US08371781B2
Described are track fitting assemblies having a main body, at least one pre-loaded stud assembly, and a track comprising a pair of lips. The at least one pre-loaded stud assembly includes a stud and a compressing device, wherein the stud does not contact the compressing device in a clamped position and does not contact the pair of lips in an unclamped position. As examples, track fitting assemblies also include at least one shear plunger assembly having a shear pin and a button, wherein the button extends from the main body and the shear pin is positioned within the main body in a disengaged position, and the button is positioned flush with the main body and the shear pin is extended from the main body in an engaged position.
US08371773B2
A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to create at least a partial momentary seal to encourage article movement through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential. The tube and the baffle apertures can have non-circular cross-sectional shapes.
US08371767B2
A threaded device is embodied in the form of an anti-twisting stop which is rotatably connected to a traction-pressure rod. Two oppositely located ratchet devices are connected by a body to stop the traction-pressure rod in several rotational positions with a predetermined locking force and, afterwards, to release it each time. The threaded device facilitates the mounting of the traction-pressure rod by the fact that the twisting should not be locked by additional handling, thereby making it possible to carry out a fine adjustment without additional measures. The ratchet device comprises, for example, two ratchet elements provided with one or several catch lugs or a metal or plastic ring part on one side and a gear rim on the other side. In addition, the threaded device can be provided with a spring element and a second anti-noise threaded device.
US08371762B2
An optical fiber connector includes a connector hold, a connector body and a number of optical fibers. The hold defines a receiving recess. The connector body is held in the receiving recess of the connector hold. The optical fibers pass through the connector hold and are attached to the connector body. The connector body includes two engagement blocks formed on opposite side surfaces thereof. The connector hold defines two grooves corresponding to the engagement blocks. The engagement blocks are engaged in the corresponding grooves. The connector body is restricted by the groove in the receiving recess from tilting relative to the connector hold.
US08371761B2
A multipart end-piece adaptor that holds a fiber for stripping, cleaning and splicing that converts into a protective housing for the spliced fiber includes a first adaptor part having a guide sleeve and a second adaptor part that cooperates with the first adaptor part, the second adaptor part having a stripping apparatus. The second adaptor part can be a consumable that, once actuated and removed to strip the fiber, cut the fiber and clean the fiber in one action may be discarded. A further adaptor part engages two first adaptor parts with a guide opening for a coated optical fiber to form a protective housing around the spliced optical fiber.
US08371753B2
Bearing arrangement for a shaft rotatable around an axis of rotation comprising a first bearing for rotatably mounting an end of the shaft for rotation thereof around the axis of rotation, and a second bearing for pivotably mounting the end of the shaft for pivoting movements out of the axis of rotation, and an arrangement comprising a shaft, as well as an oscillator, each comprising the bearing arrangement.
US08371752B2
A packaging container, including a flexible plastic wall with a region between an interior wall and exterior wall, the region being defined by at least one sealed or glued seam which is in at least a partial region selectively permeable to gas and has a reduced degree of bonding before sealing or gluing over at least said partial region. The region is formed by an overlap of a flat plastic web. The overlap is arranged between the two outer edges of the flat film. The at least one glued or sealed seam includes one or both of longitudinal seams. The interior wall includes at least one opening having a size sufficient to allow gas to escape from an interior portion of the container and to enter into the region between the interior and exterior walls. The at least one opening is located at a spaced distance from the at least one sealed or glued seam. At least one spacer is located between the at least one opening and the at least one sealed or glued seam.
US08371744B2
A mixer for mixing at least two-components of a dental material comprises a mixing rotor with a coupling for coupling with a drive shaft for driving the mixing rotor. Further a device for dispensing at least two components of a dental material comprises a drive shaft for driving a mixing rotor of a mixer. The coupling of the mixer and/or the device comprises at least one guiding ridge which preferably facilitates coupling to the drive shaft.
US08371737B2
A foldable light source module and a backlight module with the light source module are provided. The light source module includes a first substrate, first light sources, a second substrate, and second light sources. The first substrate has a first surface and a first connecting portion. The first light sources are arranged in a line and disposed on the first surface. A first gap is kept between the neighboring first light sources. The second substrate which has a second surface and a second connecting portion is disposed parallel to the first substrate, wherein the second surface faces the first surface, and the second connecting portion connects to the first connecting portion. The second light sources are arranged in a line and disposed on the second surface. A second gap is kept between the neighboring second light sources. At least a portion of the second light source extends into the corresponding first gap and, conversely, at least a portion of the first light source extends into the corresponding second gap.
US08371735B2
Provided is a multi-layer light guide apparatus. Various optical paths are formed as a light source emits light into the apparatus. Main structure of the apparatus includes a body and a micro-structured layer. The body has a first layer with first refractive index (n1) and a second layer with second refractive index (n2). The first layer has a first critical angle (θC1). An interface critical angle (θC12) is formed between the associated first layer and second layer. The light then outputs as the light propagates through the layers. The micro-structured layer is formed on a side of the body. It features: n1
US08371729B2
A keyed mounting arrangement for a light or other object mountable on a mounting rail having a keying feature may comprise a body containing operating elements; a clamping arrangement including clamp members on the body for clamping and releasing the mounting rail; and a keying member removably disposed in a recess located on the body in a predetermined location and having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the body is clamped to the mounting rail. Where the object is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, the keying member may be selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.
US08371727B2
A rectangular luminaire includes a rectangular fixture defining at least one cavity having a plurality of light engines. A heat flange is disposed about a distal end region of the rectangular fixture and includes a hollow, generally pyramidal frustum shape with a generally rectangular cross-section. A distal-most end of the heat flange is configured to be disposed a distance D from a support surface when the rectangular fixture is received in a recess of the support surface, the distance D being greater than or equal to 0.4 times the fixture half-width W. Thermal energy is conductively transferred from the light engine, through the rectangular fixture, to the heat flange where the thermal energy is convectively transferred from the heat flange to surrounding air to create air currents flowing along the support surface thereby reducing the junction temperature.
US08371725B2
A shaped optical prism structure for mounting on an upward light-outgoing surface of a street light or wall lamp to change the direction of light through about 360 o by means of a recessed flat incident surface, a recessed primary full-reflection surface and a curved light-distribution surface formed of a series of sloping surfaces and to enable the light to be projected onto the floor.
US08371721B2
A LED (light emitting diode) element and a LED light thereof are revealed. The LED element includes a resin base, a LED chip embedded in the resin base and at least two leads formed by an upper part and a lower part. A top end of the upper part is mounted in the resin base and is electrically connected with the LED chip so as to make the LED chip emit light. A bottom end of the upper part extends out of the resin base and connects with a top end of the lower part. The LED element is combined with a light housing to be used. Thereby the lead will not rust easily and break due to bending. This is suitable for outdoor use, environmental protection and energy savings.
US08371716B2
A linear light-emitting module including a conducting line, a plurality of LED packages, and a plurality of package colloid is provided. The conducting line includes a pair of conducting wires which are isolated from each other and a light-guiding insulating material. The light-guiding insulating material partially covers the conducting wires so as to expose a plurality of local portions. The LED packages are disposed between the conducting wires, and each of the LED packages is electrically connected to one of the local portions, wherein each LED package has a light-emergence surface, and the light-emergence surface is substantially perpendicular to an extension direction of the corresponding local portion. The package colloid cover the LED packages and the local portions. A textile product having the foregoing linear light-emitting module is also provided.
US08371715B2
An LED illuminator module with high heat-dissipating efficiency and manufacturing method therefore is provided. The LED illuminator module includes a flat heat pipe (FHP) formed with a flat surface, an insulated layer formed on the plane of the flat heat pipe, a conducting layer having a pair of conducting electrode portions, a plurality of LEDs, and an encapsulation covers the LEDs. The insulation layer has a pair of insulated electrode portions and a plurality of LED-setting portions. The conducting electrode portions partially covered on the insulated electrode portions. The LEDs are disposed on the LED-setting portions and electrically connect to the pair of conducting electrode portions respectively. The encapsulation contains phosphor powder therein. The present invention solves the heat-dissipating problem of high-efficiency light module with the LEDs, and shorten heat-conductive path to enhance heat-dissipating efficiency.
US08371697B2
A method for image projection on a screen, including providing an image to be projected on the screen, determining excitation light representing the image, and illuminating with the excitation light at least one light excitable layer disposed on the screen, wherein the light excitable layer is configured to be stimulated for the emission of visible light based on the excitation light.
US08371679B2
There is provided a liquid ejecting head unit that includes a liquid ejecting head ejecting liquid by driving a pressure generating element. The liquid ejecting head unit includes: the liquid ejecting head that includes first wiring substrates each having a connection wiring electrically connected to the pressure generating element and a support member that supports at least two first wiring substrates in different positions; a second wiring substrate that is commonly connected to the connection wirings of a plurality of the first wiring substrates electrically; and a head substrate to which the second wiring substrate is electrically connected. A connection portion connected to the head substrate is aligned on one face side of the second wiring substrate.
US08371678B2
The invention provides for a printhead assembly that has a number of modular PCBs and a number of printhead integrated circuits (ICs). Each of the printhead IC's is respectively connected to one of the modular PCBs for operative control. Modular supports in the assembly define a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. Each PCB has electrical connecting strips which operatively overlie the respective recessed portions. At least one connecting member operatively connects respective PCBs to each other. Each connecting member has a series of parallel spaced conducting strips. The member is shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via the conducting strips. The assembly also has a printer controller configured to synchronize operation of the respective PCBs during printing.
US08371677B2
An inkjet printing apparatus is provided by which, even under an environment in which water in ink easily evaporates (e.g., a high temperature and a low humidity), the humidification of the ambience near the nozzle opening can be provided by the control depending on the temperature and humidity or the printing mode. Thus, such an inkjet printing apparatus is provided that can provide a high-quality printing while reducing the amount of waste ink or cost. To realize this, ink is ejected to the platen absorber and is humidified. Then, water evaporated from the platen absorber is used to humidify the nozzle section of the print head.
US08371671B2
A printing apparatus includes a conveying mechanism, a printing unit, a drying unit, and a control unit. The conveying mechanism conveys a sheet and the printing unit applies an ink onto the sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism to perform print operation. The drying unit may dry the sheet on which an ink has been applied by the printing unit. The control unit controls the conveying mechanism, the printing unit, and the drying unit. The control unit controls the conveying mechanism to vary a sheet conveyance amount per unit time while print operation of one job is in progress. The control unit further controls the drying unit depending on variation in the sheet conveyance amount while the print operation of the one job is in progress.
US08371670B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus which jets liquid droplets of a liquid onto a recording medium includes: a jetting head having a channel unit in which a plurality of nozzles for jetting the liquid droplets and a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles respectively are formed, and a pressure applying section which applies a pressure to the liquid inside the pressure chambers; and a controller having a pressure calculating section which calculates a pressure in the channel unit, and controlling the pressure applying section to execute: a duty limiting in which a jetting amount of the jetting head for a predetermined time period is limited to a first jetting amount when the pressure in the channel unit calculated by the pressure calculating section satisfied a predetermined condition; and a flushing in which the pressure applying section is driven irrespective of a jetting operation onto the recording medium.
US08371665B2
An integrated noise attenuator and kick panel are provided for attenuating noise emanating from an appliance such as a dishwasher, washer, dryer, or refrigerator. The kick panel includes an elongated panel member having side flaps which are biased laterally against cabinets or other structures disposed on each side of the appliance. The elongated panel member is also provided with a textured noise attenuating surface on the back thereof which, along with the side flaps, attenuates and absorbs the sound and vibration emanating from the appliance.
US08371661B2
The invention relates to a brake system which comprises an actuating device (26), especially a brake pedal (30), and a control/regulation device (22). Said control/regulation device (22) controls an electromotive drive device (8) in response to the movement and/or position (38) of the actuating device (30). The drive device (8) adjusts a piston (1) of a piston/cylinder system via a non-hydraulic transmission device (6), thereby adjusting a pressure in the working compartment (4′) of the cylinder (4). Said working compartment (4′) is connected to a wheel brake (15, 17) via a pressure conduit (13). In case of drive device (8) failure, the actuating device (26) adjusts the piston (1) or the drive device (8).
US08371651B2
A child seat mountable vehicle seat, includes: a seat skin including a front skin and a rear skin; a stitched portion; and a non-stitched portion formed in the stitched portion to define an opening from which a metal striker is projected. An extension portion of the front skin is turned over and extends forwards, while an extension portion of the rear skin extends forwards further than the metal striker. A trim plate is applied along an inner surface side of the rear skin, and in the non-stitched portion, the extension portion of the front skin is superposed on the extension portion of the rear skin with respect to a direction in which a latching device is moved to latch the metal striker.
US08371649B2
A bicycle saddle structure includes a load-bearing shell having an elongate front portion, a widened rear portion and a bottom surface with a front seat and a rear seat which are formed at a predetermined minimum distance (dMu\l) therebetween, rails with a rear end portion, and a front end portion which is designed to interact with the front seat of the shell. The rails have a maximum longitudinal extension (Ir) longer than the predetermined minimum distance (dMu\l) between the seats. The structure includes a cam linkage member which is designed to be interposed between the front seat of the shell and the front portion of the rails to cause the shell to be snap fitted to the rails. A method of assembly of the above bicycle saddle structure is also provided.
US08371648B2
An active headrest apparatus for a vehicle seat. A contact area in which the upper body of a person who is seated in a car in the event of a rear-end collision of the car is moved backward due to an inertial force and contacts a back plate can be increased, and a distance at which a headrest is moved and rises can be increased so that the function of an active headrest can be more faithfully performed and neck injury of the person who is seated in the car can be prevented to the maximum.
US08371639B2
A door assembly for a vehicle includes an exterior panel and an impact beam coupled to the exterior panel and spaced from an interior surface of the exterior panel a gap distance. A bracket is attached to the impact beam via a snap fit connection. The bracket includes an outboard surface disposed between the impact beam and the interior surface to at least partially span the gap distance. The snap fit connection allows for repositioning and removal of the bracket from the door assembly without negatively affecting the structural integrity of the impact beam.
US08371638B2
A multi-part drive shaft for a transit vehicle door comprises an upper drive shaft connected to a door operating mechanism and having a door panel operating arm extending therefrom, a lower drive shaft journaled for rotation, a door panel operating arm extending therefrom and a flexible drive shaft secured at one end to the upper drive shaft and at the other end to the lower drive shaft. Rotation of the upper drive shaft will transfer torque to the lower drive shaft at the same angular speed.
US08371637B2
A motor vehicle is provided with a panorama screen, a pull-out roller blind, more preferably sun roller blind, for covering said screen and at least one support member for supporting the at least partially pulled-out roller blind against the screen. The support member relative to the pull-out roller blind is moveably guided on the screen.
US08371636B1
A shield configured for use within a vehicle for protecting an occupant of a seat in the vehicle from a force emanating from at least a region beneath the occupant. The seat has a supporting surface for supporting the occupant. The shield includes a deflecting member having more than one deflecting surface portion for deflecting the force away from the seat. The deflecting member is positioned near a side of the seat opposite the supporting surface of the seat, and the deflecting surface portions are each inclined in a direction toward each other at a first edge and away from the seat at a second edge.
US08371627B2
A latch-bolt mechanism includes a housing, a latch-bolt, and a drive member. The latch-bolt is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and includes a bolt body and an engaging member operable to move relative to the bolt body between an engagement position and a disengagement position and having an engaging portion. The drive member has a driving portion. When the engaging member is at the engagement position, the driving portion can be activated to contact and push the engaging portion so as to move the latch-bolt from the extended position to the retracted position. When the engaging member is at the disengagement position, contact between the driving portion and the engaging portion can be prevented.
US08371624B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of devices and kits for making barrettes covered with ribbon. One embodiment of a device for making decorated barrettes comprises a base having a substantially planar surface with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a securing member connected to the substantially planar surface proximate to the first end and configured to secure a barrette and at least one elongated holder connected to the substantially planar surface proximate the second end. The at least one elongated holder comprises a plurality of raised portions extending outward from the substantially planar surface in close proximity to one another to define slits there between configured to retain an individual ribbon.
US08371622B2
A sealing ring and a method of preventing or stopping a joint leak between a pipe and a pipe fitting to minimize property damage as well as clean up costs occurring from property damage due to joint leaks by securing a sealing ring to the pipe and the pipe fitting to form a secondary joint that inhibits or prevent leakage between the primary joint between the pipe and the pipe fitting.
US08371613B2
A pipe includes a cutout portion through which levers of a ring gear enter the pipe. An inner peripheral surface of the pipe opposing the cutout portion includes a curved inner peripheral surface in a curved portion of the pipe, a linear inner peripheral surface in a linear portion of the pipe, and a transition portion from the curved inner peripheral surface to the linear inner peripheral surface. The transition portion is located closer to a position where balls start to press the levers of the ring gear, than an intersection where an imaginary straight line α extending from a cutout end portion of the cutout portion intersects an imaginary extension line of the inner peripheral surface of the linear portion of the pipe at a right angle.
US08371608B2
An air bag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The air bag arrangement comprising an air bag package, having an air bag, which can be inflated to protect a vehicle occupant, and an envelope, in which the air bag is vacuum-packed, a gas generator for inflating the air bag, a gas generator support, on which the gas generator is fixed and a mounting element, fastened to the gas generator support, to house the air bag package. The mounting element has fastening means via which it is connected to the air bag package in a positive-locking manner and has multiple partial elements.
US08371607B2
A transportable shade device to provide a portable shaded area for outdoor workers. The structure features a wheeled frame which is engageable to be towed. A pair of opposing shade panels are rotationally engaged to a vertical support above a center section of said frame. Both panels rotate to an extended position to maximize shade to a seating area on the frame and rotate to a retracted position to minimize wind load on the structure during towing at highway speeds.
US08371603B2
A vehicle ball mount assembly includes a shank, an upper platform attached to the shank, and a lower platform attached to the shank and spaced from the upper platform. The lower platform extends beyond the upper platform. A first tow ball extends from the upper platform and a second tow ball extends from the lower platform.
US08371588B2
An actuator, which can be actuated along a longitudinal axis, in particular for a spring carrier, includes a stationary part, a first rotor, which can be driven so as to perform a rotary motion, a rotatable second rotor, which is supported against the stationary part in the axial direction in an axial rest position, a coupling device, by which the second rotor is coupled to the first rotor, and an output element, which is connected to the second rotor and can be moved axially by means of a rotary motion of the second rotor. The coupling device interacts with the first rotor and the second rotor in such a way that, starting from the rest position, an axial movement of the second rotor can be produced by means of a first rotary motion of the first rotor in order to release the second rotor from the stationary part and thereby bring it into a working position.
US08371582B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having a side wall in which an opening is formed; a cover for opening and closing the opening; and a guide member for guiding a printed recording sheet, arranged in a position facing to the opening. The guide member is pivotally supported at its lower end portion on the main body. When the cover is being opened and the guide member is pivoted around its lower end portion as a pivot axis so that an upper end portion of the guide member is tilted toward the opened cover and into a lying-back position, a second sheet-output passage is formed which extends from the image forming unit toward the opened cover through the opening. The guide member is movable to a position away from the opened cover when it is in the lying-back position.
US08371581B2
The method of detecting a mailpiece of the open mailpiece type such as a non-wrapped magazine consists in causing the mailpiece (3) to pass on edge through a first conveyor (2A) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while holding it tightly over substantially the entire height of the mailpiece, then to pass on edge through a second conveyor (2B) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while leaving a top end (3B) of the mailpiece free to fan out. Two measurements are taken of the thickness of the mailpiece (3) respectively when the mailpiece is in the first conveyor (2A) and when it is in the second conveyor (2B), for the purpose of determining, by differentially comparing the two measurements, whether the mailpiece is an open mailpiece.
US08371576B2
A media sheet stacking implement for an image forming apparatus according to one example embodiment includes an exit nip formed by a first exit roller and a second exit roller for advancing media in a media process direction along a media path and delivering the media to an output bin of the image forming apparatus. A pinching element is mounted along the media path downstream from the exit nip. The pinching element has at least one first member and at least one second member movable relative to the at least one first member between a closed state and an open state. An actuating mechanism is operatively coupled with the pinching element for moving the pinching element between the closed state and the open state to allow the pinching element to hold a trailing end of a media sheet to be delivered to the output bin when in the closed state.
US08371574B2
A sheet feeding device is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a body, a sheet cassette, a lifting plate, which is movable to an uplifted position when the sheet cassette is in the body and to a lowered position when the sheet cassette is outside the body, and uplifts the stack of sheets according to the uplifting movement thereof, a feeder to pick up and feed a topmost sheet, and a restrictive member, which is movable in association with the movement of the lifting plate. The restrictive member is in a restrictive position, in which at least a restricting part of the restrictive member is arranged over the stack of sheets, when the lifting plate is in the lowered position. The restrictive member is in a retracted position, in which the restrictive member is retracted off from the stack of sheets, when the lifting plate is in the uplifted position.
US08371571B2
A method for inserting a supplement into a multipage printed product having a back and composed of signatures and/or individual sheets, and being transported with the back oriented parallel to a conveying direction. The multipage printed product is supplied with a signature or an individual sheet projecting from the multipage printed product to define a predetermined separating location between the projecting signature or individual sheet and an adjacent signature or sheet. The multipage printed product is opened at the predetermined separating location and then the opening is expanded. The supplement is thereafter inserted into the expanded separating location.
US08371562B2
A cab mounting assembly attaches a cab to a chassis of a vehicle at the point of rotation of the cab when the cab is tilted. The cab mounting assembly provides two paths for the forces acting between the cab and the chassis. The static forces are supported by a bearing assembly which includes a relatively hard elastomeric member. The dynamic forces are supported by an elastomeric mount which includes a relatively soft elastomeric member. The elastomeric mount is attached to the bearing assembly and to a shock absorber. The bearing assembly is attached to the elastomeric mount and to an air spring assembly.
US08371559B2
An air-cleaning decorative humidifier, including mainly a support seat, a water receptacle, at least a shaft, a fan, and a water sub-receptacle; in which a base seat of the water receptacle is fixed to the bottom of the water receptacle; a first water opening is provided on the base seat of the water receptacle; a water valve is provided on the first water opening; the fan and the water sub-receptacle are provided in the support seat; a water level control rod is provided in the water sub-receptacle; the shaft is connected with at least a decoration directly or through a mechanism.
US08371536B2
An assembly for an aircraft including a first structure mounted to a second structure, and a power transfer assembly electrically connecting the first and second structures. The first structure is movable relative to the second structure between a retracted and an extended position. The power transfer assembly includes a housing, a spool mounted for rotation relative to the housing and biased to rotate in a first direction, and an electrical cable adapted to be wound around the spool when the spool rotates, such that movement of the first structure from its retracted to its extended position causes the cable to be unwound from the spool by rotation of the spool in a second direction opposite the first. Also, a method of electrically connecting the first and second structures. The invention may be applied to an aircraft wing to electrically connect a leading edge slat to a fixed aerofoil portion.
US08371532B2
A method of joining a wing to an aircraft fuselage by forming a series of pinned lug joints between a fuselage side and a wing side of a wing box structure. The joint forming process includes providing a single row of lugs on one side of the joint to be formed, and providing a respective double row of lugs on the other side of the joint to be formed. A gap between opposing lugs of the double row varies along the row. The wing side and the fuselage side of the wing box structure are brought together such that the lugs of the single row are located within the respective gaps between opposing lugs of the double row, and the lugs are pinned to form the series of pinned lug joints. Also, a joint formed by the method.
US08371529B2
The invention relates to an interconnection, including: a T-stringer which has a web portion and two foot portions; a Ω-stringer which has a comb portion and two foot portions; and a connection arrangement which joins together the foot portions of the T-stringer and of the Ω-stringer, wherein the connection arrangement joins together the T-stringer and the Ω-stringer, wherein the connection arrangement has a first and a second connection element, the connection elements connecting a first foot portion of the T-stringer to a first foot portion of the Ω-stringer, respectively, wherein the connection elements together have a substantially H-shaped outline, and wherein at least one angle bracket, in particular for connecting a former to the Ω-stringer and the T-stringer, is connected to the widening foot portions of the first and second connection elements.
US08371521B2
An exhaust duct system for a gas turbine engine that mounts within a tail cone of an aircraft, comprises an exhaust exit that exits one side of the tail cone offset from the axial centerline of the tail cone and an exhaust duct that couples the engine to the offset exhaust exit, with a straight section of the exhaust duct extending from the exhaust exit for a length that corresponds to at least one diameter of the exhaust duct.
US08371518B2
An apparatus for supporting and dispensing a pipe roll. The apparatus includes a frame that has opposite one and other frame ends; a first pair of rollers that are spacedly disposed and mounted at the one end of the frame; and a second pair of rollers that are spacedly disposed and mounted at the other end of the frame. The second pair of rollers are disposed in spaced relationship to the first pair of rollers. The first and second pairs of rollers all extend substantially in parallel to each other and define a circular locus with corresponding support points for the pipe roll. A free standing spool support structure is also disclosed.
US08371513B2
A track cover comprising slab-shaped cover elements (7) arranged between the rails (3) of the track (2) on rail level and, preferably, also slab-shaped cover elements (8) outwardly adjoining the rails (3). The cover elements (7, 8) comprise supporting bodies (9) at their rims (10) which face the rails (3), the cover elements resting on the rails (3) by means of these supporting bodies. The supporting bodies (9) which are arranged on the cover elements (7, 8) at their rims (10) that face the rails (3) are mounted on these cover elements so as to be shiftable in the rail-longitudinal direction (11). It is suitable if on each rim (10) of the cover elements (7, 8) that faces a rail (3) which is provided with the cover, at least two supporting bodies (9) are shiftably arranged. Preferably, the supporting bodies (9) are mounted to be shiftable in the rail-longitudinal direction (11) and to be pivotable about a geometric axis extending in parallel with the displacement direction.
US08371502B1
Exemplary embodiments provide for offer fulfillment utilizing a shopping center gift card and an offer fulfillment machine. A cardholder obtains the gift card and registers with an issuer to receive offers, discounts, and promotions electronically. The machine activates the gift card's offer purse, a subaccount associated with an offer. The machine notifies a cardholder of the promotional offer. To redeem an offer, the cardholder presents the gift card as payment to a merchant. No coupons are necessary. No change to the merchant's POS terminal is necessary. The machine matches, in memory, the offer purse to a standard transaction approval request. The machine determines eligibility for the promotion and updates an amount associated with the offer purse to thereby satisfy at least in part from the offer purse the standard transaction approval request. A purchase purse, another gift card subaccount, can optionally provide any remaining amount for the transaction.
US08371491B2
A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.
US08371479B2
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an integrated spray and wipe system and a method of using such a system. In one embodiment the system includes a fluid reservoir that extends through the center of a roll of cleaning material (e.g., paper towel roll). The tool houses cleaning fluid and cleaning wipes and, therefore, can be used to dispense liquid or cleaning wipes as needed.
US08371476B2
A bulk bag includes a shell and a gate valve assembly and is configured to retain a material. The gate valve assembly includes a gate which is slidable to selectively prevent and facilitate variation of rate of dispensation of material from the bulk bag and, more particularly, through an aperture defined by the shell of the bulk bag. The gate valve assembly has a configuration which, during movement of the gate to restrict dispensation of material through the aperture in the shell, renders the gate unlikely to snag with other portions of the bulk bag such as, for example, portions of the shell which define the aperture. Methods are also provided.
US08371465B2
A drywall extension sleeve for an electrical box includes a rectangular sleeve with upper and lower flanges. The extension box preferably has an outer dimension that mates with a drywall ring or box. The sleeve is preferably attached to a pre-wired assembly, which includes an electric cable and electrical box, drywall ring and the electrical component wired to the cable. The extension sleeve is positioned between the drywall ring or box and the electrical component. The electrical assembly is installed and drywall is then attached to the framed-in wall. An opening is provided through the drywall for the electrical component. The electrical component is then loosened and the extension sleeve and electrical component moved outwardly. Retention clips are placed in upper and lower flanges of the extension sleeve and the electrical component is tightened, drawing the extension and the component flush against the outer surface of the drywall.
US08371458B2
A ceiling rack includes a pair of transverse beams parallel to each other, at least one mesh unit and at least four supporting units. Each transverse beam has a side wall and a U-shaped hook body, and an assembly groove having an opening on a top surface thereof is formed therebetween. The mesh unit has a U-shaped end body at two opposite end portions thereof, which is assembled in the assembly groove and engaged with the U-shaped hook body. The supporting units are assembled between the side walls of the two opposite end portions of the transverse beam and the ceiling. With the U-shaped end body, the U-shaped hook body and the assembly groove, the mesh unit can be assembled in the assembly groove and engaged with the U-shaped hook body without any locking element, thereby providing the convenience of assembly and disassembly.
US08371457B2
A collapsible storage rack includes multiple rack members and a linkage assembly. At least one of the rack members includes a laterally extending body and a storage element that projects in a forward direction from the body. The rack members are shiftable along an upright extension direction and are shiftable relative to each other into and out of a collapsed condition. The linkage assembly shiftably interconnects the rack members and permits shifting movement of the rack members into and out of the collapsed condition.
US08371456B2
The present invention is a modular stacking system for continuous stack drying of millwork that is easily transported and takes up a minimal amount of floor space when assembled. The modular stacking system is comprised of modular stabilizing stackable blocks and lightweight cross members which allow the user to create multiple stacking layers. The design of the stackable blocks ensures that the stacking system remains stable even with a large number of layers.
US08371454B2
A bracket assembly for a rack is provided. The rack has a plurality of holes. The bracket assembly includes a bracket having multiple bracket holes, a base securely connected to the bracket, and a fastening member pivotally connected to the bracket. The base includes multiple connection members corresponding to the bracket holes. The fastening member includes a resilient leg and a fastening arm. The fastening arm has at least one fastening portion. One of the connection members is inserted into one of the holes of the rack. The fastening portion of the fastening arm is hooked to the rack so as to connect the bracket to the rack.
US08371447B2
A portable caddy, comprising: a base portion; a handle portion removably secured to an upper surface of the base portion, the handle portion having a pair of support members and an elongated member extending therebetween, the handle portion being configured to rotatably support a roll of paper towels above the upper surface of the base portion; a plurality of recessed areas disposed in the upper surface; and an opening in a side wall of the base portion, the opening providing access to a receiving area disposed between the upper surface and a bottom surface of the base portion, wherein the receiving area is configured to store a plurality of plates therein and wherein the opening allows removal of the plates from the receiving area and a rotatable base portion securable to a lower surface of the base portion, wherein the rotatable base portion allows the portable caddy to be rotated with respect to the rotatable base portion.
US08371436B2
A conveyor having a conveying face includes a side guard. The side guard is formed with a series of wall parts extending in a conveying direction and upstanding transversely to the conveying direction. At least two wall parts of the series of wall parts overlap in the conveying direction at least partly at a top side of the at least two wall parts remote from the conveying face.
