US08376376B2
The invention is a wheeled platform adapted to accommodate at least one five gallon bucket surrounded by a plurality of storage compartments for use by a tradesman such as a drywall installer, tile installer, auto detailer, and the like. The wheeled platform includes a rigid base, having a lower and an upper surface structurally interconnected by a plurality of structural ribs and flanges. The flanges extend upward from the upper surface of the base to define a plurality of compartments which are intended to be used to store materials and tools used by the tradesman in the performance of their work. The platform base and flange arrangement define at least one cylindrical compartment for receiving a five gallon bucket. Four caster wheels are appropriately attached to the lower surface of the base so that the platform can be wheeled from a service vehicle to a specific job site having stored therein, the tradesman's tools, as well as necessary material supplies to perform daily job functions. A retainer arrangement is provided on either side of the bucket to create a biasing force to secure the bucket within the compartment of the wheeled platform. The retainer arrangement permits the bucket to be lifted by its handle so that the bucket and platform base secured thereto can be conveniently lifted over uneven terrain or up and down steps.
US08376371B2
A jaw for use in a drill chuck having a longitudinal center axis, comprising a chuck body which includes a jaw face formed on an inner surface of the chuck body and a plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the chuck body, the jaw face being substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis. A ridge depends inwardly from the jaw face toward the longitudinal center axis. The ridge includes a tool engaging surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis and has a width of between 0.020 to 0.060 inches.
US08376369B2
A dynamic seal utilizes a groove on the active side of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The groove stops short of the leading edge of the seal that faces the lubricant side forming a static dam between the termination point of the groove and the seal edge. When the fluid pressure within the groove exceeds the opening pressure for the seal lip, the lubricant within the groove is pumped back into the lubricant side of the seal. The groove can have an induction zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is gradual and a booster zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is relatively faster than in the induction zone. The booster zone is disposed adjacent the static dam. Bars are provided across the spiral grooves to prevent contaminants from reaching and becoming trapped in the booster zone.
US08376368B2
A sealing device for a rotating machine includes a shaft rotating with respect to a housing containing a fluid. The sealing is provided between the shaft and the housing. The sealing device includes a first labyrinth arranged between the shaft and the housing, fins secured to the shaft and arranged in the first labyrinth, the fins being intended to discharge the fluid entering the first labyrinth toward the inside of the housing. The sealing device makes it possible to prevent any leak of fluid without friction at the junction between the shaft and the housing.
US08376367B2
A brush seal and a method for mounting a brush seal is disclosed. The brush seal includes a sealing element provided with a plurality of filaments or wires that are joined at a filament or wire end to form a filament or wire bundle and a clamp-like sealing housing for receiving and fixing the filament or wire end between a first and a second limb and for fixing the brush seal in a mounting recess of a housing. A free end of the filament or wire bundle of the sealing element is clamped between a partial area of an inner contour of the second limb that is adjacent to a region of an outlet opening of the mounting recess of the housing and an area of the outlet opening that is opposite from the partial area.
US08376343B2
A plate pulling machine for a pressure filter, including a base, a support, a pair of plate-removing ears, a pair of plate-pulling ears, a plate-removing support table, a plate-pulling support table, a bracket for a bolt sleeve, a bolt sleeve, and a bolt. The support is fixed on upper end surface of the base. The plate-removing ears and the plate-pulling ears are corresponding to each other, and are disposed on both sides of the top of the support. The plate-removing support table is disposed on the plate-removing ears via a plate-removing rotating shaft. The plate-removing support table is supported via a plate-removing spring. The plate-pulling support table is disposed on the plate-pulling ears via a plate-pulling rotating shaft. The plate-pulling support table is supported via a plate-pulling spring. The bracket for a bolt sleeve is disposed on outside of the plate-pulling support table on the support.
US08376331B2
An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges defined by the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner and outer structural members are designed to provide a travel stop for the elastomeric isolator in order to avoid compression of the shear hub during high loads. The elastomeric bushing can also include an optional integral elastomeric heat shield which protects the shear hub.
US08376325B2
A diffuser membrane for use in a wastewater treatment application comprises an additive or coating operative to substantially reduce the ability of at least a portion of the diffuser membrane to buildup static charge. Aeration efficiency and contamination resistance are thereby improved.
US08376321B2
A rail system has a baluster swing bracket configured to attach a baluster to the underside of a railing. This bracket has a flat body attached to the baluster and a flange offset from the flat body and attached to the railing, creating a gap between the railing and the baluster. This gap enables the baluster to be positioned close to the vertical surface to which the end of the railing is attached because a portion of the fastener connecting the railing to the vertical surface may be within the gap. The flange may be loosened or disconnected from the railing without removing the baluster swing bracket from the baluster. Disconnecting the flange allows the baluster to rotate or swing under the railing. Loosening the flange allows the baluster to rotate outward from the railing.
US08376320B1
An electrified retaining structure is provided for protecting at least a portion of a designated area. The retaining structure comprises a series of spaced apart scissor lift assemblies. Each scissor lift assembly being moveable up and down between an extended position and a retracted position. In addition, the scissor lift assembly includes one or more sets of elongated rods secured to the scissor lift assembly and extending outwardly therefrom. In the extended position, the rods project outwardly from the lift assembly and form a barrier or retaining structure. An electrical power unit is operatively connected to the rods for providing an electrical current to the rods.
US08376316B2
A vandal resistant adjustable metered handle assembly for a faucet is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a body having a base adapted for attachment to a sink and a sidewall extending in an upward direction with respect to the base. The base is attached to a push button handle via a stem. A spring is associated with the body and the push button handle for metering an amount of water emitting from the faucet and a sleeve is positioned between the body and the push button handle. The sleeve cooperates with the sidewall of the body to adjust the shut-off time of the metered handle assembly. The sleeve may be color-coded to indicate water temperature. The handle assembly can be made vandal resistant by adhesively securing various components together and providing an unconventional attachment member for securing the handle assembly to a sink.
US08376305B2
A mechanism for stabilizing a slidably adjustable boat accessory such as a boat seat or table including a first rigid plate member adapted for attachment to the underside of a boat accessory, a second rigid plate member adapted for attachment to a support surface with the first plate member having two elongate opposite side edges curved underside forming parallel tracks and the second plate member having two elongate opposite side edges slidably engaging corresponding respective tracks of the first plate member for slidably moving the first plate member along the tracks for slidably adjusting the location of an attached boat accessory with at least one of the opposing side edges of the second plate member beveled at least in part, a wedge shaped member engaged with the second plate member resting in part on the bevel, while adjustably moving the wedge shaped member along the bevel such that the wedge shaped member is moved laterally in its associated track.
US08376301B2
An apparatus for holding portable electronic devices of different sizes is provided, including a receiving base, a first clamp unit and a second clamp unit, wherein the receiving base has a flat shape, with two opposite surfaces for receiving area and positioning area respectively. The positioning area forms a plurality of positioning sliding trenches in parallel layout. The entrances to the positioning sliding trenches are located at the edge of the receiving base. The ends away from the aforementioned edge of the positioning sliding trenches are closed. A part of the positioning sliding trenches has narrower openings than the width of the trenches. The first clamp unit and the second clamp unit include at least a positioning block respectively. The positioning blocks on the first clamp unit and the second clamp unit are inserted into positioning sliding trenches at corresponding locations. The first clamp unit and the second clamp unit extend to the two sides of the receiving area of the receiving base, facing each other. To adjust the holding width of the two clamps, the positioning blocks can be inserted to a different positioning sliding trench.
US08376296B2
A mounting apparatus includes a bracket receiving a disk drive, a locking member and a first resilient member. The bracket includes two first sidewalls and two second sidewalls. Each first sidewall is connected to the two second sidewalls and defines a number of through holes. The locking member includes two frames rotatably secured to the two first sidewalls. Each frame includes a number of pins. The first resilient member is connected to the two frames. Each frame is rotatable between a first position, where the pins are inserted in the bracket via the through holes, and a second position, where the pins are located out of the bracket. The first resilient member is deformed when each frame is rotated from the first position to the second position, and each frame is rotated from the second position to the first position when the first resilient member returns.
US08376295B2
A dual-layer suction cup includes an outer body, an adhesive soft inner body and an elastic unit. The outer body is made of a hard material. The adhesive soft inner body can be attached to a smooth airtight surface and a rough airtight surface, providing an adhesion effect. The elastic unit will provide elasticity in an opposite direction after being pressed, such that the chamber in the suction cup is in a vacuum state to enhance the adhesion effect. The adhesive soft inner body and the elastic unit of the present invention greatly enhance the adhesion effect.
US08376289B2
An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape and retains a conduit, pipe, tube or the like.
US08376280B1
In a method for operating an infrared countermeasure optical device on an aircraft, the improvement comprises the steps of positioning a deflector upstream from the optical device to allow said optical device to operate in high-speed freestream flows.
US08376279B2
A foldable wing for use with a very high altitude aircraft capable of operating at an altitude at or above 85,000 feet is disclosed. The foldable wing may employ a spiral fold deployment, wherein a hinge between each segment of the foldable wing is slightly offset from the perpendicular. Successively positioned wing segments fold over one another. Alternatively, the hinges are substantially perpendicular so that each respective wing segment folds linearly against the next wing segment. An inflatable rib, with inflatable arms, can be inflated to provide a force against two adjacent arms, thereby deploying the wing segments through a full 180° of rotation.
US08376278B2
An aircraft wing assembly, comprising a front spar, a rear spar, and upper and lower wing covers extending between the front and rear spars, wherein the upper and/or lower wing cover overhangs the rear spar and has a non-linear trailing edge profile forming an array of tabs and cut-outs. Also, a method of assembling the aircraft wing.
US08376276B2
The invention relates to a load introduction structure for an aircraft, comprising two lateral frames which are arranged opposite one another in the two lateral regions of a fuselage airframe structure of the aircraft and adjoin a continuous floor surface which rests on a floor frame. The two lateral frames are connected via the top thereof by a ceiling frame, the ceiling frame being suspended from a ceiling region of the fuselage airframe structure. Each lateral frame is divided into at least two lateral frame segments. At least three track portions which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft are arranged on each lateral frame segment. The lateral frames are connected to the fuselage airframe structure, the ring frames in particular, by a plurality of x-rods, y-rods and y-cardan rods. The load introduction structure is largely uncoupled according to the invention from the fuselage airframe structure of the aircraft inter alia by a plurality of coupling members arranged between the track portions to form gaps in order to compensate for load-induced and/or thermally-induced deformations, in particular changes in length, of the fuselage airframe structure.
US08376272B2
An auxiliary actuator mechanism includes a lever, a spring unit and a control linkage. The lever is pivotally connected to the upper portion of a main shock absorber strut, and pivotable between an upper position for take-off, and a lower position. The spring unit is pivotally connected at an upper end to the lever and at a lower end to the bogie at an auxiliary pivot forward of the main pivot. The control linkage is connected between the lever and the upper portion of the main shock absorber strut to define the upper predetermined position of the lever. The control linkage is connectable to an anchor point that moves relative to the upper portion of the main shock absorber strut during stowing, and is operated by initial stowing movement of the stowing mechanism to lower the lever from the upper position to a stowing position.
US08376268B1
A flight control system use in relation to an aviation vehicle having a thrust vectoring device for producing thrust, an air deflecting device for producing thrust having a box structure, and a computing system for receiving operation requirements is used to orient the thrust device and/or air deflecting device.
US08376260B2
A device for loading strips of wipe material for wipe material dispensing machines of the type including a housing that accommodates lateral side pieces which support a drum including a cutting device and a strip of material located above the drum, is distinctive in that it comprises a dual arrangement with, firstly, an enclosure that is concentric with the drum and defines, together with the drum, a gap through which the strip of material passes and, secondly, at least two rollers arranged parallel to each other and rotatably mounted relative to the lateral side pieces of the housing and meshing with a sprocket joined to the drum. An intermediate roller is fitted between the at least two rollers and make it possible to insert the strip of material into the gap between the enclosure and the drum and then eject it towards the front of the machine.
US08376259B2
This core plugging station relates generally to preparing rolls of previously wound material for an unwinding machine. The core plugging station improves the automation of moving rolls of sheet form material and the like to be loaded in preparation for unwinding. When a previously loaded roll has been unwound a spent core station disposes of the remaining core. The process sequentially moves rolls of material having cores from a core plugging station to an unwinding station and sequentially moves spent rolls of material from the unwinding station back to a spent core station.
US08376257B2
A vibrating cone crusher is capable of crushing rigid raw materials such as rocks and has a base, a bowl assembly, a transmission assembly, an inertial transmission mechanism and a head assembly. The bowl assembly is capable of vibrating and swaying. The head assembly is capable of rotating eccentrically. When operating, the vibrating or swaying bowl assembly cooperates with the eccentrically rotating head assembly to effectively crush raw materials that are installed in the vibrating cone crusher.
US08376253B2
A food processor having a coupling point to attach a processing device to the food processor; a cover part; a detection device disposed at the coupling point, wherein the detection device detects the attached processing device or the cover part; wherein each of the processing device and the cover part has a respective actuating element to actuate the detection device; and wherein the detection device has at least a first actuating region and a second actuating region that is oriented differently from the first actuating region.
US08376251B2
A method of separating at least one cluster of a plurality of clustered particles of a specified material. The method includes: initiating the wetting of at least a portion of the plurality of cluster particles; disaggregating at least a portion of the wetted plurality of cluster particles into a disaggregated material including a plurality of smaller clusters, discrete particles or any combination thereof; and stabilizing at least a portion of the disaggregated material by reducing, eliminating or replacing specified controlling attractive forces. A system and apparatus for separating at least one cluster of a plurality of clustered particles of a specified material are also disclosed.
US08376245B2
A low energy snow making gun having at least one but preferably three operational stages each having at least one pair of small aperture water outlets which are oriented at a divergent angle to generate a respective pair of narrow angled water droplet streams which do not interfere with each other until they have reached a distance from the gun. A second pair of water outlets may be provided on each stage with each pair on each stage oriented at a divergent angle to maintain singularity of the streams over a distance thereby increasing the throwing power of the gun.
US08376241B2
A single lever valve for mixing hot and cold liquids has a mixer which can internally impose an upper limit on the temperature of any liquid emerging from it. The means used may enable the upper limit to be changed by exchange of a component so that the mixer can be used in any location in an installation even though different locations might have different upper limit requirements. The mixer may take the form of a cartridge able to be exchanged with an existing cartridge to convert an “unsafe” mixer to a “safe” one.
US08376222B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide a time-limited monetary value to a member of an organization, using a member card or member icon, which may be issued by other than a bank or brokerage institution. In embodiments, the monetary value may be restricted to a single transaction and a maximum amount. In other embodiments, purchases of authorized goods and services may be controlled by corresponding product codes. A password or biometric may be used to authenticate the intended purchaser to the organization and/or merchant.
US08376220B2
An automatic teller machine includes a chassis, a user interface module; and a pair of sliding mechanisms. The user interface module is rotatably attached to the chassis. The pair of sliding mechanisms are attached to the chassis and the user interface. Each sliding mechanism includes a first rail and a second rail. The first rail is rotatably secured to the chassis. A second blocking member is located on the first rail. The second rail is rotatably secured to the user interface module and slidable on the first rail. A latch member with a latch portion is rotatably located on the second rail. The user interface module is rotatable between a closed position, where the latch portion is located away from the second blocking member, and an open position, where the latch portion engages with the second blocking member.
US08376212B2
An automated flat mail piece comprising a bendable envelope and a bendable insert tray disposed inside the cavity of the bendable envelope that satisfies USPS requirements for automated flats. The insert tray has a rectangular base with a perforated line disposed centrally from each edge to its respective opposing edge, dividing the base into four segments. A flap is integrally connected to the base by two walls extending at substantially right angle from the base. A set of three bend-enabling score lines disposed co-linear with the longitudinal and transverse bend axes of the envelope enable lengthwise and widthwise bending of the envelope. Diagonal stress relief score lines cooperate with bend enabling score lines to lessen the effects of a crease. A stress relief score line is disposed diagonally extending from an outer bend-enabling score line at the envelope edge to a center bend-enabling score line.
US08376206B2
A cold weld is formed in a multilayer-material. A first pin is coupled to a first block. A second pin is coupled to a second block. The multilayer material is disposed between the first pin and the second pin. The first pin opposes the second pin. The multilayer material is held in the XY plane and floats in the Z axis.
US08376205B2
A pneumatic fastening tool may include a tool housing including a dispensing portion for dispensing a fastener, a handle portion and an inlet configured to receive input of compressed air. A cap assembly may include a cap housing having an opening and mounted to the tool housing. A deflector may be configured to direct exhausted air through an outlet in a first direction. The deflector may have a stem received in the opening. The stem may define a bore extending in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction. A locking member may extend at least partially in the bore and be configured to rotatably capture the deflector relative to the cap housing.
US08376196B2
A device for interchangeable connection of a casting tube to a spout of a melt vessel with a sliding closure fastened on a melt vessel. The closure is formed by at least one stationary closure plate and a closure plate that can be displaced relative thereto, wherein the displaceable closure plate is coupled to a sliding drive system and carries the casting tube. To improve the changeover process of a casting tube and to make it safer, the displaceable closure plate carries a connecting ring for the centered accommodation of the casting tube and the displaceable closure plate carries a changing device for the casting tube. The changing device is synchronously displaceable with the displaceable plate. A tensioning device presses the casting tube onto the displaceable closure plate.
US08376192B2
Apparatuses suited for use with, for example, fluid cosmetic products. In some embodiments, the present apparatuses include a container and a diptube having a diptube plug and a stem. In these embodiments, the diptube plug has a first press-fit surface, and the diptube is removably coupled to the container by a press fit between the first press-fit surface of the diptube plug and the container mouth.
US08376190B2
A foam pump dispenser that has a prevention function against any reverse flow is disclosed, which comprises an air guide which is engaged at a lower side of the air and liquid mixing chamber of the piston cover member; a liquid leakage prevention spring which is located between the piston cover member and the piston member; and a liquid leakage prevention valve which is covered on the upper side of the liquid compression piston. The foam pump dispenser with the above construction is able to prevent a leakage of liquid, and is able to obtain a reliable fixed supply of air in a pump dispenser designed to properly mix liquid such as foaming cleanser, foam hand soap, shave foam, and hair mousse, etc. with air and to pump out in a foam shape.
US08376182B2
A closure having a base and a lid is provided. The lid is movable between a closed and an open position. The closure comprises retaining means for stably retaining the lid in the open position.
US08376176B2
A container, especially a bucket or similar, comprising an opening, which is orientated upwards and which can be closed by a cover, and a peripheral container edge, which is drawn outwards in a downward direction on the container wall, where the cover is detachably connected thereto and whereon at least one pivotal tab is connected in such a way that at least one part of the cover is raised due to a pivoting movement away from a starting position on the container wall, and engages with the container edge from behind with part of the pivotal tab which can be guided outwards by the pivoting movement to a position in front of the container wall and the part of the pivotal tab is prevented from being guided behind the container edge when the pivotal tab pivots back in the direction of the initial position.
US08376174B2
The invention is a spill proof snack bowl or container with a box section which may have a beveled bottom. The box section may be square, rectangular, round, oval or spherical. The bowl has a continuous wall to create a depth and an open top and a removable lid. The removable lid has a secondary opening which opening is closed by a secondary opening piece. The secondary opening piece is attached to the removable lid with a regular or living hinge. The secondary opening piece closes the secondary opening with a flat spring. The distance between the front wall and the secondary opening piece edge, and the distance between side perpendicular width of the secondary opening piece and side walls are between about ⅛ and ½ inch. Optionally the secondary opening has an elastomeric seal. The secondary opening piece has rounded edges, and the secondary opening has rounded ridges. The invention likewise comprises a process of providing pea or Cheerio™ sized snacks to children, teenagers or adults including the steps of removing the lid on a snack bowl, placing the snack in the snack bowl; replacing the lid on the snack bowl. The child is provided with the snack bowl.
US08376166B2
An enclosure includes wall members connected together by structural members forming joints of the enclosure. The structural members may be extruded from aluminum or other generally rigid material and may comprise a series of mounting channels and fastener channels to which the internal components of the enclosure may be mounted.
US08376157B2
A shelving system includes a plurality of vertical posts and horizontal traverses. The horizontal traverses are coupled to the vertical posts by means of a bifurcated collar that are placed on each vertical post. Each horizontal traverse includes an end piece which is configured to couple to both halves of the bifurcated collar. Each half of the bifurcated collar comprises a wedge shaped design such that when a load is placed on the traverse, forces are applied to the bifurcated collar that squeezes each half of the collar together more tightly around the vertical post. The traverses may be coupled to one or both sides of the vertical post to allow the shelving system to be extended as far as the user desires in any lateral direction. The shelving system may also be extended in a perpendicular or other angular direction by means of a wedge shaped corner connector.
US08376155B1
A hingedly adjustable two-sided storage system and device having a front and back portion that may be secured to a fixed structure through a plurality of adjustable attachment mechanisms to allow a user to access both portions during operation and configure the storage device with a plurality of attachment hangers and components.
US08376151B2
A merchandising display for heavy and cumbersome products includes a rail that is supported by a display wall and arms attached to the rail. The arms are spaced from other arms to create columns and rows of retail product stock. The merchandising display further includes structure for providing indicia that assists a viewer to quickly and easily locate desired retail products and other complementary products. Customer accessible back-up inventory is provided behind the first retail product.
US08376148B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a zeolite membrane composite satisfying both the treating amount and the separation performance at a practically sufficient level, which can be applied even in the presence of an organic material and can separate/concentrate an organic material-containing gas or liquid mixture and which is economic without requiring a high energy cost and is not limited in its application range; a production method thereof; and a separation or concentration method using the same. The present invention is an inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite, wherein the inorganic porous support contains a ceramic sintered body and the inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite has, as a zeolite membrane, a CHA-type zeolite crystal layer on the inorganic porous support surface.
US08376145B2
The invention relates to environment protection and can be used for cleaning industrial wastewater, liquidation of oil spills resulted from ecological disasters. The invention provides a reliable device for cleaning water from oil nano- and micro-particles and other impurities. Such device comprises a pump pumping a liquid flow of water with impurities particles. The pump is connected to a water dynamic purification unit (WDPU) with a channel including —a first type section with variable cross-section decreasing downstream, —a minimal passage cross-section, —a second type section with variable cross-section increasing downstream. The first type section includes a zone with a plurality of protrusions and deepenings. One protrusion has a maximal height greater than the heights of other protrusions. Preferable sizes and relations of channel elements are disclosed. The WDPU uses cavitation that allows decomposing oil particles, and reduction of the flow speed for commencement of cavitation and sedimentation time.
US08376131B1
A plurality of modules of sufficiently light weight (<80 lbs) are assembled end-to-end to construct an assembly machine for performing desired operations on a series of workpieces. A supporting spine underlies the interconnected modules and supports them and associated equipment in the desired array. The modular construction permits the assembly machine to be reconfigured as needed should operational alterations require it, including, but not limited to, the cannibalization of the machine with the modules being usable in constructing a machine having entirely different characteristics.
US08376126B1
An equipment attachment adapter apparatus may comprise a base frame and a throat structure on the base frame that defines a throat extending through the apparatus with an entry and exit. The throat structure may comprise a floor wall having an upper surface defining a lower boundary of the throat, a first side wall and a second side wall positioned on opposite sides of the throat, and an upper wall positioned above the floor wall. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the floor wall is curved from the entry toward the exit. In some embodiments, the throat is relatively larger toward the entry and relatively smaller toward the exit. In some embodiments, a feed roll is rotatably mounted on the base frame at least partially in the throat with chevron-shaped teeth.
US08376125B2
A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, a moveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable hopper is moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. A system is also disclosed that includes at least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus adjacent to at least one stacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stacking material and at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to convey material for reclaiming material. A method of providing such systems is also disclosed.
US08376122B2
This invention relates to a stop device including a swinging unit which includes a workpiece abutment portion which stops a workpiece being conveyed by abutting against the workpiece, and is pivotal between an abutment position and a retraction position, an elastic member for the swinging unit which gives a biasing force to the swinging unit, an electromotive drive unit including a movable portion and a driving portion, and a pivot restricting member which performs pivot restriction of the swinging unit by moving to engage with the swinging unit in response to movement of the movable portion and releases the pivot restriction.
US08376121B2
A system for dividing a flow of objects into two or more lanes of object flow, the system comprising a first conveyor configured to transport a plurality of objects, the conveyor having a transportation plane and plurality of substantially planar regions elevated above and substantially parallel to the transportation plane, the plurality of substantially planar regions each being configured to hold at least one of the plurality of objects being transported; a second conveyor substantially adjacent to the first conveyor; and a guide mounted above the transportation plane and the planar regions of the first conveyor, the guide configured to divert an object positioned on one of the substantially planar regions elevated above the transportation plane onto the second conveyor.
US08376120B2
A paper handling apparatus including: feeder stations for feeding documents to a conveyer; a collator for collating documents into packs, and collating packs into groups of documents; an inserter module for inserting each group into an envelope; a monitor which monitors the cycling and working times of sections of the inserter module; sensors for determining at least one of: a first desired gap being the minimum gap between trailing edges of consecutive groups, a second desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one pack and the leading edge of the following pack a third desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one group to the leading edge of the following group; and a controller for controlling the feeder stations to achieve at least one of the desired gaps.
US08376119B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for inspecting and orienting manufactured articles. The apparatus and method include recirculating inspected articles to the inspection station for additional processing.
US08376113B2
An actuation device and a method for actuating a clutch, in particular for a hybrid drive, include a master cylinder having an interior separated by a master piston into master and slave oil chambers. The slave oil chamber is connected, via a valve in a first valve position, to a tank line leading to an oil reservoir and in a second valve position, to a pressure line of the oil reservoir. The master oil chamber is connected via a working line to an oil chamber of a slave cylinder and to a compensating tank via a compensating line as a function of the position of the master piston. The compensating tank has a compensating volume which has, at its highest point, an overflow which is connected to the tank line and in its first position the valve connects the slave oil chamber to the compensating tank via a return line.
US08376111B2
A torque transmitting device having an apply/return plate or member is provided. The torque transmitting device includes a hydraulically actuated piston and a clutch pack. The plate includes an annular disc having an inner edge and an outer edge and having a first side and a second side. A plurality of tabs extend radially out from the outer edge. A plurality of drain holes are disposed through the annular disc extending between the first side and the second side and located between the outer edge and the inner edge. The plate contacts the clutch pack to engage the clutch pack when translated by the piston and hydraulic or lubrication fluid communicates through the drain holes.
US08376109B2
A dual clutch assembly includes a housing, an actuation member rotationally coupled with the housing, a first member coaxial with the housing, and a second member coaxial with the first member. A first clutch includes a first plate connected with the actuation member and a second plate connected for common rotation with the first member. A second clutch includes a first plate connected with the housing and a second plate connected for common rotation with the second member. At least one first lever is pivotally coupled to the housing. The first lever is pivotable to contact the actuation member thereby translating the actuation member and the first plate towards the second plate in order to engage the first clutch. The second lever is pivotable to contact the first plate of the second clutch and translate the first plate towards the second plate in order to engage the second clutch.
US08376104B2
A torque converter clutch assembly including a torque converter cover drivingly engaged with a prime mover, a piston plate for engaging the clutch; a drive plate; and a drive ring drivingly engaged with the drive plate. The drive ring has a continuous ring-shaped segment at its outer circumference, and a radial friction wall. The drive plate is disposed axially between the radial friction wall and the ring-shaped segment. In some example embodiments of the invention, the drive plate includes at least one tab with an outer diameter and the ring-shaped segment includes an inner diameter larger than the tab outer diameter.
US08376103B1
A cable management system for use with electrical devices, such as, for example, a ultrasound imaging system, is provided comprising a rotatable reel coupled to an end of each of an elongated flexible circuit member and an elongated cable. Each of a plurality of wires of the cable is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of the flexible circuit member to create separate conductive paths or signal channels. The cable management system is configured such that, as the cable moves from a generally retracted configuration in which a majority of the cable is wound about the reel to a generally extended configuration, the flexible circuit member simultaneously contracts about the reel. As a corollary, the flexible circuit member relaxes or unwinds as the cable moves from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration.
US08376100B2
Regenerative shock absorber. A piston is disposed for reciprocating motion within a cylinder as a vehicle's suspension system deflects. Hydraulic fluid passes through an hydraulic motor to turn its shaft. The hydraulic motor shaft is connected to an electric generator to generate electricity. Flow characteristics of hydraulic circuits are selected to provide suspension system damping for appropriate wheel control.
US08376099B2
A volume compensation accumulator apparatus connected to a conduit connecting hydraulic cylinders in a suspension system. The volume compensation accumulator apparatus includes an arrangement of the two orifice plates in series in a spaced-apart relation, which eliminates the necessity of reducing the diameters of the orifices while providing the same orifice characteristic as that of an orifice having a smaller diameter, thereby making the boring process of the orifice easy, and reducing clogging of the orifices with foreign objects.
US08376098B2
A resistance mechanism used in motor vehicle accelerator pedals for generating an opposing mechanical force. The resistance mechanism includes a piston adapted for movement in a housing between a first detent or stop position and a second compressed position. The piston includes an exterior surface defining at least one recess. A spring, located in the housing, biases the piston in the first position. A pin in the housing is seated in the recess of the piston in the first position of the piston. A retainer is adapted to retain the pin in the piston recess in the first position of the piston. The piston is adapted for movement between the first position and a second compressed position in which the pin is forced out of the recess and into the housing.
US08376095B2
A rolling bearing which has a braking device, particularly a rotational connection, with an outer hearing race and an inner bearing race between which rolling bodies are in rolling motion on associated tracks. In order to produce a braking effect using frictional engagement, a displaceable braking element connected to one of the bearing races is pressed against a counter surface connected to the associated other bearing race and the frictional engagement may be removed with the aid of an electromagnet. The braking element is disposed as an integral bearing component inside one of the bearing races and is pressed against the counter surface by spring force, and the electromagnet encompasses one of the bearing races as the soft iron core and a coil surrounding the soft iron core.
