid.
US08342193B2
The invention is dental floss applicator and interdental stimulator that is flexible and also includes a guard to ensure that the dental floss has not been used or otherwise tampered with. Users can adjust the angle of the dental floss applicator and stimulator into a configuration that best suits their particular needs. When flex adjusted, the applicator is able to hold its new configuration while maintaining sufficient strength to allow the user to comfortably maneuver the apparatus to properly floss the teeth or stimulate the gums. Furthermore, the invention is disposable, rendering it convenient to use after a meal when the user is away from a private bathroom setting, such as at a home or other lodging.
US08342190B2
A novel gauging device and associated stencils facilitate the shaping of eyebrows according to a Golden Ratio standard. The gauging device is adapted to be placed over a woman's face and maintained in a fixed position relative to her eyes and nose. A nosepiece and knobs are adjusted such that a lower end of a guide rod may be rotated about various points relative to the nose and held in predetermined angles relative to the nose and eyes, possibly supported magnetically on a lower track adjacent the nostrils and an upper track above the eyebrows. An eyebrow stencil is held in a desired position relative to the previously positioned guide rod, which facilitates convenient application and symmetrical shaping, preferably with frictional clamps for permitting the stencil to be shifted in place so that a particular portion of the stencil is properly aligned with the guide rod after the guide rod has been aligned with an appropriate Golden Ratio marking on the stencil. Each stencil may be provided with more than one set of such markings to accommodate not only different eyebrows of different sizes, but also to adjust the eyebrow's ideal Golden Ratio “High Point” to complement facial proportions (preferably represented by a single Facial Ratio Value or “FRV” that takes into account several different measured ratios) that deviate substantially from an ideal Golden Ratio. A slim tab between the upper and the lower edges of the stencil cut-out preferably provides a convenient reference mark for the “High Point” of the unadjusted cut-out.
US08342185B2
The present document describes a twin-chamber humidifying tube that permits an even spread of moisture on each side of a cigar for up to six months without drying out thanks to the twin chamber system in the tube. The present invention also allows the recovery of dried cigars. Apart from the humidifying role, the invention provides an advertising opportunity since cigars stored in it can be viewed from the outside.
US08342178B2
A device provided for taking and continuously analyzing and monitoring breathing gas samples from defined, current phases of breathing of a patient is equipped with a breathing gas line (1) and with a sensor (2) for recognizing the current phases of breathing. A sampling line (3) is provided from the breathing gas line (1). The sampling line (3) is connected to a first gas delivery device (44) via a sample gas loop (4); with a measuring line (8) from the sampling line (3) to a sensor system (6) with a second gas delivery device (66) for the analysis of breathing gas samples; with a valve (5) in the sampling line (3) for controlling the breathing gas sample flow from defined, current phases of breathing into the sensor system (6) and into the sample gas loop (4), and with a control unit (7), which is connected at least to the gas delivery device (44) and to the valve (5), so that a continuous volume flow of breathing gas samples can be fed to the sensor system (6) from the defined, current phases of breathing.
US08342171B2
A breath-controlled inhalation therapy device includes an obturation mechanism, obturating a nozzle opening through which a pressurised gas, preferably pressurised air, is issued when the device is in operation. An actuation mechanism actuates the obturation mechanism only in the exhalation phases of the respiration cycle of a patient. The fluid to be atomised is therefore substantially atomised only in the inhalation phases.
US08342168B2
A system for heating liquid using solar radiation, includes a plurality of solar panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), at least one reservoir for heated liquid and pipes for circulating liquid between the respective solar panel and the at least one liquid reservoir, the liquid circulating by gravity circulation. The present system is characterized in that a non-return valve (17) for controlling the flow of heated liquid from the respective solar panel is placed in a portion of the circulation pipe between the upper end of the solar panel and the at least one liquid reservoir, the non-return valve (17) being adapted to open and close at a predetermined pressure in the liquid flow from the solar panel.
US08342167B2
A soft, flexible, floating solar heater for floating on liquid generally comprises an inflatable central portion and an inflatable outer ring. The central portion is constructed of upper and lower film bonded together at a central peripheral bond such that, upon inflation, the central portion contracts. A vertical band in the outer ring prevents buckling of the ring from inward contraction of the central portion upon inflation of the central portion. A non-inflated spacer ring may be positioned between the central portion and outer ring to disperse contraction forces and reduce the tendency for the outer ring to buckle.
US08342162B2
A system for delivering objects, such as soccer balls, the system including a delivery device and a methodology for training individuals that can be used with the delivery device, the delivery device including an accelerator that accepts, accelerates, and launches the balls with motion characteristics, and a control system having an electronic controller structured to store and execute a training program that includes ball service specifications and player service variables, ball speed and spin control inputs, and random selection of values within a range of values of the player service variables that include a starting position of the player relative to the device, a direction of motion of the player relative to the device, an identification of at least one location on the player's body to touch the ball, a time interval to wait before delivering the ball, and an action for the user to take with the ball.
US08342159B2
The fuel conditioner ionizer, interposed in a fuel line leading to an engine or a furnace, includes a housing, an inlet sealed to the fuel supply line and an outlet sealed to the fuel line leading to the engine or furnace. A plurality of metal wire strands from the plurality of different metals is disposed in the housing. Angular and directional fuel flow is generated by a fluid mixing device mounted in the housing. The mixer is a stationary turbine with a plurality of radially extending blades, circumferentially disposed in the housing. Improvements include an annular ring holding the blades, a central hub in the ring and additional or secondary flow directing blades. A cone or frustoconical segment may be attached or be part of the forward end of the hub to direct the fuel radially outward.
US08342158B2
In one example, a system for a vehicle travelling on a surface is described. The system includes an engine with a cylinder. The cylinder includes a fuel injector that is supplied with gaseous fuel and liquid fuel by a fuel delivery system. The fuel injector is mounted in the vehicle such that the fuel injector inlet faces at least partially toward the road surface. The orientation of the fuel injector enables a quick transition from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel because the gaseous fuel can rise to the injectors and be preferentially injected. Further, various approaches are described from transitioning operation between gaseous and liquid fuel injection.
US08342156B2
A fluid pump is disclosed. The fluid pump may comprise a housing, a tapered bearing, a drive shaft, a first fluid chamber, and a second fluid chamber. The housing defines a bore. The tapered bearing is received within the bore of the housing. The drive shaft is received within the tapered bearing. The first fluid chamber is defined between the housing and the drive shaft on a first side of the tapered bearing. The second fluid chamber is defined between the housing and the drive shaft on a second side of the tapered bearing. The second fluid chamber is separated from the first fluid chamber by the tapered bearing. The housing includes a fluid passage fluidly coupling the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.
US08342146B2
A camshaft assembly, particularly for use in an internal combustion engine, having a shaft base body and a plurality of cam parts. In order to be able to selectively shut down individual cylinders, cam parts are provided with cams which are arranged so as to be rotationally fixed and axially displaceable in relation to the shaft base body. Depending on a desired sequence of axially fixed and axially displaceable cam parts, it is proposed to arrange the axially displaceable cam parts on a longitudinally extending profile in an axially displaceable manner and to push the axially fixed cam parts—insofar as these are necesary—over or across the receiving area for the axially displaceable cam parts and to secure them to the shaft.
US08342145B2
A lifter retainer including a central body portion connected to both a left bank of lifter retaining arms and a right bank of lifter retaining arms. The lifter retainer may be adapted to engage a key portion of one or more lifters to prevent the lifters from rotating during engine operation.
US08342140B2
A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a method for operating an engine by injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel to at least an engine cylinder is presented. The mixture of an engine cylinder may be diluted with EGR and a fraction of gaseous fuel may be increased relative to a fraction of liquid fuel injected to a cylinder in response to an operator tip-out.
US08342131B2
A recreational structure for providing a cat with adequate shelter and play area. The structure comprises a central main living unit that connects to a rectangular litter housing member by means of hollow tubes. A multi-tiered unit is disposed on top the main living unit. The top tier of this unit connects to the first tube by means of a slanted second tube. An entrance/exit member provides access to the structure. This member is connected to the bottom tier of the multi-tiered unit by a third tube. The tiers connect to one another by means of stairs.
US08342129B2
A drawer-mounted feed bowl shelf to hold an animal's food or water bowl, adapted for mounting on the edges of the sidewalls of a cabinet drawer, or for mounting between the sidewalls of a drawer is disclosed. The first embodiment includes expandable mount means to permit mounting on or in drawers of various widths. The expandable mount means include two sections one above the other, the upper one moving laterally relative to the lower section. The second fixed-width embodiment can be either mounted permanently or removably on or fixedly in a cabinet drawer. A gasket that fits over and within the opening for the bowl adds friction to prevent bowl movement when present. This invention permits the feed bowl to be out of sight when not in use.
US08342128B2
An apparatus for dispensing viscous pet food includes a rigid, downwardly curved, perforated dispensing sheet and a container having a cylindrical inner sidewall and a bottom surface that conforms to the dispensing sheet. The dispensing sheet preferably features a plurality of recesses and the container a plurality of corresponding rails that allow the sheet to stably descend within the container as downward pressure is applied to the sheet and the viscous food is dispensed and consumed.
US08342126B2
An enhanced pet bed comprises an outer cover having an inner volume, and at least one stuff sack that is preferably porous, for placement within the inner volume of the outer cover. While the inner stuff sack may be filled with a wide variety of stuffing items, the stuff sack is preferably filled with a plurality of items supplied by the owner, and may preferably inherently include a scent that is desirable or comforting to the intended animal, e.g. the scent of a known person or animal. For embodiments having permeable stuff sacks, the entire stuff sack assembly may preferably be laundered, e.g. washed and dried, as a unit, i.e. with the stuffing retained. Since the enhanced pet beds are typically provided without stuffing, the intended waste footprint of the is purchased product is significantly less than that of a conventional bed.
US08342112B2
A sewing machine includes a bed, a needle plate, an image capture device, an auxiliary optical member, a switching device, a command acquisition device, and a control device. The needle plate is provided on the bed and includes a needle hole. The image capture device is adapted to capture an image facing downward from above the needle hole. The auxiliary optical member is adapted to transmit light to an image capture device side of the auxiliary optical member. The switching device switches the auxiliary optical member to one of being used and not being used. The command acquisition device acquires a command. In a case where the command has been acquired, the control device controls the switching device to switch the auxiliary optical member to one of being used and not being used in accordance with the command.
US08342108B2
A disc hub assembly includes a shouldered spindle that is secured to a disc opener frame and to which a depth adjustment arm and a gauge wheel arm are connected. The disc hub, to which a ground opener disc is mounted, is disposed on the spindle in a manner that allows the disc to rotate around the spindle. A gauge wheel is connected to the gauge wheel arm. When the depth adjustment arm is rotated between depth setting positions the gauge wheel arm is also rotated. As the gauge wheel is connected to the gauge wheel arm, rotation of the gauge wheel arm causes rotation of the gauge wheel. The depth adjustment arm is spring biased into engagement with an arc of notches on the disc opener frame. The notches define a range of positions at which the depth adjustment arm may be positioned.
US08342106B2
A board for a modular pallet including spaced apart mating sections that include tab sections including angled portions along the edges, and inboard facing shoulders spaced from the ends of the boards and adjacent to the tab sections, and a modular pallet including the board.
US08342099B2
A marking paint ball includes a shell made of non-water-soluble polymer material and having a substantially spherical shape. A marking paint composition is contained in the shell. The shell is made of an oxo-biodegradable material. A method for making such a ball is disclosed.
US08342091B2
A portable cable marking mechanism includes a gun-like housing with a pivotally mounted trigger assembly for moving a stamping unit along a predetermined inking path to engage in sequence an inking pad of a replaceable ink cartridge for inking the stamping unit and then a cable sleeve for providing the cable sleeve with customized indicia markings.
US08342090B2
An ink roller (40) for a hand-held labelling device with a jacket-shaped ink receiving roller (42) and an ink roller axis (43), wherein the ink receiving roller (42) is disposed on the ink roller axis (43) in such a fashion that the free ends of the ink roller axis (43) project on both sides past the end faces of the ink receiving roller (42), and a hand-held labelling device having an ink roller (40) of this type. One gripping disk (46) that is spaced apart from the ink receiving roller (42) is thereby provided at each free end of the ink roller axis (43).
US08342087B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for applying markings, particularly to springs, that are clean (ink in self contained storage units), allows quick color changes and reduces wasted ink or paint. An application means that does not dry out during short down time periods, keeps up with production rates, and is cost effective.
US08342085B2
An apparatus is provided for compensating for such deformations as occur in operation in first and second clamping surfaces intended for a tool in a press. The clamping surfaces are reciprocally moveable towards and away from one another in order to move a first and second part of the tool towards and away from one another, and the first and second tool parts have a first and second abutment surface for abutment against the first and second clamping surfaces and the deformations cause uneven pressure in at least one contact region between the tool and the clamping surfaces. According to the present invention, there is disposed, in at least one contact region between a clamping surface and an abutment surface, a power unit which, on activation, is operative to press, away from the clamping surface located in the contact region at least a part of the abutment surface of the tool located there.
US08342083B2
Method for a safety and testing control for a press, including a hydraulic system with at least one hydraulic cylinder, operated by means of a hydraulic valve controlled by a programmable processing unit where a number of electrical signal inputs and outputs are provided and into which a software program is loaded, where a position sensor is provided that indicates the position of the hydraulic cylinder and where the software application works solely on the basis of an internal timer and the aforementioned position sensor can control the motion of the press as well as a hydraulic press working according to this method and using the software and carrier.
US08342082B2
A detachable grill comprising a body, a pan detachably mounted on said body and a locking device for connecting said body with said pan, said body having a heating device for heating said pan, wherein said locking device comprises: a sleeve, a connecting nail and a deflecting device, the flange of the lower portion of said sleeve protruding outwardly to form a clamping portion, said sleeve connected to the bottom of said pan by said connecting nail, wherein said deflecting device is movably connected to said body and can abut against the clamping portion or move away the clamping portion selectively. The deflecting device abuts against the clamping portion to prevent the sleeve from sliding upwardly so as to lock and fix the pan.
US08342080B2
A programmable cooking system includes a controller, at least one of a cooking range and an oven interfacing with the controller, a set of scales interfacing with the controller, a timer interfacing with the controller and at least one data entry component interfacing with the controller.
US08342066B2
The cutting tool for machining an inner surface of a hole is provided with a cutting tool main body extending in the shape of a shaft, a cutting edge portion mounted on a head portion of the cutting tool main body so as to radially-outwardly protrude with respect to the center axis of the cutting tool main body, and a coolant hole formed at the cutting tool main body so as to have an opening at a position apart from the cutting edge portion on a circumferential surface of the head portion of the cutting tool main body, thereby flushing out a coolant from the opening to an axially orthogonal plane orthogonal to the center axis and also along a protruding direction at which the cutting edge portion protrudes. The opening of the coolant hole faces a direction different from the protruding direction of the cutting edge portion in the radial direction with respect to the center axis.
US08342059B2
A ratchet wrench includes a head having a compartment rotatably receiving a drive member. Two gaps are defined between the head and the drive member. The drive member includes a dust groove intermediate the gaps along an axis. The dust groove includes first and second faces spaced along the axis and a third face extending between the first and second faces. A dustproof seal is compressed and received in the dust groove to block communication between the gaps. The seal includes a ring having first and second surfaces spaced along the axis. An outer periphery of the seal presses against a peripheral wall of the compartment. A wing extends from one of the first and second surfaces of the ring, presses against one of the first and second faces of the dust groove, and is not in contact with the third face of the dust groove.
US08342049B2
A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to a countershaft which have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such that at least seven power shift forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be shifted, and four gear wheel planes are positioned in a way that at least one power shift winding-path gear can be shifted via the shifting device.
US08342048B2
A dual-clutch transmission comprising clutches with input sides coupled to an input shaft and output sides respectively coupled to first and second transmission input shafts, countershafts on which toothed idler gearwheels are mounted to rotate, toothed fixed gearwheels are coupled to the first and the second transmission input shafts and engage the idler gearwheels, coupling devices connect the idler gearwheel to one of the countershafts, drive output gearwheels are fixed to countershafts and drive an output shaft, and a shifting element couples the input shafts, such that eight forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be engaged. Five wheel planes are arranged in the transmission such that at least one winding gear can be engaged by the shifting element.
US08342037B2
A device for measuring a pattern of the forces and moments (2) generated by an aircraft propulsion system (1), includes a hooking structure (5) that can support at least one propulsion system (3). This hooking structure (5) passes through the fuselage transversely relative to the main axis of the fuselage of the aircraft via an opening, whereby the structure has at least a first part (AC) that is found on the outside of the aircraft connected to a propulsion system, and a second part (CB) that is found on the inside of the aircraft that is connected to structural elements of the aircraft via an isostatic system of connecting elements (9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 22) so as to take up the six degrees of freedom, measuring elements being integrated in the connecting elements to reconstitute the pattern.
US08342031B2
Provided are capacitive strain sensors. In certain embodiments, the capacitive strain sensor can continuously and accurately measure strain in corrosive ambient conditions and may operate up to 370° C. or more in air. The sensor includes a differential capacitor that includes a bending beam structure. In some instances, the sensor is configured to increase the effect of strain in a substrate along a sensing axis while attenuating the effect of cross-axis strain. Also provided are methods of making the capacitive strain sensors, e.g., using Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) fabrication techniques, and methods of using the capacitive strain sensors.
US08342029B2
An apparatus for guarding a pressure sensor for a washing machine is provided, which adjusts the water level required to wash laundries. The apparatus for guarding a pressure sensor includes a diaphragm built in a space part of a housing to operate in accordance with the water pressure of washing water being supplied through an inlet, a metal core mounted on an upper surface of the diaphragm through a coil spring, a first sensing part installed in a moving path of the metal core to output a signal required for adjustment of a water level of the washing water, a measurement part mounted on an upper surface of the metal core to ascend/descend along an operation path of the coil spring, a second sensing part mounted on an upper side of the space part to sense maximum and minimum positions of the measurement part, and a controller outputting a blocking signal to an inlet path of the inlet. According to the apparatus for guarding a pressure sensor, washing water more than or less than a prescribed amount is prevented from being supplied to the washing machine, and thus a uniform washing process is performed to improve the reliability of the washing machine. Also, the damage or corrosion of electric/electronic sub assembly of the washing machine due to the overflow of the washing water is prevented to prolong the lifespan of the washing machine.
US08342025B2
An integrated MEMS structure includes a driving assembly anchored to a substrate and actuated with a driving movement. A pair of sensing masses suspended above the substrate and coupled to the driving assembly via elastic elements is fixed in the driving movement and performs a movement along a first direction of detection, in response to an external stress. A coupling assembly couples the pair of sensing masses mechanically to couple the vibration modes. The coupling assembly is formed by a rigid element, which connects the sensing masses and has a point of constraint in an intermediate position between the sensing masses, and elastic coupling elements for coupling the rigid element to the sensing masses to present a first stiffness to a movement in phase-opposition and a second stiffness, greater than the first, to a movement in phase, of the sensing masses along the direction of detection.
US08342020B2
A tire testing machine according to the present invention, which can measure both uniformity and dynamic balance of a tire T, comprises a spindle for driving the tire T to rotate about a vertical axis, a spindle housing which supports the spindle rotatably, and a rotating drum rotatable about an axis parallel to an axis of the spindle and movable toward and away from the tire T. The spindle housing is fixed to a base through a piezoelectric sensor so that it can bear a pressing force provided from the rotating drum. The piezoelectric sensor is disposed within a plane including the axis of the spindle and perpendicular to the pressing force. With this structure, dynamic balance of the tire can be measured accurately and easily.
US08342018B2
With increasing demands on data communication and remote control in current industrial processes or gas measurement applications, development of new technologies would be necessary. The current invention presents a MEMS mass flow meter that are cost compatible with conventional variable area flow meters while providing all digital data process including accumulated flow rate measurements, user programmable flow rate alarm and flow data storage. These in-line meters provide packages in pipe diameter from 4 mm up to 100 mm. It is powered with battery and can be used as a stand-alone hand-held option. The meter is also equipped with the industrial standard RS485 Modbus communication interface for easy network and remote management.
US08342006B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting and/or quantifying water leaks in a water pipe, and to a device for realizing said method. The method of the invention comprises measuring the water flow rate in the pipe in at least two different locations, i.e., one downstream and one upstream relative to the suspected leak, the water flow rate being measured by injecting a tracing agent that modifies the water conductivity instantaneously at an upstream location and a downstream location relative to the suspected leak location, continuously measuring the water conductivity downstream from said locations and, from the conductivity values, calculating the water flow rates upstream and downstream relative to the suspected leak location in the pipe. The method of the invention can be used for quantifying a leak flow rate that can even be a very small one.
US08342002B2
An inspection apparatus including a cylindrical chamber having an opening part and a bottomed end part. The chamber includes an element insertion/extraction part, a tapered part, and a gas introduction part. The element insertion/extraction part is a tubular space continuous from the opening part. The tapered part is connected to the element insertion/extraction part, and is a space having a tapered shape in a cross-sectional view sectioned perpendicularly so that a lengthwise direction is larger toward the inner side. The gas introduction part is a tubular space continuously extending from the tapered part to a bottom portion. A sensor element is inserted into the chamber such that a front end thereof reaches the tapered part while a gap is formed between the sensor element and the chamber, and in this condition, an inspection gas is supplied to the chamber through a supply port provided in the gas introduction part.
US08341995B2
A method for forming at least one rib and a step shoulder bottom of a can body in a single drawing operation from a redrawn cup or preform which has a closed end with an inwardly tapering annular periphery that includes sufficient material to enable formation of the step shoulder bottom without having the at least one rib drawn into the step shoulder bottom.
US08341994B2
A rolling mill stand and related rolling mill for rolling rod-shaped bodies, even large in size, which meets the requirement of stiffness uniformity of the rolling mill stands in the transversal direction, all the hydraulic capsules being firmly fixed to the external structure of the rolling mill and providing for the side change of the rolls of each stand. The arrangement of rolling rolls and related extensions of each rolling mill stand is such to avoid problems of corrosion and damaging to the extensions themselves and to the reducers due to the drainage of the cooling waters.
US08341992B2
An apparatus for hemming multiple panels includes an anvil having a first panel and a second panel supported thereon. A roller mechanism and a curing mechanism are mounted to the hemming apparatus. The roller mechanism is adapted to move relative to the panels to fold a flanged portion of the first panel onto an edge portion of the second panel to form a joint. The curing mechanism is adapted to move relative to the panels to cure an adhesive located within the joint formed between the first panel and the second panel. The curing mechanism is located proximate to the roller mechanism, such that the first panel and the second panel may be supported by the anvil while the curing mechanism at least partially cures the adhesive.
US08341984B2
A method and apparatus for estimating velocity in a subsurface region. Seismic data for a subsurface region may be received. One or more attributes for the seismic data may be calculated. A posterior distribution may be generated. The posterior distribution may represent one or more probabilities of one or more velocities for the attributes. A velocity with uncertainty may be determined for the subsurface region based on the posterior distribution. A pore pressure with uncertainty may be determined based on the velocity with uncertainty.