US08371429B2
A paper sheet recognition apparatus includes a sensor that measures feature amounts of a paper sheet; a recognition unit that recognizes whether the paper sheet is genuine or counterfeit, and fit or unfit, based on the feature amount; a memory unit that stores therein a plurality of pieces of different category classification pattern information prepared for each category for classifying the paper sheets into a plurality of categories, which is obtained by combining the feature amounts; and a category determining unit that determines a category of the recognized paper sheet using a recognition result in the recognition unit and the category classification pattern information.
US08371427B1
A portable ramp for non-wheeled cargo such as, but not limited to, a personal watercraft, designed to assist the movement of cargo in and out of a truck or trailer bed. The invention is both light weight and collapsible for easy portability and stow ability. The invention consists of a composition of parts that facilitate quick assembly and disassembly. A plurality of square hollow tube rails, a plurality of center masts, a connection sleeve and a plurality self-braking wheels assist in the conveyance of cargo uphill with free spinning wheels and slow the cargo's movement downhill by engaging the wheels into a friction pad. The invention uses a wire cable that runs along the bottom of the said rails to strengthen the assembled ramp. This wire cable has adjustable tension and is engaged by extending the center mast downward creating a triangle shape.
US08371422B2
A torque plate for a vehicle brake is comprised of a sheet metal body. The sheet metal body includes a center opening that defines a lateral axis and a plurality of mounting holes. The center opening receives an axle housing and the mounting holes are used to secure the vehicle brake to the torque plate. Each mounting hole is defined by a center axis that is non-parallel to the lateral axis.
US08371421B2
A braking device is provided for braking or immobilizing a shaft in a work tool, particularly a saw chain, hedge shears or the like. The braking device has a brake band that at surrounds at least part of an area of the shaft, in which the brake band forms an effective plane, and two brake band holders with which the brake band may be placed under tension and released, in which at least one brake band holder is constructed movably, and in which a movable brake band holder is arranged with little space requirement in the braking device. At least one brake band holder is mounted outside the effective plane of the brake band so that it is rotatable about the axis of rotation or about an approximately parallel axis or shaft and/or so that it is able to be moved in a linear direction on a plane that is approximately orthogonal with the shaft.
US08371414B2
A system for electronically controlling seat belt load levels during an event includes a first and second compression member, and a seat belt webbing disposed between the first and second compression members. The first and second compression members may cooperate in a manner such that they may apply a selectively variable compression force to the seat belt webbing.
US08371413B2
A control device for a power transmitting device for four-wheel drive hybrid-vehicle is provided capable of preventing the occurrence of negative torque resulting from power generation control of a second electric motor MG2. Drive-force control executes a control such that rear-wheel output torque Tpr of rear wheels falls in a positive torque when first and second electric motors MG1 and MG2execute power generation controls, thereby preventing torques of front and rear wheels from orienting in different directions. Accordingly, the front and rear wheels have torques oriented in the same direction, thereby favorably preventing discomfort feeling during a vehicle running.
US08371409B2
A piping structure for transporting a fuel arranged between an engine and a fuel tank, is constructed by use of a resin tube that is formed in a straight tubular shape. The resin tube is flexed and bent at one or more points along a longitudinal direction of the resin tube to define one or more bent portions and thereby is provided with a predetermined bent shape. The resin tube is fixed in a motor vehicle body so as to retain the bent portions and thereby assembled in the motor vehicle body.
US08371397B2
A cartridge feed screw nut includes a body having a tubular threaded opening defined therein and having side portions. The side portions include a plurality of lateral surfaces and a plurality of end surfaces. The lateral surfaces and the end surfaces form a profile shaped to prevent rotation of the cartridge feed screw nut relative to a front washer cylinder through engagement between at least one of the lateral surfaces or the end surfaces with the front washer cylinder.
US08371385B2
The device described herein combines a subsea wellhead and a tree mandrel into a single piece. The wellhead includes a tree valve block having an upper and lower section. The lower valve block section is integral with the wellhead and includes access between the production line and the tubing annulus to the main bore of the wellhead.
US08371383B2
Subterranean formations, such as tight gas formations, may be subjected to hydraulic fracturing by introducing into the formation a fracturing fluid of an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer, a crosslinking agent and proppant. The fracturing fluid is prepared in a blender and then pumped from the blender into the wellbore which penetrates the formation. The fluid enters the reservoir through an entrance site. The apparent viscosity of the fluid decreases distally from the entrance site such that at least one of the following conditions prevails at in situ conditions: (a) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid 100 feet from the entrance site is less than 10 percent of the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid at the entrance site; (b) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid 15 minutes after introduction into the entrance site is less than 15% of the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid at the entrance site; or (c) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid is less than 10 cP within 15 minutes after being introduced through the entrance site.
US08371381B2
Mixtures of fibers and solid particles are effective for curing fluid losses and lost circulation in a subterranean well. Stiff fibers are more effective than flexible ones; however, mixtures of stiff and flexible fibers have a synergistic effect. The quantity and particle-size distribution of the solids are optimized according to the stiffness, dimensions and concentrations of fibers.
US08371376B2
A method to improve the effectiveness of MEOR or bioremediation processes. In this method toxic chemicals accumulated in subterranean sites adjacent to the water injection wells are either dispersed or removed prior to introduction of microbial inocula for enhanced microbial oil recovery or bioremediation of these sites.
US08371373B2
A method and apparatus for plugging leaking oil and leaking gas wells is disclosed. The apparatus includes a stepped structure capable of being mounted over the one of the leaking oil well and the leaking gas well. The stepped structure includes a plurality of structural modules arranged in a stacked form. A pipe arrangement capable of extracting one or effluents perpendicularly passes through the plurality of structural modules. One or more effluents are extracted from one of the leaking oil well and the leaking gas well. Additionally, one or more pressure relief pipes are provided to extract the one or more effluents. The one or more pressure relief pipes protrude outwardly through a peripheral surface of each of one or more structural modules. The pipe arrangement and the one or more pressure relief pipes enables extraction of the one or more effluents to reduce the pressure within the stepped structure.
US08371371B2
An apparatus for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from oil sand deposits, and applying heat energy to the deposit to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen is provided. A high-frequency generator feeds electric power to a linearly extended conductor loop at a predefined depth of an oil sand deposit, the inductance of the conductor loop is compensated in some sections or continuously. Advantageously, one of the conductors of the conductor loop may be disposed substantially in a vertical direction above the extraction pipe.
US08371368B2
Assemblies can be disposed in a subterranean bore. An assembly can include a body and a member that is made from a different material that the material from which the body is made. The member can be located in an opening in the body and can be coupled to the body. The member coupled to the body can define an inner diameter and form a seal for the inner diameter. The member can be milled to access an environment exterior to the member and the body for example to create a branch wellbore.
US08371366B2
An evaporator 1 is configured such that two heat exchange tube groups 16, each composed of a plurality of heat exchange tubes 15, are provided between a pair of header tanks 2, 3, while being separated from each other in a front-rear direction. Each of the header tanks 2, 3 includes two header sections 5, 6, 11, 12. Each header tank 2, 3 includes a first member 21, 93 to which the heat exchange tubes 15 are connected, and a second member 22, 94 which is joined to the first member 21, 93 and covers the side of the first member 21, 93 opposite the heat exchange tubes 15. Partition portions 41, 42 for dividing the interiors of the header section 5, 6, 11, 12 into upper and lower spaces 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are provided on the second member 22, 94 of the header tank 2, 3. Through holes 47, 51A, 101, 102 for establishing communication between the upper and lower spaces 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b of the header section 5, 6, 11, 12 are formed in the partition portions 41, 42. The second member 22, 94 is formed by bending a metal plate. This evaporator 1 requires a reduced number of components and facilitates production work.
US08371362B2
A method and apparatus for the production of a casting that includes pouring molten material into a mold for forming the casting, allowing the molten material to solidify, removing the mold at least in part from the resulting solidified casting, and locating the solidified casting in a chamber that completely surrounds and facilitates a controlled rate of cooling of the casting.
US08371356B2
A garage door apparatus includes a frame for mounting above an opening, the frame comprising a pair of spaced transverse frame members, a shaft rotatably coupled to the transverse frame members and extending along a longitudinal axis of rotation between the transverse frame members, a pair of spaced winding frames rigidly coupled to the shaft between the spaced transverse frame members, each of the winding frames having a plurality of side edges, a driver couplable to the shaft for rotating the shaft with respect to the transverse frame members, and a plurality of door panels hingedly coupled together and linked to the winding frames, each of the door panels being of equal width and having a longitudinal panel length, the plurality of door panels including at least one inner door panel and at least one outer door panel, wherein the winding frames are spaced apart a predetermined distance that is less than the longitudinal panel length of the plurality of door panels, such that when the winding frames are rotated by the driver about the axis of rotation, the side edges of the winding frames progressively engage each of the door panels, thereby moving the door panels between an extended position wherein the door panels obstruct the opening, and a retracted position wherein each door panel is wound onto one of the side edges of the winding frames, the opening is at least partially unobstructed, and the at least one outer door panel overlaps with the at least one inner door panel.
US08371349B2
The tread band of a tire has two circumferential portions, a central one and an inner intermediate one, respectively, that are subdivided into center and intermediate blocks respectively; an inner-shoulder circumferential portion has first and second inner-shoulder cuts, axially offset from each other and distributed in an alternated sequence, to confine a continuous inner-shoulder rest surface with an undulated course; and an outer intermediate circumferential portion has first and second intermediate cuts, and an outer-shoulder circumferential portion has first and second outer-shoulder cuts. The first and second intermediate cuts and the outer-shoulder cuts, respectively, mutually converge at an angle of about 20° and are axially offset from each other and circumferentially distributed in an alternated sequence, to delimit continuous rest surfaces, an intermediate and outer-shoulder surface respectively, with an undulated course.
US08371339B2
A fabric structure includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, a plurality of conductive yarns, and a plurality of connecting yarns. A yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer ranges from about 90% to about 100%. A yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer ranges from about 90% to about 100%. The conductive yarns are distributed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The connecting yarns interlace the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, so that the conductive yarns are sandwiched between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The conductive yarns and the connecting yarns are not interlaced.
US08371316B2
Apparatuses, device, and methods for cleaning tester interface contact elements and support hardware
A medium for predictably cleaning the contact elements and support hardware of a tester interface, such as a probe card and a test socket, while it is still in manual, semi-automated, and automated handling device and the electrical test equipment is disclosed. The cleaning material may include a cleaning pad layer and one or more intermediate layers that have predetermined characteristics.
US08371306B2
A surgical drape, system and method of using comprise a surgical drape having a fenestration to be placed over a surgical site of a patient. The surgical drape includes a barrier removably attached to the surgical drape and adapted for placement over a portion of the fenestration to prevent the start of the surgical procedure. Upon verification of a set of predetermined conditions, the barrier is removed by a member of the surgical staff in order to begin the surgical procedure.
US08371299B2
The delivery of a medicament to a mechanically ventilated patient may include the steps of delivering a respiratory maneuver to such a patient, monitoring the physiological effects of the respiratory maneuver on such patient, automatically establishing an adjustment to the respiratory maneuver in response to the monitored physiological effects, and delivering the adjusted respiratory maneuver to such a patient.
US08371296B2
Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. Precise delivery of nitric oxide at therapeutic levels of 20 to 100 ppm and inhibition of reaction of nitric oxide with oxygen to form toxic impurities such as nitrogen dioxide can provide effective inhalation therapy for pulmonary hypertension.
US08371295B2
A method and/or system for a breathable air safety system for both emergency and civilian personnel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a safety system includes a supply unit of a structure to facilitate delivery of a breathable air from a source of compressed air to an air distribution system of the structure, a civilian air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air such that the civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with the civilian air supply enclosure, a firefighter air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high-pressure is suitable to fill the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a RIC/UAC connector of the fill panel and/or a CGA connector.
US08371293B2
A cushion for a patient interface includes two or more bladders arranged in concentric relation. Each of the bladders includes a face-contacting portion adapted to engage the patient's face, and each of the bladders is adapted to be pressurized independently from one another. At least one of the bladders is an active bladder that is pressurized to at least a sealing pressure to form a continuous seal with the patient's face in use.
US08371275B2
A compressed-air system for supplying a compress-air injection module of a turbocharged internal combustion engine and the pneumatic systems of the vehicle comprises a compressor is provided. The compressor is connected via a line to a pressure accumulator for the supply of a compressed-air injection module and to a device for compressed-air preparation having an air dryer and a pressure regulator for supplying pressure circuits for compressed-air-actuated consumers. The line for supplying the compressed-air injection module branches off upstream of the device for compressed-air preparation.
US08371274B2
The present invention relates to a vehicle, having an internal combustion engine which is designed for combusting an ethanol-containing fuel, and an engine-independent air heating system. An exhaust passage of the engine-independent air heating system is disposed adjacent to a suction pipe of the internal combustion engine in order to heat the air in the suction pipe. Alternatively or additionally, the exhaust passage of the engine-independent air heating system is disposed adjacent to a fuel supply line of the internal combustion engine in order to heat the fuel in the fuel supply line. A connecting element or connecting openings are disposed between the exhaust passage of the engine-independent air heating system and the suction pipe in order to pass the exhaust gas of the engine-independent air heating system completely or partly into the suction pipe.
US08371266B1
Systems and methods for generating a vacuum in an engine are provided. The system includes a first throttle upstream from a plurality of cylinders and a second throttle upstream from one of the cylinders. The system further includes a vacuum reservoir in fluidic communication with an intake runner downstream from the second throttle; a vacuum consumer in fluidic communication with the vacuum reservoir, the vacuum consumer controlled by an actuator; and a pneumatic actuator driven by a pressure state of the vacuum reservoir to adjust the second throttle.
US08371262B2
A device for removing a fluidic contaminant from engine oil in an internal combustion engine includes a fluid absorbing element having a mounting element and a fluid absorption media assembled into a sump of a crankcase of the internal combustion engine. A first portion of the fluid absorption media is immersed within the engine oil contained in the sump when the engine is not operating and a second portion of the fluid absorption media is exposed to ambient air contained in a head space of the crankcase. The fluid absorption media is configured to absorb a fluidic contaminant in the engine oil during a period when the engine is not operating and to desorb the absorbed fluidic contaminant.
US08371261B2
A multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper piston part having a piston crown, and a lower piston part. The lower piston part has pin boss supports and pin bosses connected with them and the upper piston part and the lower piston part each have an inner and an outer support element, which elements delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel. The inner support elements delimit a cavity that is open toward the pin bosses. The cavity has a separate cooling oil collector that has at least one cooling oil opening. The piston is produced by manufacturing the upper piston part and lower piston part, inserting the cooling oil collector into the upper piston part or lower piston part, and joining the upper and lower piston parts together by friction welding.
US08371259B2
A starter for starting an internal combustion engine has an electric starter motor, which has a drive shaft provided with an external toothing, a pinion shaft bearing a pinion, and a clutch element of a roller-type overrunning clutch situated between the drive shaft and the pinion shaft. The clutch element has an internal toothing mating with the external toothing of the drive shaft and is shiftable together with the pinion shaft away from the starter motor in the axial direction of the drive shaft into a meshing position in which the pinion mates with a gear wheel or ring gear of the internal combustion engine. The starter also has a device provided for directly supporting the pinion shaft on a section of the external toothing of the drive shaft facing away from the starter motor.
US08371257B2
A cam phaser assembly may include a first stator, a first rotor, a second stator and a second rotor. The first stator may be driven by an engine crankshaft. The first rotor may be coupled to a first end of a concentric camshaft and located within the first stator. The first rotor and the first stator may cooperate to define a first set of fluid chambers. The second stator may be fixed for rotation with the first rotor and the first shaft. The second rotor may be coupled to the first end of the concentric camshaft and fixed for rotation with the second shaft and located within the second stator. The second rotor and the second stator may cooperate to define a second set of fluid chambers.
US08371251B2
Systems and methods are provided for heating a fluid comprising an opened-loop heating circuit or a closed-loop heating circuit both comprising a rotary heating device, such as a water brake, and a closed-loop direct-fired boiler heating circuit; and systems and methods for evaporating a fluid and systems and methods for concentrating a fluid based on these heating circuits.
US08371246B1
A pet-drying device including a flexible sheet material having four openings formed therein for receiving the legs of a four-legged animal. Each opening seals around the perimeter of a pet's leg. The sheet material includes first and second longitudinally disposed edges and first and second transversely disposed edges. A first hem in the first longitudinally disposed edge receives a first drawstring for loosely tightening the sheet material around the neck and a second hem in the second longitudinally disposed edge receives a second drawstring that tightens around the tail. The first and second transversely disposed edges are secured to one another with a releasable fastener when the device is wrapped into a tubular configuration around the trunk of a pet. Warm air from a hair dryer is delivered to the inside of the sheet material through an elongate hose that engages a large diameter opening formed in the sheet material.
US08371243B2
A vacuum operated milking system (1) which is operable in a milking mode and a cleaning mode is provided with a vacuum system (8) which applies a vacuum to milking clusters (9) through a main milk pipeline (2) and a receiver (5) in which milk from the milking clusters (9) is collected. A pulsator valve (24) provides a pulsating vacuum to milk liners in the milking cluster (9) from the vacuum system (8). An accumulator (32) accumulates respective volumes of washing and rinsing water from a wash and rinse water trough (31) through a wash and rinse pipeline (30), which are accumulated in an annular holding chamber (43). During respective ones of a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle, a valve (54) applies atmospheric pressure to the volume of washing or rinsing water accumulated in the accumulator (32) which is urged with full flow characteristics through the main milk pipeline (2), the clusters (9) and a connecting pipe (10) for cleaning thereof. In order to minimize the maximum peak air demand on the vacuum system a control circuit (8) operates the pulsator valve (24) to apply a continuous vacuum to the milking clusters during periods when the valve (54) is operated for applying atmospheric pressure to the volume of washing or rinsing water in the accumulator (32) when the milking system (1) is operated in the cleaning mode.
US08371229B1
A track cleaning car that includes a base plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end, a hole centrally disposed in the base plate with a motor suspended over the hole, the motor disposed from a floating plate compressibly mounted over the base plate on a plurality of springs, each of the plurality of springs disposed around each of a plurality of guide rods, the motor engaging a driveshaft to rotate a rotatable disk with a cleaning pad removably attachable thereto, and the track cleaning car having a photomicroprocessor sensible of the motion of the track cleaning car, the photomicroprocessor arresting the motor when sensing the track cleaning car is at rest.
US08371224B1
An apparatus and method for selectively varying the yield of an explosive device is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a main charge that may selectively be consumed and/or detonated to achieve the selected yield ranging from about 0% to about 100%.
US08371223B2
Method of using a viscous printing ink for the protection of a notch formed in a skin which is intended for a part that is produced using a method including: producing a skin (1) having a notch (2) on the inner face thereof, covering the notch (2) with a protective element, and forming a foam (3) which is in contact with the inner face of the skin. According to the invention, during the notch-covering step, an ink having a viscosity that is at least equal to 0.6 St is applied to the notch (2) via printing and, subsequently, the ink is hardened such as to form a layer (4) that provides a bridge over the notch (2) without extending to the base thereof. The invention is suitable for motor vehicle instrument panels.
US08371221B2
A method and computer program product for controlling application of ink in a printing press include predefining a setpoint color value in a device-independent color space. An ink metering element is activated with an ink application value, producing an ink layer thickness, on printing material, associated with the setpoint color value. An actual color value from the ink layer thickness on the printing material is determined, measured or colorimetrically measured in the device-independent color space. Activation with a changed ink application value based on deviation of the actual color value from the setpoint color value, produces an ink layer thickness differing from the produced ink layer thickness. A necessary ink layer thickness change is calculated based on changes in the color values in the device-independent color space upon a change in the ink layer thickness at the point of the actual color value, to determine the changed ink application value.
US08371220B2
A hat pallet for use in a printer which prints an image onto a hat of the type having a cap and a bill attached thereto includes a bottom plate and a top plate mountable in a closed position over the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a printing plate and a bill support fixedly mounted thereon. The top plate has an opening exposing at least a portion of the printing plate when the top plate is in the closed position. The bill support is positioned relative to the printing plate such that when the hat is mounted in the pallet with the top plate in the closed position, a portion of the cap on which the image is to be printed is supported on the printing plate and exposed through the opening of the top plate and the underside of the bill of the hat is supported by the bill support.
US08371204B2
Embodiments of a bubble weapon system and methods for inhibiting movement and disrupting operations of vessels are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bubble weapon is configured to generate a plume of bubbles in water. The plume reduces buoyancy of the water to inhibit movement of a vessel or disrupt operations of the vessel. In some embodiments, the bubble weapon includes a configurable diffuser section that may be configured in a thrust-neutral configuration or a thrust-engaged configuration.
US08371202B2
A projector of multiple skewed light planes or sheets is located adjacent a vehicle to be protected and detectors are arranged to defect the penetration of the light sheets by an incoming object, with the time intervals between the piercing of the planes defining the path of the incoming object and its expected impact time. An array of bullet-firing barrels is arranged to project bullets in ah iron curtain under control of a fire control module that fires a round in a barrel above the projected flight path such that the round impacts the nose of the object and disables it. It is thus the piercing of the skewed light sheets mat provides information as to the impact point of the object as well as its time of arrival so that a round can be fired to intercept the object as it arrives at the iron curtain.
US08371199B2
A smart food chopping or slicing device comprising at least two moveable blade sets arranged in a grid like configuration wherein the blade sets are configured orthogonally such that the cutting edges of both the blade sets remain substantially in the same plane. The movement of one set of blades is independent of the movement of another set of blades and can be independently controlled. The moveable blade sets are configured for lateral reciprocal movement. The plane of the lateral reciprocal movement of the cutting edges of the blade sets and the plane of the cutting edges of the blade sets are substantially the same or the same parallel planes. The blade sets are removeably mounted on a means capable of providing lateral reciprocal movement to the blade sets.
US08371196B2
A method of controlling a woodworking machine having a movable cutting tool. The method monitors a signal for a change indicative of a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, senses movement of the cutting tool, and performs an action to mitigate the dangerous condition when the signal change and movement of the cutting tool are both detected. A woodworking machine including a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a working portion of the machine and then to perform some action to mitigate the dangerous condition is also disclosed. A motion detection system is adapted to detect motion of the working portion and to disable the reaction system when the working portion is not moving.
US08371185B2
A measuring device comprises a sensor module and an evaluation module mounted on the sensor module. The sensor module includes a first component having a first screw thread, and the evaluation module includes a second component having a second screw thread. The screw threads engage with one another by screwing; wherein the first or the second component has a slit, which essentially extends into the component in a plane perpendicular to the thread axis; and there are formed by the slit a first clamping limb and a second clamping limb of the component, which are separated from one another by the slit. On the component there is furthermore arranged an actuating element, which acts on the first clamping limb and the second clamping limb, and deflects the clamping limbs relative to one another, whereby the first screw thread and the second screw thread are clamped against one another and secured against rotation relative to one another.
US08371179B2
A measurement arrangement for measuring and/or monitoring a physical property, comprising a measurement device comprising: at least one primary sensing element to be exposed to a product at a measurement site, a remotely located secondary measurement device, and transmission lines connecting said primary sensing elements to said secondary measuring device, suitable for applications wherein the primary sensing elements may be exposed to strong vibrations at the measurement sites, is described, wherein said secondary measurement device is mounted above all primary sensing elements and wherein said transmission lines comprise an inner core, an outer tubular protection conduit enclosing said core, and a vibration absorbing medium filling an interior of said outer protection conduit surrounding said inner core.
US08371173B1
An ultrasonic probe deployment device in which an ultrasound-transmitting liquid forms the portion of the ultrasonic wave path in contact with the surface being inspected (i.e., the inspection surface). A seal constrains flow of the liquid, for example preventing the liquid from surging out and flooding the inspection surface. The seal is not rigid and conforms to variations in the shape and unevenness of the inspection surface, thus forming a seal (although possibly a leaky seal) around the liquid. The probe preferably is held in place to produce optimum ultrasonic focus on the area of interest. Use of encoders can facilitate the production of C-scan area maps of the material being inspected.
US08371171B2
There is provided an ultrasonic inspection apparatus using scanning path information with high accuracy at a time of ultrasonic flaw inspection. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes: a measurement unit measuring a distance to a surface of the object to be inspected to obtain measurement data including a group of points; a shape data generation unit, by using the measurement data including the group of points obtained by the measurement unit, for generating shape data of the surface of the object to be inspected including the group of points having position information represented by a coordinate system of the scanner mechanism; and a path information generation unit, by using the shape data generated by the shape data generation unit, for calculating a passage point on the surface of the object to be inspected that forms a scanning path of the ultrasonic transducer, and generating the scanning path information of the ultrasonic transducer in which a normal vector of the passage point on the surface of the object to be inspected and an opening surface of the ultrasonic transducer intersect each other, and a distance between the passage point and a center of the opening surface of the ultrasonic transducer is constant.
US08371169B1
The system comprising an object to be tested, with the object has a structural resonant frequency. A vibration analyzer sends a signal through the object to a signal receiver. The signal receiver sends the data to a processor and a data storage device. A cooling chamber is used to cool the object to a specified temperature, and then allows the object to return to ambient temperature. A second vibrational test is performed and the data is compared with the first vibrational test to determine the effectiveness of the thermal treatment of the object.
US08371164B2
The gauge lens with anti-fog film includes a substantially planar transparent lens substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface and a thin film possessing anti-fog properties adjacent and substantially covering the inner surface of the lens substrate to provide a low angle of contact for water and moisture. The anti-fog film is bonded to the lens substrate during the molding process that produces the lens substrate shape. The anti-fog film comprises a hydrophilic material or is coated with a hydrophilic coating. In addition to the anti-fog film, in another embodiment, the outer surface of the lens substrate has a hard coat film adjacent and substantially covering the outer surface of said lens. The materials for the lens substrate, anti-fog film, and hard coat film are selected based on the application, performance, and stability of the gauge lens in the environment that it is operated.
US08371159B2
The degree of wear of a tire is estimated with constant accuracy. An acceleration sensor (11) is installed on the inner surface in the inner liner region of a tire to detect the acceleration of the tread in the radial direction of the tire. The peak level on the leading edge side or the trailing edge side of the tread appearing in the differentiated waveform of the detected acceleration is calculated and used as an index V of deformation speed of the tread. The degree of wear of the tire is estimated on the basis of the calculated index V of deformation speed and an M-V map (16B) showing a predetermined relationship between the degree M of tire wear and the index V of deformation speed.
US08371157B2
A method for determining engine crankshaft position determines the position of a rotating crankshaft using one or many crankshaft position sensors. The sensor output signals representing crankshaft position are digitized and specific timing positions are derived. The sampled timing positions are compared to a known position template to determine crankshaft position.
US08371153B2
An apparatus and method for purging gases released from a heat exchanger are provided. The apparatus includes an enclosure that defines an interior space and is configured to receive at least a portion of the heat exchanger. A gas source is configured to deliver an inert gas to the interior space of the enclosure at a pressure higher than an ambient pressure outside the gas source and the enclosure. The enclosure is adapted to maintain a positive pressure difference between the interior space and the ambient pressure. A detector is configured to detect a leak of a gas from the heat exchanger into the interior space of the enclosure. A pressure relief device configured to release gas from the interior space of the enclosure if the pressure in the interior space exceeds a predetermined level.
US08371149B2
A sheet metal component that is bent from a sheet metal blank includes at least one three-sided corner. Two edges of the three-sided corner are formed by a first bending member of the sheet metal blank bent about a first inner bending radius Ri,1 and a second bending member of the sheet metal blank bent about a second inner bending radius Ri,2, and the third edge of the three-sided corner is formed by a first blank edge of the first bending member and a second blank edge of the second bending member. The sheet metal blank has an internal corner that forms the first blank edge, the second blank edge, and a wedge-like recess that opens in the internal corner.
US08371148B2
In an installation part (1) in a rolling stand for receiving a roll journal (24) having a journal bush (24) of a roll which is used in the processing of steel and non-ferrous metals, wherein the installation part (1) has a cambered side (3) which faces the roll and a run-out side (4) which lies opposite the cambered side (3), having lubricant receiving spaces (7, 15, 16) on the cambered side (3), at least one housing tongue (23) is provided on the cambered side (3) for the at least partial delimitation of the lubricant receiving spaces (7, 15, 16) with respect to one another and for the formation of a gap (25) with the journal bush (24), the width of which gap (25) is below a predefined gap width threshold value.
US08371140B2
A refrigerated container and method capable of maintaining super frozen temperatures of about−50 degrees C. or less, includes container walls insulated to a value of at least about r-20, a cargo compartment configured for receiving cargo, and at least one refrigerant compartment configured for receiving refrigerant in the form of CO2 snow. The refrigerant compartment maintains the CO2 snow and vapor sublimating therefrom separately from the cargo compartment. The refrigerant compartment is located within the cargo compartment and configured to permit ambient atmosphere within the cargo compartment to contact at least three sides, and up to six sides, of the refrigerant compartment. The placement of the refrigerant compartment is also configured to generate a temperature gradient within the cargo compartment capable of generating convection therein, so that the super frozen temperatures are maintained within the cargo compartment without the use of external power sources.
US08371137B2
A shading panel is described for shading light emitting elements of a light emitting diode display system. The shading panel defines a substantially plane panel surface having an upper border and a lower border, the shading panel comprising at least one column of at least two openings aligned according to a column direction, each opening being suitable to receive at least one light emitting element. For each pair of adjacent openings of the at least one column of openings, the shading panel comprises a first shading louver and a second shading louver, the first shading louver being positioned closer to the opening of the pair of openings closest to the upper border, the second shading louver being positioned closer to the opening of the pair of openings closest to the lower border. The height of the first shading louver is smaller than the height of the second shading louver.
US08371133B2
Ice maker including an ice making container (100) having a plurality of cavities (120) for forming ice, a heater body (210) on one side of the ice making container for selective generation of heat, and heating bars (220) each extended from the heater body to the cavity by a predetermined length with a profile in conformity with a bottom surface profile of the cavity (120) with a gap to the bottom surface such that the heating bar (220) is submerged under water in the cavity for causing a temperature gradient during ice making.
US08371128B2
Techniques described herein are generally related to a thermal management with an electrocaloric effect layer. Example embodiments include systems, articles, methods and apparatus, as well as other embodiments that are described and claimed.
US08371124B2
In a jet engine having a plug nozzle and a plug extending rearwardly from the nozzle exit, the improvement comprising a plug having successive cross sections spaced apart rearwardly of the nozzle exit, the cross sections transitioning from circular or near circular at the exit plane defined at the nozzle exit, to progressively non-circular, rearwardly.