US08376092B2
A device comprising: a pair of opposing legs; a bridge between and connecting the pair of legs; a pair of retraction spring arms attached to the outside of each of the legs; the retraction spring arms each comprising: a guide support tab connected to each of the pair of opposing legs wherein the retraction spring arms assist in retracting a pair of brake pads, and the guide support tabs guide the retraction spring arms during movement.
US08376088B2
A twin lubrication oil tank filling system with a single oil fill port that prevents overfilling of both a primary oil tank and a secondary oil with a gravity fill system by directing oil primarily into the secondary oil tank by means of a special oil diverter, a float valve for the secondary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the secondary tank reaches a full level to cause additional oil flow to pour into the primary oil tank and a float valve for the primary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the primary tank reaches a full level.
US08376086B1
A safety net designed to prevent roofers from falling off a roof includes a pair of plates disposed on each side of the roof, a vertical support member attached to each plate, and a horizontal support member perpendicular to each vertical support member. The horizontal support members have one end pivotally attached to the plate and another end attached respective front edges of a net. Respective rear edges of the net are attached to a pair of eye bolts disposed on the soffit proximate left and right sides of the roof. A pair of steel cables, each having one end attached to an S-hook attached to an eye bolt, are attached to the side edges of the roof, and the opposing cable ends are attached to an eye bolt disposed on an outer end of each horizontal support member. The cables work in conjunction with the horizontal and vertical support members to maintain the net in a position extending outwardly across the front side of the roof directly beneath the soffit.
US08376078B2
An agricultural application machine (10) comprising a pair of wheels (11, 12) each having an associated wheel support structure (22) is provided. Each wheel support structure is mounted to the chassis (60) by a transversely extending support shaft (29; 49) which is slidably mounted within a bearing block (50; 80). The provision of bearing blocks allows the transverse separation of the wheels to be varied with minimal sliding friction.
US08376077B2
A vehicle (10) comprising a vehicle body, a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body, and a plurality of wheels (16) coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle. The suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels and the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting (12) and a wide wheel track width setting (14) by pivoting a suspension link (18) about a vertical axis.
US08376074B2
A vehicle includes a floor panel, a driver's seat and a passenger's seat fixed to the floor panel and arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction, and an electric power storage apparatus provided between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. The vehicle includes a reinforcing member for fixing a supporting frame of the driver's seat and a supporting frame of the passenger's seat to each other. The reinforcing member is formed to extend over the electric power storage apparatus so as to bridge between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.
US08376069B2
The metallic case of a power conversion apparatus includes a casing having a side wall, as well as an upper case and a lower case, a first area being formed between a cooling jacket provided at the inner periphery of the side wall and the lower case, the metal base plate dividing the first area between the cooling jacket and the upper case into a lower side second area and an upper side third area, first and second power modules being fastened to a top surface and a capacitor module being provided in the first area, driving circuits that drive inverter circuits of the power modules respectively being provided in the second area, and a control circuit that controls the driver circuits being provided in the third area.
US08376065B2
In one aspect, a removable module or sub is provided for use in drilling a wellbore, which sub in one embodiment may include a body having a pin end and a box end configured for coupling between two members of a drill string, the body having a bore therethrough for flow of a fluid, and a sensor disposed in a pressure-sealed chamber in one of the pin end and the box end and configured to provide measurements relating to a downhole condition.
US08376063B2
A structure for attaching a rear work machine to a tractor is provided. The tractor has a vehicle body which is provided with right and left rear work machine connection bodies, each having upper and lower connection portions. The rear work machine includes a base frame with an operator's seat, which is provided with right and left attaching plates, each having upper and lower engagement portions. The rear work machine can be attached to the tractor by connecting the upper and lower engagement portions to the upper and lower connection portions, respectively. The attaching structure includes: a rear work machine attaching spacer disposed between the rear work machine connection body and the corresponding attaching plate, the rear work machine attaching spacer including: a fixing portion for fixing to the attaching plate; and the upper and lower spacer engagement portions for removably connecting the upper and lower connection portions, respectively.
US08376031B2
A blowerless heat exchanger apparatus based on micro-jet entrainment is disclosed. The heat exchanger apparatus incorporates a number of fins regularly spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other, thus letting air currents flow in the space defined between them. A dense array of micro-jet nozzles can be fabricated on the fins surface pointing to the flow direction of the air movement in order to induce increase airflow. The air from an air compressor delivers sufficient airflow on the fins surface utilizing micro-jets entrainment. The micro-jet entrainment confirms strong turbulent around the micro-jets and suggests significant heat transfer enhancement. The turbulence from the micro-jets enhance the heat transfer coefficient, potentially by an order of magnitude, therefore allowing much larger fin spacing and leads to huge reduction of flow resistance and overall power consumption.
US08376028B2
A steel continuous casting method using a continuous caster that includes a pair of upper magnetic poles and a pair of lower magnetic poles is disclosed. The method comprises braking a molten steel flow with the DC magnetic fields respectively applied to the pair of upper magnetic poles and the pair of lower magnetic poles while stirring a molten steel with an AC magnetic field simultaneously applied to the pair of upper magnetic poles, the strength of an AC magnetic field applied to the upper magnetic poles is set within the range of 0.060 to 0.090 T and the strengths of DC magnetic fields applied to the upper and lower magnetic poles are controlled within particular ranges in accordance with the width of the slab to be cast and the casting speed.
US08376015B2
A hand-held labeler is described with a casing having an upper opening in which a label roll is rotary-mounted on a holder that can be moved up and down. A cap is hinged on the casing at the upper opening. When the cap is closed, it fully surrounds the label roll. The cap is coupled with the holder by a link guide in such a way that, by manually swinging the cap, the holder can be moved out of the opening and into the opening while the spacing between the cap and a label roll seated on the holder can be varied. When the cap is fully opened, the label roll is exposed and can easily be taken off the holder or attached to the holder.
US08376003B2
A container is provided for storing a product, such as a fat containing liquid product, and includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the product; and a container closure including a sealing portion for sealing the product within the chamber. The container closure includes a member forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the container closure and the body; a nipple in fluid communication with the chamber that seals the chamber with respect to the ambient atmosphere during storage of the product in the chamber and that can be opened to dispense product from the chamber therethrough; and a needle penetrable and laser resealable portion that is penetrable by the needle for aseptically filling the chamber with the product, and that is thermally resealable by the application of laser radiation thereto to seal the product within the chamber.
US08376001B1
A fuel lever actuation retention apparatus for retaining the fuel actuation lever of a fuel nozzle in an engaged position includes includes a rectangular bracket that is abuttable against the fuel actuation lever and the guard to support the fuel actuation lever in an engaged position. The bracket has a front wall and a rear wall, a first end and a second end disposed opposite of each other, and a pair of lateral sides. The first end is contactable with the fuel actuation lever and the second end is contactable with the guard to retain the fuel actuation lever in a spaced relationship with the guard. A plurality of retaining members are attached to, and extend outwardly from, the bracket. The retaining members are configured to prevent lateral removal of the bracket when the bracket is disposed between the fuel actuation lever and the guard. The bracket has four corners, each of the corners having a retaining member attached thereto.
US08375996B2
At least one yarn is arranged helically about at least two conveyor portions, thereby providing a weft having a first weft portion having yarns arranged at an angle, θ, with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor portions, and a second weft portion having yarns arranged at an angle, −θ, with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor portions. Center sections of the first weft portion and the second weft portion are then fixated to each other, e.g. by stitching and/or by applying a resin to the center sections. Side portions of the weft are then cut, thereby separating the first weft portion from the second weft portion. Finally, rim sections of the first weft portion are fixated to rim sections of the second weft portion, e.g. by stitching and/or by applying a resin to the rim sections.
US08375995B2
A protective device for a male end of a component of a threaded tubular connection for drilling and working hydrocarbon wells is externally provided with at least one threading and includes a free terminal portion. The device includes i) a protector body produced in the form of a first sleeve and arranged to protect at least a portion of the external threading and the free terminal portion, ii) a sealing element for positioning in contact firstly with the component, at least at a portion located downstream of the external threading of the male end, and secondly with the protector body to provide a first seal downstream of the external threading, and iii) a fixing mechanism displacing the sealing element and/or protector body radially towards the component, defining open and closed positions of the device in which the sealing element and/or the protector body are respectively not in contact and in tight contact with the component. Further, the first seal is obtained in the closed position of the device.
US08375993B2
A faucet is disclosed which has an outer housing formed of zinc which has a lower entry, an upper outlet, and a side cavity. There is a supply line structure extendible from the lower entry into or adjacent the side cavity, and a valve cartridge positioned in the side cavity. A plastic insulator sleeve is positioned in the side cavity between a wall of the outer housing and the valve cartridge. A brass collar is nested within the insulator sleeve and positioned outside of the valve cartridge. Hence, the advantages of a zinc outer housing are achieved while avoiding galvanic corrosion due to contact between brass and zinc surfaces. The insulator sleeve also facilitates rotational and axial alignment, and sealing.
US08375988B2
A baffle device, configured to be disposed near an outlet of a fuel tank, includes a fitting having an aperture therethrough and a first baffle. The first baffle includes a passageway in fluid communication with the aperture and a first baffle aperture configured to permit entry of fuel vapor into the passageway and exit of fuel vapor from the passageway. The baffle device also includes a second baffle overlying at least a portion of the first baffle aperture.
US08375983B2
Multi-stage fluid regulators are described. An example fluid regulator includes a regulator body having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. A first fluid valve is disposed within the regulator body and coupled to the inlet to regulate a pressure of the pressurized fluid at the inlet. A second fluid valve is disposed within the regulator body and coupled to the inlet and, via a passageway, to the first fluid valve. The second fluid valve is to cause a fluid pressure in the passageway to be regulated to a predetermined portion of the pressure of the pressurized fluid at the inlet.
US08375970B2
A valve system enables use of a standard single line faucet with a water treatment system, protects water treatment systems and other fluid flow devices from unnecessary fluid pressure, and regulates or prevents fluid flow to a dispenser or outlet in response to a particular event, such as a leak. The valve system includes a housing having ports for: (1) receiving a supply fluid, (2) supplying the fluid to a device, such as a water treatment system, (3) receiving the fluid from the device and (4) supplying fluid to a dispenser. The valve system also includes an automatic shutoff device within the housing that prevents water from flowing into the housing and the water treatment system when the dispensing outlet is closed and that allows water to flow through the housing and into the water treatment system when the outlet is open. The valve system may also include a second actuator connected to the automatic shutoff that is capable of moving the automatic shutoff to a partially or fully closed position.
US08375963B2
A protruding portion (13), which has a central axis coincident with a rotational axis of a table (10), is formed at a center portion of a surface of the table (10). At the time of the surface processing, the table (10) is rotated under a state in which the processing target surface of the substrate (12) is supported horizontally at each of a plurality of parts on the table (10) spaced apart from a base end of the protruding portion (13) toward an outer peripheral end portion of the table (10) by a predetermined distance and at the same distance from a top end of the protruding portion (13). Then, a processing liquid is supplied toward the top end of the protruding portion (13). The processing liquid that has reached the processing target surface of each substrate (12) is then removed outside the table (10) by centrifugal force.
US08375961B2
A floss pick including a body with a handle and a head. The head has first and second arms defining a cavity between them, and a length of dental floss extending between the arms and across the cavity. Preferably, the handle is oval in shape for easier grasping by the user. The body includes a toothpick member that preferably is disposed on the head and extends outwardly from one of the first and second arms into the cavity. The floss extends between the other of the first and second arms and the toothpick member and during use guides the toothpick member into interproximal spaces between teeth. Alternatively, a toothpick member may be provided in a recessed region of the handle and extend forwardly toward the head. The latter toothpick member is able to be detached from the handle for separate use.
US08375960B1
A manicure tool that includes an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to control the application of a nail polish to a finger nail or toe nail of a client; a brush supported at one end of the housing for controlling the application of the nail polish; a docking pad constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger nail or toe nail; and a pivot member for coupling the docking pad to the elongated housing at the one end of the elongated housing. The pivot member allows the housing to be pivoted relative to the docking pad and, in turn, controls the brush so as to be swept over the surface of the nail.
US08375957B2
An emulation aerosol sucker includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly. An external thread electrode is located in one end of battery assembly. An internal thread electrode is located in one end of atomizer assembly. Said battery assembly and said atomizer assembly are connected by the screwthread electrode. Said cigarette bottle assembly is inserted into the other end of said atomizer assembly and both form one cigarette type or cigar type body.
US08375951B2
Buckle and respirators having such buckles. The buckle has a movable cinch bar allowing a strap to be inserted into and be secured by the buckle by opening the cinch bar and inserting the strap. The cinch bar then returns to a closed position and supports the strap over the cinch bar. The cinch bar may be deformable through the use of a living hinge connecting the cinch bar to the body of the buckle. The cinch bar may be split into two members, each being deformably coupled to the buckle body, perhaps with living hinges.
US08375949B2
Disclosed is a sanitary mask for hygienically protecting others that can be conveniently re-used and has a simple structure firmly maintained while the sanitary mask is used, so as to surely achieve the purpose of the sanitary mask, by molding the overall frame of plastics and improving the structure from a structure of preceding Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-111003, which was filed by the inventor(s) of the present invention before the filing of the present patent application. The sanitary mask for hygienically protecting other people by blocking unsanitary substances provided by respiratory organs including a mouth and a nose of a user from spreading to and contaminating a clean object while exposing the respiratory organs comprising: a lower body molded in a curved shape, i.e., a ‘U’ shape, and including supporters to be hung on the ears of the user or to be wound around a back head of the user at the ends of both sides of the lower body; and a respiratory organ front cover configured to be inclined upward from an upper portion of a front portion of the lower body and cover a front portion of an area around the respiratory organs of the user to thereby expose the respiratory organs of the user.
US08375938B2
A portable chamber for hyperbaric/hypoxic treatment comprises a tubular body sized so as to accommodate an occupant. The tubular body is made of a non-rigid material. End frames are secured to opposed ends of the tubular body to close off the tubular body. One end frame has a door displaceable from a remainder of the end frame to provide/close access to an interior of the tubular body. Longitudinal beam members are connected at opposed ends to the end frames so as to maintain the tubular body in a taut condition between the end frames, whereby the portable chamber is in fluid communication with a pressure generator so as to receive an air supply from the pressure generator to increase a pressure in the interior of the tubular body for hyperbaric treatment.
US08375932B2
The invention relates to a cutter including: a base (1) with an upper surface for supporting the ceramic part (9a, 9b, 9c) to be cut, a longitudinal rail (2) positioned above the longitudinal mid-zone of the base (1) parallel thereto, and a moveable handle (3) bearing the cutting disc (4) and having a longitudinal passage for guiding same. The handle (3) includes a cam (5) disposed vertically facing the lower end of the rail (2) and associated with a positioning knob (7) which determines the position of cam (5) sectors of different heights in relation to the lower end of the rail (2), in order to position the handle (3) at different heights but at a similar angle during the cutting of parts of different thicknesses.
US08375923B2
A method comprising receiving a fuel injection signal from a first driver circuit via a control line, feeding the fuel injection signal to a second fuel injector driver circuit, sending a control signal output from the second fuel injector driver circuit to a fuel injector, monitoring the fuel injector for degradation based on operation according to the control signal, and in response to degradation of the fuel injector, changing a state of the control line.
US08375921B2
In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board. The problem is also addressed by disposing plural electrical conduction spots in a decentralized manner and away from a protrusion provided to limit the amount of axial movement of a gear.
US08375920B2
An apparatus determines a cylinder deactivation state of an internal combustion engine capable of deactivating one or more cylinders among a plurality of cylinders in accordance with an instruction from a program-controlled electronic control unit (ECU). The apparatus includes detection means to output a signal corresponding to an intake air amount into the internal combustion engine. The ECU includes Fourier transformation means to perform Fourier transformation on the signal from the detection means at plural fundamental frequencies, and determines the cylinder deactivation state with spectrums obtained from the Fourier transformation means based on predetermined relationship between the spectrums of Fourier transformation at the plural fundamental frequencies and the cylinder deactivation state of the internal combustion engine. The ECU distinguishes a deactivated cylinder with a phase obtained from the Fourier transformation means.
US08375913B2
The subject of the present invention is a method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle that may include: detecting a wireless remote start signal; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, activating a carbon monoxide detector to detect a level of carbon monoxide adjacent to the vehicle; remote starting the internal combustion engine if the detected level of carbon monoxide is less than a predetermined first CO limit; disabling remote start of the internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit; and automatically transmitting an emergency aid signal if the level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit.
US08375900B2
A hydrogen fuel zero or low emissions external combustion engine and a method to convert an internal combustion engine thereto. The invention includes devices, modifications, alterations, kits and methods for converting an internal combustion (IC) engine or engine design to the external combustion engine while using many of the components of the internal combustion engine. The external combustion engine includes a hydrogen tank to supply hydrogen fuel, a hydrogen flash vaporizer (HFV) to combust the hydrogen fuel and vaporize an atomized liquid introduced into the hydrogen flash vaporizer into an expanding fluid vapor (EFV), and an engine to receive the expanding fluid vapor and convert an expansion force thereof into mechanical force with a superior level of efficiency derived from a unique heat scavenging and cylinder shrouding design.
US08375893B2
Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
US08375892B2
In a first aspect, a first method is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) preconditioning a process chamber with an aggressive plasma; (2) loading a substrate into the process chamber; and (3) performing plasma nitridation on the substrate within the process chamber. The process chamber is preconditioned using a plasma power that is at least 150% higher than a plasma power used during plasma nitridation of the substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08375891B2
There is provided a vacuum evaporating apparatus which is suitable for performing a process in which a metal vapor atmosphere is formed in a processing chamber, the metal atoms in this metal vapor atmosphere are caused to be adhered to the surface of an object to be processed, and the metal atoms adhered to the surface of the object to be processed are diffused into grain boundary phases thereof. The apparatus comprises: a processing furnace (11); at least one processing box (4) disposed inside the processing furnace; and a heating means (2) provided inside the processing furnace so as to enclose the processing box. An evacuating means is provided which, after housing the processing box inside the processing furnace in a state in which the object to be processed (S) and the metal evaporating material (V) are disposed in the processing box, reduces the processing furnace and the processing box to a predetermined pressure and keep them at that pressure. The heating means is operated in the reduced pressure to evaporate the metal evaporating material while increasing the object to be processed to a predetermined temperature. The evaporated metal atoms are supplied to the surface of the object to be processed.
US08375883B2
A rotary switch comprising a body housing inside itself a rotating shaft operatively connected to a valve or actuator. The switch further comprises a cover, associated to the body by threaded coupling means, provided with an indicator swivelling integrally with the shaft, so that it enables visual signalling of the angular position and/or operating status of the shaft. The switch comprises centering means, mechanically distinct from the threaded coupling means, which ensure the centering of the cover in relation to the body and the coaxial relation between the cover and the rotating shaft.
US08375881B2
A rowing boat footrest assembly is provided with a base, a foot-rudder control member, a footrest member, a first pivot structure and a second pivot structure. The foot-rudder control member includes a rudder control attachment. The footrest member includes a shoe attachment. The first pivot structure pivotally supports the foot-rudder control member on the base. The first pivot structure defines a first pivot axis of pivotal movement between the foot-rudder control member and the base. The second pivot structure pivotally supports the footrest member on the foot-rudder control member to change a shoe inclination of the footrest member with respect to the foot-rudder control member. The second pivot structure defines a second pivot axis of pivotal movement between the footrest member and the foot-rudder control member. The second pivot axis is not parallel to the first pivot axis.
US08375877B2
A roller furler assembly for furling a sail where the luff is vertically or diagonally supported by a stay cable. The assembly includes a hollow drive shaft longitudinally aligned around the stay cable adjacent to the luff. A drive mechanism is coupled to the lower end of the drive shaft. Integrally formed or connected to the drive shaft is a torque input device that connects to a portion of a hollow, flexible sail edge device fitted over the middle and upper sections of the drive shaft. The sail edge device includes a longitudinally aligned slot or track that directly connects to a beaded edge attached to the luff. The torque input device is approximately 5%-25% of the stay cable so when the drive shaft is rotated, torque or rotational force is applied directly to the section of the luff located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque input device.
US08375861B2
Some embodiments pertain to a projectile that includes a frame and a first gimbal that is rotatably supported by the frame. The projectile further includes a second gimbal that is rotatably supported by the first gimbal. A sensor is supported by the second gimbal such that an adjustment mechanism is able to maneuver the first and second gimbals to adjust the position of the sensor. The projectile further includes a stop that is attached to the frame. The stop may be a cup that surrounds a bottom portion of the sensor. The cup provides a barrier to prevent the adjustment mechanism from maneuvering the sensor outside a designated area.
US08375860B2
A flechette has a forward section or body (12) containing its center of gravity. A quill (10) is connected to the forward section and is integrally connected to a pair of fins (15A, 15B) each having a longitudinal angle and a radial angle. When the two fins are viewed from the aft of the flechette, the pair of fins demonstrate an S-shaped orientation. The size, shape and orientation of the fins provide aerodynamic stability to the flechette while allowing the flechette to be stacked with like-shaped flechettes in rows and columns or in a radial, circular arrangement. When stacked in rows and columns or in a circular arrangement, each flechette has its nose oriented in the same forward direction.
US08375855B2
This is a paper web transporting component that is useful in a duplexing system that uses a paper web to be imaged. The unit has an IOWA roller (backup roll) with an image sensor above it and a cleaning web structure below it. Since excess toner or ink in duplexing systems can adhere to the transport roll, the sensor will pick up these impurities when scanning the surface of the paper web. Therefore, these impurities must be removed from the transport roll or scanning for proper image registration will be adversely affected. The movement of the paper web causes the transport roll to rotate so that the sensor can scan the entire surface of the transport roll.
US08375853B2
In a transfer unit, a rotating transfer element is arranged adjacent a charge image carrier that takes toner images from the charge image carrier and supplies the images to a transfer printing station. A scoop element applies carrier fluid to the transfer element. A friction element is provided after the scoop element adjacent to the transfer element at such a distance from the transfer element that a gap between the transfer element and the friction element is substantially completely filled with the carrier fluid, the friction element and the transfer element rotating with different speeds. Residual toner remaining on the transfer element after the transfer printing is loosened by friction forces.
US08375852B2
A screen printer capable of concurrently, efficiently subjecting a plurality of different types of substrates, to a printing operation. The screen printer makes up an electronic component mounting line and prints electronic component bonding paste on a substrate. A substrate conveyance section that conveys a substrate forwardly or backwardly in a direction of conveyance of a substrate is disposed at an intermediate position between a first screen printing section and a second screen printing section arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line CL. It thereby becomes possible to adopt a variety of substrate conveyance forms, as required, such as return conveyance for returning the substrate from a downstream machine to an upstream side of the screen printer and bypass conveyance for letting the substrate sent from an upstream side pass through the screen printer, to thus be conveyed to a downstream machine.
US08375849B2
A cooking device includes a housing having an opening, an airflow device that draws air into the housing through the opening, a filter that is removably connected to the housing to cover the opening, and a controller that controls an amount of the air drawn into the housing based upon a presence of the filter covering the opening or an absence of the filter covering the opening.
US08375845B2
The invention relates to a device for preparing hot water provided with a pressure pump with a supply pipe for supplying relatively cold water to the pressure pump and an outlet connected to a heating pipe which is in heat-exchanging contact with a heating body, with an outlet valve in the heating pipe and a coffee holder, connected to the heating pipe, for accommodating a bed of coffee, whereby the heating body comprises a reservoir that is openly connected to the environment, with a heating element and water in the reservoir as a heat-exchange medium. A by-pass pipe (54) connects the inlet (57) and outlet (35) of the pressure pump (34) to each other, with a pressure-operated valve (56) in the by-pass pipe.
US08375844B2
Two-stage double-acting hydraulic cylinders are described, in which a first, inner stage includes a piston rod and head movable within a cylinder and a second, outer stage has a cylindrical body adapted to move longitudinally between stop positions intermediate the ends of the first cylinder. The two stages are hydraulically linked to each other through the alternate introduction of hydraulic fluid selectively through an extension pressure fluid port and a retraction pressure fluid port a limited motion of the outer stage is obtained in a power stroke. Hydraulic power means of this kind is of particular value in powered apparatus for digging and transplanting trees, where minimization of the overall height of the apparatus is desirable.
US08375841B2
In an embodiment, a monolithic tile made for use in a composite armor is disclosed. The tile includes cut-out and/or through thickness channels spaced from each other at a distance greater than a dimension of the channels, in a plan view of the tile.
US08375838B2
An apparatus for weaponizing a mobile robotic platform with a mechanically triggered weapon and a firing circuit provides a weaponized mobile robotic platform, in which the mechanically triggered weapon can be fired in a safe, secure, and controlled manner in response to a single electrical pulse from the firing circuit.
US08375825B2
A bicycle operating device is provided with a first operating unit, a second operating unit and a connecting member. The first operating unit includes a clamp portion for attaching the bicycle operating device to a bicycle and a first operating member. The second operating unit includes a housing and a second operating member. The connecting member includes a first portion detachably coupled to an outwardly facing surface of the clamp portion and a second portion coupled to the second operating unit. The first portion includes a retaining part with an outwardly facing surface that faces an inwardly facing surface of the clamp portion when the connecting member is attached to the clamp portion.
US08375824B2
A bicycle control device is basically provided with a base member, a positioning member, a positioning pawl and a wire takeup member. The positioning member pivots relative to the base member about a pivot axis. The positioning pawl is pivotally mounted about a positioning pawl pivot axis to operatively engage at least one positioning abutment of the positioning member. The wire takeup member pivots relative to the base member about the pivot axis. The wire takeup member has a proximal end portion pivotally mounted about the pivot axis and a distal end portion with an inner wire contact surface. The inner wire contact surface is located radially outwardly from the at least one positioning abutment and the positioning pawl pivot axis with respect to the pivot axis.
US08375823B2
A bicycle shift control device is provided with a stroke controlling structure that provides distinct shifting position for an operating member that is pivotally arranged to move between a rest position, a first shifting position and a second shifting position. The stroke controlling structure includes a guide member configured and arranged to stop movement of the operating member at the first shifting position when the operating member is progressive moved in the single operating direction from the rest position. The guide member is further configured and arranged to control further movement of the operating member from the first shifting position to the second shift position when the operating member is moved in a non-operating direction away from the first shifting position without returning to the rest position.
US08375820B2
A hollow actuator with a built-in reduction gear includes a motor having an output shaft, and a reduction gear having an input shaft, the output shaft and the input shaft being provided separately from one another. The actuator also includes a motor section and a brake section disposed on a non-load side of the motor section. A bearing is attached to an inner periphery of the brake section. Another bearing that is different from the bearing provided on the inner periphery of the brake section rotatably supports the output shaft of the motor section.
US08375817B2
A transmission is connectable to an input member and has an output member, first and second shafts, first and second countershafts, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08375815B2
A rolling-element screw device includes: a large number of rolling elements; a screw shaft having an outer periphery on which a rolling groove for the large number of rolling elements is helically formed; a nut member which has a through-hole through which the screw shaft is passed and which is threadedly engaged with the screw shaft through intermediation of the large number of rolling elements; a lubricant supply hole formed through the nut member from an outer peripheral surface of the nut member to an inner peripheral surface of the nut member; a lubricant tank mounted to the outer peripheral surface of the nut member and comprising an accommodating chamber for lubricant; and a lubricant applying body standing from the lubricant tank, and inserted into the lubricant supply hole along with amounting operation of the lubricant tank with respect to the nut member.
US08375810B2
Disclosed are a stator assembly and a torque assembly device. The stator assembly includes a stator holder, a first stator which includes a first body making contact with an upper end of the stator holder and a plurality of first teeth extending from the first body so as to be disposed inside the stator holder, a second stator which includes a second body making contact with a lower end of the stator holder and a plurality of second teeth extending from the second body so to be alternately aligned with the first teeth inside the stator holder, and a fusion-welded material that is fusion-welded to the stator holder and the first and second bodies.
US08375807B2
A measuring device for registering at least one measured value of at least one process variable. The measuring device comprises a measuring tube. The measuring tube has at least one T-joint, on which at least one measurement transmitter is arranged, wherein the measuring tube together with the T-joint is monolithic, and wherein the T-joint is producible from the measuring tube at least partially by a plastic deformation method.
US08375798B2
An external pressure measuring device having a base and a tubing system bent with various radii. Pressure inside the bent tubing causes the tubing to move in such a way that can be measured and can provide an indication of internal pressure.
US08375797B2
The present invention relates to a method for the operation of a pressure measuring device for the measurement of the pressure in a system through which fluid flows, in particular in an extracorporeal circuit of a medical unit, with the pressure measuring device having a measuring chamber which is bounded by a flexible membrane, through which fluid flows in the operation of the system or which is filled with fluid and also having a pressure sensor connected to the membrane for the purpose of pressure measurement, with the method including the following steps not requiring any intervention of the staff: a. increasing the pressure in the measuring chamber (12) to a pressure value at which the membrane (13) is at least slightly outwardly curved relative to the measuring chamber (12) in the state not connected to the pressure sensor (14) or determining such a pressure value; b: separating the membrane (13) of the measuring chamber (12) from the pressure sensor (14); c. joining together the membrane (13) of the measuring chamber (12) and of the pressure sensor (14) such that the membrane (13) of the measuring chamber (12) contacts the pressure sensor (14); and d. repeating the steps a. to c. at predetermined intervals and/or on the occurrence of an error case.
US08375794B2
An operation-position detector having a tube that allows an ultrasonic signal to propagate therethrough. The tube has a plurality of holes capable of being selectively closed or opened by an operation and is provided with an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver arranged at a first end thereof. A signal processor drives the ultrasonic transmitter-receiver and causes an ultrasonic signal to propagate through the inside of the tube, receives a reflection signal corresponding to a closed or open state of each of the holes, and detects the state of each hole on the basis of the reflection signal, thereby detecting the operation position of an operation conducted by an operator.