US08341976B2
A method of cutting a glass sheet that has been thermally or chemically strengthened along a predetermined line, axis, or direction with high speed and with minimum damage on the cut edges. The strengthened glass sheet may be an aluminoborosilicate glass material having at least one alkali metal oxide modifier, and the ratio Al 2 O 3 ( mol % ) + B 2 O 3 ( mol % ) ∑ modifiers ( mol % ) > 1. At least one damage line is formed within the strengthened glass sheet. The at least one damage line is formed outside the strengthened compressive stress surface layers and within the tensile stress layer of the strengthened glass sheet. The at least one damage line may be formed by laser treatment. A crack is initiated in the strengthened glass sheet and propagated along the at least one damage line to separate the strengthened glass sheet along the predetermined line, axis, or direction into at least two pieces.
US08341974B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a cold air generation chamber provided in a body of the refrigerator, the cold air generation chamber having an evaporator installed therein. A cold air duct may form a path through which cold air generated in the cold air generation chamber is circulated to a freezer compartment, and a quick freezer compartment. The quick freezer compartment may be connected with the cold air duct, and may be positioned substantially nearer to the evaporator than the freezer compartment. A damper may be installed in the cold air duct to selectively shut off the flow of cold air to the freezer compartment. The quick freezer compartment may be quickly cooled using cold air directly supplied from the cold air generation chamber. Furthermore, cold air may be directed into the quick freezer compartment by selectively shutting off the supply of cold air into the freezer or refrigerator compartment.
US08341970B2
An equipment control system includes a control device, and a control program in which present-round defrosting operation start time can be changed appropriately. An integrated controller controls a defrosting operation to remove frost adhered to showcases, in which the defrosting operation is started at a fixed or varying time interval. The integrated controller stores past record data based on required time for past defrosting operations for different environmental conditions. The integrated controller includes an environmental condition acquisition unit for obtaining present environmental conditions; a database control unit for obtaining required time for a present-round defrosting operation based on the past record data corresponding to the present environmental conditions from among the stored past record data; and a start time changing unit for changing start time of the present-round defrosting operation based on the obtained required time from the scheduled start time.
US08341968B2
A method of cooling multiple beverage components involves: providing a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of sheets of heat transfer material and at least first and second flow channels defined by surfaces made at least in part by the sheets of heat transfer material; directing a first and second fluid respectively through the first and second flow channels, each of the first and second fluids being selected from the group consisting of non-carbonated water, carbonated water, beverage concentrates and non-concentrated beverages; placing ice in contact with at least one of the sheets of heat transfer material.
US08341963B2
In a valve control unit for a ram jet propulsion system having a power unit space a valve for controlling a fuel quantity required to the propulsion system, and a valve adjusting unit which is constructed to be operable by means of an electronic control unit, the valve is combined with its valve adjusting unit and its electronic control unit to form a thermally insulated valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured for the arrangement in the power unit space.
US08341957B2
In accordance with the present invention, a portable wave-swash & coastal-wind energy harvester, placed on a sea coast in swash zone captures energy contained in coastal waves and in coastal-wind through the utilization of wave turbines, wind turbines, and wave floats. Wave-float levers carrying wave floats and wave turbines, swing and maintain lower halves of wave turbines below water always. A gear system with one-way clutches transmits torque to an alternator to generate electricity. Flywheels maintain steady rotation of alternator shaft. A buoyancy chamber at the bottom produces reduction of weight of the unit when buoyancy chamber is emptied of water, and thereby enhances maneuverability of unit in water. Stabilization tanks at the top when filled with water provide extra weight and stability of the unit in its operating location. Units linked together in an energy farm combine their energy while forming a seawall-like barrier offering protection against coastal erosion.
US08341956B2
An electric actuator of the present invention includes a hydraulic fluid supply device and an actuator actuated in response to an input of hydraulic fluid from a variable-volume pump. The hydraulic fluid supply device includes an adjustable-speed motor, the variable-volume pump which is driven by the adjustable-speed motor and ejects hydraulic fluid, an electric motor control unit which controls the adjustable-speed motor so as to achieve an intended rotation speed, and a pump control unit which controls the variable-volume pump so that the ejection volume of the variable-volume pump decreases with an increase in the ejection pressure of the variable-volume pump.
US08341951B2
An apparatus is provided for a vehicle with an engine that includes an exhaust system through which exhaust gas is discharged from the engine. A heat exchanger is positioned at least partially within the exhaust system. Coolant flow passages are provided in thermal communication with the engine and with the heat exchanger. A bypass valve is operable in a first mode to direct the exhaust gas across the heat exchanger along a first flow path to transfer exhaust heat to the coolant flow passages, and is further operable in a second mode to direct at least a portion of the exhaust gas across the heat exchanger along a second flow path to transfer exhaust heat to the coolant flow passages in a second coolant heating mode. The second flow path is restricted relative to the first flow path. A method of managing exhaust heat recovery is also provided.
US08341948B2
An exhaust gas cooling apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust cooling apparatus has a first fluid conduit and a variable nozzle extending from the first fluid conduit. The variable nozzle being disposed in an inlet end of a second fluid conduit, wherein the variable nozzle has at least two dissimilar materials adjacent to each other and a fluid inlet opening is located between an outer periphery of the variable nozzle and an inner surface of the inlet end of the second fluid conduit. The at least two dissimilar materials vary the size of an opening of the variable nozzle by moving toward or away from a center line of the first fluid conduit in response to a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing through the first fluid conduit.
US08341947B2
A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
US08341945B2
A control system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter, an electric heater, a first heating module, and a second heating module. The PM filter includes M zones that filter PM from exhaust gas. The electric heater includes M segments corresponding to the M zones that heat exhaust gas input to selected ones of the M zones when activated. The first heating module activates N of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to N of the M zones to regenerate the N zones. The second heating module operates in one of a first mode and a second mode to regenerate other ones of the M zones after the N zones are regenerated. The first mode includes adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas. The second mode includes activating other ones of the M segments to heat exhaust gas input to other ones of the M zones.
US08341942B2
A method and a device for providing ammonia for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, include the following steps: a) recording at least one actuating variable for influencing the state of the internal combustion engine; b) calculating a possible nitrogen oxide emission of the internal combustion engine on the basis of an evaluation of the at least one measured variable; c) calculating an ammonia quantity which corresponds to the possible nitrogen oxide emission; and d) initiating the provision of the corresponding ammonia quantity by exhaust-gas-external evaporation in an evaporator and exhaust-gas-external hydrolysis of aqueous urea solution, wherein at least one of the following values: i) the heating power of the evaporator or ii) the quantity of aqueous urea solution supplied to the evaporator, is regulated on the basis of the ammonia quantity calculated in step c).
US08341939B2
A purification system for variable post injection in LP EGR, the system includes a turbo charger disposed downstream of a diesel engine, a DPF (catalyzed particulate filter) disposed downstream of the turbo charger, a NOx reduction apparatus disposed upstream or downstream of the DPF, a bypass line diverged from the DPF for mixing exhaust gas and air inflowing the turbo charger, a exhaust gas control portion disposed downstream of the DPF for controlling flowing of the exhaust gas and a lean/rich controlling portion for controlling lean/rich of the exhaust gas.
US08341936B2
An exhaust-gas sampler is adapted to couple into an exhaust conduit and to sample a constituent of an engine exhaust flowing therein. The sampler comprises an envelope having upstream and downstream surfaces joined by a curved side surface. The upstream and downstream surfaces are each tangent to a plane substantially normal to a central axis of the exhaust conduit. A series of inlets are formed in the upstream surface, and an outlet is formed in the curved side surface. A sensor responsive to a level of the constituent in the exhaust is coupled in the envelope, at the peripheral region of the conduit.
US08341934B2
An InfraRed Suppression System (IRSS) includes a double-walled exhaust duct and double walled septum. The double walled structure provides a flow path for secondary (non-exhaust gas) cooling air flow to slots along the surfaces exposed to exhaust gases. Exhaust gas flow past these slots draws cooling air across the duct and septum surfaces. This flow cools the surfaces close to the slots and mixes with exhaust gasses downstream to cool the exhaust plume. The septum in the shape of a helix rotating 360° fully blocks line-of-sight to the turbine exit from the aft of the aircraft. The exhaust duct is intended to be shrouded by an aerodynamic fairing which provides an aerodynamic contour which minimizes aerodynamic impact on the aircraft.
US08341926B2
A self-propelled harvesting machine has a lifting device for a front attachment and at least one crawler track assembly which is provided with a damping system, and which is formed by a crawler track disposed on an axle of the harvesting machine and on either side of the axle, and the height of the harvesting machine can be changed by varying the spring travel of the hydropneumatic damping system of the crawler track assembly.
US08341922B2
The machine, either in a version for open vials or in one for closed vials, has a cantilevered architecture such that at the sides of the relative conveyor line of the vials there is a substantially vertical air passage gap developing in a downwards direction and connected with a conveyor which opens into an air outlet facing externally of the machine and positioned considerably below the conveyor line. The operating organs of the machine, among which the conveyor line, are inserted in a chamber having a controlled atmosphere, to which means for forced ventilation are associated, which means generate a laminar flow of air directed from above in a downwards direction. The part of the laminar flow, which strikes the sides of the conveyor line and the vials present therein, enters, without perturbation, the air passage gap and exits from the air outlet; thus entry of polluting particles into the inlet of the vials is prevented.
US08341919B2
The present invention is directed to a method of forming a molded core component. A mat formed from cellulosic fiber and resin is provided. The mat is consolidated in a first press until the resin is substantially fully cured, and then removed from the first press. The consolidated mat is then placed in a second press having a mold cavity shaped to form at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The consolidated mat is reformed in the second press to form a molded core component having at least one depression in at least one of the major surfaces. The molded core component has a variable density, preferably of between about 10 lbs/ft3 and 80 lbs/ft3.
US08341917B2
An anchoring clip system that includes an anchoring clip that has a top flange portion and a base flange that can be connect to a substructure, and a cap member designed to be inserted over a portion of the roof panels so as to secure the roof panels to the anchoring clip. The anchoring clip system can optionally be designed to allow for fluid flow through or on one or more components of the anchoring clip system. The anchoring clip system can optionally include a locking crown that improves the wind uplift resistance of the panels.
US08341903B2
A separation element including a panel and a connecting device for use with an adhesive. The connecting device includes at least one profile strip and a separation profile. The profile strip includes a back element, a first side element and a second side element that together define a mounting channel, and an anchor channel defined by the profile strip. The anchor channel is connected to the mounting channel by a through slot. The mounting channel is configured such that the edge of the panel is held within the mounting channel by means of the adhesive. The separation profile separates the profile strip from the panel, and it includes a middle part, a first side part, and a second side part and defines at least one window opening that functions to allow the adhesive to penetrate into the anchor channel.
US08341902B2
Multi-story buildings assembled from pre-cast concrete components produced in a component factory to form earthquake-resistant buildings with lower cost and faster construction time. The multi-story building structure comprising a plurality of piles and pile caps; prefabricated concrete column components; prefabricated concrete beam components; prefabricated concrete floor components; prefabricated concrete stairs components and prefabricated concrete wall components. Each pile cap unites at least two piles to one column; each column component has a groove on each side of the column component for placement of the corresponding sides of prefabricated wall components; and each beam component comprises grooves on the bottom and top sides of the beam for placement of wall components; and openings are located in the body of the beam. Floor components, stairs components, and wall components are made of concrete that are pre-cast with a predetermined shape, size and strength as described.
US08341893B2
A seismic coupler includes two coupling members each having an end receptacle for securing to a reinforcing bar of a column of reinforced concrete; and a flexible assembly comprising a cylindrical core formed of alloy, a plurality of steel first rings put on the core, a plurality of flexible second rings put on the core in an alternating fashion with respect to the first rings, a flexible sleeve put on the first and second rings to have both ends being flush with that of the core, two cup-shaped cap members engaged each other to conceal the core, the first and second rings, and the sleeve, and two sets of a plurality of fasteners driven through the coupling members and the cup-shaped cap members into the first rings.
US08341891B1
A filter for use with a rain gutter will prevent solid debris, such as leaves, from entering the gutter, but will not unduly restrict passage of rain water into and through the gutter. The filter comprises a liquid permeable strip that can be formed of a material, such as reticulated polyurethane foam. This strip is supported at the top of the gutter by a support member, which can be a thermoformed member, affixed to the underside of the strip. Legs, which can fold transversely to the strip will support the strip above the bottom of the gutter. When the legs are in a flat configuration, multiple filter members can be stacked for storage and shipping. Installation is essentially toolless and the filters can be cut to length.
US08341888B2
A powered post assembly includes an enclosed actuator that supports rotation of a gate. An outer tube defines a hollow interior space. A fixed post and a rotating post are both disposed within the oval tube. The actuator is mounted within the fixed post and drives rotation of the rotating post. Because the actuator is disposed within the fixed tube, it is sheltered from the elements and from undesired tampering.
US08341886B2
A gate assembly is provided including frame means for positioning in an opening through which selective entry is required. Barrier means are mountable on the frame means via hinge means and the barrier means are movable relative to the frame means between a closed position, wherein the opening is closed, to an open position, wherein the opening is open. An automatic closure mechanism is provided for moving the barrier means from the open position to the closed position without user intervention. The automatic closure mechanism is associated with the hinge means and includes at least one ramp or inclined surface on which at least part of the gate travels when moving between the open and closed positions.
US08341884B2
The present invention relates to a modular container system for use in agriculture, gardening and construction, characterized in that it comprises a parallelepiped container 1 with two partition walls 2 forming three chambers 3, its top ends each having a sleeve 4 which forms a vertical channel 5, the lower end 6 of the said sleeve extending beyond the bottom of the container but with slightly smaller dimensions and having a groove 10 around its whole periphery; connectors 9 which join adjacent containers in a horizontal plane; a base 11 which allows the containers to rest on the ground; and a lateral support 13 exactly identical to the top end of the container 1.
US08341882B2
A plant package includes a flower pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve which may be provided with detaching elements at preselected areas. When the sleeve is positioned about the flower pot, a decorative lower portion of the sleeve contains the flower pot, and a skirt portion of the sleeve is disposed about a lower portion of the floral grouping contained within the flower pot.
US08341876B2
The invention is directed to a method for separating two or more seed fractions having different germination quality, to a method for preparing a seed fraction enriched in seed quality, and to the use of a magnetic field. The method for separating two or more seed fractions having different germination quality comprises: mixing a feed of seeds comprising seeds with at least two densities with a magnetic fluid thereby obtaining a mixture, and applying a magnetic field to the mixture such that the mixture is exposed to a magnetic gradient so as to separate two or more seed fractions with different densities.
US08341871B2
Some embodiments of fishing bobbers include a main body portion, a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, a slot, a first closing mechanism, and a second closing mechanism. Each of the first and second shaft portions has a generally cylindrical shape. The first shaft portion is positioned at one of the outer ends of the main body portion, and the second shaft portion is positioned at an opposite one of the outer ends of the main body portion. The slot runs along a length of the fishing bobber and enables a fishing line to be positioned within a central aperture of the fishing bobber. The first closing mechanism is positioned within the first shaft portion, and the second closing mechanism is positioned within the second shaft portion. The first and second closing mechanisms can be rotated between open and closed positions.
US08341867B2
A cheek support apparatus comprising a generally inverted U-shaped shell member, a base member, and a cheek supporting member is provided for a firearm. The shell member made of a form fitting material, for example, a thermoplastic material, is selectively configured with different coefficients of friction to enable rigid contact of the shell member to a stock of the firearm. The shell member comprising an inner frictional surface defines an opening for accommodating the stock of the firearm. The base member is rigidly attached to a closed upper end of the shell member. In an embodiment, one or more shim members are removably attached on the base member for adjustably positioning the cheek supporting member on the base member. The cheek supporting member is removably attached on one or more of the shim members or the base member for supporting a user's cheek, for example, during recoil of the firearm.
US08341865B2
Devices, systems and methods of using an ergonomic fore grip/gun handle with a concealable and collapsible bipod. One version can have a tubular recess consisting of a first cylindrical cutout housing the bipod legs when concealed and a sliding piston that deploys the legs and a second cylindrical cutout housing a release mechanism and a void space for other accessories. The release mechanism has a compression spring positioned between the piston assembly and the bottom of the first cylindrical cutout and the compression spring. The legs are connected to the bottom of the piston assembly via a hinge and spring that when released from confinement within the fore grip, causes the legs to expand outward until fully deployed. Telescoping legs allow adjustment of leg length for use on uneven terrain. The grip portion has an outer surface with a flat surface on sides of the grip to provide a more stable grip, assist in orienting the mounted weapon and support pressure pads for lights.
US08341845B2
A hair-clipping device includes a main body, a main hair-clipping unite supported by the main body, and additional hair-clipping unit having an active hair-clipping portion extending over a longitudinal dimension and being supported by a supporting unit. The supporting unit, at least in one predetermined working position of the active hair-clipping portion, extends only over a part of the longitudinal dimension. Thereby at least one free end portion of the active hair-clipping portion exists that can, for example, be easily inserted into the nose to remove nose hair.
US08341839B2
The goal is to enhance the productivity by reducing the cost of a die. A method for selectively forming a female terminal (30) and a male terminal (40), each terminal having a square tubular box portion (31, 41) in its front and a wire crimping portion (38, 39, 48, 49) in its rear, from blanks (20) punched into a common shape is provided. In a step of punching the blank, a front projection (22) which becomes a spring piece (32) when the female terminal is produced and becomes a male tab (42) when the male terminal is produced is projected from the front end of a strip-like base plate (21) constituting a bottom plate of the square tubular box portion, and a blank in which right and left projections (28, 29) constituting the wire crimping portions are projected is formed in the rear of the base plate. In the subsequent pressing step, the female terminal and the male terminal are selectively formed in response to whether the front projection (22) is folded backward or left as it is, while the blank is made common for the box portions.
US08341836B2
An airtight container manufacturing method includes the steps of (a) exhausting an inside of a container through the through-hole; (b) arranging a spacer along a periphery of the through-hole on an outer surface of the container the inside of which has been exhausted; (c) arranging a plate so that the spacer and the through-hole are covered by the plate and a gap is formed along a side surface of the spacer between the plate and the container outer surface; and (d) arranging the cover to cover the plate and bonding the cover and the container outer surface via sealant positioned between the cover and the container outer surface. The sealing includes hardening the sealant after deforming the sealant by pressing the plate with the cover so that the gap is infilled with the sealant.
US08341833B2
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board having a substrate composed of an insulation material, a via hole formed in the substrate, and a via land formed around the opening of the via hole on a surface of the substrate includes processes of measuring deformation of the substrate having the via hole formed therein, calculating a position where the via land is to be patterned on the basis of the deformation of the substrate measured in the measurement process, and patterning the via land at a position corrected on the basis of the value calculated in the calculation process.
US08341828B2
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for using a thin foil to form electrical interconnects in an integrated circuit package. One such arrangement involves a foil carrier structure, which includes a foil adhered to a carrier having cavities. Some methods of the present invention involve attaching dice to the foil and encapsulating the foil carrier structure in a molding material. In one embodiment, the molding material presses against the foil, which causes portions of the foil to distend into the cavities of the carrier. As a result, recessed and raised areas are formed in the foil. Afterwards, the carrier is removed and portions of the raised areas in the foil are removed through one of a variety of techniques, such as grinding. This process helps define and electrical isolate contact pads in the foil. The resulting molded foil structure may then be singulated into multiple semiconductor packages.
US08341826B1
A method and system for fabricating magnetic transducer are described.The method and system include providing a main pole having a bottom, a top wider than the bottom, and a top bevel. A nonmagnetic gap covering the main pole is provided. A portion of the nonmagnetic gap resides on the top of the main pole. A first seed layer is provided. At least a portion of the first seed layer covers the portion of the nonmagnetic gap on top of the main pole. A portion of the nonmagnetic gap on the magnetic recording transducer is removed after the first seed layer is provided. A second seed layer is provided after the portion of the nonmagnetic gap is removed. The second seed layer covers at least the portion of the first seed layer. A wrap-around shield layer is provided on the second seed layer.
US08341825B2
A thermally-assisted magnetic head includes a slider including an air bearing surface (ABS) and a waveguide with a core that extends from a light entering surface to the ABS, and a laser diode (LD) unit attached to the light entering surface. The LD unit faces the light entering surface, and a photo detector faces the ABS. A polarizer that only transmits light having a polarization component orthogonal to a polarization direction of linearly polarized laser light is disposed between the ABS and the photo detector. An LD of the LD unit is activated, and the linearly polarized laser light enters the core from the light entering surface. Light radiated from the ABS enters the polarizer, and an alignment of the slider and the LD unit is performed while the photo detector detects the light transmitted through the polarizer.
US08341822B2
A ground connector including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first member with a threaded post, a second member pivotably connected to the first member, and a pusher on the first member. The second member includes a stepped surface configured to be engaged by the pusher to clamp a pedestal directly between the first and second members. The second section is movably located on the threaded post and configured to directly contact and clamp a conductor towards the pedestal.
US08341820B2
A sleeved composite pipe or piling structure formed of an elongated polyethylene pipe or tube of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or another polyethylene material installed over a substantially rigid and incompressible hollow metal pipe or solid wood core having an outer diameter that is the same or slightly larger than a normal inside diameter of the polyethylene pipe or tube when measured in a relaxed state at ambient temperature. The polyethylene pipe or tube is, for example, a HDPE 3408 material formed of virgin PE 3408 resin as specified in ASTM D3350 with UV protection, and the pipe is produced to ASTM A-3408. The metal pipe core can be ferrous or nonferrous pipe.
US08341806B2
A folding step stool includes a hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a first section connected to the hinge mechanism. The first section having a bottom step. The step stool includes a second section connected to the hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a third section connected to the hinge mechanism, wherein when the folding step is in and unfolded state, the first and second sections form a base on a floor and are in angular relationship with each other, and the third section extends upward from the hinge mechanism relative to the first section, and when the first, second and third sections are in a folded state, they are essentially in parallel with each other, are no more than ¾ as tall and ½ as long as when the step stool is in the unfolded state. A method for using a folding step stool. A hinge for a folding step stool having a folded and unfolded state and having a top rail, front rail and rear rail. A method for using a folding step stool.
US08341805B2
An exemplary hinge assembly includes a sleeve, a first member, a second member, a conductive member and a resilient member. The sleeve includes an open end. The first member is received in the sleeve. The conductive member is positioned on the first member. The second member is located next to the first member. One of the first member and the second member have a cam, the other of the first member and second member have a cam follower interacting with the cam so that the first member rotates about an axis and the second member moves linearly along the axis when the cam follower follows the cam. The resilient member is fitted in the sleeve and provides an elastic force to bias the first member and the second member into contact with each other. A plurality of tabs formed adjacent to the open end contact the conductive member for electronically connecting the sleeve to the first member.
US08341798B2
Paint roller support includes a substantially rigid sleeve portion for supporting a roller cover thereon and a plurality of flexible fingers that are engageable by an actuator to cause outer ends of the fingers to flex outwardly. An elastomeric material at least partially covers outer surfaces of the fingers for pressing engagement of the elastomeric material against the inner diameter of a surrounding roller cover during outward flexing of the fingers for securely retaining the roller cover in place on the support.
US08341796B1
A device for wiping a section of the human body surrounding the anus having a contoured body that is shaped to mimic the contours of the anatomy between the anus and groin within the natural depression. A ridge is formed on the contoured body. The ridge starts proximate a forward edge and progresses toward a rear edge. The ridge follows an ascending slope to an apex. Additionally, sloped side surfaces ascend from the side edges toward the ridge. A handle extends laterally from the contoured body. The handle enables the contoured body to be pulled laterally across the body. The contoured body is covered with a disposable wipe. As the wipe moves across the body, it wipes clean the contacted area. The wipe is then removed and thrown away.