US08371123B2
A nozzle includes a center body and a shroud surrounding the center body to define an annular passage. An arcuate annular guide extending from a point radially inward of the shroud to a point radially outward of the shroud defines a first airflow between the arcuate annular guide and the shroud and a second airflow between the arcuate annular guide and the center body.
US08371122B2
The present disclosure is directed to geothermal power generation systems. The systems can comprise a first separator is in fluid communication with the geothermal fluid source, the first separator having a high pressure steam outlet and a liquid fraction outlet. A high pressure turbine is in fluid communication with the high pressure steam outlet and is coupled to a first power generator. A high pressure condenser is in fluid communication with the high pressure turbine. A low pressure separator is in fluid communication with the liquid fraction outlet of the first separator, the low pressure separator being capable of separating steam from the liquid fraction outflow and providing low pressure steam through a low pressure steam conduit. A low pressure turbine is in fluid communication with the low pressure steam conduit, the low pressure turbine being coupled to a second power generator. A main condenser is in fluid communication with the low pressure turbine. Methods for generating geothermal power are also discussed.
US08371117B2
Torque control for a construction machine three-pump system that can accurately control the total absorption torque of first, second, and third hydraulic pumps and effectively use the output torque of an engine. A pump base torque computation section 42 calculates a pump base torque Tr from a target rotation speed. A subtraction section 44 calculates a reference value Tf for the maximum absorption torque available to the first and second hydraulic pumps 2, 3 by subtracting a third pump reference absorption torque T3r from the pump base torque Tr. A correction torque computation section 45 calculates a correction torque value from the delivery pressure of the third hydraulic pump 4. An addition section 46 calculates a target absorption torque Tn by adding the correction torque value Tm to the reference value Tf. A first regulator 31 is controlled so as to obtain the target absorption torque Tn.
US08371107B2
The invention relates to a device for the regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management of a component, assigned to an exhaust system, of an internal combustion engine. The device includes at least one injection valve which injects a fluid, in particular fuel, into the exhaust system, preferably in chatter mode, for example as a function of the pressure of the supplied fluid. The injection valve has a valve head and a valve seat which have geometries designed in such a way that a fluidic force of the supplied fluid acting on the injection valve drops continuously over a stroke of the valve head. The invention also relates to an injection valve having such valve-head and valve-seat geometries and to a corresponding method for the regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management of a component, assigned to an exhaust system, of an internal combustion engine.
US08371105B2
Spaced apart counter-rotatable forward and aft rows of forward and aft propellers are mounted on forward and aft rotatable frames. Hydraulic rotary forward and aft pitch change actuators on the frames are operable for controlling pitch of the propellers. A hydraulic fluid supply outboard of the frames is connected to forward and aft rotary unions which are operable for transferring hydraulic fluid between forward and aft union stators to forward and aft union rotors mounted within the forward and aft rotary unions. The forward union rotor is operable to transfer the hydraulic fluid from the forward rotary union to the aft pitch change actuators and the aft union rotor is operable to transfer the hydraulic fluid from the aft rotary unions to the forward pitch change actuators. The forward and aft rotatable frames counter-rotatably mounted on a structural frame located forward or aft of the propellers.
US08371100B2
A split heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) arrangement including a first HRSG coupled to a turbine and thereby receptive of a portion of the exhaust gases to deliver the portion of the exhaust gases to a compressor, a second HRSG coupled to the turbine and thereby receptive of a remaining portion of the exhaust gases, which includes an NOx catalyst and a CO catalyst sequentially disposed therein to remove NOx and CO from the exhaust gases and an air injection apparatus to inject air into the second HRSG between the NOx catalyst and the CO catalyst to facilitate CO consumption at the CO catalyst.
US08371099B2
A power generation system (100) and a method of generating power. In one embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 1, a gasification subsystem (1) is configured to convert a carbonaceous fuel to fuel suitable for combustion in a gas turbine (48). A first power generation cycle (2) includes the gas turbine (48) coupled to receive fuel from a gasifier (24). A first Rankine cycle (3) is coupled to receive thermal energy from at least the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a first vapor turbine (58). A second Rankine cycle (4) is coupled to receive thermal energy from the gasification subsystem (1) or the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a second vapor turbine (82). In an associated method, syngas (26) is generated and processed to remove components therein. Power is generated in a first turbine (48) with the processed syngas (33). Power is generated in a second turbine (58) with heat recovered from exhaust produced by the first turbine (48). Power is generated in a third turbine (82) with heat recovered from the syngas (33).
US08371098B2
A fiber channel insert is applicable in a mounting hole of an opening roller housing of an open-end spinning arrangement, whereby the fiber channel insert comprises a fiber channel body and a section of the fiber channel. The fiber channel body extends with its major axis essentially transversely to a major axis of the fiber channel. An open-end spinning arrangement with a spinning element and an opening roller housing, in which an opening roller is arranged in a rotatable way includes a fiber channel that transports the fiber material to be spun from the opening roller to the spinning element. A section of the fiber channel is provided in a fiber channel insert that is insertable in a mounting opening of the opening roller housing, the fiber channel insert having a primarily cylindrical fiber channel body. The fiber channel body extends with its major axis essentially transversely to a major axis of the fiber channel, and the fiber channel insert is primarily insertable axially parallel to the opening roller axis.
US08371093B2
An air packaging device includes two layers of thermoplastic films, which form a sealable space where air is filled after first and second steps of heat-sealing process. The sealable space includes a number of independent sealed air chambers and a main air passage channel. The main channel has an air inlet. Each sealed air chamber is connected with the main channel by at least one one-way valve each including at least two layers of plastic films. At least two one-way valves are installed inside of the air chambers. This air packaging device increases the cushioning protection where the protection is most needed, but can reduce air chamber dimension at less important locations in order to reduce the volumetric size and, hence, reduce the shipping cost.
US08371087B2
A novel building block is described which is formed of two similar interlocking elements with chamfered surfaces to allow the elements to rest against each other. In one embodiment, the block is used to made structural walls, In another embodiment, a single block with a transparent or translucent pane is provided to form a window. In yet another embodiment, a building is made with at least one floor, one roof and support structures supporting the roof and being formed of the interlocking elements. Each element is made of L-shaped components.
US08371080B2
A building structure comprises a post having a vertically extending longitudinal face. A plurality of horizontal logs extends from said longitudinal face and has an end face in abutment with said longitudinal face. The post having an undercut channel in said longitudinal face and extends along said post. At least one of said end faces has a recess aligned with said undercut channel, and a spline assembly extends between said post and said log to secure said log to said post. The spline assembly includes a key located in and extends between said channel and said recess and an insert in one of said undercut channel and said recess. The insert co operates with said key to facilitate relative sliding movement therebetween.
US08371077B2
This invention relates generally to a staircase that can roll to an upright position when not in use and considers safety standards. More particularly, the invention is directed to a staircase that can be used where space is limited as the staircase's footprint can be minimized when not in use.
US08371076B2
A solar panel array support system including a plurality of removable, interengaged adjacent support modules of similar configuration. Each support module mounts a PV solar panel, and also a DC-AC inverter electrically connected to the solar panel. The DC-AC inverter is also electrically connectable to additional DC-AC inverters mounted to the adjacent solar panel support modules. Each support module includes flexible male connector elements that enter a slot forming a female connector element in an adjacent support module to pivotally and removably engage each support module to another. Individual modules or a plurality of solar panel support modules can be readily removed from and replaced in a solar panel array, and can be readily removed and installed to form a second modular solar panel array.
US08371072B1
A molded hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided that is shaped to fit over angled intersecting planar surface of a roof hip, ridge or rake, by making a shingle precursor and draping it in heated condition over a rack having surfaces that have an included angle therebetween to cool and take form, such that portions of the shingle precursor conform to the surfaces of the rack, at a desired predetermined included angle between the shingle precursor portions, to form a hip, ridge or rake shingle with shingle portions having the desired included angle between the shingle portions. The shingle is formed according to the process, and on an apparatus, to produce the shingles that can be applied to a roof, in an array of shingles.
US08371061B2
The fish sack carrier is of a fish-like shape especially designed to carry a single, large fish, such as a mature salmon, secured upon the fisherman's back in a longitudinal position with its head downward. This position comfortably distributes the weight of the fish over the fisherman's shoulder and back and allows the fisherman to use his hands to carry other equipment. A unique shoulder strap system stabilizes and balances the fish in this position, and allows the simultaneous carrying of more fish by connecting additional fish sacks to a common shoulder strap. The fish sack carrier is constructed of lightweight and durable materials, is washable after use, and can be folded into a small packet for pocket storage.
US08371054B2
An artwork protection device (2) having a set of brackets (1) that mount into a wall (18) which support a clear protective cover (14) over the front of a piece of hanging artwork (16). Each bracket has a footing (3) with a proximal end (4) and a distal end (5). The proximal end is attached to the wall using a screw, a bolt and a wall anchor and so forth. An extension (8) having a distal end (9) and a proximal end (10) that attaches to the distal end of the footing. The proximal end of the extension preferably has a recessed edge (12) that is placed through an aperture (13) located on a periphery of the protective cover. A cap (15) attaches to the proximal end of the extension, thereby locking the protective cover in place. The device allows a user to easily remove the protective cover and bracket extensions when the user wants to fully display the painting and to attach the caps directly to the footings to give an aesthetic appearance to the footings.
US08371053B2
A nameplate includes a fixing bracket and a plate. The fixing bracket includes a main body, a latching portion, and a resilient portion. The main body defines a mounting hole. The latching portion is formed on the main body and positioned adjacent to a periphery of the mounting hole. The resilient resisting portion protrudes radially from the main body and is partially received in the mounting hole of the main body. The plate is detachably and adjustably assembled to the fixing bracket and resists the resilient resisting portion of the fixing bracket. The plate has a latching member formed thereon. The latching member passes through the mounting hole and latches with the corresponding latching portion of the fixing bracket.
US08371050B2
A device for displaying advertisements has a plate member. An opening is formed in the plate member, wherein the opening is sized to fit a display screen of a desired dimension. Support arms are coupled to the plate member for securing the device to a storage device to which the device is installed.
US08371047B2
The present invention provides devices, methods, and kits for reducing joint pain and treating conditions of weight-bearing joints. The methods are accomplished through the use of a cushioned wedged insole kit that selectively reduces pressure by cushioning impact and redistributing forces away from affected joints or joint compartments. The kit includes a wedged slab and a neutral slab. The slabs may be trimmed using the kit's sizing chart to create medial or lateral wedged insoles for either the right or left foot. The slab construction may mimic the combination of fatty globules and the surrounding restricting fibrous network cushioning structures found in the foot.
US08371043B2
The present invention relates to a molded shoe featuring a 3 dimensional figure (e.g., an animal or character). The shoe has a sole having a bottom surface that comprises a series of projections and recesses that form a print for an animal or character, to thereby obtain an imprinting surface; and an upper, attached to the sole, having an outer surface that comprises a series of projections and recesses that form a three dimensional figure (e.g., an animal figure or a character figure). The sole and upper are substantially formed from molded plastic; the projections and recesses of the animal imprinting surface allow one wearing the shoe to make imprints on a soft surface, and the three dimensional figure on the outer surface of the upper relates to the print of the imprinting surface. The methods of the present invention further include making imprints with the bottom surface of the shoe.
US08371041B2
An apparatus for upgrading coal comprising a baffle tower, inlet and exhaust plenums, and one or more cooling augers. The baffle tower comprises a plurality of alternating rows of inverted v-shaped inlet and outlet baffles. The inlet and outlet plenums are affixed to side walls of the baffle tower. Process gas enters the baffle tower from the inlet plenum via baffle holes in the side wall and dries the coal in the baffle tower. Process exhaust gas exits the baffle tower into the exhaust plenum via baffle holes in a different side wall of the baffle tower. Coal that enters the baffle tower descends by gravity downward through the baffle tower and enters a cooling auger, where the dried coal from the baffle tower is mixed with non-dried coal. A method of using the apparatus described above to upgrade coal.
US08371027B2
In an electronic components mounting process fabricating a mount circuit board due to an electronic components mounting system formed of a plurality of electronic components mounting apparatuses by connecting them to each other, data of solder paste position which is printed on the circuit board is transmitted as feedforward data to an electronic components placement apparatus and a placement state inspecting apparatus. A control parameter which controls a placing position in a components placement operation due to the electronic components placement apparatus and an inspection parameter which indicates a standard position of the components in a placement state inspection are updated on the basis of the soldering position data. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a precise mounting by effectively and properly using inspection information obtained from each process.
US08371026B2
In a method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic device, a multilayer ceramic element assembly is prepared that includes laminated unsintered ceramic base material layers, a first conductor pattern, a seat portion disposed in a surface of the multilayer ceramic element assembly and arranged to mount a surface mount electronic device thereon, a second conductor pattern connected to the surface mount electronic device, and a resin introduction portion located outside a vertically projected region of the surface mount electronic device and arranged to introduce a resin to the seat portion. The multilayer ceramic element assembly is fired and the surface mount electronic device is mounted on the seat portion of the fired multilayer ceramic element assembly with the second conductor pattern therebetween. The resin is filled from the resin introduction portion into the seat portion and between the seat portion and the surface mount electronic device, and the resin is cured.
US08371022B2
A method (100) for assembling a portable device configured with an energy storage device, is disclosed. The method (100) can include: providing (105) a portable device with a controller configured to control the operations of the portable device; configuring (110) the portable device with a multi-mode switch including a temporary active mode configured for simplified testing, a temporarily inactive mode configured for minimizing power drain, and a permanent active mode for normal user operation; and controlling (115) the multi-mode switch from outside the portable device. The method (100) can help to prolong the useful shelf life of the device and can help to simplify testing and calibrating before shipping.
US08371006B2
A system and method for extracting seized components is disclosed. The method further grasping a seized component with a gripping mechanism and securing the gripping mechanism to the seized component by turning a camlock mechanism. A force is applied to a power transfer mechanism that moves a threaded axis that is threaded through the power transfer mechanism. The method additionally includes attaching the threaded axis to the gripping mechanism, which extracts the seized component. To facilitate extraction, the method also includes generating vibrations by a vibration mechanism, which may include a vibration mechanism rotating a rotary plate about a shaft. The method may also include generating vibrations by a cam attached to the rotary plate contacting one or more spring-loaded hammers. The spring-loaded hammers may be capable of impacting a strike plate, generating vibrations.
US08371002B2
A clip for use in a cable system for stretching a sheet across a surface and maintaining it under tension, the clip comprising a base plate and a top plate. The base plate has a pair of opposing retaining arms extending from the top surface and a recessed area defined in the base plate. The top plate has a hook protruding from the top surface having a channel defined therein. The top plate slides between the arms of the base plate and is removably retained therein and the plates engage the edge of a sheet. The hook removably engages a cable and the sheet is stretched when the cable is tensioned. The clip can be retained on the cable when a sheet is to be replaced by partially separating the two plates.
US08371001B2
An elastic tie down device having a body comprising an elongated, substantially flat, elastic material with a first end and a second end; a first, flexible hook and loop fastener panel secured to the body along the axis of the elongated body at one end of the body, the first panel extending beyond the length of the body; and a second, flexible hook and loop fastener panel secured to the body opposite the first panel and aligned substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongated body, the second panel secured to the body at a same end of the body as the first panel.
US08371000B1
A strap system for selectively and independently binding and/or releasing at least one sets of essentially longitudinal objects, such as wires, from one another. A continuous strip of such two-sided material may be stored on a reel and is designed so that a user may select a preferred length and configuration for a particular use by making a single cut of the material strip from the reel-strip end.
US08370994B2
A hinge assembly includes a main shaft, a fixing seat, a follower, a cam and a first elastic element. The fixing seat is fixed with the main shaft. The follower is placed around the shaft, and the fixing seat selectively locks with the follower. The cam is placed around the shaft, and engages with the follower. The first elastic element provides an elastic force to make the cam and the follower resist each other and provides a force to make the cam and the follower rotate together.
US08370992B2
A vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that is able to form dust and foreign substances collected in a dust collection device provided therein in a single mass shape to discharge it efficiently, not scattered in a dust collecting device. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a dust collection device collecting dust and foreign substances therein, a compression device provided in the dust collection device to collect the dust and foreign substances collected in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device and to compress the collected dust and foreign substances, and a liquid supply device arranged in the dust collection device, in communication with an inside of the dust collection device, to supply liquid material to the dust collection device.
US08370989B2
Provided is a static eliminator with dust removal feature. The static eliminator includes an ion generator, a dust-removing main body and a dust-collecting device. The dust-removing main body has a workpiece-passing channel passing through the dust-removing main body. A dust-scraping member is disposed on a sidewall of the workpiece-passing channel. A blow vent of the ion generator communicates with said workpiece-passing channel and faces to the dust-scraping member. An inlet end of the dust-collecting device communicates with the workpiece-passing channel.
US08370987B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) in a flat beam construction, having a wiper strip (12) and a single spring rail (20, 64, 68) serving as the carrier element, and a spoiler (22) connected to the head strip (18) of the wiper strip (12), wherein a connecting element (24) having a joint part (30) is disposed in the center region of the wiper blade (10). The invention proposes that the head strip (18) have a hollow profile that is open in the direction of the spoiler (22), on the longitudinal sides of which guide profiles (40) are disposed having open grooves (42) facing each other, in which the spring rail (20, 64, 68) is embedded.
US08370984B2
A brush section for use with an electric toothbrush includes a relatively large brush head portion having a generally rectangular shape, although oblong, elliptical and other such shapes having a length to width aspect ration greater than 1 may be employed. The brush head portion is secured to a shaft portion of the brush section that may be configured to couple to a handle section. The handle section may include an electric drive including drive shaft, and the drive shaft may couple to the brush head via a coupling member positioned within the shaft portion. The electric drive may impart a rotary, oscillating rotary-oscillating or other suitable drive motion to the drive shaft that is, in turn, imparted upon the brush head by virtue of the coupling member.
US08370983B2
In a rigid connection structure of a bridge pier and concrete girder, a joint-equipped PC concrete girder is constituted by burying a rear half part of a shaped-steel joint formed of short shaped-steel respectively in both ends of the concrete girder and protruding a front half part of each shaped-steel joint respectively from each end face of the concrete girder, the respective shaped-steel joint portions protruded from the respective end faces of the concrete girders are supported on a bridge abutment face of a bridge pier while being connected to a connection strip member which arises from the bridge abutment face, and the respective shaped-steel joint portions and the connection strip member are buried in connection concrete which is additionally casted on the bridge abutment face.
US08370977B2
A patient line management device to manage one or more patient care lines is provided. The line management device includes a line manager coupled to a support. The support is adapted to be coupled to a patient support such as a hospital bed.
US08370968B2
Disclosed is a cervical protective device that reduces the possibility of neck injuries in contact sports. In a preferred embodiment, this device is worn in conjunction with a football helmet and football shoulder pads. Without restricting normal movement of a football player, the device contacts the lower most parts of the sides of the helmet and has a shape that is molded as to the normal anatomy of the upper back and lower cervical spine. The device contacts the lower sides of the player's neck and is held in place by the shoulder pads as normally worn by football players. Force received at the top of the helmet is applied to the protective device, absorbed by compression elements contained within the protective device and the force is directed away from the cervical spine.
US08375461B2
Apparatus and a method are described for providing, for recordal onto a recording medium, recording data having content data and control data for enabling a player playing such a recording medium to navigate through the content data. The apparatus has a copy protector to copy-protect the recording data by controlling the production of parameters that are associated with items of data in the recording data but that are not checked by a physical testing device such that a parameter associated with an item of the recording data that is not on the navigation path is inconsistent with that item of data, or is otherwise not as expected, to cause a copying device reading that the item of data to report an error, thereby inhibiting copying by that copying device.
US08375452B2
Disclosed are methods for user profiling for detecting insider threats including the steps of: upon a client application sending a request for a link, extracting at least one search keyword from a search session associated with the request; classifying the link into at least one classification; determining whether at least one classification is a monitored classification; capturing search elements of search sessions associated with the monitored classification; acquiring usage data from the search elements to create a user profile associated with a user's search behavior; and performing a statistical analysis, on a search frequency for the monitored classification, on user profiles associated with many users. Preferably, the method includes: designating a profile as suspicious based on the statistical analysis exceeding a pre-determined threshold value, wherein the pre-determined threshold value is based on an expected search frequency for the profile and each respective grade for at least one risk-assessment dimension.
US08375433B2
The present invention relates to a method for multi-core processor based packet classification on multiple fields. The invention specifically proposes three methods to select partition points, two associated methods to select dimensions, then receiving packet information after the data structure of classification is constructed, and searching the data structure of classification according to packet information to get matched results. The present invention can be implemented on many types of multi-core processor based platforms which ensure favorable performance and adaptive capabilities for different network applications, and significantly reduce the product cost of high-end routers and firewalls.
US08375432B2
Method, apparatus, and computer products are provided for providing temporary generated codes by a server. Responsive to triplet authentication of a device to service provider network, a server receives an initial code from the device to request a temporary generated code. The server verifies the triplet authentication of device. The server determines whether there is a user account match to the initial code. The server determines a corresponding application server based on the initial code and the user account match. The server generates a temporary generated code to access the application server. The temporary generated code is transmitted to both the application server and the communication device, is set to expire at a preset time, is generated to allow the user access to a single session on the application server, and is generated to expire after the temporary generated code is input to access the single session on application server.
US08375425B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system and computer program product are disclosed for password expiration based on vulnerability detection. A request for a password is received during re-activation of a first account that belongs to a particular user. A test password is compared to a previously created password that belongs to the particular user to determine if a match occurred. Responsive to determining that there is a match, a second account that belongs to the particular user with respect to the match is expired.
US08375416B2
According to one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats using a conversion workflow. For example, a single source content file can be captured and a plurality of deliverable content files can be derived from the single source content file. Each of the plurality of deliverable content files can be in a format specific to a different distribution channel. That is, a single source media file can be used to automatically build one or more distribution files for a particular channel or channels. Furthermore, the distribution files can be built including logos, branding, open/close graphics, ratings, promo material, etc. The inclusion of these elements can be based on a common set of business rules defining, for example, what elements should be included in different types of distribution files.
US08375407B2
An apparatus for performing a substitution for a broadcast content, includes: a substitute content engine configured to detect a break in a broadcast content and to show substitute content in response to the break in a broadcast content; and a processor configured to execute the substitute content engine. An apparatus for substituting broadcast content displayed on a screen, including: a customer premise equipment capable to receive broadcast content; the customer premise equipment including a viewing engine capable to permit the display of substitute content in response to a break in the broadcast content.
US08375405B2
Various technologies for delivering contextual television advertisement are described. A user selection of a media title is received. The media title has an associated set of contextual metadata that includes information regarding the media title. A request for the media title is forwarded to a first server and an advertisement request including the set of contextual metadata is forwarded to a second server. The second server uses the set of contextual metadata to retrieve contextual television advertisement information. The contextual television advertisement information and the media title are received from the second server and the first server respectively. Also, the contextual television advertisement information and the media title are played.
US08375404B2
Methods and apparatus to enforce a power off state of an audience measurement device during shipping
Methods and apparatus to enforce a power off state of an audience measurement device during shipping of the device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing, a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data and a packaging sensor to detect a stimulus generated within the package. A packaging detector compares the detected stimulus to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within the package.
US08375399B2
The present application is directed to a method, apparatus a computer program product configured to perform certain operations of dynamic serialization. In one example, a message is received which includes at least one message element requiring serialization. A first message element of the message is examined. A serialization scheme from a serialization scheme library is selected based on the at least one examined attribute of the first message element. Then, at least the first message element is encoded using the serialization scheme selected.
US08375392B2
Systems and method for data-aware scheduling of applications on a heterogeneous platform having at least one central processing unit (CPU) and at least one accelerator. Such systems and methods include a function call handling module configured to intercept, analyze, and schedule library calls on a processing element. The function call handling module further includes a function call interception module configured to intercept function calls to predefined libraries, a function call analysis module configured to analyze argument size and location, and a function call redirection module configured to schedule library calls and data transfers. The systems and methods also use a memory unification module, configured to keep data coherent between memories associated with the at least one CPU and the at least one accelerator based on the output of the function call redirection module.
US08375388B2
In a host-base printing system, it is intended to execute a continuous page printing of continuous print jobs with a maximum printing speed specific to a printing engine in a printing apparatus, without a loss in the printing speed. There is provided a host computer system in which a data generation unit generates a print job based on a drawing command entered from an application software, and transfers the generated print job for example to a printer, characterized in that a plurality of print jobs generated in succession are spooled in a system spooling unit, and a print control unit combines plural print jobs entered from the system pooling unit and transfers them as a single print job for example to a printer.
US08375385B1
Described are techniques for performing a firmware update. A drive management object determines one or more physical drives matching criteria of a first received request. The drive management object sends to provision drive objects a second request to update firmware on physical drives. Firmware update processing is performed independently for each physical drive. Each provision drive object is associated with one of the physical drives. Firmware update processing for said one physical drive includes determining whether to perform the firmware update at a current point in time; in response to determining to perform the firmware update at the current point in time, performing preparation processing; notifying, upon completion of said preparation processing, a physical drive object associated with said one physical drive to download the firmware update to the one physical drive; and resuming I/O operations to the one physical drive upon successfully completing the firmware update.
US08375375B2
A method and system of auto parallelization of zero-trip loops that substitutes a nested basic linear induction variable by exploiting a parallelizing compiler is provided. Provided is a use of a max{0,N} variable for loop iterations in case of no information is known about the value of N, for a typical loop iterating from 1 to N, in which N is the loop invariant. For the nested basic induction variables, an induction variable substitution process is applied to the nested loops starting from the innermost loop to the outermost one. Then a removal of the max operator afterwards through a copy propagation pass of the IBM compiler is provided. In doing so, the loop dependency on the induction variable is eliminated and an opportunity for a parallelizing compiler to parallel the outermost loop is provided.
US08375374B2
An mechanism is provided for partitioning programs between a general purpose core and one or more accelerators. With the apparatus and method, a compiler front end is provided for converting a program source code in a corresponding high level programming language into an intermediate code representation. This intermediate code representation is provided to an interprocedural optimizer which determines which core processor or accelerator each portion of the program should execute on and partitions the program into sub-programs based on this set of decisions. The interprocedural optimizer may further add instructions to the partitions to coordinate and synchronize the sub-programs as required. Each sub-program is compiled on an appropriate compiler backend for the instruction set architecture of the particular core processor or accelerator selected to execute the sub-program. The compiled sub-programs and then linked to thereby generate an executable program.
US08375373B2
In a change-resilient intermediate language code, registers have been allocated but symbolic references and pseudo instructions still use unbound items. Pseudo instructions having a specific location within generated intermediate language code request insertion of machine instruction(s) at the location to perform specified operations. Specified operations may include, for example, operations to perform or facilitate garbage collection, memory allocation, exception handling, various kinds of method calls and execution engine service calls, managed object field access, heap management, generic code, static variable storage access, address mode modification, and/or symbolic reference to types. A binder may transform the intermediate language code into executable code. Little or no register allocation is needed during binding, but unbound items such as offsets, sizes, slots, and the like are determined and specified to produce executable code.
US08375370B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for identifying root causes of problems in a software factory. Each work packet being executed within the software factory is assigned meta-data, which describes a relationship between that work packet and other work packets, as well as a relationship between that work packet and resources within the software factory. These metrics provides means for identifying any problems within the software factory.
US08375367B2
In tracking a deadlock caused by at least one application, a computing system is communicatively coupled to a computing device, wherein the computing device has the at least one application. A source code line in the at least one application is identified, wherein the at least one application includes a plurality of source code lines. A deadlock identifier is generated by the computing system and the computing system transmits a first response to the application, wherein first response includes the deadlock identifier. The deadlock identifier is extracted from the first response, the source code line is captured, and a second response is transmitted to the computer system by the application. The second response includes the source code line and the deadlock identifier.
US08375365B2
Results of an execution of a function including customizable steps, may be verified. Multiple of steps of the function, may be determined and may the customizable steps that have been customized. Results may be determined based on an execution of the function, wherein the execution uses values provided as inputs to the function. A result view for verifying the one or more results may be provided, the result view may include the steps of the function, the values corresponding to the inputs, and the results.
US08375361B2
A data processing method comprises maintaining a source code repository, checking out a component from the source code repository, checking in a modified version of the component to the source code repository, identifying the changes between the modified version of the component and the original component, applying one or more pattern matching techniques to the identified changes, storing the output of the pattern matching techniques, and displaying the output.
US08375359B2
A method for using available server threads to process resources and reduce the overall time of performing XA interactions in two-phase commit protocol implemented by the transaction manager. A TM processing XA interactions dispatches interaction commands for multiple resources to a thread manager, which dispatches the commands to idle server threads. In one embodiment, the TM attempts to dispatch all but one of the interaction commands to separate threads. The primary thread then processes the remaining resource command. Any commands relating to dispatch requests that were unable to be dispatched to separate threads due to unavailability are processed by the primary thread. Once the primary server has processed its interaction commands and received a signal indicating the threads receiving dispatch requests have completed their respective processing of dispatched commands, the next group of commands is processed in a similar manner.
US08375358B2
The present invention discloses a method and system for creating REST clients using existing REST export information. The invention can provide a wizard able to dynamically generate REST client code. The REST client code can include source code, such as HTML and JAVA SCRIPT starting points that can be further configured by the REST client code recipient. In one embodiment, the automatically created REST client can be a GUI client able to be rendered within a browser. The REST client can include one or more sections, each associated with a particular REST resource. Each resource specific section can include fields for specifying values of each resource parameter. Suitable GUI controls can be associated with each of the fields such as using a checkbox for a Boolean field and a drop down list for an enumerated field.
US08375354B2
An application development system for developing an application with application components is described. The system application development includes a modeling tool. The modeling tool imports the application components in a comparable component definition format, and defines a data relation between data, screens, and operations embodied in the application components in an application model. The application model has a static structural characteristic, a dynamic behavioral characteristic and an implementation characteristic. The static structural characteristic defines parts of the application. The dynamic behavioral characteristic defines responsiveness of the application to events or actions, and the implementation characteristic describes elements required for deploying the application. The modeling tool updates the cross-component mapping. The modeling tool further includes a mapping analyzer for analyzing message components and data components in the application components, and generating a cross-component mapping.
US08375352B2
A method for managing technical terms and data items associated with a product design and its features and requirements. A terms management process and software tool are described which build a repository of technical terms with definitions, data items with attributes, and acronyms with meanings. The central repository can be used by anyone who needs to use or contribute to the data, thus preventing ambiguity and misunderstanding in the use of data items and terms. The process and software tool integrate with a requirements development method and tool, which ensures that all data items and terms are reviewed and approved before being used.