US08375793B2
This invention is for a hermetic piezoelectric accelerometer sensor that can operates at high temperatures without the degradation observed on the piezoelectric elements, due to Oxygen depletion of the piezoelectric materials, when they are exposed to high temperatures, in reducing atmospheres, or low partial Oxygen pressure, inside a sealed housing. When a piezoelectric element loses Oxygen, becomes more electrically conductive, and this severe loss in resistivity, exacerbated with the increase of the temperature, makes the sensor inoperable, unreliable, or with permanent damage. The accelerometer of this invention operates effectively over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures above 1600° F., depending of the piezoelectric element used on the construction. The housing of the accelerometer uses a small section of metal made with Silver (or Silver alloys) to allow Oxygen diffusion through the metal, when it is exposed to high temperature. This permits that the construction of the accelerometer housing, can be sealed hermetically; and the piezoelectric elements of the sensor have increased lifetime, with enough partial pressure of Oxygen inside the housing.
US08375778B2
An engine control module having an environmentally-sealed housing includes a housing-mounted air pressure sensor for providing a reliable measure of atmospheric air pressure to a control circuit mounted within the housing. The sensor is mounted on an inboard face of the housing, and includes a sensor element, a body portion and a riser portion. The sensor element is mounted in the body portion, and the riser portion protrudes through an opening in the housing to couple the sensor element to atmospheric pressure outside the housing. The body portion is sealingly secured to the inboard face of the housing, and a set of conductor pins molded into the body portion extend inward to engage a circuit board enclosed by the housing, and thereby directly couple the sensor element to the ECM's control circuit. The top of the riser portion is capped by a splash-proof lid to prevent water intrusion.
US08375775B2
The power of internal combustion engines is conventionally determined on special power-test stands on which all connections, in particular coolant connections, of the engine must be fitted. In particular, if a cold test of the internal combustion engine is carried out beforehand, it is necessary for said internal combustion engine to be dismounted from the cold-test stand and mounted on the power-test stand, which is time-consuming. The invention indirectly predetermines the power of the internal combustion engine during the cold test. In this way, the determination of the power can be carried out on the cold-test stand without the need for a power-test stand or for the internal combustion engine to be mounted thereon.
US08375774B2
A scratch testing apparatus for performing a scratching test while gradually increasing or decreasing a load, in which a pressure applied to the surface of a test specimen gradually increases or decreases as a head unit, to which a tip is attached, moves horizontally. The scratching testing apparatus includes a head unit having a bottom to which a tip attached; a guiding unit for guiding the head unit to move horizontally; and a pressure changing unit for changing pressure applied to the tip while the head unit is moving along the guiding unit. Therefore, the scratch testing apparatus may perform a scratching test as gradually increasing or gradually decreasing a load applied to the test specimen by the tip by moving the head unit, to which the tip is attached, horizontally.
US08375768B2
An electrochemical piezoelectric sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate, three (or more) electrodes over a first surface of the substrate, and another electrode over a second (opposing) surface of the substrate. An ionic liquid in the form of a film is adhered, bound, immobilized, or otherwise positioned over the substrate and electrodes of the first surface. The ionic liquid film permits the absorption and detection of analytes from a gaseous sample, for environmental gases, example explosive vapors and/or explosive vapor species in the gaseous sample. Detection (optionally including analyte quantitation and qualitative identification) can be performed by both electrochemical and piezoelectric techniques using a single sensor. Systems incorporating and methods of using the electrochemical piezoelectric sensor also are disclosed.
US08375763B2
A folding device is provided for the processing of workpieces and includes, but is not limited to a holding device for the holding of a workpiece in a processing position in a holding plane and a folding slide for the folding over of an edge of the workpiece into a folding position. The folding slide at least includes, but is not limited to a first folding surface and a second folding surface. The first folding surface with the second folding surface forms an angle α, the first folding surface with the holding plane forms an angle β1 and the second folding surface with the holding plane forms an angle β2 and the first folding surface and the second folding surface are intended for pressing onto the workpiece during the folding over of an edge.
US08375759B2
An apparatus for joining two fixed bases having a plurality of can necking stages, is provided. The apparatus minimizes space, and reduces the diameter of a can neck as it transfers a can body from a first fixed base to a second fixed base.
US08375758B1
A laminated tooling apparatus includes a first tooling die, a first susceptor carried by the first tooling die and having at least one straight susceptor portion and at least one angled susceptor portion adjacent to the straight susceptor portion, a first plurality of susceptor slots extending through the at least one angled susceptor portion of the first tooling die, a second tooling die adjacent to the first tooling die, a second susceptor carried by the second tooling die and having at least one straight susceptor portion and at least one angled susceptor portion adjacent to the straight susceptor portion; and a second plurality of susceptor slots extending through the at least one angled susceptor portion of the second tooling die.
US08375757B2
A method for shot peening wherein the work is processed by being hit by shot materials that are shot by compressed air, and a machine for carrying out the method are provided. By the present invention the status of a work can be measured while the work is being processed. The requirements for maintaining and calibrating the sensor that is used for the measurement are reduced because the wear of the sensor is prevented. The method for shot peening is to process a work by shooting the shot materials with compressed air from a shooting nozzle against the work. The shooting nozzle is equipped with a transducer that detects elastic waves and transduces them to high-frequency electrical signals. The elastic waves are generated when the shot materials pass through the shooting nozzle. The characteristic values of the shot materials, which pass through the shooting nozzle, are measured and monitored based on the signals.
US08375755B2
The invention provides a metal working fluid composition which comprises a morpholine compound and an isothiazoline compound and a metal working method which makes use of the metal working fluid composition. The composition is excellent in antiseptic properties, and can widely be applied to metal working techniques such as cutting, grinding, form rolling, press working and plastic working techniques.
US08375745B2
A process including holding sensor chip; holding glass tube surrounding the outer periphery of the side surface of sensor chip; applying a wind pressure to the side surface of glass tube from the outside of glass tube and melting glass tube to be glass-welded to the side surface of sensor chip. Thereby, the outer periphery of sensor chip can be surrounded by a highly hydrophilic glass tube. Thus, a cell electrophysiological sensor with high measurement accuracy can be produced.
US08375740B2
An air conditioner includes a plurality of compressors, a plurality of oil separators, a plurality of oil collection pipes, a common inlet pipe, and a plurality of branch inlet pipes. The oil separators are connected to outlets of the compressors for separating a refrigerant and/or oil discharged from the compressors. The oil collection pipes are respectively connected to the oil separators for collecting oil separated by the oil separators. The common inlet pipe receives the collected oil and allows the oil to flow to the compressors. The branch inlet pipes branch off from the common inlet pipe and are respectively connected to the compressors.
US08375739B2
A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door provided to the main body, including an outer door and a door liner. The door liner includes support steps, a liner plate, and a seating step that define an installation space. An ice maker is located at least partially in the installation space. A cold air duct is provided in one side of the storage chamber to supply the ice maker with cold air. An ice maker cover is provided having a cold air inlet on a top portion thereof and a viewing window on a lower portion thereof. The viewing window allows the ice maker to be seen from outside of the ice maker cover. An ice bank is removably located below the ice maker to transfer ice received from the ice maker to a dispenser.
US08375726B2
A combustor assembly in a gas turbine engine. The combustor assembly includes a combustor device coupled to a main engine casing, a first fuel injection system, a transition duct, and an intermediate duct. The combustor device includes a flow sleeve for receiving pressurized air and a liner disposed radially inwardly from the flow sleeve. The first fuel injection system provides fuel that is ignited with the pressurized air creating first working gases. The intermediate duct is disposed between the liner and the transition duct and defines a path for the first working gases to flow from the liner to the transition duct. An intermediate duct inlet portion is associated with a liner outlet and allows movement between the intermediate duct and the liner. An intermediate duct outlet portion is associated with a transition duct inlet section and allows movement between the intermediate duct and the transition duct.
US08375725B2
A process for the co-production of hydrogen and power through the integration of a hydrogen production unit and a power generation unit is provided. The hydrogen production unit comprises a gas heated reformer, a water gas shift reactor, and a hydrogen separator which produces a low-BTU hydrocarbon fuel stream and a purified hydrogen stream. The low-BTU hydrocarbon fuel stream, along with a compressed oxygen-containing stream extracted from the power generation unit, is combusted to provide heat to the reformer.
US08375724B2
A method of operating a multi-fuel combustion system is provided. The method includes a first phase and a second phase, wherein the first phase includes providing ignition to a combustor basket to ignite a first type of fuel, where the first type of fuel is supplied to the combustor basket through a first conduit. Also in first phase steam is also supplied to the first conduit in addition to the first type of fuel and steam is supplied to the second conduit after the ignition. In the second phase a second type of fuel is supplied to the combustor basket through the second conduit after ignition of the first fuel through the first conduit, while stopping the supply of the first fuel, and continuing to supply steam through both the first and second conduits.
US08375720B2
A plasma-vortex engine (20) provided. The engine (20) consists of a plasmatic fluid (22) circulating in a closed loop (44) encompassing a fluid heater (26), an expansion chamber (30), and a condenser (42). The expansion chamber (30) is fabricated of magnetic material, and encompasses a rotor (72), fabricated of non-magnetic material, to which T-form vanes (114), also fabricated of non-magnetic material, are coupled. A shaft (36) is coupled to the rotor (72). During operation, the plasmatic fluid (22) is heated to produce a plasma (86) within the expansion chamber (30). The plasma (86) is expanded and a vortex (100) generated therein to exert a plasmatic force (93) against the vanes (114). The rotor (72) and shaft (36) rotate in response to the plasmatic force (93). A plurality of magnets (115,119) are embedded in the vanes (114) and rotor (72) to provide attractive and repulsive forces (97,99,101) and better seal the vane (114) to the expansion chamber (30).
US08375719B2
The present invention is directed to a turbine seal system. The turbine seal system captures working fluid which is escaping from a closed loop thermodynamic cycle system, condenses the captured working fluid, and returns the condensate back to the thermodynamic cycle system. The turbine seal system is configured to apply nitrogen, or other non-condensable, or other material, to capture or mix with the escaping working fluid. The combined mixture of working fluid which escapes the turbine and the nitrogen utilized to capture the working fluid is evacuated by an exhaust compressor which maintains a desired vacuum in a gland seal compartment of the turbine seal. The combined mixture can then be sent to a condenser to condense the working fluid vapor and evacuate the non-condensables, forming a working stream. Once the non-condensables have been evacuated, the working stream is pumped to a higher pressure, and prepared to be re-introduced into the thermodynamic cycle system.
US08375701B2
Method and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system coupled to an engine exhaust and an engine intake. During an engine cold start, routing exhaust gas to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system. Then, depending on temperature, the hydrocarbons are purged with varying amounts of exhaust gas and fresh air in order to maintain proper temperature control.
US08375699B1
A variable area fan nozzle for a gas turbine engine includes a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall. At least one of the radially outer wall and the radially inner wall includes a wall thickness distribution that has local thick portions and local thin portions.
US08375683B2
An apparatus for treating containers includes a housing, inside which a sterile chamber is formed. A treatment element is arranged inside the housing and is rotatable about a predefined axis. The treatment element is arranged on a carrier inside the housing, and has a drive device for driving the treatment element. The drive device is arranged at least partially outside the sterile chamber and includes at least a first drive element arranged outside the sterile chamber for generating rotational movements, and a second drive element arranged inside the sterile chamber. The first drive element and the second drive element cooperate in a contactless manner to generate rotational movement of the treatment element. The drive elements in each case have at least one magnetisable element and preferably at least the second drive element is displaceable in the direction of its axis of rotation relative to the sterile chamber.
US08375682B2
Capping assemblies (2) of the type fitted to capping units (1a) in a machine for packaging containers filled with fluid or powdered products are equipped with a gripping apparatus (1) comprising a gripper (4) with three arms (5), each carrying an adapter (20) furnished with a pad (20b) offered in direct contact to the cap, through which the gripping action is applied. Each adapter (20) is secured to a fitting (17, 18) insertable into a socket (16) afforded by the bottom of a structural member (6) that forms the main part of each arm (5) and is hinged to the movable head of a relative capping assembly (2); when inserted into the structural member (6), the fitting (17, 18) is retained automatically by a snap lock mechanism (12) incorporated into the arm (5), which can be released subsequently by introducing the tip of a screwdriver into a slot (18a) created in the side of the fitting (17, 18) and levering the components apart.
US08375676B2
Providing a half precast slab even in a case where the thickness of the slab in the site condition is too thick to apply conventional precast construction techniques. A half precast slab including a plurality of floor concrete form members and, each floor concrete form member being provided with: a bottom slab of a long length, in response to the floor concrete form member; a pair of side walls installed upright along each longitudinal edge of the bottom slab, in response to the floor concrete form member; thereby, each floor concrete form member is arranged so as to be parallel to each other and be tightly connected to the adjacent floor concrete form member, along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each floor concrete form member; the height of the side walls other than the side walls on the most outer edge sides of the whole floor concrete form members is set at a common height that is smaller than the height of the side walls on the most outer edge sides.
US08375672B2
The rectangular floor panel comprises a core of timber material, a decorative layer on the top and pairs of opposite side edges with complementary form-fitting hooked profiles. A receiving hook facing the lower side of the floor panel and a retaining hook located on the opposite side edge and facing the top side of the floor panel. The receiving and retaining hooks are provided with a distal side surface, one having at least one projecting interlocking element and another having an associated receiving pocket. The retaining hook is lockable with the receiving hook by vertical movement. The interlocking element and the top side of the floor panel are separated by at least one gap corresponding to one third the total thickness of the floor panel.
US08375670B2
The invention relates to an insulating assembly (1) in a mobile object such as a ship or aircraft, the mobile object having carrier parts that are upstanding with respect to a wall and a carrier part being covered over in cross-section by a holding part (5), there also being a sheet-like insulating part (7) that is held between two carriers as a result of clamping formations (6) on the holding part (5). In order to provide an advantageous insulating assembly in a mobile object, it is proposed that the insulating part (7) comprises a foam-like self-supporting element (8) that is optionally covered over on one or both sides by a covering layer.
US08375651B2
A modular guy anchor includes an anchor head and an anchor shaft. The anchor head includes a tubular region for receiving the anchor shaft. The anchor shaft has one end that extends into or through the tubular region and is retained therein. The anchor shaft is preferably galvanized steel coated over at least a portion of its length with a corrosion-resistant material. The corrosion-resistant material is preferably applied over any portion of the anchor shaft that is exposed to soil during normal use. The modularity of the guy anchor facilitates stocking, shipping, and installation, while the corrosion resistance of the anchor shaft promotes longevity.
US08375650B2
A rapidly deployable structure for remote installation and method of constructing same is disclosed. The structure includes a plurality of vertical support columns topped with guiding structures. Each guiding structure has a narrow top and flares toward a comparatively wider bottom end. The structures have horizontal members including apertures that interface with the guiding structures as the horizontal members are lowered into place.
US08375649B2
The subject matter of the invention relates to a support arm for a lifting platform, comprising at least one relatively wide support arm and an extension arm telescopically slidable therein, the arms each having torsionally rigid and flexurally stiff hollow profiles, a support bearing at the rear end of the accommodating arm for the pivotable hinging connection to a lifting carriage of a column and a bearing foot at the free end of the respective extension arm. A cost-effective production of support arms in different sizes and shapes is obtained by cutting at least the accommodating arm from a steel panel blank and forming it into a hollow profile and providing it with at least one transverse reinforcement.
US08375645B2
A sliding door device has a first pin body provided, at a floor surface; a guide member provided at the door and having a guide groove in which the first pin body fits when the door is closed; and a second pin body that is provided on the floor surface and can be fit in a door groove formed at the door bottom. When the closed door slides in an opening direction and toward the back side of the wall surface, the guide member moves relatively along the first pin body while the first pin body is fit in the guide groove of the guide member. When the door slides further in the opening direction, the second pin body gets in the door groove of the door, and the door slides along the second pin body while the second pin body is fit in the sliding groove of the door.
US08375644B2
A gutter guard constructed to be mounted on a gutter and to extend from the front to the rear thereof. The gutter guard comprises a central screen portion, a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion. The central screen portion comprises a fine mesh top layer and a bottom support layer of expanded construction with openings of a desired size. The front mounting portion comprises a first metal sheet folded over and crimped to an adjacent front end of the screen portion. The rear mounting portion comprises a second metal sheet folded over and crimped to an adjacent rear end of the screen portion. The mesh top layer is hemmed to the bottom support layer and they are thereafter roll formed in a new and improved manner to prevent damage to the mesh top layer, to control its tension, and to provide close contact of the mesh top layer to the bottom support layer.
US08375641B2
Disclosed is a pivotable, multi-coil spring counterbalance, and method for using the same, which allows the user to readily attach a desired number of coil springs having chosen forces to a counterbalance connector attached to a vertically movable member, thereby providing an offset for at least a portion of the weight thereof.
US08375637B2
A bin lid assembly includes a lid member arranged to span across an opening in the roof of a grain storage bin. The lid member is supported by a hinge which is biased towards a closed position extending forwardly across the bin opening from an open position extending rearwardly. An operating linkage is pivotally connected to the lid member and includes a opening arm which is folded relative to the lid member from a first position extending upwardly in the closed position of the lid member to a second position extending rearwardly in the open position of the lid member to allow the lid member to be opened 180 degrees. The linkage also allows a mechanical advantage to be maintained when pulling the lid open using an actuator tether alongside the bin which is connected at an upper end to the opening arm.
US08375634B2
Disclosed is a modular assembly device for providing adequate and efficient ventilation, temperature control, and insulation in poultry houses. The disclosed invention relates to an automated or manually-operated modular shutter system for tunnel ventilation in poultry houses, the system being self-sealed by the poultry house's internal negative static pressure. All the shutters in a modular shutter unit are designed to open and close in unison by means of specially-designed hinges and hinge spacers. In the preferred embodiment, there are four shutters per modular shutter unit, all of the same construction and dimensions. The shutters are designed with beveled horizontal edges and end cap seals, which together provide an efficient and practically airtight fit against each other when closed. The shutters are also of sufficient thickness to accommodate internal insulation if necessary to raise the insulation values needed for the poultry houses in cold winter months.
US08375629B2
The present invention relates to novel precision customized control release fertilizers such as seed encapsulation nutrients, liquid formulation treatment for roots of seedlings before transplantation or for soil application or for foliar application and fertilizer granules or tablets for effective enhancement of crop yield. The fertilizer comprises a crop specific enstornized fertilizer and/or a normal fertilizer, an agropolymer made by—reacting an alkaline or hydrogen peroxide with plant material and a transition metal silicate or an amorphous silica.
US08375613B2
An illuminated signboard with edge effect for attachment to a support member includes a light guide having a body with a first face and an opposite second face and a light entry well formed therein. The second face includes a reverse bevel edge formed along a perimeter edge of the second face. The reverse bevel provides a luminous effect and directs light forward so that exits through the first face of a light guide in the form of an illuminated perimeter and the reverse bevel also provides an luminous halo cast on the support member in a band that exceeds and surrounds a physical perimeter of the signboard as a result of light being directed in an oblique, rearward manner relative to the light guide.
US08375612B2
An iron soleplate cover and storage unit is characterized in that it has a nose grip mounted on the soleplate, a nose part which has two folding details in its front part, a tail part which has two rail rods in its back part and one folding detail, nose clips, a left rail cover to cover a left rail recess on the nose part, left rail cover to cover the right rail recess on the nose part, and hanger unit, and it enables safe and compact storage after use and is suitable for irons.
US08375611B2
Clothing iron including a sole (1) having a bottom side with a sliding surface (11) coming into contact with cloth and comprising at least one steam-supplied recess (10), the recess (10) being bounded on its entire periphery by the sliding surface (11) in such a manner that the recess (10) forms a steam diffusion cavity that is surrounded by the sliding surface (11) when the sole (1) is applied to the cloth being ironed, characterized in that the sliding surface (11) represents less than 50% of the total surface of the bottom side of the sole (1).
US08375610B2
A handheld telescopic ironing device for pressing clothing, fabric and the like comprising two handles joined at the distal end with a pivotal hinge, each handle comprised of an elongated hollow outer handle housing and at least one elongated hollow inner handle housing concentrically aligned and telescopically mounted within outer handle housing with a locking means to hold the with inner handle housing and outer handle housing at extended or contracted lengths. Attached to the two handles are heads each having a pressing surface mounted on a hollow head housing so that the two pressing surfaces oppose each other. The telescopic ironing device is further comprised of at least one heating element disposed within one or more of internal cavities of the head housing and has an optional steam feature.
US08375608B2
Generally, the present invention relates to an ironing surface for use in ironing ironable materials, and in particular relates to a pinnable pressable ironing surface on which ironable materials can be pinned and pressed with a hot iron.
US08375606B2
A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having an opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction.
US08375604B2
An article of footwear including a sole structure with multiple cleat systems is disclosed. A first cleat system has a first cleat design and one or more cleat member sets that are tuned to provide different levels of traction and flexibility to different regions of the sole structure. A second cleat system has a second cleat design and is disposed on the sole structure in a location to provide maximum traction for various playing surfaces. The sizes, material properties and arrangement of each cleat system are varied.
US08375595B2
Disclosed is a rule assembly having a housing, a reel rotatably mounted in the housing, an elongated blade arranged to be wound on the reel and to be extendable through an opening in the housing, and an end hook member having a mounting portion attached to the elongated blade and a hook portion. The end hook member is capable of limited movement relative to the blade between an extended position and a retracted position. The rule assembly has a magnet assembly removably attachable to the elongated blade. The magnet assembly has a mounting portion and a magnet. The mounting portion is configured to removably fix the magnet assembly relative to the blade such that a forward surface of the magnet is removably fixed at a position that is aligned with or approximately aligned with a forward surface of the hook portion with the end hook member in its retracted position.
US08375594B1
A pair of pneumatic cylinders is used to counterbalance the weight of a large gantry supporting the optical head of an interferometric profiler. The gantry is supported by the cylinders within pairs of linear-bearing rail that provide a large vertical travel. The pressure in the cylinders is adjusted so as to provide an upward force sufficient to oppose the weight of the gantry and prevent its descent, but not so great as to cause it to rise. In essence, the counterbalance pressure is adjusted to equilibrate the weight of the gantry in such a way that a small force applied manually upward or downward will cause the gantry to move easily in either direction, thereby making it possible for an operator to position the optical head rapidly and with minimum effort as required for the initial alignment with a test object.
US08375593B2
The invention concerns to a method and arrangement for a suspension system that may be constituted by a harvesting trait of a forestry harvester and which suspension system is of the type that has a wheel supported and provided with an angle sensor in order to form a measurement wheel for the measurement of length, with an arm pivotably attached to a frame in such a manner that the wheel can be adjusted from positions in contact with and out of contact with a surface of the object whose length is to be measured while the object is fed in its longitudinal direction past the measurement wheel running against the circumference of the measurement wheel, whereby the said object may be constituted by a tree trunk taken up into a harvester unit.
US08375592B1
An adjustable construction square is provided that comprising an elongated blade member and an elongated cross member. An end of the cross member has a contour, and an end of the blade member has a contour. The adjustable construction square includes a clamping jig that enables the construction square to be quickly secured into a desired angular position. The clamping jig includes a clamping device, a wedge device, and an arm that work in combination to secure the adjustable construction square in a desired position.
US08375587B2
A method includes providing a journal bearing blank that includes an axis, an inner surface disposed at an inner diameter, an outer surface disposed at an outer diameter, a first axial surface, a second, opposing axial surface, and a lubricant opening that extends between the inner surface and the outer surface; along the inner surface, milling a well that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis, milling an arm that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis and that extends from the well to the first axial surface of the journal bearing, and milling an opposing arm that spans an azimuthal angle about the axis and that extends from the well to the second axial surface of the journal bearing; and inserting the journal bearing in a bore of a turbocharger center housing. Various other devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08375584B2
The present invention relates to a heat sink of a large area, in which a heat-dissipating body is further provided in its limited space. The method for manufacturing a fin includes the steps of providing a fin, cutting the fin to form a foldable piece thereon, folding back the foldable piece to be overlapped on the fin and form an accommodating hole, and punching the folded piece and the fin to form two overlapped through-holes. The fin, the heat-dissipating body and heat pipes are assembled together to obtain the heat sink. Since the fins and the heat-dissipating body dissipate the heat of the heat-generating element simultaneously, the heat-dissipating efficiency of the heat sink can be improved.
US08375583B2
A process for manufacturing a single-piece bladed disk, including: using an abrasive water jet to cut a block of material so as to create blade preforms extending radially outwards from a disk, while keeping material to form a connecting mechanism between at least two directly consecutive blade preforms; then milling on the blade preforms so as to obtain profiled blade blanks; then removing the connecting mechanism; then a finishing by milling of the blade blanks, so as to obtain blades with a final profile.
US08375582B2
A method and apparatus for the fabrication and/or repair of an integrally bladed rotor, specifically of an integrally bladed gas turbine rotor, is disclosed. At least one rotor blade is joined to a main rotor body for fabrication and/or repair. The joining is carried out by diffusion welding.
US08375579B2
The disclosure relates to a system for injecting a thermoplastic material in the fluid state, including: a dispenser adapted to be maintained at an injection temperature higher than the temperature limit at which the material is in a fluid state; an injection nozzle defining at least one portion of a transition passage; a stopper mounted inside the transition passage so as to slide between a blocking position and an opening position thereof; and control means for alternately sliding the stopper, wherein the control means comprises a jack with a rod parallel to the sliding direction of the stopper, and which is secured in an offset manner on the dispenser via a flattened beam, and a lever arranged so as to tilt about an axis so as to transmit the movements of the jack rod to the stopper.
US08375564B1
A method provides a pole of magnetic recording transducer. A nonmagnetic stop layer having a thickness and a top surface is provided. A depression that forms a bevel is provided in the stop layer. The bevel has a depth less than the thickness and a bevel angle with respect to a remaining portion of the top surface. The bevel angle is greater than zero and less than ninety degrees. An intermediate layer having a substantially flat top surface is provided over the stop layer. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer via a removal process. The trench has a profile corresponding to the pole. The stop layer is a stop for the removal process. The method also includes providing the pole in the trench. The pole has a leading edge bevel corresponding to the bevel in the stop layer.
US08375556B2
A manufacturing method of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a pre-line forming member having no face line; and cutting the pre-line forming member using a cutter 12 to form the face line on the pre-line forming member. The cutter 8 has a tip part having a cutting surface. The cutting surface has a recessed curved surface c4. An edge of the face line 8 is cut by the recessed curved surface c4. Preferably, the step of cutting is carried out by axial rotation of the cutter 8. Preferably, the cutting surface has a plane part c5 formed on an upper side of the recessed curved surface c4. Preferably, the upper side plane part c5 is perpendicular to a rotation axis rz of the cutter 12. Preferably, the cutting surface has a conical surface Fc formed on a lower side of the recessed curved surface c4.
US08375555B2
A method of assembling an orthopaedic implant includes positioning a first orthopaedic component in contact with a second orthopaedic component and coupling the first orthopaedic component to the second orthopaedic component with a bolt. The method also includes applying an empirically-determined starting torque to the bolt such that the first orthopaedic component is coupled to the second orthopaedic component with a first predetermined clamp load. The bolt is then rotated by an empirically-determined rotation angle such that the first orthopaedic component is coupled to the second orthopaedic component with a second predetermined clamp load.
US08375552B2
A method of crimping a load-bearing member and an end fitting together such that the load-bearing member lies displaced from a center of a cross-section of the end fitting. The method includes the steps of inserting the load-bearing member into an aperture in the end fitting and advancing at least one deformation tool relative to the end fitting to deform the wall of the aperture into gripping engagement with the load-bearing member. The extent of the resulting deformation of the wall over a predetermined length thereof varies in dependence on a distance along the length from the load-bearing member.
US08375551B2
A method of covering an opening through an exposed upwardly facing surface that defines an access opening to a conduit assembly defining a communication passage to a below surface location. The method includes the steps of: providing a cover assembly with a non-metallic component; and operatively joining the cover assembly with the conduit assembly so that the non-metallic component is placed against a metal component on the conduit assembly and transmits weight forces applied to at least one of: a) the exposed upwardly facing surface; and b) a surface defined by a cover component on the cover assembly that blocks the access opening and is substantially flush with the exposed upwardly facing surface, to the metal component on the conduit assembly.
US08375542B2
When manufacturing slender metallic components (9) by cutting shaping from pre-manufactured forgings (1), the respective component (9) upon finish machining by cutting is dimensionally inspected to determine deformations (a) induced by manufacture, as compared to the nominal position, and on the basis of the measuring result the position of tensile stress areas (4) in rim layers of the component (9) is determined. For positionally balancing the component (9), the tensile stress areas (4) causing deformation of the component (9) are subjected to controlled shot peening at a specified intensity.
US08375541B1
One embodiment of the present invention is a drill motor assembly (100) including a drill motor (102) and a housing guide assembly (104). The housing guide assembly in turn includes a base (106) and a mast (108) pivotally and adjustably attached thereto. A male slide (110) on the mast (108) slidably and precisely engages a female slide (112) on the drill motor (102). To drill a precise hole using the drill motor assembly (100), the operator simply adjusts the mast (108) to the desired angle relative to the base (106), engages the slides (110) and (112), activates the drill motor (102), and moves the drill motor (102) along the mast (108) until the drilling operation is completed. The present invention also includes a wide variety of accessories that can be connected to, and in some cases powered by, the drill motor (102); and a wide variety of storage options as well; and all of the attachments and storage options use the slides on the tool and accessories to facilitate use and/or storage of the various devices and components of the present invention.
US08375538B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator where the planar shape is adjusted by subjecting the piezoelectric body layer located on one of the outer surfaces in the two or more piezoelectric body layers to a polarization treatment to control remnant polarization of the piezoelectric body layer. The piezoelectric actuator is used as a drive portion of a piezoelectric drive type variable capacitor. The variable capacitor has high mechanical strength and excellent reliability for a long period of time. The relation between the displacement amount of the piezoelectric actuator and the capacity of the capacitor is stable, and the variable capacity is wide.