US08341794B1
A brush for cleaning a trailer hitch receiver that comprises an elongated stem attached to a handle at one end and a cleaning head at the opposite end. The brush is configured so that a person can grasp the handle of the device and ream the cleaning head having at least two flat abrasive sides into the trailer hitch receiver so as to clean out accumulated salt, asphalt, rust debris from the receiver hitch. A method for cleaning a substantially square trailer hitch receiver using the aforementioned cleaning device.
US08341791B2
An electric toothbrush includes an electric toothbrush main body that includes a grip portion; a brush member that includes a brush; a motor that moves the brush; an actuator that relatively rotates the brush member with respect to the electric toothbrush main body in order to change an orientation of the brush; an acceleration sensor that detects an attitude of the main body; and a CPU that controls the actuator such that a brush angle becomes a predetermined optimum value based on the detected attitude.
US08341789B2
A suction-powered pool cleaning robot is provided, including a fluid outlet, configured for connection to a suction hose, and a fluid inlet, with a fluid path therebetween, a turbine, which may be any suitable device is configured to extract energy, such as in the form of rotational motion, from a fluid flow, at least partially disposed within the fluid path so as to extract energy from flow of fluid therethrough, and an electrical control system configured to regulate at least some of the operations of the robot, the control system including an electrical generator for providing power to the control system and configured to be driven by the turbine, and an electronic controller configured for the regulation.
US08341788B2
The method for constructing precast coping for bridge enables for a segment to be match-cast manufactured at the top of a pier body. The method may be applied to small and medium size bridges by introducing transverse tendon force to each segment through tendons after manufacturing a subsegment which is match cast manufactured using sides of a pre-made segment as molding. Further, the method for constructing precast coping for bridge enables to construct precast coping for bridge by easily lifting the coping, which is assembled on the ground, using lifting lugs that are formed on the top of manufacturing segments.
US08341787B2
Disclosed herein are a drum type washing machine having ball balancers and a controlling method of the same that are capable of reducing spin-drying time. The drum type washing machine having ball balancers according to the present invention includes a rotary tub having the ball balancers mounted therein, a wash motor to rotate the rotary tub, and a controller to detect the eccentricity amount of the rotary tub while controlling the rotary tub to be rotated at a first rotation speed, and, when the rotation speed of the rotary tub reaches a second rotation speed, to control the rotary tub, such that the rotary tub is decelerated to a third rotation speed and a drainage process is carried out.
US08341783B2
A baby change mat has a rectangular base mat, and pockets attached to a side of the base mat. The base mat has a non-slip fastening belt for fastening the base mat to a change table. The base mat provides a first work surface for changing a baby. The pocket provides storage space for storing items needed for changing the baby. A cover is detachably attached to the base mat for providing a second work surface. A flap is detachably attached to a side of the rectangular base mat. The flap can be folded on top of the base mat or the cover for providing a third work surface. The baby change mat can be rolled up and held in the rolled up configuration with an elastic closure loop. A carrying handle facilitates attaching the rolled up baby change mat to a support such as a baby stroller.
US08341781B1
An inflatable child containment assembly generally in the form of a play pen type structure capable of multiple uses including a contained play area, a resting or sleeping space, a splash pool, a wash basin, and a support platform for changing a child. A wall assembly has sufficient structural integrity when inflated to assume either a first operative or upright position or a second operative, inverted position, depending on the intended use. A plurality of interconnected wall sections define the wall assembly and are collectively disposed in a closed, continuous configuration to form an interior child containment area having a closure assembly covering one end thereof. An inflatable base may serve as a cushion when removably disposed within the containment area. When in the deflated and collapsed orientation, the containment assembly may be easily carried by an individual utilizing an appropriate pouch or bag.
US08341774B1
A vertical sliding enclosure for a bathtub, including three vertically slidable glass panel assemblies, wherein each assembly contains a slidable glass panel attached by the left and right glass connectors serving as the transverse position limiters which limit the panel in the transverse movement, a pair of left and right housings having the respective longitudinal tracks for the panel in the vertical movement, and room for a counterbalancing weight system containing left and right pulleys and weight combination so that a weight of the glass panel can be balanced. The enclosure provides a sufficient height for a user to access the bathtub when the three panels are raised to their maximum heights. When in their lowered position, the three panels prevent shower water from entering the bathroom floor.
US08341773B2
A system for flushing a vacuum toilet contains a flushing water reservoir container, which may be filled with flushing water, a toilet bowl, which is connectable using a vacuum wastewater line and via a flushing valve to a vacuum system, and a spray device, situated in the toilet bowl, which is connected via a Venturi nozzle to the flushing water reservoir container. A partial vacuum is generated in the vacuum wastewater line when the flushing valve is open, which generates an airflow, by which flushing water contained in the flushing water reservoir container is suctioned, sprayed via the spray device into the toilet bowl, and suctioned into the vacuum wastewater line.
US08341772B1
The invention provides a workout garment for protecting a wearer from injury while the wearer exercises. The garment includes a plurality of supporting straps for providing customziably adjustable support to the shoulders and arms of the wearer. The supporting straps may be wrapped around the wearer's arms at a tightness suitable to accommodate the wearer's desired amount of support and comfort. Wrapping the straps tighter will provide increased support. Wrapping the straps looser will provide less support but may be more comfortable.
US08341771B2
An opening/closing apparatus capable of manipulating a sun visor, which is opened and closed at a front side of a front opening of a helmet main body, from a top portion of the helmet is provided. The opening/closing apparatus includes a sliding member in which its one end portion is coupled to a central top end portion of the sun visor, and a grip helping the sliding member to move forwards and backwards is formed at another end portion, a guide holder that is attached to an inner top portion of the helmet main body and guides a forward and a backward movement of the sliding member, and a damper that is a saw-toothed member and is attached to one side of the guide holder.
US08341769B2
The invention relates to a garment that includes a torso portion and a pair of sleeves, with the junction between the torso portion and each of the sleeves including a closable opening. Each of the closable openings includes a first portion positioned on a respective underarm, extending along a side of the torso portion, and a second portion extending on a respective one of the sleeves, with each of the sleeves including a proximal portion adjacent the torso portion, a distal portion adjacent the proximal portion, and an arrangement carried by the proximal portion to maintain the distal portion in a lifted-up state.
US08341765B2
A training garment is provided for use by a swimmer. The garment includes a layer of material that is configured to conform to a body portion of the swimmer, and a plurality of pockets that extend from the layer of material for increasing drag on the swimmer as the body portion is moved in a preselected direction of movement. At least one of the pockets has first and second conditions. In the first condition, drag is increased by that pocket on the swimmer as the body portion moves in the preselected direction of movement. In the second condition, drag is not increased by that pocket on the swimmer as the body portion moves in the preselected direction of movement.
US08347407B2
There is provided an authority management system in which, when a data user discloses secret information only to a specific partner having the authority to receive the disclosure of the secret information, the information can be disclosed only if the correctness of the partner is confirmed in a face-to-face manner. A holder of disclosure data encrypts data, generates and divides a decryption key of the data, and sends a partial decryption key to a disclosure partner beforehand. At the time of data disclosure, the data holder physically meets a disclosure partner terminal. The partial decryption key is sent in a proximate state, and the decryption key is reproduced. With this, the data is decrypted and disclosed. Thus, the data holder meets the disclosure partner having the authority to receive the disclosure, and visually confirms the correctness of the partner.
US08347403B2
A single point authentication component is provided that is responsible for authenticating incoming requests received via various mediums into a system of a plurality of Web services. The single point authentication component is configured to receive a request from a client for accessing one of the plurality of Web services and to determine and enforce security policies acceptable for accessing the requested Web service.
US08347402B2
A method and system facilitating the development and distribution of software is provided. The system includes a database provided on a computing device, the computing device configured to enable users to provide an update to an element of the database, wherein the element is associated with an object. The system further includes time stamp tracking software configured to enable revisions to elements of the database by establishing time stamps for each stored element changed at a specified time and an assembler configured to enable a user to assemble elements for execution based on time stamping.
US08347395B2
A method and an apparatus for monitor mirroring in the display of data requiring confidentiality is disclosed, including a computer system, an identification unit that identifies the data requiring confidentiality, and a filter unit that filters the identified data requiring confidentiality, so that only the filtered data and data not requiring confidentiality are shown on the monitor. The screen content of the monitor can thereupon be mirrored onto a further monitor.
US08347394B1
A DNS engine monitors domain name system (DNS) network activity occurring between a user computer and a remote computer server. The engine collects DNS traffic information during a specified time window at the user computer using the monitored DNS network activity. The engine generates a local DNS reputation for the user computer and stores the local DNS reputation on the user computer. When a triggering event is received at the user computer the engine determines that the triggering event is abnormal in comparison to the stored local DNS reputation. An alert is issued to a software product on the user computer. The engine takes an action using a software product upon the alert. The reputation may be a frequency distribution for each accessed domain name and IP address. A triggering event may be an abnormal access to a domain name or IP address, or a mismatch between DNS queries and DNS responses of the user computer.
US08347391B1
A network activity detection system is trained to detect network activities of interest such as threats by malicious computer data. The training involves distilling the characteristics of known network activities of interest (e.g., intrusion by computer viruses, exploits, worms, or the like) into a minimal set of meta-expressions. At run-time, the network activity detection system combines the minimal set of meta-expressions with efficient computer algorithms for evaluating meta-expressions to detect known network activities of interest, as well as their unknown variants, among an unknown set of network activity. The network activity detection system may produce appropriate responses upon the detection of network activities of interest.
US08347389B2
A system for protecting devices operating on 64-bit editions of operating systems by retrieving the file path by which the process was run and not the actual file path from where the process is running and scanning this retrieved file path for viruses.
US08347384B1
Methods and systems are provided for using incremental operation for processing regular expressions in intrusion-prevention systems. In an embodiment, a state-transition table is provided, said table representative of a predetermined data pattern, and including states each having one or more egress events defining transitions to other states. A first portion of a subject is received, where the subject is to be evaluated for the presence of the predetermined data pattern. While using the state-transition table for said evaluation, a first state is transitioned into, after which it is determined that a set of restart information should be saved for the first state, said determination including identifying a tail to save from an end of the first portion of the subject. The restart information is saved, along with at least the identified tail.
US08347378B2
An improved solution for authenticating a user seeking to manage a computer system is provided according to aspects of the invention. A user seeking to perform out-of-band management of the computer system can provide a set of credentials to a service processor, which in turn provides them to the computer system for authentication. Additionally, a user seeking to perform in-band management of the computer system can provide a set of credentials to a management agent executing on the computer system for authentication. In either case, the computer system can authenticate the set of credentials, e.g., using an operating system interface.
US08347354B2
Users of a computer are prevented from directly accessing certain hardware for which a driver is installed on the computer. The users are provided a limited, indirect manner to access the hardware for a specific purpose or to do a specific job. One example of such hardware is a wireless hardware communication interface. The wireless activity of the computer may be restricted so that the wireless hardware communication interface is prevented from communicating with any devices compatible with the wireless hardware communication interface other than one or more specific devices.
US08347353B1
Addressing security in an asymmetrical network. At a centralized database, a handshake message is received from a security element that received the message on a first path. A second handshake message is received from a second security element that received the second message on a second path, where the centralized database tracks handshake messages and associations between the messages and communication sessions. A determination is made that the first message is associated with a session. Another determination is made that the second message is associated with the same session. An association between the second message and the first message is stored in the centralized database, based on the associations of the first message and the second message with the same communication session. A determination that the communication session is allowed is stored in the centralized database, based on the association of the second handshake message to the first handshake message.
US08347346B2
Granular policy management is provided based upon an active status of a process and the display status of an associated visual display. A policy is constructed and applied to a process by a combination of individual control policy parameters associated with the status of a process or a graphical user interface. Each active policy is dynamically adjusted in response to a change in at least one policy condition.
US08347345B1
The invention relates to apparatus and methods for a television terminal with a modem. The television terminal may be a set top terminal for use with a cable television program delivery system. The modem may be integral to the terminal or may be provided as a hardware upgrade unit or expansion card connected to the terminal to modularly enhance the functionality of the terminal. The modem enables the terminal to communicate with interactive services and on-line databases, including services and databases outside of the television program delivery system. The services and databases may provide home shopping, airline reservations, news, financial information, classified advertisements, home banking, and/or interactive teletext.
US08347337B2
A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's scheduled program recordings. The programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible.
US08347336B2
A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US08347334B2
A method of recording television content is disclosed and includes receiving one or more television program search criteria from a set-top box device at a recurrent searching system. The method also includes storing the one or more search criteria at the recurrent searching system. Further, the method includes performing a first search of electronic program guide (EPG) data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria and performing at least one additional search of EPG data accessible to the recurrent searching system based on the television program search criteria after the first search.
US08347330B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08347328B2
A method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system includes a broadcast operations channel management system providing a user alert user interface and determining guide channels eligible for an emergency alert. The broadcast operations channel management system sends a trigger to the traffic scheduling system and initiates an emergency alert event in response to the trigger.
US08347323B2
A broker-program generating unit generates a broker program by using an interface-definition-language file defining interface definition information concerning a plurality of applications described in various programming languages. The broker program is installed in a middleware platform that absorbs and hides a common object request broker architecture, and brokers an interaction between the applications with a structure that stores data in a binary format as an interface to the middleware platform.
US08347319B2
Multi-function devices expose multiple functions to device drivers or other lower-level software. Device function providers can interface with such drivers or lower-level software and can provide information, including device identifiers regarding such functions, to a device display object infrastructure. A device display object can then be created that encompasses one or more functions such that, in one embodiment, the device display object corresponds to a single, physical multi-function device. Alternatively, any combination of functionality from one or more physical devices can be combined into a single device display object representing a virtual multi-function device. Properties of the device display object can be set with reference to user-specified settings, remotely maintained metadata, locally available metadata, and information associated with each function. Functions can be ranked such that, if there is a conflict, information from more highly ranked functions is used to set the properties of the device display object.
US08347318B2
An application component communication method and an apparatus using the same are provided to an SCA-based system for efficiently performing data communication between SCA-based application components by using a dynamic connection manager. The application component communication apparatus includes an application module provided in the SCA-based system and driven, an application packaged by a plurality of application components, and an application factory for generating the application and driving the application components by parsing XML files. The dynamic connection manager registers port information of each of the application components, and establishes a connection for data communication between the application components according to the port information. According to the present invention, data communication between the respective application components can be efficiently performed by using the dynamic connection manager.
US08347313B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for automating organization of multiple processes involving maintaining a uniform record of process threads using at least one server, each process thread comprising a representation of a collaborative process capable of involving a plurality of users, enabling at least one of the plurality of users to carry out a user action while interacting with one of a plurality of different types of application programs, and modifying at least one process thread in the uniform record of process threads in response to the user action carried out by the user. Modifying the at least one process thread may comprise generating the at least one process thread as a new process thread. Alternatively or in addition, modifying the at least one process thread may comprise modifying the at least one process thread as an existing process thread. At least one of the process threads may reflect user actions carried out by more than one of the plurality of users.
US08347308B2
An information processing apparatus having a storage unit configured to execute a workflow with a plurality of processes combined therein and hold history information of the workflow, the information processing apparatus comprising an instructing unit configured to instruct such that a test workflow regarding a workflow selected to be executed is executed; a generating unit configured to generate the test workflow for the workflow selected to be executed; and an executing unit configured to execute the test workflow; wherein the generating unit generates the test workflow at least by adding a process not held in history information to processes of the test workflow, without adding a process held in the history information to the processes of the test workflow.
US08347302B1
Technology is provided to manage requests for physical resources in computing systems using system-aware scheduling techniques. Transactions having two or more dependent requests for a physical resource are identified by the computing system. Information identifying the requests as part of a dependent transaction is passed with the requests for the physical resource. In at least one mode of operation, a scheduler corresponding to the physical resource allocates submission of the requests to the physical resource using the dependent transaction information.
US08347286B2
A method, system and program product for managing downloads of files from a server. The method includes presetting, using a tool, a threshold number of allowable connections for each client requesting connections to download files from a server. The method further includes identifying, using the tool, a client requesting one or more connections to download a file and tracking, using the tool, whether or not the client has exceeded the threshold number of allowable connections preset. If the client has not exceeded the threshold number of allowable connections preset, allowing the one or more connections up to the threshold number of allowable connections preset for the client to download the file from the server and if the client has exceeded the threshold number of allowable connections preset, preventing the client from connecting to the server, such that overloading of the server with too many simultaneous active connections is minimized.
US08347281B2
A method and apparatus for updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of the set-top box to a current software version is disclosed. The method comprises the step of automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version, and downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version.
US08347274B2
A debugging support device includes: a plurality of CPU simulating units which simulates the operations of a plurality of CPUs which executes programs in parallel; a memory simulating unit of a memory to be shared by the plurality of CPUs; an event monitoring unit that detects a predetermined event occurring between each CPU simulating unit and the memory simulating unit; and a state judging unit that judges whether the state of the occurred predetermined event matches a predetermined condition and, if the predetermined condition is matched, records history information related to the state of the memory simulating unit.
US08347270B1
A computer-implemented software self-assembled system and method for providing an external override and monitoring capability to dynamically self-assembling software containing machines that self-assemble execution sequences and data structures. The method provides an external override machine that can be introduced into a system of self-assembling machines while the machines are executing such that the functionality of the executing software can be changed or paused without stopping the code execution and modifying the existing code. Additionally, a monitoring machine can be introduced without stopping code execution that can monitor specified code execution functions by designated machines and communicate the status to an output device.
US08347262B2
A method, computer-readable medium and system are described for deriving a schematic diagram representative of an integrated circuit (1C) comprising a plurality of circuit elements. In general, the method, computer-readable medium and system are configured to receive as input a working schematic diagram identifying at least some of the circuit elements, and at least one existing schematic diagram from one or more libraries thereof. Based on this input, at least a portion of the working schematic diagram that matches at least a portion of the at least one existing schematic diagram is identified and replaced, thereby forming a revised schematic diagram.
US08347252B2
An automated method for estimating layout-induced variations in threshold voltage in an integrated circuit layout. The method begins with the steps of selecting a diffusion area within the layout for analysis. Then, the system identifies Si/STI edges on the selected area as well as channel areas and their associated gate/Si edges. Next, the threshold voltage variations in each identified channel area are identified, which requires further steps of calculating threshold voltage variations due to effects in a longitudinal direction; calculating threshold voltage variations due to effects in a transverse direction; and combining the longitudinal and transverse variations to provide an overall variation. Finally, a total variation is determined by combining variations from individual channel variations.
US08347249B2
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product to optimize, incrementally, a circuit design. An Electronic Design Automation (EDA) system receives a plurality of nets wherein each net is comprised of at least one pin. Each pin is linked to a net to form a path of at least a first pin and a second pin, wherein the first pin is a member of a first net. The second pin can be a member of a second net, and the path is associated with a slack. The EDA system determines whether the path is a critical path based on the slack. The EDA system reduces at least one wire length of the path, responsive to a determination that the path is a critical path. The EDA system moves a non-critical component in order to reduce at least one wire length of the nets that include pins of a non-critical component, responsive to reducing at least one wire length of the path, wherein the non-critical component lacks pins on a critical path. The EDA system legalizes the components on a net having a pin selected from the first pin and the second pin. The EDA system determines whether a component is a non-critical component. The EDA system, responsive to a determination that component is a non-critical component, legalizes the non-critical component. The EDA system incrementally optimizes a time delay of the plurality of paths, responsive to legalizing.
US08347248B2
A method and system to insert redundant vias while preserving timing is disclosed. The system and method preserve the timing during redundant via insertion, which utilizes incremental timing and extraction updates. A budgeting based approach and a path based approach to the method are disclosed. The budgeting approach is faster, while the path based method has a better insight of the worst slack/slew for the entire design.
US08347232B1
Methods and apparatuses are provided for navigating an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes executing a command associated with a region selected by a tap gesture. In another implementation, a method includes displaying a slider on a slide bar including an expanded part corresponding to a section of the electronic document. The expanded part is disproportionately larger than other parts of the slide bar corresponding to other sections of the electronic document. Methods and apparatuses are provided for activating an element of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes activating the element selected by a touch gesture. Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling a perceived brightness of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes displaying a partially opaque graphical object in front of the electronic document. The perceived brightness of the electronic document being based on an opacity of the graphical object.
US08347229B2
A multifunction peripheral and a control method thereof include an input to provide an input screen through which an item is selected from a plurality of items to execute a plurality of operations, and data corresponding to the selected item is input, and a controller to control the multifunction peripheral such that when the data corresponding to the selected item is input, the input data is applied to execute the operations.
US08347220B2
An original image is displayed on a display screen. Here, when a sub-screen input mode is set, a sub-screen that is obtained by reducing an entire screen displayed on the display screen is displayed on an image display portion. The user uses an electronic pen to select an optional input area within the sub-screen. An area corresponding to the selected input area is displayed on the entire screen. At this timer, the reduced image of the entire screen is switched to an image of the input area on the sub-screen. Then, the user uses the electronic pen to perform an editing work on the sub-screen. The sub-screen is set within reach of the user, and editing on an area out of reach on the entire screen can be also performed on the sub-screen.
US08347199B2
A method for receiving packet data at a communication channel and transmitting the packet data over serial links of the communication channel. The packet data is sliced into n-bit data portions which are concatenated with a header prior to transmitting an n-bit portion across one of the serial links of the communication channel. The header includes a CRC to provide improved error detection.
US08347182B2
Mechanisms for ensuring data consistency in a data store are provided. The mechanisms access a parity scrub factor f and perform a check on a data group of the data store. The check on the data group includes performing a parity check on a portion of the data group, the portion being equal to 1/f of the data group, and performing a data verify on the remainder of the data group. The performing of the check is repeated for the entire data store. An offset factor is used to select the portion of the data group for the parity check. In this case, the offset factor may be incremented when the performance of the check on the data group of the data store has been repeated for the entire data store.
US08347176B2
A memory controller and method that provide a read-refresh (also called “distributed-refresh”) mode of operation, in which every row of memory is read within the refresh-rate requirements of the memory parts, with data from different columns within the rows being read on subsequent read-refresh cycles until all rows for each and every column address have been read, scrubbing errors if found, thus providing a scrubbing function that is integrated into the read-refresh operation, rather than being an independent operation. For scrubbing, an atomic read-correct-write operation is scheduled. A variable-priority, variable-timing refresh interval is described. An integrated card self-tester and/or card reciprocal-tester is described. A memory bit-swapping-within-address-range circuit, and a method and apparatus for bit swapping on the fly and testing are described.
US08347174B2
A method for transmitting data from a network to a user equipment in a wireless communication system is provided. The network adds an error detection code, generated using a first identifier allocated to the user equipment, to scheduling information for data to be transmitted to the user equipment and transmits the scheduling information to which the error detection code has been added to the user equipment. The network also adds an error detection code, generated using a second identifier allocated to the user equipment, to the data to be transmitted to the user equipment and transmits the data to which the error detection code has been added to the user equipment.
US08347163B2
A method for a receiver to receive data from a transmitter, the receiver including a plurality of buffers to support data retransmission by the transmitter. The method includes: receiving a data packet from the transmitter; determining whether or not at least a predetermined number of buffers are in use; and notifying the transmitter if it is determined that at least the predetermined number of buffers are in use.