US08375351B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an IDE tool that provides rapid application development features for a variety of disparate data sources. Further, developers may customize and extend the rapid application development features to suit their development needs in a particular case. In a particular embodiment, the rapid application development template may be configured to generate a set of configuration files localized used to deploy a “lightweight” application, such as a web-service, to a particular application server.
US08375346B2
An aspect of the present invention is a method for laying out a power wiring of a semiconductor device. The method includes: modeling the power wiring as an analysis model including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of element resistors provided between the plurality of nodes neighboring each other; obtaining voltage values of the plurality of nodes by a circuit simulation; searching a path of a current flowing into a node of the plurality of nodes when an IR drop violation exists in the voltage values, the node having a maximum value of the IR drop violation; selecting a bottleneck element resistor from among the plurality of element resistors included in the path; and changing a resistance value of the bottleneck element resistor.
US08375342B1
An improved method and system for performing extraction on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Extraction may be performed at granularities much smaller than the entire IC design, in which a halo is used to identify a geometric volume surrounding an object of interest to identify neighboring objects and generate an electrical model. The extraction approach can be taken for Islands, Nets, as well as other granularities within the design. Re-extraction of a design can occur at granularities smaller than a net. Some approaches utilize Island-stitching to replace an island within a net. An approach is also described for improving cross-references for cross-coupled objects.
US08375341B2
A method for improving the radio frequency linearity of SOI MOSFET circuits is disclosed. In particular, a method for determining output conductance transition-free body resistances (“Rbody”) for SOI MOSFETs used in SOI MOSFET circuits to eliminate their output conductance transition in the radio frequency range is disclosed. The Rbody of the SOI MOSFETs can be adjusted by changing the number of fingers, i.e., gates, in an SOI MOSFET and/or varying other layout parameters, such as finger width. The transition-free SOI MOSFETs result in improved linearity of mixed-signal, radio-frequency, analog integrated circuits, where body-contacted SOI MOSFETs are preferred because a high degree of device matching is required.
US08375332B2
Provided are an apparatus and method of displaying multimedia contents, more particularly, an apparatus and method of displaying stored multimedia contents to accommodate a user's preference using limited buttons of a remote control device or a cellular phone. The apparatus for displaying multimedia contents includes an alignment condition determination unit determining an alignment condition corresponding to a first user command signal among a plurality of alignment conditions, a detailed condition determination unit determining a detailed condition corresponding to a second user command signal among detailed conditions included in the alignment condition, a contents extraction unit extracting first multimedia contents according to the determined detailed condition, and a display unit displaying the determined alignment condition in a first region, the determined detailed condition in a second region, and a second multimedia contents selected by a user among the extracted first multimedia contents in a third region of a screen.
US08375330B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing an indicator of a relative importance of a work item. One process includes operations for identifying at least one work item for determining a relative importance of the work item. A context of a user associated with the work item is determined, and a plurality of attributes of the work item are identified. At least one applicable rule is also identified from a set of rules specific to the user. A score for the work item is calculated based on an application of the at least one applicable rule to the context of the user and the plurality of attributes of the work item, the score representing the relative importance of the work item. An indicator of the relative importance of the work item is presented through a user interface.
US08375329B2
In a graphical user interface a display is animated by activation with an input device with a first concentric menu comprising a first grouping of menu items having a subset of one or more items from a set of menu items. Then, after selecting one menu item out of the first grouping of menu items, the display is animated with at least one additional grouping of menu items that are each concentrically in a pie sliced shape. The graphical user interface can be activated by a user at any position on the display area via the input device.
US08375326B2
A portable electronics device for displaying a graphical user interface (“GUI”) element on a screen of the device includes a screen, a user input device, a GUI element, and a port for receiving audio headgear. Content is displayed on a screen of the device, the content being associated with a function of the device. Upon receiving user input, the GUI element is displayed on the screen by overlaying the GUI element above the content. The GUI element graphically represents one or more menu selection items, permitting the user of the device to select a menu selection item without navigating out of the function of the device prior to selecting the menu selection item.
US08375325B2
A device includes a toolbar. The toolbar includes a button whose function changes based on context and whose visual interface changes based on the function the button is performing.
US08375322B2
The invention addresses the need to view an entire document element, such as a photograph, paragraph, etc. when paging. A window generated by an application such as a browser includes a succession of document elements. The window has an actual top and an actual bottom. The computer system selects a paging step size automatically, wherein the paging step size is selected from a group. The group includes a first step size that is of a size such that paging downward by the first step size from the current window position advances the window to a location placing the top of the at least one document element a predetermined distance below the top of the window.
US08375321B2
A multi-document application that includes a multi-document interface that includes a view area that displays one document at a time and includes a tab group element that displays tabs, each tab having a control that permits a corresponding document to be visualized in the view area. When a new document is opened in the multi-document application, the multi-document interface adds a new tab to the tab group element to represent the newly opened document. The color coding of the tabs and/or the tab sizing is configurable by a user rather than being predetermined. Other visual properties may also be configurable.
US08375319B2
A new resource address is registered in response to input received from a user. The user is then notified when a visually non-empty portion of content from the resource address has been loaded into a viewing area of the content viewing application. The notification cues the user to direct his/her attention to the viewing area of the content viewing application.
US08375315B2
A mobile terminal and method of managing a schedule using the same are disclosed, by which applications can be processed by linking to a schedule. The present invention includes displaying target item information including the schedule by executing a prescribe application, receiving a user's control selection signal for the target item information, and performing a control over the target item information according to the user's control selection signal received via the input device. Accordingly, based on contents of a received message, corresponding information is registered on a schedule table by a simple manipulation. And, schedules in the schedule table can be controlled in a simple manner.
US08375306B2
A method comprises displaying a mail server information screen, and receiving connection information via the mail server information screen. Further, the method comprises displaying an address page, and receiving recipient information via the address page. In addition, the method comprises displaying a content page, and receiving content in the content page. Additionally, an electronic mail message having the content is compiled, and the electronic mail message is sent to a recipient utilizing the connection information and recipient information.
US08375302B2
Enabling creation of a user-specific storyboard style based on a storyboard edited by a user. Metadata defined by analyzing the editing decisions made by the user and the media content associated with the storyboard represents the user-specific style. The user-specific style may be applied to other media content to produce a fully edited storyboard that matches the style of the example storyboard from which the user-specific style was created. The produced storyboard is combined with the other media content to produce audio/video data for consumption by the user.
US08375296B2
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided comprising: parsing a document, wherein the document contains at least one reference to a style sheet; for each referenced style sheet: determining if a ruleset corresponding to the referenced style sheet is contained in a first local cache; if the ruleset corresponding to the style sheet is contained in the first local cache; if the referenced style sheet is not contained in the first local cache, parsing the referenced style sheet to derive a ruleset; and applying the ruleset(s) to the document to derive a layout for displaying the document.
US08375293B2
Some embodiments provide a method for storing a document. The document is created by using a set of template pages. The method, in a data storage structure, creates a first prototype section for storing information for the template pages. The method also, in the data storage structure, creates a second section for storing a set of content for the document. In some embodiments, the template pages are provided by a word-processing application. In some embodiments, the information for the template pages includes text information, image information, and thumbnail information. In some embodiments, a word-processing application utilizes the stored thumbnails in the prototypes section to generate a visual representation of a template page contents to a user to assist the user in creating a document. In some embodiments, the template pages further include stylesheet information, headers information, and footers information.
US08375289B2
An input of document data, in which a rule for retrieving an object from a database has been specified for each region, is received. For each region, the number of times that the database is referenced for retrieving the object is counted by applying the rule. A reference value and each of the counted are compared. For each region, it is determined that the object is to be inserted in the region if the result of the comparison is that the number of times is less than or equal to the reference value, and that the object is not to be inserted in the region if the number of times is greater than the reference value. A preview of the document data is displayed with, for each region, the object being inserted in the region or the object not being inserted in the region in accordance with the determination.
US08375287B2
In one embodiment, common functions of hyperlinks are listed and associated with alternative terms, which may be words and phrases that are commonly used to identify hyperlinks in web pages and other documents. A common icon is associated with each common function, and a predetermined position on a display screen is assigned to each common icon. The alternative terms for each common function are compared to each of the hyperlinks in a source document. If a hyperlink matches an alternative term of a common function, the target resource locator from that hyperlink, which points to a target document, is associated with that common function. The corresponding common icon is displayed at its predetermined position on a display screen in the form of a common function hyperlink, which includes the target resource locator. Activating the common function hyperlink redirects the application to the target document.
US08375281B2
A survivor path memory is provided for a Viterbi detector. The survivor path memory comprises a plurality of columns, each associated with a different time step, and an input processor. Each column comprises a flip flop for storing one bit or portion of a bit sequence associated with a Viterbi state; and a multiplexer for each state controlled by a case signal indicating a time step, the multiplexer selecting a state from a previous time step, wherein an output of the multiplexer of a given state is connected to at least one data input of a flip flop of the given state. The input processor generates a control signal that exchanges one or more pointers based on a trellis structure, wherein each of the pointers points to one of the flip flops.
US08375270B2
A signal transmission method in a radio multiplex transmission system that includes serial-to-parallel converting of serial data to be transmitted into N parallel data series and independently performing an error-correcting encoding process on the parallel signals of the N data series. The method further includes parallel-to-serial converting of the parallel signals encoded with error-correcting codes, performing an interleaving process on the parallel-to-serial converted signals and serial-to-parallel converting the interleaved signals into L parallel data series and transmitting each of the L data series. The transmitted signals are then received and separated into M data series and are parallel-to-serial converted and a deinterleaving process is performed. The method also includes serial-to-parallel converting the deinterleaved signals into N data series, independently performing an error-correcting decoding process on the parallel signals of the N data series serial-to-parallel converted, and parallel-to-serial converting the signals in which the error-correcting codes are decoded.
US08375267B2
In a method for improved turbo decoding in a wireless communication system, jointly allocating (S10) a predetermined maximum number of decoding iterations to a batch of received decoding jobs; and consecutively performing decoding iterations (S20) adaptively for each job in the batch until a convergence criteria is reached for each job in the batch, or until the predetermined maximum number of iterations for the batch is reached.
US08375262B2
An electronic device is provided including an input/output (I/O) interface, a plurality of memory elements, a controller coupled to the I/O interface and the plurality of memory elements. In the device, the controller configured for operating the plurality of memory elements during a normal operating mode of the electronic device, where responsive to receiving a command for replacing a selected memory sector in the electronic device during the normal operating mode, the controller is configured for identifying one or more available spare memory sectors in the electronic device and modifying at least one memory map in the electronic device to replace the selected memory sector with the one of the available spare memory sectors.
US08375257B2
An Error Correcting Code (ECC) control circuit in a memory controller includes an ECC controller configured to receive data from a memory device in response to a request from a host device. The ECC controller transmits the data to a direct memory access (DMA) buffer for transfer to the host device, and to an ECC block for error detection and correction of the data. The ECC controller is configured to interrupt transmission of the data to the DMA buffer and transmit error-corrected data output from the ECC block to the DMA buffer responsive to detection of an error in the data by the ECC block. Related systems and methods are also discussed.
US08375253B2
A method for detecting faults by perturbations during execution of a computerized code in an electronic device. The computer code includes a sensitive process. The method includes a step of executing a redundant procedure of the sensitive process and a step of inserting a delay between the sensitive process and the redundant procedure. A trapping procedure is executed during the delay. The trapping procedure is sensitive to perturbations and supplies, in the absence of perturbation, a predictable result.
US08375249B1
A method for testing a battery backup unit used to power electronic components stored in an enclosure, such enclosure including a cooling system have a fan, such electrical components and fan being powered by a power supply electronic components stored in an enclosure, such enclosure including a cooling system have a fan, such electrical components and fan being powered by a power supply and, in the event of a detected failure of the power supply to provide proper power, the battery backup unit. The method includes periodically interrupting the power from the power supply to the fan while the fan is supplied power from the battery backup unit to test the battery backup unit while the power supply maintains power to the electrical components.
US08375246B2
According to one embodiment, an information recording apparatus for recording, in a free area, first low-quality recorded data having an error rate not less than a first error rate upon finalization of a recording medium, the information recording apparatus includes a reader, a measurement module, a detector, and a recorder. The reader is configured to read recorded data from a recording area of the recording medium. The measurement module is configured to measure an error rate of the recorded data of each predetermined data block. The detector configured to detect the first low-quality recorded data based on an error rate measurement result of the measurement module. The recorder is configured to correct an error in the first low-quality recorded data, and record error-corrected recorded data corresponding to the first low-quality recorded data at a spare recording position of the free area of the recording medium.
US08375239B2
Provided are a technique for high-speed switching between clock signals different in frequency, and a clock-control-signal-generation circuit which serves to generate a control signal for clock switching in a clock selector operable to switch between clock signals including a first clock signal based on first and second clock-stop-permission signals and a clock-resume-permission signal. The clock-control-signal-generation circuit includes: a before-switching clock processing unit; and an after-switching clock processing unit. In each of the before-and after-switching clock processing units, the high-frequency clock processing subunit and the low-frequency clock processing subunit take partial charges of processing of clock signals involved in the switching respectively, whereby the processing is speeded up.
US08375233B2
A method for managing the power consumed in a processor executing an application, the application including several processing phases, each of which is associated with a computational load. The method includes defining a first nominal mode of consumption, defining at least one second mode of low consumption, and formulating a decision function making it possible optionally to switch from the nominal mode of consumption to the mode of low consumption during the transition from one processing phase to another processing phase of the application.
US08375224B2
A method and apparatus is provided for generating a masked value from a cryptographically transformed value by using the cryptographically transformed value as a random seed, without decrypting the cryptographically transformed value. A query is evaluated against a set of data to produce a result. The result may be cryptographically transformed or unencrypted. If the result is unencrypted, the result may be cryptographically transformed to produce a random seed. If the result is already cryptographically transformed, then the result is used as the random seed. The random seed is used to generate a masked value, without decrypting the cryptographically transformed random seed value. The masked value conforms to a particular data characteristic such as a data format or a data type, which may be determined from metadata stored in a database, received with a query, or gleaned from unencrypted data. The masked value is returned as a result of the query.
US08375217B2
The present invention relates to the packet-oriented transmission of security-relevant data. One task of the invention is the provision of a way for the packet-oriented transmission of security-relevant data ensuring —under the guarantee of a considerably enhanced user data rate —a high level of protection against statistical and systematic errors with an insecure transmission medium. The invention provides, particularly for the use of at least one parallel and/or serial network and/or bus system, a process and devices for the packet-oriented transmission of security-relevant data allowing the transmission of security-relevant data and a redundant information that is based on the data in different packets.
US08375215B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and/or apparatus for determining whether to select media for printing. This may be accomplished by identifying a media signature present in the media and identifying a data stream signature that may be printed on the media. A comparison may then be made as between the data stream signature and the media signature. Based upon the comparison media may then be selected for printing.
US08375211B2
An XML digital signature mechanism for providing message integrity. A sending party serializes a source XML document into a serialized byte array, calculates the source offset and length of the array of the signed part in the serialized byte array, and calculates a source hash value using the serialized array and the source offset and length. The serialized byte array is a non-canonicalized array. The array and source hash value used to sign a part or the whole of the serialized byte array is sent to a receiving party. The receiving party calculates the target offset and length of the signed part in the serialized byte array and calculates a target hash value of the signed part by using the array and the target offset and length. The receiving party compares the target hash value and the source hash value to verify the integrity of the target XML document.
US08375207B2
A trust center for a wireless personal area network is arranged to perform authentication of communication devices joining the network. The trust center is operatively coupled to a security server, which is arranged to store communication device keys. The trust center is further arranged, upon a new communication device joining the network, to request from the security server a communication device key of the joining communication device for the purpose of authenticating the joining communication device.
US08375206B2
A data processing system, recording device, data processing method and program providing medium are provided to execute authentication processing and content storing processing between apparatuses. Program localization is employed to restrict access to program content. A plurality of key blocks store key data for authentication processing. Key block designation information is set in a recorder/reproducer, which is configured for executing authentication processing with the recording device by designating a key block. The recorder/reproducer can set a key block for each product, model or the like. In addition, data stored according to a selected key block cannot be utilized in a recorder/reproducer in which a different key block is set. Furthermore, an encryption processing controlling section of a recording device executes control in accordance with a pre-defined setting sequence. Furthermore, an illegal instrument that has not completed the authentication processing can be prevented from utilizing program content.
US08375199B2
A computerized method and system for managing security risk, where risk associated with a breach of security is analyzed and quantified according to weighted risk variables. The analysis is accomplished by a computerized security risk management system that receives information relating to physical, informational, communication and surveillance risk, and structures the information such that it can be related to risk variables and a security risk level can be calculated according to a relevance of associated risk variables. The security risk level can be indicative of a likelihood that a breach of security may occur relating to a particular transaction or facility. Similarly, a security confidence level can be indicative of how secure a particular facility or practice is and a security maintenance level can be indicative of a level of security that should be maintained in relation to an analyzed subject.
US08375196B2
A data processing apparatus includes a vector register bank having a plurality of vector registers, each register including a plurality of storage cells, each cell storing a data element. A vector processing unit is provided for executing a sequence of vector instructions. The processing unit is arranged to issue a set rearrangement enable signal to the vector register bank. The write interface of the vector register bank is modified to provide not only a first input for receiving the data elements generated by the vector processing unit during normal execution, but also has a second input coupled via a data rearrangement path to the matrix of storage cells via which the data elements currently stored in the matrix of storage cells are provided to the write interface in a rearranged form representing the arrangement of data elements that would be obtained by performance of the predetermined rearrangement operation.
US08375193B2
The frequency with which data is accessed within the system may be periodically monitored and a corresponding access frequency quantifier assigned to the data is updated accordingly. The data access frequency quantifier may be associated with a storage device zone speed quality rating. The association between data access frequency quantifiers and the storage device zone speed quality ratings may be made in a hierarchical association such that quantifiable differentials may be ascertained between a particular access frequency quantifier and a storage device zone speed quality rating. In this manner, when no storage zone having a speed quality rating that is associated with data having a particular access frequency quantifier is available for storage of the data, a storage zone having a speed quality rating more proximate the speed quality rating associated with the access frequency quantifier may be identified for migration.
US08375192B2
The present application includes methods and system for managing a storage device. In one implementation, a storage allocator that is present in a host or a storage device receives a request to store a file in a storage area of the storage device. The storage allocator marks the file as discardable in a file system structure associated with the storage device and updates a primary file allocation table (“FAT”) to associate a cluster chain that is allocated to the file with the file. The storage allocator additionally updates a discardable FAT or a database to reflect a physical location of the file, or may generate one or more location files that store the physical location of the file. The storage allocator then manages the storage area device based on the FAT and a discardable FAT, database, or one more location files indicating the physical location of the file.
US08375167B2
A storage system has a storage pool for at least one of a logical volume having a plurality of slices, a memory for storing a slice table indicating whether each slices of the logical volume is assigned from the storage pool or not, and a controller for receiving a release command for releasing one of the slices, sending out a response indicating the releasing of one of the slices corresponding to the release command has completed regardless of an execution of processing corresponding to the release command, duplicating a copy target area included in the one of the slices corresponding to the release command into a copy target volume included in the storage pool, and releasing the one of the slices upon completely duplicating the copy target area into the copy target volume.
US08375166B2
Methods and structures for limiting the write portion of a local cache memory in one or more disk drives of a storage system such that a storage controller coupled to each may mirror the content and structure of the write portion of each disk drive. The size of the write portion of the local cache memory in a disk drive controller may be controlled by the storage controller or other host device. The size of the write portion may be controlled by switch settings to select among a plurality of predefined sizes or may be programmed by the storage controller or other host device. Programming such a size value may be by setting parameter values in a configuration page of a SCSI disk drive's local memory or may be by a vendor unique command sent by a host device to the disk drive.
US08375161B2
Implementations and techniques for flash memory-type hash tables are generally disclosed.
US08375159B2
An electronic storage device (320) for connecting with a host system (100) includes a storage unit (360) including at least one memory segment which has at least one physical block, a memory unit (350) receiving access commands sent from the host system, and a control unit (340) connecting with said memory unit. Each of the access commands contains at least a logical address which corresponds to a physical block. The control unit determines the command execution order of the access commands according to adjacent extent of the physical blocks in said memory segment to which the logical addresses of said access commands correspond. A control method of the electronic storage device is also disclosed in the present invention.
US08375153B2
The present invention relates to a method for data output control, which comprises: obtaining the length of idle bits in the cache queue of a data output interface, and if the idle-bit length is equal to or longer than the length of the data to be sent on the interface, putting the data into the cache queue of the interface. In addition, this present invention discloses another data output control method, and two types of data output control apparatuses. Using this invention can avoid flow interruption.
US08375152B2
A controller is provided that controls data transfer between a processor and a data transfer device and that includes: a storage unit that stores first data outputted from the processor; a determination unit that compares control information of the first data and control information of second data received from the processor after the first data, and determines whether a first case in which the first data and the second data include the same data body holds according to a result of the comparison; a management unit that stores a portion of the control information of the second data as duplicate information associated with the first data in the first case, and stores the second data in the storage unit in a second case other than the first case; and a control unit that controls output of data stored in the storage unit to the data transfer device.
US08375151B1
A command portal enables a host system to send non-standard or “vendor-specific” storage subsystem commands to a storage subsystem using an operating system (OS) device driver that does not support or recognize such non-standard commands. The architecture thereby reduces or eliminates the need to develop custom device drivers that support the storage subsystem's non-standard commands. To execute non-standard commands using the command portal, the host system embeds the non-standard commands in blocks of write data, and writes these data blocks to the storage subsystem using standard write commands supported by standard OS device drivers. The storage subsystem extracts and executes the non-standard commands. The non-standard commands may alternatively be implied by the particular target addresses used. The host system may retrieve execution results of the non-standard commands using standard read commands. The host-side functionality of the command portal may be embodied in an API that is made available to application developers.
US08375149B2
A memory controller that controls data transfer between a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, wherein data being held in a plurality of volatile memories each having a refresh operation mode and a self-refresh operation mode is transferred to the non-volatile memory. When readout of data from at least one volatile memory has been finished, the volatile memory is shifted from the refresh operation mode to the self-refresh operation mode. Then, control is performed so as to return the volatile memory from the self-refresh operation mode depending on the progress of writing of data to the non-volatile memory.
US08375148B2
In a storage system provided with a plurality of storage modules, the rated power consumption can be reduced. The storage system is provided with a charge control unit. The charge control unit stops, when detecting that a predetermined number of a plurality of battery modules are during battery charging, the battery charging in the remaining battery modules.
US08375146B2
A system and integrated circuit chips used in the system utilize a bus in the form of a ring to interconnect nodes of individual components for transfer of data and commands therebetween. An example system described is a memory having one or more re-programmable non-volatile memory cell arrays connected to each other and to a system controller by a ring bus.
US08375139B2
The present disclosure is directed to sending a single data stream from a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint. Both of the endpoints each have multiple data communication channels connecting each endpoint to one or more networks, respectively. Different portions of data packets are sent by the sending endpoint over different ones of the multiple data communication channels. Sender content information is sent by the sending endpoint to the receiving endpoint over one or more of the data communication channels. Feedback information is sent by the receiving endpoint over one or more of the data communication channels and is received by the sending endpoint. The feedback information is gathered for each of data communication channels connected to the receiving endpoint. Receiver content information regarding streaming data gathered at the receiving endpoint is sent by the receiving endpoint over one or more of the data communication channels and is received by the sending endpoint.
US08375138B2
A computer system where a computer sends out video signal signals in true video format directly to a standard monitor type display device (see DEFINITIONS section) through either a network (wired or wireless or both), or over a wireless connection. In network embodiments, the network may be a local area network (“LAN”) a wide area network (“WAN”) or a combination of these types. Preferably, the true video signal is in one of the following formats: conventional television type broadcast signal, VGA, xVGA, D-sub 15, RGBHV video signal with DDC2 digital clock and data. Preferably, the true signal sent from the computer to the standard monitor type display device is in analog form.
US08375133B2
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an active device configured to utilize content; identify the content and a current location of the content; detect an idle device configured to selectively deliver the content; detect a transition parameter for determining a transition to the idle device; and transition the content from the active device to the idle device wherein the idle device is capable of utilizing the content based on the transition parameter.
US08375131B2
A method and network architecture through which user-specific media profile data can be made available to third parties. A browser is optionally enhanced to facilitate playback and control of one or more media players, thereby allowing the user to play content via the browser. As the user plays content in the browser or any of the media players, information is collected about the content and stored in a database. By monitoring all media-related interactions made by the user within the browser, the collected content information can encompass information from a wide range of sources. User-specific profile data is then determined based on the collected data and such user-specific profile data is made available to third parties. The user-specific profile data can be used, for example, for social networking purposes, and may also be used to drive advertisements or other content to the user.
US08375121B2
An alarm generation tool that operates within a Voice over IP (VoIP) network environment to generate alarms based on ISDN disconnect cause codes. The tool examines call-specific usage records associated with VoIP traffic to detect ISDN disconnect cause codes and determines failure rate information from failure-type disconnect cause codes among the ISDN disconnect cause codes on a per-gateway basis. The tool generates alarms when the failure rate information, such as failure rates and/or counts, exceeds defined thresholds.
US08375117B2
A device receives, from a managed device, endpoint information associated with an unmanaged device connected to the managed device in a network. The device also receives unmanaged device information that partially identifies the unmanaged device, and completely identifies the unmanaged device based on the endpoint information and the unmanaged device information.
US08375114B2
Systems and methods for implementing device loading in storage networks are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation a computer program product encodes a computer program for executing on a computer system a computer process. The computer process comprises identifying a plurality of storage devices to be configured in a storage network, identifying a number of host port LUNs configured on each of the storage devices, and identifying a number of host port connections to the storage devices. For each host port connection, the computer process determines actual loading for each of the storage devices based at least in part on the queue depth for each of the host port LUNs.
US08375112B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media for synchronization of electronic message accounts. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information to establish an electronic message account on a first data processing system, the electronic message account being defined by setup information, and synchronizing the setup information onto a store on a second data processing system. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving information to establish an electronic message account, defined by first setup information, on a host and synchronizing the first setup information onto a device when the device is coupled to the host for synchronization. Systems, other methods and computer readable media are also described.
US08375110B2
An apparatus to generate and manage binding information that is used to map a bundle remotely installed into an open service gateway initiative (OSGi) framework, to at least one controller device that is interested in a change of a life cycle of the bundle, by using a controlled device, in which an OSGi service platform is installed.
US08375103B2
The present invention is to provide a system including at least one storage device for storing at least one file each having a file name, a home gateway having a routing identification code and connected to the storage device, and a server connected to the home gateway via the Internet for receiving the routing identification code and the file name uploaded by the home gateway. The server stores a user's registration information corresponding to the routing identification code. When a terminal device connected to the server via the Internet uses the registration information to pass the server's verification and thus log in the server, the server transmits the file name to the terminal device and, when receiving a request instruction from the terminal device, then retrieves the file from the storage device by way of the home gateway and then sends the file to the terminal device as requested.
US08375100B1
An organization generates for each member a plurality of pieces of information (datums) to be sent to the member. The organization consolidates a plurality of the datums for the member into a single message by allowing the member to set a rule with a message service for receiving messages therefrom. The set rule specifies how to consolidate at least some of the datums from the organization into the single message. Datums from the organization to be sent to the member are then accumulated, and the set rule is employed to construct each received message having at least some of the accumulated datums consolidated thereinto.
US08375099B2
A method, system, and data structure for creating electronic calendar entries are disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer data structure that includes an email message with an embedded link. The embedded link contains event information corresponding to multiple parameters for an event described in the email message. The embedded link is configured, upon activation, to initiate generation of an electronic calendar entry form with multiple fields. A plurality of the multiple fields contain event information from the embedded link.
US08375091B2
A method for setting account of an electronic device is provided. The method includes steps of: receiving emails; reading a received email; detecting whether parameters of the read email are consistent with a predetermined rules; setting the origination email account, which sends the read email, as an available email account of the electronic device if the parameters of the read email are consistent with the predetermined rules. The electronic device with email function is also provided.
US08375085B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method enhanced collaboration through teleportation. In one or more embodiments, there is provided a system for moderating an enhanced collaboration environment for at least a set of participants, comprising a server for facilitating a 2-D federated collaboration environment for the at least one set of participants; a server for facilitating a 3-D virtual collaboration environment for the at least one set of participants; and a gateway server for facilitating teleportation of at least two participants of the at least one set of participants from the 2-D federated collaboration environment to form a teleported collaboration group in the 3-D virtual collaboration environment.
US08375066B2
A method, a system, and a computer program product for creating a set of identifiers are disclosed. A first set of identifiers is generated by a first randomization of a partition. Identifiers of the first set of identifiers are selected to generate a third set of identifiers. A second set of identifiers comprising a pre-defined number of identifiers is generated by a second randomization of the third set of identifiers.
US08375065B2
A method includes receiving a data input file, the data input file defining a first set of data fields to be included in a database and including a set of data elements to be included in the database. The method also includes identifying a second set of data fields in the data input file that are designated to contain a Boolean element, said second set of data fields being a subset of the first set of data fields. The method further includes defining at least one new data field, each new data field collectively storing a plurality of the Boolean elements. The first set of data fields are modified to eliminate the second set of data fields. The method also includes storing in a catalog data that defines an arrangement of the first set of data fields, wherein the arrangement includes the at least one new data field for collectively storing the Boolean elements.
US08375064B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for read back verification of stored data. A file CRC module calculates a first file CRC for a data file. A segmentation module segments the data file into a plurality of data blocks that comprise a copy of the data file. A block CRC module calculates a data block CRC for each data block. An aggregated CRC module calculates a second file CRC from the data block CRCs. In addition, the aggregated CRC module verifies copy of the data file if the second file CRC is substantially equivalent to the first file CRC.
US08375062B2
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for concurrently searching a memory containing a skiplist data structure. The method locates the skiplist data structure in the memory. The skiplist data structure includes a plurality of linked lists related by a skiplist invariant. Furthermore, the plurality of linked lists includes a first-level linked list and one or more higher-level linked lists. The skiplist data structure also includes a plurality of nodes, each of which includes a key field, at least one pointer field, and a lock field, respectively. Each of the plurality of nodes is linked to the first-level linked list through the at least one pointer field and ordered responsive to the key field. The method performs a search operation on the skiplist data structure, while the skiplist data structure is subject to concurrent alteration of the plurality of nodes by a plurality of execution threads that are configured to maintain the skiplist invariant and returns a result of the search operation.
US08375060B2
A mechanism is provided for generating a filter expression using tree parameters receives an expression wherein operators of the expression bind multiple data items to a single parameter to form a received expression, generates a default prompt control using received metadata and the received expression and prompts for an input selection using the default prompt control. Responsive to receiving selected values in response to the default prompt control to form received values the computer-implemented process generates a native database query using the received expression with the single parameter and the received values, wherein the single parameter is a tree parameter.