US08375536B2
A circular needling machine for needling a textile structure formed from a helical fiber sheet, includes a needling table disposed beneath a feed table for feeding a helical fiber sheet for needling. The feed table includes a circular belt conveyor for receiving thereon a helical fiber sheet for needling, the conveyor being centered on a vertical axis and having a radial slot opening out under the circular conveyor to unwind continuously the fiber sheet received on the conveyor, the slot opening out under the conveyor towards a substantially straight chute that extends vertically between the conveyor and a support tray of the needling table centered on the vertical axis of the conveyor so as to take up the sheet unwound from the conveyor and bring it onto the needling table, the support tray having means for driving the fiber sheet in rotation about the vertical axis.
US08375534B2
A cremation container foldable into a compact configuration for shipping comprises a bottom, a pair of side walls connected to the bottom, a pair of end walls connected to the bottom, and a lid removably positioned atop the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls. Each wall of the pair of side walls and each wall of the pair of end walls comprises an upper panel and a lower panel hingedly connected together. The upper panels of the pair of end walls are foldable downwardly toward the bottom, and the upper panels of the pair of side walls are foldable downwardly atop the upper panels of the pair of end walls to thereby compactly configure the container for shipping.
US08375531B2
A shockproof device installed to a seatbelt buckle, which is provided in an automobile, airplane, etc, fastened around a seat to keep a passenger safely secured, is installed behind a release button and lock pin, to prevent the release button from being unexpectedly released when the release button is moved in a non-release direction. Even when the release button and lock pin are moved in a release direction, on the basis of a rotation angular velocity of the inertia lever rather than a rotation torque thereof, surface contact between the lock pin and the inertia lever is accomplished and simultaneously, owing to an anti-rotation configuration thereof, the inertia lever reliably prevents unexpected disengagement between the tongue plate and the buckle under the influence of any magnitude of inertial force.
US08375530B2
A buckle assembly for a vehicle includes a seat belt tongue and a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button. The blocking mechanism is configured to latch the tongue in the buckle. The buckle assembly further includes a remote buckle release mechanism, including a buckle release cable and a module operably connected to the cable. The module is configured to pull the cable to release the blocking mechanism to thereby release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. The buckle assembly is also configured to be actuated by an occupant via the manual release button on the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism does not interfere with operation of the manual release button. The remote buckle release mechanism may also be configured to automatically release the buckles a predetermined time after an airbag deployment.
US08375520B2
A back closure for a multi-use frame includes a base plate and a lever. The base plate has a first and second knuckle. A tab is defined within the base plate between the first and second knuckle. The tab has spring-bias. A lever is connected to the base plate for movement relative to the base plate. The lever and the base plate have a common axis for movement relative to one another. The lever includes a center knuckle which is positioned between the first and second knuckle of the base plate. The center knuckle defining a slot for receipt of the tab to provide snap action. In operation, a user moves the lever relative to the base plate about a common axis. The tab of the base plate engages the slot defined within the lever to prevent further travel of the lever.
US08375518B2
A furniture hinge has at least two fitting parts for fixing the hinge to furniture parts. One of the fitting parts is designed as a hinge arm with at least one joint lever which pivots during the hinge movement and a rotation damper for damping a hinge movement. A slide, movably mounted on the hinge arm, may be driven by the pivotable joint lever, and the slide acts on the rotation damper by means of a transmission mechanism (T).
US08375517B1
A hinge comprising door/gate horizontal and vertical displacement portions. The adjustment means is comprised of a threaded post for varying the distance between hinge portions in the vertical therein raising or lowering the attached door/gate and perpendicularly extending horizontal threaded post having re-positional door/gate abutment that can be used to change the tilt of the door/gate by varying the length difference of the abutments on the spaced apart hinges.
US08375513B2
A grommet includes an inner tube, an outer tube coupled through an annular coupling section to the inner tube and provided with a slant wall section. The outer tube is provided on a larger diameter end of the slant wall section with a larger thickness portion and an annular latch recess between the larger diameter end of the slant wall section and the larger thickness portion. The slant wall section has a plurality of stepped projecting ribs that extend radially from a smaller diameter end of the slant wall section to the larger diameter end. Each of the projecting ribs is provided on a stepped top surface with a first slant surface that is inclined down to the side surface end of the latch recess, and is provided on both side surfaces with a second slant surface and a third slant surface that are inclined down from the top surface across the first slant surface. The first, second, and third slant surfaces form a three- side-cut-away portion.
US08375512B2
A tool for a surface treating appliance includes a main body connected to a conduit. To enable the main body to be widely maneuverable over, for example, a floor surface, the conduit includes a front section and a rear section. The front section is pivotably connected to the main body for movement relative thereto about a first axis to allow the conduit to be raised and lowered relative to the main body. The rear section is pivotably connected to the front section for movement relative thereto about a second axis to allow the rear section to be angled relative to the front section. The front section includes at least one port though which fluid is conveyed into the conduit from the main body, and through which the first axis passes. This can enable a relatively simple seal to be provided between the main body and the conduit to inhibit fluid loss to the external environment from the port as the main body is maneuvered over the floor surface, and can allow the tool to have a low profile along the length thereof.
US08375511B2
An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a head and a handle connected to the head. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. A conduit is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow from the bristle cover towards the appliance. The head includes a suction opening of the conduit and the handle includes an air bleed into the conduit. An actuator effects relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures. A mechanism is provided for controlling the air flow through the air bleed, for example depending on the configuration of the bristle carrier and the bristle cover so that when the head is in its deployed configuration there is a relatively low air flow into the suction opening to prevent the head from being pushed down against, for example, the skin of the pet being groomed, whereas when the head is in its stowed configuration it is preferable to have a relatively high air flow into the suction opening in order to draw the hair collected between the bristles into the conduit.
US08375510B2
An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a head and a handle connected to the head. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. A conduit is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow towards the appliance. The head includes a first suction opening of the conduit and the handle includes a second suction opening of the conduit. An actuator effects relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures.
US08375509B2
A cyclonic separating apparatus for a cleaning appliance includes a plurality of cyclonic separators arranged in series for separating particles from a dirt- and dust-laden airflow, at least three collectors for collecting separated dirt and dust, and a closure member movable between a closed position in which the closure member closes an end of each collector and an open position in which separated dirt and dust can be emptied from the collectors. The ends of the collectors are separated by dividing walls. A seal is provided to seal between the closure member and the dividing walls when the closure member is in the closed position. This common seal between the dividing walls and the closure member is able to seal effectively even if the closure member is misaligned or incorrectly fitted.
US08375507B2
A vacuum cleaner having a detachable cord reel unit is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a brush assembly connected to the main body and, a cord reel unit attachable to and detachable from a discharging portion of the main body, the cord reel unit comprising a power cord and a cooling fan formed therein, wherein the cooling fan stops driving automatically when the cord reel unit is mounted in the main body, and the cooling fan starts driving automatically to cool the power cord when the cord reel unit is detached from the main body.
US08375499B1
An ergonomically-configured handle for tools such as cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a handle for a broom or mop (for example) is formed with curved end terminations to reduce back strain and provide ease of use. A first curved end termination is attached to a tool head (such as a brush, rake head or the like) via an elbow joint. A straight section of handle is then attached to the first curved end termination, where a second curved end termination is then attached to the opposite end of the straight section. A handle grip may be disposed over the termination of the second curved end termination.
US08375498B2
A transversely elongated mounting bar curved rearwardly from a centerline and mounting longitudinally projecting bristles on the front side thereof to terminate in free ends deposed in a working plane.
US08375490B2
A baby supporting device is provided which includes a frame. The frame includes a first portion for mounting onto a wall and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion and rotatable between a first position and a second position. A first stop member extends from the first portion, and a second stop member extends from the second portion, such that when the second stop member engages the first stop member it stops the second portion at the second position. A first surface covers at least a portion of the first portion, and a second surface covers at least a portion of the second portion.
US08375487B1
A triangular prism-shaped wedge, fashioned of a sturdy foam core with soft and malleable properties, fashioned to occupy the space that commonly exists between the head of a mattress and the wall or headboard that the mattress is binding against. It is configured to occupy this space, aided via the force of friction, to ensure that items such as pillows, remote controls, and other bedside items do not fall behind the mattress, and onto the floor. It may be configured with an assortment of interchangeable pockets, as well as an embedded stereo speaker system.
US08375478B2
A walk-in bathtub has an outward swinging door mounted on a door jam. The door is provided with a latching mechanism that includes an extendible latching pin for receipt within a latch receiver in the door jam. The latching pin has a contoured face for guiding the latching pin into the latch receiver, and for drawing the door close to the door jam to compress a gasket provided between the door and the door jam. A push button lock selectively locks the latching mechanism in the latched position.
US08375475B2
A method is provided for making a fluid-circulating heat exchanging garment, the method including providing a fabric panel for assembly of the heat exchanging garment, defining a tubing layout on the fabric panel with straight portions and bend portions defined in a flexible tubing. The straight portions of the tubing are affixed to the fabric panel and a mold is inserted into the inner radius of each bend portion. The mold has a shape corresponding to each bend portion and a channel having a radius adapted to closely fit over the tubing. The fabric panel and tubing are heated to an annealing temperature of the tubing. After cooling the fabric panel, the molds are removed, leaving the tubing reshaped at the bend portions to a desired radius.
US08375471B2
Fibers, such as textile fibers, having electrical components deposited thereon. More particularly, one or more electrical components are formed directly onto the surface of at least one fiber. The fiber having the electrical component formed thereon may then be interlaced with other fibers to form a larger piece of fabric, which can be employed to produce an article of clothing. A group of transistors and piezoelectric components forming an accelerometer may be woven onto one or more natural or synthetic fibers. The fibers may then be employed as the warp, weft, or both, of a woven piece of fabric, or used to form a knitted piece of fabric. The fabric piece can then be cut and sewn to form a wearable item, such as a shirt, a pair of pants, a hat, or the upper piece of a shoe that includes the accelerometer.
US08375469B2
A hat includes a crown, a band and a resilient member. The crown includes a front having a first height; a rear having a second height wherein the second height is greater than the first height; an interior including a forward portion; an exterior including a rearward portion; and a circumferential bottom edge separating the interior and exterior. The band is coupled to the interior of the crown. The resilient member includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, wherein the first end extends through the exterior rearward portion of the crown, and wherein the second end extends through the exterior rearward portion of the crown, and wherein the intermediate portion is positioned between the band and the interior of the crown.
US08381304B2
A hard disk drive unit includes a microprocessor programmed to erase data stored within the drive unit if it is determined that a process potentially leading to a misuse of the data stored within the drive unit, and if secure disposal configuration data stored in nonvolatile storage within the drive indicates that the data is to be erased. Such a process includes initializing the drive unit for operation without providing a password matching a password stored in the drive unit, initializing the drive unit in a system not having CMOS configuration data matching the drive unit, and determining that a failure rate within the drive unit exceeds a threshold level.
US08381303B2
The present invention is a system and method for detecting and preventing attacks and malware on mobile devices such as a cell phones, smartphones or PDAs, which are significantly limited in power consumption, computational power, and memory. The invention enables mobile devices to analyze network data, executable data files, and non-executable data files in order to detect and prevent both known and unknown attacks and malware over vectors that are not typically protected by desktop and server security systems. Security analysis is performed by a combination of “known good,” “known bad,” and decision components. The invention identifies known good executables and/or known characteristics of network data or data files that must be present in order for the data to be considered good. Furthermore, known good and known bad identifier databases may be stored on a server which may be queried by a mobile device.
US08381302B1
An exemplary method for translating non-comparable values into comparable values for use in heuristics may include: 1) identifying a data object, 2) identifying a non-comparable value associated with the data object, 3) translating the non-comparable value into a comparable value, and then 4) processing the comparable value in a heuristic. In some examples, the heuristic may include a malware-detection heuristic, such as a decision tree.
US08381290B2
Systems and methods for intrusion and virus detection in computer networks. Data from a file, network byte stream, or other source is segmented and resulting data items are subjected to multiple processing techniques to obtain respective result values, or thumbprints. The multiple thumbprints for respective data items are then aggregated to obtain a single result value, or aggregate thumbprint. The components of the aggregate thumbprint may be “fuzzified” to allow for less preciseness in the single result value. The aggregate thumbprint is compared to other similarly generated aggregate thumbprints stored in a library. Alerts may be generated when the same aggregate thumbprint is detected multiple times.
US08381279B2
This document describes tools that constrain a login to a subset of access rights. In one embodiment, the tools generate a constrained password by executing a cryptographic algorithm on a user ID, general password, and one or more desired constraints. The constrained password is used in place of the general password to gain access rights that are a subset of the access rights that would be granted if the general password were used instead.
US08381268B2
A system that enables network authorization status to be conveyed to the device requesting network services within or outside the scope of an authentication exchange is provided. The authorization status notification or information can be automatically generated or otherwise triggered by a request from the user or device. For instance, a query can be employed to solicit device authorization status related to a particular service or group of services. Additionally, authorization status notification can be automatically triggered based upon a change in the device authorization state.
US08381262B2
Embodiments are directed towards detecting and reporting use by a domain of a message authentication mechanism, such as DomainKeys (DK), and/or DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and enabling subsequent blocking of messages based, in part, on its usage. When a message is received by an inbound message server, a message source is determined for the message. In one embodiment, the message source is a domain name associated with the sender of the message. Statistics are recorded about the message, including the message source, whether the message is suspect, includes a forged source identifier, employs DK/DKIM message authentication, and the like. The reports may then be sent to various message sources to enable them to determine the extent of use of DK/DKIM message authentication, and to selectively block, re-direct, or forward the messages based, in part, on the use of DK/DKIM message authentication mechanism.
US08381261B2
The present invention discloses a method for selecting policy decision functional entity in the Resource and Admission Control System. The method includes that: for resource and admission control in the PULL mode, after the Transport Resource Control Function Entity (TRC-FE) receives a resource request message from the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) or after the Policy Enforcement Function Entity (PE-FE) receives a transport layer signaling sent by CPE, if the TRC-FE or PE-FE is interacting with more than one Policy Decision Functional Entities (PD-FEs), the TRC-FE or the PE-FE may select a PD-FE according to the stored identification information of PD-FE or statically configured PD-FE, and send a resource decision request message to the selected PD-FE. With the application of the present invention, in resource and admission control in the PULL mode, after receiving the resource request initiated by CPE through the transport layer signaling message, the TRC-FE or PE-FE may select the exact PD-FE to implement the resource reservation process, thereby resolving the problem in prior art that during the resource and admission control process the TRC-FE or PE-FE can not select the exact PD-FE to send resource decision requests.
US08381255B2
An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.
US08381253B2
Content placeholder markers may be provided. A request to insert a placeholder marker may be received during output of a content asset to a device. If memory storage is available to record the content asset, the asset may be recorded. Otherwise, the placeholder marker may be stored and/or used to resume playback of the content asset from another source.
US08381247B2
A schedule-table presenting apparatus including: a schedule acquisition section configured to acquire a schedule including the broadcasting start time and a descriptive text describing each of the events; a schedule-table generation section configured to assign a specific one of the events to a first program frame and assign a plurality of events other than the specific event to a second program frame in order to generate a schedule table including the first program frame allocated to the specific event as a frame showing the broadcasting start time of the specific event as well as the descriptive text describing the specific event and the second program frame allocated to the other events as a frame showing the broadcasting start time of each of the other events; and a display control section configured to display the schedule table generated by the schedule-table generation section on a display section determined in advance.
US08381245B2
An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide including a matrix of cells associated with a plurality of media content instances, and a selector object within the program guide. The selector object is configured to select one of the cells such that the cells in the matrix include a selected cell and at least one unselected cell. The subsystem is further configured to provide at least one image object within the at least one unselected cell. The image object represents the media content instance associated with the unselected cell. In certain embodiments, the image object includes a video content stream. The subsystem is further configured to provide a graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user, the graphical user interface including at least a portion of the program guide and the image object.
US08381242B2
Static analysis for verification of software program access to secure resources for computer systems
A method includes, using a static analysis, analyzing a software program to determine whether the software program accesses a secure resource for a computer system without verification that the secure resource can be accessed by the software program. The method also includes, in response to an access by the software program to the secure resource without verification that the secure resource can be accessed by the software program, outputting a result indicative of the analyzing. Computer program products and apparatus are also disclosed. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a user interface providing a security report to a user, the security report indicating a result of an analysis of whether or not a software program accesses a secure resource for a computer system without verification that the secure resource can be accessed by the software program.
US08381240B2
The systems and methods of the present invention provide for a number of improvements to the TV consumption process, including personalization, community viewing, shared presence and context, messaging, access to ratings and recommendations (including community reviews), alerts, etc. One method that the present invention provides allows for the indication of a given user's context to be provided to other users, such as users in the given user's social network. The method comprises generating an indication of a change in context for a given user, the context comprising information regarding an action of the given user. The indication of the change in context for the given user is propagated to one or more users in the social network for the given user. The indication of the change in context of the given user is presented to users in the given user's social network in conjunction with TV content.
US08381238B2
An information processing apparatus includes an image analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing an image shot by a camera, a voice analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing voice input from a microphone, and a data processing unit receiving inputs of an analysis result of the image analyzing unit and an analysis result of the voice analyzing unit and controlling information to be output to a user. The data processing unit determines an output mode of the information to be provided to the user based on user information obtained from at least either one of the image analysis result and the voice analysis result, and system state information, and outputs the information to the user in the determined output mode.
US08381232B2
An information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes an event detecting unit to detect events, an event notifying information generating unit to generate event notifying information, an event notifying information storage to store the event notifying information in a predetermined arrangement, a client information list storage to store information concerning the client device to which event information concerning each of the events is provided, a notifying unit to provide a piece of the event information corresponding to a first event to the client device, and a judging unit to judge whether the piece of the event information was provided to the client device normally. The notifying unit provides another piece of the event information corresponding to a second event, when the judging unit judges the precedent piece of the event information was provided to the client device normally.
US08381228B2
A software platform is provided for a hospital for example, wherein software modules (program code packages) are assigned in groups to different levels. In at least one embodiment, the presence of software interfaces allows software modules of different levels to be stored and run on different computer units with a data processing facility and storage unit, thus allowing communication between different levels by way of a data line. In at least one embodiment, this allows tasks to be moved out of the hospital, thereby saving costs.
US08381211B2
At least one master overloaded virtual image is deployed, by a virtual image configuration device, to a hypervisor cloud that includes a group of servers, each of the group of servers configured based upon a hypervisor platform to support at least one virtual machine. A service solution is instantiated as a group of virtual machines associated with at least one of the group of servers, based upon at least one master overloaded virtual image, where the service solution includes a platform agnostic pattern independent of the hypervisor platform. Startup is initiated for each of the instantiated group of virtual machines.
US08381210B2
According to the present invention, a method and computer for synchronous scheduling of multiple virtual CPU is provided, which comprises: a guest operation system, comprising a first virtual CPU and a second virtual CPU; a first physical CPU and a second physical CPU; a virtual machine monitor, comprising: synchronous notifying module, for notifying, in a synchronous manner, the second physical CPU corresponding to the second virtual CPU after the second virtual CPU is determined to be synchronously operated with the first virtual CPU scheduled to the first physical CPU; and synchronous scheduling module, for scheduling the second virtual CPU out of the scheduling queue; wherein the second virtual CPU is operated on the second physical CPU. According the above technical solution, the synchronous scheduling of the multiple virtual CPUs belonging to the synchronous GOS can be achieved. The timeout problem in the prior art due to the unsynchronized operation of multiple VCPUs can thus be effectively solved, and the execution performance of the concurrent programs can be improved.
US08381207B2
The present invention is an installation script generation engine. An application component distribution system can include a repository of semantic models for interdependent ones of application components. A mapping of individual listings in the semantic models to target platform specific installation instructions further can be included. Finally, a script generation engine can be configured to produce a target specific set of instructions for a specified application component based upon a mapping of at least one of the semantic models in the repository. Notably, each of the semantic models can include a listing of component relationships, target platform requirements and platform neutral installation instructions. Moreover, the component relationships can include at least one component relationship selected from the group consisting of a containment relationship, a usage relationship, a contradiction relationship, and an equivalence relationship. Finally, a Web services interface to the repository can be configured to permit remote access to the repository.
US08381206B2
The subject matter discloses a method for enabling computerized extensions, comprising receiving data concerning an extension required to a computerized application utilizing a process model, detecting an event received from the external entity and executing the computerized extension according to the event. The extension may be activated before after or during operation of the computerized application.
US08381197B2
A system and method for testing a software development activity of an enterprise application is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a software structure specification for an enterprise application and automatically generating test plans using the software structure specification. The method also includes automatically determining at least one test path in each test plan using the software structure specification, and automatically deriving a plurality of test cases using each test path. Further, the method includes executing each of the plurality of test cases and recording test results.
US08381195B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing parallel loops with serial semantics. Embodiments of the invention provide a semantic transforms and codegen patterns that provide more efficient parallel loop implementations with serial loop semantics. Embodiments of the invention support assignments within for-loop bodies, support break/return constructs within for-loop bodies, and run transformations to covert serial constructs to parallel constructs.
US08381184B2
Dynamic test coverage to evaluate an artifact code is provided. Code of an artifact to be tested is identified. The code coverage of the test code is analyzed. The current coverage information is stored. Code coverage information for one or more prior versions of the test code is retrieved. The current coverage information is compared with the prior coverage information. Responsive to a determination that a difference between the current coverage information and the prior coverage information exists, the difference is collected. Responsive to a determination that test cases are to be generated automatically, generating, automatically, new test cases based on the difference. The new test cases are stored. Code coverage of the test code is analyzed based on the new test case. The new coverage information is stored. The new coverage information is sent to the user.
US08381177B2
A method and system of performing Java language class extensions. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are computer-readable mediums storing a program that, when executed by a processor of a host system, causes the processor to identify a first class having a first name, and create a second class based on the first class (the second class is an abstract view of the first class, and the second class has a second name equal to a third name of a third class).
US08381176B1
In one embodiment, a build orchestration framework orchestrates building of one or more individual buildable components of a deliverable software product. At least some buildable components reference respective sub components on which they depend. Building creates a structure associated with each respective buildable component of the one or more buildable components. In this structure, if the respective buildable component references a sub component on which the respective buildable component depends, a symbolic link is created to an output of a build of the sub component to provide access to the output of the sub component for use in building the respective buildable component. Further, in this structure, if the respective buildable component is used by another buildable component, a symbolic link is created to an output of a build of the respective buildable component.
US08381174B2
System and method for deterministic modification of global variables in a graphical program. Input including the structure in the graphical program may be received, where the structure is displayed in the graphical program. At least one graphical program node is associated with the structure. The at least one graphical program node may be executable to modify the value of a global variable. During execution of the graphical program the structure ensures deterministic modification of values of the global variable.
US08381171B2
A method for building a client commerce system for a client networked environment can include the steps of: collecting one or more business requirements for the client commerce system, gathering one or more characteristics of the client networked environment, retrieving an initial client commerce system, and modifying the initial client commerce system to operate in the client networked environment and to provide the collected business requirements for the client commerce system. In the method, the initial client commerce system provides at least a portion of the collected business requirements and is configured for operating a network environment most closely matching the gathered characteristics of the client networked environment.
US08381167B2
A business service discovery (BSD) system, implemented as programming on a processor, provides for discovering, formatting, and storing configuration information related to a business service. The BSD system uses a discovery engine to create a search methodology used for discovering the configuration information. The discovery engine controls a number of discovery components, each of which includes a definition of a corresponding BSD class model. The BSD system further includes a universal configuration management database (uCMDB) graph engine that creates a uCMDB graph representing a system discovered by the discovery component, and an input module that receives hints and conditions related to one or more elements of the business service, wherein a completed discovery search produces a business service structure.
US08381163B2
A power-gated retention flop circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, a retention flop includes a first latch coupled to a first global voltage node and a virtual voltage node and configured to receive a data input signal, and a second latch coupled to receive the data input signal from the first latch, wherein the second latch is coupled to the first global voltage node and a second global voltage node. The second latch is configured to provide a data output signal based on the data input signal. A power-gating circuit is coupled between the virtual voltage node and the second global voltage node, wherein the power-gating circuit is configured to, when active, couple the virtual voltage node to the second global voltage node. Thus, the first latch may be powered down while the second latch remains powered on.
US08381151B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for electrical verification of integrated circuits. Methodologies are described for verification of the power and ground distribution systems (PDS) for system-on-a-chip (SoC) and the verification of the interaction of the PDS with the behavior of integrated circuits.
US08381150B2
A method for efficient multithreaded analysis of a timing graph is described. The method is applicable to multithreaded common path pessimism removal, critical path traversing for timing report generation, and other types of analysis requiring traversal of sub-graphs of timing graph. In order to achieve high efficiency and scalability for parallel multithreaded execution, the number of access locks is minimized. One parent computation thread and multiple child threads are employed. The parent computational thread identifies the tasks for analysis and distributes them among child threads. Each child thread identifies a sub-graph to be analyzed, creates a thread-specific replica of the identified sub-graph, and performs the analysis required. After completing the analysis, the child thread transfers the results back to the main timing graph and waits for next task. As all data structures of each child thread are accessed only by the child thread owing them, no access locks are required for construction and processing of thread specific graph replica of the timing sub-graph. The construction of each thread specific graph replica is performed by the child thread without locking the main timing graph data structures. Access locks are used only for transferring results of the analysis back to the main timing graph where the results computed by all child threads are combined together.
US08381147B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a method and program storage device for modeling the resistance of a multi-contacted diffusion region of a semiconductor device, such as a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a metal oxide semiconductor capacitor (MOS capacitor), a bipolar transistor, etc. The embodiments provide a formula for determining the total parasitic resistance (Rtot) of the diffusion region based on a sum of contributions of wire resistance, contact resistance, diffusion resistance and electric current flow from each of multiple partitions of the diffusion region. This formula allows the position of each dividing line separating adjacent partitions (i.e., between adjacent contacts) to be arbitrary. The embodiments adjust the position of each dividing line to minimize the total parasitic resistance (Rtot). This minimized total parasitic resistance (Rtot) value can then be used to more accurately model semiconductor device performance.
US08381133B2
Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.
US08381128B2
An information processing apparatus includes a display, an operation unit that allows a user to input commands, a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus, and a controller that is operable to control the display to display on a setting item display region of the display the setting items, accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting item display region the plurality of setting items, and change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items.
US08381124B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a single-select method and system for launching clinical information in multiple dashboards based on a selection of a single piece of clinical information (e.g., based on a cursor-click selection of a patient name in a patient list). In some embodiments, each launched dashboard is a single “flat” dashboard that cannot be “drilled down” to another dashboard. In other embodiments, each launched dashboard can be a drilldown dashboard, i.e., a dashboard that is several dashboards that are linked together so that a user can navigate between them by selecting items displayed in the dashboards (e.g., by traversing from a first dashboard to a second dashboard through a selection of an item in a window pane of the first dashboard). Accordingly, some embodiments use the single-select method of some embodiments in lieu of drill-down dashboards, while other embodiments use the single-select method in conjunction with drill-down dashboards.
US08381115B2
A method is provided for managing fonts in a radio communication terminal, which can receive fonts in order to render contents on a screen. One such method involves the use of the following elements in the terminal, namely: a font database that lists all of the fonts or font portions stored by the terminal and matches at least one management parameter with each of the fonts; and set of font management commands including at least one command, which is applied to a font portion and which belongs to the group containing at least a command for transmitting a font portion for storage in the terminal, a command for updating a font portion stored in the terminal and a command for deleting a font portion stored in the terminal.
US08381110B2
An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in parallel with an existing Web site infrastructure is provided. The system streamlines the post-production process by automating the production of media through content generation procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed by an author within URLs embedded within Web documents.
US08381105B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting video as at least a portion of the background of search engine home pages are provided. Upon receiving a request for presentation of a search engine home page, a static image is transmitted for presentation as at least a portion of the background for the search engine home page. Also transmitted is a video file. The static image may or may not be associated with the video file. After a predetermined amount of time, play of the video file is initiated without user action, the video file replacing the static image as at least a portion of the background of the search engine home page. In this way, the user receives a seamless transition from a static image to a video presentation and is provided a rich, immersive experience at the search engine home page.
US08381095B1
Automated comparison of Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) documents for revision mark-up includes reading document data from first and second DITA documents into respective document object model trees of nodes, and identifying and collapsing emphasis subtree nodes in the trees into their parent nodes, the collapsing caching emphasis data from the identified subtree nodes. A preorder traversal transforms the model trees into respective pre-order node lists and captures adjacent sibling emphasis subtree nodes as single text nodes. The node lists are merged into a merged node list via a longest common subsequence process that recognizes matches node pairs having primary sort key information and document structure metadata meeting a match threshold, with differences between matching tokens of the node pairs saved. A merged document object model built from the refined merged node list is transformed into a hypertext mark-up language document.
US08381092B2
A system, method and computer program product for comparison of content within tables, separate from the form and structure of those tables; including identifying tables in a first and second document, creating respective text arrays of content of the tables from the first and second documents, comparing the content of the respective text arrays to determine differences between the content of the tables, and displaying the determined differences between the content of the tables, regardless of form or structure of the tables.
US08381088B2
Generation of a task or reminder in an electronic task list authoring surface from a variety of data or information locations or media without the need for launching a separate task or reminder application and without the need for moving focus away from an information location or media presently in use is provided. Generation of a task or task reminder may be accomplished from a variety of information locations or media. When an information item is flagged or captured and a task/reminder is generated, one or more pieces of metadata may be applied to the flagged information item for enhancing the subsequent use of the associated generated task or reminder.
US08381082B1
Power-saving and area-efficient BCH coding systems are provided that employ hybrid decoder architectures. The BCH decoder architectures comprise both special-purpose hardware and firmware, thereby taking advantage of both the speed of special-purpose hardware and the energy-efficiency of firmware. In particular, the error correction capabilities of the BCH decoders provided herein are split between a hardware component designed to correct a single error and a firmware component designed to correct the remaining errors. In this manner, firmware operation is bypassed in situations where only one error is present and the complexity of the necessary hardware is significantly reduced.