US08347157B2
Today many instances of IEEE 1149.1 Tap domains are included in integrated circuits (ICs). While all TAP domains may be serially connected on a scan path that is accessible external to the IC, it is generally preferred to have selectivity on which Tap domain or Tap domains are accessed. Therefore Tap domain selection circuitry may be included in ICs and placed in the scan path along with the Tap domains. Ideally, the Tap domain selection circuitry should only be present in the scan path when it is necessary to modify which Tap domains are selected in the scan path. The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus which allows the Tap domain selection circuitry to be removed from the scan path after it has been used to select Tap domains and to be replaced back into the scan path when it is necessary to select different Tap domains.
US08347153B2
A method and an apparatus for testing the physical layer of high speed serial communication devices and systems with protocol awareness is disclosed. The apparatus comprises of two major blocks: a General Purpose Platform (GPP) and an Analog Front End (AFE). Physical layer testing is divided into two sets of testing procedures: Receiver and Transmitter testing. This test system can be used in a traditional BERT setting where the test system commands the Device Under Test (DUT) to be placed into either a loop back mode, or into a more advanced mode where the test system is communicating with the DUT on a protocol level and counts the frame error ratio (FER). This FER is protocol dependent and each protocol receiver has its own way of reporting transmission errors to the transmitter. The protocol awareness of this invention is capable of detecting such a level of errors.
US08347149B2
Embodiments herein generally relate to implantable medical devices and, specifically, to a system and method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device. In an embodiment a system for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. The system can include an implantable medical device comprising a processor and memory store configured to execute a plurality of threads, temporal and spatial constraints assigned to one or more of the threads, and a kernel. The kernel can include a scheduler and a thread monitor configured to monitor execution of threads against the temporal and spatial constraints, and further configured to issue a response upon violation of either of the constraints by one of the plurality of threads. In an embodiment a method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08347147B2
Systems and methods for lifecycle management of automated testing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes processing multiple manual test cases for an application under test, associating a set of reusable test scripts to the manual test cases, where the set of reusable test scripts is selected from a library of reusable test scripts, and executing the set of reusable test scripts for the application under test using an automated testing tool associated with the set of reusable test scripts.
US08347146B2
A method of assisting failure mode and effects analysis of a system having a plurality of components includes obtaining data associated with a component, or a group of components, of the system. The component or the group is associated with component type data or group type data, respectively, that includes data relating to at least one failure feature common to all components or groups, respectively, of that type. The component/group data and the component/group type data can then be stored and/or transferred for use in a failure mode and effects analysis of the system.
US08347141B2
A volatile or nonvolatile cache memory can cache mass storage device read data and write data. The cache memory may become inaccessible, and I/O operations may go directly to the mass storage device, bypassing the cache memory. A log of write operations may be maintained to update the cache memory when it becomes available.
US08347135B2
An approach is provided for determining if video content provided to a device is still being viewed, without disrupting the presentation of the content. A device is monitored for input from the user, wherein the device is configured to present content to the user. A determination is made whether the user input is within a predetermined time period. A control signal is generated to change the presentation of the content without explicitly notifying the user of the change, wherein the presentation of content will cease if the user input is not within the predetermined period.
US08347134B2
A power control system for a network system in which a plurality of devices are connected over a network can adequately distribute limited power according to the operational state of each device while keeping a high reliability. A device operating in normal mode broadcasts a power accommodation request when the power of the device is insufficient. Upon reception of the power accommodation request, devices operating in low-power mode send accommodatable power values to the requesting device, and sends a low-power mode fixation notification indicating that operational mode is fixed to the low-power mode to a controller. Upon reception of the low-power mode fixation notification from the notifying devices, the controller sets a job assignment ratio to the notifying devices lower than that of the requesting device.
US08347122B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an internal power source that supplies power, a power source information acquiring unit that acquires, from the internal power source, power source information relating to supply of the power in the internal power source, a drive status setting unit that determines power supply capability of the internal power source based on the power source information and sets setting information to define a drive status of a device in accordance with a determination result, and a device control unit that controls the drive status of one or more control subject device, based on the setting information.
US08347119B2
In some embodiments, the invention involves modification of the processor utilization calculations that are used by operating system power management services to improve processor efficiency. An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method relating to power management policies under operating system control. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to modify the processor utilization evaluation process so that C-state transition time and/or unhalted reference cycles are included in the calculation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08347116B2
An access control method of a semiconductor device includes providing an inputted password as an input of a hash operator; performing a hash operation in the hash operator and outputting a first hash value; controlling the hash operator so that the hash operation is repeatedly performed in the hash operator by providing the first hash value as an input of the hash operator when the first hash value and a second hash value stored in a nonvolatile memory do not coincide; and setting an access level with respect to the inner circuit according to the repetition number of times of the hash operation of the hash operator when the first and second hash values coincide.
US08347100B1
A method, computer readable medium, and device for providing authenticated domain name service includes forwarding at a traffic management device a request for a domain name from a client device to one or more servers coupled to the traffic management device. The traffic management device receives a first response comprising at least a portion of the domain name from the one or more servers. The traffic management device attaches a first signature to the first response when the first response is determined by the traffic management device to be an unauthenticated response, and provides the first response with the first signature to the client device.
US08347098B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a content-distribution system for distributing content under a variety of different basis. For instance, in some embodiments, the content-distribution system distributes device-restricted content and device-unrestricted content. Device-restricted content is content that can only be played on devices that the system associates with the particular user. Device-unrestricted content is content that can be played on any device without any restrictions. However, for at least one operation or service other than playback, device-unrestricted content has to be authenticated before this operation or service can be performed on the content. In some embodiments, the system facilitates this authentication by specifying a verification parameter for a piece of device-unrestricted content. The content-distribution system of some embodiments has a set of servers that supply (1) media storage structures that store content, (2) cryptographic keys that are needed to decrypt device-restricted content, and (3) verification parameters that are needed to verify device-unrestricted content. In some embodiments, the device that receives the media storage structure inserts the received cryptographic key or verification parameter in the received media storage structure. In some embodiments, the set of servers also supply cryptographic content keys for the device-unrestricted content. These keys are used to decrypt the content upon arrival, upon first playback, or at some other time. However, some embodiments do not store these cryptographic keys in the media storage structures for the device-unrestricted content.
US08347094B2
A password protocol for establishing secure communications between sensor nodes in a network using secure environmental values (SEV). A first sensor sends a message to a second sensor comprising the first sensor's location and a key encrypted by a first SEV. The second sensor responds with a message comprising a key encrypted by a second SEV and a first nonce encrypted by a session key. The first sensor sends a third message comprising the first nonce and a second nonce encrypted by the session key. The second sensor verifies the first nonce and sends a fourth message comprising the encrypted second nonce. The first sensor then verifies the second nonce.
US08347089B2
A method and system are provided for secure messaging on mobile computing devices. The method and system provide for an indication of a security trust level associated with a security method used with an electronic message.
US08347081B2
A method, apparatus and system for employing a secure content protection system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a certificate having a unique device identification associated with a first device is received, and, at a second device, a revocation list having unauthorized device identifications is received. The unique device identification is incrementally compared with the unauthorized device identifications of the revocation list, and media content is transmitted from the second device to the first device, if the unique device identification is not matched with the unauthorized device identifications of the revocation list.
US08347077B2
Authenticating a registration request from a mobile node includes an authenticator operable to facilitate a communication session for the mobile node. Access authentication to provide the mobile node access to an Internet Protocol (IP) network is facilitated. A mobility key is obtained from the access authentication. A registration request is received from the mobile node, and is authenticated using the mobility key.
US08347072B2
A processor capable of secure execution. The processor contains an execution unit and secure partition logic that secures a partition in memory. The processor also contains cryptographic logic coupled to the execution unit that encrypts and decrypts secure data and code.
US08347070B1
A method and system for sharing platform data are described. The method for sharing platform data includes during a boot sequence of system firmware, accessing a first data structure tag associated with a resource accessible by the operating system. Also during the boot sequence of the system firmware, the method includes determining a memory address corresponding to platform specific data associated with the resource. During a boot time sequence of the system firmware, run time code is parsed. The method includes accessing a second tag that is visible to the operating system and associating it with the location of the platform specific data. This allows for the platform specific data to be consumed by an operating system during runtime in accordance with the industry common interfaces defined in ACPI.
US08347066B2
Replay instruction morphing. One disclosed apparatus includes an execution unit to execute an instruction. A replay system replays an altered instruction if the execution unit executes the instruction erroneously.
US08347065B1
A shared memory management system and method are described. In one embodiment, a memory management system includes a memory management unit for concurrently managing memory access requests from a plurality of engines. The shared memory management system independently controls access to the context memory without interference from other engine activities. In one exemplary implementation, the memory management unit tracks an identifier for each of the plurality of engines making a memory access request. The memory management unit associates each of the plurality of engines with particular translation information respectively. This translation information is specified by a block bind operation. In one embodiment the translation information is stored in a portion of instance memory. A memory management unit can be non-blocking and can also permit a hit under miss.
US08347060B2
This storage system has an allocation unit for allocating a storage extent in prescribed units to the dynamic logical volume upon storing the data sent from the host computer in the dynamic logical volume; a management unit for managing the storage extent recognized as being currently used by the file system among the storage extents allocated to the dynamic logical volume by the allocation unit; and a release unit for releasing the storage extent that is not being managed by the management unit from the dynamic logical volume.
US08347055B2
A method may defrag a memory for an IC card having a plurality of files stored in memory portions, each file including respective links to one or more other files. The method may include detecting a start address of a first free memory portion of the memory, detecting an address of a memory portion following the start address and storing one file to be moved, detecting files including links to the address of the file to be moved, moving the file to be moved to the start address of the first free memory portion, updating the links to point at the start address, and repeating the above steps until at least two free memory portions following the moved files are separated by one or more of files.
US08347051B2
A storage apparatus includes a second volume which stores data serving as a copying source of data to be stored in a first volume, serving as a data copying destination in another storage apparatus, a session establishing unit which establishes a session between the second volume and the first volume, and a copy directing unit which directs a volume, including a free area, in the other storage apparatus such that data equivalent to the data to be stored in the first volume is copied, in response to a copy setting command issued by a server.
US08347047B2
A memory system with serialized data transfer. The memory system includes within a memory controller and a plurality of memory devices. The memory controller receives a plurality of write data values from a host and outputs the write data values as respective serial streams of bits. Each of the memory devices receives at least one of the serial streams of bits from the memory controller and converts the serial stream of bits to a set of parallel bits for storage.
US08347043B2
Systems and methods for dissolving the bottleneck issue of management task requested from management client to the storage virtualizer which consolidates externally attached storage arrays while providing a single management point of the entire system to the management client. Specifically, by utilizing the storage virtualizer to distribute received management tasks to respective external attached arrays, it can off load tasks, thus reducing the workload on the storage virtualizer itself. Because of the task distribution, the storage virtualizer consequently does not need to copy and hold detailed information of each storage volume in the respective attached storage arrays, thereby avoiding any inconsistent information between the arrays and the virtualizer when the configuration change has been done on the external array.
US08347041B2
Disclosed are a system and method to preserve and recover unwritten data present in data cache of a disk subsystem across power outages. In one embodiment, a method of a controller is described. The method includes applying a write-back technique between a host server and a data store, accessing a dirty data in a cache memory during a power outage. The method may apply an algorithm for efficiently offloading the dirty data to a non-volatile storage device during the power outage. In addition the method may apply the algorithm to efficiently transfer the dirty data from the non-volatile storage device to the data store when power is restored.
US08347037B2
A data processing system includes a processor core having an associated upper level cache and a lower level victim cache. In response to a memory access request of the processor core that specifies a non-modifying access to a target coherency granule, a determination is made whether the memory access request hits or misses in a directory of the lower level victim cache. In response to determining that the memory access request hits in the lower level victim cache in a data-valid coherence state, the lower level victim cache provides the target coherency granule of the memory access request to the upper level cache. The lower level victim cache preserves the target coherency granule in the lower level victim cache in a shared coherence state if the memory access request is of a first type and invalidates the target coherency granule if the memory access request is of a second type.
US08347036B2
In response to a data request, a victim cache line is selected for castout from a lower level cache, and a target lower level cache of one of the plurality of processing units is selected. A determination is made whether the selected target lower level cache has provided more than a threshold number of retry responses to lateral castout (LCO) commands of the first lower level cache, and if so, a different target lower level cache is selected. The first processing unit thereafter issues a LCO command on the interconnect fabric. The LCO command identifies the victim cache line to be castout and indicates that the target lower level cache is an intended destination of the victim cache line. In response to a successful coherence response to the LCO command, the victim cache line is removed from the first lower level cache and held in the second lower level cache.
US08347032B2
An image forming apparatus includes a RAID control unit comprising an access request queue and an access request arbitrating unit configured to store access requests to a logical disk sent from an operating system in the access request queue on the basis of fetch order determination information, and to fetch the access requests. An access arbitration method for a RAID driver comprises the steps of storing the access requests in an access request queue on the basis of fetch order determination information, converting logical disk access information contained in access information corresponding to the access requests into physical disk access information, and supplying the access information containing the physical disk access information to a RAID controller.
US08347029B2
A method is provided for reducing the number of writes in a non-volatile memory (122). The method involves writing data in the non-volatile memory and determining a set of data from the data in the non-volatile memory to be written to a removable memory (126) that is operatively coupled to the non-volatile memory (e.g., a NAND memory). The method also involves writing the set of data to the removable memory (e.g., a hard disk) from the non-volatile memory. The method further involves writing a delineation marker (e.g., a sequence number) to the non-volatile memory specifying that the set of data has been written to the removable memory. Notably, the metadata of the data in the non-volatile memory comprises at least one marker set as a specific marker type (e.g., a valid marker and a dirty marker).
US08347023B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to non-volatile memory. Systems and techniques can include obtaining information to store in a non-volatile memory, the information including a data segment, compressing data within the data segment, including pad data in one or more portions of the data segment based on a compression result attained by the compression, and writing data of the data segment.
US08347018B2
Techniques to broadcast a message across a point-to-point network are described. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention relate to broadcasting messages between electronics components within a point-to-point interconnect. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08347017B2
An integrated circuit for accessing a universal serial bus (USB) device via a USB 3.0 receptacle is provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of pins and a controlling unit. The pins include a first group for receiving and transmitting a first pair of differential signals of the USB device, a second group for receiving a second pair of differential signals from the USB device, and a third group for transmitting a third pair of differential signals to the USB device. The second group is disposed between the first and third groups. The controlling unit controls the plurality of pins to receive or transmit the first, second or third pair of differential signals.
US08347014B2
A mobile computing device (MCD) can determine, based on model-specific test result information, whether an accessory may be incompatible with specific MCD functions. In some embodiments, the accessory provides test result information separately indicating a test result for each of a number of MCD models. Multiple MCD models can be grouped into a device class, and the MCD can deem the accessory compatible if he received test result information indicates a pass result for at least one of the device models associated with a device class to which the MCD belongs. If the accessory is not deemed to be compatible with the mobile computing device, the MCD can generate a warning.
US08347009B2
A certain ECU transmits a reference message for requiring the other ECUs to transmit data. After transmission of the reference message, each of all the ECUs transmits priority information of its transmit message onto a communication bus, and then detects whether some priority information transmitted from the other ECUs has a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information. If there is detected no priority information of a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information, it transmits a message associated therewith, and then is prohibited to transmit data of the same priority until receiving a next reference message.
US08347008B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for a hardware-based implementation of USB 1.1 over a high-speed link may comprise translating at a client side of a client server communication system, USB protocol messages comprising a first USB standard to corresponding encapsulated USB protocol messages, wherein the USB protocol messages comprising the first USB standard are received from a client device at the client side of the client server communication system. The translated corresponding encapsulated USB protocol messages may be communicated from the client side to a server at a server side of the client server communication system.
US08346994B2
A memory access control apparatus receives from a DMA requestor an access request command, which contains an IOID, for a DMA address space that is a memory area used for a DMA transfer, and determines whether the access is permitted or not and executes the access if it is permitted. The operating system on the PU sets in MMU the correspondence relationship between the logical address space of a user process and the DMA address space. When the user process instructs to access the DMA address space by specifying a logical address, the MMU translates the logical address into a physical address of the DMA address space.
US08346989B2
A display apparatus capable of adjusting the time for detecting input signals from an external input source is provided. The display apparatus includes a signal detector which checks a plurality of input sources in sequence for a predetermined basic time and detects signals input from the plurality of input sources, and a controller which controls the signal detector to adjust the basic time and recheck the plurality of input sources if no signal is detected within the basic time. Accordingly, it is possible to recognize an input source from which input signals are detected late.
US08346987B2
Improved techniques for communicating between a portable electronic device and an accessory (or auxiliary) device are disclosed. The accessory device can augment or supplement the functionality or capabilities of the portable electronic device. For example, in one embodiment, the accessory device can provide wireless communication capabilities to the portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the portable electronic device pertains to a portable media player and thus provide media data for storage, playback or transmission. In one embodiment, the accessory device is attachable to the portable electronic device.
US08346985B2
A computer system includes a receiver configured to pair with a set of peripheral devices and have active connections with a first subset of the peripheral devices and inactive connections with a second subset of the peripheral devices. The first and the second subsets of peripheral devices are subsets of the set of peripheral devices. If a select one of the peripheral devices in the inactive set of peripheral devices is operated, the receiver is configured to activate a connection with the select one of the peripheral devices in a latency period that is below human perception levels of the latency period.
US08346980B2
Apparatus and methods for providing an interface for a semiconductor processing tool are provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include an input/output bridge for receiving analog and state command system control signals from, and sending return data and status information to, a system controller, wherein the analog and state command system control signals are intended to control an analog device, and for converting the analog and state command system control signal into a digital system control signal intended to control a digital device; and an upper pneumatic assembly coupled to the input/output bridge for providing pressure control to one or more pressure zones located on a polishing apparatus coupled to the upper pneumatic assembly for the polishing of semiconductor wafers.
US08346977B2
According to one aspect there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first device. The first device may include a first serial input port configured to receive serial data from at least one of a host MCU and a second device; a first serial output port configured to output the serial data to a third device when the third device is coupled to the first device; a first shift register configured to receive the serial data from the first serial input port; a first multiplexer configured to selectively couple the first serial output port to the first shift register or the first serial input port; and a bus controller configured to receive the serial data from the first serial input port, the bus controller further configured to control the first multiplexer to couple the first serial output port to the first serial input port or the first shift register, based at least in part on the serial data, wherein the serial data includes a command section of a command and at least a portion of a payload section of the command, wherein the command section includes a command code, a target address and an error check and the payload section includes at least one new address and at least one corresponding error check.
US08346970B2
A data relay device has a reception processing unit for dividing transmitted data into data blocks to store in a storage unit together with labels for managing the data blocks, a manipulation processing unit for manipulating the data blocks stored in the storage unit and a transmission processing unit for transmitting the data blocks of which manipulation is completed to a destination. Since the reception processing unit divides the transmitted data while receiving the same, the reception processing unit, the manipulation processing unit and the transmission processing unit may operated in parallel, thereby realizing reduction of time required to relay the transmitted data.
US08346965B2
A method may include constructing an auxiliary graph for a network comprising a plurality of network elements, the network elements having an Internet Protocol layer, a lower layer, and a wavelength layer, the auxiliary graph including a plurality of directed edges, the plurality of directed edges indicative of connectivity of components of the plurality of network elements. The method may further include: (i) deleting directed edges from the auxiliary graph whose available bandwidth is lower than the required bandwidth of a selected demand; (ii) finding a path for the demand on the auxiliary graph via remaining directed edges; (iii) deleting at least one directed edge of the auxiliary graph on the wavelength layer along the path; (iv) adding lower layer lightpath edges to the auxiliary graph for a lower layer lightpath for the path; and (v) converting lower layer lightpaths to Internet Protocol lightpaths if a conversion condition is satisfied.
US08346963B2
A system for sending and receiving personal information using a mobile terminal is disclosed. In the present invention, a personal information is sent using a short message service with an attached identification information. Accordingly, when the short message is received by a receiving mobile terminal, the attached identification information allows the receiving mobile terminal to distinguish and process the short message for personal information differently from other general short messages.
US08346962B2
Disclosed are examples of an interworking system and related methods. The interworking system can be configured to implement a session initiation protocol (SIP) message routing method that may include checking a transmitting subject and a transmission method of a SIP message, applying a network address translation based on the checked message's transmitting subject and its transmission method, and specifying the address of the node selected based on the checked message's transmitting subject in routing path information.
US08346958B2
A system and method for controlling rates for a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) over MQSeries (LoM) server. The system comprises a health metrics engine configured to calculate an actual delay value, at least one LoM server configured to asynchronously obtain the actual delay value from the health metrics engine and place the delay value between one or more requests, and a LDAP master configured to accept the one or more requests and send information in the one or more requests to a LDAP replica.
US08346957B2
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. In the method of allowing a client to receive information from a server, the client requests that a third client in a subnet to which the client belongs transmit the information, and receives the information that the third client transmits in response to the request. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly share information for a broadcast, which the server provides, while minimizing the load on the server.
US08346943B2
A multimedia gateway that has an ISIM is provided. The multimedia gateway comprises: request receiving means for receiving, from a client terminal, a request message that specifies a destination IMS AS and a communications protocol, and identifying an IMPU assigned to the client terminal, establishing means for establishing a session for communication with the IMS AS by means of the communications protocol, and establishing a connection with the IMS AS over the session, authentication information sending means for sending authentication information derived from the ISIM that contains the identified IMPU to the IMS AS, request sending means for sending the request message together with the identified IMPU to the IMS AS through the connection, response receiving means for receiving a response message from the IMS AS through the connection as a response to the request message, and response sending means for sending the response message to the client terminal.
US08346940B2
A method for execution by at least one entity in the service provider network. The method comprises receiving an access request from a communication device; determining a logical identifier intended for use by the communication device during an eventual communication session; and identifying, based on the logical identifier, an object linked to a physical location of the communication device. Finally, in one aspect, the method comprises obtaining account credentials for a customer known to be associated with the object, whereas in another aspect, the method comprises establishing a data session between the communication device and a network entity associated with the object without necessarily obtaining any account credentials.
US08346936B2
A resource-node of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network adapted to manage the allocation of resources to channel swarms. Resource allocation is based on a distributed algorithm in which resource-nodes of the P2P network occasionally join and leave channel-swarms. Each resource-node independently decides whether or not to stay in the channel-swarm that it has joined to. These decisions are based on values of a transience parameter set by a transience mechanism of the resource-node.
US08346933B2
A virtual machine location system includes a resource conflict detection unit for detecting a resource conflict using measurement data regarding a resource usage state of the entirety of a single server and a resource usage state of virtual machines running on the server, and a virtual machine relocation determination unit for transferring the virtual machine on the server for which a resource conflict has been detected to another server having a lower resource usage rate are included.
US08346923B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for improving network quality of service, such as through controlling the bandwidth consumed by a client computing facility. To affect this, the software applications operating through the client computing facility may be identified to determine which applications are requesting network access, and confirming which are permitted only restricted bandwidth when making network communications. The requesting software application that is permitted only restricted bandwidth may then be allowed to make the network communications through a bandwidth restricted network connection.