US08375056B2
A secure caching system and caching method include receiving a user request for data, the request containing a security context, and searching a cache for the requested data based on the user request and the received security context. If the requested data is found in cache, returning the cached data in response to the user request. If the requested data is not found in cache, obtaining the requested data from a data source, storing the obtained data in the cache and associating the obtained data with the security context, and returning the requested data in response to the user request. The search for the requested data can include searching for a security list that has the security context as a key, the security list including an address in the cache of the requested data.
US08375052B2
An outgoing message monitor is provided. In an embodiment, outgoing messages are monitored to detect potential errors and alerts may be triggered. Using information about a message such as an email, a first classifier classifies the email into an expected class and a second classifier classifies the email into an actual class. On the basis of a comparison of the expected and actual classes an alert may be triggered. In an embodiment, the second classifier uses information derived from text content of the email which may optionally be pre-processed. The first classifier, for example, uses other information about the email such as its intended recipients, information about the presence of attachments, information about whether the email is part of a thread and other information.
US08375044B2
Queries against data sources (such as language-integrated queries to be applied against relational databases) may be prepared for processing by a query processing pipeline. This pipeline performs services including transforming the query into a form more easily applied by the data source, e.g., into SQL, by matching query terms with query operators configured to handle various query operations. Many query processing pipelines include single-item query operators that perform individual operations (e.g., an updating query operator that specifies an updating of individual records of a table.) An integrated query pipeline may be devised that includes both single-item query operators and multiple-item query operators that specify operations on sets of data items. An integrated query processing pipeline may analyze the query to determine whether a single-item or multiple-item operation is specified in order to select an appropriate query operator, which may improve the efficiency and performance of the data source querying.
US08375034B2
A method for scheduling calendar events includes receiving a search request with a plurality of constraints, searching the calendaring system databases to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least some of the constraints, calculating event reschedule factors for each candidate calendar event for which at least one participant has a conflicting calendar event, ranking the set of candidate calendar events based in part of the event reschedule factors, and preparing them for presentation. In various embodiments and circumstances, event reschedule factors correspond to one or more of: the ease of rescheduling a conflicting calendar event, an ease of overwriting a conflicting calendar event, the response status of the participants, the number of participants in the conflicting calendar event.
US08375022B2
Example embodiments relate to keyword determination based on a weight of meaningfulness. In example embodiments, a computing device may determine a number of occurrences of a word in a particular document and may then determine a weight of meaningfulness for the word based on the number of occurrences. The computing device may then add the word to a set of keywords for the document based on the weight of meaningfulness.
US08375016B2
Term negotiation can utilize centralized systems accessed via web interfaces for purposes such as mediation of communications between buyers and sellers, maintenance of a history of negotiations, and notification of parties regarding changes suggested during negotiation. Changes to terms proposed by parties using centralized systems can be stored in a data warehouse, potentially along with timestamp and identification information.
US08375011B2
Managing metadata in a metadata repository that includes parsing metadata to determine an identity of the metadata and individual items associated with the metadata. Converting the identity of the metadata and the individual items associated with the metadata into corresponding object structures. Storing the object structure representing the identity of the metadata into a first table of the metadata repository and storing the object structures that represent the individual items associated with the metadata into a second table of the metadata repository. Responsive to receiving a request to modify a row in the first table or a row in the second table, logically deleting the row being modified without actually deleting or modifying the row, and creating a new row within the first table or the second table having the modified row, in which the new row further includes a link to the logically deleted row.
US08375006B2
A method of performing an analysis on internal hard drive(s), which includes an analysis of the file management system, individual files that exist on the hard drive, developing a Unique ID for each program (i.e., executable) file and continuously analyzing (i.e., scanning) the hard drive(s) to detect physical changes in the previously analyzed program files. The method may be implemented on a computer unit, which can be a 32/64-bit Microsoft PC O/S, or a 32/64-bit Microsoft Server O/S.
US08375001B2
A distributed database system with a plurality of nodes is provided, each node storing a replica of at least one partition of data. A method of handling the distributed database system comprises: partitioning data into a number of partitions; replicating each partition into a number of replicas; for each partition, distributing the number of replicas amongst database nodes; activating more than one node; monitoring at each active node events of: latest updating of each replica, replica status, status of local resources in charge of each replica, and connectivity status of each replica; upon activation or deactivation of a node, determining which node is considered current master node for each partition in charge of current master replica; for any request received in a node to read/write data, determining the current master node in charge of the current master replica, and routing said request to said current master node.
US08375000B2
In a system in which data employed by a computer is stored in a storage system, the storage system transfers this data to another storage system and a copy of the data is maintained in the other storage system. The consistency of the copy is maintained even when data is written, to the storage system by a computer, without having a write time applied. A source storage system, when a write time is applied to a write request, records the write time and applies this write time to the received write data and, when no write time is applied, applies the recorded write time to the received write data and transfers the write data with this write time applied thereto, to a target storage system. The target storage system stores the write data in a logical volume in the target storage system in accordance with the write time.
US08374999B2
In each of a number of passes to deduplicate a data object, a transaction is started. Where an offset into the object has previously been set, the offset is retrieved; otherwise, the offset is set to reference a beginning of the object. A portion of the object beginning at the offset is deduplicated until an end-of-transaction criterion has been satisfied. The transaction is ended to commit deduplication; where the object has not yet been completely deduplicated, the offset is moved just past where deduplication has already occurred. The object is locked during each pass; other processes cannot access the object during each pass, but can access the object between passes. Each pass is relatively short, so the length of time in which the object is inaccessible is relatively short. By comparison, deduplicating an object within a single pass prevents other processes from accessing the object for a longer time.
US08374992B2
In a pen-based computing system, use of paradigms similar to those used with physical paper to organize user generated content captured by a smart pen is disclosed. Data, such as handwriting gestures, is captured by the smart pen and transferred to a digital domain, such as by being transferred to a computing system. Once in the digital domain, the captured content is organized as virtual pages or virtual notebooks. Hence, content captured from various sources, such as different notebooks or different physical pieces of paper, is assembled into a virtual page or virtual notebook. User input or automatic application of rules can be used to assemble the captured content into a virtual page or virtual notebook.
US08374988B2
A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium are provided for generating a complex alert. Values of a plurality of physiological characteristics of a patient are received. The received values are compared to a complex alert rule associated with a medical condition. The complex alert rule includes a plurality of alert rules, wherein each alert rule includes an indicator of a physiological characteristic of a patient associated with the alert rule and a condition priority associated with an urgency of the alert rule. The complex alert rule also includes a trigger rule. The trigger rule includes a plurality of rules wherein each rule includes a number of satisfied alert rules for each value of the condition priority. A number of alert rules of the plurality of alert rules that are satisfied is determined for each condition priority of the complex alert rule based on the comparison. A complex alert is generated if the determined number of alert rules for a condition priority satisfies the trigger rule of the complex alert rule.
US08374983B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for classifying objects. Object (e.g., Website) classification can be performed using multiple models that are implemented in a distributed processing environment. In response to receiving a request to classify an object based on attribute values that characterize the object models that are configured to classify objects based on the attribute values are identified and the attribute values are provided to the identified models. Based on classification data received from selected models is used to generate a final classification for the object. The final classification can specify or correspond to a presentation availability status of the object that can be used to control availability of the object. For example, a Website having a final classification of “blacklisted” can be made unavailable for presentation based on the classification result.
US08374982B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a computational forecasting system that includes an identity of a dependent variable of interest and identities of a plurality of candidate indicators along with historical data or stored references to historical data, forecast-problem parameters stored in an electronic memory of the one or more electronic computers, an independent-variable selection component that generates correlations to the dependent variable of interest and lag times for the candidate indicators, and uses the generated correlations and lag times to select a number of the candidate indicators as a set of independent variables, and a model-generation component that, using a regression method, generates forecast models for the dependent variable of interest until a model that meets an acceptance criterion or criteria is obtained.
US08374975B1
A server device receives a comment associated with a first document, where the comment provides an opinion of, or remarks upon, a content of the first document. The server device obtains document clustering information which indicates that the first document is clustered with one or more second documents and stores, in a memory associated with the server device, the comment in association with the first document and the one or more second documents. The server device presents the comment in connection with the first document or one of the one or more second documents when the first document or the one of the one or more second documents is accessed by a user.
US08374969B2
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for distributing digital information, such as software applications, to application users. By providing the digital information on unused memory space of a computer system, and providing a process for authorizing access to the information, the information can be efficiently and cost effectively transferred to users. Traditional inventory and distribution channel difficulties are avoided.
US08374966B1
Techniques are disclosed for sharing information in a wide variety of contexts. An information sharing system is described that allows both an explicit capture process and an implicit capture process to add information items to a staging area. Further, the information sharing system supports both implicit and explicit consumption of information items that are stored in said staging area. A rules engine is provided to allow users to create and register rules that customize the behavior of the capture processes, the consuming processes, and propagation processes that propagate information from the staging areas to designated destinations. Techniques are also described for achieving exactly-once handling of sequence of items, where the items are maintained in volatile memory. Techniques are also provided for recording DDL operations, and for asynchronously performing operations based on the previously-performed DDL operations.
US08374960B2
The prepaid transaction tracking system allows, for example, entities, such as businesses, individuals, or the like, to have the ability to identify, track and maintain information about prepaid transactions.
US08374959B2
A network commerce system comprises a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products provided by a third-party. A lead tracking module is operable to track consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor. A communications module enables the consumer and third-party vendor to communicate; and a feedback module enables at least one of the consumer and the third-party vendor to leave feedback regarding a lead tracked via the lead tracking module based on a handshake.
US08374958B2
A payment system for accessing Internet content is located within an Internet service providers network. The system includes an access controller (106) and a payment authority (108). When an end-user makes a request for a URL, the access controller terminates the request and determines whether the requested URL is one for which a charge for accessing the content referenced by that URL is required. That determination is made by comparing the requested URL with a set of rules that are supplied by all the content providers for which the service provider supports payment. If no match is found, the request is forwarded to the content provider. If a rule is found that matches the requested URL, the end-user is identified and the request is forwarded to the payment authority where a payment policy associated with the matched rule is applied. If the end-user fulfills the requirements of this payment policy, then access to the content is granted. The end-user may fulfill the requirements of the payment policy, for example, through a current subscription to a content provider's site, through an auto-payment agreement in which all charges of less than an agreed upon amount are automatically accepted, or by specifically accepting and agreeing to pay an indicated charge for accessing the requested content. In accepting any such payment arrangement, the end-user's account with the service provider is debited for the appropriate charge and the content provider's account is credited for the end-user's access.
US08374954B1
A computer-implemented data processing system comprises capital management logic accessible to a plurality of users by way of a communication network. The plurality of users include companies, institutional investors, individual investors, and exchanges. The capital management logic is configured to facilitate pre-financing and post-financing interactions between the companies, the institutional investors, the individual investors, and the exchanges throughout one or more rounds of financing of the companies.
US08374953B2
A system and method of providing a collateralized loan utilizing a clearing counterparty is disclosed. The method includes receiving an order at a match engine module, the order related to a futures contract based on an options box spread as the deliverable asset such that the futures contract represents a collateralized loan and such that the order includes an interest rate associated with the collateralized loan, analyzing, at the match engine, the order to determine a strike interval, scanning an order book module in communication with the match engine module, such that the scan is based on the determined strike interval, and automatically defining a first pair of options at a first strike price and a second pair of options at a second strike price, such that the determined strike interval defines the first and second strike prices, such that the first and second pair of options cooperate to define the option box spread.
US08374952B2
A user interface for an electronic trading exchange is provided which allows a remote trader to view in real time bid orders, offer orders, and trades for an item, and optionally one or more sources of contextual data. Individual traders place orders on remote client terminals, and this information is routed to a transaction server. The transaction server receives order information from the remote terminals, matches a bid for an item to an offer for an item responsive to the bid corresponding with the offer, and communicates outstanding bid and offer information, and additional information (such as trades and contextual data) back to the client terminals. Each client terminal displays all of the outstanding bids and offers for an item, allowing the trader to view trends in orders for an item. A priority view is provided in which orders are displayed as tokens at locations corresponding to the values of the orders. The size of the tokens reflects the quantity of the orders. An alternate view positions order icons at a location which reflects the value and quantity of the order. Additionally, contextual data for the item is also displayed to allow the trader to consider as much information as possible while making transaction decisions. A pit panel view is also provided in which traders connected to the pit are represented by icons, and are displayed corresponding to an activity level of the trader.
US08374944B2
A common collaboration tool enables advisors, their clients and other participants to interact in a coordinated manner in various areas of interest. A client authorizes selected advisors as well as other participants to view, discuss, modify and perform other operations in response to the client's request for services. A client defines the scope of authorization for advisors and/or other participants for security and confidentiality reasons. Advisors (and/or participants) access information submitted (or authorized) by the client to collaborate as a cohesive team in sharing information, devising a plan, addressing client's concerns, drafting (or modifying) a document and performing other services for the client.
US08374939B2
A system, method and computer program product creates an index based on accounting based data, as well as a portfolio of financial objects based on the index where the portfolio is weighted according to accounting based data. A passive investment system may be based on indices created from various metrics. The indexes may be built with metrics other than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Non-financial metrics may also be used to build indexes to create passive investment systems. Additionally, a combination of financial non-market capitalization metrics may be used along with non-financial metrics to create passive investment systems. Once the index is built, it may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio. Specifically excluded are widely-used capitalization-weighted indexes and price-weighted indexes, in which the price of a security contributes in a substantial way to the calculation of the weight of that security in the index or the portfolio, and equal weighting weighted indexes. Valuation indifferent indexes avoid overexposure to overvalued securities and underexposure to undervalued securities, as compared with conventional capitalization-weighted and price-weighted.
US08374934B1
Systems and methods for credit card relationship derivation from historic data are provided. A single credit card relationship between a membership organization and a member can be very long-lived and identified by many different account numbers over time. For example, a new card with a new number can be issued if the card is lost, stolen, the member changes the card type (Standard, Gold or Platinum) or the card number is thought to be compromised. Sometimes, data security compromises committed by third-parties can result in a simultaneous mass re-issue of many cards. Various embodiments of the present invention create a common key and ordinal numbers that identifies the account throughout its life by resolving ambiguities and inconsistencies in historical data.
US08374925B2
Method and system for providing a subscription based replenishment transaction of consumable items such as glucose test strips, lancets, and medication, such as insulin, including a data network, a user terminal operatively coupled to the data network, the user terminal configured to receive and transmit data over the data network, and a server terminal operatively coupled to the data network, the server terminal configured to receive from the user terminal a request for establishing an account associated with a consumable item, receive from the user terminal one or more predetermined parameters associated with the account, and generate the account based on the one or more predetermined parameters, where the one or more predetermined parameters include a user specified consumable replenishment level received from the user terminal is disclosed.
US08374923B2
A software application executed at a user computer and/or server allows a user to select one or more multimedia files. The multimedia files may be provided at the user computer, sold at the server, or procured from a third party provider. The user can arrange the multimedia files into a presentation. A user can then specify a display device that will be used to present the multimedia presentation. The display device can be a television, portable media player, a computer, or other device. The system can translate the multimedia presentation into a format compatible with the device. Thus, the user is provided with a simple system to create multimedia presentation and receive the file in a format compatible with a device.
US08374919B2
A method and system for enabling a user or bidder to purchase an option on auction merchandise or services in an online auction are provided, thus allowing the option winner to purchase the merchandise in the event the original auction bidder (i.e., the highest bidder for the merchandise) defaults on his purchase. The method and system also provides an incentive to the users purchasing the option(s), e.g., bid optionees, by partially distributing the option pool of monies collected to the user who purchases the option at the price closest to the final auction price.
US08374918B2
A model for the next generation of software network agents for downloadable software is provided. The software network agent delivers a streamlined user experience that presents the user with options to try or buy. The agent may be co-branded for merchant and affiliate marketing. The agent may be integrated with a number of services, such as ecommerce systems, affiliate marketing network systems, site optimization, web analytics and email marketing systems that enable a merchant to enhance the user experience and improve marketing. A user's actions may be tracked in order to provide OEMs and retailers payout on purchase referrals to the merchant's online store. Code changes and bug fixes can be made at the server and in a timely manner with minimal impact to the various systems supporting the software activation user experience.
US08374916B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to securing payments from a mobile communications device. In exemplary embodiments, a mobile communications device communicates with a payment server via a point-of-sale device to conduct a transaction. The mobile communications device uses a client payment logic to send payment information to the point-of-sale device. The point-of-sale device uses a vendor payment logic to forward the payment information to the payment server. The payment server verifies the payment information and sends confirmation to the point-of-sale device.
US08374914B2
Registration and classification of non-textual information, such as digital images and video is described. Image searching and comparison of the images is also described. The digital images are indexed (i.e., each image is assigned a unique numerical parameter and/or a plurality of numerical parameters). The resulting index files are stored in a database that can be quickly searched because the index files are universal numerical files that are significantly smaller in size than their source images. Image search queries are also indexed to generate an index file, which is then compared with the stored index files. A similarity score is also calculated to rank the similar images based on the index file-to-index file comparison.
US08374913B2
A method and system are provided for comparing an effect of an audio-visual ad on Internet searches. In one example, the method includes receiving a keyword search related to the audio-visual ad and storing the keyword search in a keyword search database, extracting ad related keywords from digitized text of the audio-visual ad and storing the ad related keywords in an ad keyword database, comparing the ad keyword database to the keyword search database, wherein the comparing includes determining an ad effectiveness rank of the audio-visual ad, and storing the ad effectiveness rank of the audio-visual ad in an ad effectiveness database.
US08374909B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period, comprises sending fleet data from a third party entity to a toll authority via a toll rental entity, matching toll data with the fleet data by the toll authority, if the toll data matches the fleet data: charging an account by the toll authority and sending the matched data to the toll rental entity, determining, by the toll rental entity, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling or an opt-out for duration based tolling, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling, charging the third party entity for the duration based tolling, and if the sent matched data is related to an opt-out for duration based tolling, applying at least one of: a fee for the duration based tolling, a toll usage amount, a service fee for the duration based tolling, and a service fee for the toll usage.
US08374907B1
An e-commerce price index is constructed and maintained based on consumer actions in connection with one or more e-commerce websites. A data collector software module collects information regarding products sold or available for sale online, including a price and rate of clicks received for each product on the website(s). An index software module analyzes the collected information to construct the price index. Specifically, the index software module scrubs the collected information to remove outliers and fill in gaps and calculates a click-weighted average price by product category and day. The index module generates the price index by aggregating and normalizing the calculated click-weighted average prices. The index software module can compute the e-commerce price index on a virtually real-time basis. Thus, the e-commerce price index can provide useful information about online pricing trends far earlier than traditional indices.
US08374903B2
Systems and methods are provided for a computer-implemented method for automatically generating a weighted average forecast model that includes receiving a plurality of forecasting models and time series data. At least one parameter of each of the received forecasting models is optimized utilizing the received time series data. A weighting factor is generated for each of the plurality of optimized forecasting models utilizing an information criteria value indicating fit quality of each of the optimized forecasting models, and the generated weighting factors are stored.
US08374887B1
A system and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions performed by a non-pharmacist at an institutional pharmacy. The institutional pharmacy and a remotely located pharmacist are linked via wired and/or wireless telecommunication systems in a manner that enables the pharmacist to remotely supervise and verify the correct performance of pharmacy functions by non-pharmacist personnel. Images of the pharmacy work performed may be captured using any of a number of types image capture devices. Captured images and corresponding documentation may be transmitted from institutional pharmacy to the remotely located pharmacist, either directly or via a web site accessible to both. After verifying that the pharmacy work was correctly performed, the remote pharmacist may provide the institutional pharmacy with an initialed copy the captured image(s), or other documentation, indicating such verification. Receiving the pharmacist's verification may authorize the non-pharmacist to further process the work.
US08374884B2
A coding apparatus reduces a circuit scale and the amount of coding processing calculation. A frequency domain conversion section performs a frequency analysis of the signal sampled at a sampling rate Fx with an analysis length of 2·Na and calculates first spectrum S1(k)(0≦k
US08374882B2
An audio decoding method includes: acquiring, from encoded audio data, a reception audio signal and first auxiliary decoded audio information; calculating coefficient information from the first auxiliary decoded audio information; generating a decoded output audio signal based on the coefficient information and the reception audio signal; decoding to result in a decoded audio signal based on the first auxiliary decoded audio signal and the reception audio signal; calculating, from the decoded audio signal, second auxiliary decoded audio information corresponding to the first auxiliary decoded audio information; detecting a distortion caused in a decoding operation of the decoded audio signal by comparing the second auxiliary decoded audio information with the first auxiliary decoded audio information; correcting the coefficient information in response to the detected distortion; and supplying the corrected coefficient information as the coefficient information when generating the decoded output audio signal.
US08374872B2
A device provides a question to a user, and receives, from the user, an unrecognized voice response to the question. The device also provides the unrecognized voice response to an utterance agent for determination of the unrecognized voice response without user involvement, and provides an additional question to the user prior to receiving the determination of the unrecognized voice response from the utterance agent.
US08374871B2
The invention enables creation of grammar networks that can regulate, control, and define the content and scope of human-machine interaction in natural language voice user interfaces (NLVUI). More specifically, the invention concerns a phrase-based modeling of generic structures of verbal interaction and use of these models for the purpose of automating part of the design of such grammar networks.
US08374866B2
This document describes methods, systems, techniques, and computer program products for generating and/or modifying acoustic models. Acoustic models and/or transformations for a target language/dialect can be generated and/or modified using acoustic models and/or transformations from a source language/dialect.
US08374857B2
Perceptual audio coder refers to audio compression schemes that exploit the properties of human auditory perception. The coder allocates the quantization noise below the masking threshold such that even with the bit rate limitation, the noise is imperceptible to the ear. These distortion and bit rate requirement makes the bit allocation-quantization process a considerable computational effort. One method includes incrementally adjusting a global gain according to a gradient. The gradient could be adjusted each time the number of bits used to represent a quantized value is counted. Another method includes limiting a rate controlling parameter to a predetermined number of loops. The method could also include deriving a global gain to ensure exit from the loop. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fast and efficient method to derive the rate controlling parameter and can be applied to generic perceptual audio encoders where low computational complexity is required.
US08374853B2
A system for coding a hierarchical audio signal, comprising, at least, a core layer using parametric coding by analysis by synthesis in a first frequency band, a band extension layer for widening said first frequency band into a second frequency band, or wideband. The system also comprises a wideband audio coding quality enhancement layer based on transform coding using a spectral parameter obtained from said band extension layer. Application to transmitting speech and/or audio signals over packet networks.
US08374850B2
A device including a display screen for displaying m-words of data, a text entry device for entering data, a processor receiving data from the text entry device and causing it to be displayed on the display screen. Upon activation the processor initializes a precursor to a predefined value. The device further includes a non-volatile memory storing a dictionary containing a plurality of entries, each entry including an index, a candidate word, and a score. The processor selects a list of n-number of candidate words from the dictionary whose index matches the precursor, and causes m-number of candidate words from the list of candidate words to be displayed on the display screen. The processor causes the display to prompt the user to select one of the displayed candidate words or enter a desired word using the text entry device.
US08374849B1
Indexing and querying in multiple languages is accomplished using an ordered chain of filters and/or other such components. When receiving information to be indexed or for a query, the information can be tokenized and typed based at least in part on the language of each token. The character types can be adjusted if appropriate for the languages, and the tokens can be further segmented using a dictionary for the respective language types. Once appropriate tokens are determined, relevant synonyms in each appropriate language can be determined and typed accordingly. If necessary the case of the tokens and synonyms can be adjusted and further segmented based on punctuation. The terms and synonyms then can be used as part of the index or as part of the search query to include other terms or phrases based on relevance to the original information.
US08374847B2
The invention discloses an error-detecting method for a Chinese article, handling a Chinese sentence including a first erroneous Chinese character string in a first location. The method includes subdividing the first erroneous Chinese character string into a plurality of first subgroups, wherein each of the first subgroups consists of two consecutive and non-consecutive Chinese characters out of the first erroneous Chinese character string. The method further includes providing a database containing a plurality of first correct Chinese character strings and a plurality of corresponding first correct indices, wherein the first correct indices consist of two consecutive and non-consecutive Chinese characters out of the first correct Chinese character strings. The method further includes acquiring one of the first correct indices according to the first subgroup, and one of the first correct Chinese character strings according to the acquired first correct index. The method further includes generating a best candidate sentence according to the acquired first correct Chinese character string, and showing the Chinese sentence and the best candidate sentence on a display device.
US08374846B2
The present invention relates to a text input device and a method for inputting text, and a computer program for performing the method. A text input device (200) is provided that comprises: a text prediction component for predicting candidate words in accordance with a current text context; a display screen (210) for displaying the predicted candidate words; a data entry device (220) having a navigation means (240) for selecting a direction to move a cursor on the display screen (210); and a processor receiving data from the data entry device (220) upon actuation of the navigation means (240). The processor arranges the candidate words on the display screen (210) in a spatial arrangement that reflects the selectable directions of the navigation means (240). The processor maps the currently displayed candidate words to the corresponding directions and selects a candidate word upon selection of a direction.
US08374843B2
A method for local, computer-aided translation using remotely-generated translation predictions includes the step of determining that a translation stored in a remote translation memory is useful in translating a first portion of a local document. A local machine receives the translation of the first portion of the document. The local machine stores, in a local cache, an alternate version of the translation created by a translator. The alternate version of the translation is identified as useful in translating a second portion of the document. The local machine generates a translation of the second portion of the document through reuse of the alternate version of the translation of the first portion of the document, responsive to the received identification of the utility of the alternate version of the translation of the first portion of the document to the second portion of the document.
US08374840B2
A system and method for generating test vectors includes generating traces of a system model or program stored in memory using a simulation engine. Simulated inputs are globally optimized using a fitness objective computed using a computer processing device. The simulation inputs are adjusted in accordance with feedback from the traces and fitness objective values by computing a distance between the fitness objective value and a reachability objective. Test input vectors are output based upon optimized fitness objective values associated with the simulated inputs to test the system model or program stored in memory.
US08374837B2
A computer-based method of generating a descriptor of a three-dimensional object wherein the following steps are performed for each of a set of one or more cages and for each of one or more properties: (i) enclosing entirely the three-dimensional object in the cage, (ii) for each property, while keeping the three-dimensional object entirely enclosed in the cage by varying one or more dimensions of the cage, minimizing the interaction value resulting from the interaction between the three dimensional object and the cage by changing the relative orientation between the three-dimensional object and the cage, and (iii) assigning each of the obtained minimized interaction values to a distinct position in the descriptor.
US08374835B2
Methods and systems are provided to improve design, manufacture and performance of oilfield equipment and well tools using three dimensional (3D) scanning technology and one or more feedback loops. Manufacturing processes and techniques associated with a well tool may be evaluated based on comparing “as built” 3D data with a design data file for the well tool. Based on differences between “as built” 3D data and the design data file, one or more changes in associated manufacturing procedures and/or technique may be made. Computational fluid dynamic applications may be used to simulate fluid flow characteristics of a well tool using associated design data file, “as built” 3D data and/or after use 3D data. The associated design data file, manufacturing procedures and/or procedures for use of the well tool may be modified based on comparing simulated fluid flow data with desired fluid flow characteristics for the well tool.
US08374834B2
A statistical methodology is disclosed to provide time-to-event estimates for oilfield equipment. A method according to the present invention extracts unbiased information from equipment performance data and considers parameters interactions without recourse to data thinning. The analysis explicitly accounts for items of equipment that are still operational at the time of analysis. A method according to the present invention may also be utilized to apply survival analysis to any oilfield equipment components where time-to-event information has been recorded. The method of the present invention allows comparative reckoning between different components present in the system comprising several or many individual components and allows analysis of these components either individually or simultaneously, i.e., in the presence of other components.
US08374830B2
A design process for varying hole locations or sizes or both in an ion beam grid includes identifying a control grid to be modified; obtaining a change factor for the grid pattern; and using the change factor to generate a new grid pattern. The change factor is one or both of a hole location change factor or a hole diameter change factor. Also included is an ion beam grid having the characteristic of hole locations or sizes or both defined by a change factor modification of control grid hole locations or sizes or both.
US08374824B2
A system and method for monitoring data associated with a temperature controlled container with a Reefer Unit. The monitored data retrieved from the Reefer Unit is wirelessly transmitted to an evaluation unit via at least one transponder. The transponder is connected via a wireless interface of an antenna with a reader/transmitter. The wireless interface transmits the monitored data via a bus from the reader/transmitter to a converter which then transmits the converted monitored data via a communication interface to the evaluation unit. Aside from retrieving monitored data remotely, the system can also issue remote forward commands to provide full automation and control of such containers.
US08374816B2
A magnetic compass comprising a magnetometer for taking readings of a magnetic field and a processing unit that calibrates the magnetic compass is provided. The processing unit is configured to validate a predetermined number of magnetic field samples and calculate calibration coefficients from the validated magnetic field samples. Each validated magnetic field sample is at least a minimum separation angle apart from every other validated magnetic field sample.
US08374799B2
Systems and methods are used to predict intensities of a saturated peak using a peak predictor. A set of data is selected from the plurality of intensity measurements that includes a saturated peak. Confidence values are assigned to each data point in the set of data producing a plurality of confidence value weighted data points. A peak predictor is selected. The peak predictor is applied to the plurality of confidence value weighted data points of the saturated peak producing predicted intensities for the saturated peak. The confidence values can include system confidence values, predictor confidence values, or a combination of system confidence values and predictor confidence values. The peak predictor can be a theoretical model, a dynamic model, an artificial neural network, or an analytical function representing a best fit of a plurality of probability density functions to a first set of measured data that includes a representative non-saturated peak.
US08374788B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods to calibrate a tightly-coupled integration filter for inertial sensor-assisted GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) contains inertial sensors such as accelerometer, magnetometer, and/or gyroscopes. Embodiments include creating a coordinate transformation matrix using a latest position fix (latitude and longitude). Transforming state variables to a local navigation coordinate using coordinate transformation matrix. The state variables of the integration filter which include speed scale-factor and/or heading bias are estimated. A blended calibrated position fix is outputted.
US08374787B2
A mobile navigation device operating in a first mode and a second mode is provided. In the first mode, a satellite positioning module is activated while a dead reckoning module is disabled. A processor calculates the coordinates of the mobile navigation device based on the satellite navigation signals received by the satellite positioning module. In the second mode, the satellite positioning module is disabled while the dead reckoning module is activated, and the processor updates the coordinates based on displacements and rotations detected by the dead reckoning module.