US08381072B2
A cache memory has a data holding unit having multiple cache lines each of which includes an address area, a data area and a dirty bit, and a controller which is given read data and a correction execution signal indicating whether or not error correction has been performed for the read data, the read data has been read from a memory storing error-correction-coded data, which also stores address information corresponding to the read data into the address area of any one of the multiple cache lines, stores the read data into the data area, and sets a predetermine value as the dirty bit on the basis of the correction execution signal.
US08381056B2
A method and apparatus for handling data error in a data transmission system including a relay station which receives a data from a transmission apparatus and transmits the data to a receiving apparatus is provided. A relay station which transmits, to a receiving apparatus, a data received from a transmission apparatus, the relay station including: a data receiver to receive the data from the transmission apparatus; an error detector to detect whether an error of the received data is generated; and a data transmitter to transmit the received data and an error generation indicator for the received data to the receiving apparatus when the error is generated. According to the present invention, it is possible to combine transmitted data with retransmitted data and decode error-free data by transmitting data including a generated error to a receiving apparatus when error is again generated in the retransmitted data.
US08381052B2
A circuit and method of testing a memory and calculating a repair solution for a given address location includes pausing a built in self test (BIST) operation on detection of a failing memory output data of an integrated circuit. During the pause, the circuit and method analyzes “n” number of groups of the failing memory output data during “n” cycles using analysis logic and calculating a repair solution. Normal operations can be resumed.
US08381044B2
A network device may include logic configured to receive a problem report from a second network device, store and analyze data included in the problem report, filter data in the problem report to determine when the problem report is to be transmitted to a third network device, and transmit the problem report to the third network device when the filtering determines that the problem report is to be transmitted.
US08381040B2
A relocatable interrupt handler for use in test generation and execution. A method for executing test code includes executing a test code block that includes a plurality of test instructions. The executing includes, for one or more of the test instructions: executing the test instruction; determining that the executing the test instruction caused an exception condition to occur; executing first exception handling logic associated with the exception condition based on determining that the executing the test instruction caused the exception condition to occur, the first exception handling logic located at an entry address consisting of a first memory address value, the executing the first exception handling logic including: clearing the exception condition; and changing the entry address to a second memory address value that is an address of a second exception handling logic. A return code that indicates a result of executing the test code block is then generated.
US08381038B2
An operation management system 12 alleviates the burden on an administrator 103 who carries out reappearance monitoring of a failure that occurred in a computer system 11. The operation management system 12 detects one or more detected events occurring in the computer system 11, and selects a first causal laws code 180 included in a causal laws information 168 based on the causal laws information 168 and the detected event. The operation management system 12, in a case where the composition of the computer system 11 has been changed to eliminate the cause of generation of the detected event, selects a second causal laws code 180 included in a post-change causal laws information 168 based on the post-change causal laws information 168 and the first causal laws code 180, and notifies the administrator 103 of information related to the selected second causal laws code 180.
US08381030B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for retrying business methods at an application server after thrown exceptions. One process includes operations for invoking a business method of an enterprise bean hosted in an enterprise bean container. The operations further include determining whether retry conditions are satisfied after an exception is thrown during execution of the business method. The business method is invoked again based on a predefined retry policy when the retry conditions are satisfied.
US08381024B2
Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information.
US08381021B2
In one embodiment, an intelligent communications device for operating in a network is disclosed. The device includes a storage device having a plurality of partitions storing images for performing boot operations. The device also includes a detection module that is operative to detect a boot failure, and a first restoration module that is operative to restore an active image with a first backup image, in response to a detected boot failure from an active image. The device further includes a second restoration module that is operative to restore a second backup image in response to a detected boot failure after restoration from a first backup image. The device also includes a programmable processor that is programmed to cause execution of boot operations and functions performed by the detection module, first restoration module, and second restoration module.
US08381020B1
Method and apparatus for facilitating control interface failover in a removable media storage device
A method and apparatus for facilitating control interface failover in a media storage device is described. In one embodiment, the method couples a media changer device to a plurality of removable media storage drives, where each removable media storage drive comprises a first port having a first port name and assigns a second port name to either the first port or to a second port of a first removable media storage drive in the plurality of removable media storage drives, where the second port name comprises at least a portion of portable identity data. The method preserves the portable identity data to be utilized during a control interface failover process to transfer the second port name from the first removable media storage drive to a second removable media storage drive in the plurality of removable media storage drives.
US08381014B2
A distributed system provides error handling wherein the system includes multiple nodes, each node being coupled to multiple node controllers for control redundancy. Multiple system controllers couple to the node controllers via a network bus. A particular node controller may detect an error of that particular node controller. The particular node controller may store error information relating to the detected error in respective nonvolatile memory stores in the system controllers and node controllers according to a particular priority order. In accordance with the particular priority order, for example, the particular node controller may first attempt to store the error information to a primary system controller memory store, then to a secondary system controller memory store, and then to sibling and non-sibling node controller memory stores. The primary system controller organizes available error information for use by system administrators and other resources of the distributed system.
US08381006B2
A mechanism is provided for reducing power consumed by a multi-core processor. Responsive to a number of properly functioning processor cores being more than a required number of processor cores in a multi-core processor, the power consumption measurement module determines a number of the properly functioning processor cores to disable. The power consumption measurement module initiates an equal amount of workload to be processed by each of the properly functioning processor cores. The power consumption measurement module determines power consumed by each of the properly functioning processor cores. The power consumption measurement module deactivates one or more of the properly functioning processor cores that have maximum power in order that the number of properly functioning processor cores deactivated is equal to the number of properly functioning processor cores to disable.
US08380998B2
A power providing system for an electrical device includes a secondary inductor, wired to the electrical device, for inductively coupling with a primary inductor hardwired to a power supply. The secondary inductor is incorporated into an accessory of the electrical device.
US08380996B2
A cartridge preferably for use with a game console. The cartridge comprises a ROM, a non-volatile memory, a processor and an encryption unit. An application running on the console may read data from the ROM, read data from the non-volatile memory, and write data in the non-volatile memory. Data to be written in the non-volatile memory is encrypted by the encryption unit, but data to be read is returned in encrypted form for decryption by a decryption function of the game application. Data may also be received encrypted to be decrypted and returned. The encryption or decryption unit may also receive data from the non-volatile memory and send it to the interface. The invention improves on the prior art copy protection as a hacker must reverse engineer the game application in order to copy it, if the encryption unit is unknown. The invention also provides an optical medium equipped with a RFID circuit.
US08380993B2
Methods and systems for robust watermark insertion and extraction for digital set-top boxes are disclosed and may include descrambling, detecting watermarking messages in a received video signal utilizing a watermark message parser, and immediately watermarking the descrambled video signal utilizing an embedded CPU. The embedded CPU may utilize code that may be signed by an authorized key, encrypted externally to the chip, decrypted, and stored in memory in a region off-limits to other processors. The video signal may be watermarked in a decompressed domain. The enabling of the watermarking may be verified utilizing a watchdog timer. The descriptors corresponding to the watermarking may be stored in memory that may be inaccessible by the main CPU. The watermark may comprise unique identifier data specific to the chip and a time stamp, and may be encrypted utilizing an on-chip combinatorial function.
US08380986B2
In a data stream individually encoded data stream (ds1 . . . n), data packets formed as key data packets (sp1 . . . n) are to be inserted, with which the data stream-individual key information (si1 . . . n) is transmitted with the associated data stream (ds1 . . . n). For analyzing and/or recording, at least one key data packet (sp1 . . . n) is searched for in the associated data stream (ds1 . . . n), and the data stream-individual key information (si1 . . . n) is determined. By means of the data stream-individual key information (si1 . . . n), the associated data stream (ds1 . . . n) is decoded. The generation and insertion of key information (si1 . . . n) can be achieved with minor administrative effort, thus considerably reducing the effort for the analysis or diagnosis (ds1 . . . n) of the simultaneously transmitted, encoded data streams (ds1 . . . n). Advantageously, the insertion of key data packets can only be activated or initiated if the diagnosis or analysis and/or recording of the data streams is currently carried out.
US08380985B2
A certificate validation method for causing a certificate validation server to receive a certificate validation request from a given terminal device, build a certification path of from a first certificate authority (CA) to a second CA, perform validation of the certification path, and send a validation result to the terminal which issued the certificate validation request is disclosed. The validation server detects either a key update of any given CA or a compromise of the given CA, acquires a certificate of relevant CA and first certificate status information and second certificate status information, stores the acquired information in a storage unit or, alternatively, updates the information stored in the storage based on the acquired information, and performs the building of a certification path and validation of the certification path by use of the information of the storage unit.
US08380981B2
A system and method for issuing a cryptographic certificate includes describing one or more prerequisite condition on the cryptographic certificate. The one or more prerequisite conditions comprise membership in one or more prerequisite group of entities. An entity may be a participant, a resource or a privilege, etc. The present invention also requires naming one or more target groups of entities on the cryptographic certificate. One or more prerequisite group stakeholder that authorizes an entity in the one or more prerequisite group of entities to be added as members in another group of entities sign the cryptographic certificate. The cryptographic certificate is also signed by one or more target group stakeholders that authorizes an entity to be added as a member of the one or more target groups. Exemplary prerequisite conditions relate to one or more of a membership in another group of entities, a physical characteristic, a temporal characteristic, a location characteristic or a position characteristic, among others.
US08380980B2
A system for providing security in a mobile Microwave Access (WiMAX) network system is constructed with a licensed certification authority providing a certificate and a first encryption module storing the certificate provided by the licensed certification authority, encrypting a traffic encryption key and a message generated by the first encryption module with the stored certificate, and transmitting the encrypted traffic encryption key and message to a destination. When receiving a message encrypted with a traffic encryption key, the first encryption module decrypts the received message with the traffic encryption key generated by the first encryption module and processes the message. The system is further constructed with a second encryption module. When receiving the message encrypted with the certificate from the first encryption module, the second encryption module decrypts the received message with the certificate provided by the licensed certification authority to detect the traffic encryption key, and encrypts a message with the detected traffic encryption key to transmit the encrypted message.
US08380972B2
A system and method are presented for converting a multi-boot computer to a virtual machine. Existing boot images on a multi-boot computer are identified and converted into virtual machine instances. Each virtual machine instance represents an operating system and is capable of running at the same time. Finally, a new hosting operating system is installed. The new hosting operating system launches and manages the converted virtual machine instances.
US08380959B2
A technique for managing memory allocation in an electronic device is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes loading a memory allocation strategy for an application executed by a processor of a device, and requesting memory for the application from various memory locations in accordance with the memory allocation strategy. In one embodiment, the device includes multiple sets of contiguous memory blocks and a memory heap, memory may be requested from at least one of these memory locations, and memory may then be allocated to the application in response to the request. In some embodiments, the memory allocation strategy may be stored in the device prior to execution of the application. Various other methods, devices, and manufactures are also provided.
US08380957B2
A portable data protection system is described for protecting, transferring or copying data using continuous data protection (CDP) over intermittent or occasional connections between a computer system or mobile device containing the data to be protected, transferred or copied, called a data source, and one or more computer systems that receive the data, called a data target. CDP can be broken down logically into two phases: 1) detecting changes to data on a data source and 2) replicating the changes to a data target. The portable data protection system uses a method that performs the first phase continuously or near continuously on the data source, and the second phase when a connection is available between the data source and the data target.
US08380956B1
Described are techniques for storing first data to a logical data in accordance with a static policy to service reads using data stored in a first storage area. The logical device has its data stored on a first physical device that is mirrored on a second physical device. Each of the first and second physical devices include a first storage area and a second storage area. The first storage areas provide better performance than the second storage areas. The first data is stored at a first location in one of the first storage areas of one of the physical devices and at a second location in one of the second storage areas at the other of the first and the second physical devices. An operation to read the first data is serviced by accessing the first data stored in the first area of the one physical device.
US08380948B2
Memory objects associated with a portion of a cache (e.g., data blocks of a media file) are assigned a value based on their importance to an application that is consuming memory objects. The values are used to assign the data blocks to purge groups. The purge groups are a labeling mechanism for determining a purge order. A memory object associated with a first data block assigned to a first purge group may be purged before a memory object associated with a second data block assigned to a second purge group. As new data blocks are received by the application (e.g., from disk or a network connection), the blocks are assigned a value and added to a purge group. In some cases, the data blocks arrive out of order (e.g., order of consumption). Memory objects can be reassigned to a different purge group when new data blocks are added or reclaimed.
US08380946B2
A method according to one embodiment includes gathering monitor data information from a memory device having finite endurance and/or retention, the monitor data being data of known content stored in dedicated memory cells of known write cycle count; analyzing the monitor data information; estimating a reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof based on the analysis; tracking a rate of change of at least a highest cycle count of user data; estimating when the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof will be expended based on the tracking and the estimating; and taking an action prior to the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof being expended. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08380939B2
In a virtualized system using memory page sharing, a method is provided for maintaining sharing when Guest code attempts to write to the shared memory. In one embodiment, virtualization logic uses a pattern matcher to recognize and intercept page zeroing code in the Guest OS. When the page zeroing code is about to run against a page that is already zeroed, i.e., contains all zeros, and is being shared, the memory writes in the page zeroing code have no effect. The virtualization logic skips over the writes, providing an appearance that the Guest OS page zeroing code has run to completion but without performing any of the writes that would have caused a loss of page sharing. The pattern matcher can be part of a binary translator that inspects code before it executes.
US08380936B2
According to one embodiment, a state manager classifies an area allocated to the multi-core processor in a first memory area into one of a first state in which allocation to processor cores is not performed, a second state in which allocation to one of the processor cores is performed and read and write are performed, and a third state in which allocation to one or more of the processor cores is performed and read and write are prohibited, and further performs a transition from one of the first state, the second state, and the third state to another. A cache/memory manager writes back a corresponding cache when the state manager performs the transition from the second state to the third state.
US08380935B2
An atomic memory operation cache comprises a cache memory operable to cache atomic memory operation data, a write timer, and a cache controller. The cache controller is operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon expiration of the write timer, and is further operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon eviction of the one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries from the cache memory.
US08380933B2
A multiprocessor system includes cache memories each of which is provided in correspondence with one of processor cores and includes a tag storage unit configured to store validity information representing whether a cache line as a unit to store data is valid, update information representing whether data in the cache line has been rewritten, and address information of the data in the cache line, a shared memory shared by the processor cores, and an arbitration circuit configured to arbitrate access requests from the processor cores to the shared memory and send the arbitrated access request to the cache memories. Each cache memory includes a violation detection circuit configured to detect a violation access by comparing the information in the tag storage unit with the access request from the arbitration circuit.
US08380930B2
A system for refreshing cached data based on content update frequency includes an application/presentation layer coupled to a caching layer, the caching layer including cached content, and a content management system coupled to the application/presentation layer, the content management system configured to provide a content invalidation message to the caching layer informing the caching layer when the cached content is updated.
US08380928B1
A method is used in applying data access activity measurements. A slice relocation candidate list is generated which identifies slices to be relocated along with respective destination tier information. Slices in a pool are matched to respective matching tiers based on the slices' respective temperatures and tier preferences. Based on whether a current tier for a slice differs from the matching tier for the slice, the slice is listed in the relocation candidate list.
US08380922B1
Data storage device comprising host interface state machine blocking on target logical block address
A data storage device is disclosed wherein a host interface state machine receives an access command from a host, the access command identifying a plurality of logical block addresses (LBAs). A host interface processor generates at least one control structure executed by the host interface state machine in connection with servicing the access command. The host interface processor directs a master processor to execute the access command, and the master processor updates a LBA register in connection with executing the access command. The host interface state machine executes the control structure to compare a target LBA to the LBA register and communicates with the host in response to the comparison.
US08380921B2
A method includes searching a content addressable memory based on a comparand. The comparand includes a collection of bits. A modified comparand is generated by modifying the comparand. The modified comparand is based at least in part on a comparand overlay data value. The content addressable memory is also searched with the modified comparand.
US08380903B2
Administering the polling of a number of devices for device status including determining whether a task identification for polling the device is in the delayed polling queue; if the task identification for polling the device is not in the delayed polling queue, determining whether the task identification for polling the device is in the immediate polling queue; if the task identification for polling the device is in the immediate polling queue; calculating a new time interval for polling the device in dependence upon a predetermined base period and a random selection of a time offset, wherein the time offset is within a predetermined range; calculating a next polling time for polling the device in dependence upon the current time and the new time interval; inserting the task identification in the delayed polling queue in dependence upon the next polling time.
US08380897B2
According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a transmission circuit that encodes transmission data, according to a serial transfer format, a reception circuit that decodes received data, according to the serial transfer format, a variable frequency clock generator that generates a card clock and a transfer clock, a card clock output unit that outputs the card clock to the memory card, an interface unit that includes both a transmission interface that transfers the transmission data from the transmission circuit to the memory card in synchronization with the transfer clock and a reception interface that transfers received data from the memory card to the reception circuit in synchronization with the transfer clock, and a setting register circuit that holds setting information for an input/output method of the memory card, and controls frequency of the transfer clock generated by the variable frequency clock generator, based on the setting information.
US08380893B2
A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV.
US08380886B2
A computer system including a data processing device for producing an image signal, an input device for producing a control signal and a display device is provided. The display device includes a memory unit, a controller, a source driver, a gate driver and a display panel. The controller is coupled to the memory unit and the data processing device for receiving the image signal. The source driver and the gate driver are controlled by the controller to respectively output driving voltages and scanning signal to drive the display panel. In a reading model, the controller writes a plurality of frame data transmitted by the image signal to the memory unit, and reads one of the frame data according to the control signal to control the source driver and the gate driver. The data processing device is switched to an idle mode after the frame data is transmitted.
US08380882B2
Roughly described, a network interface device receiving data packets from a computing device for transmission onto a network, the data packets having a certain characteristic, transmits the packet only if the sending queue has authority to send packets having that characteristic. The data packet characteristics can include transport protocol number, source and destination port numbers, source and destination IP addresses, for example. Authorizations can be programmed into the NIC by a kernel routine upon establishment of the transmit queue, based on the privilege level of the process for which the queue is being established. In this way, a user process can use an untrusted user-level protocol stack to initiate data transmission onto the network, while the NIC protects the remainder of the system or network from certain kinds of compromise.
US08380870B2
A method of filtering a plurality of DNS queries, wherein each DNS query includes a query name and a resource record type, includes defining a filter rule including a domain name, a filter type, and a throttle percentage and forming a filter file including the filter rule. The method also includes transmitting the filter file from a server to a plurality of filter proxies, transmitting the filter file from each of the plurality of filter proxies to one or more processing engines, and receiving the plurality of DNS queries at one of the one or more processing engines. The method includes determining a match between the domain name and the query name and between the resource record type and the filter type for a subset of the plurality of DNS queries, and blocking a predetermined percentage (equal to the throttle percentage) of the subset of the plurality of DNS queries.
US08380868B2
A method, program and system for transmitting a data stream to a group of recipient nodes from a source node via an intermediate node over a communication network, wherein the data stream is associated with a first unique identifier to identify the content of the data stream. The method includes the source node generating a second identifier, the second identifier distinct from the first unique identifier, and associating the second identifier with the data stream to identify that the data stream is to be received by the group of recipient nodes; transmitting routing information comprising the second identifier to the intermediate node; transmitting the data stream from the source node to the intermediate node; and responsive to receiving the data stream at the intermediate node, reading the second identifier and routing the data stream to the group of recipient nodes in accordance with the routing information.
US08380860B2
A method includes determining a first subset of a plurality of links to be set to a first power state and a second subset of the plurality of links to be set to a second power state, different from the first power state, based on estimated data transmission. The method also includes instructing at least one network apparatus to set the first subset of the plurality of links to the first power state and to set the second subset of the plurality of links to the second power state different from the first power state.
US08380844B2
Digital images are monitored by enabling access to a digital image, receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user, and regulating access of the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.
US08380840B2
The present invention relates to a method for capturing call events and other information in a platform independent way. The method includes generating call event records in response to a SIP call events. A call event file is created that includes all the call event records collected by a server over a predetermined period of time. The call event file is an XML document that includes generic, uniformly formatted records that can be read by any network device equipped with an XML parser. XML documents include embedded instructions that enable a receiving computer to decode the records without needing a special proprietary interface.
US08380834B2
The present invention relates, in general, to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, and, more particularly, to a system and method for supporting information interoperability between medical instruments which is capable of automatically combining medical test information measured by a plurality of medical instruments for performing data communication in compliance with various data interface protocols with the medical information of an EMR system.
US08380833B2
A method of configuring a telecommunications system to provide a service involving multiple devices is disclosed. The method includes receiving a configuration script specifying a sequence of configuration instructions for configuring at least two of the devices to provide the service, and concurrently executing an instance of the configuration script for each of the at least two devices to configure the at least two devices to provide the service. The method can be used as part of a network management system or service provisioning system.
US08380829B2
A system and method for managing state information related to an interactive application to accommodate one or more users participating in an interactive application session. The state information can include local state information specific to each of the one or more user's unique view of the interactive application and global state information. The system can include a telecommunications network; an application server in communication with the telecommunications network for managing the global state information relative to all of the users participating in the interactive application session; and at least one mobile client device in communication with the application server over the telecommunications network for managing the local state information for each of the one or more users. The method can include structuring the state information for optimized delivery over the telecommunications network and transferring the state information over the telecommunications network.
US08380824B1
A method and apparatus for identifying ownership by a computer of a storage device connected to a computer network is described. A first ownership information is written into a selected sector of the storage device by a computer having ownership of the device as a first indicia of ownership. A second ownership information is written into a storage device label of the storage device by the computer having ownership as a second indicia of ownership, the storage device label visible to a plurality of computers connected to the computer network. In the event that at a future time the first indicia of ownership does not match the second indicia of ownership, the first indicia of ownership is taken as definitive of ownership of the storage device.
US08380818B2
An information processing system that includes first and second information processing devices for performing communication through a network, which include a first transmission unit for, in the case of data to be downloaded being selected, transmitting a data download request to the second information processing device along with downloaded data identification information, and third information processing device identification information. A second transmission unit transmits a data download request to the third information processing device identified with the data identification information and the device identification information in response to the download request from the first information processing device, respectively. A third information processing device downloads data through the network from a distribution server.
US08380813B2
A network terminal apparatus includes: a communication section communicating with a server apparatus communicable through a network; a reproduction section reproducing and outputting content data; a request processing section performing a management structure requesting process for requesting a server apparatus communicable through the communication section to provide management structure information indicating a management structure for distributed content, a content selecting process for selecting an item of content data based on the management structure information acquired by the management structure requesting process, and a content requesting process for requesting a server apparatus identified as a distributor based on the management structure information to distribute the item of content data selected by the content selecting process without intervention of an operation performed by a user; and a reproduction controlling section causing the reproduction section to reproduce the item of content data transmitted from the server apparatus according to the content requesting process.
US08380797B2
According to some embodiments, an account may be established for a user, and the account may be associated with a set of authorized combination identifiers, each authorized combination identifier including an authorized sending device identifier, an authorized destination device identifier, and an authorized file type identifier. A dynamically generated list of notification options may be displayed to the user, each option being associated with one of the authorized combination identifiers. The user may then select a notification option for each of the authorized combination identifiers. In addition, a business file may be received along with a received combination identifier that includes a sending device identifier associated with the sending device, a destination device identifier, and a file type identifier associated with the business file. Based on the received combination identifier, the business file may be forwarded to a destination device associated with the destination device identifier; and a notification message may be transmitted to the user based on the selected notification option associated with the received combination identifier.
US08380792B2
A computer displays a first identifier of a remote user followed by a first numeral and a second numeral in an interface of a messaging program for a local user, the first numeral representing a number of active messaging sessions for the remote user, and the second numeral representing a number of messages present in a queue and to be delivered to the remote user.
US08380786B2
A user is able to subscribe to an object by sending a mobile message or through a website. The object can be a file or a channel. The subscription message can use hierarchical mobile keywords. The user can adjust their registration information to control how much information is received from the subscription, when, and to what device the subscription is delivered.
US08380784B2
Method and apparatus for information recommendation are provided. In one aspect, a method for information recommendation uses correlated information combinations to improve recommendation accuracy. Upon receiving data from a client indicating a visited information type, the method obtains correlated information types related to the visited information type from stored records. The correlated information types providing one or more correlated information combinations each including at least two correlated information types. For each of the one or more correlated information combinations, the method computes a degree of correlation between the correlated information combination and the visited information type. The method selects a target correlated information combination with a satisfying degree of correlation, and recommends the target correlated information combination to the client.
US08380772B2
A multi-rate filter bank including an anti-aliasing filter, a plurality of multiplier block modules, a folding block, and a data composer is disclosed. The anti-aliasing filter receives an anti-aliasing input signal. The multiplier block modules receive an original signal and sequentially generate a plurality of processed signals. The multiplier block modules also receive a plurality of block input signals and a select signal. Each of the multiplier block modules is configured into a decimation block or an expanding anti-aliasing filter according to the select signal. The folding block receives the select signal and a folding input signal and generates a folding block output signal. The data composer receives and composes the folding block output signal and the outputs of the multiplexer block modules and the anti-aliasing filter and generates an anti-aliasing filter output signal.
US08380770B1
A method for determining filter coefficients for a mismatched filter is disclosed. The method includes generating a code sequence having a code length, determining a length of the filter, and performing a modified least mean squares (LMS) algorithm. The length of the filter corresponds to coefficients of a transfer function of the filter, and the length of the filter is not equal to the code length. The filter coefficients are iteratively adjusted in the LMS algorithm until an error signal for each of the filter coefficients is below a threshold value.
US08380767B2
Basis conversion from polynomial-basis form to normal-basis form is provided for both generic polynomials and special irreducible polynomials in the form of “all ones”, referred to as “all-ones-polynomials” (AOP). Generation and storing of large matrices is minimized by creating matrices on the fly, or by providing an alternate means of computing a result with minimal hardware extensions.
US08380759B2
Technologies are described herein for applying type projection queries to instance space graphs. Through the utilization of the technologies and concepts presented herein, a type projection may be used to describe the hierarchy of instance types connected by relationships within an instance space graph. A type projection query based on the type projection may be dynamically generated to query instances and relationships within the instance store. Filter criteria for the query can be expressed using a path notation. Results from of the type projection query may be provided as graphs of instances and relationships which are subgraphs of the queried instance space graph. Programmatic traversal of the resultant subgraph can navigate to each instance node within the result space.
US08380755B2
An electronic reader includes a storage unit configured for storing files and a processor. The processor includes a file display control module, a first file creating module and a second file creating module. The file display control module is configured for obtaining and displaying the files opened by user input. The first file creating module is configured for creating temporary files recording the comments and the amended sections of the opened files in response to user input. Each of the temporary files corresponds to one of the opened files. The second file creating module is configured for combining contents of the temporary files into a file. The contents of the temporary files are arranged in the file according to a predetermined rule if the formats of the temporary files are the same.
US08380752B2
Event data (e.g., log messages) are represented as sets of attribute/value pairs. An index maps each attribute/value pair or attribute/value tuple to a pointer that points to event data which contains the attribute/value pair or attribute/value tuple. An attribute co-occurrence map or matrix can be generated that includes attribute names that co-occur together. Queries and custom reports can be generated by projecting event data into one or more attributes or attribute/value pairs, and then determining statistics on other attributes using a combination of the inverted index, the attribute co-occurrence map or matrix, operations on sets and/or math and statistical functions.
US08380742B2
Increased reporting capabilities from a database system may be available in a customer relationship system while functionality of the customer relationship management system is maintained.
US08380734B2
A word is split into one or more first substrings. A morpheme is applied to the one or more first substrings to create one or more second substrings. The one or more first and second substrings are selected as one or more splittings, and a score is generated for each of the one or more splittings. One of the one or more splittings with a score higher than the other one or more splittings is selected as a keyword.
US08380730B2
Techniques are disclosed for invoking an analysis routine running on a parallel computer system to analyze query results. An interface used to build and execute a database query may be used to invoke a complex analysis routine on a parallel computer system to analyze query results obtained by executing the database query. Alternatively, a user may build a query that includes specific conditions evaluated by an analysis routine on the parallel computer system (as opposed to selecting an analysis routine after receiving query results).
US08380726B2
A method of selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signatures from multiple users is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items and presenting a subset of these content items in response to search input received from users. The method further includes receiving content selection actions and learning users' preferences, wherein the preferences are weighted based on user activity. The method further includes identifying users with similar preferences by comparing sets of learned user preferences and using this information to select and present content items to a user.
US08380724B2
A concurrent grouping operation for execution on a multiple core processor is provided. The grouping operation is provided with a sequence or set of elements. In one phase, each worker receives a partition of a sequence of elements to be grouped. The elements of each partition are arranged into a data structure, which includes one or more keys where each key corresponds to a value list of one or more of the received elements associated with that key. In another phase, the data structures created by each worker are merged so that the keys and corresponding elements for the entire sequence of elements exist in one data structure. Recursive merging can be completed in a constant time, which is not proportional to the length of the sequence.
US08380723B2
Inferring query intent in information retrieval is described. In an example reformulations of an initial query by a user are used to create a query neighborhood. In the example, the query neighborhood is used to identify a set of possibly related queries. First and higher order reformulations of the initial query may be used to expand the query neighborhood. In an example precision can be improved by reducing the query neighborhood to more closely related queries for example, two queries can be connected if they are often clicked for the same document. In an example two queries can be connected using a random walk and all pairs of queries that are not connected by a random walk of less than a fixed threshold are removed. The connected queries can be used to form clusters and weights can be applied in order to determine the most likely related queries.
US08380719B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed that provide for document retrieval where a user can identify key attributes of potential target documents that are desirable (e.g., have a particular semantic content for the user). Further, relevant documents that comprise the desired semantic content can be retrieved. Additionally, the user can provide feedback on the retrieved documents, for example, based on key semantic concepts found in the documents, and the input can be used to update the classification. For example, this process can be iterated to improve the retrieval and precision of documents found through machine learning techniques.
US08380716B2
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a method of augmenting a mind map of a plurality of objects based on at least one data feed. The method comprises providing an interface which contains visual representations of objects and associates semantic data with these objects. The interface allows for a user to access data from a data feed, and it analyzes these data in order to identify additional objects which may be semantically related to the object. A visual representation of the additional object is then augmented with a connector to the original object. Information about the relationships of the objects may be certified automatically or manually.