US08346921B1
Techniques are described for managing program execution capacity or other capacity of computing-related hardware resources used to execute software programs, such as for a group of computing nodes that is in use executing one or more programs for a user. Dynamic modifications to the program execution capacity of the group may include adding or removing computing nodes, such as in response to automated determinations that previously specified triggers are currently satisfied, and may be automatically governed at particular times based on automatically generated predictions of program execution capacity that will be used at those times by the group, such as to verify that requested dynamic execution capacity modifications at a time are within the predicted execution capacity values for that time. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fee-based program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple users of the service.
US08346912B2
A system and method of emulating a network controller within an information handling system is disclosed. In one form, an information handling system can include a host chipset operably coupled to a network interface controller of a first main circuit board, and a management controller operably coupled to the host chipset. The information handling system can also include an emulated network interface controller operable to be activated by the management controller. The information handling system can further include a communication bus coupled to the host chipset and the management controller. In one form, the communication bus is operable to activate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulated network interface controller.
US08346909B2
An on-demand manager provides an improved distributed data processing system for facilitating dynamic allocation of computing resources among multiple domains based on a current workload and service level agreements. Based on a service level agreement, the on-demand manager monitors and predicts the load on the system. If the current or predicted load cannot be handled with the current system configuration, the on-demand manager determines additional resources needed to handle the workload. If the service level agreement violations cannot be handled by reconfiguring resources at a domain, the on-demand manager sends a resource request to other domains. These other domains analyze their own commitments and may accept the resource request, reject the request, or counter-propose with an offer of resources and a corresponding service level agreement. Once the requesting domain has acquired resources, workload load balancers are reconfigured to allocate some of the workload from the requesting site to the acquired remote resources.
US08346902B2
A method, apparatus and computer instructions in a data processing system for identifying device configurations. Unique identification information is identified for a set of devices in the data processing system. The identified unique identification information is compared with previously identified unique identification information. Configuration data is moved to a memory for devices in the set of devices in which a match exists between the identified unique identification information and the previously identified unique identification information for devices. Configuration information is obtained from a device in which configuration information is absent in the memory after configuration data has been moved to the memory for the devices to form a current set of configuration data for the set of devices.
US08346900B2
Systems and methods are provided that disclose a network service for modularly constructing a software defined radio (“SDR”). A server system provides an SDR kernel (i.e., a potentially platform-neutral definition of digital signal processing functionality and control operations necessary to implement the core portion of a software defined radio implementing a particular radio standard) to a client system. The client system may select a desired SDR kernel through a variety of means disclosed herein. While some SDR kernels may be provided for free and unrestricted use, others may be purchased or subscribed to and additionally restricted by digital rights management (“DRM”) policies. Based upon the agreed upon payment terms and any other restrictions, a customized set of DRM policies may be applied by the server system to the SDR kernel before sending it to a client system. Additionally, the server system may provide a description of governmental regulations applicable to a given locality.
US08346899B2
A server comprising a network interface controller (NIC) may be operable to determine network components and/or resources that may be utilized to create, modify and/or terminate a hyper-channel in a network fabric. A configuration for creating, modifying and/or terminating the hyper-channel may be initiated by the NIC based on knowledge of the network fabric up to the edge of network and each of the switches along a path of the hyper-channel may be instructed by the NIC to configure the hyper-channel. The configuration may also be initiated by the NIC based on knowledge of the network fabric up to a first hop and each of the switches along a path of the hyper-channel may then be allowed to configure the hyper-channel based on knowledge of the network fabric surrounding each of the switches.
US08346895B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing user productivity on-demand services. One process includes operations for determining a hosted service for use with an application at a client based on user context data associated with the application. A request for the hosted service and a reference to stored data required for the hosted service is received. The hosted service is executed, and the results are transmitted to the client.
US08346886B2
A computer system comprises a server. The server, in turn, comprises one or more master instances of an operating system (OS). The OS comprises a set of computer program files to operate a computer. The server also includes a version-managing program maintaining the one or more master operating systems. The computer system also includes a number of client computers each of which is configured to operate using one of the one or more master operating systems as read-only files.
US08346883B2
Compute nodes of a parallel computer organized for collective operations via a network, each compute node having a receive buffer and establishing a topology for the network; selecting a schedule for a broadcast operation; depositing, by a root node of the topology, broadcast data in a target node's receive buffer, including performing a DMA operation with a well-known memory location for the target node's receive buffer; depositing, by the root node in a memory region designated for storing broadcast data length, a length of the broadcast data, including performing a DMA operation with a well-known memory location of the broadcast data length memory region; and triggering, by the root node, the target node to perform a next DMA operation, including depositing, in a memory region designated for receiving injection instructions for the target node, an instruction to inject the broadcast data into the receive buffer of a subsequent target node.
US08346879B2
A computer implemented electronic out-of-office message analysis system and method are disclosed. The method includes, for each of a plurality of users, receiving a user-generated electronic out-of-office message in a natural language in which a time window of absence and at least one alternate named contact are expressed and, based on the out-of-office message, generating a structured representation of the out-of-office message which links the alternate contact to a normalized representation of the time window. The structured representation of the out-of-office message is stored in a database. From the database it can be determined whether a current user's out-of-office message conflicts with another user's out-of-office message. If a conflict is detected, the current user can be notified.
US08346877B2
A computer-readable medium including computer-executable code for enhancing an electronic document with one link and being served via a network responsively to a request received via the network and correspondent to an electronic document. The chat application may be for use with a mobile device and be less computing resource intensive. Certain embodiments of the present invention may not require a code or applets to be inserted to provide chat functionality. Advantageously, only a link may need to be inserted, for example. This may provide particularly well suited for use with websites where traditional chat code or applets may not be inserted.
US08346870B2
A browser-based debugger application is configured to debug a second browser based application. A channel repeater module is invoked to establish a bidirectional communication channel between the debugger application and the second application. A start indication is transmitted from the second application through the channel repeater module. The second application enters a blocked wait state. A debug operation is performed on the second application. A debug request message is transmitted to the second application through the channel repeater module to cause the second application to transition from the blocked wait state to a run state and to perform a debug action indicated by the debug request message. A response to the debug request message is received from the second application through the channel repeater module. The second application transitions to the blocked wait state from the run state.
US08346860B2
The invention generally relates to optimizing the speed and reliability of the delivery of content or functionality to electronic devices. In certain aspects, the invention provides a system for managing content including a production server with a web interface and configured to allow a producer to create content. The system includes a gateway server which can receive the content and write it to a dynamic section. The gateway server can then compile the dynamic section into a compiled section, still including the content, and send it to a client, thereby giving an end-user access to new content or functionality.
US08346858B2
A system for providing an optimal motivational response is provided. The system includes an input device configured to receive at least one client input from the client. The system further includes a processor configured to analyze the at least one client input received from the client and generate a current state of the client based on the at least one client input. The processor is further configured to analyze the current state of the client and determine an optimal motivational technique for the client based on the current state of the client and the at least one client input. The processor is also configured to generate an optimal motivational response based on the optimal motivational technique. The system further includes an output device configured to display the optimal motivational response to the client.
US08346857B2
Methods and systems for allocating resources, such as computer controlled resources, in a networked system are described. An example system includes a network interface, an item database, a load balancer, a web proxy processor configured to selectively block or route an inbound user browser request, a cache cluster system configured to cache data and states for access by other system components, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to store a session identifier on a user terminal associated with a user browser, process an item acquisition request from the user browser while the browser is accessing a first website, transmit to the browser an indication that the acquisition request is accepted if the acquisition request meets a predefined criterion, if the acquisition request is accepted then automatically transmit to the browser an offer to transfer the item to another, use the session identifier for identification, and determine if a transfer instruction has been received from the browser.
US08346854B2
A method and system of operating system independent cloud computing is provided. In one embodiment, a method of a client device includes accessing a first application through a first application template. The first application template resides on a server. The method also includes accessing the first application based on a response to a request of a user interface of the client device. Furthermore, the method includes processing the first application through a processor such that the first application accesses the first application template such that the client device permits an access of the first application through the first application template. The method also includes executing the first application through the first application template such that an execution of the first application through the first application template emulates the execution of the first application installed on an operating system of the client device.
US08346849B2
A method and system for setting up and managing secure data/audio/video conferences with a wide range of topologies is described. The disclosed method and system allow extending the range of topologies possible with the H.323 conferencing standards while overcoming T.120 negotiating constraints. Security in such conferences may be based on a trusted node system or on more complex security procedures. Furthermore, the taught conference topologies fully utilize the T.120 standards while also permitting the reach of the conferences to the extent enabled by the H.323 standards by implementing additional modules to manage the setting up and tearing down of one or more conference connections. In addition, the method and system allow for dynamically adjusting conference connections to improve bandwidth usage and utilize H.323 support for gatekeepers.
US08346846B2
Methods and/or systems relating to mote networks having mote-addressed content logs of a first set of motes. The mote-addressed content logs are aggregated and transmitted.
US08346835B2
The invention relates to a method and filter structure for filtering an input signal, which is applied to an input (1) of the filter structure, having a symbol rate. The input signal is guided to multiple parallel branches of the filter structure connected to the input (1), in which at least two sequence holding members (4) are each disposed. Symbol values of the input signal, which are applied to the outputs of the sequence holding members (4) at certain points are guided to multiple (N) parallel signal addition units (3) having weighted inputs. One output signal each is generated in the signal addition units (3) as the sum of the weighted symbol values that are applied to the inputs. According to the invention, space and energy saving filter structure is provided, wherein: the same amount of sequence holding members (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) is disposed in each of the parallel branches; as many signal addition units (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) are disposed in the filter structure as the amount of parallel branches are provided in the filter structure; the sequence holding members (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and addition units (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) are nested inside each other; and the sequence holding members die (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and the signal addition units (3) are controlled via a multi-phase clock signal (F1 to 4).
US08346823B2
In order to face fragmentation, a method for storing and organizing files on a storage medium via a file system reserves on the storage medium a non-fragmented segment for taking up a file by storing within the file system an identification of an address range of the segment. The file is written within the segment and information is stored in the file system. The information is suited to find the file. The size of the segment is derived by statistical methods from file sizes of a kind of the file.
US08346817B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for embedding an interpolated data object in an application data file. A database management system can store operational data, such as financial, climate or other information. A user can input or access target data, representing an output desired to be generated from an interpolated set of input data. Thus, the average air temperature of a region may be known for several years, along with other inputs including water temperature, wind speed, and other data. The target data can include an expected average temperature for the current year. The interpolation engine can receive the current-year target temperature, and generate water temperatures, wind speeds, and other variables that produce the target temperature. In aspects, the interpolation engine can embed the interpolated data as an object in a local or remote spreadsheet or other local data file via dynamic data links, to permit automatic updating of the embedded interpolated data.
US08346814B2
An approach is provided for managing split and merge operations for information spaces with respect to their information content.
US08346811B2
A system and method for analyzing and reporting data from multiple sources is provided. The system is a foundation for an analytical platform that covers not only traditional relational data, but also a new generation of extensible data formats designed for the web, such as those based on XML (FIXML, FpML, ebXML, XBRL, ACORD, etc.), as well as HTML, E-mail, Excel, PDF, and others. In a preferred embodiment, the eXtensible on-line analytical processing (XOLAP), is a scalable client/server platform that allows the multi-dimensional analysis of modern data types, as well as traditional relational data, by bringing them all into an internal common XML-based model, without the time and expense of creating a data warehouse.
US08346806B2
An image processing apparatus includes a browser which obtains an external resource or internal resource of the apparatus and displays the resource on the display unit, and a storage unit for storing an internal resource that can be displayed on the display unit. The image processing apparatus performs control not to display information by which storage location of the internal resource in the storing unit is identifiable in the case where the resource obtained by the browser unit is an internal resource.
US08346805B2
A system and method for excluding certain types of files from being saved to a system by examining file data. The file data is examined by: mapping the circular queue to memory; reading the file identifiers from the circular queue (a named mutex is locked until all file identifiers have been read from the queue); using the file identifier to open the file; scanning the opened file to create a file signature; comparing the file signature to each entry on a list of signature criteria; and performing a storage policy if there is a match.
US08346797B2
A search device and an information providing system are structured, to lessen a user's operation load, such that a crawling portion executes a crawling while sequentially changing an expansion header indicating a voice display capacity in an HTTP request into a voice display capacity of a typical model within each of model groups, and registers the obtained result in a search index in correspondence to the model name within the model group, a search service providing portion executes a search from the search index in correspondence to a search condition like a key word from a cellular phone terminal unit and the model name in the HTTP request, and a response portion generates a search result in correspondence to a template, and sends to a Web browser of the cellular phone terminal unit via an HTTP server.
US08346791B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating or using augmentation queries. In one aspect, augmentation queries are identified from user interactions or are machine generated. The augmentation queries can be stored in an augmentation query data store. When a user submits a search query to a search engine, the terms of the query, and optionally additional information, such as the geographic location from which the query is received or the language of the query, can be used to identify stored augmentation queries and select one or more similar augmentation queries. The selected augmentation queries, in turn, can be used by the search engine perform an augmented search operation.
US08346789B2
A method according to one embodiment includes determining the presence of pre-existing metadata associated with at least one local media content file. The method of this embodiment may also include determining at least one data field contained within the pre-existing metadata and generating a homogeneous metadata file for the at least one local media content file by mapping data contained within the at least one data field of the pre-existing metadata into at least one defined data field of the homogeneous metadata file.
US08346787B1
A method and apparatus for continuous data protection is provided. In one embodiment, the method for continuous data protection comprises receiving a write request for writing at least one data segment to storage; computing, using at least one processor, a signature for the at least one segment; comparing, using at least one processor, the signature that is associated with the at least one segment with a plurality of data signatures for previously stored data segments; and processing the data segment in a manner dependent upon whether the signature matches any one of the plurality of data signatures.
US08346785B1
Abstraction and/or integration can be performed on information, e.g. transaction data items in standard and/or proprietary formats, using data processing systems. For example, standard-based abstraction operations can analyze transaction data items in standard format to obtain transaction segment data items, each about a transaction segment; transaction segment data items can be used to obtain and store segment group data structures, each about a type of transaction segment data items and which can also include standard-based abstraction artifacts. Abstraction operations on standard or proprietary format can automatically extract pre-integration information, such as usage attributes, useful in integration and for other purposes. Integration can be performed on transaction type attribute data, producing merged attribute data including mapping attributes, such as based on match results from associated fields of selected transaction types in different formats. Attribute data items being integrated can include pre-integration information and segment group data structures with standard-based abstraction artifacts.
US08346781B1
A dynamic content distribution system and method that uses a unique Item Response Function IRF method to provide digital content to end-users based on psychometric reasoning. The system and method gathers psychometric attributes of Registered Users and Registered Subscribers and combines the psychometric attributes with Item Response Function methods, including characterizing content by corresponding psychometric attributes, to determine how and when digital content is presents to the Registered Users.
US08346779B2
A system and method for enhancing bitmap indexing representation of a dataset, which comprises a plurality of cases and features, each case characterized by one or more values of each feature. Currently, the bins vector for each case in the dataset, is a binary array, which is a bitmap indexing representation of each respective feature of the case. The system and method enhance the bitmap indexing by padding each bins vector. The padding is carried out by identifying all target bit locations with a ‘1’ value and replacing at least one ‘0’ bit adjacent to a target bit location with a non-zero numerical value, thereby creating a padded bitmap index. The padding factor may be based on any mathematical or statistical factor concerning population or subpopulation relevant to each of the features of the dataset.
US08346769B2
System, method and program for managing bookmarks. A user hovers a cursor over a primary bookmark displayed on a client computer. In response, the client computer automatically sends a request to a server corresponding to the primary bookmark to identify one or more alternate bookmarks that correspond to the primary bookmark. In response to receipt of the identification of the one or more alternate bookmarks from the server, the client computer displays the one or more alternate bookmarks adjacent to the primary bookmark. If a user selects one of the alternate bookmarks which is displayed, the client computer sends a request to a web server corresponding to the selected alternate bookmark for a web page corresponding to the selected alternate bookmark.
US08346768B2
A method is presented for merging document metadata at a client computer. A document obtained from a server computer is opened by a user at the client computer. If the document does not include paragraph identifiers, a paragraph identifier is assigned to each paragraph in the document. When the document is opened by a second user at a second client computer, metadata for the document is received from the server computer. A determination is made whether to merge the metadata received from the server computer with current metadata for the document. When it is determined that the current metadata and the metadata received from the server computer should be merged, paragraph identifiers are adjusted in the document based on the metadata received from the server computer.
US08346760B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising determining metadata encoded in instructions of a stored program; and executing the stored program based on the metadata.
US08346757B1
A system determines whether a term of a search query is a term with little significance based on a context of the search query. The system performs a search based on the search query while considering the term with little significance as optional when the search query includes the term with little significance and presents a list of search results based on the search.
US08346755B1
System and method for indexing rendered web page images. A web crawling engine stores the content and crawl time of a web page. A scheduling engine sends the content and crawl time to a rendering engine, and processes requests for embedded objects. If a requested object has been crawled, it sends the contents to the rendering engine. Otherwise it schedules the crawl of the object, and once the object is crawled, it resends the content and crawl time of the web page to the rendering engine. The rendering engine receives the content and crawl time of a web page, requests all embedded objects, and renders the web page to an image once all embedded objects are received.
US08346754B2
Methods, computer programs, and systems for generating a link title for a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) within a context webpage to be shown as a web result are provided. The method evaluates generation parameters for a plurality of sources for picking words from the link title. Further, the method generates candidates for the link title, and a likelihood is computed for each candidate. When computing the likelihood, the generation parameters, the context webpage and the words are considered. In addition, the method selects a candidate with the highest likelihood from all the computed likelihoods, and presents the URL with the selected candidate as the title.
US08346753B2
A system and method for searching and voting on Internet-accessible content is presented. HTML-linked content on one or more Internet host servers is indexed and stored on associated meta servers. Non-HTML content and dynamic HTML content from the deep web, is processed by the present invention into HTML content, indexed, and stored on the meta servers. Each meta server includes a local search engine. The present invention also includes a central repository which tracks user votes, query language progressions, and information about content on each of the meta sites. The present invention also provides a plurality of enhancement plug-ins for standard web robots, including a toolbar for conventional web browsers. The toolbar can be used to securely solicit and authenticated user votes from standard web sites, while preserving the privacy of the voter. The plug-ins facilitate interoperability between existing Internet software (and technology) and the present invention.
US08346747B2
Embodiments relate to database technology, and more specifically, to extending database tables in a multi-tenant environment. A method for extending a database table, includes receiving a request of a tenant for extending a database table; and generating a description file corresponding to the tenant according to the received request, the description file describing an extended field defined for the database table as at least one extended column.
US08346739B1
Techniques for storing electronic documents include defining multiple logical storage locations, with each logical storage location corresponding to a respective first set of data parameters, and storing electronic documents in the logical storage locations. Each electronic document is stored in a logical storage location having a particular corresponding first set of data parameters. The particular corresponding first set of data parameters is associated with the electronic document, and the electronic document is indexed within the logical storage location based on a second set of data parameters.
US08346733B2
A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed.
US08346729B2
For information lifecyle management (ILM) a process receives a user-definition of ILM actions, data state transitions, and associations among the respective data state transitions and ILM actions and responsively stores a data structure representing the received data state transitions, ILM actions, and correspondence among the respective data state transitions and ILM actions. A process for an ILM model detects a workflow definition event in a monitored process running on a computer system. An information lifecycle flow data structure for the workflow definition is stored responsive to the workflow definition in the monitored process having a data state transition matching one of the user-defined data state transitions, wherein the information lifecycle flow data structure models the matching data state transition, so that the ILM action corresponding to the matching data state transition may be performed for the data responsive to occurrence of a workflow process event in which the matching data state transition occurs.
US08346725B2
XML schema evolutions can be performed on an XML-type database using partial data copy techniques. The partial data copy techniques provide mechanisms to identify a minimal set of data in the database that needs be copied out in order for schema evolution operations to occur. Identifying the minimal set of data involves comparing an existing XML schema to a new XML schema and determining the differences between the two schemas. Based on those differences, a minimal set of data can be determined. That data can then be copied to a temporary storage location, while the XML schema and its associated database structure are updated to conform to the new XML schema. Then, the minimal set of data is copied back into the modified database structure.
US08346723B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for applying modifications to database instances in a way that allows some of instances to be modified without requiring that all of the instances be modified. Patching less than all of a plurality of replicated database instances can comprise applying a patch to a first version of a table in a first database instance. The first version of the table may be replicated in a corresponding first version of the table in a second database instance. Applying the patch to the first version of the table in the first database instance can result in a second version of the table in the first database instance. Transformations caused by applying the patch to the first version of the table in the first database instance can be consolidated based on differences between the first version of the table and the second version of the table.
US08346719B2
Replication techniques are presented. According to an embodiment of a method, a node of a replicated storage network is assigned to be an owner of a data block to issue write memory block commands. The network includes at least two nodes including the node assigned to be the owner. If a read memory block command is received to read the data block, a read_lock is issued for the data block, the data block is read, and the read_lock for the data block is released. If a write memory block command is received to write new data to the data block, a write_lock is issued for the data block, the data block is written and a version associated with the data block is incremented, and the write_lock for the data block is released.
US08346715B2
Implementing intelligent agent services includes generating an ontological domain for an individual based upon sets of information elements. A set of the information elements represents aspects of a detectable behavior of the individual at a point in time. The detectable behavior is one of a number of detectable behaviors of the individual occurring within a physical and virtual geography and in relation to time. The detectable behaviors include an activity conducted by the individual at a computer and a presence of the individual at a function. Implementing the intelligent agent services also includes determining relevance of relationships among the sets of the information elements in the ontological domain, and searching sources of information using the sets of the information elements having a relationship determined to be relevant, and identifying a solution for satisfying an interest based on the search.
US08346710B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating statistical significance using placebo actions. One method includes receiving exposure data and control data describing exposed and control subjects and determining a test statistic for each of a plurality of subject actions including a desired action and a plurality of placebo actions. The test statistic for an action corresponds to an estimated effect that exposure to the treatment has on a likelihood that a subject will take the action. The method further includes comparing the test statistic for the desired action to the test statistics for the plurality of placebo actions, and determining whether the test statistic for the desired action is statistically significant according to the comparison. Another method includes automatically identifying placebo actions using a taxonomy that classifies subject actions or treatments, and determining test statistics for the placebo actions.
US08346707B2
Rule reasoner includes: a Rete network builder for receiving ontology, including ontology instance represented by triple and ontology schema defining classes and properties of the triple, and reasoning rule, building Rete network corresponding to the ontology and the reasoning rule, selecting clue pattern corresponding to wild pattern rule with reference to the ontology schema when reasoning rule having wild pattern is received, rewriting the wild pattern rule with reference to the clue pattern, and adding test node, alpha memory node, and wild rule node so that the rewritten wild pattern rule is incorporated; a Rete network implementer for generating reasoned triple by implementing the Rete network built by the Rete network builder or generating reasoning rule where the wild pattern rule is dynamically materialized; and a Rete network expander expanding the Rete network by inputting the new reasoning rule, generated by the Rete network implementer, to the Rete network builder.
US08346702B2
Systems and methods are provided that predict the accuracy of expert forecasts based on a corpus of prior expert forecasts. Expert forecasts (also referred to as opinions) are analyzed and processed to determine an opinion and related positions expressed by the expert. Each opinion is combined with relevant industry information to create a structured model for the opinion. A plurality of structured models for a given expert are then analyzed along with information related to the actual outcome of prior predictions to create a decision model for the particular expert. A new opinion issued by an expert is then analyzed using the decision model for that expert to predict the accuracy of the new opinion from the expert. Recommended actions in accordance with or against the new expert opinion may then be provided.