US08374786B2
A method of computing navigation information in a portable device comprising a GNSS receiver arranged to receive navigation signals from a plurality of navigation satellites, and a GNSS processor to extract a GNSS position information from said navigation signals. The GNSS receiver is also arranged to obtain image data from a camera module. The method comprises the steps of: deriving a set of position information from the camera module; providing the camera-derived position information to a navigation processor; using said set of camera-derived position information and said navigation signals, to generate a position fix of the GNSS receiver; computing navigation information based on said generated position fix.
US08374775B2
An activity state (e.g., stationary or moving) of an intermittently moving mobile device is classified using sensor measurements provided by one or more on-board sensors. The activity state can be determined by a classifier that exploits the separable log-normal distributions of the short-time variance of sensor measurements. The activity state can provide an external non-correlated indication of movement or stationarity to an on-board navigation engine. The on-board navigation engine can use the activity state to improve tracking performance.
US08374768B2
A controller of an internal combustion engine operable by an alcohol-containing fuel, includes: an alcohol concentration detecting unit, operable to detect an alcohol concentration of the alcohol-containing fuel; a feedback controller, operable to perform feedback control to make an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine become equal to a target air-fuel ratio in accordance with an operation region; and an operation region setting unit, operable to set a stoichiometric operation region, in which the target air-fuel ratio is stoichiometric, in an enlarged manner when the alcohol concentration, detected by the alcohol concentration detecting unit, is higher than a concentration.
US08374766B2
A method for managing power in a hydrostatically driven vehicle includes calculating the power consumption of the vehicle based on the pressure of the compressed fluid in a hydraulic circuit, and the displacement of the pump. An electronic controller further calculates the power output of the engine based on at least one engine operating parameter, and operates to change the power output of the engine based on a difference between the power consumption and the power output.
US08374765B1
A method includes selecting, from a data table containing a plurality of weighted independent variable columns and rows, where each of the columns represents an independent input variable feature and each row represents a set of stored independent input variables and a corresponding stored dependent variable, a row that best matches received sensor independent input variable data from at least one vehicle sensor, causing a vehicle accelerator to gradually accelerate a vehicle to a vehicle acceleration level corresponding to the stored dependent variable of the selected best match row, and modifying a weight of the weighted independent variable columns based upon received user feedback to the vehicle acceleration level. The weights may then be normalized and the received sensor independent input variable data may be stored within a new row of the data table if the weight modification produces a net overall improvement in the data table dependency mapping.
US08374753B2
A starting device of an occupant protective system includes an angular velocity or acceleration sensor 11 for detecting the behavior of a vehicle, processing sections 131 and 132 for performing two or more computations using different subtrahends on a physical quantity based on the output from the sensor 11, a comparing section 133 for comparing absolute values of outputs from the processing sections 131 and 132, a selecting section 134 for selecting the output value of the processing sections 131 and 132 with the minimum absolute value, and a decision section 135 for making a decision as to the necessity for starting the occupant protective system in accordance with the output value selected.
US08374749B2
The parking assist system assists the maneuvering for moving a vehicle to a reverse start position, then moving it in reverse from the reverse start position to a predetermined parking position in a manner as follows. A parking target setting section sets a parking target position corresponding to the predetermined parking position, based upon a parking reference detected based on image data captured from the scene around the vehicle. A parking path calculating section sequentially calculates a parking path from a present position of the vehicle to the parking target position, in the course of forward movement along a forward path. A parking path determining section determines whether an effective parking path has been established or not, based upon result of calculation by the parking path calculating section.
US08374748B2
The land vehicle includes a body, a power plant and a plurality of land engagers, the land engagers for engaging land and propelling the land vehicle across land. The land vehicle includes a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and the land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement output signals. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements. The land vehicle computer system includes controllable suspension system algorithms for controlling the controllable force suspension members to control vehicle body motion and the suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and inhibit the driver from crossing into an identified impending driver vehicle safety margin.
US08374734B2
In the method of controlling an aircraft, a device implements the steps consisting in determining a first global value on the basis of only some amongst first individual values calculated by respective applications, modifying at least one parameter to take account of how the determination step took place and determining a second global value on the basis of second individual values calculated by the respective applications and on the basis of the parameter(s).
US08374733B2
A computer-implemented transportation information management system and method permits entry, recording, and transmission of operation and maintenance data related to FAA recordkeeping and recording requirements within an SQL database. A secure website permits entry and display of operation and maintenance data as well as facilitating data input using input devices such as a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, and a portable computer. The system outputs aircraft operation and maintenance data, automatic alerts of pilot flight and duty time limitations, and flight tracking and monitoring information via a spreadsheet, electronic mail message, text message, and a completed FAA mandatory reporting requirement forms to the aforementioned data input devices. Operation and maintenance data is automatically and continuously transferred to the FAA to populate FAA flight tracking data systems and air traffic control data system.
US08374732B2
A device for control of a plurality of support subsystems in an aircraft includes a filtering unit that determines at least one command associated with at least one support subsystem of the plurality of support subsystems according to at least one context parameter. The device also includes a display unit that displays at least one representation of the at least one determined command. The at least one representation of the at least one determined command includes an indication relating to a state of the at least one support subsystem controlled by the at least one determined command. The device further includes a selection unit that selects the at least one representation. In addition, the device includes an activation unit that transmits the at least one determined command to the at least one support subsystem in response to an activation of the at least one selected representation.
US08374729B2
A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.
US08374727B2
The disclosure relates to minimizing the potential damage caused by the failure of a single central Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) responsible for calculating, assigning and storing information about switchyard zones of a high or medium voltage switchyard comprising switchyard elements interconnected by lines, and wherein the switchyard is operated by means of a Substation Automation system including a plurality of Intelligent Electronic Devices. For example, a distributed switchyard zone management is disclosed, comprising a distributed storage of the knowledge about the switchyard zones. Assignments of individual switchyard elements or components, such as switches and connectivity nodes, to the various switchyard zones are stored on several IEDs. If one of these IEDs fails, the services or applications based on switchyard zones thus are not necessarily doomed, as would be the case if the entire knowledge about switchyard zones were stored on one single central IED.
US08374711B2
A method for selecting an audio data source for a multimedia device includes detecting an error state of audio data for generating a detection result, wherein the audio data is generated by a digital source of the multimedia device, generating an initial counting value, generating a counting result according to the detection result and the initial counting value, confining the counting result within a boundary for generating a limit result, and comparing the limit result with a threshold for generating a comparison result, for selecting the audio data source of the multimedia device.
US08374705B2
An implantable medical lead has at least one electric conductor running along a lead body and electrically interconnecting at least one electrode at the distal portion of the lead with at least one lead terminal at the proximal portion of the lead. The lead also has at least one closed channel running along at least a portion of the lead body. The closed channel contains an extracorporeally detectable detection substance. A rupture to the lead will cause the detection substance to leak out of the channel and outside of the lead body. Lead damage can be confirmed by the absence of or a reduced amount of said detection substance inside the lead.
US08374703B2
Embodiments provide an apparatus and method for detection of aberrant neural-electric activity (ANEA) in the brain causing an epileptic seizure or other neurologic condition. One embodiment provides an apparatus for detection of ANEA comprising an introducer having at least one lumen. The introducer is introduced into brain tissue through an opening in the skull. A reference electrode is positioned at an introducer distal portion. A plurality of electrode members are advanceable within the at least one lumen with each member having an insulated portion and an exposed distal portion. The members have a non-deployed state in the introducer and a deployed state when outwardly advanced out of the introducer. In the deployed state, the members are substantially orthogonal to each other with the exposed distal portions defining a detection volume capable of determining an electric field vector produced by the ANEA and the direction of a foci of the ANEA.
US08374695B2
A splitter for an electrical stimulation system includes a junction having a proximal end and a distal end. An elongated proximal member extends from the proximal end of the junction. The proximal member includes a plurality of terminals disposed on a proximal end of the proximal member. A plurality of elongated distal members extend from the distal end of the junction. Each distal member includes a connector disposed on a distal end of the distal member. The connector is configured and arranged for receiving a lead or lead extension. One of the distal members is longitudinally aligned with the proximal member and at least another one of the distal members is longitudinally offset from the proximal member. A plurality of conductors couple the terminals of the proximal member to the connectors of the distal members.
US08374690B2
A method and apparatus for obtaining data relevant to the state of health of an individual by measuring the signal spectra at various points on the individual's body. Illustratively, the measurements are at points on the individual's hand, implemented with a glove that includes numerous electrical point contacts.
US08374689B2
Methods and systems for determining information about a vascular bodily lumen are described. An exemplary method includes generating an electrical signal, delivering the electrical signal to a plurality of excitation elements in the vicinity of the vascular bodily lumen, measuring a responsive electrical signal from a plurality of sensing elements in response to the delivered electrical signal, and determining a lumen dimension. Specific embodiments include generating a multiple frequency electrical signal. Another embodiment includes measuring a plurality of responsive signals at a plurality of frequencies. Still other embodiments include using spatial diversity of the excitation elements. Yet other embodiments use method for calibration and de-embedding of such measurements to determine the lumen dimensions. Diagnostic devices incorporating the method are also disclosed, including guide wires, catheters and implants. The methods and systems described herein are advantageous as they do not include injecting a second fluid for the measurements.
US08374684B2
Portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices including at least one mirror configured to scan at least two directions are provided. The portable OCT devices are configured to provide a portable interface to a sample that can be aligned to the sample without repositioning the sample. Related systems are also provided.
US08374682B2
The invention is directed to methods and systems of hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of medical tissues. In particular, the invention is directed to new devices, tools and processes for the detection and evaluation of diseases and disorders such as, but not limited to diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, that incorporate hyperspectral or multispectral imaging.
US08374678B2
In a medical apparatus for implementation of operative procedures on a patient, an image acquisition device and a position determination device combined and permanently associated in the medical apparatus. The position determination device serves for determination of the position of at least one medical instrument within an operation region.
US08374676B2
A RF coil array is provided for imaging a chest wall of a patient including a breast. The RF coil array includes a rigid cup-shaped element and a flexible, substantially flat portion. The rigid cup-shaped element is sized and dimensioned to receive a small breast, such as a post mastectomy breast or a male breast, and the flexible portion is configured to be conformed to the patient adjacent the breast to allow for imaging of the breast, and adjacent areas while facing the chest wall.
US08374673B2
The invention relates to an integrated surgical navigational and neuromonitoring system having automated surgical assistance and control. The integrated system provides real-time introperative assistance to a surgeon or other user. The integrated system can also automatically control neuromonitoring based on a position of a neuromonitoring probe.
US08374671B2
A device for determining a person's health that uses a body scanner to obtain a three-dimensional model of a person. The device calculates the volume of at least a first part of the person's body and a second part of a person's body from the three-dimensional model. An indication of the person's health is calculated based on the volume of the first part and volume of the second part of the person's body.
US08374665B2
A tissue profile wellness monitor measures a physiological parameter, generates a tissue profile, defines limits and indicates when the tissue profile exceeds the defined limits. The physiological parameter is responsive to multiple wavelengths of optical radiation after attenuation by constituents of pulsatile blood flowing within a tissue site. The tissue profile is responsive to the physiological parameter. The limits are defined for at least a portion of the tissue profile.
US08374657B2
An apparatus having a loop device fastened to a communication unit that permits a user to securely hold the unit using one or more fingers inserted through a loop device for efficient and stable operation of a keyboard, touch screen, trackball or the like using the user's thumb.
US08374654B2
A buffer protection structure is provided in a mobile communication device which includes a housing and a flat light-emitting element having plural light tubes. The buffer protection structure is an elastic material and is provided between each inner wall of the housing and outer peripheries of the flat light-emitting element. Outer peripheries of the buffer protection structure are abutted respectively at each inner wall of the housing and inner peripheries of the buffer protection structure are abutted elastically by the outer peripheries of the flat light-emitting element to buffer an external force or impact, such that the light tubes can be prevented from being ruptured.
US08374652B2
A system for terminating a receive correlation window of a receiving wireless device includes a radio frequency receiver configured to open a receive correlation window having a predetermined duration and an energy measurement circuit configured to measure a radio frequency energy level ambient to the wireless receiver. A comparator is included that is configured to determine, based on the measured radio frequency energy level, whether or not a signal is being transmitted from a nearby wireless device. The receiver is further configured to close the receive correlation window before the predetermined duration is reached in response to a determination by the comparator that no signal is being transmitted by a nearby device. If a signal is being transmitted, then the receive correlation window is allowed to proceed uninterrupted.
US08374644B2
An origination terminal in accordance with the present invention is provided with a control unit for controlling, when receiving information indicating that a destination terminal uses a network different from a network desired by an originator, so as to transmit a call enable notification request requesting the destination terminal, when the destination terminal can connect to the network desired by the originator, to transmit a call enable notification notifying the originator accordingly. The destination terminal in accordance with the present invention is provided with a control unit for controlling, when receiving the call enable notification request from the origination terminal, so as to transmit the call enable notification when the destination terminal can connect to the network desired by the originator.
US08374639B2
An enhanced services platform the platform includes an interface for receiving a communication from a user requesting a desired data. A response module parses the communication and retries the desired data. The platform arranges the desired data into a response message that is sent to the user. A user identifier database module stores information about the users in a user profile that including at least a preferences field and a preference value field identifying relative values of user preferences stored in the preference field, where when a preference having a higher ranking in the preference value field is non available, a second preference having a lower ranking in the preference value field is utilized.
US08374636B2
A system and method for interacting with an interactive communication system include processing a profile associated with an interactive communication system; generating a user interface based on the processing of the profile to solicit a user response correlating to a response required by the interactive communication system; receiving the user response via the user interface; updating the user interface using the profile based on the user response; and sending a signal to the interactive communication system based on one or more user responses.
US08374634B2
A system and method for automatically comparing obtained wireless device location information from a wireless network and comparing that location with another independent source geographic location is provided. Location information is derived from two or more sources in a multiplicity of ways and a comparison is made within a Location Comparison Engine. The Location Comparison Engine makes use of databases that assist in resolving obtained raw positioning information and converting that positioning information into one or more formats for adequate location comparison. Results of the location comparison are deduced to determine if the wireless device is in some proximity to some other activity source location. Other location information used for comparison may be obtained from a multiplicity of sources, such as another network based on some activity of the wireless device user, another wireless device via a wireless network, or any system capable of providing location information to the Location Comparison Engine.
US08374633B2
A method, a user communication device, and a base station are disclosed. A transceiver 302 may receive a serving transmission from a serving base station. A processor 304 may make a status determination of a muting status of a neighbor base station based on the serving transmission.
US08374632B2
A method for providing geo-location enablement for a wireless device includes storing geo-location data in a storage device, the geo-location data including geo-location coordinates; referencing geo-location data for geo-location coordinates to corresponding wireless coverage area data, the wireless coverage area data for each geo-location coordinate including wireless coverage area coordinates, each wireless coordinate; representing a sub-area within a coverage area of a wireless network, each sub-area generally formed by an RF signaling range for a wireless access point; and referencing each wireless coordinate to corresponding signal strength data, the signal strength data for each wireless coordinate representing a signal strength value. Each signal strength value representing a signal strength parameter associated with the corresponding wireless coordinate. The wireless coverage area data and signal strength data being stored in the storage device. A server for providing geo-location enablement includes the storage device, an input module, and a geo-location handling module.
US08374630B2
The rate at which a particular wireless client may be PINGed may depend on many factors, including the accuracy with which the location of the wireless client is required to be known, how accurate the system has historically been able to locate other previous clients in the same general area; the speed with which the client is moving, the amount of other data being transmitted by the client, the needs of other clients being serviced by the access point that will need to PING the client, the current battery life of the client, and the priority of obtaining an accurate location for a particular wireless user verses other uses of the network bandwidth. Based on the multiple factors considered by the system, the rate at which the client will be PINGed is adjusted to optimize the amount of bandwidth used to determine the client's location.
US08374620B2
A frequency allocation method in a base station communicating wirelessly with a terminal, for dividing a cell into six areas in a clockwise direction, and allocating a frequency to each of the divided sectors, including: dividing the cell into an outer circle and an inner circle; allocating to a first terminal positioned in the outer circle of the sector, a frequency different from a frequency allocated to a second terminal positioned in an adjacent sector of the same cell, and the frequency different from a frequency allocated to a third terminal positioned in the outer circle of an adjacent sector of the adjacent cell; and allocating the frequency allocated to the first terminal to fourth and fifth terminal positioned in the inner circle of two sectors respectively arranged two sectors away from the sector in which the first terminal is positioned.
US08374616B2
In a broadcast service area having regions with varying inter site distances between transmitter sites, the robustness of the transmitted signal is set to meet minimum quality of service (QoS) requirements in the region having small ISD, and additional resources are allocated to the region having large ISD to provide greater robustness. The additional resources in the large ISD area may be used for blind retransmissions of either the original data or new data.
US08374613B2
In many cellular systems, reusing spectrum bandwidth, creates problems in boundary regions between the cells and sectors where the signal strength received from adjacent base stations or adjacent sector transmissions of a single base station may be nearly equivalent. The invention creates a new type of diversity, referred to as multiple carrier diversity by utilizing multiple carriers, assigning different power levels to each carrier frequency at each base station, and/or offsetting sector antennas. The cell and/or sector coverage areas can be set so as to minimize or eliminate overlap between cell and/or sector boundary regions of different carrier frequencies. Mobile nodes traveling throughout the system can exploit multiple carrier diversity by detecting carriers and selecting to use a non-boundary carrier based on other system criteria in order to improve performance. Boundary carriers may, but need not be, identified and excluded from consideration for use by a wireless terminal.
US08374605B2
A serving call session control function unit (S-CSCF) is provided within an IMS-based service communication system in order to register a user of a mobile communication terminal for communication service in a mobile communication system. The IMS-based service communication system has several call session control function units and at least one interrogation call session control function unit (I-CSCF). The mobile communication system is equipped with at least one policy decision point unit (PDP). To select a suitable S-CSCF unit, user information is first determined using a user context server unit that is assigned to the policy decision point unit and network information is determined using a network context server unit. The user information and network information are interlinked in the policy decision point unit (PDP) and user-specific and/or network-specific selection criteria are derived from said information and are taken into consideration to select a suitable S-CSCF unit.
US08374602B2
The present invention provides a method for providing roaming services to an HPMN's prepaid subscriber. The method includes facilitating the prepaid subscriber's registration at a VPMN by an SG, despite absence of the prepaid subscriber's roaming profile at an HPMN HLR. The HPMN and the VPMN are part of one or more partner networks and are unable to support IN protocol/agreement. The SG is deployed at either the HPMN, or an HPMN's MVNO, or a hub operator. The method further includes enabling mobile communication of the prepaid subscriber in the VPMN by the SG that converts protocol of all signaling messages, corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, into a format compatible with the HPMN. The method further includes billing the prepaid subscriber based on pre-defined criteria by using the SG that interfaces with an HPMN PPS via either: an HPMN SCP, or an HPMN service node, or an HPMN SMSC.
US08374591B2
A method for providing a notification message in a transmitter of a mobile broadcast system supporting an interaction channel is disclosed. Upon an occurrence of a notification event, a first means generates a notification message, and generates at least one delivery request message including a target address based on subscription information of the corresponding terminal, using the generated notification message. A second means determines a channel over which it will deliver a notification message to the corresponding terminal based on the target address, and delivers the notification message over the determined channel.
US08374583B2
A method in a communications terminal, including generating a message in a message format that requires transmission of the message in separate transmissions and packaging the message in a message format other than the message format that requires transmission of the message in separate transmissions if a number of separate transmissions required to transmit the message exceeds a threshold.
US08374577B2
First and second users subscribe to respectively first and second mobile telecommunications services provided by first and second operator respectively. Respective user trusts the operator to perform operations in a private user domain such as a payment account. In response to first operator receiving from first user a message ordering execution of specified transaction, e.g. an SMS.message, the message is intercepted and forwarded to analysis unit. First and second operations are determined and intercepted message is amended and forwarded to second user who returns, to second operator, a response message indicating, e.g., acceptance of indicated operations. First and second operators, mutually trusted, exchange control information over a secure channel to prepare for execution of first and second operations in respective private domains. In response to second operator receiving an acceptance message from the second user, the first and second operations are executed in respective private domain. Confirmation of executed operations is sent to first and second user. Various embodiments are described including payment for merchandise.
US08374567B2
This disclosure relates to noise suppression in data transfers in transceivers of wireless devices.
US08374564B2
A burst demodulator and method of obtaining a signal of interest from many signals of interest within a composite signal. Implementations may include receiving a composite signal, centering a replica of the interfering signal relative to the composite signal, reducing the composite signal to the bandwidth of a desired signal of interest, and canceling the remaining portion of the interfering signal.
US08374561B1
A non-Foster impedance power amplifier has a current amplifying device coupled in either an emitter-follower or source-follower configuration with a reactive load such as an antenna load. A negative impedance circuit is provided upstream of a gate or base or other control element of said current amplifying device.
US08374559B2
An internal operation of RF IC is adjusted so that the level of an RF transmitter signal is substantially stopped from rising, or made to descend in course of ramp-up of the RF transmitter signal. This adjustment is enabled by ramp-up adjustment data Last 4 symbols contained in preamble data precedent to real transmission data transmitted after completion of ramp-up. The ramp-up adjustment data and real transmission data are supplied from a baseband LSI. The RF transmitter signal contains phase and amplitude modulation components according to the EDGE system. RF IC includes phase and amplitude modulation control loops PM LP and AM LP. Ramp-up of RF power amplifiers PA1 and PA2 is performed by controlling the gain of the first variable amplifier MVGA included in the AM LP according to ramp information. Thus, unwanted radiation's level is reduced during ramp-up of the RF transmitter signal of the RF power amplifiers.
US08374557B2
A front end circuit for selectively coupling a first antenna and a second antenna to a transmit chain and a receive chain of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver is disclosed. There is a first power amplifier having an input connectible to the transmit chain of the RF transceiver, a first low noise amplifier having an output connectible to the receive chain of the RF transceiver, and a second low noise amplifier with an input connectible to the second antenna, as well as an output connectible to the receive chain of the RF transceiver. A first matching and switch network is connected to the first antenna, the output of the first power amplifier, and the input of the first low noise amplifier. Transmit signals from the first power amplifier and receive signals from the first antenna are selectively passed to the first antenna and the first low noise amplifier.
US08374540B2
A Consolidated Online Assessment System (COLA System) that creates, manipulates, and distributes an objected-oriented paradigm that represents the scoring and related activities as a unified and integrated family of loosely coupled objects, most notably a “Case” representing a state-machine that replaces the constructed response from the test taker as the unit of work. The Scoring Model and associated Properties that encapsulate the business rules associated with what actions are appropriate or required for a unit of work and the Responses to the unit of work which represent the test-taker-contributed content (e.g., essays or other text-based responses, audio responses, digitized video responses, scanned images, diagrams, lessons plans, etc.) and ties that content to its creator are linked to a Distinct Scorable Unit (DSU) which represents a tree-based mechanism that connects and provides inheritability for the other primary system objects. The abstraction of the DSU allows the system to distinguish between the constructed response as test-taker contributed content and the constructed response as the carrier of state or status information as it passes through the assessment process.
US08374533B2
When calibrating a transfer assist blade (TAB) in a printer, toner patches are formed on a photoreceptor belt in the printer at locations between sheets of paper. The TAB is partially deployed between paper sheets to pick up toner, and then deployed normally or with a delay to mark the back sides of the sheets. A processor evaluates distances between TAB touchdown and liftoff points and leading and trailing edges of the sheets, and calibrates the TAB to optimize the TAB timing. Additionally, test prints can be generated, each having slightly varied TAB calibration settings that are stored in a non-volatile memory (NVM) table. A user enters an identification number for a test print with the best calibration settings. The processor looks up calibration settings corresponding to the entered identification number and moves NVM settings from the table into operational locations in the system NVM to calibrate the printer.
US08374528B2
A developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus, include at least one developing roller. A plurality of transport members with screw and shaft portions, transport developing agent housed within the device in a longitudinal direction, and form a circulation path. A discharge aperture, formed in a transport path wall of one transport member, discharges developing agent to the outside when a surface of the developing agent transported by one of the plurality of transport members exceeds a predetermined height. The one transport member is adjacent to the developing roller that supplies the developing agent and includes, in a part in the longitudinal direction, an area on which the screw portion is not formed. The discharge aperture is disposed opposite to the area on which the screw portion is not formed, and the length of the discharge aperture is formed smaller than that of the area in the longitudinal direction.
US08374527B2
A developer storing body is detachably attached to an image forming unit main body of an image forming unit. The developer storing body includes a cartridge main body for storing a developer. The cartridge main body has a developer outlet opening through which the developer is ejected. The developer storing body includes an outlet shutter member movable with respect to the cartridge main body so as to open and close the developer outlet opening. A movable direction of the outlet shutter member is substantially the same as a direction in which the developer storing body is attached to or detached from the image forming unit main body.
US08374520B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying unit; a charging unit; a transfer unit transferring an developed image to a recording medium in accordance with application of a transfer voltage; an application unit generating the transfer voltage and applying the transfer voltage to the transfer unit; a voltage detection unit detecting the transfer voltage; an inflow current detection unit detecting an inflow current flowing from the image carrying unit charged by the charging unit into the application unit; a transfer current detection unit detecting a transfer current flowing when the transfer voltage is applied to the transfer unit; a determination unit determining an initiating voltage which induces the inflow current; a calculation unit calculating load resistance of the application unit based on the transfer voltage, the transfer current, and the initiating voltage; and an adjustment unit that adjusts the transfer current in accordance with the load resistance.
US08374519B2
An image heating apparatus heats an image on a recording material and includes: a rotatable belt; a pressor contacting the belt to nip and feed the recording material; a stretcher stretching the belt; a detector detecting a position of the belt perpendicular to a rotational direction of the belt; an executor executing a first control mode for controlling a position of the belt by inclination of the stretcher on the basis of an output of the detector, and a second control mode for controlling the position of the belt member by inclination of the stretcher on the basis of the output of the detector and for stabilizing the position of the belt; an inputter inputting information relating to the recording material; and a selector for selecting the first control mode or the second control mode in accordance with the information inputted to the inputter.
US08374518B2
An image forming apparatus includes a receiver to receive image information from an external device, a movable intermediate transfer member, a plurality of latent image bearing members on which a latent image is formed based on the image information, a plurality of developing devices, each of which disposed in proximity to the latent image baring member, to develop the latent image on the latent image bearing member with toner to form a toner image thereon, a transfer bias application mechanism to apply a transfer bias to the intermediate transfer member and halt temporarily and periodically application of the transfer bias in a continuous output mode in which a plurality of images are continuously formed on different recording media sheets based on the image information of the plurality of images received continuously by the receiver, and a secondary transfer member to transfer the superimposed toner image onto a recording medium.
US08374512B2
The present invention provides a frequency offset monitoring device and an optical coherent receiver. A low speed frequency offset monitoring device comprises a signal speed lowering section, for lowering the speed of an inputted signal and outputting the speed lowered signal, and a frequency offset monitor, for monitoring frequency offset of the speed lowered signal outputted by the signal speed lowering section.
US08374503B2
In order to be able to moderate the inclination of the PON burst reception characteristics and to improve the FEC effect, a first offset is used in a ranging window field, and a second offset, which is lower than the first offset value, is used in a burst data field other than the ranging window field.
US08374495B2
A user-configurable waterproof camera case includes a housing for sealingly holding different models of camera therein, an actuating shaft extending through an opening of the housing, a probe-carrying member connected to an inner end of the actuating shaft, and an adjustable probe carried by the probe-carrying member at a position engageable with an on/off button or a shutter button of the camera.
US08374494B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image pickup circuit having a plurality of photographic modes, such as television standards, a compression processing circuit for performing compression processing of an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup circuit, the compression circuit having a plurality of compression modes, and a selecting circuit for selecting one of the compression modes of the compression processing circuit in accordance with a selected one of the photographic modes of the image pickup circuit.
US08374490B2
An integrated circuit or system receives a bit pattern from a metadata, IPG, and or EPG signal. This bit pattern is then coupled to a circuit to provide a content control command to a recorder or to a processing circuit to generate a content control signal. In particular the bit pattern may be utilized in a manner to program, enable, or disable the generated control signal. Furthermore this content control signal provides resistance to a circumvention device. For example, the circumvention device is unable to remove sufficiently the content control signal, and content control is maintained.
US08374487B2
An information processing apparatus and method are adapted for facilitating management of recorded programs and contents information thereof. The information processing apparatus includes a retrieval unit operable to retrieve first information with an identifier attached thereto; a decision unit operable to decide whether there exists a list corresponding to the identifier; a registration unit operable to register the first information on the list when the list exists; and a forming unit operable to form second information by rearranging a plurality of the first information registered on the list.
US08374486B2
The method includes receiving a text subtitle stream from an external source. Text subtitle streams include a style segment defining a group of region styles and a plurality of presentation segments, where presentation segments have a region of text being linked to a selected region style. The style segment defining palette information, and the presentation segments having a palette update flag which indicates whether to use the palette information defined in the style segment or use new palette information when reproducing each presentation segment. The text subtitle stream is decoded using the style segment defining a group of region styles, where the presentation segments include the palette update flag.
US08374483B2
An apparatus and method can test multiple signal channels of a digital video recorder (DVR). Image data are obtained from a storage device and converted the image data to a video signal. The DVR sends the video signal to an image distributor, and generates a selection command to a controller for controlling the image distributor to select a signal channel to be tested. After the video signal is received from the DVR, the image distributor sends the video signal to the selected signal channel. An ID number of the selected signal channel is displayed on a display device when the DVR does not receive the video signal from the selected video channel.
US08374471B2
A cable, comprising a cylindrical cable wall (2) surrounding a hollow cable inner space (3), wherein the cable (1) is provided with at least one signal conductor (5), for instance glass fiber and/or glass fiber bundle, wherein, in a first position, the signal conductor (5) extends substantially in the cable inner space (3) and over a particular distance along the cable wall (2), along an at least partly curved path, such that a length of the signal conductor (5) is larger than a length of the cable wall (2).
US08374470B2
A structure which stably achieves electrical coupling, and is capable of efficient optical coupling is provided. Optical coupling is achieved with the lower surface of an opto-electric package and the upper surface of an opto-electric hybrid board. On the other hand, electrical connection is achieved by means of contact between electrodes on the side surfaces of the opto-electric package and electrodes on the inner-wall side surfaces of a socket mounted on the opto-electric hybrid board. The electrodes are in electrical contact with electrical wiring.
US08374468B2
An all-fiber Faraday rotator array comprising a plurality of Faraday rotating fibers, each having a doping concentration of 55%-85% (wt./wt.) of a rare-earth oxide, and a magnetic tube surrounding the plurality of Faraday rotating fibers is presented. The rare-earth oxide is selected from the group comprising: Pr2O3, Nd2O3, Pm2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3; Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, La2O3, Ga2O3, Ce2O3, and Lu2O3. Additionally, an all-fiber isolator using highly rare-earth oxide doped fibers is disclosed.