US08380707B1
A first set of search results responsive to a first query during a search session is identified. A snippet is identified for each search result related to the first query. The snippet can be selected based on the location the search tokens from the query in the search result. A second set of search results responsive to a second query during a search session is identified. Repetitive search results can be identified. A second snippet for the repetitive search result is identified. The second snippet can be selected based on the location of the second search tokens in the repetitive search result and the content of the first snippet.
US08380698B2
There is provided a method and system generate rules and identify data items. The system receives an aspect that is used to describe a data item and a request for at least one candidate value to associate with the aspect. Next, the system identifies a string of text in a database based on the aspect, analyzes the string of text based on the aspect to identify at least one candidate value in the string of text and receives a selection identifying a candidate value. Next, the system generates a rule that includes the aspect-value pair that includes the aspect and the selected candidate value. Next, system associates the aspect-value pair to a first data item based on a publication of the rule. Next, the system receives a query, associates the aspect-value pair to the query, based on the rule, generates a second query that includes the aspect-value pair and identifies the first data item based on the aspect-value pair in the second query for an interface that includes the first data item.
US08380690B2
A system, computer program and method for automating form transcription. Data and meta data may be retrieved from a selected input form, e.g., W2 form. Data may refer to information, e.g., gross income, contained in a field in the input form. Meta data may refer to information, e.g., identifying fields in the input form, that describes or characterizes the data. The retrieved data and meta data may be correlated and stored in a database. Correlating may refer to identifying particular information in particular fields in the input form. The stored correlated data and meta for a selected input form may be mapped to a selected target form, e.g., 1040 form. Mapping may include mapping the data and meta data associated with particular fields in the input form to corresponding fields in the target form.
US08380686B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for copying data from a primary storage facility to a secondary storage facility which reduce the workload on the storage controller in the primary facility and minimize bandwidth usage. The primary storage facility includes a primary data replication appliance which transfers data to a secondary replication appliance. Updated data from a host is both stored through a storage controller in the primary facility and also received by the primary replication appliance. Logic in the primary replication appliance determines whether the immediately previous version of the data is in a buffer from a previous storage operation. If so, the current (updated) version of the data is compared with the previous version and the difference, such as calculated through a bit-wise exclusive-OR operation, is transferred to the secondary replication appliance. The process is reversed in the secondary replication appliance and the recreated updated version of the data stored in the secondary facility.
US08380678B2
Tracking files which have been processed by a backup/restore operation. A request to perform a backup/restore operation for files on a target computer may be received at the target computer. The request may be received from a server computer. Information regarding which files on the target computer have been processed by the backup/restore operation may be maintained by the target computer. The information may be configured to be used for restart of the backup/restore operation at a requested file. Maintaining the information may include storing file identifiers into a data structure on the target computer corresponding to files that have processed by the backup/restore operation.
US08380672B2
A backup control apparatus which references duplication management information which includes first stored location information indicating the stored location of first information resource and second stored location information indicating the stored location of a second information resource which duplicates the first information resource, and identifies, from among a plurality of information resources belonging to a backup region. The first information resource stored in the location indicated by the first stored location information, and a second information resource stored in the location indicated by the second stored location information corresponding to the first stored location information. The backup control apparatus replaces the identified second information resource with linked information indicating a link to the identified first information resource, and backs up the backup region in which the second information resource is replaced with the linked information.
US08380661B2
Data migration using communications and collaboration platform provides an efficient and flexible method for migrating data from an existing system to a new system. In particular, the method includes extracting data, cleansing the extracted data based on a master record, receiving approval for the cleansed data, and migrating the approved data into the new system.
US08380659B2
A method replicates data between instances of a distributed database. The method identifies at least two instances of the database at distinct geographic locations. The method tracks changes to the database by storing deltas. Each delta has a row identifier that identifies the piece of data modified, a sequence identifier that specifies the order in which the deltas are applied to the data, and an instance identifier that specifies where the delta was created. The method determines which deltas to send using an egress map that specifies which combinations of row identifier and sequence identifier have been acknowledged as received at other instances. The method builds a transmission matrix that identifies deltas that have not yet been acknowledged as received. The method then transmits deltas identified in the transmission matrix. After receiving acknowledgement that transmitted deltas have been incorporated into databases at other instances, the method updates the egress map.
US08380651B2
A component in a graph-based computation having data processing components connected by linking elements representing data flows is updated by receiving a rule specification, generating a transform for transforming data based on the rule specification, associating the transform with a component in the graph-based computation, and in response to determining that a new rule specification has been received or an existing rule specification has been edited, updating the transform associated with the component in the graph-based computation according to the new or edited rule specification. A computation is tested by receiving a rule specification including a set of rule cases, receiving a set of test cases, each test case containing a value for one or more of the potential inputs, and for each test case, identifying one of the rule cases that will generate an output given the input values of the test case.
US08380643B2
Techniques for searching multi-dimensional data are provided. The techniques include providing a parallelization framework for a search algorithm, wherein the search algorithm exposes one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters, and using the one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters to tune the search algorithm to search multi-dimensional data in any underlying architecture.
US08380640B2
A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.
US08380636B2
A personal device is provided. The personal device includes an identification verification system that receives first identification data from a physical identification device, such as by inserting a driver's license into a card reader that is adapted to receive a driver's license. Second identification data such as a PIN number is also received. Payment authorization data or other suitable data is generated if the driver's license corresponds to the PIN. A payment selection system or other suitable system receives the payment authorization data and displays one or more payment accounts for selection by a user. Where a payment selection system is used, the payment selection system transmits payment account data to a point-of-sale system.
US08380632B2
A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating to one of license data relating to a plurality of e-books and a plurality of e-books. A request to borrow a first e-book of the plurality of e-books for a predetermined finite period of time is received at the e-book lending library. A current lending status of the first e-book is determined as one of available for lending and unavailable for lending. When it is determined that the first e-book is unavailable for lending, a second signal is transmitted to the user via the communication network, the second signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library.
US08380626B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for processing an image that shows multiple deposit items, where the image was captured by a remote capture device. For example, some embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) receiving an image that shows multiple deposit items, where the image was captured by a remote capture device; (b) determining that a first portion of the image is satisfactory for identifying deposit item information therein; (c) determining that a second portion of the image is unsatisfactory for identifying deposit item information therein; and (d) performing a function based at least partially on the determining that the second portion of the image is unsatisfactory for identifying deposit item information therein. In some embodiments, the function includes enhancing the second portion of the image. In other embodiments, the function includes prompting a user of the remote capture device to capture a second image to replace the second portion of the image.
US08380624B2
A computerized method and a system for contextual spending in person-to-person payments are provided. In example embodiments, a payment system may receive a request from a first party for making a payment to a second party. The payment system may send a recommendation for utilization of the payment to the second party. The payment system may also request and receive from the first party an instruction related to charging a transaction fee associated with the payment.
US08380622B2
A transfer network system for providing communications between commercial buyers and suppliers and their respective banks is provided. Client systems in communication with the transfer network system operate under a secure legal and technical regime in order to provide an architecture that supports the exchange of messages to conduct commerce. This commerce may include instructions related to the transfer of funds directly from an account of the buyer to the supplier. Because of the secure legal and technical framework, this financial transaction can be conducted in real-time and finalized in real-time without the need for delay or the use of clearinghouse to settle the transaction.
US08380618B1
A system for issuing credit for unused interest free grace periods may comprise at least one subsystem that electronically calculates a number of unused interest free grace period days, and at least one subsystem that electronically calculates an amount of an award to a borrower based on the calculated number of unused grace period days and a statement balance paid by the borrower.
US08380617B1
A method and computer system for providing financial hedge against the risk of loss to a mortgaged property resulting from natural or other catastrophe. The probability of loss is established by means of a knowledge-based expert system and would be a function of the location of the property but not of its underlying soil, age or structural characteristics. The extent of the protection is selected by the mortgagor to suit budgetary and other considerations. The probability and the portion to be subject to the arrangement would ultimately determine the charge. Upon the occurrence of the designated catastrophe, the selected portion of the debt is forgiven.
US08380614B1
A system and method is provided to enable traders to price improve on an item at an amount less than a predetermined pricing increment. Traders can improve on the price of the item using different price improvement levels (e.g., four different levels). Dynamic price improvement enables a dynamic order to maintain a predetermined position in a trading stack relative to other orders in the stack. The dynamic order may maintain its position in the trading stack by adjusting (e.g., increasing or decreasing) its price improvement level depending on market conditions. For example, a dynamic order may increases its price improvement level such that it stays at least one level ahead of the next best order in the trading stack. If the level cannot be further increased, the dynamic order may use its timestamp to maintain its position in the stack.
US08380601B2
A system for and method of tracking a loan from a pool of assets is presented. The pool of assets may be legally owned by a single entity, but with separate individual investors owning an economic beneficial interest in a portion of the pool. The system and method provide a technique that allows for tax transparency for income generated by loans of such individual investor's associated assets. Moreover, the system and method allow for the separate individual investors to be domiciled in different tax jurisdictions.
US08380595B1
Various problems currently exist in the operation of using prediction markets for corporate forecasting. One of these problems we address is the problem related to the “consistency and consolidation of metrics”. We hierarchically structure and link sets of markets traded using an automated market maker and dynamically balance markets.
US08380592B2
A tax return is processed by receiving tax information associated with a taxpayer where the tax information is in a plurality of formats. The tax information is converted into a common electronic format. A determination is made whether the tax information is sufficient to generate a tax return therefrom. A tax return is generated if the tax information has been determined to be sufficient.
US08380590B1
A method and system for detecting and categorizing recurring income whereby financial transaction data associated with a given user is obtained from one or more sources. One or more income identification parameters are defined. The given user identifies one or more deposit transactions included in the financial transaction data as an income transaction. The one or more income identification parameter values associated with one or more unidentified deposit transactions are then compared with the income identification parameter values associated with the user identified income transactions. Any of one or more unidentified deposit transactions having income identification parameter values the same as, or sufficiently similar to, the income identification parameter values associated with the user identified income transactions are then categorized as identified income transactions of the same type, and/or as being from the same given payor/income source, as the user identified income transactions.
US08380582B2
Content can be annotated with indications that contextually-related content associated with the annotation is available to a user in order to allow a user to more easily locate and access contextually-related content, particularly where hypertext links are unsuitable, such as for graphic and/or audio content. The location of the annotation within the content can indicate the portion of the content to which the contextually-related content pertains, and can be associated with a summary of the contextually-related content, such as a summary of the content, a brief explanation of the relatedness of the related content, and/or an indication of the source or the contextually-related content.
US08380575B2
Various systems and methods are provided for prioritized sending of transaction messages to an electronic exchange. According to one embodiment, a system determines a priority level for each transaction message based on a potential monetary reward or risk associated with sending or delaying the message. Once the priority levels are determined, the messages may be sent based on the priority levels. Additionally, each priority level may be associated with a predetermined threshold level. If a message threshold is reached, a new message corresponding to that priority level is queued until the message may be transmitted without exceeding the threshold limit.
US08380567B2
The present invention relates to certain methods and systems for promoting the sale of goods and services. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, such methods generally comprise the steps of (1) selling a first good or service to a customer for a discounted price that is less than a standard price, (2) establishing a sales goal (which represents an amount of desired sales of a second good or service to customers during a promotional period), and (3) issuing a credit to, or receiving a payment from, each participating customer based on a level of success achieved towards the sales goal. The invention provides that the extent to which the sales goal is achieved depends on the aggregate sales of the second good or service to the public at large, and is not dependent upon the sales or activity of any single customer.
US08380566B2
An interactive direct response system combines the use of short text message systems (SMS) via cell phones (100) with a database (102) and website to enable advertisers to view in real time customer responses to a direct response campaign. Customers are invited to respond to a defined advertisement on for example a billboard by responding to a single telephone number associated with the website by sending a text message linked to that particular advertisement, i.e. a single word (104,106). A computer receives and analyses the responses and sends an acknowledgement message to the customer.
US08380561B1
A method for scoring a haptic device using subjective and objective measurements is disclosed. A method of process, in one embodiment, is configured to obtain multiple objective measurements and the subjective measurements, wherein the objective measurements describe the performance of the haptic device. The subjective measurements indicate users' feedback and/or experience in connection with the haptic device. The process is capable of generating a score in response to the objective measurements and the subjective measurements. The score, for example, can be used to rate and/or evaluate the performance of the haptic device.
US08380549B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing embedded support. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include, for example, a Support Request Processing process component that handles a request reflecting the initial inquiry to clarify and solve an incident during the operations of an IT system and a Software Problem Reporting process component that handles the collection and reporting of context data in the IT system.
US08380542B2
In an exemplary embodiment, a server receives from a communication device (i) an identifier of a patient and (ii) a login credential associated with an individual. The server makes a determination based on the login credential that the individual is authorized to access a patient record of the patient. Subsequent to making the determination, the server prepares an assessment based on the patient record, and provides the assessment to the communication device. The assessment includes a measurement. The server subsequently receives a measurement result from the communication device and updates the patient record based on the measurement result. The server prepares a care plan based on the patient record and provides the care plan to the communication device. The care plan includes a task. The server subsequently receives a task status from the communication device and updates the patient record based on the task status.
US08380538B2
The present invention relates generally to a method of displaying which treatment plan is administered at each fraction of a complete radiotherapy treatment, comprising displaying treatment plans P1 through Pn, receiving an input that designates which plan or multiple plans from plans P1 through Pn will be administered for each treatment day T1 through Tm, and receiving an input that designates an order of administration of the treatment plans for each treatment day T1 through Tm. This method also includes linking the designated treatment plans with the designated treatment days T1 through Tm, displaying the links as treatment fractions, displaying the treatment fractions in a sequential order, providing a function that sums the designated treatment plans for each treatment day T1 through Tm, providing a component for exchanging the designated treatment plans, providing a component for removing or changing the order of administration, providing a component for approving the fractions and the order of administration, and preventing changes of the fractions and changes of the order of administration after an approval is received.
US08380524B2
A method for optimization of rate-distortion for Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). The method provides for the identification of quantized spectral coefficient sequences for optimization of rate-distortion. The method also provides joint optimization of scale factors, Huffman codebooks and quantized spectral coefficient sequences for minimization of a rate-distortion cost. The method provides an iterative rate-distortion optimization algorithm for AAC encoding. In each iteration, the method first finds the optimal scale factors and quantized spectral coefficients when Huffman codebooks are fixed, then updates Huffman codebooks and quantized spectral coefficients given the optimized scale factors. The iterations may be applied until a predetermined threshold is attained.
US08380521B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate verbal control of conference call features are provided. Automatic speech recognition functionality is deployed in a conferencing platform. Hot words are configured in the conference platform that may be identified in speech supplied to a conference call. Upon recognition of a hot word, a corresponding feature may be invoked. A speaker may be identified using speaker identification technologies. Identification of the speaker may be utilized to fulfill the speaker's request in response to recognition of a hot word and the speaker. Particular participants may be provided with conference control privileges that are not provided to other participants. Upon recognition of a hot word, the speaker may be identified to determine if the speaker is authorized to invoke the conference feature associated with the hot word.
US08380518B2
Provided are device, method, and medium for generating an audio fingerprint and retrieving audio data. The device for generating an audio fingerprint includes: a coefficient extracting section partially decoding audio data in a compression area and extracting MDCT (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) coefficients; a coefficient selecting section selecting an MDCT coefficient robust to noises from the extracted MDCT coefficients; a modulation spectrum generating section transforming the selected MDCT coefficient by the use of a Fourier transform method and generating a modulation spectrum; and a bit conversion section quantizing the generated modulation spectrum and generating an audio fingerprint. As a result, it is possible to accurately and rapidly retrieve the audio data recorded in a variety of environments. Since elements based on MP3 are used, it is possible to apply to MP3 applications in various manners. In addition, it is possible to apply to classification of audio data such as classification of music moods and classification of music genres and various other fields such as extraction of a specific event from moving images of sports.
US08380516B2
A method of obtaining information using a mobile device can include receiving a request including speech data from the mobile device, and querying a network service using query information extracted from the speech data, whereby search results are received from the network service. The search results can be formatted for presentation on a display of the mobile device. The search results further can be sent, along with a voice grammar generated from the search results, to the mobile device. The mobile device then can render the search results.
US08380507B2
Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized from text strings associated with media assets, where each text string can be associated with a native string language (e.g., the language of the string). When several text strings are associated with at least two distinct languages, a series of rules can be applied to the strings to identify a single voice language to use for synthesizing the speech content from the text strings. In some embodiments, a prioritization scheme can be applied to the text strings to identify the more important text strings. The rules can include, for example, selecting a voice language based on the prioritization scheme, a default language associated with an electronic device, the ability of a voice language to speak text in a different language, or any other suitable rule.
US08380503B2
Challenge items for an audible based electronic challenge system are generated using a variety of techniques to identify optimal candidates. The challenge items are intended for use in a computing system that discriminates between humans and text to speech (TTS) system.
US08380502B1
A system receives a voice search query from a user, derives recognition hypotheses from the voice search query, and determines scores associated with the recognition hypotheses, the scores being based on a comparison of the recognition hypotheses to previously received search queries. The system discards at least one of the recognition hypotheses that is associated with a first score that is less than a threshold value, and constructs a first query using at least one non-discarded recognition hypothesis, where the at least one first non-discarded recognition hypothesis is associated with a second score that at least meets the threshold value. The system forwards the first query to a search system, receives first results associated with the first query, and provides the first results to the user.
US08380489B1
A method for quantitatively assessing associations between different terms in a natural language includes obtaining a first group of sentences, at least some of which comprise an object name, parsing each of the first group of sentences to identify a subject and a predicate, assigning a sentence type to each of the first group of sentences according to the location of the object name in the sentence, tokenizing each of the first group of sentences to produce a plurality of tokens that includes a jth token, and adding a weighting coefficient to a parameter token_j_count for each sentence that includes the jth token, wherein the weighting coefficient is dependent on the sentence type. A cumulative value of the parameter token_j_count obtained from the first group of sentences is divided by the total number of sentences in the first group to produce an internal association strength for the jth token.
US08380483B2
A system and method for computing dataflow in concurrent programs of a computer system, includes, given a family of threads (U1, . . . , Um) and a Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) property, f, for a concurrent program, computing a cutoff for the LTL property, f, where c is called the cutoff if for all n greater than or equal to c, Un satisfies f if Uc satisfies f. The cutoff is computed using weighted multi-automata for internal transitions of the threads. Model checking a cutoff number of processes is performed to verify race freedom in the concurrent program.
US08380478B2
Semiconductor fabrication using statistical analysis (400) to determine the robustness or reliability of a fabricated integrated circuit module given global and local variations of operating parameters of elements, such as transistors, of the module. Multiple sequences of statistical simulations (408, 414) are run to ascertain (416) the robustness of the module to local variations in an environment of global variations.
US08380477B2
The present invention certifies control modules of engineered safety feature instruments for a power plant automatically. The control modules can be tested before storing or operating. The test is done with enhanced testing speed and saved cost. Thus, safety of the control modules is confirmed.
US08380472B2
A system and method for yield management are disclosed wherein a data set containing one or more prediction variable values and one or more response variable values is input into the system. The system can process the input data set to remove prediction variables with missing values and data sets with missing values based on a tiered splitting method to maximize usage of all valid data points. The processed data can then be used to generate a model that may be a decision tree. The system can accept user input to modify the generated model. Once the model is complete, one or more statistical analysis tools can be used to analyze the data and generate a list of the key yield factors for the particular data set.
US08380468B1
A system, method, and software program for facilitating the assignment of cell specifications to a plurality of cells of a system design. The methods include generating a plurality of candidate cell specifications that meet the specification for the system design. In one embodiment, the method entails using information related to intra-range preference for cell specifications to generate a set of alternative system pareto-optimal solutions which define a boundary of a region of candidate cell specifications. In another embodiment, the method entails generating a substantially uniform set of candidate cell specifications using a prediction-based performance model, such as support vector regression model or cluster-weighted model, an optimizing algorithm such as conjugate-gradient or Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method, and a sample density model. The method may also include graphically displaying substantially uniformly distributed cell performance data and corresponding system performance data, and allowing a user to focus on regions-of-interest via a selectable range graphic feature.
US08380460B2
A method for identifying tire positions of a dual rear tire vehicle having front tires and a pair of dual rear tires. The dual rear tires include an inner rear tire and an outer rear tire. The method includes providing a set of tire monitoring modules attached to each of the tires, and a processing module operatively attached to the tire monitoring modules. Further, the method includes receiving tire information, including tire pressure signals and rotational direction, from the set of monitoring modules of each of the tires. The method then involves identifying the dual rear tires and the front tires, and the dual rear tires located on right side and left side of the vehicle based on the received tire information. The inner rear tire and the outer rear tire of each of the dual rear tires are also identified based on the received tire information.
US08380458B2
An apparatus and method for detecting whether a mobile device is in flight based on sensor measurements from a 3-dimensional accelerometer are presented. For example, embodiments estimate a direction of gravity and non-gravity acceleration, separate this non-gravity acceleration into a vertical and horizontal components, then test the estimated accelerations to determine whether the mobile device is experiencing sufficient vertical acceleration to warrant an in-flight determination.
US08380453B2
A method for determining the frequency distribution of the signal level of a measured signal measured respectively in overlapping observation intervals via a time or frequency raster. The method includes determining the incrementation of a memory cell in a first memory to be implemented for each measured signal level of the measured signal at a value of the time or frequency raster, and un-delayed summation of the incrementation determined for every memory cell of the first memory in every measurement cycle. The method also includes delayed summation of the incrementation determined for every memory cell of the first memory in every measurement cycle, and subtracting the result of the delayed summation of the incrementation determined for every memory cell of the first memory in every measurement cycle from the result of the un-delayed summation of the incrementation determined for every memory cell of the first memory in every measurement cycle.
US08380451B2
A system and method for monitoring the state of health of a power electronic system. Data representing an initial expected temperature of the circuit element and an initial value of an electrical parameter of the circuit element is obtained. An electrical pulse is applied to the circuit element to heat the circuit element. After the electrical pulse decays to a predetermined value, the electrical parameter of the circuit element is sensed and a subsequent value of the electrical parameter is obtained. A subsequent temperature of the circuit element is estimated based on the initial expected temperature of the circuit element, the initial and subsequent values of the electrical parameter, and the predetermined value of the electrical pulse. Based on the subsequent temperature, the signal that indicates whether the circuit element is operating as expected is generated.
US08380448B2
A leak detection system includes a pressure system that requires leak and/or pressure testing. A pressure sensor coupled to the pressure system senses a first pressure at time0, after which fluid pumping system provides a selected volume of test fluid to the pressure system. The pressure sensor senses a test pressure at time1 and at selected intervals ‘n’ to time(n+1) and transmits a signal reflect of the pressures at each time to a general purpose computer for recording and storage on a computer readable medium. An operating program is configured to calculate a leak detection value, which is a function of a ratio of the first pressure at time0 and the test pressure at time1; the test pressure at time1 and the test pressure at time2; and so on to a test pressure at the timen and the test pressure at the time(n+1). A graphical output is configured to display the leak detection value as a function of time.
US08380444B2
Provided are a method of measuring a concentration of a component in a biochemical sample such as serum, and a method of estimating the reliability of a test result using the method. The method of measuring a concentration of a component includes: preparing plural standard samples having at least one common component which has varying concentrations; measuring absorbances of the component in the standard samples at each of the concentrations for plural light beams having different wavelength bands; determining a regression equation of a relationship between the concentration of the component and the measured absorbances at plural wavelength bands; and applying the regression equation by measuring absorbances at the plural wavelength bands of the biochemical sample and applying the measured plural absorbances of the biochemical sample to the regression equation to calculate the concentration of the component.
US08380435B2
Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (22), or independent component, or diffusion mapping (61) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data (21) on to selected principal components (22, 61). Geologic features may also be identified from pattern analysis (77) or anomaly volumes (62, 79) generated with a variable-scale data similarity matrix (73). The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.
US08380431B2
A vehicle-mounted device 10 includes reception means 60 for receiving a telephone number and positional information about a first point location from a portable device 30, storage means 70 for storing telephone numbers and positional information about multiple second point locations, first comparison means 62a for comparing the telephone number of the first point location with the telephone numbers of the multiple second point locations, second comparison means 62b for comparing the positional information about the first point location with the positional information about the multiple second point locations, display means 63 for displaying a point of interest on a map on the basis of comparison results of the first and second comparison means by using either the positional information about the first point location or the positional information about one of the multiple second point locations corresponding to the first point location. A navigation system 100 includes the above vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 30.
US08380425B2
Autonomous collision avoidance systems for unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed. Systems illustratively include a detect and track module, an inertial navigation system, and an auto avoidance module. The detect and track module senses a potential object of collision and generates a moving object track for the potential object of collision. The inertial navigation system provides information indicative of a position and a velocity of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The auto avoidance module receives the moving object track for the potential object of collision and the information indicative of the position and the velocity of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The auto avoidance module utilizes the information to generate a guidance maneuver that facilitates the unmanned aerial vehicle avoiding the potential object of collision.
US08380418B2
A disc braking system of a vehicle determines the actual temperature of a brake rotor. The disc braking system compares the actual temperature of the brake rotor to a critical temperature of the brake rotor. The critical temperature of the brake rotor is a temperature above which damage and/or warping to the brake rotor may occur. The disc braking system applies a corrective measure to prevent damage to the brake rotor when the actual temperature of the brake rotor is greater than the critical temperature of the brake rotor. The corrective measure may include, but is not limited to: displaying a warning, adjusting a fraction control system of the vehicle, scheduling maintenance for the vehicle.
US08380414B2
A system for simulating brake feel for a vehicle braking installation comprising a hydraulic braking system (7, 8) and an electric braking system (9). This system comprises a first chamber (20) containing a force transmitting fluid (21) and in which there slides a hydraulic piston (22) under the control of a manual braking operating member (1), the first chamber (20) communicating with a second, secondary simulation chamber (4) via a simulation valve (3), the degree of opening of which allows a force to be simulated at the brake pedal.
US08380410B2
Provided is a clutch control device capable of highly precisely controlling an engaging force of a clutch even when a rotation of a motor stops or a rotation speed of the motor rapidly decreases. The clutch control device includes: a unit for determining rapid deceleration state for, based on one of the rotation speed of the motor and a rotation angle of the motor, determining a rapid deceleration state of the motor; and a motor current selection unit for, when presence of the rapid deceleration state of the motor is determined, selecting the second motor current detected in each predetermined period as a motor current used for generating the drive signal even when the rotation speed of the motor is equal to or more than the predetermined rotation speed.
US08380409B2
A vehicle power transmission system has a first electric motor, a differential section, a power interruption element forming part of a power transmission path, a second electric motor connected to a power transmission path, and a control device that maintains the output rotational speed of the differential section at a predetermined constant value or at a value within a predetermined range until the engagement of the power interruption element is completed, so as to control a rotational speed of a primary power source by the first electric motor during the period when the state of the vehicle power transmission system is being switched front a non-drive mode to a drive mode.
US08380406B2
A method for changing the timing of gear changes of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle including repetitively updating a current value of a count whose value is a measure of driving behavior, performing an evaluation of driving behavior and updating the current value by a value determined from the evaluation, determining shift schedules that define the occurrence of a gear change to be produced by the transmission, and using the updated current value to establish from among the shift schedules a shift schedule that defines a gear change to be produced by the transmission.
US08380404B2
A control method for controlling, during a gear shifting or during a drive-away, a vehicle provided with an automatic manual transmission, the control method including the steps of: determining, in a design phase, a transmissibility function of a clutch, which provides the torque which is transmitted by clutch according to the degree of opening of clutch itself, determining an engine model in a design phase, determining a target torque which must be transmitted by means of clutch during the gear shifting or during the drive-away, controlling clutch for pursuing target torque which must be transmitted by means of clutch by using the transmissibility function, determining a target engine torque of engine according to target torque which must be transmitted by means of clutch and controlling the engine to pursue a target engine torque by using a feedforward control based on the engine model.
US08380399B2
An Assist Control Unit 61 detects a power generation state of an electric motor where the direction for generating torque of motor current im does not match the rotational direction of steering speed ωx (S12), and calculates an Amount E Corresponding to Power Generation Energy during a period when the power generation state is detected continuously (S15). When the Amount E Corresponding to Power Generation Energy exceeds a Criterion Value E0 (S16: Yes), the state is judged as a reverse input state that a large reverse input is acting on a steering mechanism from a tire. Consequently, a small reverse input state not affecting the steering mechanism is excluded, and a large reverse input state having a risk of affecting the steering mechanism can be detected precisely.
US08380392B2
A processor integrity system in a vehicle includes m main processor modules that control at least m respective functions of the vehicle, where m is n integer greater than or equal to one. A monitoring processor module controls at least one function of the vehicle, communicates with the m main processor modules over a distributed vehicle network, selectively transmits a query to at least one of the m main processor modules over the distributed vehicle network, receives an answer from the at least one of the m main processor modules over the distributed vehicle network, that verifies integrity of the at least one of the m main processor modules based on the answer.
US08380376B2
An apparatus includes an engine; an exhaust gas control apparatus; a first and second electric motors; a power distributing portion that is connected to an engine shaft, a rotating shaft of the first electric motor, and a drive shaft that inputs/outputs power to/from the second electric motor; a power storage device that supplies/receives electric power to/from the two motors; a setting portion that sets a required torque of the drive shaft; and a control portion that, when there is a demand to decelerate the drive shaft while a fuel-supply to the engine is being prohibited, controls the engine and the two motors such that torque based on the required torque is output to the drive shaft and an engine speed is decreased to a self-sustaining speed with the fuel-supply and an adjustment that increases the intake air amount of the engine as the temperature of the power storage device increases.
US08380366B1
An apparatus having a graphical touch screen for flight planning and navigation of an aircraft by a pilot. The touch screen may be a graphical interface operable to detect the presence and location of a physical object on or in proximity to the touch screen. The touch screen may be used to perform functions previously only accessible by knobs and buttons on avionic navigational and/or flight planning units. The apparatus may comprise the touch screen and a control device configured to receive and interpret signals from the touch screen. The control device may command the touch screen to display a map and to modify a stored route, such as a flight plan, based on pilot selections input via various gestures of the object on or proximate to the touch screen.