US08346698B2
A system and method is provided for developing, implementing and managing orders whereby a raw order set can be resolved into a canonical order set to identify at least one order within the one raw order set. A commonality analysis can be performed by comparing one canonical order set with another canonical order set to determine at least one common order subset. The canonical order sets sharing at least one common order subset can then be restructured into a hierarchical structure, and prioritized to minimize downstream processing.
US08346693B2
The method for Hammerstein modeling of a steam generator plant includes modeling of the linear dynamic part of a Hammerstein model with a state-space model, and modeling the nonlinear part of the Hammerstein model with a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN). Particle swarm optimization (PSO), typically known for its heuristic search capabilities, is used for estimating the parameters of the RBFNN. Parameters of the linear part are estimated using a numerical algorithm for subspace state-space system identification (N4SID).
US08346685B1
Computerized system for enhancing expert-based processes and methods useful in conjunction therewith
A computerized system for enhancing expert-based processes, the system comprising a computerized expert based data analyzer receiving input from a plurality of experts by operating a corresponding plurality of expert-based processes on a body of data, the input including a discrepancy set including at least one point of discrepancy regarding which less than all of the plurality of experts agree and an agreement set including at least one point of agreement regarding which all of the plurality of experts agree; and an oracle from which oracle input is received resolving at least the point of discrepancy and not resolving any point of agreement in the agreement set; wherein the computerized analyzer is operative to select and to subsequently actuate for purposes of receiving input regarding the body of data, a subset of better experts from among the plurality of experts based on the oracle input.
US08346684B2
For assigning a test pattern to a class chosen from a predefined set of classes, the class membership probability for the test pattern is calculated as well as the confidence interval for the class membership probability based upon a number of training patterns in a neighborhood of the test pattern in the feature space. The number of training patterns in the neighborhood of the test pattern is obtained from computing a convolution of a density function of the training patterns with a Gaussian smoothing function centered on the test pattern, where the density function of the training patterns is represented as a mixture of Gaussian functions. The convolution of the smoothing function and the mixture of Gaussian functions can be expressed analytically.
US08346674B2
A system and method for handling unwanted physical mail pieces having a sorter and imager which intercepts one or more pieces of physical mail, which produces an electronic image of a front panel of each piece of mail, and which physically retains pieces of mail in temporary physical storage, and which cooperates with an optical recognizer to determine an intended recipient for each retained piece of mail, further cooperating with a server that notifies the intended recipients and receives a choice for disposition of the mail, and including a destruction which destroys said pieces of mail rejected by the intended recipient.
US08346670B2
The invention concerns a system for controlling user access to a service having a read device (210) arranged to contactlessly read a payment card (211) of a user; and a control block (214) coupled to an entry gate (202), the control block arranged to determine whether online payment authorization should be requested for the payment card, wherein if it is determined that online payment authorization should be requested, the control block is arranged to allow the user access to the service prior to completing an online payment authorization for the payment card.
US08346669B2
A method and system for reselling an object in a client-server environment is disclosed. The method and system also enables a user using a client device can order an object, order a customized object, order a composite object, and order a customized composite object. The system includes an object order form handler, an object order handler, a view objects handler, a reseller form handler, a reseller handler, a reseller permission handler, an add object handler and a server database.
US08346658B1
A line of credit with pre-agreed line increases is described. In example embodiments, the line of credit is secured by a residence, and the borrower can agree at initial closing to periodic line increases, so that additional closings and re-recording are not necessary. Modeling can be used by the financial institution to determine if and when to offer increases in the LOC. An automated servicing routine is then used to produce a recommendation with respect to increasing the LOC loan amount. This automated servicing routine includes at least one model to produce the recommendation. The line of credit can be increased if and when recommended by the servicing platform.
US08346652B2
A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, but limiting market making to only those entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange. Methods of enhancing the hybrid electronic and open-outcry exchange also include automatically eliminating crossed quotes and locked quotes while permitting certain orders to trade against locked quotes.
US08346647B1
In one aspect, an embodiment comprises a computer system comprising: (a) a computer readable memory that stores price information for a plurality of bonds; and (b) a processor unit that calculates a liquidity cost score for one or more of said plurality of bonds; wherein said liquidity cost score calculation is based on data regarding quoted bid price and quoted ask price if a bond is a quoted bond, wherein said liquidity cost score calculation is based on a regression analysis if a bond is a non-quoted bond, and wherein said processor unit comprises one or more processors.
US08346642B2
In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores software instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a trading order for a particular quantity of a trading product. The trading order specifies that a first portion of the particular quantity is a displayed quantity and that a second portion of the particular quantity is a reserved quantity. The trading order specifies at least one of a decay rule, a decay interval, a decay rate, decay quantity, and one or more conditions. The software instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause the reserved quantity to decay based at least in part on at least one of the decay rule, the decay interval, the decay rate, and the decay quantity, and one or more conditions.
US08346639B2
Transaction processing involves receiving data from an access transaction application of a portable consumer device, wherein the received data comprises data from an access transaction data string that includes a transit verification value wherein, with the exception of the transit verification value, the access transaction data string is substantially similar to a retail data string comprising retail data, wherein the access application data string is adapted for use with an access transaction processing system and the retail data string is adapted for use with a retail processing system. The transaction processing involves processing access transaction application data for selective authorization of the transaction.
US08346619B2
The present invention provides an intermediation system of transaction that has purchasing indicators to show purchase intent of buyers in transaction through a network. The intermediation system includes first user terminals for requesting the acquisition of information about predetermined products or services, second several user terminals for providing information on products or services which they offer, and an intermediation device for mediating the information between the first user terminals and the second user terminals. The first and second user terminals and the intermediation device are interconnected over a network.
US08346617B1
A system is provided. The system comprises a computer, a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, receives a message that a communications device has accessed an electronic storefront. The system also determines the amount of funds presently credited to a deposit account associated with the communications device. The system also identifies a first group of products, the first group comprising the products available from the electronic storefront with prices equal to or less than the amount of funds presently credited to the deposit account. The system also transmits pricing information about each of the first group of products to the communications device. The system also transmits instructions to the communications device on arranging the pricing information for each of the first group of products in the display of the communications device.
US08346615B2
Methods, computer program products, and systems, related to providing financial gadgets to users. In one implementation, a method includes receiving gadgets and receiving a notification that one or more gadgets has been certified. A web page with an interface through which users can select gadgets is generated and provided to a user computer. A user selects a gadget, and the selected gadget is run, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget. Content based on the output of the gadget is provided to the user. User-specific financial information can be collected, and modified by the gadget. A notification can be received that a financial institution has authorized one or more of the certified gadgets and the web page can only allow users to select authorized gadgets.
US08346614B2
Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for promoting a web technology through a virtual service marketplace. Online tools are provided on a host website for creating a project website. The host website comprises the virtual service marketplace. A user defines a project and proposes the project to multiple consultants in the virtual service marketplace. The consultants bid for the proposed project in the virtual service marketplace. Core controlling factors set by the user during project definition are synchronized with core controlling factors set by the project consultant. The user selects a project consultant based on the synchronization. The selected project consultant creates the project website using the online tools. The user pays the selected project consultant for creating the project website. The presence of the virtual service marketplace promotes the web technology and the growth in numbers of users and consultants familiar with the web technology.
US08346613B2
Solutions for e-commerce merchants that allow such merchants to interact with buyers in foreign jurisdictions are disclosed. More specifically, solutions are presented that provide an intermediation service that operates to provide variants of e-commerce (or other) Web sites in a local language of a visitor to such site, such variants including facilities to accept payments for goods or services in the currencies and/or payment forms of the foreign jurisdiction and to provide the e-commerce merchant with required shipment documents to assist in order fulfillment.
US08346611B2
A transaction processor can receive transaction information from a transaction between a customer and a merchant. The transaction information includes an account identifier associated with a financial account of the customer. The processor determines that the account identifier is associated with a fixed price futures contract. The transaction is completed at the current market price. Thereinafter, the processor can determine if the fixed price is lower than the current market price. If the fixed price is lower than the current market price, the process determines the difference in cost for the transaction if the fixed price were used. Then, the processor can create and send a resettlement transaction to the customer's account to reimburse the customer for the difference. As such, the customer receives a simple method for paying for commodities at a set price without having special payment instruments or special accounts.
US08346609B2
Some embodiments disclosed herein are a method and a system for displaying an advertisement on a web page in which advertisement data displayed on the same web page from among different advertisement data can check mutual existence of the displayed advertisement data, thereby displaying another advertisement data different from the displayed advertisement data. The method for displaying another advertisement data includes recording and maintaining advertisement data including respective identification numbers in an advertisement database, loading the advertisement data from the advertisement database to a local computer memory of a user connected with a web page, identifying advertisement data having an identification number among the advertisement data loaded to the local computer memory, identifying predetermined option which may comprise predetermined display advertisement data from the advertisement database when the advertisement data having the identification number exists, and displaying the display advertisement data on the web page.
US08346607B1
A learning model is built on a combination of advertiser, publisher and user data. The learning model can be applied to all advertisers in an advertising system. The learning model provides predicted conversion rates for a given advertisement (“ad”) appearing on different publisher networks. A predicted conversion rate represents the probability that a click on a given ad appearing on a given publisher will lead to a conversion. The predicted conversion rates are used to generate a multiplier. The multiplier is used to automatically adjust the advertiser's bid (e.g., maximum cost-per-click (CPC)) for the given ad prior to an auction for the ad. Adjusting the advertiser's bid equalizes a cost-per-conversion among the publishers for the ad.
US08346606B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for collecting and disseminating customer data and for distributing real estate marketing literature. The system includes a customer terminal, which is in communication with a data center, which, in turn, is in communication with a business terminal. The customer terminal includes a device for inputting customer data and a device for distributing relevant marketing literature. The customer data is sent to the data center, where it is stored for subsequent retrieval by a sales person using the business terminal.
US08346601B2
A system and method for processing promotional savings using existing communications platforms. A plurality of promotional codes are assigned and stored in a promotions database. These promotional codes are positioned by marketers on products, packaging, or the like, along with instructions informing consumers to transmit the promotional code to a predefined destination address, such as a phone number, a short code text number, or an email address. After a message containing the promotional code is received from the consumer, the received code is parsed from the message, validated, and a promotional savings value associated with the code is identified. That amount is communicated to an operator of at least one account associated the consumer, and applied as a savings to the operator's billing statement.
US08346594B2
Systems and techniques for collecting information as authorized by information providers and sharing the information with information recipients according to criteria specified by the information providers. Information is collected from one or more of a variety of sources and stored in a provider profile, with the provider profile also specifying criteria for sharing the information, including payment required for sharing the information with particular categories of recipients. An exchange system is maintained allowing recipients to request or to otherwise specify needs for particular categories of information and payments to be provided by the information, and needs or requests of recipients for information are matched with criteria specified by providers, with information being transferred or used to provide results for a recipient and payment being transferred from the recipient to a provider or providers when a match between information needs and criteria for sharing information is identified.
US08346591B2
A method, system, and program for automating responses by grid providers to bid request indicating criteria for a grid job are provided. A bid controller grid service of a grid provider receives a job request from a client for processing a job within a grid environment of the grid provider, wherein the job request specifies at a least one criteria required for the grid provider to handle a particular grid job. The grid service determines whether the grid environment includes the hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth required by the job request. If the grid service determines that the grid environment includes a sufficient hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth, then a total required workload for the job request is calculated. Next, a total cost for the total required workload is estimated and the grid service automatically returns a bid response to the client system, where the bid response includes an identifier for the grid provider and the total cost for the job request.In addition, the bid response may include a total time for performance of the grid job described by the job request.
US08346585B1
A system and method of data mining for republishing is described. In some embodiments products having a high potential for increased sales through republishing are identified based on relationships with products having consistent sales. In some embodiments products having a high potential for increased sales through republishing are identified based on sales in one language and availability of rights in another language. In one aspect, translations are facilitated via a translations marketplace.
US08346582B1
A system for facilitating a project between owners and contractors. The system includes a program for receiving owner, project and contractor data. The program determines a contractor rating for each of a plurality of contractors and a project rating for at least one project. The program then identifies contractors having a contractor rating that is compatible with the project rating. The program may further provide notifications, bid letting support, project finance support, project scheduling assistance, construction support and/or bond acquisition support.
US08346581B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for presenting project information are disclosed. Project information may be presented by receiving electronic planning information associated with a project, where the received electronic planning information includes at least one milestone associated with two or more phases of the project and occurring during the two or more phases. The received electronic planning information is then transformed into a graphical representation of the received electronic planning information for visual presentation to a user and presented for perception by the user. The presented graphical representation includes two or more bars corresponding to the two or more phases and a connection between the two or more bars corresponding to a time at which the milestone occurs.
US08346579B1
A recurring automatic payment date may be set for an insurance policy premium based on customer preference. A server may receive a customer-specified day of a month and/or a request for bimonthly withdrawals, such as may be entered via a user interface on an insurance company webpage. The customer specified day(s) may be analyzed against data associated with the insurance policies to determine whether the day is disallowed. The day may be disallowed, for example, because it would result in falling behind an earned premium curve and thereby require a double bill or short bill to stay ahead of the earned premium curve.
US08346574B2
A tangible computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable program instructions that generate a user interface for displaying workflow information associated with a tissue specimen in a pathology laboratory. The program instructions may be configured to perform a method including displaying a virtual laboratory component representing a physical pathology laboratory having one or more laboratory stations for processing the tissue specimen, wherein the tissue specimen is processed by the one or more laboratory stations according to a workflow, and displaying a specimen indicator that indicates a current specimen state based on a current relationship of the tissue specimen to the workflow. The method may further include enabling a first active component associated with the virtual laboratory component, wherein the first active component is configured to receive a user selection of a laboratory station and generating a supplemental view component of the selected laboratory station in response to the user selection, wherein the supplemental view provides supplemental information on processing by the selected laboratory station of the tissue specimen.
US08346563B1
A system for delivering advanced natural language interaction applications, comprising a dialog interface module, a natural language interaction engine, a solution data repository component operating comprising at least one domain model, at least one language model, and a plurality of flow elements and rules for managing interactions with users, and an interface software module. Upon receipt of a request from a user via a network, the dialog interface module preprocesses the request and transmits it to the natural language interaction engine. The natural language interaction engine interprets the request using a plurality of language recognition rules stored in the solution data repository, and based at least determined semantic meaning or user intent, the natural language interaction engine forms an appropriate response and delivers the response to the user via the dialog module, or takes an appropriate action based on the request.
US08346561B2
A voice activatable system for providing the correct spelling of a spoken word is disposed in an elongated body of a writing instrument such as a ball point pen. The system includes a microphone the output of which is fed to an amplifier analog to a digital converter and from there to a speech recognition program, the output of the speech recognition program is fed to a computer, namely a word processor/controller that includes a data base. The output of the speech recognition is compared with the digital library of words and when a match is found, it is amplified and fed to digital to analog connector. The output of the digital/analog computer is fed to a speaker that repeats the word with the correct pronunciation followed by a correct spelling of the word. The system includes a battery for powering the system as well as an on/off switch and a repeat button for repeating information from the system.
US08346553B2
A recognition result extraction unit and an agreement determination unit are provided. The recognition result extraction unit extracts, from a recognition result storage unit, N best solutions A and B obtained by an utterance B. The utterance B follows an utterance A corresponding to the N best solutions A and made by a speaker b who is different from a speaker of the utterance A. In a case where a repeat utterance determination unit determines that the N best solutions B are N best solutions obtained by a repeat utterance B according to the utterance A corresponding to the N best solutions A, when the best solution A and B are different each other, the agreement determination unit determines that some or all of the N best solutions A can be replaced with some or all of the N best solutions B.
US08346548B2
The aural similarity measuring system and method provides a measure of the aural similarity between a target text (10) and one or more reference texts (11). Both the target text (10) and the reference texts (11) are converted into a string of phonemes (15) and then one or other of the phoneme strings are adjusted (16) so that both are equal in length. The phoneme strings are compared (12) and a score generated representative of the degree of similarity of the two phoneme strings. Finally, where there is a plurality of reference texts the similarity scores for each of the reference texts are ranked (13). With this aural similarity measuring system the analysis is automated thereby reducing risks of errors and omissions. Moreover, the system provides an objective measure of aural similarity enabling consistency of comparison in results and reproducibility of results.
US08346539B2
The invention provides a system and method for indexing and organizing voice mail message by the speaker of the message. One or more speaker models are created from voice mail messages received. As additional messages are left, each of the new messages are compared with existing speaker models to determine the identity of the callers of each of the new messages. The voice mail messages are organized within a user's mailbox by caller. Unknown callers may be identified and tagged by the user and then used to create new speaker models and/or update existing speaker models.
US08346536B2
Multi-lingual information retrieval methods and systems are described.
US08346534B2
The present invention provides a method and a system for automatic keyword extraction based on supervised or unsupervised machine learning techniques. Novel linguistically-motivated machine learning features are introduced, including discourse comprehension features based on construction integration theory, numeric features making use of syntactic part-of-speech patterns, and probabilistic features based on analysis of online encyclopedia annotations. The improved keyword extraction methods are combined with word sense disambiguation into a system for automatically generating annotations to enrich text with links to encyclopedic knowledge.
US08346532B2
A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product for managing information within an electronic file are provided. A plurality of information sets within an electronic file is analyzed. At least one of the information sets is compared to at least one statistical classification model. The statistical classification model includes one or more probabilities associated with a plurality of analyzed information sets that indicate a likelihood that a respective analyzed information set is classified sensitive information. The at least one information set is determined to substantially match at least one analyzed information set in the statistical classification model. The probability associated with the at least one analyzed information set is determined whether to be above a threshold. The at least one information set is classified as sensitive information in response to determining that the probability is above the threshold.
US08346530B2
A dynamic reconfigurable interconnect network architecture in a logic simulation system that interconnects a plurality of simulation engines together, providing a high degree of interconnectivity in an efficient manner. The logic simulation system may create and manage linkable sub-programs for execution by a simulation engine. The logic simulation system may schedule various tasks in a design to be simulated, including horizontal and vertical partitioning of the design and determination of an order in which events such as clock edges and asynchronous signals are to be implemented by a logic simulation system.
US08346524B2
A wellness system monitors the controlled progress of patients under surveillance and includes a server base station which is generally off-site, a web-site interface and a local station at the point-of-use, which is generally a health or fitness center. A unique data base is created for each user and goals and objectives may be set with progress monitored. Typically, the user will respond to a surveyor questionnaire to populate his specific database. This is combined with a professional assessment and an automated measurement of vital statistics such as weight, blood pressure and body composition as measured at the local station. Other data may be entered manually such as height, age and the like. In a more comprehensive system the invention is designed to monitor other data such as cholesterol and blood glucose, as well. The locally input data may be updated at will by the user or on behalf of the user by professional personnel.
US08346519B2
A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses includes defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus. The system model is analysed with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system.A parameter relating to at least one apparatus is indicative of the availability and/or the reliability of the apparatus expressed as a function of time.
US08346515B2
Line system design techniques are provided for use in performing routing and coloring operations associated with one or more demands. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for designing a line system comprises the following steps/operations. A set of one or more demands is obtained for use in computing the line system design. The line system design is then represented as a graph in accordance with a graph coloring operation wherein colors represent bandwidths such that bandwidths are assigned and the one or more demands are routed so as to attempt to achieve a minimum total design cost. The line system being designed may be an optical line system.
US08346513B2
In three-dimensional data generation unit 120, data edition unit 122, generates a spreadsheet data that includes information relating to a plurality of node points on a continuous arrangement route of target components by interactive process with a user, and stores the data in storage unit 130. Three-dimensional data conversion unit 123, on the basis of spreadsheet data, arranges the node points in a three-dimensional space, connects node points having a predetermined relationship using line segments, and imparts cross-sectional shapes to the connected line segments, to carry out thereby conversion into target component arrangement three-dimensional data. Three-dimensional data management unit 124 stores the obtained target component arrangement three-dimensional data in storage unit 130, in a format readable by three-dimensional CAD or three-dimensional review system, and outputs the data in response to an output instruction from interface unit 110.
US08346509B2
A method for performance monitoring in a computing system is described. In some embodiments, an addressable memory stores data and instructions for performing context switch sampling. A processor includes hardware event counters, and is coupled with the addressable memory to access said instructions and in response to said instructions, the processor counts occurrences of a first hardware event in a first hardware event counter and counts occurrences of a second hardware event in a second hardware event counter. After a specified number of occurrences of the first hardware event have been counted, the second hardware event counter is sampled and hardware event counters are reset. In some embodiments the processor counts occurrences of segment register load events in the first hardware event counter and then records the sampled second hardware event counter value with a process identifier value and/or a thread identifier value.
US08346508B2
A system and method for diagnosing a home appliance are disclosed. The home appliance outputs product information as a predetermined sound signal, and transmits the sound signal to a service center of a remote site over a communication network, such that a service technician of the service center can easily check a current status of the home appliance. When a diagnostic server of the service center analyzes the sound signal of the home appliance, it selects a plurality of preamble candidates and can effectively and correctly detect data using weights, so that it can quickly diagnose a faulty operation of the home appliance. An erroneous data analysis and its associated erroneous diagnosis are prevented, so that the diagnostic system provides a service for more correctly diagnosing a faulty operation of the home appliance and also increases user satisfaction and reliability of the home appliance.
US08346500B2
A self check-type flame detector includes a casing provided with a monitoring window formed therein. A wavelength generation unit is disposed inside the casing and generates a wavelength in a direction of the monitoring window. A wavelength detection element is disposed inside the casing and detects the wavelength. A comparison unit is provided with a wavelength DB for storing intensity of a reference wavelength and determines whether the monitoring window has been contaminated. A display unit is located outside the casing and displays a state of the monitoring window. A communication unit is disposed inside the casing and configured to receive operation information for the wavelength generation unit, to provide the operation information to the wavelength generation unit, and to transmit the intensity of the wavelength, or a normal signal or a contamination signal of the monitoring window.
US08346499B2
A semiconductor device 100 including an internal circuit 4 that operates based on an input pattern includes a clock driver 25 that generates an internal clock 7 based on a generated clock 6, a counter 23 that generates count data 28 by counting the generated clock 6, a nonvolatile storage device 22 that stores storage data 27 used in an IDDQ test, a comparator 24 that stops the generation of the internal clock 7 by the clock driver 25 when the count data 28 and the storage data 27 match each other, and a pseudo random number generation circuit 3 that supplies a pseudo random number 8 to the internal circuit 4 in synchronization with the internal clock 7.
US08346480B2
A navigation and control system including a sensor configured to locate objects in a predetermined field of view from a vehicle. The sensor has an emitter configured to repeatedly scan a beam into a two-dimensional sector of a plane defined with respect to a first predetermined axis of the vehicle, and a detector configured to detect a reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects. The sensor includes a panning mechanism configured to pan the plane in which the beam is scanned about a second predetermined axis to produce a three dimensional field of view. The navigation and control system includes a processor configured to determine the existence and location of the objects in the three dimensional field of view based on a position of the vehicle and a time between an emittance of the beam and a reception of the reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects.