US08374464B2
In super-resolution processing in which a plurality of low resolution images are synthesized to generate a high resolution image, a high-quality high-resolution image is to be generated with suppression of the noise ascribable to motion estimation error. Motion estimating means 11 estimates motion of pixels between a basis image selected out of plural low resolution images and remaining reference images, and outputs a result of motion estimation. Motion estimation reliability evaluating means 12 evaluates reliability of the result of motion estimation output from the motion estimating means 11, based on such as analogy in luminance of pixels, correlated by the results of the motion estimation, and outputs a motion estimation reliability value indicating the degree of reliability. High resolution image estimating means 16 synthesizes the respective pixels of the input low resolution images with weighting conforming to the motion estimation reliability value output from the motion estimation reliability evaluating means 12 to generate a high resolution image.
US08374456B2
A virtual image is synthesized from a reduced resolution depth image storing depth values at each pixel location. The reduced resolution depth image is scaled up to produce an up-scaled depth image. Then, at least one filter is applied to the up-scaled depth image to produce a reconstructed depth image, and the virtual image is synthesized using the reconstructed depth image.
US08374451B2
The present invention enables a circuit configuration to be simplified. An image encoding device (100) receives an input image (91) that is line-scanned in units of MBs as scan blocks, each constituted by a plurality of 4×4 blocks, while being scanned in units of 4×4 blocks as encoding blocks, each constituted by a plurality of pixels. The image encoding device (100) selects a VLC (variable length) table corresponding to a table selection index nC, which is an average value of the numbers nB and nA of nonzero coefficients as encoding values on which variable-length encoding is performed in upper-adjoining and left-adjoining 4×4 blocks of a 4×4 block as an encoding target in quantization coefficients as encoding target data based on the input image (91). At this time, in a case where the 4×4 block as an encoding target is at an upper end of an MB, the image encoding device (100) equates the number nB of nonzero coefficients of the upper-adjoining 4×4 block with the number nA of nonzero coefficients of the left-adjoining 4×4 block. The image encoding device (100) performs variable-length encoding on the number of nonzero coefficients of a 4×4 block as an encoding target in quantization coefficients using the selected VLC table.
US08374450B2
Methods for compression of two-dimensional data arrays which are piece-wise smooth in one direction and have oscillating events in the other direction. In one embodiment, a wavelet transform is applied in the piece-wise smooth direction and a local cosine transform (LCT) is applied in the direction with oscillatory events, both producing respective transform coefficients. The LCT coefficients are reordered to mimic a wavelet transform coefficient order, and both wavelet transform and reordered LCT coefficients are quantized and entropy coded to obtain a compressed 2D image. In some embodiments with oscillatory events in both directions, a LCT is applied in both directions and all the LCT coefficients in each direction are reordered before the quantization and entropy coding.
US08374449B2
A sequence of n coefficients is compressed by determining a cost-determined sequence of n coefficient indices represented by a cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs under a given quantization table and run-index derivative coding distribution, wherein each sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs defines a corresponding sequence of coefficient indices such that (i) each index in the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices is a digital number, (ii) the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices includes a plurality of values including a special value, and (iii) each (run, index derivative) pair defines a run value representing a number of consecutive indices of the special value, and an index-based value derived from a value of the index following the number of consecutive indices of the special value. This involves (a) using the given quantization table and run-index derivative coding distribution to formulate a cost function for a plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs; (b) applying the cost function to each possible sequence in the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs to determine an associated cost; and, (c) selecting the cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs from the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs based on the associated cost of each of the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs; and encoding the corresponding selected cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs using entropy coding based on a run-index derivative coding distribution.
US08374448B2
An exemplary method includes an image data optimization control subsystem subjecting data representative of an image to an image data optimization cycle and repeating the subjecting of data representative of the image to the image data optimization cycle in response to a determination that output data representative of the image produced in conjunction with the previous subjection is optimized by at least the predetermined optimization threshold, wherein the repeat subjection of data representative of the image includes submitting the output data from the previous subjection as new input to the image data optimization cycle. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08374445B2
The invention relates to a method for the compression of data comprising values to be coded, in particular grey values or prediction errors using a run-length coding. A bit sequence of a bit plane which represents at least one item of partial information of at least one value to be coded is thereby coded coherently. This method is particularly used in connection with medical image data.
US08374444B2
A method and apparatus to providing higher resolution images on an embedded device by performing a super resolution technique on a compressed image sequence and one or more motion vectors are described. In one example, the method includes compressing an image sequence using a video compression technique, wherein the image sequence comprises a plurality of lower resolution images and applying a super resolution technique to the compressed image sequence to generate a higher resolution image.
US08374437B2
An information processing apparatus includes a model image obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of model images; a model image feature quantity extracting unit configured to extract feature quantities of the model images obtained by the model image obtaining unit; a matching unit configured to perform matching on the feature quantities of the model images extracted by the model image feature quantity extracting unit; and an identifying feature point extracting unit configured to extract, as a result of the matching performed by the matching unit, feature points having a low correlation with a predetermined model image in similar model images that are the model images having a predetermined number or more of the feature quantities that match feature quantities of the predetermined model image, the extracted feature points being regarded as identifying feature points used for identification of the respective similar model images.
US08374436B2
The invention relates to an automatic detection method in a source image, of at least one area called a layout area comprising at least one layout, such as a logo and/or a score. According to the invention, the layout areas of a source image are detected using the salience of source image pixels. The detection is carried out in specific areas of the source image saliency map, usually in the areas corresponding to the corners of the image or to the bands in the upper part and lower part of the image. In these areas, two points are sought having maximum salience values and distant by at least p points from each other. These two points corresponding to the beginning and end of a layout area. The window bounding these two points then corresponds to a layout area.
US08374435B2
The image of a human is detected from within the image of a subject and the human whose image has been detected is identified. Pet information concerning the identified human is found from a personal information table indicating the correspondence between humans and the pet information that has been associated with these humans. The image of the pet in the found pet information is found from the image of the subject. Thus, rather than all animals included in the image of the subject being found, the image of the pet associated with the particular human is detected. A pet image is thus detected in comparatively simple fashion.
US08374433B2
A device for color shading correction is provided. Local color matching is performed as follows. For each pixel of the image that is being color matched, the RGB value is treated as a one-by-three matrix, which is multiplied by a three-by-three matrix that is generated during factory calibration. The matrix product is a one-by-three matrix that is used as the RGB value for the pixel in the color matched image.
US08374425B2
A method of processing digital images by transforming a set of pixels from a three-dimensional space to a normalized two-dimensional space, determining a membership class and membership class level of each pixel in the set of pixels, and selectively modifying colors of pixels in the set of pixels based on the determined membership classes and membership class levels.
US08374418B2
The invention relates to method and apparatus for determining from a sample carrier containing an impregnated biological sample a sample region to be removed. The method comprises optically imaging the sample carrier into a digital matrix form, where the optical brightness of each physical location of the sample is represented by elements of the matrix; determining a first threshold value at least partly on the basis of the elements of the matrix; and calculating coordinates corresponding to the sample region to be removed from the sample carrier, the coordinates being such that the sample region contains only areas of the sample carrier having an optical brightness lower than or equal to said first threshold value. The invention allows for more efficient use of samples in sample cards.
US08374409B2
The invention relates to a method of imaging an interior of a turbid medium, a device for imaging an interior of a turbid medium, and a medical image acquisition device. A turbid medium is accommodated in a receiving volume (5), light from a light source is coupled into (10) and out of the receiving volume and detected (15) after which a dataset is obtained from the detected light (20). The dataset is then communicated to an image reconstruction algorithm (30) and an image of an interior of the turbid medium is reconstructed based on the detected light (35). According to the invention the dataset is changed prior to communicating the dataset to the image reconstruction algorithm into a further dataset (25), with a further dataset satisfying an input assumption underlying the image reconstruction algorithm.
US08374406B2
In an aspect of the present invention, an image reading apparatus includes a 2-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a matrix, and configured to detect an image of a detection target; and a plurality of partition walls configured to hold the detection target in a non-contact state in a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the 2-dimensional image sensor. The plurality of partition walls may be provided on the 2-dimensional image sensor to form a plurality of slits. Also, the plurality of partition walls may function as shading members. Instead, the plurality of partition walls may function as light transmissible members. In this case, the refractive index of the plurality of partition walls may be larger than 1.1 and is smaller than 1.4 or is larger than 2.0 and is smaller than 5.0.
US08374405B2
A camera device includes an image capturing module, a face detection module, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, a storage module, and a microprocessor. The image capturing module continuously captures images of a determined filed. The face detection module detects the images to obtain a face to be tested, and records coordinates of the face in the image. The LIDAR system scans the face to be tested in the determined field according to the coordinates thereby to obtain three-dimensional information of the face to be tested. The storage module stores three-dimensional information of a determined face. The microprocessor compares the three-dimensional information of the face to be tested with the three-dimensional information of the determined face, and then outputs a recognition signal.
US08374401B2
A biometric authentication device includes a verification-image generation probability calculation unit for calculating a verification-image generation probability using a verification-image generation probability model, a change probability calculation unit for calculating a change probability of a set of a registration image and a verification image using a change probability model, a dissimilarity calculation unit for calculating the degree of dissimilarity on the basis of the verification-image generation probability and the change probability and an authentication unit for determining whether the verification image belongs to an authentication target by comparing the degree of dissimilarity with a predetermined authentication threshold.
US08374400B1
A system identifies an image and determines whether the image contains inappropriate content based on first data associated with the image, second data associated with a document that contains the image or refers to the image, and/or third data associated with a group of documents with which the image is associated.
US08374391B1
A method and apparatus for identifying visibility of targets. A first function is selected to indicate whether locations in an environment are at a surface for objects in the environment, outside the surface, or inside the surface. First volumes are formed for the environment. Each volume in the first volumes has a size selected such that a difference between first interpolated values for each volume and first values generated using the first function for each volume is within a threshold. Second volumes are formed for the environment. Each of the second volumes has a size selected such that a difference between second interpolated values for each volume and second values generated using a second function for each volume is within a threshold. The second values are minimum values along lines from each volume in the second number of volumes to a target in the environment.
US08374384B2
Method determining lookup table (“LUT”) for embedding watermark. For each quantization cell, calculating probabilities that signal point falls into cell. Selecting cell by probabilities. Setting LUT value to watermark value with largest probability, subject to run constraint. For remaining cells, repeating selecting and setting steps. Other method determining quantization ensemble by calculating probability density function for signal points where the watermark value to be embedded. Distortion and robustness functions are formulated. Given robustness or distortion is selected. Functions optimized, and ensemble of quantizers determined with parameters that comply. Other method quantizing in association with lossy compression. Strength of compression determined. Adapting strength of watermark with strength of compression by a mapping. Other method selecting points for embedding watermark. Determine threshold between large and small signal points using statistical method. Select signal points for embedding according to threshold. Also, processors, computer programs, and systems.
US08374380B2
An improved speaker voice coil structure, the structure including: a bobbin; a first voice coil, wound around the bobbin and having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second voice coil, wound around the first voice coil and having a third terminal and a fourth terminal; and a third voice coil, wound around the second voice coil and having a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal. The improved voice coil structure thereby provides multiple optional connection terminals—from different layers with different values of impedance—for an input signal.
US08374378B2
Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include speaker grill structures. A speaker grill structure may be formed by creating an array of small holes (perforations) in a portable computer housing structure such as a planar housing wall. A speaker may be mounted adjacent to the array of holes. The planar housing wall may be formed in a block of milled aluminum and may have a thickness of less than 1 mm. The speaker holes may have with small diameters without overly attenuating sound from a speaker.
US08374376B2
There is provided a microphone unit comprising a hoop (10) with a first and second end (11, 12), a microphone capsule (20) at the first end (11) and a connection plug (30) at the second end (12) of the hoop (10). The hoop (10) has a flexible or bendable tubular hoop and is bent or is bendable to form a loop.
US08374368B2
A hearing aid is described. The hearing aid includes a control surface and a control element. The hearing aid further includes a plurality of components in addition to the control surface and the control element. A portion of the control surface is configured to engage a portion of the control element. The control surface at least partially circumscribes at least one of the plurality of components.
US08374351B2
Disclosed is an encryption device for generating a pseudo-random number based on a secret key and generates an encrypted text by applying the pseudo-random number sequence to a plain text, uses, an internal state in accordance with a state based on a permutation of a sequence of a finite number of numeric values, as an internal state used for generation of the pseudo-random number sequence, executes a predetermined leftward or rightward rotate shift, depending on a number smaller than an internal state number, based on the result of linear or non-linear, or combination of linear and non-linear using one or more numeric values of the internal state and sets at least one temporary variable used for generation of the pseudo-random number sequence to be a temporary variable having as a value a result of the execution of the predetermined leftward or rightward rotate shift, and generates the pseudo-random number by a predetermined prescribed operation on one or a plurality of numeric values of the internal state and the temporary variable.
US08374349B2
In an image encryption apparatus, an input processor inputs data of an input image. An encryptor encrypts a part or whole of the data of the input image. A marker generator generates data of a marker indicating an encrypted area. An image saver saves data of a marker-covered image covered with the marker. A marker sticker sticks the marker. An output processor outputs an encrypted image. In an image decryption apparatus, an input processor inputs data of an input image. A marker detector detects a marker and identifies an encrypted area. A decryptor decrypts data in the encrypted area. An image restorer restores data in an area covered with the marker by sticking data of a marker-covered image. An output processor outputs data of a decrypted image.
US08374343B2
A system for executing a symmetric key cryptographic method includes a processor selecting data paths, a key, an initialization vector, a memory storing batched operation parameters, a bus connected to the processor and the memory, a cryptographic processor connected to the bus and controlled by the processor for performing a plurality of operations according to the operations parameter, wherein data for each operation is received individually and separately from the batched operation parameters, wherein an output for each operation is transmitted separately, and a pair of first-in-first-out (FIFO) state machines controlled by the processor and selectably connected to one of the cryptographic processor and the bus, bypassing the cryptographic processor.
US08374340B2
A system and method concerns a secure transmission of a file fragmentable into a plurality of fragments, and comprises (a) initially fixing a global encryption key; (b) encrypting the fragmentable file based on said global key to form a first encrypted file; (c) encrypting the global key by means of an asymmetric encryption algorithm using a public key to obtain a global encrypted key; (d) inserting values representing the global encrypted key among the fragments of said encrypted file to form a second encrypted file; and (e) transmitting the second encrypted file.
US08374336B2
This portable terminal includes an operating portion-side housing having an operating portion-side guide portion, a display portion-side housing having a display portion-side guide portion, a sliding plate arranged between the display portion-side housing and the operating portion-side housing, a first sliding member, and a second sliding member. The operating portion-side guide portion is engaged with the sliding plate through the first sliding member, and the display portion-side guide portion is engaged with the sliding plate through the second sliding member.
US08374316B2
A method, system and computer program product for employing speech recognition technology to recognize a number spoken during a telephone call and a voicemail message. A speech recognition and transcription (SRT) utility within a communication device (e.g., a telephone) detects spoken numbers (and spoken phrases which may be associated with telephone numbers), and transcribes the numbers into text. The SRT utility then determines whether a sequence of the transcribed spoken numbers is a telephone number. If the transcribed sequence of numbers is a telephone number, the SRT utility records the telephone number in a pre-specified “events” list (in the telephone) of the intended listener. Consequently, the recipient has the option of retrieving the recorded events (numbers) and communicating with other parties via the retrieved numbers. For example, these phone numbers may then be dialed, saved as contacts, and text messaged.
US08374308B2
A support grid for a nuclear fuel assembly, the fuel rod assembly having a generally cylindrical fuel rod with a diameter, wherein the support grid includes a frame assembly having a plurality of generally uniform cells, each the cell having at least one wall and a width and at least one generally cylindrical tubular member having a cell contact portion with a greater diameter and at least one helical fuel rod contact portion with a lesser diameter, the cell contact portion and the fuel rod contact portion joined by a transition portion, the greater diameter being generally equivalent to the cell width, and the lesser diameter being generally equivalent to the fuel rod diameter such that a fuel rod disposed in the tubular member would engage the inner diameter. Wherein the least one tubular member disposed in one cell of the plurality of generally square cells so that the cell contact portion engages the at least one cell sidewall.
US08374306B2
An isotope production system that includes a cyclotron having a magnet yoke that surrounds an acceleration chamber. The cyclotron is configured to direct a particle beam from the acceleration chamber through the magnet yoke. The isotope production system also includes a target system that is located proximate to the magnet yoke. The target system is configured to hold a target material and includes a radiation shield that extends between the magnet yoke and the target location. The radiation shield is sized and shaped to attenuate gamma rays emitted from the target material toward the magnet yoke. The isotope production system also includes a beam passage that extends from the acceleration chamber to the target location. The beam passage is at least partially formed by the magnet yoke and the radiation shield of the target system.
US08374298B2
Disclosed is a MIMO receiving apparatus in which a residual interference calculation unit (17) inputs noise-suppressed frequency domain channel estimation values, output from FFT units (12-1-1 to 12-M-N), equalizing weights calculated by a weight calculating unit (13), equalized signals from equalization processing by an equalization filter (14) and reference signals generated by reference signal generating units (16-1 to 16-M) to calculate a residual interference, and the likelihood correction units (18-1 to 18-M) receive time domain equalized signal from the IDFT units (15-1 to 15-M) and the residual interference calculated by the residual interference calculation unit (17) to correct the likelihood of the equalized signal (FIG.1).
US08374296B2
A system including first voltage supply circuitry configured to provide a first voltage supply with spurious frequency content and second voltage supply circuitry configured to provide a second voltage supply without the spurious frequency content is provided. The system includes signal generation circuitry configured to generate a first digital signal using a clock signal and the first voltage supply and configured to cause the spurious frequency content on the first voltage supply and output circuitry configured to generate a second digital signal from the first digital signal synchronous with the clock signal using the second voltage supply.
US08374285B2
A system and method for time domain interpolation of signals for channel estimation. A method for computing channel estimates comprises storing symbols in a buffer, using time domain interpolation (TDI) for a first time to compute channel estimates for a set of sub-carriers of a symbol. The channel estimates are computed from the symbol and a first number of required symbols in the buffer. The method also comprises using TDI for a second time to compute channel estimates for the set of sub-carriers of a symbol. The channel estimates are computed from the symbol, a second number of required symbols in the buffer, and a buffered symbol used as a missing required symbol if the missing required symbol is not in the buffer.
US08374284B2
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for decoding encoded data symbols. The invention is also directed to corresponding encoding methods. The decoder arrangement comprises an input for receiving encoded data and an identifier associated with a coding scheme used to create said encoded data. A processor in the decoding arrangement determines from the identifier, a mapping between said encoded data and the original data. A decoder uses the mapping to extract the original data from the encoded data. The operation of the decoder is independent of the coding scheme used in the encoding process.
US08374275B2
A transmission method in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, a transmitter in a MIMO communication system and a MIMO communication system are provided. The method comprises the steps of: receiving feedback data representing channel state information from respective receivers of the MIMO communication system; grouping the receivers into one or more groups based on the received feedback data; obtaining a precoding matrix for each group of receivers based on the received feedback data such that precoding vectors or sub-matrices in the precoding matrix associated with respective receivers of said each group of receivers are orthogonal to each other; and applying the precoding matrix to input signals for transmission to said each group of receivers.
US08374274B2
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for approximate computation of l2 norms as a part of the maximum likelihood (ML) detection: tri-maxmin, maxsum and sortsum algorithms. The proposed approximation schemes show better accuracy than conventional approximation schemes—the abssum and maxmin algorithms, while the computational complexity is very similar. The error rate performance of the ML detection that utilizes proposed norm-approximation techniques are very close to the reference ML detection with exact calculation of l2 norms, while the computational complexity is significantly smaller.
US08374271B2
The present invention discloses a method for generating a signal stream in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel of a wireless communications system. The method comprises encoding at least one transmitting message into a first signal sequence, transforming the first signal sequence into a second and a third signal sequence by a first and a second predetermined rule, respectively, coupling the second signal sequence to a first antenna, coupling the third signal sequence to a second antenna, transmitting a signal stream comprising the first and second signal sequences to a mobile station.
US08374265B2
A signal processing circuit, a signal processing method and a recording medium suppressing occurrence of unnecessary waves are provided. A timing generation means which generates timing to select a signal of a predetermined local frequency in a set time period and not to select any signal of all local frequencies in a different set time period, and a plurality of switches which switch over a signal of the local frequency from each multiband generator to the transmission mixer by an instruction from the timing generation means are included.
US08374259B2
A transmitting apparatus includes a transmission power reducing section to reduce a power of a transmission signal in a prescribed frequency band of a multicarrier signal containing a plurality of subcarriers and change the prescribed frequency band in which the power of the transmission signal is reduced in time sequence. In this configuration, when detecting an interfered system by reducing a transmission power in the prescribed frequency band, it is possible to minimize the bandwidth of the prescribed frequency band and thereby minimize degradation of reception characteristics due to the reduction of the transmission power.
US08374252B2
A digital broadcasting system and a method of processing data are disclosed, which are robust to error when mobile service data are transmitted. To this end, additional encoding is performed for the mobile service data, whereby it is possible to strongly cope with fast channel change while giving robustness to the mobile service data.
US08374248B2
Provided are a resolution varying video encoding/decoding apparatus and method are provided. The video encoding apparatus comprises a resolution varying encoder to perform an encoding operation using motion estimation and compensation on a current image having a first resolution and a current image having a second resolution according to a resolution control signal to generate a bitstream, and a controller to generate the resolution control signal for varying a resolution to the first resolution or the second resolution at a predetermined interval. The video decoding apparatus comprises an analyzer to analyze a bitstream composed of encoded data having a first resolution or a second resolution and to generate a resolution control signal corresponding to a resolution flag included in the bitstream, and a resolution varying decoder to perform a decoding operation using motion compensation on encoded data having the first resolution and encoded data having the second resolution according to the resolution control signal to generate a reconstructed image.
US08374246B2
An Encoder Assisted Frame Rate Up Conversion (EA-FRUC) system that utilizes video coding and pre-processing operations at the video encoder to exploit the FRUC processing that will occur in the decoder in order to improve compression efficiency and reconstructed video quality is disclosed. One operation of the EA-FRUC system involves determining whether to encode a frame in a sequence of frames of a video content by determining a spatial activity in a frame of the sequence of frames; determining a temporal activity in the frame; determining a spatio-temporal activity in the frame based on the determined spatial activity and the determined temporal activity; determining a level of a redundancy in the source frame based on at least one of the determined spatial activity, the determined temporal activity, and the determined spatio-temporal activity; and, encoding the non-redundant information in the frame if the determined redundancy is within predetermined thresholds.
US08374233B2
An apparatus and methods for a baseband modulator configured to code amplitude signals into pulse width modulated time signals comprising at least two amplitude levels is disclosed. A pulse width modulator can receive a component signal of a baseband complex signal and generate a discrete-time pulse width modulated signal. This signal can be converted to a continuous time signal, such as a pulse-width modulated time signal and can be shifted to a carrier signal corresponding respectively to the component signal by a switch. Bursts sequences are generated to an input of a switched amplifier for driving operation of the amplifier therein.
US08374229B2
A method for the generation of a signal including a minimum of disturbances and noise is provided. A method for the detection of a signal including a minimum of disturbances and noise is also provided. An element of the signal is functionally dependent on at least one further element of the signal.
US08374219B2
In a blind spreading factor detecting receiver, the amplitude of a desired signal term is decoupled from the spreading factor hypothesis for that signal. Furthermore, the amplitude of the desired signal and the variance of an associated impairment term are estimated, and the estimates used to form a spreading factor hypothesis. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, a suboptimal detector does not rely on estimates of the amplitude of the desired signal or variance of the impairment term. Rather, the detector relies on scaled values that are partially despread using an initial spreading factor not greater than the smallest possible spreading factor used by the signal of interest, and combined using combining weights from a Rake or G-Rake processor, wherein the scaling factor is chosen to yield a unity ratio between the signal amplitude and noise variance after scaling.
US08374209B2
A multi-pass optical cell with an actuator for actuating a reflective surface is provided. In one preferred embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a support structure supporting the first and second reflective surfaces. The support structure positions the first and second reflective surfaces to create an optical cell. The apparatus also comprises a source and a detector, which are positioned such that light emitted from the source is reflected in the optical cell at least one time between the first and second reflective surfaces before reaching the detector. The apparatus further comprises an actuator coupled with and operative to actuate the first reflective surface. In some embodiments, the actuator rotates the first reflective surface. Also, in some embodiments, the multi-pass optical cell is an open path multi-pass optical cell, while, in other embodiments, the multi-pass optical cell is a closed path multi-pass optical cell.
US08374208B2
A quantum cascade laser is configured so as to include a semiconductor substrate and an active layer which is provided on the substrate and has a cascade structure including multistage-laminated unit laminate structures each including a quantum well emission layer and an injection layer. Moreover, the unit laminate structure has, in its subband level structure, an emission upper level, a lower level, and an injection level 4 of higher energy than the upper level, and light hν is generated by intersubband transition of electrons from the level to the level in the emission layer, and electrons after emission transition are injected into the injection level 4 of the subsequent stage via the injection layer. In addition, the emission layer includes two or more well layers, and the first well layer closest to the injection layer of the preceding stage is used as a well layer for injection level formation.
US08374195B2
The protection of data against illicit transfer with respect to specific data can be ensured. An integrated receiver decoder determines whether or not ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) data requiring authentication is contained in selected piece-of-music data in accordance with determination data added into transmitted data. When ATRAC data requiring authentication is contained, the integrated receiver decoder performs an authentication process between it and a storage which is a transfer destination of the ATRAC data, and performs downloading of the ATRAC data after confirming that the storage is a valid apparatus to which the downloading may be performed.
US08374189B2
A step of selecting one control channel format from among a plurality of control channel formats having different information amounts according to a predetermined condition; and a step of transmitting a control channel with the use of the thus-selected control channel format are carried out.
US08374188B2
Techniques to manage a relay server and a network address translator are described. A system may include a relay server having a first private network interface operative to communicate with a private client, a second private network interface operative to communicate with a network address translator, and an enhanced relay manager module operative to receive a message from the private client over the first private network interface or a remote client over the second private network interface and through the network address translator, the enhanced relay manager module further operative to retrieve a public transport address and a mapped port for the network address translator from a mapped address attribute stored by the relay server, and send a response to the message with the public transport address and the mapped port to the private client or the remote client. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08374179B2
A first communication device managing a communication group of communication devices in a communication network is disclosed. The first communication device sends one or more data objects to the communication group and receives an affiliation request from a second communication device. The first communication device determines the one or more data objects that have not been received by a user of the second communication device and provides the data objects to the second communication device by establishing a communication session between the second communication device and the first communication device.
US08374176B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for providing an Internet Protocol Datacasting (IPDC) service. The IPDC service providing apparatus includes a data input unit generating an IP packet and signaling information of the IP packet; a packet generation control unit determining a type of an Internet Protocol Data Group (IPDG) packet that is to be generated by encapsulating the IP packet, on the basis of characteristics of the IPDC service; an IPDG packet generation unit generating an IPDG packet according to a data type of the IP packet, and generating an IPDG packet for the signaling information of the IP packet; a transfer stream packet generation unit generating the IPDG packet as a transfer stream packet; and a transfer unit transmitting the transfer stream packet. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an IPDC service while efficiently using a bandwidth, in a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system.
US08374160B2
A method of transmitting and receiving feedback information in a multi-cell based wireless communication system using FFR, a mobile station apparatus therefore and a base station apparatus therefore are disclosed. A mobile station is able to obtain FFR configuration information including configuration information on at least one frequency partition to which a corresponding FFR is applied per cell ID. And, the mobile station is able to transmit PMI information to a serving base station using the obtained FFR configuration information. In this case, the PMI information is specifically restricted or recommended by the mobile station among PMIs (precoding matrix indexes) used by at least one neighbor cell in an allocated specific frequency partition.
US08374154B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of simultaneously communicating with a group of wireless communication devices. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit at least one beamforming-training initiation frame to a group of a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive two or more feedback frames from two or more of the wireless communication devices, wherein the wireless communication unit is to determine two or more beamforming schemes based on the two or more feedback frames, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to simultaneously transmit two or more different wireless communication transmissions to the two or more wireless communication devices, respectively, using the two or more beamforming schemes, respectively. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08374153B2
Various embodiments are described to enable improved inter-network/inter-technology handover of mobile devices. A network device (131, 132) collects dynamic information corresponding to mobile devices (101, 102), such as wireless measurement information at the device's location, and/or information corresponding to wireless network nodes (121-124), such loading levels/loading distributions. The network device then sends some or all of the dynamic information collected and/or statistical information generated from the dynamic information collected to a neighboring network information server (150) for access by other communication networks. By maintaining dynamic and/or statistical information in a neighboring network information server, such information can be made available to all the communication networks in a given region. One potential benefit to making this information available is improved inter-network handoff decision-making.
US08374149B2
Disclosed herein are a method of controlling Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 (HMIPv6) network-based handover and an Access Router (AR) and Mobile Node (MN) therefor. The method include the steps of a first AR, to which a MN is connected, receiving an L3 handover initiation message, including a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the MN and the ID of a target Base Station (BS); the first AR creating a Local Care-of Address (LCoA) based on the MAC address of the MN and the ID of the target BS, and performing Binding Update (BU) on a Mobility Anchor Point (MAP) using the created LCoA; when an L2 handover completion message is received from the target BS of the MN, a second AR creating a second LCoA and transmitting the second LCoA to the MN; and the MN receiving the second LCoA from the second AR and configuring the received second LCoA as its own LCoA.
US08374144B2
A method for a user equipment (UE) to receive a downlink signal, the method including receiving a first downlink control channel identified by a temporary cell identifier (Temporary C-RNTI) from a base station, the first downlink control channel including a first downlink assignment signal having a new data indicator (NDI) with a first value; receiving a second downlink control channel identified by a cell identifier (C-RNTI) from the base station, the second downlink control channel including a second downlink assignment signal having the NDI with a second value; and determining if the NDI has been toggled compared to the NDI previously received from the base station. Further, the UE ignores the NDI with the first value received through the first downlink control channel identified by the temporary cell identifier (Temporary C-RNTI). The method also includes receiving the downlink signal based on the determining.
US08374142B2
Embodiments of techniques to perform link adaptation in directional wireless networks are presented herein.
US08374129B2
A high bandwidth, low latency middle-mile core communications network providing low-cost and high-speed communications among the users of the network. Embodiments of the invention include a number of network access points located at a number of spaced apart sites. At least some of these network access points in the network are in communication with each other via millimeter radio links with microwave backup links. In preferred embodiments the millimeter radio links include two millimeter radios, one transmitting in the frequency range of 71-76 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 81 to 86 GHz and the other radio transmitting in the frequency range of 81-86 GHz and receiving in the frequency range if 71 to 76 GHz.