US08380358B2
A switchgear assembly provides on-board documentation and includes a switchgear adapted to distribute electrical power to a plurality of loads. An industrial computer includes storage, a web server service and a wireless broadcasting device. The storage stores switchgear specific documentation. A mobile computing device wirelessly communicates with the industrial computer through the wireless broadcasting device. The mobile computing device includes a web browser and the documentation is provided to the mobile computing device by the web server service.
US08380347B2
During operation of a vending machine, visual images of the next product to be dispensed from product dispensing locations are obtained. Features of the visual images are compared to a data base of features to determine the identity of the next product to be dispensed from each of the dispensing locations. After a product has been dispensed from a dispensing location, a visual image is obtained of the next product at the dispensing location. Features of the visual image of the next product at the dispensing location are compared to a data base of features to determine the identity of the next product to be dispensed. A displayed price of a product is compared with product prices in the data base. If necessary, the displayed price is adjusted to agree with the data base.
US08380339B2
A polishing pad for chemical mechanical planarization of a film on a substrate is customized by obtaining one or more characteristics of a structure on a substrate. For example, when the structure is a chip formed on a semiconductor wafer, the one or more characteristics of the structure can include chip size, pattern density, chip architecture, film material, film topography, and the like. Based on the one or more characteristics of the structure, a value for the one or more chemical or physical properties of the pad is selected. For example, the one or more chemical or physical properties of the pad can include pad material hardness, thickness, surface grooving, pore size, porosity, Youngs modulus, compressibility, asperity, and the like.
US08380338B2
A method and apparatus for stripping foreign matter from holes in a substrate, such as a turbine component, which includes using a scanner to locate the hole and operating a water jet apparatus to direct a water jet or an abrasive water jet into the hole for stripping. A CAD model of the original turbine component may be used in the control system of the water jet apparatus to initially locate the scanner at the general or theoretical location of the hole. A reverse flow of low pressure water may be provided to further clear foreign matter from the hole.
US08380330B2
There are provided the controlling methods of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus, which cancel the flow control to execute the normal reproduction by the user who looks at the warning display or in response to the reception of the flow control cancel signal from the receiver side. Otherwise, there are provided the controlling methods of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus, which cancel the flow control reception to execute the normal reception without the buffer if the contents with the video is reproduced.
US08380324B2
An implantable lead includes a lead body and at least one safety element. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end. The lead body defines at least one lumen extending along at least a portion of the lead body. The lead body includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed in the lead body, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The at least one safety element is disposed along at least a portion of the lead body and is configured and arranged to reduce damage to patient tissue adjacent to the plurality of electrodes due to heating, induced electrical signals, or both when the lead is exposed to radio frequency irradiation.
US08380315B2
The present disclosure relates to methods, devices and systems used for the treatment of mood, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive and behavioral disorders (collectively, neuropsychiatric disorders) via stimulation of the superficial elements of the trigeminal nerve (“TNS”). More specifically, cutaneous methods of stimulation of the superficial branches of the trigeminal nerve located extracranially in the face, namely the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, auriculotemporal, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticoorbital, zygomaticofacial, infraorbital, nasal and mentalis nerves (also referred to collectively as the superficial trigeminal nerve) are disclosed herein.
US08380302B2
An implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can include one or more MRI Safe components. In an example, the implantable device includes a capacitor including a first electrode including a first slot extending from a perimeter of the first electrode to an interior of the first electrode. A second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a first distance. The second electrode includes a second slot extending from a perimeter of the second electrode to an interior of the second electrode. The first and second slots are configured to at least partially segment surface areas of the first and second electrodes, respectively, to reduce a radial current loop size in each of the first and second electrodes.
US08380293B2
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide monitoring, diagnosis, and defibrillation and/or pacing therapies. A signal processor receives a plurality of composite signals associated with a plurality of sources, performs a source separation, and produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences based on the source separation. A method of signal separation involves detecting a change in a characteristic of the cardiac signal vector relative to a baseline. One or more vectors and/or activation sequences may be selected, and information associated with the vectors and/or activation sequences may be stored and tracked.
US08380291B2
The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.
US08380287B2
A method is disclosed for visualizing bumps of the inner surface of a hollow organ. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring recorded image data of the hollow organ using an imaging system; drawing a cutting edge in the image data along the surface of the hollow organ in the longitudinal direction; preparing the image data to display the surface of the hollow organ along a plane on which the surface is plotted in an opened-up fashion; and changing a viewing angle and/or an illumination angle during a display of the hollow organ, a rotation of the plane along an axis running parallel to the cutting edge and/or along an axis running transversely to the cutting edge being carried out to change the viewing angle. A visualization module, an image processing device with such a visualization module and a tomographic system with such an image processing system.
US08380276B2
A mapping and ablation catheter has contact force sensing capabilities at a distal end. In one embodiment, the catheter includes a catheter body, a deflectable section, and a tip distal tip section which has a tip electrode with a thin-film pressure sensor that is adapted to detect a force vector applied to the tip electrode. The thin-film pressure sensor includes two opposing flexible and thin support members containing a pressure-sensitive material therebetween whose resistivity changes as a result of pressure and is detected by trace electrode intersections supported on interfacing surfaces of the flexible and thin support members. Used with a stop member having a conforming shape against which the thin-film pressure sensor abuts when a force vector is applied to the tip electrode, the pressure sensor can have a 2-D, radially-symmetrical shape, e.g., a disc or ring configuration, or a 3-D, radially-symmetrical shape, e.g., a conical configuration.
US08380271B2
A pulse oximetry system adapted to obtain physiological data. The pulse oximetry system is adapted to store one or more digital audio files on one or more memory media in communication with a patient monitoring system. The pulse oximetry system is adapted to process the one or more digital audio files and to generate an audio signal in response to the physiological data.
US08380270B2
A device for measuring an analyte concentration level in a subject. The device includes: a light source configured for illuminating at least a portion of an anterior region of an eye of the subject with incident light having a substantially broad illumination spectrum at an angle substantially tangential to the surface of the eye; an optical collector configured for detecting reflected light from the at least a portion of the anterior region of the eye; an analyzer configured for analyzing the detected reflected light; and a processor configured to determine the analyte concentration level in the subject based on the analyzed reflected light.
US08380267B2
A superconducting cable system in which at least one superconducting electrical cable is arranged in a cryostat which consists of two metallic tubes, which are arranged concentrically and at a distance from one another. Vacuum insulation is fitted in the circumferential gap formed by the distance between the tubes, which vacuum insulation consists of spaces composed of a material having low thermal conductivity and plastic films coated with a metal and having high reflectivity. The gap is evacuated. In addition, thermally insulating material (9) is arranged in the gap, and its thermally insulating characteristics are independent of the vacuum which is produced between the two tubes (5, 6).
US08380266B2
An RF coil adjacent an imaging region includes a plurality of conducting coil elements, with each conducting coil element including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The RF coil also includes a capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements. A mutual coupling inductance between at least two conducting coil elements of the plurality of conducting coil elements is substantially cancelled by the capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements.
US08380261B2
A mobile terminal includes a main body having a front and a back surface. A sliding body is mounted on the main body so as to be slid face-to-face along the main body. The sliding body has a front surface with at least a key and a display and a back surface. A cradle means is connected to the sliding body so as to be pivoted between a flat position contacting the back surface of the main body and a slanted position spaced away from the back surface of the main body for supporting the main body and sliding body at an angle. A sliding guide module guides the sliding motion of the sliding body face-to-face along the main body.
US08380256B1
A failsafe protection system for a distributed telecommunications site ties power shut off to a network interface unit to power supply conditions at a base transceiver station. In one aspect, the system is integrated with circuitry at the distributed telecommunications site, and includes an electrical power supplying device, a low voltage disconnect and a relay coupled with a DC bus. Additionally, the failsafe protection system includes a first circuit pathway coupling the base transceiver station electronics to the low voltage disconnect and a second circuit pathway coupling the network interface unit to the DC bus through the relay. Both the low voltage disconnect and the relay selectively control the coupling of the base transceiver station and the network interface unit, respectively, with the DC bus.
US08380255B2
A network for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current includes a first node for transmitting power wirelessly in a first area. The first area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength. The network includes a second node for transmitting power wirelessly in a second area. The second area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength and overlaps the first area to define an overlap area. In another embodiment, the network includes a source in communication with the first and second nodes which provides power to them. Also disclosed are methods for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current.
US08380245B2
A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with at least one wireless device associated with a single telephone number serving as a virtual office extension is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit in communication with an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices, including at least one wireless device, associated with a virtual extension telephone number. The remote wireless device can be used as a standard PBX office telephone for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote wireless device even though it is not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to a remote wireless device associated with a virtual extension, or to combination of devices simultaneously, or as desired by the user.
US08380234B2
The technology described in this application provides a wide-area radio access information transmission scheme where the wide-area radio access information transmitter shares its radio resources with local radio access information transmitters. The radio resources may be divided for example in one or more of the time, frequency, space, and/or code domains. The wide-area radio access information transmitter sets aside and does not use some portions or “chunks” of its radio resources and allocates those unused portions or chunks for use by local radio access information transmitters to transmit local radio access information signals. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the radio resources include time slots, and during those time slots allocated to the local radio access information transmitters, the wide-area radio access information transmitter does not transmit, and thus, is quiet. Hence, those allocated time slots are referred to as “quiet periods” from the perspective of the wide-area radio access information transmitter. The wide-area radio access information transmitter can optionally explicitly signal what those resources are to simplify for the local radio access information transmitters who otherwise have to detect those resources themselves.
US08380228B2
Systems and methods for managing power consumption on a trunked network include listening to a control channel on a trunked system with a trunked pager, and receiving a voice channel assignment. The trunked pager listens for voice traffic on the assigned voice channel while in a standby mode. Voice traffic is detected and the trunked pager determines whether the voice traffic is for a communication group that includes the trunked pager. If so, the trunked pager unmutes and listens to the voice traffic. Upon termination of the voice traffic, the trunked pager returns to the control channel to listen for a different voice channel assignment. Otherwise, the trunked pager directly returns to the control channel to listen for a different voice channel assignment.
US08380223B2
An apparatus and method are provided for processing requests by a stand-alone serving mobile location center (SAS), shared by multiple radio access networks in a wireless network, for determining locations of mobile devices within the wireless network. A positioning request message for a mobile device is received from a radio network controller (RNC) in a radio access network (RAN) of the multiple radio access networks. An originating point code (OPC) and a cell identifier are retrieved from the positioning request message. A mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile network code (MNC) corresponding to the RAN are determined based on the retrieved OPC. A serving network node communicating with the mobile device is identified using the cell identifier and the determined MCC and MNC.
US08380215B2
A method and an apparatus of scheduling in a multi-cell cooperative wireless communication system is provided. Scheduling is performed, and scheduling results are transmitted to a neighbor base station (BS). The scheduling results comprise certain information for scheduling to be sequentially performed among base stations. Inter-cell interference can be reduced and scheduling can be performed simply by exchanging signals without a central scheduler.
US08380210B2
An approach is provided for using on-network communication services for wireless calls. Dialed digits associated with a call originated from a wireless network are received. It is then determined whether the dialed digits include either a steering digit or a pre-determined prefix. The call is routed according to an abbreviated dialing plan if the steering digit or the pre-determined prefix is present.
US08380207B2
A system and methodology that resolves complex mobility handling issues in Long Term evolution (LTE) networks, overlaid with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) macro and UMTS femtocells that share a common UMTS Absolute Radio Frequency Number (UARFCN), is provided. Moreover, an LTE user equipment (UE) includes a femto identification component that differentiates between the UMTS macro and UMTS femtocells by employing Location Area Code (LAC) data. In an aspect, the femto identification component ensures that the LTE UE connects to the UMTS femtocell as soon as the LTE UE enters the UMTS femtocell coverage area, even when the LTE radio frequency (RF) signal is deemed sufficient for communication. Further, the femto identification component ensures that the LTE UE stays connected to the LTE network, as long as possible, while outside of the UMTS femtocell coverage area.
US08380206B1
A user equipment UE reports its mobility state in signaling for establishing, re-establishing, or re-configuring a radio connection between the UE and a network access node. In one embodiment the reported mobility state is selected from among normal; medium and high. In another embodiment the reported mobility state informs of a number of cell changes the UE has performed within a predetermined evaluation period. The UE may also include an indication whether a hysteresis period for entering into a normal mobility state is running for the UE. The network configures the UE in dependence on the reported mobility state, such as setting a parameter for measuring or reporting neighbor cells (e.g., suspend a serving cell quality threshold as a condition for measuring/reporting; limit inter-frequency and/or inter-radio access technology reporting; set a shortest measurement reporting gap; disable an event trigger; and/or set layer 3 filtering of measurement results for faster reporting).
US08380203B1
A communication device using a current wireless network via a first access point confirms availability of a second access point before breaking the current connection. To confirm availability of the second access point, the communication device sends a power management message that causes the first access point to store packets during the power management period. After the connection to the second access point is confirmed, the second session may be put on hold using the same technique while the connection to the first access point is restored, the stored packets processed and the connection closed. Then the connection to the second access point may be reactivated and further communication made through the second access point.
US08380201B2
A radio base station managing a handover source cell decides a method for achieving a handover in consideration of CSG-ID and Access Mode of a handover destination cell. A mobile communication method comprises: a step of notifying, by a radio base station HeNB#1, a radio base station HeNB#2 of CSG-ID and Access Mode of cell subordinate to a radio base station HeNB#1, when establishing an X2 connection with the radio base stations HeNB#2; the radio base station HeNB#2 managing the CSG-ID and the Access Mode of the cell subordinate to the radio base station HeNB#1; a step of deciding the method for performing the handover of the mobile station UE from the cell subordinate to the radio base station HeNB#2 to the cell subordinate to the radio base station HeNB#1 on the basis of the managed CSG-ID and Access Mode of the cell subordinate to the radio base station HeNB#1.
US08380200B1
A mobile station has a transmitter, a first receiver, and a second receiver, each of which can be configured to use a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. The mobile station uses the transmitter and the first receiver to engage in a communication session via a serving base station that uses the first radio access technology. When a degradation in quality of the communication session is detected, the mobile station evaluates a target base station by transmitting a trial communication to the serving base station and receiving, through the second receiver, a trial response from a target base station. The target base station uses the second radio access technology. If the trial response is acceptable, the mobile station requests a handover of the communication session to the target base station. The mobile station may select the target base station from a multi-technology neighbor list.
US08380196B2
A method and arrangement for handover wherein the handover resource (the dedicated random access preamble) is reserved by the target radio base station (RBS) for a limited period of time, thus increasing the handover efficiency and thereby allowing random access preambles to be used for initial access to a larger extent. The information about the reserved time interval is sent to the UE in the handover command message by means of a frame number offset between the source RBS and the target RBS. The UE uses the information to calculate when to send its synchronization message to the target RBS. The frame number offset is calculated either by source RBS or by target RBS.
US08380194B2
Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.
US08380186B2
A space segment for a radioterminal communications system includes a satellite having service link antennas of different sizes that are configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal. The service link antennas of different size may serve different sized geographic areas, which may at least partially overlap. Analogous radioterminal communications methods also are provided.
US08380185B1
A method of activating an application test mode on a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a message addressed to the mobile device. Upon receiving the message, and prior to sending the message to the mobile device, a determination is made as to whether the message contains a test-mode instruction for the mobile device to activate a test mode. When the message contains the test-mode instruction, then prior to sending the message to the mobile device, the message is modified to include destination information of a network component to which a confirmation message indicating the test mode is activated on the mobile device should be sent. The message is sent to the mobile device.
US08380178B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for presenting carrier-specific information associated with an incoming communication on a mobile network. The method, system, and medium include a device that receives call information associated with an incoming call. The call information includes carrier-identification information that is useable to identify an originating carrier responsible for originating the incoming call. The carrier-identification information is communicated to a database and the database retrieves carrier-specific data. The carrier-specific data is communicated to a mobile device and presented via a presentation component coupled to the mobile device. The carrier-specific data may include a carrier identifier (“carrier-ID”), geographic designation, and a denotation as to whether the incoming communication is an in-carrier communication versus an inter-carrier communication. The presentation component may include a display, a speaker, and a vibration apparatus.
US08380174B2
Techniques for use in a mobile telephone for configuring voice mailbox configuration information at a remote voicemail system for storage in association with a voice mailbox of the mobile telephone. The mobile telephone displays, in a GUI, a user input prompt for initializing or changing the information. In response to the user input prompt, the mobile telephone receives the information that is input via the GUI and stores the information in memory. After receiving and storing the information, the mobile telephone initiates a connection with the system via a wireless network. The mobile telephone transmits, via the wireless network, and over the connection to the system, the stored information and a command for initializing or changing the information of the voice mailbox at the system. The mobile telephone accesses, via the wireless network, voicemail from the voice mailbox of the system which utilizes the information.
US08380172B1
A method of communication is provided. The method comprises receiving a voice call and, based on receiving the voice call, accessing a plurality of stored messages transmitted by an originator of the voice call. The method further comprises presenting the identity of the originator of the voice call and at least part of one of the stored messages.
US08380168B2
A game apparatus 10 transmits a connection request including identification information to an access point apparatus 1 (S1). In response to the transmission of the connection request, the access point apparatus 1 allows a user to select whether or not to permit connection with the game apparatus 10. When the connection with the game apparatus 10 is permitted, the access point apparatus 1 registers identification information of the game apparatus 10 in a registration list (S2), and transmits a connection response representing the permission of the connection to the game apparatus 10 (S3). In response to this, the game apparatus 10 transmits an authentication request (S5). When identification information included in the authentication request is registered in the registration list, authentication processing between the access point apparatus 1 and the game apparatus 10 is started.
US08380164B2
The present invention relates to a billing system, method, a service server and end-point terminal respectively which allows the end-point terminal to use billing authentication information of another mobile communication terminal. The billing system comprises: a first mobile communication terminal and at least a second mobile communication terminal with each mobile communication terminal connected in common to a service server through a mobile communication network in which said end-point terminal is connected to said first mobile communication terminal through a first short-range communication network for providing contents to the first end-point terminal that uses the billing authentication information of the second mobile communication terminal and a billing server for performing a billing process if the service server transmits contents to the first end-point terminal upon validation by the service server by comparing the billing authentication information transmitted from the first end-point terminal with billing authentication information received from the second mobile communication terminal to determine if a match exists.
US08380163B2
The invention relates to a method and system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, in which a message request is received from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user, and wherein the mobile phone user is charged only once for a predefined amount or number of message-related services or products, thereby making the billing experience clearer to the user.
US08380157B2
Systems and methods for implementing an up-conversion mixer with signal processing are disclosed.
US08380154B2
In a method of mitigating interference for received signals in a communication system, receiving S10 a transmitted signal via at least two antenna elements, estimating S20 a channel for the received signals, and estimating S30 a disturbance covariance matrix based on the channel estimate, which estimated disturbance covariance matrix represents received interference plus noise of the received signals. Subsequently, adapting S40 the estimated covariance matrix by enhancing the diagonal elements of the covariance matrix to provide an enhanced covariance matrix, to reduce the spread in eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, and thereby improve the robustness of the covariance matrix. Finally, selectively S50 using IRC and/or MRC to mitigate interference of the received signals, based on at least the channel estimate and on the enhanced covariance matrix, to provide a received signal with improved quality on channels with Doppler frequency.
US08380151B2
Aspects of a method and system for reducing the complexity of multi-frequency hypothesis testing using an iterative approach may include estimating a frequency offset of a received signal via a plurality of iterative frequency offset hypotheses tests. The iterative frequency offset hypotheses may be adjusted for each iteration. A correlation may be done between a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and one or more frequency offset versions of a received signal to control the adjustment of the iterative frequency offset hypotheses. A frequency of the received local oscillator signal may be adjusted based on the estimated frequency offset. One or more frequency offset version of the received signal may be generated via one or more multiplication, and the multiplication may be achieved via a multiplication signal corresponding to one or more frequency offsets. The frequency offset of the received signal may be estimated via the correlation.
US08380145B2
An integrated circuit for a wireless communication unit has a transmit power control system employing a quadrature (I/Q) based power detector having at least one reference path and at least one detector path. The integrated circuit includes: a first quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a transmit signal and a second quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a detector signal input to the at least one detector path; a first quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the transmit signal and output a reference signal to the at least one reference path; a second quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the reference signal input to the at least one reference path, and a third quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the detector signal input from the at least one detector path.
US08380143B2
An embodiment of the invention is a time-delay invariant predistortion approach to linearize power amplifiers in wireless RF transmitters. The predistortion architecture is based on the stored-compensation or memory-compensation principle by using a combined time-delay addressing method, and therefore, the architecture has an intrinsic, self-calibrating time-delay compensation function. The predistortion architecture only uses a lookup table to conduct both the correction of non-linear responses of a power amplifier and the compensation of any time-delay effects presented in the same system. Due to the time-delay invariant characteristic, the predistortion design has a wider dynamic range processing advantage for wireless RF signals, and therefore can be implemented in multi-carrier and multi-channel wireless systems.
US08380135B2
A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment receives an antenna group selection indicator indicating an antenna group comprising two or more activated transmit antennas among a plurality of transmit antennas, selects a transmit antenna to be activated according to the antenna group selection indicator, and transmits the data by supplying power to a power amplifier corresponding to the selected transmit antenna, wherein the number of power amplifiers is less than the number of transmit antennas and a type of the antenna group is determined according to the number of the power amplifiers. Accordingly, information on an antenna group in use among a plurality of antennas can be effectively transmitted.
US08380131B2
A frequency selection system includes a wireless microphone and a receiver. The wireless microphone includes a microphone element for receiving sound and outputting a corresponding audio signal, and a transceiver device electrically coupled to the microphone element for wireless transmission of the audio signal and configuration communication. The transceiver device has a first communication unit operable to receive a frequency code. The transceiver device also includes a wireless transmission unit operable to wirelessly transmit the audio signal received from the microphone element using a wireless transmission frequency that corresponds to the frequency code received by the first communication unit. The receiver includes a second communication unit for wirelessly receiving a command code from the first communication unit and wirelessly sending the frequency code to the first communication unit.
US08380125B2
A Bluetooth device searches for another Bluetooth device or a Bluetooth command in response to a user intervention event. A user intervention event can take many forms, such as, for example, a connection to a power source or communication device, a mechanical configuration change, or a user input. Specifically, a Bluetooth device begins searching when the user intervention event takes place. To list some examples, the Bluetooth device may enter a page state, a page scan state, an inquiry state or an inquiry scan state in response to the user intervention. Alternatively, as more examples, if the Bluetooth device is in a sniff mode, a hold mode or a park state, the Bluetooth device may enter the active mode in response to the user intervention event.
US08380124B2
A communication system by electrostatic coupling and electromagnetic induction includes: a first transmission part (3a) and a first reception part (3b) which exchange data therebetween through non-contact communication using electrostatic coupling; a second transmission part (4a) and a second reception part (4b) which exchange data therebetween through non-contact communication using electromagnetic induction; and an image display device (8) which displays an image based on the data thus received. With this configuration, it is possible to make communication performed by the first transmission part (3a) and the first reception part (3b) communication with higher speed, larger volume, and higher reliability.
US08380123B2
The present invention relates to a method of arranging distributed repeaters and distributed repeater system in a mobile communication system. In a method of arranging at least one base station and repeaters in a mobile communication system, a base station cell is formed and N repeater service areas are formed at boundaries of the base station cell. A base station is arranged at the center of the base station cell and N repeaters are arranged at boundaries between the base station service area and the repeater service areas. The number of repeaters is determined and output powers of the base station and the repeaters are determined according to a ratio of a base station service radius (R) to each repeater service radius (r). Accordingly, UARI or DARI is decreased, and coverage holes and excessive coverage overlaps can be remarkably reduced, so that network average capacity can be improved.
US08380120B1
A message storage apparatus that can stimulate creativity and imagination of children and adolescents is disclosed. The apparatus facilitates storage of messages such as secrets, memories, notes, diary entries, wishes, dreams, trivia and other educational facts, quiz and other game questions, valentines, etc. More particularly, the apparatus can virtually (or physically) store intangible (and tangible) messages, thereby enhancing creativity and imagination. The message storage apparatus has a message delivery system that receives a message and delivers it securely to a storage chamber where the message can be accessed at a later time.
US08380118B2
An apparatus and method that operates a stripper finger. The apparatus can include a media path configured to transport a media sheet. The apparatus can include a rotational member configured to contact the media sheet. The apparatus can include a stripper finger having a length along a longitudinal axis. The stripper finger can include tip at an end of the length. The stripper finger can be configured to selectively engage and disengage contact between the tip and the rotational member to selectively strip the media sheet from the rotational member.
US08380108B2
A fixing device includes a main body mounted on an image forming apparatus body; a fixing member that is included in the main body and that fixes an image to a recording medium; a pair of conveying rolls that is supported by the main body and that conveys the recording medium to which an image is fixed by the fixing member, the pair of conveying rolls comprising a driven roll and a driving roll disposed under the driven roll; and an exterior portion that is formed in the main body, disposed under the driving roll, forms an exterior face of the main body, and also forms an exterior face of the image forming apparatus body while the main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus body.
US08380100B2
Disclosed is a fusing device and more particularly, is a fusing device having an improved configuration to apply voltage to a press roller to achieve an enhanced image quality. The fusing device includes a first roller configured to produce heat and a second roller configured to apply pressure on the first roller. The first roller can include a shaft configured to rotate and having a conductive material, a first member configured to surround the shaft and having a non-conductive and elastic material, a second member configured to surround the first member and having a conductive film, and a third member having a conductive material and configured to electrically connect the shaft and the second member.
US08380096B2
An image forming apparatus including an image formation device that forms an image on a recording medium at an image formation position; a transfer path that reverses and transfers the recording medium to the image formation position; a pair of rotation rollers that nip the recording medium in the transfer path at an upstream position relative to the position where the recording medium is completely reversed; a pull-in path provided at a downstream position relative to the pair of rotation rollers situated in the transfer path, to which the recording medium is pulled in; and a transfer control device that controls pulling in the recording medium to the pull-in path after the rear end of the recording medium passes through the pair of rotation rollers when the recording medium is fed to and transferred in the transfer path, wherein no pair of rollers that impart a transfer force to the recording medium are provided in the pull-in range of the recording medium in the pull-in path.
US08380092B2
In this toner concentration sensor, as the magnetic permeability of a two-component developer 3 containing toner and carrier in a two-component developing unit 1 has changed with changing TC ratio of the two-component developer, the oscillation frequency of a first oscillation circuit 20 having a detection coil 5 changes, on the other hand the oscillation frequency of a second oscillation circuit 30 having a reference coil 6 does not change. While, changes in temperature conditions cause the oscillation frequency of the second oscillation circuit to change in the same way as the oscillation frequency of the first oscillation circuit. Therefore, utilizing a difference between the oscillation frequencies of the first and second oscillation circuits makes it possible to cancel out changes in the temperature conditions so that a value corresponding to only the magnetic permeability of the two-component developer can be obtained. Thus, detection errors of toner concentration due to temperature changes can be reliably prevented.
US08380072B2
A network includes an optical sensor network; and a radio frequency (RF) wireless sensor network coupled to the optical sensor network, wherein the optical sensor network and the RF wireless sensor network communications are coordinated over both optical and wireless links.
US08380070B2
An upgrading method, a system, and an apparatus of a low-density wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system are provided. The method includes: detecting an output wavelength shift of a wavelength conversion unit, and adjusting an output wavelength of the wavelength conversion unit having the output wavelength shift higher than a threshold, so that the output wavelength shift of the wavelength conversion unit is lower than the threshold; adjusting an adjustable interleaved demultiplexer, until requirements for a demultiplexing parameter of a high-density WDM system are met. Thus, the problem that services are interrupted when a low-density MDM system is upgraded to a high-density MDM system is solved. A WDM system, and a wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus and method are also provided.
US08380067B2
A tunable chromatic dispersion compensation device used to compensate chromatic dispersion of wavelength of at least one predetermined wavelength band of light signal is provided. The tunable chromatic dispersion compensation device comprises a chromatic dispersion compensator, and a controller. The chromatic dispersion compensator comprises at least a first chromatic dispersion compensation unit and a second chromatic dispersion compensation unit connected with the first chromatic dispersion compensation unit in series. The first chromatic dispersion compensation unit has a free spectral range, the second chromatic dispersion compensation unit has a free spectral range same as to that of the first chromatic dispersion compensation unit. Each chromatic dispersion compensation unit comprises an interference cavity. The controller comprises an inputting unit being configured for inputting a predetermined chromatic dispersion compensation information. The controller is configured for selectively adjusting refractive index of the interference cavity of a corresponding chromatic dispersion compensation unit so as to control chromatic dispersion. A tunable chromatic dispersion compensation is also provided.
US08380063B2
The invention relates to a network of switched optical fiber for airplane seats. The network connects the screens of the seats to each other and to a server via an optical fiber. The network includes optical switches of the MEMS type including mirrors, said switches being provided perpendicular to each seat. Each switch delivers the light beam in the optical fiber to the screen with which it is connected and re-amplifies it in the optical fiber when it is powered, while the switch directly delivers the light beam to the following seat when it is not powered.
US08380058B2
An exemplary camera includes a lens module, a rotatable board, and a number of secondary lenses. The lens module is positioned on a substrate and defines an optical axis at the central axis thereof. The rotatable board is positioned above the lens module and rotatable to a number of discrete positions. The secondary lenses are located on the rotatable board. In each discrete position, one of the secondary lenses is optically aligned with the lens module.
US08380057B2
An anti-shake structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module for driving a lens to move forward and rearward in a light incident path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so that the lens focuses light on an image sensor; a frame for holding the auto-focus module therein; a lens suspender with a compensation lens arranged thereon being connected to a plurality of suspension wires while the latter are connected at respective another end to the top cover plate of the frame, so that the compensation lens is correspondingly suspended in the frame in the light incident path and located behind the lens; and a shake compensation driving unit for driving the lens suspender to move horizontally along x-axis or y-axis direction, so as to compensate any image shift caused by hand shaking.