US08346469B2
A method and apparatus for determining protection levels in a satellite navigation system includes the following steps: (1) determining an integrity risk at the alert limit for a plurality of application situations—for example, starting from approaches in category I (Category I precision approach) up to the operation “oceanic enroute;” (2) determining an interval of the alert limits between the largest set of alert limits which produces too high an integrity risk, and the smallest set of alert limits which produces an acceptable integrity risk; and (3) carrying out an interval nesting for the interval of the alert limits that was determined in the previous step, the integrity risk between the horizontal and the vertical being divided in the same way as it is obtained from the relationship between these integrity risks in the largest set of alert limits.
US08346464B2
Disclosed is a method and device for aiding ground navigation of an aircraft on an airport in which a current position and current heading of the aircraft are determined by a set of information sources. A first determination unit determines, according to the determined current position and current heading, and according to information obtained from an airport database, a current traffic lane on which the aircraft is situated, and parameters relating to a next intersection of the current traffic lane. Parameters relating to the next intersection include the position of the next intersection; and the distance between the next intersection and the current position of the aircraft. A head-up display unit overlays, on an environment in front of the aircraft, a first symbol illustrating the determined current traffic lane and a set of second symbols illustrating the determined parameters of the next intersection.
US08346461B2
Method for controlling a start-up of an internal combustion engine, an actuation of the internal combustion engine being begun and maintained by an electric machine in order to set the internal combustion engine into independent motion, thereby characterized, in that the actuation of the internal combustion engine is concluded before an initial combustion in the internal combustion engine takes place.
US08346453B2
A braking force control device for a vehicle comprises a controller that includes an automatic-brake selective-actuation section configured to compare a manual braking force created by a manual brake device with a required braking force for an automatic brake device and to selectively actuate the automatic brake device when the required braking force exceeds the manual braking force; a braking-force-difference time-rate-of-change calculation section configured to calculate a braking-force-difference time-rate-of-change corresponding to a rate of change per unit time in a difference, which difference is obtained by subtracting the required braking force from the manual braking force; and a required braking force control section configured to correct the required braking force to reduce the required braking force when selectively actuating the automatic brake device and to correct a reducing amount of the required braking force to decrease the reducing amount of the required braking force as the braking-force-difference time-rate-of-change increases.
US08346450B2
A method and a device for controlling the slip of a tractor vehicle or the like, in which the drive wheel slip is determined and, if the actual slip is different from a specified nominal slip, the gear ratio of a controllable transmission in the drivetrain is adjusted in the direction of slip optimization. The transmission is a geared-neutral transmission whose output speed, at full drive power, can be adjusted to an extremely small value close to zero.
US08346437B2
When a lane-width-direction lateral position (X2obst+X0) of a vehicle (MM) reaches a predetermined control start position (60) being a lane-width-direction lateral position (X2obst+X0) serving as an approach prevention indicator for the vehicle (MM), a control start is determined and a yaw moment (Ms) toward the center of a vehicle traveling lane (200) is applied to the vehicle (MM) to control the vehicle (MM). Then, when the lane-width-direction lateral position (X2obst+X0) of the vehicle (MM) moves from the outside to the inside of the control start position (60), the determination of control start is suppressed for a predetermined period, compared to a period before the movement to the inside of the control start position (60).
US08346434B2
When a vehicle is turning, it is determined whether an inside turning wheel has sufficient grip force. If the inside wheel has sufficient grip force, left and right forces orthogonally input to the vehicle body are calculated based on longitudinal and lateral tire forces, and are checked if there is a difference in the left and right forces. If there is such a left-right force difference and the vehicle is not undergoing a braking operation, the turning angle of the inside wheel is corrected using a left-right independent steering device that independently controls the turning angles of left and right wheels, so that the difference becomes zero. Thus, the difference in left and right forces laterally input to the vehicle body is reduced to minimize a jack-up force. This improves the driving stability and achieves a good roll feel by means of a jack-down force, thereby achieving improved driving feel.
US08346433B2
A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.
US08346431B2
A suitable electrical system for a motor vehicle is provided, which system requires a voltage supply during a possible towing-away operation. A voltage-supply control device recognizes the provision of an external voltage supply, in particular by way of a towing vehicle for the motor vehicle, and controls the voltage supply in the motor vehicle in such a manner that only one or more subsystems of the entire electrical system of the motor vehicle are supplied with voltage.
US08346430B2
A method for generating operating software on a control device for a motor vehicle by executing control software in a production line end computer or in the control device, has the following steps: a) Executing a diagnosis function in the motor vehicle, with which the configuration of the motor vehicle can be established so that the functions to be performed by the control device (1) are clearly defined, b) Selecting only from among the necessary software components from an external data source (2), so that the configuration of the motor vehicle can be mapped with the operating software on the control device (1), and c) Generating the component-individual operating software on the control device (1) by inclusion of the selected software components.
US08346428B2
The invention concerns an electronic vehicle dynamics regulation system for a land vehicle, which system is set up for steering and braking intervention, and with which a sensor arrangement is associated, which sensor arrangement, for a steering intervention device and for a braking system which builds up braking forces independently of or in addition to the driver, captures the yaw angular velocity and/or the transverse acceleration and feeds them to the steering intervention device and braking system.
US08346419B2
One embodiment includes a method that includes monitoring a battery state of charge circuit that is coupled to a vehicle battery, calculating an averaged value of the state of charge over a time period, charging the vehicle battery by powering a generator with a fuel burning engine that powered on and powered off according to one of a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode the engine is powered on when the battery state of charge drops below a first state of charge and continues until the averaged value of the state of charge increases to a first preprogrammed value.
US08346418B2
A method of output torque smoothing for a hybrid powertrain having an electric machine and a spark ignition engine with a first cylinder and a second cylinder includes commanding a fuel-cut transition, including consecutively initiating and completing deactivation of the first cylinder and initiating and completing deactivation of the second cylinder. The fuel-cut transition is characterized by an absence of retarding spark to the first cylinder and second cylinder. Fuel is supplied to the first cylinder until the first cylinder completes deactivation and to the second cylinder until the second cylinder completes deactivation. The electric machine captures a first torque from the first cylinder by generating electricity until the first cylinder completes deactivation and captures a second torque from the second cylinder by generating electricity until the second cylinder completes deactivation.
US08346414B2
By taking a pressure reading at a particular port on a multiple-unit braking valve, e.g. the MU-2-A valve, and comparing such a reading to a main reservoir pressure, one can identify whether the locomotive in which the valve is situated is in trailing mode or leading mode. In particular, it was found that the pressure on port 63 of the MU-2-A valve is indicative of which mode the locomotive is in since port 63 is exhausted to atmosphere in lead mode whereas it is at or near the pressure in the main reservoir which is readily distinguishable from atmosphere.
US08346403B2
An electrical wiring device operates in more than one operating mode and includes a microcontroller, an occupancy detection sensor communicably coupled to the microcontroller, and at least one accessible user interface communicably coupled to the microcontroller. The accessible user interface is accessible to an end-user without having to disassemble any portion of the device. The accessible user interface is manipulated to select one of several operating modes. In some embodiments, the device includes a night light that also can be an accessible user interface. In some of those embodiments, one of the operating modes includes a night light operating mode, wherein the device's operation is dependent upon the status of the night light. In some embodiments, an indicator is included to inform the end-user when to stop manipulating the accessible user interface.
US08346401B2
A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees.
US08346399B2
An apparatus for delivering a bolus of a medical agent to a patient. The apparatus comprises a pump mechanism, a data input device, and a processor in data communication with the keypad and arranged to control the pump mechanism. The processor is programmed to receive data specifying a bolus amount through the data port, receive data regarding duration through the data port, receive a percentage through the data port, the percentage defining a portion of the bolus amount to deliver immediately upon executing a deliver command and a remainder of the bolus amount to deliver over the duration upon executing a deliver command, and execute the deliver command thereby controlling the pump mechanism to deliver the bolus. Also a method of temporarily adjusting the delivery rate of an infusion pump. The infusion pump is programmed to deliver a basal rate. The method comprises prompting a user to select whether to enter the temporary rate as a percent of the current delivery rate or as a new delivery rate; entering into the pump a period of time having a beginning and an end; entering into the pump a temporary basal rate; and delivering the therapeutic agent at a delivery rate substantially equal to the temporary basal rate during the period of time.
US08346398B2
The various embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods, circuits and devices for providing data center cooling while optimizing power usage effectiveness and/or compute power efficiency of the data center. The various embodiments can provide optimized thermal performance and can reduce power consumption of the data center by strategically locating sensor modules, preferably microsystems with MEMS technology, in the data center and using a processing circuit to acquire data from the sensors and to generate a control law for operating the air conditioning system efficiently. In particular the sensors are operable to measure and provide granular environmental data to further characterize the environmental conditions of the racks locally, and the data center as a whole. The processing circuit may also generate a profile of local racks and simulate a data center environment to develop and test control strategies for implementation in the actual data center.
US08346387B2
A dedicated self-service return terminal is provided for receiving returned media on which entertainment data is stored. The dedicated self-service return terminal comprises a media transporter having a media return slot through which returned media can be received from a customer returning the media, a removable media storage bin for storing returned media which has been received through the slot, a container having a chamber in which the media storage bin is installed when the media storage bin is in use, a sliding mechanism arranged to support the container for vertical sliding movement between a top position in which the media storage bin can receive returned media received through the slot and a bottom position in which the media storage bin can be removed from the container, and a controller arranged to control the sliding mechanism to effect movement of the container between the top and bottom positions during operation of the dedicated self-service return terminal.
US08346383B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining a selected machining quality of components in a manufacturing process, particularly during metal cutting, having at least the following method steps of determining process-relevant variables by sensors and/or from the data stream in the machine controller, extracting variable curves characteristic for the respective machining process, selecting a number of different characteristics of the extracted variable curves, the linking of which enables a clear assignment to the selected machining quality, and multivariate linking of the selected characteristics to a characteristic pattern correlating with the selected machining quality.
US08346378B2
The value of fixed cycle time is adjusted to an optimum value in a short period of time. In a second operational mode (MON) of a PLC, a series of a plurality of system processes are repeatedly performed with a change to a user program in a peripheral service process being allowed. A change to fixed cycle time to be compared with actual cycle time is prohibited in a first operational mode (RUN) but is allowed in the second operational mode (MON) and a non-operational mode (PRG).
US08346371B2
An electrode unit for carrying current or voltage between an implantable electromedical device and a treatment and/or diagnosis site in the human body comprises at least one current-/voltage-carrying feed line (1) and at least one electric contact pole to the body part. The feed line (1) is associated with at least one section (4) having frequency-dependent transmission behavior, wherein this at least one frequency-dependent transmission section (4) at least partially filters out therapeutically and/or diagnostically undesirable signals in at least one defined frequency range.
US08346369B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for programming implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of programming an implantable medical device. The method can include gathering parameter data representing a set of previously programmed parameter values from a plurality of implanted medical devices. The method can further include performing association analysis on the parameter data to form a set of association rules. The method can further include suggesting parameter choices to a system user regarding a specific patient based on the set of association rules. In an embodiment, the invention can include a medical system including a server configured to perform association analysis on a set of data representing previously programmed parameter values from a plurality of implanted medical devices to derive a set of association rules. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08346368B2
Coding of received audio signals and the resulting application of electrical stimuli applied to electrodes used in a cochlear implant system are disclosed together with a method of fitting this new coding strategy. One of the aims is to improve place specific stimulation representing pitch by applying near threshold electrical stimuli with limited and focused excitation fields. A range of stimulation rates and a minimal range of current levels above threshold are used for creation of a dynamic loudness percept for a cochlear implant recipient. Another aim is to disclose a coding scheme based on a model of physiological measures (i.e. refractoriness, adaptation, spread of activation field, spatiotemporal acoustical cochlear activation patterns and spontaneous activity) to estimate the proportions of available excitable auditory neurons close to the electrodes available for stimulation. The spectral bands formed from the pre-processing of incoming audio signals are weighted by these proportions of excitability to control place, timing, rate and current level of electrical stimuli applied to the electrodes available in the array.
US08346363B2
A pancreatic controller, comprising: a glucose sensor, for sensing a level of glucose or insulin in a body serum; at least one electrode, for electrifying an insulin producing cell or group of cells; a power source for electrifying said electrode with a pulse that does not initiate an action potential in said cell and has an effect of increasing insulin secretion; and a controller which receives the sensed level and controls said power source to electrify said electrode to have a desired effect on said level.
US08346360B2
Various system embodiments comprise a stimulator adapted to deliver a stimulation signal for a heart failure therapy, a number of sensors adapted to provide at least a first measurement of a heart failure status and a second measurement of the heart failure status, and a controller. The controller is connected to the stimulator and to the number of sensors. The controller is adapted to use the first and second measurements to create a heart failure status index, and control the stimulator to modulate the signal using the index. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08346359B2
Techniques are provided for use by implantable medical devices for controlling ventricular pacing, particularly during atrial fibrillation. In one example, during a V sense test for use in optimizing ventricular pacing, the implantable device determines relative degrees of variation within antecedent and succedent intervals detected between ventricular events sensed on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) sensing channels. Preferred or optimal ventricular pacing delays are then determined, in part, based on a comparison of the relative degrees of variation obtained during the V sense test. In another example, during RV and LV pace tests, the device distinguishes QRS complexes arising due to interventricular conduction from QRS complexes arising due to atrioventricular conduction from the atria, so as to permit the determination of correct paced interventricular conduction delays for the patient. The paced interventricular conduction delays are also used to optimize ventricular pacing. Biventricular and monoventricular pacing regimes are provided.
US08346354B2
Described embodiments include a system, an apparatus, and a method. A described system includes a sensor device configured to sense a property of a mammal without physically contacting the mammal. The system also includes a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of the sensed property of the mammal. The system further includes a treatment decision device configured to determine in response to the signal indicative of the sensed property of the mammal a neuromodulation treatment regimen for administration to a nervous system component of the mammal. The system also includes a computer-readable medium configured to maintain and to provide access to information corresponding to the determined neuromodulation treatment regimen.
US08346351B2
Methods and apparatus for determining a patient specific QT-RR curve. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the technology comprises providing electrophysiological data for a specific patient. The method can further include: (a) determining QT durations and RR values for a plurality of heart beats of the specific patient from the electrophysiological data; (b) ascertaining effective RR intervals for the plurality of heart beats by weight-averaging the RR values according to the equation Effective RRi=C×Effective RRi−1+(1−C)×[RRweighted], where C is a number between 0 and 1, and where RRweighted is based on an observed RRi value and a trend predicted RR value; and (d) finding a value Cf defined by a value of C where a curve fitted to the QT durations and the ascertained effective RR intervals is within a desired standard deviation.
US08346350B2
Detected changes in atrial activation can be used to discriminate between hemodynamically stable and hemodynamically unstable tachyarrhythmias.
US08346345B2
In one aspect the present invention provides methods for assessing a physiological state of a mammalian retina in vivo, the methods of this aspect of the invention each include the steps of (a) irradiating a portion of a mammalian retina, in vivo, with light having a wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 1000 nm at an intensity sufficient to stimulate two-photon-induced fluorescence in the retina; and (b) assessing a physiological state of the retina by analyzing the fluorescence.
US08346343B2
A medical-device magnetic guiding position detecting system that can prevent a decrease in the strength of a position detecting magnetic field in an operating area of a medical device is provided. The medical-device magnetic guiding position detecting system includes a medical device that is disposed in the body of a subject and that includes at least one magnet and a circuit including an internal coil, a first magnetic field generating unit for generating a first magnetic field in the operating area of the medical device, position detecting means for detecting an induction magnetic field induced in the internal coil due to the first magnetic field, and at least one pair of opposing coils for generating a second magnetic field that acts on the at least one magnet. The opposing coils forming each of the at least one pair are independently driven.
US08346332B2
A medical device for monitoring a patient condition includes a first combination of a light source and a light detector to emit light into a volume of tissue, detect light scattered by the volume of tissue, and provide a first output signal corresponding to an intensity of the detected light. A control module is coupled to the light source to control the light source to emit light at least four spaced-apart light wavelengths, and a monitoring module is coupled to the light detector to receive the output signal, compute a measure of tissue oxygenation in response to the light detector output signal, and detect tissue hypoxia using the measure of tissue oxygenation.
US08346331B2
Functional near-infrared (fNIR) neuroimaging is used to assess credibility, detect deception, and implement a query methodology for determining deception via neuroimaging. Oxygenation levels of portions of the brain are imaged via fNIR spectroscopy and utilized to determine if the subject is telling a lie or a truth. In an example configuration, oxygenation levels in the inferior and/or middle prefrontal cortical areas of the brain, such as the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal and/or inferior frontal cortex, are measured to determine if a subject is lying relative to telling the truth. An example system includes a portable, flexible, belt like sensing device that is positioned proximate the subjects scalp. Sensed neural activity is transmitted either through wired or wireless means, to a processor for analysis of the sensed neural activity. The query methodology utilizes an attestation assertion that mitigates variance in brain responses due to the length or form of a question.
US08346321B2
A handheld type electronic device includes a main device body, a screen body, and first and second limiting mechanisms provided between the main device body and the screen body. The main device body includes a depression. The screen body is provided between left and right inner walls of the depression. The first limiting mechanism includes a pair of first protrusions and a pair of second recesses. The first protrusions extend resiliently and respectively into the first recesses to limit the screen body at a flipped-up state. The second limiting mechanism includes at least one second protrusion, and a second recess. The second protrusion is disposed to extend into the second recess to limit the screen body at a folded state. The second protrusion is subjectable to a force to withdraw from the second recess to enable the screen body to be flipped upward relative to the depression.
US08346318B2
A user replaceable cover for attachment to and detachment from an apparatus including a first lateral part extending in a first direction, a second lateral part disposed opposite the first lateral part and extending in the first direction, a posterior part extending substantially in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and joining the first lateral part and the second lateral part and an upper part having extremities and joining at the extremities the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein each of the first lateral part, the second lateral part, the posterior part and the upper part has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the user replaceable cover further including a plurality of sidewalls defined by the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein the sidewalls terminate at a lower edge for abutment with the apparatus; a face defined by the exterior surface of the upper part; an anterior edge defined at where the first lateral part, the second lateral part and the upper part terminate for abutment with the apparatus; a first posterior tenon extending from the interior surface of the posterior part; a second posterior tenon extending from the interior surface of the posterior part; and an anterior tenon extending from the anterior edge of the first lateral part.
US08346316B2
A personal digital assistant includes a body, and a touch panel. The body includes a display screen. The touch panel is located on a surface of the display screen. The touch panel includes at least one transparent conductive layer including a carbon nanotube layer.
US08346313B2
Techniques for dynamically selecting warm-up time for a wireless device operating in the idle mode are described. At each active interval, conditions affecting warm-up of the wireless device at a next active interval are determined. The conditions may pertain to channel conditions, operating conditions, and/or hardware configuration. A warm-up time is selected based on the determined conditions. A wake-up time for the next active interval is determined based on the selected warm-up time. The wireless device then goes to sleep until the wake-up time. In one scheme, the strongest pilot acquired in each active interval is identified, and its pilot strength is averaged to obtain an average pilot strength. The average pilot strength is compared against at least one threshold, and one of at least two possible time durations is selected for the warm-up time based on the comparison result.
US08346308B2
A wireless device having a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the device, the device including an upper casing including an interior surface having a primary display and an exterior surface having a secondary display, the primary display being active when the device is in an open configuration and the secondary display being active when the device is in a closed configuration, a lower casing including a keypad, a hinge assembly connecting the upper casing to the lower casing and enabling the device to alternate between the open and closed configurations, and a switch assembly including a switch provided in the upper casing and an actuator provided in the lower casing in alignment with the switch, the switch and actuator configured for engaging each other to perform an action when the upper and lower casings are pressed together.
US08346307B2
A method of displaying contact information on a communication device includes storing a plurality of contacts and corresponding statistical information pertaining to communications on a communication device. Input is received relating to the statistical information. The contacts are displayed based on the input and the statistical information.
US08346305B2
Theft deterrence and secure mobile platform subscription techniques for wireless mobile devices are described. An apparatus may comprise a removable secure execution module arranged to connect with a computing platform for a wireless mobile device. The removable secure execution module may comprise a first processing system to execute a security control module. The security control module may be operative to communicate with a security server over a wireless channel on a periodic basis to obtain a security status for the wireless mobile device. The security control module may output control directives to control operations for one or more components of the computing platform based on the security status. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08346301B2
A calling method, device and system are disclosed. The calling method includes: obtaining, by a service platform, subscription information of a roaming prepaid subscriber, modifying and sending the modified subscription information to a visited mobile switching center (VMSC) of the roaming prepaid subscriber so that a call initiated by the roaming prepaid subscriber could be triggered to the service platform by the VMSC; receiving, by the service platform, the call to a called subscriber initiated by the roaming prepaid subscriber and triggered by the VMSC; and instructing, by the service platform, the VMSC to release the call and instructing a call connection device to connect the roaming prepaid subscriber to the called subscriber after determining from the call that the roaming prepaid subscriber has activated a callback service. User operation is simplified and user's experience is improved with the method, device and system in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.
US08346299B2
Methods and apparatus for dynamic thermal management and control within, e.g., small form-factor wireless devices such as laptop computers or cellular “smartphones”. In one embodiment, a thermal management system monitors the temperature (or other relevant criteria) for one or more components, and implements different operating states within the wireless transceiver (e.g., Wi-Fi™ or WiMAX transceiver) so as to both reduce thermal output and minimize disruption to the wireless link and/or user experience. In another embodiment, a wireless client may communicate with other clients, and/or access points, so as to cooperatively provide more options for thermal management. In addition, methods and apparatus employing “high performance” (e.g., high power output or high data rate) radios within aggressively small industrial designs are also disclosed.
US08346293B2
There are provided a plurality of systems of reconfigurable radio processing unit (102) whose function and performance can be modified. A control unit (104) collects quality information on the communication link in communication methods received at respective radio processing systems (102a, 102b). According to this, the control unit (104) selects an optimal communication method and transmission mode from a plurality of communication methods and transmission modes (for example, diversity transmission between a plurality of systems, diversity transmission by a single communication method, and MIMO channel multiplex transmission). By modifying configurations of the reconfigurable radio processing unit (102) according to the selected communication method and transmission mode, it is possible to communicate at a desired transmission mode. Thus, it is possible to perform an optimal transmission to the communication link according to the quality condition and other request condition.
US08346288B2
Transient distortion is compensated for by multiplying an exponentially-decaying phase shift onto the distorted waveform. The exponentially decaying phase shift waveform is patterned after the transient which typically takes the form of an exponential and occurs upon introduction of power to a circuit or circuit component. A digital circuit produces an appropriate exponentially-decaying waveform which is used as the input for a look up table whose output is a complex sinusoidal waveform capable of compensating for the distortion. The complex sinusoid is multiplied onto the transmitted waveform. The decaying exponential is biased so that it crosses a threshold at which point the compensating circuitry is turned off.
US08346285B2
A system and method is disclosed for detecting the presence and level of wireless communications activity within a predetermined area, without disclosing the identity of the wireless users, and for generating a message to certain information and communications devices in response to the detection of a predetermined level of wireless communications activity within the predetermined area. The information detected also may Include information relating to the general direction and rate of movement of detected wireless devices. The message generated in response to the detection of wireless communications activity may include wireless messages, including Short Message Service (SMS) messages, to persons desiring or needing to receive such information; messages to public officials and other interested persons; and automatic signals to devices such as computers, computer networks (including the internet and wireless networks), facsimile machines, signs, lights, loudspeakers, and other devices providing Information through other communication and Information media.