US08374125B2
An application-specific integrated circuit and related network switch are disclosed. The integrated circuit includes switch circuitry for receiving a 802.11 wireless data frame and forwarding it to a predetermined port. Inspection circuitry is provided for inspecting attributes of the data frame. Decision circuitry is provided for instructing the switch circuitry to forward the data frame based on the attributes, both 802.3 wired and 802.11 wireless.
US08374112B2
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting feedback information by each of user terminals in a communication system including the user terminals with different numbers of antennas. A multicast data packet is received from a base station through a downlink multicast transmission channel. If the multicast data packet has never been successfully decoded before, the multicast data packet is decoded and the success/failure in decoding the multicast data packet is determined. Upon the failure in decoding the multicast data packet, a NACK signal indicating the failure in decoding the multicast data packet is generated with sequences, the number of which is equal to the number of antennas of the user terminal. The NACK signal is transmitted to the base station through a shared feedback channel. If the user terminal has at least two antennas, sequences corresponding to the at least two antennas are orthogonal to each other and constitute sequence signals.
US08374107B2
A communication apparatus which may include a power supply that acquires a supply voltage from a power line connected from outside, a transmission control unit that transmits a pilot signal and signals subsequent to the pilot signal to the power line, a pilot signal detection unit that detects pilot signals transmitted to the power line by other apparatuses, and a timing adjustment unit that adjusts transmission timing of the pilot signal of the communication apparatus in accordance with that of the pilot signals transmitted by the other apparatuses.
US08374106B2
Method and system for group calling in an IP-based communication system includes receiving an administrator identifier, receiving one or more invitee identifiers, initiating a first connection from a central location and initiating at least one or more second connections from the central location to join an administrator and at least one invitee. The administrator identifier and one or more invitee identifiers can be a telephone number or other identifiers associated with the communication system. To establish the group call, the administrator identifier and one or more invitee identifiers are received from the administrator. The first connection initiation is to the administrator and the second or more connection initiations are to the at least one invitee. System for making a group call includes a user interface adapted for use by the administrator, a database manager, a database, a load balancer and a group calling pool adapted for SIP-based group call setup.
US08374097B2
A user equipment (UE) operating in a wireless network receives a sequence of speech frames on a speech channel. The UE demodulates at least a portion of a speech frame of the sequence of received speech frames to produce a metric value. The UE discontinues processing of the speech frame and enters a low power discontinuous reception (DRX) mode if the metric value indicates absence of valid speech data, and ignores and does not demodulate at least the next remaining bursts of the speech frame after entering DRX mode.
US08374095B2
In one embodiment, a connection verification (CV) message is initiated from an initiating maintenance end point (MEP) for an MPLS LSP, the CV message carried in a packet having a time-to-live (TTL) value of 1. Each maintenance intermediate point (MIP) along the MPLS LSP receives the packet and decrements the TTL, and in response to determining that the TTL equals 0, examines a payload of the packet to determine that the packet carries the CV message. The MIP may then append its MIP ID to a route record field of the payload having any previous MIP IDs of upstream MIPs, and forwards the CV message downstream along the MPLS LSP in a packet having a TTL value of 1. The end MEP receives the CV message, and sends a CV reply having the route record field with MIP IDs and an end MEP ID to the initiating MEP.
US08374094B2
Example methods and systems to verify a communication path between a field device and a process controller in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes transmitting via a first wireless communication path to a first portion of a process control system associated with one of the field device or the process controller, a command signal from a verification controller. In response to receiving the command signal in the first portion of the process control system, transmitting a verification signal via a first wired communication path from the first portion of the process control system to a second portion of the process control system associated with the other one of the field device or the process controller. Then, in response to receiving the verification signal in the second portion of the process control system, transmitting a reception signal via a second wireless communication path from the second portion of the process control system to the verification controller and in response to receiving the verification signal in the verification controller, verifying the communication path between the field device and the process controller.
US08374089B2
Methods and systems for performing rate limiting are provided. According to one embodiment, multiple paths are provided between each pair of multi-path load balancing (MPLB) components within a Layer 2 network by establishing overlapping loop-free topologies in which each MPLB component is reachable by any other via each overlapping topology. A first MPLB component receives packets associated with a flow sent by a source component at a particular rate. The first MPLB component forwards the packets to a second MPLB component along a particular path in a network. A congestion metric for the particular path is determined. Based upon the congestion metric for the particular path, it is determined whether the particular path has reached a congestion threshold. In response to an affirmative determination, the source component is instructed to limit the rate at which it sends packets associated with the flow.
US08374073B2
A modulator and a modulation method for a communication device are disclosed. The modulator is configured to multiplex control symbols and data symbols for transmission in a signal based on information of the distance between the positions of at least two control symbols in a representation of symbol positions in the signal.
US08374071B2
The present invention relates to a data storage device comprising: a polymer layer for storing data in the form of topographic features; a substrate comprising a conductor, a first surface of the polymer layer being provided on the substrate; and at least one probe which, when the device is in use, interacts with a second surface of the polymer layer, wherein, when in use, the data storage device is operable to apply a first electrical potential to the at least one probe relative to the substrate, thereby to cause a protrusion to be formed on the second surface of the polymer layer.
US08374067B2
In order to record an interference fringe pattern in a recording layer of a medium, a plurality of laser beams are caused to interfere so as to form interference fringes in the recording layer; and during a time period over which the plurality of laser beams are caused to interfere, the following steps are continuously performed: (1) producing a signal varying according to a shift of a specific position in the recording layer; and (2) shifting a fringe-forming position in the recording layer by changing a phase of at least one of the laser beams or moving the recording layer based upon the signal produced in the step (1).
US08374065B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing data library background operations. The present invention teaches one or more data storage drives capable of entering a phantom load mode and a library controller capable of initiating the phantom load mode for the data storage drives. The phantom load mode operates to hide the media status of the data storage drives from host computers during background operations involving the data storage drives. In certain embodiments, the data storage drives exit the phantom load mode as a result of a media unload request. In some embodiments, the library controller receives a media load request from a host computer during the background operation and completes the media load request upon completion of the background operation.
US08374059B2
A heat-assisted magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed at an air bearing surface, a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light, a first pair of clads made of a first dielectric material having a refractive index lower than that of the waveguide, and sandwiching the waveguide in a track width direction, and a second pair of clads made of a second dielectric material having a refractive index lower than that of the first dielectric material, and sandwiching the waveguide in a thickness direction orthogonal to the track width direction. Further, the heat-assisted magnetic write head may include, between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, a plasmon generator generating near-field light from the air bearing surface, based on light propagating through the waveguide.
US08374054B1
An apparatus and method for relating echoes from a surface or object produced by irradiation, such as by sonar or radar, from different grazing angles according to the relationship: f s = cf x 2 cos θ where fx is the spatial frequency corresponding to the size of the surface or object, θ the grazing angle, and fs the temporal frequency. In this manner one can relate to one another echoes from the same surface or object generated at different grazing angles, permitting good correlation between the echoes.
US08374051B2
A monolithic three dimensional array of non-volatile storage elements is arranged in blocks. The non-volatile storage elements are connected to bit lines and word lines. The bit lines for each block are grouped into columns of bit lines. The columns of bit lines include top columns of bit lines that are connected to selection circuits on a top side of a respective block and bottom columns of bit lines that are connected to selection circuits on a bottom side of the respective block. Programming of data is pipelined between two or more columns of bit lines in order to increase programming speed. One embodiment of the programming process includes selectively connecting two columns of bit lines to a set of one or more selection circuits, using the one or more selection circuits to selectively connect one of the two columns of bit lines to one or more signal sources, programming non-volatile storage elements for the column of bit lines that is currently connected to the one or more signal sources, and changing one of the columns of bit lines connected to the set of one or more selection circuits while another column of bit lines is being programmed.
US08374049B2
A non-volatile memory module includes a volatile memory circuit and a reference voltage generator coupled to supply a reference voltage to the volatile memory circuit. The reference voltage provides a level by which the volatile memory and external devices may communicate reliably at high speeds. The reference voltage is applied to an external interface of the non-volatile memory module through an isolation circuit. A control circuit coupled to the isolation interface and to a circuit which is adapted to detect when the non-volatile memory module no longer draws power from an external source.
US08374047B2
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device having memory cells is operated in a self-refresh mode and a normal mode. A mode detector provides a self-refresh mode signal in the self-refresh mode of operation. It includes a free-running oscillator for generating an oscillation signal independent of the self-refresh mode signal. In response to the oscillation signal, a self-request controller provides a self-refresh request signal in the self-refresh mode. The self-refresh signal is asynchoronized with the self-fresh mode signal and is provided to an address circuit to select a wordline for refreshing the memory cells thereof. The self-refresh request controller includes logic circuitry for arbitrating timing between initial active edges of the oscillation signal and the self-refresh mode signal and providing the self-refresh request and ceasing it, regardless of conflict between the self-refresh mode signal and the oscillation signal upon self-refresh mode entry and exit. The DRAM devices perform and achieve reliable self-refresh for variable DRAM cell retention time.
US08374044B2
A semiconductor device includes a global bit line, a dummy global bit line that is shorter than the global bit line, a sense amplifier that amplifies a potential difference between the global bit line and the dummy global bit line, a plurality of memory blocks each including a hierarchy switch and a local bit line that is connected to the global bit line via the hierarchy switch, a dummy memory block that includes a dummy hierarchy switch and a dummy local bit line that is connected to the dummy global bit line via the dummy hierarchy switch, and a control circuit that activates any one of hierarchy switches and the dummy hierarchy switch. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain the same memory capacity between a memory mat located at an edge and the other memory mat.
US08374041B2
According to one embodiment, a transfer circuit includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a first line, a second line, a first holder, and a second holder. The first inverter inverts data at a first node and transfers the inverted data to a second node. The second inverter inverts the data at the second node and transfers the inverted data to the first node. The first line connected to the first node. The second line connected to the second node. The first holder may output data to the first node. The second holder may output data to the second node. When the first holder outputs the data to the first line, the first and second inverters are turned off. When the second holder outputs the data to the first line through the second node, the first inverter is turned off.
US08374037B2
A semiconductor magnetic memory device has a magnetic tunneling junction formed over a memory cell. The memory cell has a control gate surrounded by a floating gate. The floating gate is coupled to the magnetic tunneling junction through a pinning layer that maintains the magnetic orientation of the lower magnetic layer of the junction. A current through a selected word line, coupled to the control gate, generates a first magnetic field. A current through a cell select line generates a second magnetic field that is orthogonal to the first magnetic field. This changes the magnetic orientation of the upper magnetic layer of the junction to lower its resistance, thus allowing a write/erase voltage on a program/erase line to program/erase the floating gate.
US08374035B2
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an operation command, detecting a noise level of a common source line, and adjusting a number of times to perform an operation on a memory cell in response to the operation command based on the detected noise level.
US08374033B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory unit; and a control unit. The memory unit includes a multilayer structure including electrode films and inter-electrode insulating films alternately stacked in a first direction; a semiconductor pillar piercing the multilayer structure in the first direction; a memory layer provided between the semiconductor pillar and the electrode films; a inner insulating film provided between the memory layer and the semiconductor pillar; a outer insulating film provided between the memory layer and the electrode films; and a wiring electrically connected to the first semiconductor pillar. In erasing operation, the control unit sets the first wiring at a first potential and sets the electrode film at a second potential lower than the first potential, and then sets the first wiring at a third potential and sets the electrode film at a fourth potential higher than the third potential.
US08374032B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device including: a NAND string having multiple memory cells connected in series and first and second select gate transistors disposed on the both ends; word lines coupled to the memory cells; and first and second select gate lines coupled to the first and second select gate transistors, wherein a data read mode is defined by the following bias condition: a selected word line is applied with a read voltage; one adjacent to the selected word line within first unselected word lines disposed on the first select gate line side is applied with a first read pass voltage while the others are applied with a second read pass voltage lower than the first read pass voltage; and second unselected word lines disposed on the second select gate line side are applied with a third read pass voltage higher than the first read voltage.
US08374030B2
A memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells, in which n (n is a natural number equal to 3 or larger) cells are simultaneously written. A control circuit controls the memory cell array. A conversion circuit converts data constituted of k (k is equal to n or smaller, and is a natural number equal to 3 or larger) bits stored in the memory cells into data of h (h is equal to k or larger, and is a natural number equal to 2 or larger) bits on the basis of a conversion rule.
US08374024B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a memory cell, a data transfer unit configured to adjust an access to the memory cell according to a voltage level of a selection signal, a selection signal output unit configured to output the selection signal having a first control voltage level in a data write mode and a second control voltage level in a data read mode. A data detection unit may also be configured to detect a voltage formed by a sensing current supplied to the memory cell through the data transfer unit in the data read mode, and output read data according to the detection result, wherein the second control voltage level is lower than the first control voltage level.
US08374022B2
A phase change memory using an ovonic threshold switch selection device may be programmed from one state to another by first turning on the ovonic threshold switch. After the voltage across the cell has fallen, the cell may then be biased to program the cell to the desired state.
US08374020B2
A system includes a continuous thin-film ferromagnetic layer, N magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices, and N write structures. The continuous thin-film ferromagnetic layer includes N modified regions. Each of the N modified regions is configured to stabilize a magnetic domain wall located in the continuous thin-film ferromagnetic layer. Each of the N MTJ devices includes one of N portions of the continuous thin-film ferromagnetic layer. Adjacent MTJ devices of the N MTJ devices are separated by one of the N modified regions. Each of the N write structures is configured to receive current and generate a magnetic field that magnetizes a different one of the N portions of the continuous thin-film ferromagnetic layer. N is an integer greater than 2.
US08374017B2
A semiconductor storage device includes: a plurality of memory cell arrays, each having a memory cell arranged therein, the memory cell including a ferroelectric capacitor and a transistor; a dummy capacitor operative to provide a reference potential corresponding to a potential read from the memory cell; a sense amplifier circuit including an amplifier circuit to compare and amplify potentials between a pair of bit lines; a reference potential correction capacitor connected to the pair of bit lines together with the dummy capacitor; and a control circuit configured to output a correction signal based on shift information to correct the reference potential, the shift information being retained in at least one of the plurality of memory cell arrays. The reference potential correction capacitor shifts the reference potential by changing the amount of accumulated electric charges according to the correction signal.
US08374010B2
A power supply circuit for receiving an input voltage to drive a plurality of loads is disclosed. The power supply circuit comprises a plurality of switch circuits, a plurality of power conversion circuits and a phase delay circuit. The plurality of switch circuits are connected with the plurality of loads, respectively. The plurality of power conversion circuits are connected with the plurality of loads and the plurality of switch circuits, respectively, for converting the input voltage into a plurality of driving voltages and transmitting the plurality of driving voltages to the plurality of loads, respectively, when the plurality of switch circuits are conducted. The phase delay circuit is connected with the plurality of switch circuits and a system circuit for generating a plurality of delay signals in response to a switch signal from the system circuit and transmitting the plurality of delay signals to control terminals of the plurality of switch circuits, respectively, so as to make the plurality of switch circuits be conducted or shut off. The plurality of delay signals are converted into an enabling status from a disabling status at different time points so that the plurality of switch circuits are conducted at different time points.
US08374009B2
A multi-level parallel phase power converter has a power source, a converter, and an electrical node. The converter includes multiple converter modules. Each of the converter modules has multiple multi-level power converters, a poly-phase interphase inductor, and a set of poly-phase power summing connections. The summed power of each of the multiple converter modules are connected together to form a single poly-phase power converter.
US08374005B2
A control section controls a current-source converter while a switch is conducting, to render conducting a pair of a high-aim side transistor and a low-arm side transistor (for example, transistors) which are connected to any one of input lines, performs voltage doubler rectification on a voltage between a neutral phase input line on which a resistor is provided and any one of the input lines, to serve for charging of clamp capacitors.
US08373998B2
A shield that protects high-value input resistors in a power meter against unwanted effects due to electromagnetic interference from a nearby power supply and/or due to crosstalk from adjacent phases. The shield includes multiple printed circuit board shields that are arranged between each of the input resistors on a main printed circuit board in the power meter. Each PCB shield has a conductive layer that provides the shielding against unwanted energy. The resistors are arranged in a diagonal or parallel manner between each pair of PCB shields to prevent the resistor from movement, which prevents pin fatigue and fixes the value of the parasitic capacitance that is produced in the resistor-PCB-shield combination. In another configuration, the PCB shield is made of a flexible material, and snakes between and over the top or around the side ends of each resistor in a serpentine fashion, protecting the resistors from unwanted energies from both the top and the sides. The PCB shields disclosed herein eliminate variations in the percent error of the measurement phases, which contributes to achieving a highly accurate meter with an overall accuracy of less than 0.1%.
US08373993B2
A hinge assembly includes an axle portion having first and second ends, a first hinged portion, a second hinged portion, and at least one conductive member. The first hinged portion is inserted into one end of the axle portion. The other end of the axle portion is received the second hinged portion. The conductive member is positioned between the axle portion and one of the first hinged portion and the second hinged portion.
US08373991B2
The invention provides a metal thermal interface material (TIM) with through-holes in its body and/or zigzags or wave shapes on its border, which is suitable for use at thermal interfaces of a thermal conduction path from an integrated circuit die to its associated heat sink in a packaged microelectronic component. The invention also includes a thermal module and a packaged microelectronic component including the metal thermal interface material.
US08373987B2
An air conditioning system of a portable data center includes a shipping container, plural data-processing devices and plural airflow-driving devices. The shipping container includes a partition plate and a bottom plate. The partition plate has plural hollow portions. The data-processing devices are disposed on the partition plate. The airflow-driving devices are disposed under the partition plate and aligned with respective hollow portions for driving and guiding airflow to cool the data processing devices. Each of the airflow-driving devices includes at least one fan and an airflow-blocking structure. The airflow-blocking structure is arranged in an airflow path of a corresponding airflow-driving device. If one of the airflow-driving devices is disabled, the airflow-blocking structure of the disabled airflow-driving device is automatically closed to hinder the airflow path.
US08373971B2
An electrochemical double layer capacitor utilizing nano-fibers in the electrodes for increased performance. The use of nano-fibers significantly increase the surface area of the opposing electrodes for greater levels of specific energy compared to traditional double layered capacitors using activated carbon.
US08373968B2
Dielectric ceramic composition includes a hexagonal type barium titanate as a main component shown by a generic formula (Ba1-αMα)A(Ti1-βMnβ)BO3 and having hexagonal structure wherein an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated “M” is −20% or more to +20% or less with respect to an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated Ba2+ and the A, B, α and β satisfy relations of 0.900≦(A/B)≦1.040, 0.003≦α≦0.05, 0.03≦β≦0.2, and as subcomponents, with respect to the main component, certain contents of alkaline earth oxide such as MgO and the like, Mn3O4 and/or Cr2O3, CuO, Al2O3, rare earth element oxide and glass component including SiO2. According to the present invention, it can be provided the hexagonal type barium titanate powder and dielectric ceramic composition which are preferable for producing electronic components such as a capacitor and the like showing high specific permittivity, having advantageous insulation property and sufficient reliability.
US08373966B2
A structural body which includes a first dielectric layer formed on a first substrate and including first conductive particles, each surface of the first conductive particles being entirely covered with a first dielectric film; and a second dielectric layer formed on the first dielectric layer wherein a volume ratio of a dielectric in the second dielectric layer is higher than a volume ratio of a dielectric in the first dielectric layer.
US08373965B2
A system and method for sealing a capacitor bottom in a filtered feedthrough. The feedthrough comprises a ferrule, a capacitor, at least one terminal pin and a support structure. The support structure includes at least one projection that extends into an aperture of the capacitor. The projection includes an opening through which the at least one terminal pin extends such that, in an assembled state, the terminal pin extends through the opening of the projection and the aperture of the capacitor.
US08373964B2
There is provided a multi-layered ceramic capacitor with reduced internal resistance by forming internal electrode groups including internal electrodes having different lengths. The multi-layered ceramic capacitor of the present invention includes a sintered ceramic body part in which cover layers are provided on both surfaces thereof as an outermost layer and a plurality of ceramic layers are stacked therebetween, first and second external electrodes each formed on an outer surface of the sintered ceramic body part, a plurality of first and second internal electrode groups adjacent to each other in a stacking direction of the plurality of ceramic layers, having the ceramic layer therebetween, and including 2N or 2N+1 (N is an integer number larger than 1) internal electrodes electrically connected to the first and second external electrodes, wherein the 2N or 2N+1 (N is an integer number larger than 1) internal electrodes are disposed to face at least one internal electrode of other adjacent internal electrode groups. A length of each internal electrode has a pyramid shape.
US08373962B2
A system and method is provided for increasing interaction between seed particles in a seed cloud and target particles to be neutralized, detected or knocked down to the ground. This is achieved by applying a charge to the seed particles so that the seed cloud formed by release of the seed particles at altitude is highly charged, which in turn produces a strong electric field between the seed cloud and ground. The relatively strong electric field causes the seed particles to move downward (toward the ground) at a velocity sufficient to increase interaction (collisions) between the seed particles and the target particles.
US08373961B2
The invention relates to a coupling for a fluid line, wherein an oscillating circuit (5, 9) is present for detecting a properly closed position of an inserted part (13). A tuning device (19) is further provided, by means of which the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit (5, 9) can be influenced such that the resonant frequency corresponds to a characteristic closure frequency only in the closed position of the insertion part (13). The proper arrangement of the insertion part (13) in the closed position can thereby be detected without contact.
US08373960B2
Disclosed is driving circuit for AC contactor for driving a AC contactor, including a first switch connected in series with a winding of the AC contactor, a first diode reversely connected in parallel with the winding of the AC contactor for providing a discharging path for the winding, a DC startup holding unit having an output terminal connected in series with the first switch and a detection terminal connected to a first contact switch of the AC contactor. The DC startup holding unit is configured to selectively convert a DC driving voltage into a first DC voltage or a second DC voltage. When the AC contactor is not magnetized, the DC startup holding unit outputs the first DC voltage. When the AC contactor is magnetized, the DC startup holding unit outputs the second DC voltage.
US08373959B2
A method and apparatus directed to detecting and preventing excessive heating in power connectors is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a power connector having an array of pins. A circuit board, such as a midplane of a blade server chassis, has an array of electrical vias passing through the circuit board that are arranged to receive the array of pins and at least one heat flux sensor positioned on one of the vias at the back of the midplane. The heat flux sensor is configured for generating an electrical signal in relation to an applied heat flux. A controller in communication with the heat flux sensor is configured for powering off the electrical power supply in response to the electrical signal reaching a setpoint corresponding to a selected heat flux threshold.
US08373948B2
A method in one embodiment includes forming a first layer of magnesium above at least one of a free layer and a reference layer; exposing the first layer of magnesium to an oxidizing environment for causing oxidation of the first layer of magnesium; forming a second layer of magnesium above the oxidized first layer of magnesium; and exposing the second layer of magnesium to the oxidizing environment for causing oxidation of the second layer of magnesium. A system in one embodiment includes a free layer; and a tunnel barrier layer having microstructure and composition characteristic of in situ natural oxidation of magnesium. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US08373932B2
An auto-focusing lens module includes an object lens, a liquid zooming unit, and an image lens group. The object lens and the liquid zooming unit receive an object image in front and condense the image into a first-stage output light. A zoom quantity is determined by an external control on the liquid zooming unit. The image lens group including a first and second lens receives the first-stage output light to transmit a second-stage output light. The first lens has a first and second surface, in which the second surface is farther than the first surface to the liquid zooming unit and has a convex curving surface protruding toward an image sensor. The second lens has a first and second surface, in which the first surface has a concave curving surface indenting toward the image sensor to adapt at least a portion of the convex curving surface of the first lens.
US08373928B2
A polarizer includes a base and a plurality of grids arranged on a surface of the base parallel to one another. Each of the grids comprises an intermediate layer and a semi-transmissive metal layer that reflects a part of external light incident thereon and transmits a part of the external light incident thereon. The semi-transmissive metal layer and the intermediate layer are alternately deposited to include at least two semi-transmissive metal layers. The thicknesses of the semi-transmissive metal layers increases in a direction in which the semi-transmissive metal layer is disposed away from the external light. An organic light emitting display apparatus includes the polarizer and has improved contrast and brightness.
US08373921B2
A system comprises an optical processor comprising a sideband generator, an optical filter, and a phase-shift-keying (PSK) modulator, wherein: the sideband generator generates optical frequency sidebands about a carrier frequency of an optical signal; the optical filter discriminates between the optical frequency sidebands and the optical carrier frequency such that optical sidebands of interest can be used to generate an optical millimeter-wave signal; the PSK modulator comprises an optical splitter, an optical phase delay unit, two or more optical gates, and an optical combiner; the optical splitter divides the optical millimeter-wave signal into two or more intermediate signals; the optical phase delay unit delays one or more of the intermediate signals to create distinct phase relationship between them; the optical gates modulate each intermediate signal individually, based on a control input; and the optical combiner combines the gated intermediate signals into a single, PSK-modulated optical millimeter-wave signal.
US08373916B2
An optical scanner, including a frame member; a pair of connection members near a coupling end with the frame member; a pair of elastic members connected with the frame member by the connection members; a mirror substrate supported by the pair of elastic members, the mirror substrate having a bending rigidity outward from the rotational axis for each area in accordance with a bending moment caused by oscillation, the mirror substrate having a slit at both connection ends with the pair of elastic members; and a piezoelectric element provided on each of the connection members, the piezoelectric element generating a torque for driving the mirror substrate oscillatable back and forth around the pair of elastic members as a torsion rotational axis.
US08373908B2
A document reading apparatus includes a housing that has conductive characteristics, a platen that is provided with the housing and that has translucency, and an image reading unit that is arranged so as to be movable in the housing and that reads a document placed on the platen. In particular, at least one opening is provided in a region of the housing that overlaps with the image reading unit as viewed in a direction orthogonal to the platen.
US08373905B2
A printing system enables the printing of enhanced documents using a semantic classification scheme. A printing system receives an image to be printed. The system classifies the image according to the semantic classification scheme and, based on this classification, performs enhancement processing on the image. Depending on the desired application, the printing system may recognize and classify any number of image types and may then perform various enhancement processing functions on the image, where the type of enhancement processing performed is based on the classification of the image.
US08373904B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus includes an adjustment section, an edge enhancement section, a reception section and a changing section. The adjustment section performs adjustment of a black amount for an input image signal including a plurality of color signals. The adjustment section outputs an output image signal including a plurality of color signals that contain black whose amount is adjusted. The edge enhancement section performs an edge enhancement process for the output image signal output from the adjustment section. The reception section receives setting of an edge enhancement degree used in the edge enhancement section. The changing section changes setting of the adjustment of the black amount in the adjustment section, according to the setting of the edge enhancement degree received by the reception section.
US08373896B2
An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire a first amount of a transparent toner for use in 2-pass printing in which a color toner is fixed on a recording medium and then the transparent toner is fixed, a change-amount acquiring unit configured to acquire a first amount of change in lightness between an image after the color toner is fixed to the recording medium and an image after the 2-pass printing is performed on the recording medium using the first amount of the transparent toner, and a setting unit configured to set a second amount of the transparent toner for use in 1-pass printing such that a difference between the first amount of change in lightness and a second amount of change in lightness is equal to or smaller than a threshold, the second amount of change in lightness being an amount of change in lightness between the image after the color toner is fixed to the recording medium and a 1-pass printing image after the color toner and the second amount of the transparent toner are fixed to the recording medium.
US08373888B2
A printer driver comprising: a layout determining section that acquires data of a document page (logical page) and determines a layout of one or more printing pages (physical pages) by allocating a content of the logical page; a re-layout determining section that makes determination whether the determined layout includes an combinable pages or not, based on a ratio of a blank area in the physical page and based on presence/absence of continuity in the contents between the page and the immediately preceding physical page or based on an arrangement characteristic of a non-blank area in the physical page, when one logical page is allocated to plural physical pages; and a page combination control section that causes the layout determining section to determine a combined layout by re-allocating the combinable page and immediately preceding physical page to a single physical page based on the determination.
US08373887B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit, a memory, a determination unit, and a dividing unit. The image processing unit dynamically changes a configuration thereof, and executes image processing in accordance with the changed configuration. The memory includes a pre-processing information memory area, an ongoing-processing information memory area, and a post-processing information memory area. The determination unit determines a division position of printing information used for image processing to be executed by the image processing unit, at which an amount of printing information, an amount of intermediate information corresponding to the printing information, and an amount of image information corresponding to the printing information are less than or equal to memory capacities of the pre-processing information memory area, the ongoing-processing information memory area, and the post-processing information memory area, respectively. The dividing unit divides the printing information in accordance with the division position determined by the determination unit.
US08373884B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a setting unit to set a printing condition of a job, the printing condition containing a condition indicating whether check print is to be executed or not; an image forming unit to execute image forming processing in accordance with the printing condition set by the setting unit; and a control unit to determine one or more pages to be subjected to the check print based on the printing condition and a predetermined determination condition if the printing condition set by the setting unit indicates that the check print is to be executed, and to cause the image forming unit to execute the image forming processing for the check print with respect to the determined one or more pages.
US08373880B2
Disclosed is a system and method for capturing technical documents and reading and commentating captured documents thereof. The system may comprise a capturing system and a reading with commentating system. The capturing system selects related drawings from a group of technical documents. It then provides important information and the related drawings onto an image for the readers' review. The reading with commentating system allows the readers to process technical classification, management and export/import for the group of technical documents. Readers may make comments on an information sharing platform after reviewing the technical documents. Besides, other materials collected or generated from the technical analysis on the technical documents may be attached to the information sharing platform.
US08373877B2
A host device includes an interface part to receive directly-printable file types from an image forming apparatus; and a controller to provide a popup menu to set a direct print option, if a file corresponding to the received file types is selected from among previously stored files. Accordingly, whether or not it is possible to perform direct-printing of a file which a user desires to print may be displayed, and thus direct-printing can be performed without individually checking whether each file is a directly-printable file type.
US08373875B2
A system and method are provided for processing an imaging job using adaptive universal symbols. The method comprises: establishing a user interface (UI) representing imaging job options with adaptive universal symbols at a job source, which can be an imaging driver or a direct submit application; accepting adaptive universal symbol selections from the UI; sending an imaging job to an imaging device, in an imaging device-specific format, along with the adaptive universal symbol selections; and, at the imaging device, processing the imaging job in response to the selected adaptive universal symbols. With respect to print, copy, or fax jobs for example, the adaptive universal symbols may represent options such as staple, cut, fold, hole-punch, trim, N-up, duplex, paper size, input tray, output bin, copies, collation, margin, sheet/page orientation, or front/back covers.