US08380053B2
A system and method for allocating video processing tasks over multiple video processors include an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of video processors. Each video processor includes a first processor that processes video data and manages buffers used in conversion and displaying video data. The video processor includes a second processor that performs video data signal processing and manages buffers used in processing video data. The apparatus also includes a switch coupled to each video processor, as well as video inputs and video outputs. A third processor coupled to the switch, and a memory coupled to each video processor and to the third processor, are also part of the apparatus. The switch selectively couples a video processor to a video input or a video output, the third processor configures the switch based on processing requirements of each video stream, and the memory buffers and stores video data.
US08380046B2
A program recording assist apparatus is configured to notify permission or inhibition of copying or moving of program data of an unrecorded program designated to be recorded, before recording or moving the program data to a recording medium. The apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine permission or inhibition of sequential recording or moving of the program data to a plurality of recording mediums based on a copy control attribute of the program, type of recording medium, and a recording mode used at a time of recording to the recording medium, and a control unit configured to display a path capable of recording or moving the program data to the plurality of recording mediums on a display device based on the result determined by the determination unit.
US08380045B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating unique signatures for digital video files to locate video sequences within a video file comprising calculating a frame signature for each frame of a first video; and for a second video: calculating a frame signature for each frame of the second video for corresponding first video frame signatures, calculating a frame distance between each of the corresponding video frame signatures, determining video signature similarity between the videos, and searching within a video signature similarity curve to determine a maximum corresponding to the first video within the second video. The method further applies area augmentation to the video signature similarity curve to determine a maximum from among a plurality of maxima corresponding to the first video file within the second video file.
US08380027B2
Erasable ion implanted optical couplers are described. In one example a method includes implanting ions into a substrate to form a grating in a waveguide of an optical device coupling optical signals into and out of the waveguide and through the grating, and annealing the substrate to remove the grating after coupling optical signals through the waveguide.
US08380024B1
An integrated electro-optical fluid rotary joint has been invented in which optical signals, electrical power, and/or signal(s), as well as fluids can be simultaneously transmitted across a common rotary-stationary interface between two relatively rotatable members for such applications, as a tethered aerostats, and tethered ROV. It consists of a main stator, a main rotor rotatable relative to said main stator. An electrical rotary joint, or slip ring, a fiber optical rotary joint, and a fluid rotary joint are integrated together on the main stator and main rotor. As a result, when the main rotor rotates relative to the main stator, optical signals, electrical power, and/or signal(s), as well as fluids from the main rotor can be transmitted to the main stator, and vise versa.
US08380023B2
A waveguide-type optical circuit comprises an optical coupler being an optical branch coupler constructed from waveguide cores which are closely arranged to each other, and dummy patterns that lay along sides of the waveguide cores in the optical coupler for preventing optical major axes of the waveguide cores from inclining.
US08380020B2
The planar optical structure forms an evanescent-field measuring platform. A body is made from the thermoplastic plastic with a three-dimensionally structured surface, wherein molding is performed directly from a master made of glass coated with metal oxide, without deposition of further coatings on a surface of the master. The planar optical structure forming an evanescent-field measuring platform has a first essentially optically transparent, waveguiding layer (a) with a refractive index n1 and a second essentially optical transparent layer (b) with refractive index n2, where n1>n2, in a case of an embodiment of a planar optical film waveguide, or a metal layer (a′) and a second layer (b), in a case of an embodiment for generating a surface plasmon resonance, wherein the second layer (b) includes a material from a group of cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.
US08380011B2
Described is a technology in which a low resolution image is processed into a high-resolution image, including by a two interpolation passes. In the first pass, missing in-block pixels, which are the pixels within a block formed by four neighboring original pixels, are given values by gradient diffusion based upon interpolation of the surrounding original pixels. In the second interpolation pass, missing on-block pixels, which are the pixels on a block edge formed by two adjacent original pixels, are given values by gradient diffusion based upon interpolation of the values of those adjacent original pixels and the previously interpolated values of their adjacent in-block pixels. Also described is a difference projection process that varies the values of the interpolated pixels according to a computed difference projection.
US08380007B2
System and method for enabling intra-operative selection of an image registration transformation for use in displaying a first image dataset and a second image dataset in correspondence with one another. Image dataset acquisition devices (12, 14) obtain the first and second image datasets. A similarity function indicative of a likelihood that the first and second image datasets are in correspondence with one another is computed by a processor (16) and then a ranking of each of a plurality of local maxima of the similarity function is determined. Registration transformations derived from a plurality of the local maxima are displayed on a display (18), and using a user-interface (22), a physician can select each registration transformation to ascertain visually whether it is the clinically-optimal registration transformation for subsequent use.
US08380006B2
A method for merging separated pixel blocks into an integral image of an object is provided. The method performs binary image processing on an obtained image to obtain a binary image, finds pixel blocks in the binary image whose area is greater than a first preset value, and stores a position and a size of each found pixel block in a data structure. The method further merges two pixel blocks in the data structure if a distance between the two pixel blocks is less than a second preset value, so as to generate the integral image of the object.
US08380001B2
A video filter processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pixels in a plurality of macroblocks. The video filter includes an edge detector that processes a selected group of the plurality of pixels to generate a edge identification signal that identifies edge pixels in the selected group, wherein the edge detector is adapted based on a quantization parameter of at least one macroblock corresponding to the selected group of the plurality of pixels. An adaptive deblocking filter is coupled to receive the video input signal and to produce a processed video signal in response thereto, the adaptive deblocking filter being adaptive based on the edge identification signal.
US08380000B2
A method of deblurring an image by which blur can be easily and rapidly eliminated from one image and the quality of the image can be improved is provided. The method includes receiving a blurred image, an image estimation step of estimating a non-blurred image from the blurred image, a blur information estimation step of estimating blur information from the blurred image and the estimated non-blurred image, and a deblurring step of deblurring the blurred image based on the blurred image and the estimated blur information, wherein the image estimation step and the blur information estimation step are iteratively performed. Thus, blur can be rapidly and effectively eliminated from one image, thereby improving the quality of an image.
US08379998B2
An image processing apparatus reads a unit of first image data corresponding to a first region, a unit of pixels at a time, from a first memory storing image data in a band area and reads second image data to be used in processing of multiple processing object pixels corresponding to the first region from a second memory. The image processing apparatus processes each of the multiple processing object pixels by using pixels in a second region containing each of the multiple processing object pixels and stores data of pixels contained in the first image data to be used in processing of other multiple pixels in the second memory.
US08379988B1
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising selecting a pixel window of image data, the pixel window including a target pixel, determining a stability of the pixel window, formulating a look up table address based at least in part on the determined stability, obtaining one or more image enhancement values from a look up table based at least in part on the formulated look up table address, and processing the target pixel based at least in part on the obtained one or more image enhancement values. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08379985B2
The dominant gradient method for finding focused objects determines focused objects within an image or video frame using a dominant gradient method. The method also uses a segmentation map of the image to determine parameters which are used in ranking the objects based on their focus. The ranking of the objects is able to be used to assist in enhancing the image, encoding the image and adjusting the lens while capturing the image.
US08379983B2
A dictionary creating apparatus registers probability distributions each including an average vector and a covariance matrix, in a dictionary. The dictionary creating apparatus organizes plural distribution profiles of character categories having similar feature vectors into one typical distribution profile, and registers the typical distribution profile and the character categories to be organized, associated with each other, in the dictionary, without registering eigenvalues and eigenvectors of all character categories, associated with each other, in the dictionary.
US08379982B2
A method and system for matching two biometric images including receiving an input biometric image; generating an index table for the input biometric image, wherein the index table includes a quality quantity for each minutia of the input biometric image; receiving a second biometric image; generating a number of patterns for a first minutia of the second biometric image; associatively accessing the index table by the generated number of patterns; accumulating quality quantities accessed from the index table for each minutia of the input biometric image for the number of patterns of the first minutia of the second biometric image; and selecting a minutia candidate of the input biometric image responsive to the accumulated quality quantities.
US08379976B2
An image processing apparatus converts an input data indicative of a fish-eye image into an output data indicative of a plane image. The apparatus includes an input data conversion unit that converts the fish-eye image into the input data including an input data pixel information and an input data color information; a fish-eye image corrected address generating unit that generates, based on the input data pixel information, an output data pixel information; an input data color information acquiring unit that acquires the input data color information based on a pattern of a color filter array; an output data color information calculating unit that calculates, based on the input data color information, an output data color information; an output data generating unit that generates the output data including the output data pixel information and the output data color information; and a storage unit that stores the input and output data.
US08379963B2
This solution relates to machine vision computing environments, and more specifically relates to a system and method for selectively accelerating the execution of image processing applications using a cell computing system. The invention provides a high performance machine vision system over the prior art and provides a method for executing image processing applications on a Cell and BPE3 image processing system. Moreover, implementations of the invention provide a machine vision system and method for distributing and managing the execution of image processing applications at a fine-grained level via a PCIe connected system. The hybrid system is replaced with the BPE3 and the switch is also eliminated from the prior in order to meet over 1 GB processing requirement.
US08379947B2
A spatio-temporal image of an object is reconstructed based on captured data characterizing the object. The spatio-temporal image comprises a plurality of spatial images in respective time intervals, and at least a given one of the spatial images in one of the time intervals is reconstructed using not only captured data from a frame associated with that time interval but also captured data associated with one or more additional frames associated with other time intervals. The spatio-temporal image may be reconstructed by iteratively obtaining a solution to a minimization or maximization problem in a sparse domain and transforming the solution to an image domain. The transformation between the sparse domain and the image domain may utilize a spatio-temporal transformation implemented using a plurality of basis functions, one or more of which may be determined at least in part based on secondary information associated with the imaged object.
US08379945B2
An optical apparatus for acquiring structure information comprises an optical branching device which splits a light outputted from a wavelength-swept light source into a sampling light and a reference light; a scanning device which scans a subject having a layer structure with the sampling light; and an signal processing device which acquires optical structure information of the subject by processing an interference signal between a return light which is reflected or backscattered at the subject and the reference light which has propagated a predetermined optical path length; wherein the signal processing device includes: a layer information extraction device which extracts layer information of the subject based on the interference signal; a feature value calculation device which calculates a feature value of the layer information; and an enhanced layer-structure image construction device which constructs an enhanced layer-structure image in which the layer structure is enhanced based on the feature value.
US08379935B2
Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of administering a drug program related to an animal. Specifically, systems are provided that can receive, compile and analyze information regarding the condition of an organ in a form that is readily readable, transferable to others, and associated with, or linked to, other information such as the presence or absence of an administered drug, combination of drugs, or drug program.
US08379933B2
A method of determining shift between two images is disclosed. A first array of pixel data of a first image is mapped to a first feature array(s) having a dimension lesser than the first array, and a second array of pixel data of a second image is mapped to a second feature array(s) having a dimension lesser than the second array. The second feature array is aligned with the first feature array by determining similarity between the first feature array and a number of the shifted second feature arrays. The position shift of the shifted second feature array with most similarity is thus determined as the shift between the two images.
US08379931B2
A face image is detected for each frame at a predetermined interval in moving image data, and the face image is traced using a frame in which the face image is detected and frames subsequent to the frame. A face sequence including an interval in which the face can be traced and motion velocity vectors of the face indicating a change in the position of the face image in the interval is generated based on the tracing result. Further, camera operation information about when the moving image data is acquired is generated from the frame image of the moving image data. When there is an overlap in the plurality of intervals in which the face images are traced, the face being tracked by the camera is determined using the face sequence and the camera operation information of each of the plurality of face images. The face determined to be tracked is then determined to be a key object.
US08379926B2
A system and method for detecting and tracking one or more vehicles using a system for obtaining two-dimensional visual data depicting traffic flow on a road is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the system and method identifies groups of features for determining traffic data. The features are classified as stable features or unstable features based on whether each feature is on the frontal face of a vehicle close to the road plane. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method identifies vehicle base fronts as a basis for determining traffic data. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system and method includes an automatic calibration procedure based on identifying two vanishing points.
US08379922B2
The likelihood of a particular type of object, such as a human face, being present within a digital image, and its location in that image, are determined by comparing the image data within defined windows across the image in sequence with two or more sets of data representing features of the particular type of object. The evaluation of each set of features after the first is preferably performed only on data of those windows that pass the evaluation with respect to the first set of features, thereby quickly narrowing potential target windows that contain at least some portion of the object. Correlation scores are preferably calculated by the use of non-linear interpolation techniques in order to obtain a more refined score. Evaluation of the individual windows also preferably includes maintaining separate feature set data for various positions of the object around one axis and rotating the feature set data with respect to the image data for the individual windows about another axis.
US08379918B2
In a procedure for measuring perception, first visual coordinates of a first point of vision assigned to a first visual field are processed, and second visual coordinates of a second point of vision assigned to a second visual field image, are processed. For determining the visual attention to certain areas of the surroundings, the second visual coordinates are examined together with the first visual coordinates in a comparison device to check whether they fulfill a fixation criterion. If the first and second points of vision fulfill the fixation criterion, they are assigned to a first fixation associated with ordered perception. Otherwise, they are assigned to a first saccade associated with aleatoric perception.
US08379916B2
When an area in a first image is specified, an amounts of characteristics of image data included in the area and a neighboring area are detected and it is determined based on the amount of the characteristics whether or not a notification display indicating that the area is likely not to be a target area needs to be presented. If it is determined that the notification display needs to be displayed, a notification image that enables the area to be identified is generated for the first image and is combined with a second image to generate a composite image and the composite image is displayed on a display unit. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specified area is likely to be a target area, the second image based on the image data included in the area is displayed over the full screen of the display unit.
US08379912B2
Establishments are identified in geo-tagged images. According to one aspect, text regions are located in a geo-tagged image and text strings in the text regions are recognized using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) techniques. Text phrases are extracted from information associated with establishments known to be near the geographic location specified in the geo-tag of the image. The text strings recognized in the image are compared with the phrases for the establishments for approximate matches, and an establishment is selected as the establishment in the image based on the approximate matches. According to another aspect, text strings recognized in a collection of geo-tagged images are compared with phrases for establishments in the geographic area identified by the geo-tags to generate scores for image-establishment pairs. Establishments in each of the large collection of images as well as representative images showing each establishment are identified using the scores.
US08379897B2
An electronic hearing aid apparatus comprises a first component, a second component and a cable assembly for electrically connecting the first component to the second component. The first component includes a vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and generating a vibration signal based on the sensed acoustic vibrations, electronics for processing and amplifying the vibration signal and an output port for providing access to the amplified vibration signal. The second component includes an input port for receiving the amplified vibration signal and a vibration generator for generating vibrations based on the amplified vibration signal. The cable assembly conducts the amplified vibration signal from the output port of the first component to the input port of the second component. The cable assembly includes a first connector for electrically connecting to the first component, a second connector for electrically connecting to the second component and a flexible cable portion for electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector. In some embodiments, the cable portion has a stiffness of no more than about 7.0 Taber stiffness units. In one most preferred embodiment, the cable portion has a stiffness of no more than about 1.0 Taber stiffness unit.
US08379893B2
Systems and methods are provided for customizing a hearing aid casing. A user accesses a software program that allows him or her to select a type of a hearing aid. The software program further allows the user to select a motif to be displayed on at least a portion of the hearing aid casing. The software program may automatically size the selected motif based on the type of the hearing aid selected, and the selected motif may be printed on a film. The film then is coupled to the hearing aid casing to display the motif on one or more surfaces of the hearing aid casing.
US08379888B2
A sound-generating device comprises a first enclosure having at least one first electrode and a first piezoelectric layer, a first terminal of an audio signal output being coupled to the at least one first electrode of the first enclosure, a second enclosure having at least one first electrode and a first piezoelectric layer, and a first bendable element coupled between the first and second enclosures. The at least one first electrode is coupled with the first terminal of the audio signal output. The first piezoelectric layer of the first enclosure and the first piezoelectric layer of the second enclosure are configured to respond to the signal supplied by the audio signal output and to generate sound waves.
US08379884B2
A sound signal transmitter-receiver includes a differential microphone for receiving sounds respectively at first and second points to convert the receiving sounds into a transmission sound signal; a transmission-reception unit for receiving an incoming signal as a reception sound signal; an addition unit for adding the reception sound signal from the transmission-reception unit and the transmission sound signal to produce an addition signal; and a speaker outputting sound based on the addition signal.
US08379878B2
A pre-coding method for improving diversity gain in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system and a transmission apparatus and method are disclosed. The transmission method includes converting an input transmission signal into parallel signals, pre-coding the parallel signals with a predetermined frequency offset, performing Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) on the pre-coded signals, and up-converting the IDFT signals and outputting the up-converted signals to a wireless network. By performing pre-coding on a transmission signal with a frequency offset in an OFDM system, diversity gain can be improved.
US08379876B2
An audio device is provided, employing a defect detection method to detect defectiveness within a microphone array. The microphone array comprising a first microphone and a second microphone, respectively, generates a first audio signal and a second audio signal from ambient audio signals. An error detector is provided to detect functions of the first and second microphones based on the first and second audio signals to generate a status signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the first and second audio signals based on the status signal. If the status signal indicates that only the first microphone or the second microphone is defective, the DSP switches to a single microphone mode in which only the remaining normal microphone is enabled. If the status signal indicates that both the first and second microphones are defective, the DSP generates an error indication signal and stops processing the first and second audio signals.
US08379871B2
A personalized hearing profile is generated for an ear-level device comprising a memory, microphone, speaker and processor. Communication is established between the ear-level device and a companion device, having a user interface. A frame of reference in the user interface is provided, where positions in the frame of reference are associated with sound profile data. A position on the frame of reference is determined in response to user interaction with the user interface, and certain sound profile data associated with the position. Certain data is transmitted to the ear level device. Sound can be generated through the speaker based upon the audio stream data to provide real-time feedback to the user. The determining and transmitting steps are repeated until detection of an end event.
US08379870B2
A method and device for transforming ambient audio are provided. Example embodiments may include monitoring ambient audio proximate to a sound processing device located in an environment. The device may receive a selection from a user interface. The selection may comprise one of a number of available first selections, each available first selection identifying one of multiple transformation modes. The device may access memory to obtain transformation audio and process the transformation audio, based on the ambient audio and the selection. The device may also use the transformation audio to provide modified output audio for propagation into the environment.
US08379859B2
An apparatus for ciphering data in a wireless communication system. The apparatus includes a memory which stores data to be ciphered; a controller which outputs a cipher command for each layer of a wireless protocol; a protocol processing unit including a cipher hardware, which receives the cipher command outputted from the controller, reads data to be ciphered from the memory, ciphers the data and outputs the ciphered data, and a transmission data processing unit, which receives ciphered data that is directly outputted from the cipher hardware, adds a header for transmission and generates a data packet; and an RF communication unit which directly receives the generated data packet and transmits the received data packet.
US08379854B2
In one embodiment, the method performed by mobile equipment to authenticate communication with a network includes generating keys using cellular authentication and voice encryption, and then generating an authentication key based on these keys. The authentication key is used to generate an expected message authentication code used in authenticating the network according to authentication and key agreement security protocol.
US08379852B2
A method for processing video content is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving, in a hardware device connected in operation to a computer, encrypted, encoded video content; decrypting the encrypted, encoded video content to form decrypted, encoded video content; decoding a first portion of the decrypted, encoded video content to form a decrypted, decoded video content portion; re-encrypting the decrypted, decoded video content portion to form a re-encrypted, decoded video content portion; re-encrypting a second portion of the decrypted, encoded video content to form a re-encrypted, encoded video content portion; and outputting the re-encrypted, decoded video content portion and the re-encrypted, encoded video content portion to the computer.
US08379847B2
Secure communication of data between devices includes encrypting unencrypted data at a first device by reordering unencrypted bits provided in parallel on a device bus, including data and control bits, from an unencrypted order to form encrypted data including a plurality of encrypted bits in parallel in an encrypted order defined by a key. The encrypted data may be transmitted to another device where the encrypted data is decrypted by using the key to order the encrypted bits to restore the unencrypted order thereby to reform the unencrypted data.
US08379842B2
A cryptographic method for a cryptographic system may include receiving a basic point on an elliptic curve and a scalar k; initializing primary variables with the basic point; iterating through a plurality of operations using a repetitive operation variable; identifying a fault, in one or more of setting secondary variables corresponding to the primary variables, resetting the primary and secondary variables, and calculating a scalar product in a multiplier of the cryptographic system, the identifying of the fault using the primary and secondary variables based on a portion of the scalar k, the fault identified by one of determining that values of at least two of the secondary variables are different and determining that at least one of the secondary variables is different from at least one of the primary variables; and outputting the scalar product if there is no fault identified.
US08379839B2
A method for controlling power dissipated in a subscriber line interface circuit includes measuring a power parameter of the subscriber line interface circuit during a ringing cycle, comparing the measured power parameter to a target power parameter and adjusting at least one ringing parameter of a ringing signal generated by the subscriber line interface circuit based on the comparison. A line card includes a subscriber line interface circuit operable to generate a ringing signal, and a subscriber line audio-processing circuit operable to measure a power parameter of the subscriber line interface circuit during a ringing cycle, compare the measured power parameter to a target power parameter, and adjust at least one ringing parameter of the ringing signal based on the comparison.
US08379836B2
There is described a method, a system and a terminal for occupying a key and a display field, which is associated with the key, of a first end device of a first subscriber. An address identifies the second end device of a second subscriber, following user input of the first subscriber. The detected address is assigned to the key as a target address for setting up a future connection. Associated subscriber information is determined for the detected address, and the determined subscriber information is assigned to the display field.
US08379825B2
A method of establishing a call over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is provided. The PSTN operatively connected to an End Office (EO) serving a calling party's Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE). The method includes: receiving at a network element of the PSTN a message requesting establishment of the call over the PSTN, the message being received over a packet-switched network and identifying the calling party's CPE from which the call is to be placed; and, notifying the EO serving the calling party's CPE of the request for establishment of the call such that the EO treats the call as a terminating call as opposed to an originating call.
US08379821B1
A method and system of controlling recordation and transmission of audio and video signals on a per-conference-leg basis are described. By providing a recordation and transmission control mechanism, teleconference participants may request to go “off-the-record.” A per-conference-leg recording and transmission control system enhances the flexibility of teleconference participant's interaction with one or more other participants. The control system and method may further allow a single individual to control the recordation and transmission of the teleconference or alternatively, grant each participant individual control over their own conference leg.
US08379817B2
The present invention enables users of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services, to hear a very gentle whispering tone that quietly conveys the identity of the calling party when they are engaged in conversation and to receive a call-waiting signal. The tone is audible only to the called party but does not mute the ongoing conversation path. This enables subscribed users to hear their ongoing conversation while receiving the whispering tone.
US08379816B1
A method for managing a phishing call is provided. The method includes receiving an incoming telecommunication request. The method also includes comparing a unique identification associated with the incoming telecommunication request against a set of contact lists. The method further includes, if the unique identification is not found on the set of contact lists, activating a delay timer to prevent a set of user notification components from being triggered for a delay period. The method yet also includes performing a connection analysis to determine status of the incoming telecommunication request. The method moreover includes, if the incoming telecommunication request is terminated during the delay period, updating a phishing call log with data about the incoming telecommunication request, wherein the updating of the phishing call log occurs without the set of user notification components being triggered, responsive to the incoming telecommunication request, during or subsequent to the updating.
US08379814B2
An apparatus in one example comprises a communications network, a first communication device that is associated with a first communication device identifier and a second communication device that is associated with a second communication device identifier. The first communication device is communicatively coupled with the communications network, the second communication device is communicatively coupled with the communications network and the first communication device is communicatively coupled with the second communication device via the communications network. And, the second communication device originates a communication session using the first communication device identifier, and termination attempts to the first communication device are received by the second communication device and the first communication device.
US08379810B2
An integrated network communication device includes a data processing device, an image output device and a communication device. The data processing device is adapted to integrate various digital data and can be connected to an information network. The image output device is adapted to display image data on an image display screen. The communication device is adapted to exchange audio data with the information network, and further comprises an input unit, an audio output module, an audio input module, a traffic indication module and a bar-code identification module.
US08379789B2
This invention relates to a nuclear plant having a reactor vessel and a fluid circuit including flow path defining means, defining a flow path for circulating a reactor coolant fluid from and to the reactor vessel. The nuclear plant includes a particle collection zone defined along at least part of the length of the flow path, and particle deflection means arranged in particle deflecting relationship with the flow path to deflect particles from a fluid stream in the flow path into or toward the particle collection zone.
US08379775B2
A method of received data sequence assessment, the method comprising producing a correlation metric describing the fit to a received sequence of the most likely of a set of candidates for the received sequence and calculating an error metric indicative of discrepancies between the received sequence and its most likely candidate.
US08379769B2
A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream.
US08379767B2
Methods and systems to calibrate I/Q imbalance with digital equalizers to compensate frequency dependent IQ imbalance, weighted summation modules to compensate frequency independent IQ imbalance, switch modules to controllably direct calibration signals through selected components and to a digital compensation calculator and to control tuner phases during calibration. The equalizers and summation modules may provide genetic IQ imbalance compensation. Methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented with respect to relatively wideband systems having non-linear spectrum responses, and other systems.
US08379766B2
This invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a device, and a system, wherein a receiver unit is configured to operate in a single-channel mode and in a multi-channel mode, wherein in the single-channel mode the receiver unit is configured to output exactly one channel of a received signal, and in the multiple-channel mode the receiver unit is configured to output at least two channels of the received signal.
US08379760B2
Disclosed are hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers for use in communications systems, or other systems, and the corresponding methods for hybrid heterodyne transmitting and receiving. A heterodyne receiver for converting a continuous time modulated signal to a discrete time digital baseband signal includes a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is a signal-delta analog-to-digital converter constructed and arranged to receive a modulated signal at an RF carrier frequency and provide a quantized output at a first intermediate frequency. The heterodyne receiver may also include a digital mixer constructed and arranged to receive a data stream quantized by the sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and receive a signal at a second mixing frequency. The digital mixer then provides digital signals representative of a baseband signal suitable for digital signal processing.
US08379748B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for reception in a MIMO system. An apparatus for calculating a signal weight, includes: at least two multiplexers configured to receive, a data stream corresponding to a weight inputted and multiplex the received data stream prior to output; a multiplexing control unit configured to control the outputs of the respective multiplexers and provide a clock of a predetermined rate and a clock of a double rate two times higher than the predetermined rate; a first multiplier configured to receive multiplexed data outputted from the respective multiplexers and multiply the multiplexed data; a first storage unit configured to latch the multiplication result of the first multiplier by the double-rate clock prior to output; an adder configured to add the output of the first storage unit and the output of the first multiplier; and a second storage unit configured to latch the addition.
US08379744B2
A control unit generates packet signals to be transmitted. The control unit uses either a first packet format, where a second known signal defined by a second radio communication system different from a first radio communication system is assigned anterior to a first known signal defined by the first radio communication system, or a second packet format, where the first known signal is assigned in an anterior part. Subcarriers to be used in the first known signal contain subcarriers to be used in the second known signal, and the first known signal and the second known signal are defined by different values.
US08379743B2
A method of compensating interference of received symbols in a MIMO OFDM receiver employs MMSE equalization and LLR scaling, and a MIMO OFDM receiver includes a linear MMSE equalizer. The method provides a low-complexity, numerically robust method for compensating interference of received symbols and provides a low-cost, robust digital baseband receiver for MIMO-OFDM, achieved by merging linear MMSE equalization and scaling of the corresponding equalized symbols into a single algorithm that, for the 2×M MIMO case, completely avoids computationally extensive matrix inversion and allows for significant simplification of symbol detection as compared to separate equalization and scaling.
US08379732B2
A communications device includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver being scannable over a plurality of different frequencies and an analog to digital (AD) converter coupled to the RF receiver. The AD converter is configured to generate a receive bitstream. A processor coupled to the RF receiver and the AD converter. The processor is configured to perform, in parallel, calculating a received power level from the receive bitstream, attempting analog video decoding from the receive bitstream, and attempting digital video decoding from the receive bitstream. The processor is also configured to lock the RF receiver to a current frequency or scan the RF receiver to a next frequency based upon the received power level, and the attempted analog and video decoding.
US08379731B2
The invention relates to a method for reconstructing a picture that is part of a sequence of pictures, from coded digital data, representative of said current picture. It comprises the following steps: construct, for each picture block, first and second prediction blocks (from a first picture and a second picture previously reconstructed, and calculate, for each block, a confidence value representative of the proximity between the visual content of the first predictive block and the visual content of the second predictive block, and reconstruct each block from a part of said coded digital data representative of said block and initial auxiliary data calculated from the first and second predictive blocks when the block confidence value is greater than a predetermined threshold.
US08379729B2
A method of video decoding discards a context dependent number of bits following detection of an invalid symbol. In the preferred embodiment the number of discarded bits depends upon the product of a constant corresponding to the video encoding standard and the current slice type and the maximum of the average number of bits per macroblock of the current slice and a stored average number of bits per macroblock of a previous slice of the same coding type.
US08379723B2
A system, apparatus, method, and article to process a chroma motion vector are described. The apparatus may include a video decoder. The video decoder includes a processor to receive a compressed video bitstream. The compressed video bitstream includes a stream of pictures. The stream of pictures includes a current slice and a current block within the slice. The processor pre-computes a chroma motion vector adjustment parameter for the current slice and determines a motion vector component for the current block within the current slice using the pre-computed chroma motion vector adjustment parameter.
US08379721B2
This disclosure describes rate control techniques that can improve video coding based on a “two-pass” approach. The first pass codes a video sequence using a first set of quantization parameters (QPs) for the purpose of estimating rate-distortion characteristics of the video sequence based on the statistic of the first pass. A second set of QPs can then be defined for a second coding pass. The estimated rate-distortion characteristics of the first pass are used to select Qps for the second pass in a manner that minimizes quality fluctuation between the frames of the video sequence. Furthermore, selection of the second set of QPs may also substantially maximize quality of the frames at the substantially minimized quality flucuation in order to achieve low average frame distortion with the minimized quality fluctuation.