US08346272B2
A method of accommodating aberrant behavior in wireless devices in a wireless network includes the steps of establishing communication with at least one wireless device, monitoring signals received from the at least one wireless device, determining characteristics of the at least one wireless device based on the monitored signals, comparing the determined characteristics with prescribed characteristics for wireless devices exhibiting aberrant behavior and altering settings to accommodate the at least one wireless device, when the determined characteristics match the prescribed characteristics.
US08346271B2
The present invention relates a method for implementing a business of communication service level based on a user request. A calling user initiates a call request at least including the user's requirement information for the current communication service level; a network equipment receives the call request, detects the requirement information for the current communication service level in the call request, determines whether the user-network interface on the calling side has the capability of providing the communication service level; if yes, the network equipment analyzes the requirement information for the current communication service level and the utilization status of the network resources, obtains the strategy information relevant to the communication service level of the current call; said network equipment allocates user-network resources for the calling side according to the relevant strategy information and then the calling terminal and the called terminal establish call connection; if no, it doesn't respond to the requirement information for the current communication service level. The present invention implements the different requirements for the communication service level by the call request as the same calling user under different circumstances. It's convenient and simple to operate.
US08346265B2
Secure communication network user mobility apparatus and methods are disclosed. A mobile user that is locally connected to a first communication network in which a service is provided, but is associated with an independently controlled second secure communication network, may be authenticated for access to the service by the second communication network. This allows seamless user mobility between networks in a partner extranet or other collection of trusted networks based on existing inter-network user mobility relationships. Access control, monitoring, and reporting, for example, and possibly other functions, may also be provided.
US08346263B2
A method, system and memory are provided for enabling interoperability. A communication session between different communication systems, such as radio systems, operating using different protocols is initiated by receiving a scenario identifier from one of the user devices. An interoperability server receives the scenario identifier and accesses interoperability data to obtain the connection information corresponding the scenario matching the scenario identifier. The data includes scenarios for communication sessions and the connections required for each scenario. Once the interoperability server obtains the connection information, the communication session is initiated.
US08346248B2
A method and device for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device by determining if the mobile communications device is located within the cabin of an airplane. A condition parameter of the mobile communications device may be determined. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be disabled in response to the mobile communications device being located within an airplane and further in response to the determined condition parameter.
US08346242B2
The present invention overcomes the problem of S1 interface failure by redirecting user equipments to another radio basestation, or another RAT. This redirecting may be on a UE-by-UE basis, i.e. when a connection request is received, redirecting that UE, or may involve redirecting all UEs in a cell by broadcasting modified system information. The redirecting may be such that future traffic load, for example as caused by UEs performing tracking area updates, is minimized, by instructing UEs to redirect after a randomized period of time, or by locking the cell after a randomized period of time, for example. In yet further embodiments of the invention, the cell may be locked after a certain number of connection requests have been received. In this way, particularly busy cells can be locked sooner than would otherwise be the case.
US08346241B2
A method includes identifying, through a base station controller, a mobile device when the mobile device is within a coverage area of an antenna of a base station associated with the base station controller based on an identification data of the mobile device. The method also includes determining that the mobile device is within the coverage area based on a sequence of detection of the mobile device through the antenna and another antenna when the mobile device passes an access control point to enter the coverage area, and gaining, through the base station controller, control of an access of wireless communication associated with the mobile device based on the identification data when the mobile device is within the coverage area. The control is gained through the antenna generating a signal that is stronger than a wireless signal of a cell site associated with a wireless service to the mobile device.
US08346231B1
A method and system of establishing a conference call between end users provides initiating a request for at least one invitee to participate in the conference call. The request message is received on a first device prior to time the conference call is scheduled to begin. The message includes a hyperlink which may be activated to autonomously dial a number through the wireless device and connect with a conference call service provider. The conference call may be further accessed by satisfying one or more parameters necessary to enter the conference call. A communication link may be established between the at least one wireless device and the conference call service provider to begin the conference call via one or more autonomous conference call access operations.
US08346230B2
A system and method for delivering geographically restricted content, including but not limited to over-air broadcast programming, to a recipient over a computer network, namely the Internet. The content is only delivered over the computer network if the recipient's computer or network device requesting the content over the network is verified to be located in the geographically restricted area. A conventional tuner is employed by the recipient's computer to receive one or more over-air signals having a broadcast range deemed to be synonymous with the geographically restricted area for the requested content. If the tuner is able to receive such over-air signal(s), the requested content is delivered over the network to the recipient's computer. This is because the recipient is known to be physically located in the geographically restricted area by the ability of the tuner to receive the over-air signal(s).
US08346226B2
A method and system for creating a web listing using a mobile phone whereby a user, typically a business owner or a representative of the business, provides information/data associated with the business to a mobile application including an on-line directory service using a merchant mobile phone, or other mobile computing system, associated with the user and/or the business and/or a mobile application, and/or an SMS and/or another mobile communications network. The information associated with the business provided via the merchant mobile phone, or other mobile computing system, is then used by the on-line directory service to create an on-line presence for the business such as, but not limited to, an on-line web-listing for the business in the on-line directory that includes at least part of the information associated with the business provided via the merchant mobile phone, or other mobile computing system.
US08346218B2
A method, apparatus, and computer product for avoiding redundant data transmissions during communication via multimedia mobile phones. In operation, a sending party inquires whether intended for transmission data already resides in a mobile phone of a receiving party Depending on a content of the response from the receiving party, the sending party transmits the data or a request for displaying the already available data.
US08346217B2
Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for controlling access to one or more functions of a mobile device, or other computing device, based on information about activities of a user.
US08346213B2
A method of protecting AT commands during the interaction between the AT command module of a mobile terminal and the serial communication unit of an external device, comprising the steps of: receiving AT command from the serial communication unit to the AT command module at an initial state; putting the AT command module into an ID verification mode, wherein the AT command module receives a username and password from the serial communication unit in turn, and verifies said received username and password; and putting the AT command module into an AT command processing state, when the ID verification is successful. Therefore, it's impossible for an illegal user to take the control of the mobile terminal through AT command.
US08346210B2
An approach is provided for managing one or more services corresponding to a bearer tag (e.g., near field communication (NFC) tag, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, contactless card, or barcode). A request to manage a service is initiated by reading service information from a bearer tag corresponding to the one or more services. A services platform initiates management of the one or more services based on the service information according to a predetermined or recurring billing arrangement.
US08346206B1
A method for loading a customizable keypress tone package on a desired electronic device includes defining a customizable keypress tone package. The customizable keypress tone package can include one or more customizable keypress tones and can optionally include one or more customizable visual aids. A user requests installation of the defined customizable keypress tone package on the electronic device and the network sends the defined customizable keypress tone package to the electronic device. Once the device receives the package, the device installs the defined customizable keypress tone package on the electronic device.
US08346199B2
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board in the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a power amplifier and microphone mounted thereon. An antenna is carried within the housing and operative with the RF circuitry. An RF shield surrounds and isolates the microphone from the RF circuitry, power amplifier and antenna and shields the microphone from radiated energy generated from the RF circuitry, antenna or power amplifier.
US08346189B2
Implementations and examples of power amplifier devices, systems and techniques for amplifying RF signals, including power amplifier systems based on Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structures.
US08346186B1
A multiprocessor system used in a car, home, or office environment includes multiple processors that run different real-time applications. A dynamic configuration system runs on the multiple processors and includes a device manager, configuration manager, and data manager. The device manager automatically detects and adds new devices to the multiprocessor system, and the configuration manager automatically reconfigures which processors run the real-time applications. The data manager identifies the type of data generated by the new devices and identifies which devices in the multiprocessor system are able to process the data.A communication system for a mobile vehicle, home, or office environment includes multiple processors. The multiple processors each run an Open Communication system that controls how data is transferred between processors based on data content as opposed to the links that connect the processors together. The open communication system enables data or messages to be effectively transferred and processed for real-time applications or other server based applications that may be running on the multiple processors in a secure environment regardless of processors, locations, or data links.
US08346182B2
A radio communications system having a processing circuit, comprising a freely programmable logic control and processing receiving signals and transmission signals. The programming of the freely programmable logic control is modified in order to adjust the same to the sending operation and the receiving operation. Said modification carried out by charging and discharging the functional blocks in the freely programmable logic control via a bus system. The adjustment occurs without any interruption of the function of the radio communications system.
US08346176B2
A method and system for determining whether a given electromagnetic frequency is in use. An incoming signal is sampled and a test statistic is calculated based on the magnitude of the received samples and a predetermined constant. A determination is then made regarding whether the frequency is in use, based on whether the test statistic has exceeded a threshold.
US08346172B2
Systems and methods which place a spurious signal within a capture bandwidth of a tuner. Placement of the spur is preferably controlled to dispose the spur within a spur placement window, such as may be defined between traffic channels of an input signal. A tuner system operating in accordance with embodiments may be controlled to select a particular input frequency band comprising a plurality of traffic channels for frequency conversion and to determine local oscillator frequencies which result in most relevant spurs being placed outside of the tuner capture bandwidth. The local oscillator frequencies may be shifted to place a relevant spur remaining within the capture bandwidth of the tuner between traffic channels of the plurality of traffic channels. Embodiments operate to determine frequency offset between a transmitter and a tuner to determine the midpoint between channels.
US08346168B2
A method of communicating with short range wireless devices using a mobile terminal includes selectably communicating with a plurality of portable wireless devices to support at least one operating mode. The mobile terminal includes a short range communication module configured to be connected to and communicate with a plurality of paired short range portable wireless devices, an input unit for recognizing an external input received to configure the mobile terminal to support at least one operating mode with at least one portable wireless device, and a controller configured to support the at least one operating mode with the at least one portable wireless device, the controller controlling the short range communication module such that the short range communication module selectively communicates with the plurality of portable wireless devices to support a first operating mode.
US08346165B2
An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text/audio/visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio/visual/text entry mechanisms.
US08346164B2
An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text/audio/visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio/visual/text entry mechanisms.
US08346161B2
When a transmission request for new data is issued under a situation where a plurality of data are transmitted to a specific service area from a plurality of service areas, a feeder link station searches an available frequency to be allocated to the new data in a down-link frequency band of the specific service area, and when any of data communications is completed, allocates a down-link frequency band used in the data communication as a down-link frequency band for the new data. A satellite repeater arranges the new data on the down-link frequency band right after the data communication is completed following a relay control by the feeder link station.
US08346159B2
Configuring a cellular telecommunications network base station repeater for use at a particular location includes performing data collection activity at the location to obtain an indication of the transmit frequency of a nearby base station of the cellular telecommunications network. The repeater is then set to amplify received signals at that frequency. By only amplifying this particular frequency, the repeater can provide cellular telecommunications coverage at a location (for example a basement) where coverage might not otherwise be available by amplifying only the relevant frequency. This is in contrast to amplifying indiscriminately a wide range of frequencies, which can interfere with other radio transmissions.
US08346158B2
A repeater system combines co-located antennas, an intentional imbalance in signal amplification between downlink and uplink, stability management and an amplification indicator to create a user-installed solution to co-channel interference within cellular systems, in strong signal environments such as elevated locations or high-rise building. The invention may be particularly relevant to cellular systems, such as CDMA, that allow limited imbalance between uplink and downlink path losses, thus enabling the design of an inexpensive repeater with a weaker or non-existent uplink, and which creates moderate signal amplification for selected line-of-sight signals, defeating co-channel interference over a small area. The difference in signal amplification on the downlink and uplink is maintained at a level below the capacity of the system to support imbalance, guaranteeing reliable cellular calls.
US08346151B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming sections respectively including developing portions and first removing portions as defined herein; a plurality discharging pipes as defined herein; and a delivery pipe as defined herein, the delivery pipe includes a changing portion in which a direction of delivering the coloring materials is changed to an upper side, and, among the discharging pipes, a discharging pipe that is downward extended from one of the first removing portions that is placed on a most downstream side in the oblique direction is disposed downstream from the changing portion of the delivery pipe in the delivering direction, and has a length shorter than lengths of the other discharging pipes.
US08346136B2
There is provided a developer carrying device, including a first carrying body having a first electrode group configured to form a traveling electric field while being applied a voltage sequentially and to circulate charged developer through a facing portion with respect to a developer supply target; and a second carrying body having a second electrode group configured to form a traveling electric field while being applied a voltage sequentially and to circulate the developer through a facing part with respect to the first electrode group so that the developer being carried is supplied to the first carrying body.
US08346135B2
A powder conveyance device includes a powder conveyance pipe having a first conveyance section communicating with the powder container section and having a supply inlet to receive powder from a powder container. A second conveyance section is provided in the powder conveyance pipe to communicate downstream with the first conveyance section via a first bending section. The second conveyance section downwardly extends to the conveyance destination being inclined from a horizontal at a larger angle than the first conveyance section. A third conveyance section is also provided in the powder conveyance pipe to communicate downstream with the second conveyance section via a second bending section. The third conveyance section extends toward the conveyance destination being inclined from the horizontal at a smaller angle than the second conveyance section. The third conveyance section has a replenishment outlet for replenishing the powder from the powder conveyance pipe to the powder conveyance destination.
US08346132B2
An image forming unit has a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier, a charge member positioned to contact the electrostatic latent image carrier and charge a surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a developing part, which supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier for obtaining a developer image. The charge member includes a conductive elastic layer and a surface layer formed on a circumferential surface of the conductive elastic layer. The surface layer contains particles having an average particle size of 5 μm-20 μm; and a ratio of a surface area per unit area of the surface layer is in a range from 1.5 to 3.0.
US08346124B2
An image forming device includes a casing having a guide and a drawer configured to be movable between an inner position in which the drawer is located at an inner side of the casing and an outer position in which the drawer is located at an outer side of the casing. The drawer may include a plurality of photosensitive drums and a support disposed closer to a rear edge of the drawer than a front edge of the drawer. The guide may include a main guiding surface and one or more inclined surfaces. An engagement of the support with the one or more inclined surfaces of the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during movement of the drawer between the inner position and the outer position.
US08346115B2
A power supply circuit identification device for identifying a type of a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit having an input terminal to which a control signal for controlling electrical power supplied to an electrical load is input and an output terminal from which a detection signal that indicates whether the electrical power corresponding to the control signal is supplied to the electrical load is output, at least one of the input terminal and output terminal being plurally provided and having a type-dependent correlation between the input and output terminals. The identification device includes: a control section configured to input the control signal to the power supply circuit via the input terminal; a reading section configured to read the detection signal from the output terminal; and an identification section configured to identify a type of the power supply circuit based on a reading result from the reading section.
US08346111B2
A main controlling part is configured to choose and execute either a constant belt speed control which controls a driving motor (a driving source for an intermediate transfer belt) to move the intermediate transfer belt at a predetermined target belt speed or a constant motor speed control which rotates the driving motor at a predetermined target rotational speed according to a print command, and then, prior to a first-time print job, after executing a writing position correcting process while moving the intermediate transfer belt under the constant belt speed control, forms a color shift detecting image by switching from the constant belt speed control to the constant motor speed control, measures a difference between amounts of color shift, and executes a speed correcting process for correcting the target rotational speed of the driving motor in the constant motor speed control based on the measurement result.
US08346105B2
An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.
US08346100B2
A method and apparatus for use in an optical receiver are provided for monitoring the received optical power in the optical receiver over wide range of optical power levels with high accuracy. An adjustable resistor circuit of the apparatus has a first resistor and one or more second resistors that may be switched into and out of parallel with the first resistor to vary the resistance of the adjustable resistor circuit. A controller of the optical receiver controls the switching of the one or more second resistors into and out of parallel with the first resistor. Varying the resistance of the adjustable resistor circuit in this manner causes the value of the analog voltage signal representing the received optical power to be varied prior to being input to the ADC of the controller. In this way, the amplitude of the analog voltage signal is reduced when it is at the high end of the received power range so as not to exceed the input range of the ADC of the controller IC. When the amplitude of the analog voltage signal is at the lower end of the input range of the ADC, the amplitude of the analog voltage signal is not reduced. In this way, a wide range of received power is monitored with high accuracy.
US08346076B2
An inspection device for visually inspecting an image sensor of a digital recording device, such as a digital camera. The inspection device includes a tubular housing and a lens mounted therein. The housing is configured to engage a lens interface of a camera body. A lighting assembly is provided that is configured to illuminate the image sensor when the inspection device is coupled to a digital camera body so that the image sensor may be visually inspected for contamination.
US08346067B2
A media system and method for distributed trick play resolution using user preferences. The method of distributed trick play resolution in a distributed media group network, includes: determining trick play preferences at each of a plurality of peer nodes in the distributed media group network with respect to a media item; and resolving conflicting trick play preferences between the peer nodes based on the determined trick play preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08346065B2
An apparatus for and method of storing video data comprising receiving an MPEG video stream comprising I-frames and P-frames, separating the I-frames from the P-frames, storing the I-frames and the P-frames separately, and providing information so that the I-frames and the P-frames can be combined to produce a full-motion video.
US08346061B2
The digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus inputs a digital signal having a control flag as to a temporary copy permission, and records the digital signal temporarily into a recording medium in accordance with conditions in the control flag, then reproducing the digital signal temporarily from the recording medium in accordance with the conditions in the control flag. The recording/reproducing of the temporary copy is permitted, depending on the following conditions: The recording medium's type, the reproducing point-in-time, the reproducing time-period, and the reproducing frequency. With this method employed, even in a program permitting no recording, the temporary recording/reproducing is permitted under a condition of being limited to the time-shift recording on the receiving side.
US08346059B2
A data reproducing apparatus, which is capable of reproducing stream data according to time stamps without need to have an independent time counting clock. At step S141, it is determined whether a received access unit has a time stamp. When the access unit has a time stamp, the flow advances to step S142. At step S142, a value of the time stamp is set. When the access unit does not have a time stamp. The flow advances to step S144. At step S144, a value corresponding to the previous pic_struct is added to the current time. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S143. At step S143, the current pic_struct is stored for the next process. The present invention is capable of being applied to for example a game device using a DVD.
US08346049B2
Disclosed is a captioned video playback apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; and a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit.
US08346047B2
A fiber management component includes a housing having an interior, a floor in the interior and a first wall having an aperture communicating with the interior. A platform is connected to the housing, which platform has a first portion with a bore that has a first end facing the aperture and a second portion forming a channel extending toward the bore. The channel is configured to releasably secure a spring push of a fiber optic connector to the platform and the bore is configured to slidably support a ferrule of a fiber optic connector.
US08346041B2
The present invention relates to an optical communications system that allows improving OSNR while suppressing the power increase of pumping light for distributed Raman amplification. In the optical communications system, an optical fiber is laid in a transmission section between a transmitter station (or repeater station) and a receiver station (or repeater station), and optical signals are transmitted from the transmitter station to the receiver station via the optical fiber. In the optical communications system, pumping light for Raman amplification, outputted by a pumping light source provided in the receiver station, is fed into the optical fiber via an optical coupler, and the optical signals are distributed-Raman-amplified in the optical fiber. The transmission loss and the effective area of the optical fiber satisfy, at the wavelength of 1550 nm, a predetermined relationship.
US08346032B2
An optical fiber sensor has a measurement path and a reference path. Both paths each consist of two optical fibers and are fed with modulated light. The fibers of the reference path have a predefined difference in length, whereas the fibers of the measurement path are the same length. All fibers are at approximately the same temperature. An evaluation circuit determines the phase differences in each case between the fibers of the measurement path and of the reference path. A measurement value calculated from the phase differences is then output.
US08346031B2
A micro-resonator sensor uses an evanescent wave of a total reflection mirror. The sensor includes an input waveguide for guiding inspection light incidented on one end section to the other section. A total reflection mirror is disposed at the other section of the input waveguide such that an incident angle made with the input waveguide is larger than a total reflection threshold angle at which the inspection light is totally reflected, and includes a receptor provided on the other side from the side on which the inspection light is incidented and combined with a measurement-subject material. An output waveguide is disposed at a certain output angle relative to the total reflection mirror for outputting a reflection light whose intensity changes according to the measurement-subject material due to an interaction between the evanescent wave generated by the inspection light incidented to the total reflection mirror and the measurement-subject material.
US08346028B2
The optical device includes a waveguide on a base. The device also includes a modulator on the base. The modulator includes an electro-absorption medium configured to receive a light signal from the waveguide. The modulator also includes field sources for generating an electrical field in the electro-absorption medium. The electro-absorption medium is a medium in which the Franz-Keldysh effect occurs in response to the formation of the electrical field in the electro-absorption medium. The field sources are configured so the electrical field is substantially parallel to the base.
US08346027B2
Provided is an electro-optic device. The electro-optic device includes an input Y-branch comprising a first input branch and a second input branch, an output Y-branch comprising a first output branch and a second output branch, a first optical modulator and a second optical modulator connected in series between the first input branch and the first output branch, and a third optical modulator connecting the second input branch to the second output branch. The first optical modulator comprises a PIN diode, and each of the second optical modulator and the third optical modulator comprises a PN diode.
US08346026B2
Provided are a photoelectric device using a PN diode and a silicon integrated circuit (IC) including the photoelectric device. The photoelectric device includes: a substrate; and an optical waveguide formed as a PN diode on the substrate, wherein a junction interface of the PN diode is formed in a direction in which light advances; and an electrode applying a reverse voltage to the PN diode, wherein N-type and P-type semiconductors of the PN diode are doped at high concentrations and the doping concentration of the N-type semiconductor is higher than or equal to that of the P-type semiconductor.
US08346021B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an image processing system. The image processing system may comprise a content detection module having an input to receive a sequence of input pixels and configured to generate an adjustable parameter based on detected differences between adjacent pairs of input pixels, and a digital filter having an input for the sequence of input pixels and a control input coupled to an output of the content detection module. The digital filter may adjust filtering coefficients according to the parameter.
US08346002B2
An apparatus and method provide for providing an output image from an input image. The input image may contain at least one portion that does not display certain desired information of the image, such as texture information. The desired information may be obtained from a second portion of the input image and applied to the at least one portion that does not contain the texture information or contains a diminished amount of the texture information. Also, at least one characteristic of the second portion of the input image may not be applied to the at least one portion such as illumination information. In another example, the input image may be decomposed into multiple parts such as a high frequency and a low frequency component. Each component may be hallucinated individually or independently and combined to form the output image.
US08345999B2
Disclosed is a system and method for monochrome or binary compression, and more particularly compression of binary images segmented in a binary domain into at least two regions of different image types, where the regions are compressed using different compression techniques.
US08345996B2
Several methods and a system to perform determination of a field referencing pattern are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is disclosed. A motion vector of a previously coded frame is analyzed using a processor and a memory. A statistic is updated based on whether the motion vector includes one or more of a fractional pel vertical component, a half pel vertical component, and an integer pel vertical component. A field referencing pattern of a target field is determined based on the statistic and an exception protocol.
US08345977B2
A method for processing a document image includes: performing horizontal and vertical text line extraction on the document image; providing an overlapping matrix, a value of an element of the overlapping matrix indicating an overlapping relation between horizontal and vertical text lines; merging the overlapping matrix in the vertical and horizontal direction; determining one or more text overlapping regions in the document image, based on the values of the elements of the merged overlapping matrix; counting the total number of strokes or pixel points in the horizontal and vertical text lines, respectively, within one of the one or more text overlapping regions; and determining an orientation of the text overlapping region is horizontal if the total number of strokes or pixel points in the horizontal text lines is larger than that in the vertical text lines, otherwise, determining the orientation is vertical.
